Oli and I are two different people when it comes to food. I'm incredibly impatient so I will take whatever shortcut is necessary to get a good result (albeit sometimes I go the distance if I know that's the only way to go). Oli on the other hand doesn't mind waiting. This is why I have yet to attempt a croissant and Oli can spend a week making batches because he's in the mood.




Just look at 'em layers.
These muffins that I made for a picnic were a result of dumping all the ingredients into one bowl and sticking a piece of chocolate on top for "decoration". Okay, granted I do a lot of thinking when it comes to recipes I'm serving people and also ones that I make gluten free, vegan, and refined sugar free. So there's thought in the process but the action itself is quite minimal.





I really wish I could tell you how I made them but I made them in a pinch through experimenting. Besides, I'll probably experiment again and figure out a way to make them even better before I give the recipe to you guys.

Right now I'm brainstorming for my next sweet endeavor, which I would love to serve at a barbeque. Any recommendations are welcome. So until next time everyone!

Oli vs. Aya Food Close-ups

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• bake cake gluten free sweets •
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• by Aya S
  Aya S

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Good morning my lovely readers and a happy work day to you too (May 1st is Working Day so naturally nobody works). I am spending the morning completely dehydrated because I told myself I would not get up for any reason until I am done writing this post. Oh how nice I am to myself.

I think you must be wondering how my 21-day vegan challenge went considering it is now over. Very well actually! I should write a separate post about it because it really changed me, but in short, I absolutely loved it. Today I am writing to you all with a recipe I came up with while on the cleanse.

I love to eat cereal when I want something quick. The problem with cereal when eating vegan, gluten free, and refined sugar free is that a lot of the cereal in the mass market has added sugar or glucose syrup and enriched wheat flour. Muesli is primarily made from oats so many people think it's better, but it can easily fall under the same trap. Why not make your own with better for you ingredients? I swear it's not hard at all.

Natural Buzz Muesli
  4 Servings

1 cup Oats (any type is fine)
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tbsp Ground Flaxseed
1 tbsp Chia Seeds
a pinch of Salt
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Nuts and Dried Fruit
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2 tbsp Nut Butter (I used Peanut Butter)
1 tbsp Black Strap Molasses
16 drops of liquid Stevia
2 tbsp Oil (I used Sunflower, but you can also use Coconut, Olive, Flax, etc.)
2 tbsp Non-dairy Milk (I used Almond)



Preheat the oven to 150° C (or 300° F).

Prepare all your dry ingredients in a bowl and mix. Chop up the dried fruit and nuts into small pieces (I used almonds, walnuts, dried figs and apricots, but if you use fruits such as raisins or cranberries, chopping is not needed) and add to the dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl or cup, mix together the wet ingredients until it comes together. Pour over the dry nut and fruit mixture and toss together. The texture should be clumpy and not damp (as shown in the picture below).



Place parchment paper onto a metal cookie sheet or tray and evenly distribute the mixture. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Then turn the oven off and leave the tray inside for another 10 minutes. Take the tray out and let it cool.
Store the cooled muesli in a clean jar or plastic bag. Now you have your own homemade muesli, complete with natural sugars to keep your energy up for the rest of the day. Enjoy!

Natural Buzz Müsli

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• 21dayvegan bake breakfast gluten free recipe snacks sugar free vegan •
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• by Aya S
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I have a bad habit of sleeping late, waking up early, and then just powering through the day and sleeping late again. Please excuse me if I start writing gibberish because my brain is rusting. Now onto content (what a horrible introduction)!


I recently went to see the Russian Ravens play in Mitte. I'm not just saying this because I know the band members (okay, Oli is totally the drummer) but seriously, they are great! I definitely had moments of Explosions in the Sky feels the first time around. The only set back is I have no idea what they're saying because the lyrics are all in Russian.

Also, I've been experimenting in the kitchen a lot more.


