#happinessthroughfood

[alittlevegan]

This month has consisted of a lot of treats and sweets and late nights and even a few new clients ordering cookies and cakes! All extremely exciting, but also extremely draining, and I haven’t been taking care of my body the way I should be. I lacked sleep, which I have learned over the past couple years is AS important as healthy eating and daily exercise. And although my twenty four year old body can still get away with as little as six hours of sleep a night, I haven’t been nourishing it in other ways to keep it going without consequence. I have been moody and cranky this month, and have had an overall kind of dragging sensation. 

I leave for Nicaragua in a week for a yoga retreat. Excited is an understatement, I am beyond thrilled to be going to a secluded retreat centre for seven days to enjoy yoga, sunshine, surfing, hiking, food and bliss. I am eager to get up with the sun, be upside down at least half of everyday and run everywhere barefoot. It is the perfect medication after a bipolar winter and long, dark-too-early days that were weeks that were months. 

This week leading up to the trip, I decided to make a meal plan (which I haven’t done in about two and a half months), because I realized that although I am pretty good about getting in my macros, I have been also eating a lot of snacky food, which is always my downfall to a sugar overload. 

So the next seven days will be all about beans and lentils, green juices and fruit, and lotsssss of water. I am stepping away from refined sugar and baked goods, just until I get back from that sunny paradise. A short detox for the body always helps hinder cravings and my body has been telling me for weeks that something’s gotta give. So here we go! 

Six days and counting. 

Oh She Glows inspired enchiladas from last week with Mum and Dad <3 

[morethanlife26-blog]

Everyday have that one meal you thoroughly enjoy. One meal that awakens your senses, one that makes you happy, warm in your heart. Coz you deserve it. That one meal. Eating healthy should never deprive you of your happiness through food. Eat right except that one cheat in your meal.(I m not talking of that extravagant cheat) Coz till you don't reward yourself a little, eating healthy might beat you down a little. Not saying there isn't tasty,delicious healthy food, but I m saying there is nothing wrong in having that one meal you absolutely love, in the right amount, which might not be so healthy from your nutrition point of view. #eatright #healthyfood #cheatfood #balance #foodlove #foodisfuel #foodislife #foodismedicine #neverdepriveyourself #foodie #tasty #delicious #happinessthroughfood #findit #foodnetwork

[dianajiang]

Who says you can't have #dessert for dinner? #chefsdessertsampler plus #chocolatesouffle #indulge #happinessthroughfood (at Cha An)

[alittlevegan]

sugar mountain

           It is true insanity how weeks can fly by and suddenly we are in the second half of the second month of this new year that we thought would last forever.            Most of the new year I spent in my kitchen baking more baked goods than I ever have before. Cakes, pies, tarts, bars, cookies, squares, creams, puddings, truffles, biscuits, and everything in between. It has been a delicious and sugary bunch of weeks.            For my final project, I was assigned to making five desserts to showcase all the different skill sets and recipes learned throughout the course. I cheated mildly, as each dessert was supposed to be bite-sized and I just made an entire pie (oops… but it was one of the most delicious pies I have ever eaten so I’m not actually mad).            Besides the pie, I made “almost instant” chocolate pudding, graham cracker ice cream sandwiches, sweet biscuits with vanilla pastry cream and blackberries, and gluten free fudge brownies. I was up to my neck in the most delicious baked goodness, and have only recently finished the last of them (even with a lot of sharing with friends).

             This dessert course was an absolute pleasure to take. I wish it was a bit longer [with the same content], as it ran over the holiday season and that is a busy time to try and fit in extra baking time (although a lot of recipes doubled as holiday desserts and no one in my family or friend circles were upset about that).            I learned a lot of new recipes, and a lot of amazing food science. I also now have a lot of staple go-to’s (like a to-die-for chocolate cake, and a rich and creamy chocolate ganache). I can’t wait to keep my love of nutrition growing with more courses and eventually getting back to school for some serious knowledge growing!

