• Cumin-Lime Quinoa Salad | Koko's Kitchen

    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…

  • Pumpkin Seed Pesto Zoodles | Koko's Kitchen

    Pumpkin Seed Pesto Zoodles

    I would like to preface this post by saying that while I love zucchini…I currently have so much of it in my fridge that I cannot possibly accept any more “gifts” from family members and friends hoping to pawn off their surplus of garden zucchini on me. Anyone who has ever grown zucchini knows how it is- haha! One of the ways that I like to use zucchini is to spiralize it into noodles a.k.a. “zoodles”! Zoodles are a great gluten-free alternative to pasta but they can also be used as a base for a variety of other dishes. I love to use zoodles in stir-frys, soups or instead of…

  • White Wine Sangria - Koko's Kitchen

    Fruity White Wine Sangria

    SANGRIA! My favourite summer cocktail to abuse on a beautiful day. I’m normally a pink or red sangria kinda girl, but on my birthday weekend in Whistler I went out of my comfort zone and gave the ol’ white sangria a try. What was I thinking!? White sangria is the bomb! Not too sweet and full of delicious summer, fruity flavour – nectarines, peaches, blueberries galore! This will make the perfect addition to any barbecue or party, or take it in a sneaky sippy cup as you float down the River of Golden Dreams!   Fruit-infused white wine sangria perfect for a summer party or BBQ!  

  • Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms | Koko's Kitchen | Vegan

    Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

    Every single year I swear that I am going to pick the zucchini blossoms in my parents garden and fry them up. Every year the quick window of opportunity passes without me getting my lazy butt up to pick them before it’s too late. This year was different, though – I carpe’d the crap outta the diem and got my act together. Look how pretty these flowers are! They are easy to prepare and they taste great…what an excuse to get deep-frying and create a unique dish that many people have never tried before. I did a quick search and learned that most commonly squash blossoms are stuffed with goat cheese or…

  • 7 Layer Dip

    7 Layer Dip

    It’s officially Summer time! I couldn’t be more excited. I just had a great weekend away in Whistler for my birthday, and followed it up this past weekend with a great Canada Day hike. I also got a new laptop for my birthday and I am sooo stoked about it. I have been using my 10+ year-old computer for all my blogging and it really turned into a hassle. Everything was so slow to load and apps like Instagram weren’t supported. I can’t wait to get back to blogging regularly with my new MacBook – woohooooo! It’s already been a busy Summer but there is lots more to come. One…

  • Star of The Show

    Okay okay, today is the day – my video with Chef Michael Smith is here!! What an experience. Thank you to Canadian Lentils and Food Bloggers of Canada for the opportunity and for being there with me every step of the way! And thank you to Chef Michael for sharing his knowledge of cooking, filming and recipe development with me – priceless! So, without further ado, click here to watch me almost cry in front of 8 cameras and then soothe myself with red wine!! http://ow.ly/A8Z8300ESyH And here’s a little breakdown of what to expect: 0:30 – when I was overjoyed to meet my food network hero! 0:50 – when…

  • Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich

    Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich

    I’m sad to say that my 3-month challenge at GoodLife Fitness has come to an end. I’m honestly feeling so good about the work that I’ve done in the gym, and feeling pretty confidant about tackling some decent hikes this Summer. Even the Grouse Grind…. This Vancouver weather is insaneeeeeely beautiful, and I’ve been getting plenty of exercise outside. Last week I went on a nice 8km hike in Golden Ears with my friends Kate and Lindsey. Even though I had only had three hours of sleep, getting outside for a hike always feels amazing. I made this curried chickpea sandwiches because I wanted a versatile meal that I could…

  • Koko's Kitchen | Banana Bread

    Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Orange-Cinnamon Butter

    This recipe is for some killer banana bread with a fancy flavoured butter just to kick things up a bit, and I think it would be perfect for Easter weekend! Banana bread is nice and easy to make and you don’t need any special equipment. Just a couple bowls, a whisk, and a loaf tin. Make sure to use really really ripe bananas for this recipe. Ripe and spotted bananas will add a lot more flavour then super fresh ones. I’ve tried to make this recipe a little heathier by using coconut sugar as the main sweetener. Coconut sugar can be found in most grocery stores now, or else it’s…

  • Cauliflower Buffalo Wings | Koko's Kitchen

    Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

    I recently became a member at GoodLife Fitness in Vancouver and I’m participating in their 3-month challenge. I’ve set some realistic goals for myself when it comes to fitness, and I’m excited to start hitting the gym again after a few months off. After doing the Couch 2 5k running program last year I have kept up with running and can still do a decent 5k but I’m going to try and work up to 10km by the time Summer rolls around. The treadmill and stairmaster are my best friends right now….to not only help me get my cardio in and work on my stamina, but prepare for some awesome…

  • Vegan Cheezy Nacho Dip | Koko's Kitchen | Koko Brill | Drop Dead Clothing

    Cheezy Vegan Nacho Dip

    This month’s recipe for the Drop Dead Clothing blog was a rich and creamy Cheezy Vegan Nacho Dip. This is the perfect way to get your queso fix without any dairy, and with lots of sneaky vegetables. The base of the dip is made up of cashews, carrots, and onions. With just a few other flavourful ingredients you are ready to blend everything together, top with your favourite salsa and get ready to serve! It couldn’t be easier. This month’s recipe is as simple as it gets- just a few ingredients quickly sautéed and then blended together to create rich, cheezy queso dip. Queso dip, or nacho cheese dip is usually…

  • Drop Dead Recipes | Koko's Kitchen | Drop Dead Clothing | Vegan Buddha Bowls

    Drop Dead Recipes – Buddha Bowls

    I’m sure you’ve all seen “Buddha Bowls” floating around Instagram and Facebook. They are a super trendy food right now, but it’s great because they are so delicious and super healthy. I’ve created this Winter Buddha Bowl full of roasted vegetables, quinoa, and a freakin’ insane miso gravy. Obviously you can substitute whatever veggies you like the most, and if you aren’t into quinoa, white or brown rice would work great, too. Winter Buddha Bowl 200g yam, sliced 1/2″ thick 200g beet, sliced 1/2″ thick 125g carrot, sliced 1/2″ thick 125g broccoli, chopped into florets 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 tbsp coconut oil 1 tbsp sesame seeds Preheat oven to…