Category: Food & Drink

Throughout my life I spent time as a vegetarian. Although I no longer am one, I still frequently enjoy vegetarian and even vegan cuisine. My best friend and I spent a summer trying out vegetarian restaurants in our cities. As you know from some of my previous posts I am trying to eat better in general and to shave off some of my ‘quarantine weight’. One way to do that is to reduce consumption of processed food; in particular processed meats have been linked to increased risk of cancers, diabetes and heart disease. Chatelaine featured a really good article about choosing healthier lunch meat, check it out! With that in mind I thought it would be neat to create my own “Vegetarian Sandwich Supreme”…

2 slices marble rye bread (toasted then lightly cooled)
1 handful of butter lettuce or spinach
1 slice Swiss cheese
1/2 an avocado (mashed)
1 mini cucumber, thinly sliced
1 Roma tomato, thinly sliced
Several slices of red onion
2 Bick’s sandwich saver dill pickle slices
1 handful of alfalfa sprouts
1 ½ Tbsp Philadelphia garlic & onion cream cheese spread

As Baltasar Gracian, said…
“True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island… To find one real friend in a lifetime is a good fortune; to keep [her] is a blessing.”

Who would have thought that after our first meeting on 5 Henday in Lister Hall at the University of Alberta  we would still be best friends?!?! Well… it’s true. We have been through so much in that time; finishing degrees, relocating, loss of beloved family members, divorce and marriage, home ownership, starting businesses, starting a blog… and that is only the tip of the iceberg.

We decided to have a celebration weekend and it was EPIC!!!
Our Friday night started off with dinner and beer sampling at Last Defence Lounge at the University of Calgary; we wanted to include something collegiate since our friendship began at a university after all. Then we picked up our favourite brew from The Dandy Brewing Company (Wild Sour Ale).

Saturday morning, with our coffees in hand we headed off to have manicures at Frilly Lilly. And then we window-shopped, carefully noting what we wanted to try on and falling in love with various garments and accessories.

We had our make-up done at Sephora, with coupons and stocked up on some much needed beauty supplies like make-up removal wipes and dry shampoo and picked up some new things…for example I am going to pay much more attention to my brows for the first time EVER! We both went for glam looks!

We capped off our day with a sweet snack at Finesse Desserts; we opted for the chocolate chip cookie and the black currant and bubblegum macarons!

Before dinner we went back to Frilly Lilly for pedicures; they felt really nice after all the mall walking we did at SouthCenter and Chinook Center.

Loving great food as we do, we wanted to try a new restaurant and we were ready to splurge! My best friend chose Chairman’s Steakhouse…this place did not disappoint, it was everything we could have imagined. We definitely felt fancy. Our server brought out a butcher board of the steaks they offer and told us all about their origins and preparations…WOW! We ordered a bottle of wine (a first for me); the 2016 Calliope Viognier from Burrowing Owl. Often times we order strategically so we can try that much more food. For instance one of us ordered a cold appetizer (Elk Carpaccio) and the other ordered a hot appetizer (Chicken Fried Oysters Rockefeller). And…often times we order the exact same things (Petit Filet with Pomme Puree, Broccolini and Bacon Jus). Dessert was Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Lemon Tart

A girls’ weekend, is usually not complete without watching a Netflix comedy special lately; as a throwback we watched Iliza Schlesinger’s War Paint.

We were up with the birds…so we had to kill some time before the malls opened. We went from fancy dinner the night before to Egg McMuffins from McDonald’s. Ricki’s had great sales on so we stocked up on our back to school clothes and Megan got the most awesome evergreen coloured Nicole Twistlock Shoulder Bag from Kate Spade …I am so jealous!

I have a reverse bucket list and often I make a list of things I want to accomplish during the year; for example a 34 Before 34. I love good food and tasty drinks. I thought it might be fun to make a food related bucket list. 

1-Cupcake @ Magnolia Bakery (401 Bleecker Street & West 11th Street in New York) 
Why?: The cupcakes look and sound amazing and also because we have spent A LOT of time watching Sex And The City! And I have always wanted to go to New York and go on the SATC tour; one of the stops is in fact at Magnolia Bakery.

