Get Me to the Greek
Hello, old friends, it’s been awhile.
I’ve been sparing you from a Saturday post each week intentionally. Granted, you may think it is fascinating to follow Mama Pea and crew as we navigate multiple stores in a forty-five mile vicinity of our home, trying to stock our refrigerator and cupboards for a weekful of meals and cookbook recipe testing. However, I do not find it so fun to try to whip out my camera in the middle of Trader Joe’s when I’m simultaneously trying to stop mini-cart armed Gigi and Lulu from colliding with the unsuspecting ankles of strangers, speed reading the ingredient label on a package of corn tortillas and most difficult of all, making a futile attempt to keep from singing to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack that is being piped through the store. I was seconds away from starting a “Hey, Baby” flash mob.
Lulu’s response, “No, Mama, don’t sing.”
I couldn’t just skip over what happened on Friday, though. As you know, I had an appointment at the courthouse to take care of a little traffic infraction. I had done my research. I had copied the pertinent statutes. I even drew up exhibits, no My Little Ponies involved. I dusted off one of my old suits, put on my game face and showed up to argue my case. I’d even practiced in my mind, “Your Honor, I violated more traffic laws on the way here than I did on the day in question!” It’s a shame I didn’t get to use that argument.
Unfortunately, the arresting officer didn’t show up. I was quite disappointed. You might as well have told me that Law and Order was canceled.
My mom likes to think that the officer had somehow heard of my foolproof defense and my obvious legal prowess (I think she might be only slightly delusional when it comes to the size and diversity of my readership), and that out of sheer intimidation he was sparing himself certain embarrassment. I, on the other hand, think that Officer Bag O’Donuts was busy celebrating National Donut Day via a free donut eating spree across the state and could not be interrupted from his Maple Cream to come and testify.
The end result was that the case, my $278 fine and any of my lingering dreams of courtroom victory were dismissed. I asked Pea Daddy to take my picture with the judge, but he was afraid of tarnishing his legal reputation by asking Her Honor, “Do you mind? It’s for the blog.” Nice priorities, honey.
We celebrated my freedom and reimmersion into society by taking a return trip to the tropics. In my mind.
When we first went to Hawaii, I was still eating (and producing) dairy. Lulu was only five months old, and honestly, it was a taxing week. At least I can say I have breastfed in a bikini, changed sand-filled diapers and hushed hostile, sticky hot infants in one the most beautiful of settings of the world.
One of the (few) positive memories I do have is a lovely little tropical breakfast from our favorite coffee spot, Island Lava Java.
This is the very same coffee spot from which we have enjoyed cinnamon rolls the size of our heads.
Every day for breakfast on that first trip I ordered a fresh, ripe papaya filled with thick, rich Greek yogurt and topped with homemade granola. It was glorious.
I wasn’t a daily Greek yogurt eater before giving up dairy, but I did enjoy it occasionally, on those days when the warm, tropical air smelled of coconut, the palm fronds rustled in the breeze and someone needed burped and their diaper changed. Some things never change.
Vegan Greek Yogurt in Papaya with Granola
- 1 container organic plain non-dairy yogurt (soy or coconut milk)
- 2 unbleached coffee filters
- strainer
- small bowl
- 1 fresh papaya
- granola (homemade or your favorite brand)
Choose the dairy-free yogurt you like best. I buy this local, plain soy yogurt, Nancy’s.
It’s one of the least processed brands I’ve found, it’s made and manufactured about an hour from my house, and it is a sustainable, family-owned company.
Line a strainer with two coffee filters that have been opened and spread to cover the base of the strainer.
Place the strainer over a small bowl. Place the yogurt in the filter lined strainer and place the entire set up in the refrigerator.
Finding space was the hard part for me. I could feed an army with the food I prepare in a week in this house.
That watermelon is going to come crashing down onto my clean hardwoods this week at some point, mark my words.
Allow the yogurt to strain overnight. In the morning, push your children out of the way trying to get to the fridge before they do so they don’t spill the yogurt or watermelon or both.
I was pleased with how thick the yogurt was,
I gave it a quick whir through the VitaMix on a low speed to smooth it out (though you could definitely skip this step and just mix the yogurt well).
