And I don’t mean demolition!
Well, I do in the case of this lovely bowl of yogurt topped with Nuts About Granola! HUNGER!
But tonight’s evening entertainment included a trip to Whole Foods…
Where we went to support our blogger friend Sarah in a fun food demo!
What a convenient excuse to have hot bar for dinner!
Veggies on the bottom, I promise
And hot bar stuff on the top. I’m still into Carolina BBQ! I have to say though that these foods didn’t all taste good to me. It was so weird how one bite of something would be good and the next bite would be bad. I’m not 100% nausea-free, in fact this dinner made my stomach kind of churned and I didn’t finish it all. But I’m still feeling a little better in general.
Inside: everything from zucchini gratin to catfish to baked tomato to tofu to BBQ!
Matt had a similar Southern-style plate
And tempted me by chugging a beer that smelled soooo good!
I drank a Kombocha, which was too lavender-y for me (on top of the smell of the WF lavender hand sanitizer I put all over my body)
Miss Smart taught us all about SEITAN! I have actually never made it before, but I’ve tasted it a few times in vegan-style restaurants …like this bite of Emily’s chicken-style seitan and this bite of Matt’s seitan sandwich!
Sarah made nuggets out of it. Who knew it was so easy to make at home? I always thought seitan was one of those meat substitutes that you had to buy, but I’m excited to make it at home soon! The recipe for the seitan itself and the Sweet Apple Seitan she made should be on the Smart Kitchen Blog soon – but I think they are in process!
Step 1 ..
I think this is the point in the demo when Sarah bashed Honeycrisp apples…
[I kid, I kid!]
Her second dish – building on the first – was an apple + onion hash.
We tasted it at the end, with her herby seitan added and it was DELICIOUS! [I ate around the onions]. The seitan was bready and doughy and chewy and almost portabella-y in texture, and I loved it – more than tofu and tempeh!
One odd thing that has happened to my stomach is that I no longer crave any kind of sweets after dinner. It’s like my body shuts down – even if I’m not all the way full. First time for everything I suppose!
Gillian G. @ When Bread Is Broken says
ACK I have had that kombucha flavor before when it was WAY too lavender-y. So frustrating. Looking forward to see what you do with seitan – I have loved it when I’ve had it, but I didn’t know that it could be made at home either. <3 real food 🙂
Emily @LivingLongfellow says
No way does your whole foods sell beer! I wish ours would get on that bandwagon.
[email protected] Sinfully Nutritious says
Our’s has a pub with lots of Organic Mirco Brews on tap!
[email protected] Sinfully Nutritious says
I love seitan. It is a staple in my vegan kitchen. I love using it in my beef-less stew and my vegan shepherd’s pie. I am looking forward to trying her recipe.
Kris says
You’ve mentioned a couple of times having a lot of different foods in your bowl, and some almost making you gag. Why not simplify a little while your stomach is still queasy? When I see some of your combos, I’m almost queasy too (not being snarky).
KathEats says
Because it’s appealing at the time! And I’ve always eaten this way. It’s not the food mixing that makes me feel sick, it’s the foods I choose that look good but don’t taste right to me.
Michelle (Better with Berries) says
Wow – I can’t believe all of that took place at Whole Foods! I guess I really need to try going there sometime 🙂
Megan's @ Megan's Munchies says
I love the food bar at Whole Foods! What a fun way to end the day!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
The sweets craving will come back. Just wait until you nurse. I swear I never craved sweets like I did when I was nursing. Sorry your tummy still isn’t 100%. Sounds like a fun night though!
Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife says
Looks like so much fun! I REALLY hope Williamsburg gets a Whole Foods soon! My wallet would be in trouble but I don’t care! 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
I’ve never had seitan…I might have to give it a try though!
Betsy says
You should try the Gingerade Kombucha, Kath – I have ~ 1 / day. The ginger is great for your tummy and it tastes nice, like a less sweet ginger ale. Never one to crave anything sweet after meals (gasp, I know!) I also love ginger chews post meal, not sweet, actually a hint of spice? I also must comment, I will never understand the allure of the whole foods hot/cold bar. I think things sometimes look slightly appealing, but I have never ever tasted anything and thought, “wow”. It is so overrated, especially by the blogosphere! Love the new fridge. Your home is so cute!
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Seitan is so interesting! I’ll have to research it some more and see where I can find it 🙂
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
mmmm whole foods hot bar. as if you needed an excuse?! blame it one the baby’s cravings 🙂
Kay says
Why would you put Sanitizer all over your body? I don’t get it.
KathEats says
I was being sarcastic… Because I always feel so dirty after touching the serving spoons
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
I’ve only had seitan once before…but I loved it!!! Definitely a texture I am a fan of and I love how versatile it is! I really want to try making it at home…I’ve had Sarah’s recipe bookmarked for a while now!!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I had lunch at whole foods today with my parents! They’d only been to the store once before and had no idea you could get such great food to eat there, they were very impressed!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Interesting that you actually don’t mind the smell of beer AND that you don’t have a sweets craving post-dinner. Hey, roll with it!
Angel7 says
I have never heard of seitan. You always introduce me to new foods 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Emily says
Kombucha is okay to drink when pregnant? I avoided it throughout my whole pregnancy and then tried it last week (my baby boy is 7 weeks old) and was grossed out. It totally reminded me of all the salt and vinegar chips I craved during pregnancy. Blech.
Kathi says
The performer Lee from your California GH party was on The Voice again tonight!
KathEats says
man, I keep forgetting to watch that!
