Eat it Tuesday (from Monday ... on Wednesday...)

I did have good intentions.

I photographed what I ate on Monday. I intended to make a "Eat it Tuesday" post on Tuesday. And, well ... here we are.

I am easily distracted by shiny, pretty things. I also prefer sleeping to pretty much everything else, so sleep has won over this week. I've also been enjoying the pretty, aromatic smoky environment I'm presently living in. Many, many forest fires:

Photo: NWT Sixtieth Parallel on FB

Mighty and stunning.

Summer just isn't the same without smoke and ash in the air.

Anyway, deliciousness from Monday:

Started my day with chia seed pudding and organic raspberries. With lots of cinnamon!

In the morning I had a few cups of Yogi Kombucha Green Tea. I was feeling pretty fatigued on Monday morning, so a boost was required!

Then for lunch there was some broccoli soup I had made the night before. I'm finding that I'm having a bit more of a time crunch over the lunch hour, so having something prepared beforehand is making my life MUCH easier.

I loaded the soup with nutritional yeast, which gives it a nice cheesy flavor (without the nasty effect I get from dairy). 

The afternoon was one of my favorite snacks. Organic, of course!:

Nom nom nom ...

Dinner was some leftover Luxurious Tomato Basil Pasta. It's so good. SO. GOOD.

My after dinner snack is my latest guilty pleasure. I randomly came across these chips while on a Westjet flight and they were giving out sample bags. I instantly fell in love. 
I love the Hardbite All Natural chips - just a little bit of salt and crunch. I could inhale a bag in one sitting if I let myself!

They are also made in BC, gluten-free, vegan, no MSG!

I may have finished this bag in a mere few days...

I went to the grocery store and there were no more Hardbite All-Natural chips left. It was tragic. Almost.

The really tragic thing would be ignoring the beautiful, clear sky and crisp air this evening. 
I think it's time for a stroll around Old Town.

Cookbook Review: The Oh She Glows Cookbook

I love Oh She Glows.

I discovered this plethora of plant-based deliciousness several years ago, when I was avoiding animal products in my diet. Her website has concise recipes, beautiful food photography, cute commentary ... and the recipes DELIVER! There are so many recipes that I have bookmarked on my computer, and I refer to them frequently. Here are a few of my favorites:

• High Protein Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Tomato Basil Pesto
• Two Layer Raw Chocolate Brownies
• Curried Lentil Soup

Angela Liddon is a self-trained chef, whom found herself seeking inventive and delicious ways to incorporate nutritious plant-based meals into her life. She had previously struggled with an eating disorder and chronic IBS, and had overcome these challenges and created her blog. Years later, she is now an author - and a mommy-to-be (her pregnancy updates are pretty darn cute - check them out here).

Thusly, I had high expectations for the cookbook. I was expecting the same beautiful photos, amazing recipes, and catchy commentary.

Visual Appeal

Beautiful photography. Throughout the book.

I wanted to eat the meals right off the page. Everything looks delectable!

Recipe Ease

I made two recipes for two separate occasions. The first was Luxurious Tomato-Basil Pasta ...

... and the second was Glowing Strawberry-Mango Guacamole.

The recipes are laid out in a simple manner, with clear instructions, and with tips for those who might want other alternatives. For the guacamole, I did not opt to add jalapeno!

Replication

The photo:

The reality:

The end results were not as glamorous as the photos from the cookbook, but they were attractive and smelled tasty. That was also the pasta sauce before the actual pasta was added - I promise it was much prettier when it was all completed!!

Flavor

Oops!

The Luxurious Tomato-Basil Pasta was so delicious, that my dinner partner and myself inhaled it before any photos could be taken. It was really that good. Creamy texture, flavorful, filling. I may have even had seconds!

The Guacamole was prepared the evening before a work potluck/BBQ. I prepared all of the ingredients and tossed them together before I headed for the gathering the next day.

It was a hit. I was told by several co-workers that they enjoyed the mango guacamole/salsa, which is an impressive feat considering the amount of cookies/cupcakes/dip, etc that was available.

Since I had doubled the recipe, I had some leftovers. I used them atop salad as a "dressing", and it was FANTASTIC.

Taste Test

The pasta was enjoyed by my dining partner, although he added some chili peppers to it. He tends to be fond of spicy foods, so I think it's more an ode to his own personal tastes than him disliking the pasta. 

The salsa was enjoyed by my co-workers. As well, I shared some with a friend who was raving that he enjoyed it - eating it by the spoonful, or with chips!

I continued to be impressed with the Oh She Glows cookbook, as I continue to try other recipes with great success. For anyone who's never been (you're seriously missing out!) - check out her blog as well: Oh She Glows

HIGHLY recommended, especially for anyone looking to incorporate more nutritious, plant-based meals into their repertoire that also tastes fantastic.

Mango Lime and Raspberry Agave Chia Drinks (Ch-Ch-Ch-CHIA!!)

