Family Reunions, Summer Livin and Rainy Days.

Hello darlings.  Hope everyone is having an amazing August so far!  Last weekend, Nicholas, Sophie & I headed over to the Sunshine Coast for a mini family reunion at Katherine Lake, where a few of my family members manage the campsite during tourist season.

 

 Katherine Lake in the summer.

 

Katherine Lake is one of the smaller lakes up near Pender Harbour, and a perfect fishing spot for trout.  It's also a great place for swimming and paddle boarding - however, the Sunshine Coast wasn't really sunny on the weekend, and it down poured the whole time. 

Sophie's first ferry ride! 

I also got to catch up with one of my second cousins who I haven't seen in ten years.  It was great to see her, and introduce Sophie (and Nick).  She also runs the paddle board rentals/and ice cream shop for tourists during camping season.

We also hung out at my Grandma's house quickly (before we all drove down to Pender Harbour).  Here, we discovered how much Sophie loves wind chimes.  Clearly, we need to get some for our house.

Aside from our amazing road trip for the coast, the last week has rained quite a lot (which is good for our drought) - so we stayed home eating comfort food, binge watching Netflix, and having dance parties to Otis Redding & The Righteous Brothers.  I made the most amazing Chicken Soup (avocado/green chillies/fresh corn/black beans/carrot/onions/bell peppers/tomato/lime/brown rice/cheese/chicken stock).  Almost everything was organic.  This was a winner for days.

I also made the most amazing summer salad which is great on its own, and packs great for leftovers.  (Quinoa/Mixed Greens/Fresh Basil/Red Onion/Cucumber/Tomato/Avocado/Feta/Lemon Juice/Sriracha/Black Pepper).  For both recipes, I removed the watery/seedy inside part of the tomato and didn't include it.  I also minced up all the ingredients pretty finely (even the mixed greens).

On the days that it actually was sunny, we spent it in our pool teaching Sophie baby swim lessons.

We even went shopping on Main St for some hipster baby clothes for Sophie.  While there, she was so well behaved (she's teething now so it can be a hit or miss), that we decided to quickly stop in a bar for a drink since it was so nice out (and we haven't been in a bar, since last year).  We were too scared to order any food en case she got fussy, but it definitely felt nice being able to go somewhere with Nick (and Sophie), and actually have a drink.

We've also made use of daytime park visits on those sunny days, as it's the perfect place for some shady nap times for Sophie, and Chess/Backgammon for Nicholas & I.

Recipe Time - Coconut Veggies For Your Burger

It's summer time baby!  And if you have a BBQ - I'm sure you've already started it up a few times this season.  With Canada Day, and Independence day only a week away - I thought I'd share one of my favorite summer burger toppings, that will have all your guests raving about your burgers.  It's super easy, mighty healthy, and definitely delicious.

 

Wild Salmon Burger loaded with a tropical vibe.  Jalapeño greek yogurt,  avocado, coconut veggies, grilled pineapple, wild salmon burger, havarti & a pineapple habanero sauce.  Clearly I Texas size my burgers.

Coconut Veggies
Coconut Milk to sauté veggies in
Red Onion strips about 1/4 inch thick
Bell Pepper strips about 1 inch think

Feel free to switch up the veggies or the thickness.  The idea is just to have an abundance of fresh veggies that sauté easily, to soak up all that coconut milk in the process.

I also added dried cilantro and dried jalapeño, and Himalayan pink sea salt to taste.

Sautee your veggies on medium heat until you've soaked up the coconut milk - and BAM - you have the most amazing tropical veggies to pile on top of your burger (or smokies).

Get ready to become addicted to these, as you will be making them all summer long.

Bonus Recipe - Watermelon Coconut Lime Coolers!

Incase you need a new hydrating summer cocktail to go along with all that summer heat and patio fun - try this super easy cocktail out.

Frozen Watermelon Cubes (I placed 1 inch pieces on a parchment lined plate in the freezer for 2 hours).
Coconut Cream (if you cant find coconut cream, just grab a can of coconut milk and steal the cream from the jar - and use the watery milk for your veggies)
Coconut Water
Lime Juice
Booze of your choice (I use whiskey)

Add all ingredients to your blender and blend for about 10 seconds.

Warning - you will probably become addicted to this also.  At least now you have a new excuse to stock up your pantry with coconut milk this summer :).

Five Amazingly Delish & Simple Easter Dinner Sides

So I missed the whole five on Friday link up - again.  But better late than never - so here's five on Saturday!

