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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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Virtuous Pie – Plant Based Pizza Joint And Creamery
I recently had the pleasure of trying out Vancouver’s only plant-based pizza joint and creamery. I had been hearing so much about “Virtuous Pie“, I knew I had to get there as soon as I possibly could. I love the entire concept of Virtuous Pie. Their mission is to change the way people eat and change the planet, one slice (or scoop!) at a time. Owner and executive chef Jim Vesel’s aim was to create an ethical and sustainable menu without sacrificing great taste. I believe he has accomplished just that. The eight pizzas offered on the menu contain creative and delicious combinations of ingredients and the house-made nut-based cheeses…
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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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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…
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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!
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