2-Champagne @ the top of the Eiffel Tower
Why?: My time in France was incredible and I find myself longing to go back to this romantic city and spend more time at the Eiffel Tower; what better experience than sipping champagne taking in the breathtaking views from 276m.

3-Michelin Masterclass @ Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London
Why?: Being a Mr. Ramsay super-fan having the ability to learn how to make a three course lunch meal with an expert chef and then indulge in canapés and champagne at his flagship restaurant would be out of this world. 

4-Hawaiian Luau
Why?: I have heard that this feast of poi, Kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon, opihi, haupia and beer coupled with traditional entertainment, music and hula is a must! 

5-Dinner @ The Best Restaurant in Canada (Alo in Toronto, Ontario)
Why?: Canada has an incredible culinary scene; and I want to experience as much of it as possible. 

6-Afternoon Tea @ Claridge’s in London
Why?: I’m a sucker for the ability to step back in time and experience this Victorian tradition of finger sandwiches, scones, sweet pastries and delicious loose leaf teas. This location is simply exquisite. 

7-Vodka Tasting @ Ketel One Ice Room in Whistler
Why?: How cool (pun intended) would it be to sample vodkas from across the globe in the coldest (-32C) tasting room in the world??? It is also an opportunity to learn about the intricacies of the process to manufacture vodka! 

8-Breakfast @ Tiffany’s (Fifth Avenue & 57th Street in Manhattan)
Why?: Simply put… I would love to create Audrey Hepburn’s iconic scene; complete with glamorous outfit and bagged breakfast of coffee and a danish! 

9-Beaver Tail @ Rideau Canal in Ottawa
Why?: I’m a true Canadian girl so being able to go ice skating at this iconic location and pig out on this deep fried pastries is where it’s at! 

10-Bar Hopping in Nashville
Why?: “NashVegas” is full of fun; a great strip of bars, neon lights and awesome music. The party doesn’t seem to stop on Lower Broadway! To paraphrase a Jake Owen song; “I may not go down in history But I’ll go down to the honky tonk.”

I always say, “I am going to eat better!” but it is really tough to stay on track, it is really tough not to skip a meal, it is really tough to say no to convenience food… But I know I have to though. 

The Canada Food Guide tells us that we should…
-eat three meals a day
-meals should be based around fruits and veggies
-only ¼ of your meal should be grain
-only ¼ of your meal should be protein
-limit snacking to 1-3 times a day
-have 7 servings of fruits and veggies per day
-consume 6-7 servings of grains per day
-eat 3 servings of milk or milk alternatives per day
-have 2-3 servings of meat or meat alternatives per day
-limit oils and fats that are high in saturated or trans fat
-cut out high calorie junk food
-stay hydrated with water
-use things like salt, coffee and alcohol in moderation

With ALL the considerations above I challenged myself to design a week’s worth of meals so that I could actively plan to eat healthy and make it easier to meal prep and write my grocery lists.

Breakfast MWF
-Whole wheat toast with peanut butter
-Banana
-Milk

Lunch MWF
-Tuna salad in a whole grain wrap with lettuce, tomatoes and onions
-Grapes
-Cucumber
-Yogurt

Dinner MWF
-Spaghetti with tomato sauce and cheese
-Caesar salad
-Zucchini

Snacks MWF
-Hummus and carrot sticks
-Crackers

Breakfast T/R
-Oatmeal
-Nectarine
-Milk

Lunch T/R
-Chicken and vegetable stir fry
-Brown rice
-Orange
-Babybel cheese

Dinner T/R
-Moose meatloaf
-Side salad
-Potato side (M-roasted, W-French fries, F-roasted)
-Milk

Snacks T/R
-Bran muffin
-Apple
-Red pepper

Breakfast S/S
-Scrambled egg
-Whole wheat toast
-Orange
-Milk

Lunch S/S
-Taco salad (heavy on the veggies and beans) with cheese
-Pita crisps

Dinner S/S
-Baked fish fillet
-Green beans
-Broccoli
-Whole wheat dinner roll
-Milk

Snacks S/S
-Banana bread
-Blueberries
-Mixed nuts

How many of you have LOADS of cookbooks; but really only use a couple of them?!? 
Same goes for me!
Let’s take a look at the ones I can’t live without….