I sliced and scooped the papaya,
filled it with the yogurt,
and topped it with Ashley’s delicious Coconut Banana Granola.
A-loooooo-ha! I was transported. I could almost hear some local fisherwomen debating over which bait to use.
I was inspired to grab a ukulele, start strumming and break into a little, “I Had the Time of My Life.”
I know, Gigi. “No, Mama, don’t sing.”
I’m glad you got off with your ticket, too bad you didn’t have the pleasure of arguing for it.
I can’t wait to make that for breakfast! It looks fantastic!
That yogurt filled papaya looks amazing! Very creative way to make vegan Greek yogurt. I’m surprised there’s none of the market yet. Or is there? I can’t keep up with all of the brands and types anymore, lol.
Jenn
Oh that looks heavenly inside the papaya! YUM! And I agree, no photo op’s necessary (or really possible if your TJs is as crowded as mine) inside a TJs
I too have given up posting either Sat or Sun, depending on the week. Makes life a lot easier
If I am not around much in the next week or so, it’s b/c we are moving in 36 hrs and I just had my show and am still recovering from that whirlwind and onto the next.
Have a great week!
Congrats on getting your ticket dismissed. I showed up to court to dispute my ticket as well and the cop didn’t show. So rude! Although it made things a lot easier. I didn’t prepare much of an argument.
That vegan greek yogurt looks fantastic. And here I was thinking greek yogurt was impossible to make without dairy!
That looks AWESOME! I love tropical fruits!
Glad you got off your ticket – sorry you couldn’t use your argument though, next time? Or no, not next time – maybe you can get Lulu and Gigi to play traffic court with you?
Whoohoooo!!!! If I could only get so lucky! I met my lawyer today, and she’s a rock star. I feel ready.
PS. Your hair looks great!
Ugh, too bad court was so anticlimactic! It’s always a shame when you’re all ready for a great battle and you’ve won before it even technically begins. But at least the outcome was the same. Great entertaining post, as usual. The hair color is looking better by the day! You honestly look 10 years younger in those pictures. Then again, maybe it’s the relief of $200+ smackers remaining in your pocket?
I just heard about that way to make Greek yogo at home about 1 month ago and now I’m seeing it all over. The texture looks perfect after whirling it in the vitamix. Mmmm such a good breakfast idea!!
Love your hair too!!! Sorry your court story was drama-free, haha!
When I was in China this last trip, I had White Woodear Mushroom Soup that was served, you guessed it, in a Papaya!
I guess I’ve just made a new rule that you must always Capitolize Foods.
I’ve missed you! Hope you had a great weekend!
Xo,
Erin
I recently bought soy yogurt and wondered if I could strain it for a Greek yogurt like affect. I love your new hair!
i love this idea of scopping out the center of fruit and eating it like this! i wish the same could be done iwth a mango…but that darn seed in it is in the way!!! this looks delicious! nothing like buying local
Success! Just think of all the papaya you can buy with that ticket money. Sweet.
I love this idea. I had to cancel my trip to Hawaii this year so I’m pretty excited to bring this teeny piece of it into my life.
Thanks Mama Pea!
I have always been so inclined to make my own Greek Yogurt. It seems so easy and so much more economically wise than buying gallons of the stuff each week. Love that you are able to bring a little Hawaii back into your life!
That looks wonderful! And might I add so does the cinnamon roll
I have been craving all things FRUIT!
Love it! Also excited about directions on how to make my own greek yogurt.
Also – “I asked Pea Daddy to take my picture with the judge, but he was afraid of tarnishing his legal reputation by asking Her Honor, “Do you mind? It’s for the blog.” Nice priorities, honey.” – Love! There’s always at least one line in a post that kills me – it was this one this time.
I love your papaya creation! What a wonderful idea. I used to do that with cantaloupe and completely forgot about it until now.
yay for no ticket!
and i need to try making soy greek yogurt…wonder how my belly would take it, or more like my taste buds since i think soy yogurt tastes like cardboard.
I never understand how the cops can just not show up! In other newsssss, I saw a commercial for The Soup yesterday and our man was lookin’ mighty fine.
Glad your case was dismissed! The cop most definitely was donut shop hoppin!
