Pumpkin Challenge 2015: Days 6 - 25

I have obviously become busy and thus neglectful of my Pumpkin Challenge blogging.

HERE IS A RECAP OF THE LAST 3 WEEKS!

Day 6: Vegan chocolate-chip pumpkin cookies (courtesy of Food.com)

Day 7: Vegan pumpkin-pie brownies (courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie)

Day 8: Iced soy pumpkin spice latte (courtesy of Starbucks)

Day 9: Veggie hot pot (there is pumpkin hidden in the back)

Day 10: Grandma's homemade pumpkin and seed treats

Day 11: Vegan pumpkin pie (courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie)

Day 12: Friendsgiving pumpkin pie at UB's

Day 13: Pumpkin-Ovaltine cocoa

Day 14: Attempted vegan pumpkin fudge (courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie and my tiny food processor)

Day 15: Pumpkin croquette (courtesy of Sun Sushi)

Day 16: Pumpkin spice waffles (courtesy of Nature's Path)

Day 17: Almond-milk pumpkin spice latte (courtesy of Blenz)

Day 18: Pumpkin pie smoothie or "the best smoothie I've ever had" (courtesy of the Juice Truck)

Day 19: Vegan pumpkin oat bars (courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie)

Day 20: Vegan pumpkin Yonanas ice cream

Day 21: Pumpkin spice muffin (courtesy of Tim Horton's)

Day 22: Pumpkin spice doughnut (courtesy of Cartems)

Day 23: Failed batch of pumpkin cinnamon rolls (courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie and my poor track record with using yeast)

Day 24: Pumpkin risotto (courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie)

Day 25: Pumpkin risotto take 2 (courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie)

Spring is in the air! Plus a new dining discovery.

All of my body's sensory systems are being bombarded by signs of Spring:

- Fully and pink cherry blossoms

- The smell of food wafting from open patios at restaurants

- Seasonally-appropriate Refreshers from Starbucks

- Slipping into Toms every day

- Tired and heavy footsteps during outdoor jogs

 I am struggling to determine if the end of classes (a) was perfectly-timed with the beautiful weather or (b) liberated my mind and allowed me to fully embrace the impending season and all of its glory - either way, it has been lovely.

21 years of life - completed by MM!

We enjoy mason jars over the
traditional glassware.

Block Party/MM's birthday was fun this year! Many friends, amazing weather, and lots of dancing - followed by vegan s'mores on the beach (highly recommended). 

Post-Block Party consisted of more birthday celebrations! And the beginning of studying. While the weather does not seem conducive to studying, it does lift my spirits and has served as inspiration to earn my time outside! Following an afternoon of studying, I had a nap to prepare to socialize more at The Afghan Horseman - a new dining discovery with delicious food! I had the Vegan Plate from their Vegetarian Dishes (pictured above), and zombied my way through dinner before collapsing into bed later that evening.

The following day, GD and I moseyed down to experience The Juice Truck for the first time! This is something I've wanted to do since stumbling across their Instagram account. After sharing two very fulfilling smoothies, we grabbed some free ice cream from Leonidas at Waterfront (a Hot Chocolate Festival location!) for wishing one of their employees a happy birthday.

After all of these birthday and food-related events... We had another birthday AND food-related event! On JS's birthday, and to celebrate a triple-birthday week, I attended a birthday dessert potluck. Wu-Wu and I supplied healthy, vegan chocolate chip cookie muffins! Topped with coconut whipped cream and blueberries, we feel that they were definitely a baking success (thanks Chocolate-Covered Katie for the recipe!).

Before further birthday celebrations continued the following day, I celebrated a belated National Grilled Cheese Day by making vegan grilled cheese (Daiya cheese) and homemade soup with GD, as we had neglected so far to eat dinner. 

Finally, to cap off this entry, the sister and her fellow came over for dinner! We made vegetarian stir fry with a special sweet and sour "pork" recipe from the Calgary Farmer's Market, alongside some homemade mango guacamole supplied by our guests. It was a good birthday dinner for GD and a good day overall!

Now I am delving into studying before my 12-day exam break, where I hope to have more adventures that I can document and write about - until then...

UBC REC full-team selfie!

A Baking Break

Today is a busy day, and to alleviate any potential stress on my mind (and my chocolate-infused blood) I have taken to stay closer to campus today and attend a couple different career workshops (which I imagine I will have something to say about later).

However, without wanting to shock my system by having no chocolate, I will indulge in a bit of homemade chocolate chip banana bread (vegan), adopted from Chocolate Covered Katie's "Polka Dot Banana Bread" recipe.

I added almond's on top and a thin layer of granola in the middle for some texture here and there.

Vegan chocolate chip banana bread with almonds and granola.

It is glorious when warmed up and covered in some sort of buttery spread (I use Becel's vegan margarine), and I imagine it would also be good with something like peanut butter or perhaps jam if you're feeling more adventurous (I like jam so it tastes good with anything to me).

Hopefully my next post will contain some insight into future career or educational paths - be it a better idea of what I want to do or a better idea of what I do NOT want to do (both would be helpful). As a side note, I also think I'll be switching to this font for a while.