A gigantic ball of whimsy in the form of a 5 ft tall Greek gal.

Daily scribbles and photos I have taken along the way.

[demitroulala]

I have neglected this blog for too long, but worry not - I. AM. BACK.  And what better way to start back up than with breakfast!  I have a bit of an extended weekend this week by having this gloomy Monday off of work, but instead of staying in bed for most of the day I decided to wake up and make myself pancakes as a treat!  Let me fill you in on a little secret, I used to HATE making pancakes...but that was only because I could never figure out how to cook them fully, while simultaneously trying not to burn them. My boyfriend always jokes that he cooks pancakes better than me, and I cook eggs better than him, but today I think that changed. Maybe it was because I went into it with low expectations, maybe it was pure luck, maybe it was because I finally learned to not add so much batter and to lower the heat (yes, that was it); whatever it was these pancakes were not only appealing, but appetizing too! Now I didn’t get very fancy with these recipe, so keep that in mind, but honestly these still are the essential element/base to fancy pancakes - so dress them up if you’d like! EASY Breakfast Pancakes 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour (Leveled) 2 Tbs Sugar 2 tsp Baking Powder A pinch of salt 3/4 Cup Milk of choice (+ a few more Tbs incase mixture is too thick) 2 Tbs unsalted butter (or any butter substitute)  1 Large Egg OPTIONAL: Dash of Cinnamon  In a  mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt (+ cinnamon). In another small bowl beat together the milk and egg. In a slightly larger bowl melt the butter, and let cool for a minute or two. Next, stir in the milk/egg mixture into the melted butter. (Make sure you are whisking constantly to blend and to avoid any curdling.) Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and mix it in just enough to moisten the mixture. It WILL look a little lumpy. This is the consistency you want, since an overworked mixture equals tough and chewy pancakes. If your batter seems too thick add a bit more milk! (I had to add another 2 Tbs to mine using Almond Milk) Heat your pan over medium heat + coat it with your choice of butter/oil. Take a 1/4 measuring cup or large spoon to scoop your batter and slowly drop it onto your heated pan. Wait until you see the top surface bubble up and then flip and cook until the other side is a golden brown. Feel free to lift your pancake and peek to make sure it isn’t burning! (Also if need be, adjust the heat - everyone’s stove is different.)  Serve immediately, or use something to cover your pancakes to keep them warm! I use a microwave food cover over the plate of cooked pancakes until I am done making all of the pancakes. TIP: Top with syrup, powdered sugar, fruit, Nutella, lemon curd, or whatever your heart desires! Tell me, what are some of your favorite breakfast foods? xxx Demi

[demitroulala]

November, and Donuts, and Coffee, OH MY! This time of year, where the morning air is brisk but the sun still has a nice warmth, definitely makes for my favorite type of mornings. I even love the smell of the morning dew mixed with the falling leaves, it tells me that Fall is here, finally, and I welcomed this first weekend of November with open arms. My boyfriend Dylan and I started our day yesterday by venturing out to grab donuts from two popular donut-selling food trucks, the Vault Van and the Firecakes truck. We are pretty lucky because both food trucks park nearby on the weekends. I’m not sure about about you, but for me nothing beats an old-fashioned donut. I decided to grab a Buttermilk Old-Fashioned from Firecakes, and Dylan stood just a few feet over in line at the Vault Van to grab my favorite, the Lemon Poppyseed, as well as the special-of-the-day, Stawberry. We were lucky to snag these few because they were close to selling out for the day! After obtaining the precious cargo, we headed back to the house to savor them with the coffee we had brewing. Okay, so I have to let you guys in on a little secret, I am currently OBSESSED with a ground coffee I picked up at the grocery store on a whim recently. Cameron’s is the brand, Holiday Grogg is the flavor. To get into specifics it is a light roast coffee with an undertone of cinnamon, an overtone of brandy, and has a bit of a nutty finish. For anyone else who is a flavored-coffee lover, I recommend this 100%! I prefer to drink it black, but it’s also tasty with a little cream. I fear it is here only for the Holiday season (i.e. the name), so I plan to grab another bag, or two, before it leaves the shelves at Mariano’s forever! We spent the rest of yesterday doing a mix of errands and a spending a great amount of time at Old Orchard searching for the perfect boots. I am sad to say I never did find a pair I liked, so instead of sulking the rest of the day, I opted for ordering Chinese takeout instead! Tell me, what are your favorite ways to spend the weekend?

xxx Demi

[demitroulala]