Dena @ 40 Fit in the Mitt says
I love Whole Foods, I always look forward to an outing to WF
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
I was wondering about kombucha during pregnancy. I never could find a straight answer (and didn’t ask my OB), so I just haven’t had it…but I’ve missed it like crazy! Did you ask your doc about it?
KathEats says
I didn’t remember to ask mine. I’m taking a “only very lightly” approach. If yogurt and other fermented foods are OK for the GI tract, then I would think this would be too. That’s just my opinion.
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
Good point!! Damn…I guess I could have been drinking it this whole time!!! 🙂
Jill Will Run says
I avoided kombucha for my whole first trimester. But then I started thinking the same way that Kath is… about fermented foods that are OK for the GI tract and I’ve re-introduced kombucha. Lo-and-behold… my pregnancy-induced GI troubles seems to be somewhat relieved. I’m going to keep it up, a 1/2 a bottle of Gingerade every other day or so seems safe to me!
Jane says
I appreciate this thread, as I was going to chime about this too. I was told not to drink kombucha by my midwives during my first pregnancy, because the fermented bacteria had a chance of being harmful. However, since then, I’ve definitely seen other preggos drinking it and figured it must be alright. I’m about 8 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy and haven’t been to the OB yet, but will ask when I see her (I’m in a different city, with a different practice than with #1), as I’ve been having horrific morning sickness, and wondered if some ‘booch would help… Gingerade specifically. My usual attitude is better safe than sorry, but I wish there was a more clearly defined answer on the Kombucha question.
kristen @ verbs and vignettes says
seitan is my favorite meat substitute, too! I keep forgetting to plan ahead to make it. it takes a while to boil, but it’s so easy! and delicious. I use the basic recipe from veganomicon. nom nom.
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
I’ve made seitan before and marinated it in soy sauce. Then cut them in slices and froze them til needed. worked out great!
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) says
I wish I no longer craved sweets after dinner. Geez! It’s like I do not crave them all day long but then after dinner I want chocolate, ice cream, etc, anything really! I have gone through more ice cream the past 32 weeks than I would like to admit :).
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
I’ve never had seiten but that description sounds AMAZING!
Christine @ BookishlyB says
Your friend’s apron is really cute! You’re going to get tons of kombucha while pregnant comments 😉
KhushbOo says
What is the nutrition of seitan like? I was always under the impression it was high in saturated fat?
KathEats says
No, not unless you added food high in sat. fat. Sarah’s recipe was just vital wheat gluten (which is essentially bread!) and veggie broth with seasonings. Here’s the vital wheat gluten stats: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/7738/1
Amanda Cowan says
I had changes to my tastes buds with each pregnancy, some that hung on after and some that went away eventually. With my first, all of a sudden I couldn’t eat chicken. It was like it always tasted raw to me. I also got really into fresh raspberries also. And popcorn with reese pieces. And bacon (even though I hadn’t really cared for bacon before). With my second I discovered that I LOVED watermelon. I ate huge quantities of it. I couldn’t stand shrimp, eating it or smelling it (that went away with pregnancy). I also couldn’t eat zucchini anymore, and that carried on for a long time. With my third pregnancy, I didn’t really have any food aversions or strange cravings. Other than lots of fruit. Good luck! Sounds like you’re handling things really well and starting to feel much better! The second trimester was always my favorite!
J3nn(Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I love seitan, but i’m weary about it and never eat it anymore. Being isolated gluten and all, not sure how good it is for us. I wish it was a super food because it is so tasty. 🙁
KathEats says
Matt says you can make it by kneading whole wheat flour and then washing it – which rinses out the starch and leaves the protein. That seemed pretty natural to me. Not sure if it’s the same as the dry kind in terms of cooking, but it didn’t seem to be too processed that way.
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
I’m so glad y’all came!
[And it’s not that Honeycrisp apples are BAD….it’s just that I’ve found new apples to love: Sweetango, Envy, Gold Rush…. ;)]
KathEats says
I know – just kidding with you!
Jess says
I laughed at Christine’[email protected]’s comment because I was just about to make a Kombucha during pregnancy comment! I am 34 weeks and have avoided Kombucha during pregnancy. You should touch base with your OB before drinking it again. There are mixed messages about whether or not it’s safe, but it’s on my “no list.” I’ve also avoided Kefir, which is one of my favorite things.
But, I’m in the camp of I’d rather be safe than sorry – no sushi, all meats cooked through, no lunchmeat unless steamed, limit diet drinks to 2-3/week, etc. But everyone has to find their own level of comfort during pregnancy. 🙂
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Still can’t find Kombucha in my area in Any flavor. 🙁 Sarah is the Best
Molly @ RDexposed says
Stout, porter, Belgian?
I’m wishing I had been at that demo…with beer in hand as well!
KathEats says
It was actually Lagunitas’s brown ale – and it sure smelled hoppy!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
I love the Whole Foods hot bar! I’ve always wanted to go to a food demo there. I think it’s so awesome that Whole Foods does demos.
Blessing {Working Mom Journal} says
Once again I miss Whole Foods 🙂
Jasper Naomi @ crunchylittlebites says
I used to work in demo’s at A Southern Season and the ladies in the test kitchen and classroom always seemed to have more fun than I 😉
Cait's Plate says
Ah that looks like such a fun night! And I love Whole Foods hot bar (and salad bar!) – but I can NEVER end up getting it without spending a fortune! Everything just looks so good and despite my best attempts to control my pile on…it never quite works! 🙂
Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie says
Mmmm whole foods hot bar…You just can’t go wrong with that! The demo sounds like a blast 🙂
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Love WF and love, love, love their deli. I’m very often in the no sweets after dinner mode — and certainly not pregnant 🙂 I guess changes are just part of the big adventure!!! Glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better.