Sweet and Savoury Early Summer Eats

Summer is upon us, (though you wouldn't know it with today's cool weather) and the weekend is here. One thing I love about the weekend is making a mess in the kitchen whipping up some food items that I didn't have time to do during the busy work week. 

Today I will share with you 2 recipes that surprisingly turned out really well! I'm not a fan of following recipes to the "T', both because I usually don't have all the ingredients, or I think of some great additions and substitutions! My husband cautiously  humours me in trying my tasty creations, but he's a meat and potatoes guy and is usually just happy pouring bbq sauce over whatever food is on his plate! (I love him for it!)

This year, along with my parents, we are participating in a local CSA with Creekshore Farms. Last week's box of produce came with garlic scapes. 

 

I've never heard of garlic scapes before, but I have been determined to broaden my knowledge of such items and figure out how to use them creatively. I googled some recipes and found one that sounded just up my alley: Garlic Scape Basil Pesto. How could I resist! Especially since I've been wondering what to do with the large amount of basil that I've been growing in the garden this year! This recipe I actually stuck to pretty well...and other than adding a touch too much salt (recent bad habit) it was fabulous!!!

 

And after the savory pesto...it's of course...time for dessert! I found the recipe for Vegan Pistachio Almond Ice Cream on a blog I follow. It sounded delicious! Since I found out I have milk, egg, and gluten intolerance... I enjoy recipe ideas that I know will keep me feeling fabulous after I eat them. 

 

 

I forgot to buy an avocado, so I substituted it with 1/2 of cup of chia pudding. (Which is 2 tablespoons of chia seed in 1/2 cup of milk). I wanted to make sure to keep that creamy consistency and the chia seeds certainly did the trick! I also couldn't find unshelled, unsalted pistachios so I de-shelled a bag full while watching Made of Honour. *sigh Patrick Dempsey*.  I also added in a small handful of unsweetened shredded coconut. 

 I was SO! !!!! impressed that it turned out as sweet as it did! I've portioned half out for a friend and the other half is just for me! Tomorrow is supposed to be a warmer day and I'm looking forward to enjoying a bowl full of my new creation!

Attention Niagara Residents: Buy Local!

This isn't a blog about "organic"...that'll come at a later date with my thoughts on the issue... this is about buying local!

It's that time of the year where fruit and veggie stands are filling up with produce and patrons all over the region!

I've started taking a look at the food I buy in terms of where it comes from. To be honest, the idea is relatively new to me. But as I've read more and more information and blogs about local produce, I've become more a of proponent for buying local. Have you ever taken a look at the labels at a grocery store? Why are our local chains buying strawberries and cherries during the middle of the Niagara season from the USA or other countries? No offense to our southern friends, but we have farmers, some of which are our neighbours, that are having a hard time staying afloat let alone turning a profit.

I've decided it's time I stopped turning a blind eye to the map of my produce. Yes, this means saying "no" to the shiny big strawberries from a greenhouse in California and favouring the smaller local and likely more expensive ones. Why? Because I value our farmlands.

Have you ever driven through Niagara on the Lake during blossom time? How can you not appreciate the beauty! What a sweet opportunity it is to go down the street and get fresh picked corn, peaches and produce that haven't ever seen the inside of a freezer truck in order to ripen!




I read a blog about chains not selling local produce for an appropriate amount here and it really made me think. What value do I put on local produce?

So here's the challenge: Drop by your local farmer's market on a Saturday morning before going to the grocery store. See what you can find there FIRST! It takes more time, but your efforts will not be in vain... you are helping your neighbours, your city, and yourself!

Farmers feed families.



For more info check out the following blogs:

Eating Niagara - A website devoted to local eating and agriculture in the Niagara Region
Creekshore Farms (where I get my Organic CSA from!)
Tree & Twig Heirloom Vegetable Farm

Circuit & Taboule

Do you ever have one of those days/evenings that just makes you happy? You do things that make you feel good and bring a smile to your face. That was my evening last night. I had the opportunity to sub a "circuit" class at the gym for another instructor. It was a small group but did we ever work hard. I got to test out some of the routines that I want to do for my upcoming "Bootcamp in the Park" that I'm setting up for a group of friends who are crazy enough to get togethat at 6am at the start of the week to sweat! This was last night's circuit. I call it "Bootcamp by Numbers!"