What a beautiful idea to put yogurt in a papaya. Looks wonderful!!
You are a genius – I hate how yogurt gets clumpy after straining, but never though of whirring it in a blender to smooth it out. *duh*
Thanks!
Love papaya and yogurt. I just made my own yogurt from scratch (and in a crock pot) and I’m definitely going to try a non-dairy version soon.
I wish I could find soy yogurt with those kinds of ingredients here. I have yet to find anything I like the ingredients on. I need to keep looking though.
By the way – I LOVE your hair!!!!!!
I am eating greek yogurt with pineapple while reading this and now I want to go back to Hawaii. Ahhh memories!
I also laughed at your music comment in TJs because I went on Saturday morning right when it opened. There were only a few of us in there, and when a Michael Jackson song came on a some of us in the frozen section started singing softly. It’s not embarassing if you’re not the only one doing it, right? RIGHT?
Huzzah! no ticket! If you had not prepared, officer would have shown, and possibly a fine… it’s better this way, even though I’m sure you had a great argument… make a VLOG of your argument for all of us!
I love reading your blog, you are hilarious. Today is no different, except you also transported me to Hawaii (it’s been far too long since I’ve been there…) where I too used to eat papaya and mango every breakfast. *sigh*. I wonder if there’s still papaya at my store…
Congrats on getting the case dismissed!!!
Papaya is actually the only fruit I don’t like, but I’d love to try this with a cantaloupe or some other yogurt-worthy fruit vessel. Yum!
i’ve never had papaya but that looks stunning!!! yum!
do you think your greek yogurt would work with coconut milk yogurt? It seems to be much runnier than soy…I just really don’t like the taste of soy yogurts.
I don’t think it would hurt to try. If I do, I’ll let you know!
i love that you use the coffee filter trick too…SO worth the trouble! i’ve never had papaya, but i think i might just be hitting up the store later to find one…this sounds like the perfect breakfast or snack!
At little FYI about TJ’s photo-shoots–they’re not allowed. I’ve been told in 2 different TJs to put away my camera. At the second one the manager even tried to delete the pictures I had taken.
Apparently they’re worried about the competition stealing to design for those highly fashionable shirts.
oh my gosh, small world! We used to live i Kona and right by Lava Java. we still do work there 3 weeks out of the year. Thats our favorite spot! I used to work at the Hilton as the fitness director. Love it!
Trader Joe’s is definitely a dangerous place on Saturdays. But watch out if they run out of those little red carts!
If it makes you feel better, I’m pretty sure I told my mom not to sing on multiple occasions. And maybe I still do.
Congrats on having your traffic case dismissed! Mama Pea: 1, Officer Do-nut Mess With Mama Pea: 0.
Again with the stereotypical police jokes? I love your blog but it’s hard when you’re living in the police lifestyle not to be easily offended when the person you love is the brunt of so many stereotypical jokes.
My husband has missed court before, yes. But it was because once I was in labor, once he had been shot in the stomach, once because he was in a standoff with an armed man, and once when was investigating a child abuse case. So sure, have your laugh about the donuts. I’m pretty sure it’s in good fun. But please, remember that police are people too. They are husbands and wives and parents and sons and daughters. I actually hope that he was eating a donut during your case rather than having to deal with what he probably was dealing with.
It was a complete joke, Kate. I hear lawyer jokes all the time and think they are funny. I have nothing but respect for the law and the people whose duty it is to enforce it. I worked for the Department of Justice for a time and was a public servant myself. I like to approach my life with a sense of humor, though. It makes it a lot more fun.
Oh my gosh! I love Lava Java! My husband and I spent a month and a half on the Big Island a few years ago and we spent the weekend in Kona once. We ate at Lava Java TWICE that weekend! I love their shrimp and kalamata olive pizza.
Shoooo. Now that you’ve come up with vegan Greek yogurt, I may just be returning to veganism very soon…
I also wanted to let you know that I’m an air-headed dumb blonde who’s graduating magna cum laude. Just saying…STEREOTYPES ROCK. I’m cracking up over here.
Once again <3 your bloggy!! Life is way more fun when you make joke!
Glad to hear your case was dropped. And I can appreciate a police joke. A joke is a joke…nothing more. Certainly nothing to get so offended by either, but I digress.
