When I was growing up, I sometimes found myself wishing for a twin sister. This is not to say that I didn’t love and worship my older brother, because I did and still do (he’s amazing, don’tchaknow). But occasionally I thought it might be nice to have a girl-type sibling with whom I could whisper at night; a twin who would, out-of-the-blue, say precisely what I was thinking and vice-versa; another soul in whose presence I would feel whole and at home.
It turns out that I’ve always had that twin (soul)sister. It’s simply that we were accidentally born in different countries, on different days, to different families.
Image courtesy of Amber
I love my Ambersister. And I’m absolutely loving my time here with her and her new husband, Matt, in Kansas City, Missouri. Larks and shenanigans! Larks and deliciousness and shenanigans!
I touched down in Kansas City (Missouri!) two weeks ago, and Amber immediately whisked me off to Mud Pie Bakery, a vegan coffeehouse and bakery of such wonder and magic that I would swoon to have its like in Canberra. Instead, I simply swooned over Mud Pie’s hemp milk and almond milk lattes.
Sufficiently caffeinated, Amber then took me to her home where she showered me with flavoured nut butter packets and hot sauce, all according to a pact we made long, long ago. I swooned over both the treats and her generosity.
I should probably mention that I also swooned over the rooftop view at Amber and Matt’s place. This swooning was partly because the day was warm and sunny, partly because Kansas City (Missouri!) looks different again from every other American city I’ve yet visited, and partly because I was finally standing with my deardear friend three years after we first connected through words, emails, dreams.
But no view can make me swoon as much as a little bowl of vanilla bean coconut milk ice cream topped with Amber’s incredible peanut butter sauce and bee pollen.
Or two bowls in a row of Amber’s Almond Butter Sesame Noodles, the recipe for which can be found in her fantastic cookbook, Practically Raw. Which you should buy. Because it is great. And Amber is great. All is great.
Oh, what’s that you say? Amber had earlier prepared raw vegan Sour Cream and Onion Kale Chips for me, also from her cookbook?
And then we spent the next day exploring, shopping, and visiting a Friday night farmers market, Bad Seed? Where we ate fresh apple slices, mocha and peanut butter granola, raw chocolate, and both maple bourbon and coffee glazed almond vegan doughnuts by local baker EmmaBee’s Doughnuts (with the latter flavour being generously given to me for free)?
Yes, all of that happened. It was grand.
The only thing I can think of that would have made my first two days in Kansas City (Missouri!) even more spectacular is if I’d found a giant $18,500 painting of a peanut butter jar to pose with at a local art gallery.
Oh, wait. Never mind.
Turns out my first few days in Kansas City (Missouri!) were perfect after all.
Everything looks just wonderful! This is the American food I wanted you to have. Yay!!!
Teehee, well, this is the type of food I usually eat when I visit the US. I think you’ll like the rest of our eating adventures in Kansas City too!
Trying very hard not to be jealous… But I’m afraid that effort is failing. I want to keep you all to myself! We can still be soul sisters too, right? <3
Always, always, always. My eponymous soulsister has a unique place in my heart that can never be threatened. xoxo
So much vegan goodness!!! Tempting….mmmm
So much more vegan goodness to come!
So glad, even if two weeks late, to hear about your first few days there.
What makes Kansas City different? Besides the fact that it looks very flat.
Will I ever catch up?!
I think it’s the block-y-red-brick-buildings of downtown combined with the gorgeous, gorgeous and so varied architecture of the houses, with their cottage looks and attics and pillars and porches and lofts. Something like that, anyway.
Just wonderful! I am living vicariously through you in these overseas adventures
Oh so much goodness. You guys sound like you are having the most WONDERFUL time…. nut butters nut butters nut butters.
There aren’t even words for the wonderfulness. Or the nut butters.
erhmagaawwwd vanilla bean coconut milk ice cream!!! YUM!
How about coconut almond chip, chocolate peanut butter swirl, pomegranate chip, cookie dough, or butter pecan coconut milk ice cream?
When I read this on the train an hour and a half ago I had a really good comment in mind … now I’ve seen your reference to Pirates in your Twitter feed all I can think is “I am the Pirate King!” …
I know our mythic history, King Arthur’s and Sir Caradoc’s
I answer hard acrostics, I’ve a pretty taste for paradox
I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus
In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous!
my my Hannah! I’m travelling around the US through your blog!
<3 <3
How amazing you get to spend time with your internet sister over yonder! The city look so beautiful, not to even mention the food.
I forsee sesame peanut noodles in my future.
Amber is definitely showing me all the best city and deliciousness sights!