             The world is on a revolutionary, upward tilt driven by a thirst and need for health and wellness. It is an exciting time to be alive, despite all the bad that is out there; there is undeniable rebellion happening. It has been going on quietly for a long time, but lately it has started to rumble, roaring a little louder. It makes me excited; I want to be in the middle of it as much as I can be. Some days, that means saying nothing and leading by example, other days, it means deep conversations and challenging the traditions that too many people have let become the norm.            And question. Question everything you have ever known. What a terrifying thought, but what an amazing, liberating process to go through.

           Learning is always rebellion… every bit of new truth discovered is revolutionary to what was believed before.                                                  -Margaret Lee Runbeck

[alittlevegan]

send all the noods, then eat them

            Like any normal person, I get cravings from time to time. Usually (always) for food, and usually while browsing my Instagram feed, or it’s when a smell wafts through the air and hits me like a brick wall; then there’s no chance at avoiding it. Downtown Toronto is notorious for this. Sometimes it’s when I’m talking about food with friends, or I see someone eating something incredible near me. I see all these things as inspiration; either to recreate an old favourite in a plant-based way, or to grab a go-to recipe and whip up something yummy in the kitchen.

             For the last few weeks, the one thing that has been a reoccurring craving has been udon noodles. There is a little sushi shop at the end of my street that makes delicious udon, but I also have a recipe that is equally delicious (and much cheaper, for heaps more). Except I was having anxiety about where to buy the noodles. They always seem to be in such scarce supply in the store, or at least they had been for the past couple times I have gone on an udon noodle hunt.

             Today, however, when the pressure in my head from this ridiculous weather got the better of me, I decided I would go to as many stores as I needed to until I found udon and could make its’ deliciousness. Luckily, I hit the MOTHERLAND at the very first store I went to. For 1.29$ each, I could have as many packs of udon as my heart desired. I bought eight. Regrets? None.

             Prepping the veggies took a bit of time but the actual execution of this recipe is soooooo simple! [Truth be told] it took longer photographing the noodles once they were done than it actually took to make them. But they turned out as appetizing as I had anticipated. And because I TRIPLED the recipe, I now also get to enjoy them for lunch for the rest of the week. An all around win!

             Recipe link: https://www.seasonsandsuppers.ca/15-minute-spicy-udon-vegetable-stir-fry/

[alittlevegan]

tropical purple

Last week, my appetite fell off the map, which is literally unheard of. I caught some sort of bug from the littles at school and after a nasty head cold attack, my urgency and desire for as much food as possible in a day seemed further away than ever. It is slowly coming back, and I’m hoping that by the end of this week I will be back on track for packing in my macro’s and keeping up with my regular busy life schedule. 

While on the mend, I threw together some of my favourite ingredients, and as a result created an absolutely delicious breakfast smoothie (or just a general life smoothie, if you’re in the mood for afternoon liquid snacks). It is creamy and momentarily seemed to transport me from cold, bitter January to warm, dreamy August. That’s something I’m pretty into. 

Tropical Bliss Smoothie 

Ingredients: 1 cup frozen pineapple  1 cup frozen blackberries 1/2 banana 1 Tbsp hemp hearts 1 Tbsp mushroom protein powder (or any other neutral flavoured protein) 1 cup coconut water 1/2 cup filtered water 

Blend until smooth && enjoy! 

[alittlevegan]

a little reset

January is the signature month for resolutions, fresh starts, thorough cleanses, blank slates. It's the beginning of a new year, and that gives a lot of people a new hope and a new mindset. It's mildly unfortunate that the idea of detoxing only seems to connect with people once, possibly two or three times, a year.

 I think detoxes are so needed. A total cleanse of something, to reset both body and mind. Usually cleanses or detoxes are associated with food or technology, both used and abused much too much in this day and age. But I've come to learn that there are other detoxes, like a noise cleanse or a negativity cleanse. The common variable in all of these is the stepping back from an all-consuming force to meditate and self reflect. To figure out exactly why and how the food, or technology, or even the noise is bringing toxicity into your life.