Did you know that October is National Chili Month? Here in Illinois ‘Chili’ is often spelled with two ‘L’s and everyone seems to have a recipe of there own! I however spell it with only one ‘L’, and did not have a favorite recipe...until now.  Last night I decided I wanted a warm and hearty dinner, and after taking a quick look to see what I had in the cabinets I decided to try and whip up a vegan friendly “cheesy” chili mac. I did do a bit of back and forth of adding spices and adding more broth; so I was nervous it wouldn’t turn out as tasty as I hoped...but to my surprise it was actually quite delicious! After two heaping bowls I decided this was one for the books, or should I say, the blog. So here you go ladies and gents, comfort food at its finest. OH! Before I forget, a quick FYI: I do very much like spicy foods, so you may need to turn down the spices a bit from my recipe if you like your chili a little more on the mild side. Also I did a bit of guess-timating with my measurements, so take “to taste” very literally.  “Cheesy” Chili Mac Recipe 10oz Uncooked elbow pasta (I used vegetable & wheat twisted elbows) 3-4 Cloves garlic, chopped 1 Medium yellow onion, diced 1 Tbsp vegetable oil *4 Cups vegetable broth (I used the organic store brand) *2 Cups “chicken” broth (I used ‘Better Than Bouillon, No Chicken Base’) 1 (14.5oz) Can petite diced tomatoes 1 Can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 Can mixed beans (garbanzo, pinto, kidney), drained and rinsed 1 Cup Textured Vegetable Protein (I used Bob’s Red Mill TVP) 1 Tbsp dark brown sugar, loose 2 Tbsp chili powder  1/2 tsp Ghost pepper flakes 1/2 tsp Ground cayenne pepper 1 tsp Red pepper flakes 1 1/2-2 Tbsp cumin (more or less, to taste) A dash of paprika 1/2-1 Cup nutritional yeast flakes (more or less, to your taste preference) Salt and pepper (to taste) Large stock pot/dutch oven OPTIONAL: fresh garnish, sour cream, and shredded cheese of your choice.  (Buy the vegan versions to stick with the vegan-friendly recipe.) *You can use one or the other, I just used what I had to make enough. Heat oil stock pot, then add in both both garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant, soft, and translucent.   Mix in TVP, broth, beans, tomatoes, nutritional yeast, brown sugar, and spices. Bring to a simmer and stir in uncooked pasta, add in salt/pepper to taste. Bring mixture to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked. This should take about 15 minutes, perfect time to clean up the mess from prepping! Uncover and remove from heat.  Pour yourself a bowl, and load on the toppings, if you please! TIP: Adding shredded cheese adds an extra cheesiness that the nutritional yeast lacks.  Tell me, what are some of your favorite comfort foods? xxx Demi

[demitroulala]

Quick, here is a quiz. Which of these do you agree with? Autumn is the best season. Fall-time is the best time.  Sweets are nice treats.  Caramel apples are healthy, because, Apples.  If you agreed with any/all of these options, keep reading! 

My weekends seem to always be quite busy and are usually spent with my boyfriend Dylan. Though once in awhile we are able to have a very laid back weekend, which are relaxing for a change. This past weekend was more of the latter and it mixed perfectly with the very cool and crisp weather we were having. I have really come to appreciate a good donut, and thanks to various food trucks and shops here in Chicago, they seem to have become a staple to my weekend diet. Dylan and I were excited for the new location of Stan’s Donuts to finally open up, so naturally that was our first stop of the day on Saturday. I would have loved to show you a photo of the delicious orange old fashioned donut with a dark chocolate glaze I had, but I ate it before I remembered to snap a pic. Oh well! There is always next time, I promise.  Our day out was cut short since I was feeling a bit under the weather. In a way this was a little blessing in disguise! The rest of our Saturday was spent in warmth at home, with my favorite candle burning (blonde woods & musk), and watching Young Frankenstein in the spirit of Halloween. Later on in the evening we decided to try and make caramel apples with apples we have been hoarding in the fridge from when we went apple picking a couple weeks back! They were a delicious treat to end a day well spent. Quick & Easy Caramel Apple Recipe 1 bag of Caramel Bits 2 Tbsp of water 5 Apples of your choice (washed & dried) Toppings of your choice (sprinkles, nuts, candies) Wood/Bamboo Skewer Sticks Wax paper Cooking spray Cookie sheet Push skewer stick into the stem side of each apple and set aside. Line cookie sheet with wax paper and give a quick spray with cooking spray. In a microwave save bowl combine caramel bits and 2T of water, and heat until melted. Dip apples into melted caramel until evenly coated, you may have to use a spoon to get the caramel all over the apple.  Let the excessive caramel drip off before topping with sprinkles, nuts, or candies.  Place apples on tray and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until caramel sets.

Tell me, what are some of your favorite fall-time treats? xxx Demi

[demitroulala]

Welcome!

I’m Demi, the 5 foot Greek gal who runs this blog.  I’m a twenty-something living in the greatest city in the Midwest. My goal here is simple, I want to have the perfect balance of mediums to have an outlet for my own ideas and interests, while at the same time giving others an inside look to my life.  Bear with me, but I want to take your senses on a bit of a wayward trip! Here you’ll hear about my experiences, my strifes, my loves, and my favorite sounds. You’ll smell my home cooked meals and treats, while savoring the flavor when you dine with me at restaurants (figuratively, of course!). You’ll see some of my fashion & beauty choices, while taking a look at the dozens of photos I can’t help but to take to document *almost* every picture perfect moment.  I love the idea of having a little place of my own to recall and reminisce about the moments and memories of times in which I have laughed, loved, indulged, traveled, and experienced life! So hopefully you enjoy these times I share with you.  Feel free to follow me here and on Instagram !  xxx Demi