What you need:

1. A Bar with at least 10kg on it (for chest pres, row, dead lift, squat).

2. Bench with at least 3 risers.

3. Mat

4. Resistance tube 

Warm-Up

• 1 min lap, then do the following, after each bullet is done, run another 1 minute lap
• w/ 10 Jacks
• w/ 10 jacks, then 10 squat jumps
• w/ 10 jacks, 10 squat jumps, 10 sec squat hold
• w/ 10 jacks, 10 squat jumps, 10 sec squat hold, 10 plyo lunges
• w/ 10 jacks, 10 squat jumps, 10 sec squat hold, 10 plyo lunges, 10 sec lunge hold (each side)

Strength Training #1  – Heavy Bar

• Chest press – 1 set of 15
• Push ups – 1 set of 15
• Chest press – 1 set of 15
• Push ups – 1 set of 15
• Row – 1 sets of 15
• Dead lift – 1 sets of 15
• Row – 1 sets of 15
• Dead lift – 1 sets of 15

Functional Cardio #1 - (Do each exercise 21x, then go through it again 15x, and then 9x)

• Circuit: 21-15-9
• Weighted squat 5 kg
• Box Jumps
• Burpees

Strength Training #2 - using the tube

• Bicep Curls- 3 sets of 15
• first set - Singles/second set - Bottom half/third set - Top half
• Triceps - 1 set of 15 for each
• Tricep Dips
• Tricep Extension right side (using tube)
• Tricep Extension left side (using tube)
• Tricep Dips

Functional Cardio Training # 2 - 5 min

Partner Shuffle Tag w/ Mountain climbers - One person shuffles around the circle while their partner does mountain climbers. Then they switch.

Strength Training #3

• 10’s & 1’s – Chest push up & Shoulder press (using tube)
• Do 10 push-ups, then 10 shoulder presses. Then 9 push-ups, the 9 shoulder presses. Go all the way down to one.

Abs 

• Sit-ups (no top/no bottom) -15
• V-sit – 20 sec
• Russian twists   - 25
• V-sit – 30 sec
• Toe touches – 35 (singles)

That was our workout. Burpees and toe touches always kill me...but in the good pain kind of way. I hope the ladies are feeling it this morning too!

After the workout I went home and made dinner for Scott and I.

The Menu:

Chicken Breast with a Barbecue Rub by Victorian Epicure

Sweet Potato

Homemade Quinoa Taboule - It was my first attempt at the recipe...and it was pretty darn good!

The evening was topped off with a walk to Starbucks with thought provoking conversation with a friend! My latest Starbucks order is Grande Chai Tea made with the tea bag and steamed soy milk. It's like a Chai Latte without using the sugary syrup! 

I enjoy sharing what I'm learning in my life and getting feedback from other people about how their journey is also teaching them new ways of thinking and seeing the world. It makes the path of life more interesting and provides the comfort of friendship for the road! Best of all,...it brings balance...which we all desperately need more of on the journey!

Detox Week

So, I found out a few months ago that my body is intolerant to quite a number of items. Though intolerances range from mild to severe, the ones that topped my "severe" list were as follows: Gluten, wheat, ALL dairy (including goat dairy), and  eggs (yolk and white). Some things on my "medium" list were: asparagus, spinach, bananas, peanuts and pineapples.

Though I get a lot of headaches, often related to sinuses, I never have had a lot of stomach issues that one might think would be associated with having these crazy intolerances. But then I started eliminating these foods through the week. (I don't often watch my diet as much on the weekend.)  When I do eat the foods I should. I just feel "ugh".

This weekend consisted of a lot of burgers, sandwiches, brownies, cereal, toast. Everything my body has decided it doesn't like. Boy is it taking its revenge on me!!! Sluggish, psoriasis and acne!!!! This afternoon after a lunch of sandwiches, I felt like a bloated sheep that got into the chicken feed and imploded. We were up at Scott's childhood home, so that's why I inserted the country/farm reference. (Side note: Don't google "bloated sheep" for pictures. Blech!)

So...I decided it was detox week. Here's the plan:

- No dairy

- No bread

- No eggs (or mayo)

- At least 4 big glasses of water a day

- Work out 4x - aiming for Monday (Vive), Tuesday (Pump), Wednesday (Circuit) & Saturday (Run).

- And when next weekend rolls around....try to lay off the burgers and sweets!

What are your goals and ambitions for the week?