Hey guys!
After two days of miserable, rainy weather, we finally got our first warm and sunny day in what feels like ages! It’s really amazing how the warmth and sunshine can really have an impact my mood. I felt so happy all day long!
I started this gorgeous Thursday morning in style with yet another one of my new breakfast obsessions, aka yogurt messes. This bowl is overflowing with- 1 cup fage stirred with maple syrup, lots of cinnamon, 1/2 cup each of golean and honey sunshine, a sliced banana, sugary sweet strawberries (both warmed), and a drizzle of melty almond crack butter. Seriously, this is probably one of the most fun and filling breakfasts ever! The perfect balance between warm and cold, creamy and crunchy. Not to mention that this bowl was packed with nutrients- filling protein, heart healthy fats, and sweet carby goodness.

It only got better with an absolutely delicious coconut curry tempeh and sundried tomato hummus sandwich for lunch! I grilled up two slices of my organic italian bread (freshly made at whole foods) and stuffed ‘em silly with four coconut curry tempeh strips (totally amazing), arugula, sprouts, carrots, tomato, dried cranberries, and a new find- sabra’s sundried tomato hummus! Now I know I vowed to never buy any other flavor besides my beloved supremely spicy, but I figured that this variety had to be good just based on the face that it’s sabra. Low and behold, sundried tomato sabra was a winner! Although mild, the flavors were bold, and the hummus itself was rich and creamy as expected. I’d buy this again in a heartbeat! My sandwich snuggled up next to a perfectly crisp granny smith, for good measure.

After lunch, I lounged around the house until it was time for me to head into the city for my only class of the day, psychology. I was running a bit late so I was rushing once I got off the train, almost tripping and pushing people along the way. I finally get to class, and what do you know. CLASS CANCELED. I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream! I held back my raging emotions, and dragged myself back to the train station to head home. What a total waste! I settled my nerves with this square of dangerously delicious ghirardelli dark chocolate that I packed in my bag before leaving the house.

With the canceled class fiasco behind me, I decided I deserved an ultra special dinner tonight. I was craving both tofu and spicy, mexican-esque food big time, so I came up with this lovely concoction-

Spicy Mexican Grilled Tofu with Cilantro Lime Bulgar Pilaf, garlicky sauteed Spinach, and a dollop of fresh Guacamole.
This impromptu dinner was a total success- a fiery mexican fiesta in my mouth! The tofu was insanely simple to prepare being that all I did was drench it in my spicy mexican marinade and toss it on the grill until those infamous marks appeared. The tofu absorbed the glaze like a charm, and paired perfectly with my pilaf. For the bulgar, I tossed 1/3 cup dry into a bowl with 2/3 cup water, cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, onion powder (sorry, Kath!), salt, pepper, and a generous squirt of lime juice. I cooked it up int he microwave according to package directions until the liquid was completely absorbed. In the meantime, I sauteed a big handful of frozen corn and 1/2 red bell pepper in some olive oil with fresh cilantro. Once the veggies were soft, I tossed the bulgar into the skillet until completely heated through. For some much needed greenage, I sauteed a bunch of spinach with an unholy amount of garlic (don’t worry, I didn’t kiss anyone tonight!), and I then proceeded to stack all of the meal components on top of one another. I also made some fresh guacamole to jazz things up, and complete the dish. I devoured that plate like a beast!

Sadly, I have to read a thirty two page play for my theater class tonight- we’re getting a quiz on it, and in true slacker style, I left it to the last minute. Hmm, maybe I’ll get friendly with Sparknotes instead. ;)
Goodnight everyone! It’s almost Friday!!! *cues friday dance*

