- Hi and welcome to The First Kitchen! My name is Natalie, and I'm an undergrad at the University of Texas (hook 'em!). I'm learning how to feed myself, explore Austin, and have fun, all while on a college student's budget.
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Category Archives: vegan
reasons to love the the flagship whole foods store
[a very eclectic pumpkin patch, fractal-like cauliflowers, a delightful bulk section, my hot bar selection, and two types of kale to plant in the fall garden]
Posted in advice, beans, my life, photos, restaurant review, scenes from the weekend, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian, wordless wednesday
Tagged beans, bulk foods, food, grains, photos, whole foods
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well, i’m going for it.
After months (years?) of deliberation, I’m going to start eating vegan. (For a month, that is.) Eating vegan is something I’ve wanted to do for a while — not just because it’s better for you and better for the Earth, … Continue reading
Posted in advice, beans, casserole, gluten-free, photos, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian
Tagged food, photos, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes
14 Comments
the do’s and do-not’s of turning 21
Do not start drinking at 1 p.m. on a weekday. Do not sober up and then start drinking again. You will be tired and have a headache, and then you will become tipsy again. Do not double-fist free drinks. It is likely that … Continue reading
Posted in 5 ingredients or less, advice, beverage, my life, scenes from the weekend, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged cocktails, cosmopolitan, drinks, food, photos, pomegranate juice
3 Comments
quick lunches and snacks
School has started, which means panic is starting to set in. My planner is filling up with things I need to do, and finding time to blog (much less finding time to feed myself, sans writing and photography) is getting … Continue reading
Posted in 5 ingredients or less, beans, dip, entree, gluten-free, legumes, side dish, snack, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian
Tagged back-to-school, broccoli, carrots, food, hummus, longhorns, photos, roasted vegetables, UT, vegan recipes, vegan veggie burger, vegetarian recipes
7 Comments
cold-brewed iced coffee
Coffee is a really big deal to me. Kind of in the same way that meth is a big deal to some people. I drink drip. I drink fresh-ground beans. I drink dark roast and light roast. I drink lattes. … Continue reading
Posted in 5 ingredients or less, beans, beverage, breakfast, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged almond milk, coffee, food, iced coffee, photos, summer recipes, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes
3 Comments
right-o then. mind the gap.
I’m a bit late to the Harry Potter party. Even though every other middle-schooler around me kept up with the series, I read through The Goblet of Fire and suddenly stopped caring. It’s not a coincidence that the last HP book … Continue reading
Posted in beans, casserole, entree, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian
Tagged England, English food, food, gardener's pie, Harry Potter, London, photos, shepherd's pie, U.K., vegan recipes, vegetarian English food, vegetarian recipes
9 Comments
summer quinoa salad
Most days, I wake up early to have a few moments of tranquility before the day begins. I read food blogs and clear out my email inbox, sip my cup-and-a-half of coffee, and if you catch me on a particularly … Continue reading
Posted in beans, entree, grain, side dish, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian
Tagged Austin farmer's market, bell peppers, black beans, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, food, Johnson's Backyard Garden, photos, quinoa, quinoa salad, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes
5 Comments
a guide to Texas summers (and cilantro-lime chickpea salad)
When family and friends from out of state visit, their first question usually is, “[Insert expletive of choice], is it this hot all summer?” The answer is a resounding and emphatic YES. And generally, not only is it “this hot” … Continue reading
Posted in beans, entree, gluten-free, side dish, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian
Tagged austin, bean salad, chickpea salad, chickpeas, cilantro, food, garbanzo beans, photos, surviving Texas summers, texas, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes
5 Comments
sweet and simple: peanut butter sweet potatoes
**Sidenote and request: My Uncle Robert is a foodie in the true sense of the word. He’s taught me that fresh, local ingredients are the most delicious, and he always takes me to the best restaurants when I visit him … Continue reading
Posted in 5 ingredients or less, dessert, side dish, snack, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian
Tagged cinnamon, food, peanut butter, photos, simple recipes, sweet potatoes, vegan desserts, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes
2 Comments
the second kitchen
Like I mentioned in my last post, we’ve spent the past week moving and cleaning. Our new apartment is just 4 doors down the hall, so luckily transporting everything was just a matter of wheeling it all across the walkway. … Continue reading
Posted in entree, grain, legumes, my life, side dish, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged food, food photos, legumes, lentil meatballs, lentils, photos, recipes, vegan recipes, vegetarian protein, vegetarian recipes, whole grains
9 Comments