 One of my best friends is in the middle of a three-week detox to try and sort out some health issues. She can't have dairy, refined sugar, gluten, caffeine, alcohol, fast or fried foot and red meat. Sounds hard, right? As a born and raised vegetarian, the red meat is no problem of course, and she's familiar with a lot of vegan cuisine so dropping dairy is also a non-issue. But gluten!? Wonderful, glorious gluten! That would be my downfall. Although, at the end of the day it's for the greater good of her health and wellness so sticking to it will only be beneficial.

 My body is pretty vocal about when I need a cleanse, when I need to step back and reevaluate what exactly I am putting my body through. Usually I turn into this little gremlin created by a mix of overindulging and also fatigue; my head gets heavy, my mood is an uneven roller coaster of cranky, and I'm unable to focus or think properly. (Getting irrationally upset at one and a half year olds for not sitting still during a circle time is basically my tipping point.) That is when I eject myself out of the busy schedule I keep, take a night off and zen out. Juice, blog, listen to silence instead of music, go to bed wildly early (hello 20h30, how aaaaare you?!) and dominate the germs that my school kids have been breathing all over me for the past month.

 I juiced about two thirds of the produce left in our fridge this week tonight, and as I finish this post, I am consuming one of the most magical green juices. Full of broccoli, cucumber, kale, celery, lemon, grapefruit, apple, and ginger. Talk about delicious. I’m praying all the vitamins go straight to my immune system and I finish this week off with a bang.

 Happy Friday Eve. xo

[alittlevegan]

a year of food, thought and photos

How pleasant is this time of year? Everyone is starting fresh, a slate wiped clean, three hundred and sixty five new chances to do all the things you've been meaning to do. It's like a relief has swept across us, no longer worrying about holiday parties and gifts; we have time to sip Prosecco and come together in a relaxed, lazy way to celebrate a new year.

And as 2016 comes to a close, I find this is one of the the easiest time to reflect on the last trip around the sun. Although self reflection and daily reflection are frequently happening, I sometimes feel as though I have lost my urgency to write it down between the hustle and bustle of this busy, wonderful life.

Speaking of wonderful business, I do hope to write more in 2017. More than once a year, or once every six months. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and lately, I've been feeling them busting to get out in the open.

The past couple years, I've used photography as a means of expressive language through cooking and baking. It's helped keep the author in me happy, but it's also challenged me to make and take greater risks in the kitchen (something I am so desperately obsessed with). I have no regrets with this method of delivery, though I do miss whole hearted writing from the soul, more than a few lines of realization and pondering. This new year, I hope to find a keen balance between the two.

Throughout this year, some of my fondest memories have been spent eating delicious food, surrounded by incredible people. I truly believe food is the most amazing way to bring people together and create bonds that are unbreakable. What more could you want than good company who enjoy and share a similar passion to the key thing that fuels us throughout our lives? I'm not sure if it's the grandmother in me, but I have fallen in love with hosting a brunch or a dinner party a thousand times over than going into the downtown core of the city to drink my face off and dance on tables (I mean, I have my own alcohol and my own tables.. so I can do all those shenanigans for a fraction of the price at home). That being said, I am not opposed to a fun night out but I will almost always choose a night of food over a night of clubbing. The conversations are better, the memories are a clearer and we can always put on our favourite tunes regardless of what time of day it is (dirty bass club beats at 10AM are my thing).

This year has been a wild run of emotions, there have been a lot of WTF moments from all corners of the globe. I have felt a lot of sorrow travel across humanity and there have been many moments of despair. Despair of the unknown. Despair of the known. But although despair has been very present in the last cycle around the sun, there has been another emotion trying to outshine the darkness.

Peace.

I don't say this lightly. Peace isn't always a breezy, gentle feeling that people often roll their eyes at. It's powerful. It's exciting! There have been many stories of heroism and courage this year (the explosive kindness and generosity of North Americans helping refugees try to find normalcy in a new beginning..... or all the hard work women in leadership positions have put in to try and continue the fight for equal rights). There have been statistics that bring hope to my soul (an 8.7% growth rate in plant based foods in only two years.... enough of a growth that the meat and dairy industries are starting to feel nervous and the pressure is on)!! These are only a few of the wonderful beginnings this year has planted.

