March 31, 2015

It Finally Hit Me!

It finally hit me.  I am officially on Spring Break.  It hit me yesterday morning when I didn't have to get up hours before the sun.  Those of you who know me know that I am a huge early bird, but sometimes 5:00 am is just a tad too early to get the worm everyone's always talking about...

Yesterday I got up at 7:00 am, made some breakfast and plunked myself on the couch where I slowly enjoyed my breakfast while watching some Netflix!  Ahhh...no better way to spend my first real day of holidays!

I have no real plans for the next two weeks, which I'm kind of loving.  At first, I was a bit disappointed I wasn't going anywhere but now I'm perfectly content with my decision!  I plan on doing some Spring cleaning (i.e. going through cupboards, closets and drawers), getting my gardens ready, building a kitchen table (pretty excited about this one) and going to as many classes at the gym as I can!

Now, back to the food!  Here's yesterday's breakfast.


Acai bowl with all of the toppings!


Acai Bowl
Ingredients:

1 package of sugar free acai pack


1 frozen banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/8-1/4 cup almond milk (I used homemade but any will do)

Directions:

1. Blend in blender/food processor. The stronger the better!  Add more liquid to reach desired consistency.

2. Have fun with your toppings!  I added banana, blackberries, leftover granola from yesterday's breakfast, walnuts and raw buckwheat groats.

Now, I have never had an acai bowl before, nor do I know what it is them...but this one was phenomenal! 

Do any of you make acai bowls? Or if you don't, have you ever had one?  















March 30, 2015

Roasted Tomato Soup

Rewind to dinner last night.  Simple ingredients, easy prep, minimal clean up and tons of flavour!

Roasted Tomato Soup
adapted from somewhere that I can't remember...

Ingredients:

6-8 tomatoes on the vine cut into quarters
1 yellow onion cut into quarters
head of garlic
fresh basil
fresh thyme
juice of 1/2 lemon
2-3 tbsp olive oil
salt 
pepper
pinch of cayenne pepper


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut top off of garlic head.  Put head down on cookie sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Bake for 30-45 minutes until lightly brown.

2. Put tomatoes, onion, fresh herbs (to taste), olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper (to taste) and cayenne pepper (1-2 pinches) into large bowl.

3. Mix with hands until combined.



4. Put on cookie sheet.  Bake for approx. 30 minutes.



5. Add all tomato mixture to blender.  Squeeze out roasted garlic into blender.  Blend until it reaches your desired consistency.  I blended until it was completely smooth and creamy!


6.  Serve, garnish and enjoy!

Have you ever made tomato soup this way? 






March 29, 2015

I'm Back!

Well, well, well...look who we have here.  Yes, I'm back.  Yes, It's been over a year.  I still can't believe it.  No major excuses and no, I am not going to write a novel about what I have been up to because I have a granola recipe to share with you, and let's face it granola recipe > my whole life story.  But, here is a quick little list to get you all up to date:

  • I am currently teaching at the same school as last year (K-2 class), which is in a very remote community
  • Francis graduated from UVic with his Engineering degree and moved to Campbell River.  He now has a great job working for the Hydro Dam project as a Field Engineer!
  • We (my dad, Francis and I) renovated and moved into a house on a large piece of property 
  • I am still baking and cooking up a storm
  • I haven't been running much at all lately but have been going to group classes at the gym (zumba, spin) and keeping up with my pilates!

Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business.

This granola *drool*.  So easy, so quick, so healthy, SO delicious.  Make it, like now!


Five-Minute Granola

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tbsp coconut oil
1-2 tbsp sweetener of choice (I used maple syrup but actually prefer agave nectar)
1/2-1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven (I used a toaster oven) to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients together.  
  • Note: it is easier to use coconut oil at room temperature than liquid
2. Spread granola onto non stick cookie sheet or onto a silpat.
3. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until slightly golden.
4. Allow to cool and enjoy (if you're impatient like me you can put it in the freezer)





I love this granola so much that I sometimes make it at 5:00 am before I head off to work.  


Served on top of 2 % greek yogurt and topped with banana, apple, peanut butter coconut oil drizzle and unsweetened coconut flakes!

How do you like to eat your granola?