Sick as a Dog!

Sorry for the dead air lately. I have been so sick with the flu. I can't remember the last time I was sick like this! Tonight there is FINALLY light at the end of the tunnel. The cold and flu drugs I've been taking in vain are finally starting to bring me some relief and I think the worst is over.

I stupidly went grocery shopping this week when I thought I was getting better and restocked on some things. Then I got worse, and now I have lot's of stuff in my fridge that needs to get eaten! what better way to do that than soups and stews. So, that's what I'm up to this weekend as I recover (sadly not at home as I'll be attending the Toronto Screenwriters Conference).

I actually have a whole box of lasagna noodles in my cupboard too that I need to use (leftovers from various homemade lasagna recipes) so I think it's finally time to try a lasagna soup recipe! The goodness of soup while I'm sick and the use of all the left overs in the fridge - veggie sausage, beans, tomatoes, broccoli, corn and even some leftover veggie broth.

Wish me luck and good health!

Frozen Treats

Well, I've spent most of my time since Friday morning sick in bed. I did attempt to leave the house and go to work Friday afternoon but didn't get much further than the lobby. And, I did attend the Timeraiser event Saturday night. It was a great event with lots of people in attendance though after yelling over the music and crowds for three hours I was beat. I stayed in bed for most of the day today only leaving once for ice cream. There is nothing I crave more when I'm sick than ice cream.

Friday, to sooth that craving I actually blended up my NeoCitron with ice and a little water. It was like a lemonade slushy that knocked me right out! If you haven't done this before cooler beverages sooth your throat I highly recommend this!

Saturday afternoon I took this idea a little further and made my own Frappuccino, well minus the coffee but with all the chocolate.

We just blended up a lot of ice, a lot of hot chocolate mix, some milk and a banana for a little flavour. It's sort of up to you oh how icy and chocolaty you want it but we vaguely followed the directions on the hot chocolate package, adding 6 tbsp of chocolate mix for 2 servings, it was pretty chocolaty so I might only go for 4 next time, especially with the banana for the little extra sweetness.

This would probably work great using chocolate syrup if you've got that around and a shot of espresso or cold coffee would give you that hint of coffee flavour if you're looking for it.

That's just about as much energy as I've got today. Off to the couch for me.

Happy Sunday!

Fresh Food and Fresh Air

Today feels like the oddest day. This weather has got me all confused! I'm still walking around in my leather jacket while the park is FULL of people in shorts and tank tops throwing around beach balls and twirling in hula hoops. While the weather is nice, a little bit of me can't help but this if this is actually the effects of global warming. We've beaten al kinds of records this week in terms of the weather and considering our non-existent winter things have definitely heated up from when I was a kid. I also wonder if we're going to pay for this later in the year. Is our summer going to be unbearably hot? Is winter going to come in September this year? Who knows! I guess I should enjoy the weather while it lasts and try not to think too hard about it. Yikes.

If you can believe it today was the first time I've ever eaten at Fresh and I'm so sorry I waited so long. The BBQ Veggie Burger I had with Quinoa Onion Rings was divine. In fact, I think I ate it so fast I forgot to really savour it! It was served with some salad and a little bowl of kale slaw. Kale slaw? I did a quick google search and here's a quick recipe I found that I may try at home. At Fresh it wasn't creamy like cole slaw but fresh and light, a perfect compliment to the giant burger on a warm day.

Fresh is really known for their fresh juices and smoothies too so I decided to try one with my meal. I'm feeling a little ill these days so looked at one of their immune elixirs, many of which are served hot. I decided to go for the flu fighter, it's a mix of celery, carrot, cayenne, garlic, kale, lemon, ginger and echinacea. Sounds crazy right. This warm green beverage could be smelled from miles away. The ginger and garlic are quite prominent and does that cayenne ever give it a kick! I ordered a small (12oz) and I think it's way too big! I could have used half that amount. Still, I could see the appeal. It's really cleared up my sinuses and on a cold wintery day this drink - that's more like a soup - would be the perfect afternoon pick me up! 


I'm looking forward to a slightly slower weekend compared to last. I am attending a function called Timeraiser that is a silent art auction where you bid with volunteer hours, not money. Two years ago I attended and bid 125 hours on a large photograph and won the piece. I then had to complete 125 hours of volunteer work at any organization of my choice (and it didn't have to do it all at one place) within a year and I would receive my art at the following auction. This year I am attending as a rep from CMETrust, the organization I volunteer with, looking to recruit new volunteers.  This night is full of mingling, drinking, food, art and music. This is a really great event and it works! If you've never been I would check it out, events happen across the country.