We are living in a very real and very exciting time. There are about to be some massive changes in the world. Things can't keep going the way they have been without serious consequence. That is a downright terrifying thought, but also has my blood pumping, and my adrenalin racing with wonder. We, as a human race, have the potential to do absolutely extraordinary things. It's so easy to get caught up in the negatives, I get it, I do that too. But right now, today, tomorrow and all the days that follow, it is so necessary to take hold of that glimmer of hope, the one strand of positivity shining out of a dark hole, and never let go of it. Ride it to the next life-altering event, be it good or bad, and continue to learn and experience.

There is a lot of food to make, children to learn with, yoga to practice and sports to play. This next chapter of our books is about to be written. We are only on page one. Every single day we get the opportunity to find some good in the bad, especially if we tend to find the bad in the good. Both exist, but it ‘s a mindset, and it’s our choice. This is a year of change, a year of stepping outside our comfort zones. We get a chance to move and flow and find our way in this crazy world! I am so excited to see what is brought to the table..

[alittlevegan]

rolling with it

           Six days, seven trips, four amazing friends (and their vehicles), and one loaded up Fiat later, I am officially moved into my new apartment. There was very little actual stress involved in this move, with a nice cushion of time to get my things from point A to point B, and my fantastic rugby family pitching in with vehicles and muscles. To say I’m blessed is an understatement. Luckily I have copious amounts of wine to give away and an open-ended invitation to all of them to come over for food whenever they desire to offer as a thank you.

           Now, it is all unpacking and planning the layout that probably won’t be completely ready until the fall. The post-move has proven to be more stressful than the real move itself. Who knew setting up internet and trying to find a cooking pot for under 60$ could spur waterworks, pillow screams and strain? Apparently it does. I suppose there are going to be a lot of annoying adult-like life struggles in the coming days. We’ll take them with baby steps, and use them as building blocks.

           With a lack of internet, one is forced to do similar things as the pioneers did… unpacking and arranging new rooms, listening to old iTunes playlists, picking up a much needed Jodi Picoult book and speeding through a third of it, going to a free spin class, drinking amazing smoothies with friends, making food with limited everything in your kitchen.

           I recently found my 2015 New Years Resolutions list in my phone notes. Turns out I have only accomplished only a few of those resolutions.. go figures! But I saw that in the middle of the list was “Make more homemade sushi”, and sadly, I haven’t made it since last summer. So! With some free time and an ambitious spirit, I set off to the best west end Asian grocery store to grab the essentials: avocados, cucumber, red pepper, nori sheets and rice [specifically sushi rice].

           I found a great tutorial of making your own sushi via Pinterest that was particularly for people who did not own a sushi rolling mat (it’s on the To Buy list, but has not been bought just yet).

           Boil, chop, stir, roll. It is really a very easy process, and the level of enjoyment and ease came back really quickly. The kitchen is one of the only places I can zen out in, get away from the world and put a pause to all my worries.

           Before long, I had a plateful of delicious sushi. As I neared the end of the sushi rolling and cutting process, I realized I had a couple problems. One, I didn’t have soy sauce – ROOKIE mistake. Two, no chopsticks. I remedied problem number two when I remembered I sometimes threw extra chopsticks in one of my bags. I went to my room and sure enough, pulled out some chopsticks that were still in the paper sachet. Thank goodness for hoarding, am I right?  Unfortunately, after having already been out twice to get sushi ingredients and then find a pot to cook my rice in, I wasn’t in the mood to go out and find soy sauce. So I ate them au natural, which isn’t the end of the world but will absolutely never, ever happen again.

           Sushi just may be my absolute favourite food in the world. Except so is Indian food and Mexican food and raw food and Italian food….. I guess I am just a lover of all good quality, fresh and delicious food. Sorry, not sorry.

           Today is as sunny as the past week has been, and there are flea markets to go to and juice bars to visit. I have had my fill of Internet time, done some of my online cooking course and checked my emails. There is nothing left to do but soak up that Vitamin D!

Recipe Link:

http://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-make-sushi-without-a-mat/

*I would recommend browsing this food blog. The sushi is definitely not the first time I have used Minimalist Baker :)