Easter Dinner is tomorrow, and whether you are hosting a large dinner, having a small one with a loved one, or attending a dinner and needing to bring a side dish - I thought Id share some of my fave dishes I make up for those Easter dinner meals.  All of these dishes are vegetarian, gluten free and most of them have cheese :)

1) Flash Fried Brussels Sprouts with Capers & Parmesan.

 

What You Will Need:
1 lbs Brussels Sprouts
2 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 1/2 tbsp Capers, drained
1 oz Lemon Juice
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 tsp Chilli Flakes
Salt to Taste

Serves 4

Method
Wash sprouts and remove any dead or browning leaves.  Quarter large sprouts and halve smaller sprouts.  Ensure the Brussels Sprouts are completely dry.  Heat up skillet on medium high with olive oil (make sure you add enough so it lightly coats entire bottom of skillet). Cover and turn once after 1 min (should be golden brown).  Cook 1 more min and remove from heat.  Remove the sprouts from the skillet with a tong or spatula that wont carry the excess oil.  Place into a small bowl, adding capers, lemon juice, grated Parmesan, chilli flakes and salt.

2) Jalapeño Glazed Carrots

What You Will Need
½ bunch each Heirloom Carrots (many varieties and colors), peeled & cut in half lengthwise
½ Red Jalapeño, seeded and minced
3 tbsp Jalapeño Syrup (recipe below)
1 tsp chopped dill
1 tsp whole butter
Salt To Taste

Serves 2-3

Method
In a pot, bring cold water, peeled cleaned carrots and a touch of salt to a boil. Once at a boil, lower the heat and cook until the carrots are tender. Next, strain the carrots from the water. Sauté the carrots in a pan with a little olive oil and salt.  Add the jalapeños and cook slightly. Deglaze the carrots with the jalapeno syrup. Reduce slightly then shut off the heat. Add the butter and dill. Serve & enjoy!

Jalapeño Simple Syrup
5 Jalapeños
4 cups Sugar
5 cups Water
Puree jalapeños with 1 cup of water in a small blender. Strain into a pot. Add sugar and the remainder of the water. Bring to a boil then simmer. Simmer the liquid until it reduces by 1/4 then let cool.

3) Roasted Yam and Leek Salad with Feta & Green Onions

What You Will Need
4 Yams, peeled, cut into 1 inch dices
2 Large Leeks, cleaned cut into 1 inch dices
1/6 cup Olive Oil
6 Fresh Sage Leaves, washed and chopped finely
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 Green Onions chopped finely
1/2 cup crumbled Feta

Serves 4

Method
Preheat Oven to 400.  Combine yams, leeks, sage, olive oil & seasoning in a large bowl, until evenly mixed.  Spread out mixture in a single layer on a large baking sheet, and bake for 30-45 minutes, or until the leeks are caramelized and the yams are cooked through. Stir every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to cool, and transfer to a large bowl.  Add Feta and Green Onions.

4) Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Sriracha & Blue Cheese

What You Will Need
3 Large Sweet Potatoes
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
4 Tbsp butter
1/6 cup Blue Cheese
1/6 cup Sriracha Sauce
Fresh Parsley/Basil or Chives to garnish (any will work)

Serves 4

 

Method

Peel potatoes and rinse under cold water. Cut each potato into quarters and place in a large saucepan. Add water and bring to boil, then cover and reduce heat to medium low.  Cook until potatoes are tender and easily pierced with fork, about 15-17 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat buttermilk and butter together in small saucepan over medium heat until butter has melted and mixture is hot but not boiling.

Drain potatoes once cooked, and stir in buttermilk and butter mixture and mash with potato masher.  Stir in 1/2 of the crumbled blue cheese and all of the sriracha sauce.  Transfer to a bowl and garnish with left over blue cheese and fresh herbs.

5) Watermelon & Feta Salad

What You Will Need
1 Mini Seedless Watermelon
1 Cup Fresh Mint Leaves Cut Finely
2 Cups Crumbled Feta
1 1/2 Cups Honey
2/3 Cups Lime Juice
2 Teaspoons Salt

Method
Cut watermelon away from rind and into 1 inch cubes.  Remove any seeds, and place cubes in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, lime juice and salt.  Pour honey mixture over watermelon cubes.  Add mint leaves and crumbled feta and lightly toss together.

Weekending - NCAA style

Hello Monday!  So, its like that one time of year where I will be glued to my sofa for hours at a time.  March Madness is my sports of all sports and I've been an avid Duke fan for as long as I can remember.  Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Grant Hill, JJ Reddick - those have always been my boys.  Well this is a new year, a new team (except with Plumlee - Duke loves their Plumlees).  Coach K is amazingly talented, and that's why I fell in love with Duke many years ago.