Other than that I hope to get outside for some activity and maybe even a hike in High Park. I was also thinking of doing some gluten free baking with a good friend, which reminds me I need to pick out a recipe. I am thinking either some Breakfast Bars or Muffins. I'd like to make cookies but I know I'll just eat them way too fast, if they even make it to the oven.


Either way I'll try to get a couple new recipes in to share with ya'll. A friend from work passed a good peanut sauce recipe meant for a rice/kale/sweet potato dish I'd like to try. I also have some leftover lentil still that are begging to be made into veggie burgers.


Enjoy your weekends and enjoy the weather!

Kale Chips and Stressful Bits

Today started out fine. Getting outta bed, wasn't any harder than usual and the sun was shining! There is nothing better than walking outside in my spring jacket with a cool breeze and the bright sun. It just gets you off on the right foot!

I did quite well with breakfast, making a spirulina, banana-strawberry smoothie (I knew I'd get used to the flavour!) and I was pretty satisfied until late morning when I pulled out the freshly made kale chips (I added some parmesan cheese!) I had made last night. 

Again lunch was good, veggie stew with lots of beans and sweet potato. I had an apple for dessert. Then for my afternoon snack I had a little lonely hard boiled egg. Mmm! I LOVE hard boiled eggs, similarly deviled eggs and egg salad sandwiches. Sometimes I get a craving for those sandwiches and nothing stands in my way! Bryan's grandmother makes the best egg salad sandwiches and I finally discovered her secret. She makes her own mayo! It's fresh and sweet and just right. I stole her mayo recipe last time we visited and just cant wait to make it sometime.

I digress. All was going well and I was happy! I was looking forward to a little afterwork run outside with a couple of friends and maybe getting home before 9pm for once. 

It was a good friends bday today and a coworker made some cake. I decided I'd been good today, had missed out on this girls homemade cake before and didn't want to miss it this time so I had a little slice. It really was good :) At this point I still didn't feel guilty.

I managed to get out for that run after work and it was really nice to run by the water and with a couple friends. The only trouble was that these two particular friends are quite tall. So tall in fact that one of their strides equals about three of mine. I didn't try to keep up, but even at that I was sprinting! It wasn't a long jog so I decided to head to my BodyCombat class afterwards. Boy am I paying for it tonight, I am worried I'm going to be much too sore for bootcamp tomorrow night!

This is where it gets interesting. I still had to head to the grocery store for some veggies. Which I did and as usual bought more than what was probably needed. With gym bag and groceries in hand I started on the long trek home. This is when I got to sit in silence and stew. I started regretting that cake, I started feeling sore and tired and was regretting the extra gym time. I started hating I was going home so late, again. I started to get overwhelmed with the dishes and cooking I needed and wanted to do when I got home (had to cook up those veggies for lunches). I started getting hungry!

I'm sure you've all been at that point, where you're so hungry and tired you just can't function until you get food in your belly. Sometimes even then that sad, heavy feeling doesn't go away. After my mixed veggie salad and little bit of greek yogurt and honey I, thankfully, did start to feel better. The fog started lifting and the dishes and cooking didn't seem so bad anymore. But was it worth the two hours of feeling like crap?

No. I don't think so. I think I'm doing my body more harm than good. I think I'm too hard on myself and I think I need to relax. I don't need to go to the gym every night of the week! I deserve to come home one night, do some chores, watch TV and visit with my boyfriend. That true me time (I usually say my me time is my workout time), the time to relax and rest is important or I'll never see results (mentally and physically) and it will always be a battle until I start taking care of myself. Really taking care and listen when my body tells me to slow down. So now, my challenge is not avoiding gluten and sugars and caffeine. It is listening to my body. 

Yes, I will still look for new gluten free recipes, and substitute whole wheat options for something else. Yes, I'll keep reading the ingredients list looking for all that sugar. And yes, I'll resist the temptation for that cup of unneeded coffee. But, I am NOT going to come down on myself when I do break these "rules". I'm not even sure I can call them rules anymore.

I have been venting these frustrating feelings of defeat to my mother, my boyfriend and my nutritionist this week and they all seem to be saying the same thing and I think Jill has put it best - 

The intention is not to "diet" but to find the most balance in order for you to feel your best. It's lifestyle and that is the focus.

With lifestyle choices in mind, I think my goal really needs to be finding that balance between food, fitness, fun and now most of all forgiveness.

St. Patrick's Day Hangover - Lentil Loaf

Did ya'll make it? Did you have as wild a night as I did? I was actually shocked at the amount of people on the streets last night. St. Patrick's Day falling on a Saturday was quite special and meant an early start but I really didn't think  the streets would be so busy as early as 2pm! You couldn't pass a bar without seeing a line up!