I bought these soy pellets to test out. You just soak them in water or broth and they become a sort of meat substitute. I'm really used to eating fake meat so it's not out of the norm for me but for any meat eaters out there, don't expect this to taste like what you're used to.

I also have been doing a lot of baking.


Gluten Free, vegan, and sugar free is really tricky if you don't have the right ingredients. In fact, I still don't have the right ingredients (much harder to find arrowroot powder or xantham gum here casually).

I did manage to create an edible sad brick!


Tada! It even has glue on top. Okay, it wasn't half bad (I just need to work on texture). But seriously, doesn't it look tragic?

Finally on Easter (or rather the night before), I went to a huge fire near Oli's house.




It's actually a practice here in Germany to have Easter fires. There are many in the more suburban parts of Berlin and Brandenburg, and they have little shows and play schlager music (it's the music you imagine drunk German people dance to). Definitely a cozy way to spend a brisk evening.


I stick out like a sore thumb.

What did you guys do for Easter?

The Last Few Days

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• 21dayvegan bake berlin brandenburg challenge cooking event friends germany holiday update vegan •
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• by Aya S
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It's officially the end of the first week of my 21 day vegan challenge and might I say it went smoother than I anticipated. I thought I would go coo coo bananas over not having a bit of something sweet here and there but honestly, fruit is amazing and I've been dropping a few drops of stevia into my lemon water to make lemonade to tote around. I admit there are a few things that I miss but I realize this is all just a way for me to get more creative in the kitchen.

I recently took a trip out to the LPG Bio Market in Mitte. There are many bio stores in Berlin where all products sold are organic (different from America where there are many health food stores but not necessarily everything sold is organic). I really love LPG . . . it's pricier than some of the other bio stores but their selection is great. I can't find another place that has this specific peanut butter I like (without salt, sugar, or oil, but also tastes like the PB I buy in NY).

Here are some of the purchases I made:


Vegan Breakfast Yogurt, Soybeans, and 92% Dark Chocolate.

The yogurt is great! I love to eat yogurt but I can't actually stomach dairy that well. This one happens to also be sugar free.The soybeans are for my fermentation (I make my own fermented soybeans aka natto because it's cheaper, tastes great, and reduces waste). I also found some interesting chocolate!


I see this brand in bio stores a lot and this one particular bar happens to contain coconut blossom sugar instead of refined! Dark chocolate also contains a good amount of fiber and anti-oxidants (if you didn't know why people are obsessed with anti-oxidants, it's because it reduces the risk of cancer and signs of aging)! I like dark chocolate for snacking especially.

Speaking of snacks, my favorite at the moment is smearing peanut butter onto rice crackers and topping it with bananas.



Simple yet satisfying. Try it with a sprinkle of cinnamon and let the goodness sink in.

Finally, I've been really loving the Detox tea from Kusmi.


The first time I tried Kusmi was when my sister got me a sampler pack for my birthday a few years back. I haven't looked back since. I keep a variety of different teas and brands around but when I feel like splurging on myself, I go for Kusmi. This one in particular does exactly what it says and it has an overall cleaning and calming effect. Kusmi has many stores and distributors around the world so if you're ever nearby, definitely check out their selection!

I think that will be all for today. I hope you guys have a lovely Sunday!

New and Old Favorites

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• 21dayvegan beverage grocery health organic random snacks tea vegan •
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• by Aya S
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I'm not one to plan meals way ahead of time because usually I'll get a last minute craving for something else and scrap the original idea. I am aware however, of how important it is to plan when you have a busy schedule ahead of you. I also believe that when doing something like the 21 Day Vegan Challenge, one has to come prepared with food or it'll be a lot harder to stay on track when hunger strikes.



I like to prepare different components of the meal on a free day when I have time. Sundays are great because it forecasts what the rest of the week will look like.

I don't like to prepare for the whole week because it's too boring to eat the same food over and over again. I make it easy though--a lot of the time I pre-chop only veggies so I can quickly make a stir-fry in the morning and then let it cool while I'm getting ready before packing it up. It also helps to give yourself options.