 

So my homie Marcus in Cali created this group to track our scores so I could seek revenge on my Superbowl loss.  If I beat him in points, Sophia is getting some goodies from Cali.  Right now my bracket is looking pretty good as I'm in 1st place as we go into the sweet 16, and I'm 80 points ahead of Marcus.  Who knew a Canadian girl has better ball steez than fellas that actually attended these schools.

 

 

Of course every good sports game needs game day food - so I've been making these bad boys on repeat.  We made these 3 mini pizzas originally on Thursday night, and then replicated them exactly again on Saturday because they were so damn good!  What I love about mini pizzas is they are more fun to make than one larger one, as it gives you a chance to switch it up and try a few different ones.

 

Kale sauce with chicken, cheddar, artichokes, capers, feta and crushed chilies.

Tomato sauce with chicken, cheddar, pineapple, sautéed red onions, hoisin sauce and crushed chilies.

Siracha & bleu cheese sauce with chicken, cheddar, corn and wilted kale.

 

All of them were amazing - and I'm sure we will have many more homemade pizza nights soon :)

 



 

So another thing that happened this weekend was my car battery died!  I'm just so glad that it was on the weekend when Nicholas was home, and not like right before a Dr appointment or something.  I had left my GPS plugged in, and also hadn't driven it in a week... but luckily Nicholas was able to jumpstart it, and now its back to normal :)

 

So I thanked him with craft beer.

 

Our local news that I sometimes watch in the mornings did a segment called "Whose fridge is it anyway" and featured my fridge :)  My fridge is actually really bare at the moment and I clearly need to go shopping - but figured Id share it on here too!  Its mostly filled with organic veggies - kale, spring mix, asparagus, brussel sprouts, zucchini, cucumber and mini tomatoes.  Sauces from around the world with the cook with or put on salads.  Sparkling waters, coffee creamer, wine and whiskey.  Organic eggs, feta, aged cheddar & margarine - cinnamon cream cheese for Nicholas bagel addiction and sea salted dark chocolate for me.  My freezer is even worse and only has frozen pineapple, cranberries and ice cubes.  I need poultry and seafood stat.

 

 

And of course what's a weekend wrap up without including Sophie - who turned 14 weeks this weekend!  Here's a shot I snapped of daddy playing Simba with her in the shower.  She just loves shower time so much :)

 



3 Months Later

Sophia turns 3 months!!

 

 

On Saturday, our beautiful baby girl turned 3 months.  She is developing so fast!  She's all about sitting up like a big girl these days - and her latest development is that she can hold her own bottle while feeding.  Nicholas still has to put her hands in position, but once there she will hold it on her own until she is done, and even readjust it if needed.  She also loves to spread her arms in the morning, or when daddy gets in the door from work, which we believe is her wanting daddy to pick her up.  Sophie can also suck on 3 fingers at a time, and loves her showers with daddy :)

 

We also brought her to the mall on the weekend for her first mall trip.  She was so well behaved, and loved all the excitement and sounds going on around her.  We also got her passport pics taken while there, and are planning our first states road trip in May.

 

 

On another note its St.Pattys day.  We don't really celebrate this day, but it is a fun day to eat green food.  Below are some of my green concoctions we had this weekend.  Its also the start of March Madness!!!  This is my holy grail of sports.  If any of you lovelies are college ball enthusiasts and have a bracket, I'd love you to join my group on ESPN which you can join here.  Duke 2015 baby!

Weekending - International Women's Day

Its International Women's Day!

 

 

As a new mom, this women's day means more to me than the ones in the past.  I've always considered myself a leader rather than a follower - a survivor and not a lost soldier - but I've never really been considered a role model.  All that changed 13 weeks ago, when Sophia entered my world and I became a mother.

 

As a new mom, I'm definitely looking forward to raising my daughter with encouragement, appreciation and more than anything - love.  To teach her the importance of reading, the beauty of laughter & the value of quality over quantity.  I'm here to show her it's ok to be goofy & sing off-key.  To comfort her through her adolescence and reassure her when she needs confidence.  I'm here to love her, and for the first time in my life - be a role model to my beautiful baby girl.

 

So on another note - I'm trying to make use of my usual household pantry items to make smoothies.  I realized I have some products I rarely use (like bee pollen) and I wanted to use them up before they expire.  Alas - smoothie creations with random things.  This has been my weekend smoothie and its pretty amaze.