Anyways, your mention of breastfeeding in a bikini reminded me of my vacation last year. It is an experience, huh? At least bikinis make feeding time pretty easy.
Oh gosh that sounds so so good! I bet it would be great with Mangos too!
Awesome about the case being dismissed! And yogurt-filled fruit? Why have I never tried that before?!
I’ve been reading but not commenting as much….just wanted to de-lurk and send some love!
Thanks, Lara. I know you are around, you can’t stay away
Never feel like you have to comment, but I appreciate the love!
1. Loved this post. 2. Showing me a Greek yogurt technique during vegan month was not a good idea, I’m pretty sure my husband wants dinner now, not a trip to the store to buy coffee filters and yogurts. What a jerk!
Ohhh Mama Pea. You make me want to move to (um wherever it is you live) so I can babysit your kids and sneak leftovers from your fridge. The papaya looks beyond amazing.
And hooray for no ticket, although it is completely lame that the cop wasn’t there to be blown away by your amazing lawyer skills.
I just found your site the other day via A Runner’s Wife’s Life and I cannot stop laughing! I’m neither a vegan nor a mother but your sense of humor has brightened my day and inspired my own (healthy food) blogging to take itself a lot less seriously.
Thank you, Ingrid! I’m touched, truly.
I bet you’d be great at guitar hero (I can tell with the pink guitar rock-out skills)
So glad to hear that about Nancy’s! I buy that brand all the time (yogurt et cottage cheese) and love it.
Lulu’s baby blues in that picture are STUNNING. Seriously, gorgeous. I’ve been meaning to try soy yogurt – what does it taste like?
Sorry about your court date, glad it all worked out in the end though! I would love to hear you sing
I bet you are better than me. I love making my own yogurt 
nobody puts gigi (i mean baby) in a corner.
Congratulations on your victory! Never a doubt in my mind, the pony visual aids proved your case beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Bring out the tutu-clad mini hulu dancers! I’m sure they can improv a victory dance.
One way to get through the Costco aisles, even on a Saturday for sure, would be to fling one’s spouse into an improvised “Dirty Dancing” performance. Gigi and Lulu could sing a capella, and you and Pea Daddy could Mambo on down to the Sabra!
i love that picture of your fridge! it’s so nice to know that i’m not crazy… it takes a lot of food to feed 3 athletes!
and i’m quite sure you’re a lovely vocalist.
-rebekah
LOL! I was at TJ’s this morning and ‘hungry eyes’ came on… the funny part was when the staff started belting it out!
Greek yogurt was definitely the last non-vegan thing to go, and the only one I sometimes miss! I love straining vegan yogurts (or fermenting things) to get a similar effect
Thank you, Mama Pea. You provide me with my well deserved break from my week long, 8-10 hours EVERYDAY, study session I have been forced into after deciding to skip four days of summer school to go party on a mountain. You and your family make me giggle every single time I read your blog, and I appreciate it. If only you would write a cell biology book, filled with tid bits to make me smile, then maybe I would stop procrastinating and get back to studying. Seriously though, you’re awesome.
Oh, Holly, that is so sweet! Unfortunately, there is no chance whatsoever that I will be writing a cell biology book anytime soon. Astrophysics is more my game.
A brand of US yogurt that’s actually available in Canada? Amazing! I was not aware it was made in Oregon either. Probably because I’m generally not looking closely at the soy yogurts. But always good to know
Your newly highlighted hair looks beautiful mama pea!
Congrats on getting rid of the pesky parking ticket! No doubt it would have been a resounding victory had the officer dared show his face. I’m in law school, and won my first trial this week. Even more fun than watching Law & Order!
Hi there,
Yes, this is old but I’ve just been re-reading your old posts while
combing for recipe gems
I make greek yogurt by straining regular yogurt too.
In case you aren’t already, did you know that
you can use the strained leftover liquid in your smoothies?
They’re very nutritious and it’d be a shame to throw them away!
Regards,
Sasha
I did know that! Since we’ve stopped buying yogurt (we’re almost entirely vegan), it’s not really applicable to us, but if we do strain the soy again, I will definitely use that whey! Thanks for the tips.