What a gorgeous gorgeous post. Mud pie bakery, my goodness!! & what an adorable house/shop. SO cool. Raw vegan Sour Cream and Onion Kale Chips? yum. Oh hang on a second, Maple bourbon and coffee glazed almond vegan doughnuts? Hannah!!! Stop it. Stop it now.
Ok, don’t.
Heidi xo
I’m so glad you added that last sentence, because I have no intention of stopping. The Kansas City deliciousness grows only more epic, you see.
xo
So much joy and deliciousness and sisterhood! Before you know it everyone will want visit Amber in Kansas!
As they should!
That was such a fun night! I’m so glad you were able to attend a First Friday! And the donuts were absolutely fantastic!!
I still want someone to buy me that piece of art one day. Sigh!
Yummmmy fun times!!! Send me a maple bourbon donut and a bag of Amber’s kale chips will ya?!
Actually I made her pizza kale chips and they were incredible.
Only if you trade me for one of your little raw cheesecakes!
So you were born on different days to different parents in different countries? I think that’s definitely the definition of twins – just not the identical ones. I love the look of those kale chips. And all that raw vegan food has made me feel really guilty because I’m sitting here working away and just noticed, to my horror, that I’ve polished off an entire bag of jelly snakes. And I’m quite sure they weren’t raw, vegan or even twins xx
Exactly! You and I clearly live on the same logic plane. That probably means we’re twins too. And don’t you mind about those jelly snakes; I ate almost nothing but Askinosie chocolate yesterday
Amber sounds like the best travel-tourist soul sister in the world
She knows you too well!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
She’s pretty darn incredible, I must say.
kansas does sound like a magical place – bee pollen on ice cream, hemp mllk and those wonderful views – I hope you will leave with some sparkly red shoes to tap together and transport you back there when ever you need!
Kansas City is actually in Missouri, but believe you me I’ve been on the lookout for red glitter shoes ever since arriving! (Don’t tell me that I just bought multicoloured glitter shoes. I still need red Dorothy ones
) Oh how I wish I could be transported here whenever I wish it!
Your excitement is palpable. I want that coconut milk ice cream too.
SUCH AMAZING FOOD. And such a lovely soul sister. Yes you are blessed X
Blessed beyond anything I could have imagined. I wish I could crystallise these memories forever.
It sounds like a perfect day! :O I can imagine you don’t ever want to leave!
It physically hurts to think of leaving, Spay Lady. Sadface!
I love Justin’s nut butters! Looks like you had an awesome time in Kansas City
Best. Post. EVER.
Missouri loves you and wants you to stay forever (and I do too)!
I heart you utterly and always. And I’m so glad it’s Missouri (and you) that wants me to stay, not Kansas!
I have a good feeling that Kansas fancies you, too.
I just moved from KC, Mo to Kentucky in May. Your post made me long for the city, I really loved it there! Glad you enjoyed your visit.
Did you get to see any of the beautiful fountains around the city? They are amazing
I’m still here, still enjoying! It’s a fabulous city; I’m not surprised you miss it. The fountains certainly are gorgeous, but I must say I prefer exploring the food to the fountains
I agree. The city there is full of wonderful foods. And I use to belong to the raw food meetup group there. Fabulous group of people! Enjoy the rest of your visit…I believe you picked a perfect place to stay coming here to America
There are very few places in America that I haven’t fallen in love with, truth be told!
It all looks so amazing! So glad you are enjoying yourself!
Almond milk lattes!
Vanilla bean coconut milk ice cream!
Almond butter sesame noodles!
Haha I think I need to find myself an Amber-equivalent
Beyond jealous of your adventures Hannah! Amber sounds like an amazing person, you are so lucky to have been staying with her!
She’s beyond amazing! I am, indeed, truly lucky. Thanks Gabby.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I am so happy for you having such a wonderful time, and being with such a perfect match for you, with such incredible food and just generally perfectness
You understand completely
I’ve met my siblings rather late in life as well, but now I have a little sister and a little brother (both are actually female physiologically).
I’m so happy for you Hannah! There is no greater happiness than getting in touch with a kindred soul.
I’m very, very lucky to have both a true brother of amazingness, and a handful of incredible soulsisters out in the world too. Very lucky, and I’m glad you’re luck in the same way!
I need that doughnut! So much fun!!
Hey! One of my blogger friends is in KC. She goes to Cafe Gratitude a lot. Hope Amber has taken you there!
Yep, ticked that box!
How wonderful for you two girls, so fantastic to find someone so special. And all the food looks so amazing. That vegan doughnut looks sensational (and I must admit to thinking that it didn’t sound all that good). $18,500? Really? Wow.
I’ve been incomprehensibly blessed with kindred spirits this trip.