Needless to say we started early and ended late which made for quite the lazy day today. Luckily I had some delicious Lentil Loaf I could easily heat up and fill my angry belly!

I found this recipe at Healthful Pursuit and could not wait to try it! Growing up meatloaf is one of those things you're supposed to dislike as a kid and I suppose I did. As an adult I quickly realized not only the value of the easy to make dish but how delicious it actually was. So, this is one of those dishes that I now find myself missing as a vegetarian. This vegan version really hits the spot and I suddenly don't miss the meat anymore!

I will warn you that although this is easy to put together it is time consuming. Maybe it's due to my poor chopping skills or my stupid tiny kitchen but I found that I couldn't wait to eat this for dinner and ended up eating something else and saving this for lunches and leftovers.

Small right?? Even when we get rid of that big, countertop dishwasher we aren't left with much space. Most of the chopping, mixing and planning happens at the kitchen table.

But, a little goes a long way with this dish! It's filling, tasty and nutritious so it's well worth the time! I'd pair it with a green salad or steamed veggies. Or for something more traditional a little garlic mashed potato!

Ingredients

2 tbsp ground flax seeds

6 tbsp boiling water

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup mushrooms, diced (I used white but would use a crimini next time for a bolder flavour)

2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped

½ tsp dried thyme

1 cup of your favourite BBQ sauce

salt and pepper, to taste

2 cups cooked green lentils, cooled

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup almond flour 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and start a pot of water to boil to cook your lentils.

In a small pour the boiling hot water over the flax seeds. Mix well and set aside to cool. This will thicken and act as a bonding agent later.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the onion and garlic sautéing for 5-8 minutes until the onions are tender. Add in the mushrooms and cook another 3 to 5 minutes then add the thyme and spinach for another 2 min or so. Add in 1/2 cup of the BBQ sauce and salt and pepper to taste.

Once cooked, process 1 1/2 cups of the cooked lentils and 1/2 cup of the oats in a food processor or blender until smooth. Spoon the mixture into a large bowl then add in the remaining lentils and oats, plus the flax “egg”, almond flour and vegetable mixture. Stir really well to combine, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!.

Spoon the mixture into a greased loaf pan. Make sure you press it in firmly. Brush on the remaining BBQ sauce ion top, put as much or as little as you’d like. I always prefer more :)

Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Let cool for another 5 – 10 minutes before serving.

I kept mine in the pan to store in the fridge and spooned out my servings as I liked. This is great served with salad or would be nice with some steamed vegetables.

Avocado Pasta Sauce

OK, seriously. Gluten is in EVERYTHING! I never thought it would be so hard to avoid it. I have not been very successful to be honest. I bought veggie sausage to have in a stew I made the other night and didn't realize until after I chopped it and threw it in the pot that wheat gluten is one of the main ingredients! I REALLY need to get in the habit of reading the list of ingredients. This stuff gets put into everything!

Dried and Canned Soup
Alcohol (no beer on St. Patrick's day!?!?)
Candy
Ice Cream (nooooo!)
Salad Dressing
Soy Sauce
Vanilla Extract
Vitamins
Hot Dogs
Couscous
and Sandwich Meat can all contain gluten!

You can buy some of these gluten free if you look for it. The point is read all the ingredients to be sure! Gluten can be hiding in anything! And sometimes it's not actually wheat/gluten itself but the chance that something like oats or even spices can be contaminated by wheat products.

This is just a short list. Take a look at the Celiac Syndrome website for a more complete list.

This weekend I am going to try baking gluten free again. I found what looks like a really great blueberry muffin recipe that is calling my name!

Now last week, I made the mistake of buying too many rips avocados and was rushing to use them before they went bad. I've made guacamole, smoothies and had it on my salad. Finally had it on my pasta!

This is a super quick recipe and take the same amount of time as heating up some canned sauce would.

I know this really doesn't look appealing but trust me on this! I found the recipe at Oh She Glows so check her space out for a much more appealing photo.

Ingredients
1 rip avocado
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 garlic cloves
salt to taste
fresh or dried basil to taste
2 tbsp olive oil

In a blender or food processor mix the garlic cloves, oil and lemon juice together until smooth. The, add the avocado, basil and salt and blend until smooth.

Serve on your favourite pasta and top with fresh black pepper and Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Month

I just discovered that March is Nutrition Month!

Check out the Dietitians of Canada website for more information on this, nutrition myths and recipes!

The Greek Veggie Kabob looks like fun!