20 comments
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April 24, 2009 at 5:08 am
*Andrea*
sparknotes is my lover ;) your meals always look fantastic as if from a restaurant
April 24, 2009 at 6:55 am
Elyse
Mmm, your grilled tofu looks delicious. I need to go buy some more tofu. I ran out the other day, and I’ve been missing it terribly!
April 24, 2009 at 7:20 am
Nora
SO strange. I had coconut curry tempeh for lunch today too. Also, what you call “yogurt messes” are kinda similar to the “swiss oats” that I make, where I soak rolled oats overnight with nuts and dried fruit, and add in fresh fruit, soy yogurt, nut butter, and spices, in the morning, and mix it all up! I was actually thinking of blogging it tomorrow! I guess we’re on similar food wavelengths right now. I gave a shout-ouy yo your photography skills on my most recent blog post–check it out!
April 24, 2009 at 11:16 am
marafaye
I second sparknotes :)
Gorgeous food!
April 24, 2009 at 11:21 am
VeggieGirl
No class + delish eats + Sparknotes = score!!
April 24, 2009 at 11:23 am
Shelby
I looove yogurt messes. So delicious.
Sparknotes = My savior =P
April 24, 2009 at 11:58 am
Erika
Hey Erica….I have been checking out your blog for a while and I just wanted to say you create some of the most gorgeous and delicious looking meals every day!! I am totally trying your tofu, spinach mexican dish for dinner tonight except I think Im going to substitute grilled chicken becuz the last couple of times i attempted tofu I wasnt crazy about it…but seriously your dishes look scrumptious!!!!
April 24, 2009 at 12:56 pm
jaci
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, always the highlight of my morning to see your update come up on my google reader! Anyway, did you make the tempeh yourself or did you buy it? It sounds incredible and tempeh is my new soy protein lover. Keep up the excellent blogging!
April 24, 2009 at 1:41 pm
meg
Sunshine makes me happy too! Love all your eats!
April 24, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Sarah
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now but I just had to comment on this FABULOUS dinner! I love how creative you get with different flavours. Your meals are presented so beautifully too!
April 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm
sue
hope the quiz goes well today! as usual, everything looks gorgeous!
April 24, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Diaan (Soap & Chocolate)
After Sabra delivered me an unGODly amount of free hummus, I vowed never to go back to any other brand (plus I have enough in my freezer for the rest of my life). The sundried tomato is SO good! I haven’t had the supremely spicy kind, but I had the chipotle flavor and it’s QUITE hot, so you might try that for some heat as well.
Gorgeous dinner!
April 24, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Diana (Soap & Chocolate)
I spelled my own name wrong above. Duh. :P
Diana
April 24, 2009 at 4:34 pm
erica
aww, all of your wonderful comments brighten my day!
jaci- nope, i just bought the tempeh prepackaged from whole foods! i generally buy soy boy brand tempeh, and it turns out great every time :)
diana- the chipotle hummus is going to be the next flavor i buy once i finish the two i have! i love anything spicy, so i’m sure it’s fabulous.
April 24, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Lauren
Ooo I’ll have to try the sundried tomato – I’m also obsessed with supremely spicy… yay for Sabra!
Your grilled tofu meal looks like something from Candle – GORGEOUS!
April 24, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Corinna @ SWP
Hi Erica–I subscribe to your feed so I’m not often on your actual page. But I wanted to drop you a comment to say I love your blog and I’m always blown away by your commitment to healthy eating and how delicious it all looks. I included you in my Friday line-up because you’re fab. So thanks for all the work that goes into this . . .
April 24, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Ruby Red Vegan
“in true slacker style” = well said! i tooootally identify with you on that one!
i’ve never made a yogurt mess for brekkie — yours looks absolutely incredible! it has so many nutrients, but it could just as well be a super decadent dessert! now that’s starting the day off right!!!
and if i could order that sammie, i would totally come to cafe erica all the time!
April 24, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Jay
That dinner looks so good! Your tofu looks amazing! What was in the marinade? I would love to make this tofu!
April 25, 2009 at 12:56 am
ksgoodeats
Ahhh I hate it when I get to class only to find out it’s canceled! So aggravating! Yogurt messes are always winners in my book :)
April 26, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Michelle Hisae
2 classes canceled now? Dang, what a pain. Well, that dinner DEFINITELY made up for it. I have it in my “Recipes to Try” box. :)