 

And of course my weekend post wouldn't be the same without the highlights of life with Sophie.  The weather has been amazing in Vancouver, so we have been making use of our Baby Bjorn carrier & doing lots of walks to our local grocery store, to buy everything pinterest tells my brain to make.  I think Sophie has gotten so used to her carrier as she tends to fall asleep in it now.  Even when we get home after our stroll, she is still passed out.  She also made her Giraffe squeak for the first time all by herself on Friday!  The look on her face was priceless.

Friday Fab 5 - Foodporn

Its a Foodie Friday up in here!  I'm seriously becoming one of those housewives that wants to cook up amazing meals all day long thanks to all the foodporn I see on pinterest.  Here's 5 things I plan on cooking up this weekend as I embrace my inner foodie.

1. Mayan Dark Chocolate Pudding with Salted Caramel Pistachios.  I'm actually thinking of making extra salted caramel pistachios and putting them on everything from my morning greek yogurt - to my gelato at night.

 

2. Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato & Zucchini Fritters.  These are super healthy, and I'm all about those clean eats. 

 

3. Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins.  These I'm probably looking forward to making the most as they are super quick and easy and who doesn't love potato skins - especially a loaded healthier version with spice!

 

4. Oven Baked Potato Wedges with Parmesan and Parsley.  I love how ridiculously simple this is.  Although, Ill probably switch it to cilantro instead of parsley since I have so much stacked in my kitchen I got to use up.

 

5. Thai Green Curry Turkey and Zucchini Meatloaf in a Coconut Milk Green Curry Sauce.  I'm sure we will eat the meatloaf on its own - but I'm actually super excited to turn the leftovers into a grilled cheese sandwich.  This one I know Nicholas will love.

 

Happy Friday Darlings!

 

Weekending - Super Bowl Sunday at Home

 

 

It seems like forever since I posted on my babygirl!  Sophie turned 7 weeks on Superbowl Sunday.  It's crazy how fast time flies.  She is so talkative right now, and by talkative I mean she makes so many sounds that she wasn't making a week ago.  She practically sleeps through the night now (wakes up about 2 times for a quick feeding) and then sleeps in until 9ish.  Around 9am, Ill place her on the bed where she greets me with warm smiles and we have our girl talk.  Ill ask her what she wants to do for the day, and she will respond with lion like roars and other cute baby sounds.  It's definitely a special moment :)

 

So what did everyone think of the Superbowl game on Sunday?  Clearly some amazing plays, and one really horrible play at the end.  Honestly I wasn't feeling Katy perform for the half time show and found her segment too boring and cheesy.  I absolutely loved Missy though!  And I've always been a Kravitz fan, I just wish the one song he sang wasn't a Katy Perry song.

 

This is the first year Nicholas & I haven't gone out for the Superbowl, so we stayed at home and made the most of it.  Of course a game isn't a game without amazing food and drinks!  I found some super tasty yet easy recipes on pinterest that I replicated for the game - all recipes can be found on my pinterest page.





 

We also made some southern punch with smoked maple whiskey, ginger liqueur, lemongrass ginger sparking water & peach lemonade.  So tasty! 



 

I also managed to getaway for a little retail therapy on Saturday and scored this super cozy Halston Heritage sweater for such a bargain!  It retails for $445 and I purchased it at $43 - over 90% off!  How I love Winners and their semi annual final clearance events.  I'm not one that purchases a lot of random cheap clothes, as I have expensive taste - but I do believe in investing in quality pieces that will last throughout many seasons that can be blended into my wardrobe easily.  Plus one can never have too many cozy sweaters right!



 

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend!

 

Recipe - Wild Mushroom & Brie Crostini

So as a housewife, I've made sure that I don't succumb to daytime TV - but there is 1 show I find myself watching - The Social.  I saw this recipe on it last week, and it was so super quick and easy I had to try it.  Plus it will make a great potluck type appy, for when you want to serve something to your guests - without taking up a lot of time or effort :)

 

 

Wild Mushroom & Brie Crostini

Prep Time - 5 minutes
Cook Time - 10-12 minutes
Total Time - 15-17 minutes

Recipe
1/2 baguette roll (I used multigrain) cut in pieces
1 1/2 cups wild mushrooms cut lengthwise
1/2 cup red onion thinly sliced in strips
1 tbsp. olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

1 small wheel of brie cut in half, then cut into strips

** I also added a pinch of dried cilantro/jalapeño for each baguette piece**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees - and place cut baguette pieces on baking sheet. 

 

In a saucepan, combine your mushrooms, onions, oil, salt & pepper and cook over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized.

