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Roasted Honey Chili Potatoes
While in India I was introduced to one of the yummiest things I have ever eaten – “honey chili potato”. I was at a restaurant, stuffed to the brim from an amazing veggie curry with garlic naan bread but after one taste of these honey chili potatoes, I just couldn’t stop. This dish normally uses french fries as the base but I wanted to lighten things up and avoid the deep-fryer. Simple, roasted potatoes do the trick as they still get nice and crispy on the outside and stay fluffy on the inside. A recipe inspired by the 'honey chili potato' I had the pleasure of indulging in while…
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DIY Coconut Sugar Lip Scrub
Going from 40-degree weather in India to -1 degree weather in Vancouver has left my skin sooo confused!! It’s dry AF and I need to moisturize every five minutes, I swear. My lips are no better…dry and chapped and no amount of “Lip Shit” is helping (although I am still obsessed- coconut basil flavour is the bomb!). I have used lip scrubs in the past and enjoyed the results. I’ve tried a few from Lush and they were super moisturizing and effective and they tasted delicious but with none on hand I decided to make my own. It’s chemical free and made with natural ingredients good enough to eat! I…
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India – Part Two – Varanasi
Our second stop in India was Varanasi, just a quick one hour flight from Delhi. Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the entire world, dating back to 2000 BCE. It is also considered to be the holiest city in India. In Hindu tradition, Varanasi is the most sacred place for cremation, as it is believed that if one’s ashes are laid in the Ganges river they may escape the cycle of rebirth, aka ‘moksha’. I loved my experience in Varanasi. For some reason I found the narrow, twisted, labyrinth-like streets less overwhelming than those in Delhi. The ‘ghats’ made it easy to keep track of where we…
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Quick Pickled Onions
I have been pickle obsessed since I was born. I would hoover baby dill pickles, jar after jar as a kid and it’s really no different now. Pickle juice? No problem….I’ll drink it. Now that I’m an “adult” (ew!) I enjoy pickles in a variety of ways such as, picklebacks – where you take a shot of Jamison Irish Whisky and follow it up with a shot of pickle juice. I have also come to enjoy a variety of other pickles like pickled beets, mustard pickles, pickled beans, pickled asaparagus and of course pickled onions!! I think that Vancouver taco craze got me started on pickled onions. The sweet, tangy,…
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India – Part One – Delhi
I just got back from a 2-week vacation in India and it was unbelievable. I went with a bunch of my bestest friends as well as my boyfriend to see our best friend Taylor get married. What an amazing experience!! We flew into Delhi on a direct flight from Vancouver…which equates to 14 hours of hell when you can’t fall asleep on the plane! We took a bus to Tender Heart NGO in Faridabad, the school we would be staying at for the first week of our trip. Taylor had volunteered at Tender Heart for ‘6 weeks’ a couple of years ago. ‘6 weeks’ quickly turned into 6 months and…
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‘Winter Buzz’ Bailey’s Almande Hot Chocolate
Ever since I heard about Baileys Almande last year, I had been awaiting it’s release with coffee cup (or hot chocolate mug) in hand. Lucky for me, Santy Claus brought me a nice big bottle of it – what a treat on Christmas morning. Finally! A boozy, creamy and sweet Baileys just like it’s dairy-based counterpart but made with almond milk so I can sip away with no tummy aches afterwards. Can I get a what whatttttt! Of course it’s amazing in a strong cup of coffee but it’s also great in hot chocolate. I found a beautiful vegan hot chocolate mix made on Bowen Island from Cocoa West. For…
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Coconut Vegetable Korma
By the time you read this I will be in India celebrating my best friend’s wedding – woohoooooo! In anticipation of all the amazing Indian food we will be consuming, Jared and I decided to have a little curry night before we left. We cooked up basmati rice, naan bread, aloo gobi (a mixture of potatoes, cauliflower and spices) and my favourite, vegetable korma. Korma is a dish consisting of meat or vegetables braised in yogurt or cream, stock and plenty of spices. Korma is a supa saucy, fragrant and flavourful dish! But as you know, me and dairy don’t get along so great, so korma has been a no-go…
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Mango Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing
The other day I went to a potluck with a group of girl friends (see below! <3 ) and we were doing an Indian themed meal. We had two different kinds of curry, rice, salad and plenty of wine. My contribution was the salad and I had to wrack my brain for the perfect salad to accompany curry. In the end, I decided that something sweet and tangy with just a hint of spice would be the answer. There are so many different textures and colours in this salad! Creamy avocado, sweet mango, crunchy bell peppers all on a bed of tender mixed greens. Let’s not forget the flavour-packed pepitas (pumpkin…
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Cumin-Lime Quinoa Salad
I love me a quinoa salad when I’m looking for something fresh and tasty but packed full of protein. Quinoa is an awesome little grain (well, seed technically speaking) and it contains about 8 grams of protein per cup. Mixing it with black beans for extra protein and lots of fresh vegetables makes it even healthier. Bring this to your next summer event like a potluck or barbecue and help everyone to nourish their guts in the yummiest way!! The cumin-lime vinaigrette is a nice smoky accompaniment to this dish with just a little kick to it. I got my chipotle olive oil at Coastal Olive Oils and I just love…
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Drop Dead Recipes- Raw Cashew Cheesecakes
I just wanted to take the time to post a little update and let you know where I’ve been at over the Summer, as my Koko’s Kitchen posts have definitely slowed down. Lots of changes have been happening, and I really want to get my recipes back up regularly again! First of all, I’ve been busy with Koko’s Kitchen the business. I’ve been selling juice at Back Roads Family Farm Market all summer, and I attended markets at the Tsawwassen Saturday Market as well. I’ve been filling orders for 3-day reboots (juice cleanses) and keeping busy with a full-time job as well. It’s been a bit overwhelming this summer to…
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Drop Dead Recipes- Chickpea Omelette
This month’s edition of #DropDeadRecipes is all about breakfast! I’m not a huge breakfast person, mostly opting for a smoothie and a coffee, sipped on the go as I head to work in the morning. Sometimes, however, I get a craving for something a little more special, and something to be enjoyed say, sitting down at a table- hah! This recipe is my take on an omelette…but there are no eggs involved. I guess technically this is more of a crepe or savoury pancake, but it’s prepared in the pan as you would an omelette. Call it what you wanna call it- it will taste the same either way! There…
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Drop Dead Recipes- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
For this month’s #dropdeadrecipes series I have made some delicious plant-based mint chocolate chip ice cream. I was so stoked at how the flavour of this turned out. Considering it uses a coconut milk base, along with spirulina to tint it green, it is quite different from my old favourite mint chocolate chip ice cream. Those who have tried this can agree that it tastes just like the “real” thing. I think it tastes even better- no chemicals, preservatives, or dairy-induced stomach ache! The thing about this ice cream is that it is best served as a soft-serve, or gelato texture. I like to freeze it for only 1-2 hours,…