Here I have (from the bottom left counterclockwise) some greens I washed and chopped up (there is raw red cabbage hidden underneath but not everyone likes raw cabbage), some peppers and carrots cut up in strips for easy snacking, choice of pasta or rice (here I use gluten free pasta and brown rice), roasted veggies, chopped strawberries, and homemade avocado dip.


Make enough that when you're also in the house and hungry, you can have some to snack on.

Now when you need to make yourself a meal in advance, all you have to do is take an empty container and layer the different components. Super simple!



I always put the wettest bit on top so it's easier to mix later. Then depending on what I have on hand, I'll also add lemon juice, olive or flax oil, and some fresh herbs. Since I've managed to keep my basil plant alive long enough for it to regenerate new leaves (I swear, I am an accidental plant killer because plants always die at my fingertips welp), I sprinkled some on top.

The finished product:


Pretty to look at, appetizing, and easy on the wallet! I also pack extra snacks for in between meals (comes in handy after working out or carrying heavy trays of food more welp).

My Favorite Snacks:

-Dried Fruits and Nuts: Having a variety works best so you don't get bored of the same taste and texture.
-Fresh fruit: Apples, oranges, bananas, etc.
-Dark Chocolate: Anti-oxidants yes, but mainly because it tastes really good.
-Roasted Seaweed: It's the bomb dot com.
-Snack Bars/Energy Bars: I stocked up on Lara bars, Clif Bars, Kind Bars in college for a midday energy boost. I admit in Berlin, I don't buy energy bars because they are too expensive, but I do make my own Lara bar hybrid.
-Cereal: Some people can't eat dry cereal but I love it.

Anyway, those were a few tips for anyone looking to incorporate meal planning into their lives. Of course, this was an example of a layered salad meal, but you can do whatever you please (you can hard boil eggs, boil/bake potatoes, make chili with rice and corn salsa on top, etc.) I just want to point out that though some people will claim they don't have time to prepare all these different things, it actually saves time because there's no worrying about it later. And I love toting food around because it makes me happy to know there's a meal waiting for me inside my bag, not to mention it's a great conversation starter because most people will be curious as to what you've prepared.


Happy eating everyone~

Meal Planning & What I Do

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• 21dayvegan cooking diet grocery health lunch tips vegetables •
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• by Aya S
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Guten Morgen everyone! Well, it's technically not morning here anymore but since it's just becoming morning in America, I'll nab the opportunity.

The weather, albeit some rain and clouds, has been pretty amazing lately and when amazing weather hits, all I want are jazzy refreshments. I've been getting a kick out of the fruit water trend, mainly because it suits my no-hassle personality, and putting slices of fruit in water and letting it sit overnight is one of the easiest ways to make your life better. Not to mention it's just so pretty to look at!


Art in a pitcher.
After taking a few pictures, I knew my tummy needed solid food. A bowl of oats always fills the void (not to mention it fits the requirements for my 21 Day Vegan Challenge!)


I like it thick so I continuously add water and stir until I reach a desired consistency. Mix-ins while cooking include the following: flax flakes, ground hazelnuts, cinnamon, and raisins.

Then I topped it with strawberries, lemon zest (I love the multiple uses for citrus), more cinnamon, and some maple syrup. Guten Appetit!






By the way, this is my favorite bowl. I bought it in Paris the second time I went because I was completely obsessed with the idea of getting a giant bowl for cappuccino (as I saw in this one travel show). I realize now it serves no purpose for coffee in my hands because I seldom drink it. But the cats! Boy, are they cute.

The brand of the bowl is Comptoir de Famille. I am in love with their stuff.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed having breakfast with me. Ciao for now!

Strawberries and Lemon for Breakfast

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• 21dayvegan breakfast challenge cooking fruit gluten free health vegan •
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• by Aya S
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