I was walking through my local co-op, search for my regular organic and healthy food items for the week, when I came across this new product  next to the organic salad mixes:

I love me some chia seeds. I eat this nutritious powerhouse almost daily. They are dark little seeds that become gelatinous when exposed to fluid. Aztecs were rumored to chow down on this before going into battle, as it was believed to provide energy in strength. If it's good enough for the Aztecs, I figure, it's good enough for Red! As well, it comes from a flowering plant in the mint family, and is harvested in Guatemala and Mexico. Oh, and they were once used for this purpose:

CH-CH-CH - Chia!!

They are packed with Omega-3 fatty acid, fiber, manganese, calcium, protein, antioxidants, amongst other amazing things! The Ceveland Clinic even boasts that in some studies, Chia Seeds are found to lower cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein in some people with Type II Diabetes and may lower cholesterol. Read more about that here. 

... but for these wee bottles it seems fairly pricey. I mean, $4.29?! Then again, it is organic. I had a quick skim of the ingredients to see what magic potion is in these elixirs to make them so magical:

Nothing too extravagant. 

Rather than purchasing these fancy drinks, I decided to experiment at home and make my own versions - for much cheaper - and without "natural flavours". It's also fully gluten-free and vegan!

I made two versions: Mango Lime Chia and Raspberry Agave Chia.

The recipes were quite simple, with ingredients I already had at home (and are easily available in YK at this time of year!)

Raspberry Agave Chia Drink

• 1/2 cup frozen (or fresh) raspberries
• 2 tbsp agave nectar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups water
• 2 tbsp chia seeds

Mango Lime Chia Drink

• 1/2 fresh mango
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp agave nectar
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 3 cups water
• 2 tbsp chia seeds

The Recipe

The recipe is fairly similar for both, easy, and takes very little time. Perfect for hot summer days when you want a refreshing, nutritious drink. Or, I imagine it can be easily prepared the night before and be enjoyed while hiking, fishing, or out cycling!

First step, put the chia seeds and 2 cups of water in a glass jar. Set aside and let the chia thicken:

Above is what it looks like after 20 minutes.

While the chia is thickening, mix the fruits/berries with one cup of water until smooth:

The mango with water, and the raspberry with water.

Then, add the fruit-water mixtures and remaining ingredients into the glass jars, mix, then either drink or put in the fridge to enjoy cold!

I left them in the fridge to cool, then enjoyed on my balcony while enjoying the sunshine.

I recommend classing it up with some wine glasses. I may have to invite some of my friends over sometime soon to enjoy these - they are too cute and delicious to hog all to myself!

I can't pick a favorite between the two. The raspberry reminds me of a margarita and the mango is like a refreshing summer cocktail - without the alcohol, and full of nutrients!

There you have it - chia drinks that are really inexpensive, delicious, and simple to make!

I intend on making other versions of this very soon - I'll be sure to post if they are as successful and delicious as these ones!

I'm off to enjoy a beautiful summer evening with friends. Tell me, what is your favorite "healthy" drink?

Bonne Fete Du Canada!

Happy (Belated) Canada Day, Eh!

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday. For those of use who had the day as a statutory day off ... did today also feel like a second Monday this week for you?

I spend the morning doing, as I LOVE to on my days off ... slept in. And missed the Canada Day Parade. Not sorry about it whatsoever.

After some running around with a busy person, I went down to check out the festivities solo and found a large crowd enjoying some live music, draw prizes, sunshine, and the Farmers Market!

I have NO idea why my smartphone started taking such ethereal photos, but bear with me. Imagine it's a Northern fairy-tale or something.

Northern Eggs!

Fried whitefish!

While wandering through the event, I ran into a very festive friend of mine:

With a kilt and all!

Jay Bear was the MC for the event - hilarious as always - and rocking the red, white, and 'hawk! 

And I am sad to say I missed out on this adorable little furball, but I'm giving credit to Jay Bear for taking the photo and sharing the absurd cuteness:

Awwwwwwwwwww

I had missed breakfast (Oops!), so my next mission was to find something nutritious and tasty  to enjoy. Considering it was a quite warm day, it also had to be refreshing.

Thanks Buddah for my friend Lorie, the holistic nutritionist, and her raw food booth at the Farmers Market!

Hi Lorie!

Most of the food had been picked over, but there was some juice left. I picked up some orange-ginger concoction. 

Just what I was looking for! Delicious and full of vitamin C and beta carotene!

I also picked up a jar of kimchi, which is a fermented Korean side dish. It is apparently spicy in taste. It's main benefit is that it is a potent probiotic, but is also has benefit in lowering cholesterol, antioxidant, anti-aging, and more! There is a study in the Journal of Medicinal Food that outlined all of the amazing benefits of kimchi.

This is my first time trying it, but Lorie suggested it is tasty with fish, chicken, and atop salads.

When I finished meandering around the Farmers Market, I went home to have some leftover fried rice and tend to my garden:

I may only have had these herbs for a week, but I am so happy they look so vibrant! I have absolutely no green thumb, so I am excited I am keeping these healthy and alive. I am most excited about the basil - as I love Italian style meals and it is hard to come by fresh basil in my neck of the country! There is also some mint and parsley scattered throughout there - these will be for juicing or flavoring water.

A perfect end to a perfect day: A good book, tea, and the sunset...