 

Place a spoonful of your sautéed mixture on top of each baguette piece.

 

Then top your baguette with your brie pieces.  (Then I added my dried cilantro/jalapeño mix)

 

Put baguette in the oven for about 5 minutes (or until you see the brie start to bubble on the crostini)

 

Remove and eat!  Your guests will love this, and - it took hardly any effort which gives you more time to drink wine and socialize :)

Slow Roasted Tomato Turkey Bacon Jam

Who wants breakfast in a jar!  Or even a new jam option that's savoury instead of sweet?  I newly discovered this dish - and although it takes a few hours to prepare - you can make a massive amount at once, store it in mini mason jars and keep them for awhile (or they even make super fun gifts - perfect for any foodie).

Slow Roasted Tomato Turkey Bacon Jam

Prep Time - 10 mins
Cook Time - 4 Hours
Total Time - 4 Hours 10 mins

Recipe
10 roma tomatoes (cut in half lengthwise)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 pack turkey bacon (cut into 1 inch pieces)
1 small red onion (about 1 cup, diced)
3 tbsp. crushed garlic
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup agave nectar (or maple syrup)
2 thai red chili peppers chopped finely
1/4 cup fresh basil chopped finely
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 225 degrees - and place cut tomatoes (skin down) on baking sheet.  Drizzle tomatoes with the olive oil - and bake for 2 hours.  You will want the slow roasted tomatoes to come out juicy, but slightly caramelized. 

While tomatoes are cooking in the oven, in a saucepan cook your turkey bacon on medium heat, until bacon is crispy and set aside.  You shouldn't have too much leftover oil (as it is turkey bacon) and you will want to save the tiny bit of oil that's left after you finish cooking your turkey bacon , to sauté your onions.

Once your tomatoes are done cooking, you can move on to the next step.

Add the onions to the left over turkey juices and cook until tender (about 5-7 minutes).  Then add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Add the apple cider mixture to your onions and garlic (which will help deglaze your pan).

Then add all additional ingredients (coffee, agave nectar, thai chilies, basil, cooked tomatoes and salt and pepper).  Reduce heat from medium to low, and simmer for 1-2 hours to receive a syrup like consistency.

Once you achieve the consistency you want, pour into food blender to smooth out desired texture.  Its now ready to be served, or can be stored in mason jars for future use.

Wondering where to use this?  Try with your favorite grilled cheese sandwich, smoked sausage, or on your toast in the morning with a fried egg on top.

Muffins! Super quick and easy

If you're reading  this post and you know me, you will know I have an obsession with shopping at Winners & HomeSense.  I make weekly trips there to check out their latest collection of yummy goodies for my kitchen pantry.

One thing I always make sure to stock up on when I see them is their Sticky Fingers Bakery scones.  They are also out of Spokane, so super easy to pick up at many different stores if you're in Washington too.

Back to the scones - they come in so many amazing flavors that cater to the season.  My fave's - Pumpkin Cranberry, California Apricot, Lemon Ginger, Raspberry White Chocolate and Spiced Eggnog.  So why do I have this on my recipe page?  Its because all you have to do is add water to make these, so I use other pantry items to make them unique and delicious.  Since I'm about to have my baby girl any day now, I wanted to share this with other mothers (or just anyone who hardly has anytime to cook) - so you can have an amazing home cooked dish that people will think you made from scratch!

Although these come in scones packs - I always make them in muffin trays - and these are perfect for breakfast on the go, snacks to pack, or a savory or sweet bread dish you can bring to a potluck type event.

Today, I'm making the Wild Blueberry and Cranberry ones.  I have an idea these will come in handy as meal additions for when we are back from the hospital and need something quick and easy to snack on :)

DIY Sticky Fingers Muffins

Prep Time - 5 minutes
Cook Time - 15 minutes
Total Time - 20 minutes

Recipe
1 bag of  Sticky Fingers Wild Blueberry or Cranberry scone mix
3/4 cup water (add slightly more if you are adding additional ingredients for similar texture)
** Additional Ingredients added to make it unique** (also purchased at HomeSense)
2 tbsp. butter vanilla emulsion mix
3 tbsp. organic ground coconut
3 tbsp. organic ground almonds

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl - and place in even portions in pre-greased muffin tray (1 bag makes 12 muffins).  Bake in pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes (I usually do 15 minutes based on additional ingredients added)

When done, let them stand about 5 minutes, then remove them from the tray and serve, or store them in seal proof container for later.  I guarantee you will love these, and will find so many awesome ways to make them your own.