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It, by Ree Drummond
Why: This is a cookbook full of easy, delicious and affordable meal ideas for everyday, on the go people. Ree is by far the sweetest and most down to earth personality on the Food Network. Her lifestyle, philosophy and palate are in alignment with my own so I find her food comforting and satisfying.

When: Making meals to send with my husband for work.

Favourite Recipes: Doctored Up Ramen, Slow Cooker Glazed Ribs, Sheet Pan Supper Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

Dinner on Hand, by Kraft Kitchens
Why: This is an excellent cookbook for a home cook that doesn’t want to deal with a lot of extra steps and simply wants to get at the essentials of dish without compromising on taste. This book has mains; most with a plethora of options to add variety to you menu planning and allows you flexibility…you can use whatever you have on hand. It also recipes for snacks, starters, sides, salads and desserts.

When: Making meals for myself when I am on my own.

Favourite Recipes: Everyday Easy Rice Dinners, Mix & Match Chicken Bakes, 15 Minute Fajitas

Company’s Coming Mostly Muffins, by Jean Paré
Why: I grew up cooking out of cookbooks by Jean Paré. I love making deserts and this book has 120 recipes of all shapes and sizes that don’t take forever to make or require immense skill or expensive ingredients. It also offers allergy-sensitive recipes and tips to enhance your baked goods.

When: Making desserts for the staff on snack day or to stock the freezer with baked goods to be enjoyed in a pinch.

Favourite Recipes: Mocha Hazelnut Muffins, White Chocolate Berry Muffins, Basic Banana Bread

Like many people my husband and I have full time jobs and run a business on top of them. Skipping meals unfortunately comes with the territory. Sometimes lunch lands on the chopping block but, more often than not it’s breakfast that gets the axe. Skipping breakfast allows for a little more time for much needed sleep. We have all heard the adage that, “BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY!” I thought perhaps I should re-frame our habits and find some breakfast hacks that will allow us to start our days on the right foot…with something other than smoothies.

Overnight Oats
I am not a vegan and to be honest, I was super skeptical about trying this. But, I was pleasantly surprised. It takes no time at all to whip up a bowl before going to bed and the variations are endless. It’s interesting that something so healthy and light seems so decadent. My favourite recipe comes from Angela at Oh She Glows.

Freezer Pancakes
Pancakes are super yummy and you can add chocolate chips and/or fruit to the batter BUT they take time to make and can be messy… in our house they are relegated to the weekends. If you want to enjoy them Monday-Friday you can pre-cook, freeze and then reheat them easily in the microwave or toaster. The best advice I got for this was to freeze them for at least an hour on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and then transfer them to a Ziploc for longer term freezing.

Muffin Pan Frittatas
Plan on two eggs per muffin cup; add whatever you like…chopped onions, peppers, mushrooms, ham, etc. Mix it all together and pour it into your greased muffin pan and bake at 350F until they’re set and cooked through. Wrap them up and store in the fridge, reheating throughout the week.

Cottage Cheese Pudding
This is a super healthy breakfast option! Cottage cheese is high in protein and filling so you won’t be tempted to snack on doughnuts in the break room. Flaxseeds are noted for their weight loss benefits and helpful for blood sugar control. Cinnamon helps improve gut health. Half a cup of cottage cheese, one tablespoon of flaxseeds and half a teaspoon of cinnamon. Mix and enjoy!

Morning Glory Muffins
These delicious muffins are made with a little bit of literally everything — whole wheat flour, carrots, apples, raisins, walnuts, orange juice, coconut and spices. They are easy to make; lately I make a batch on a Sunday and have them throughout the week. They are perfect to eat in the car on the way to work or to have with my coffee when I get to work. My favourite recipe comes from Jaclyn at Cooking Classy.

My maternal grandma was an incredible lady; she fled Hungary and spent six months in a refugee camp in Austria before immigrating to Canada. She gave up everything, including a job as a kindergarten teacher, so my mom and aunt could have a better life. She battled diabetes, lymphoma with immense courage and survived a triple bypass.

I remember spending summers with her and learning about my Hungarian roots from her; one way she exposed it to me was through cooking and baking. One treat I love and remember fondly is, mézeskalács or honey cookies. We always had them at Christmas and gobbled them up. I tried many times to make this recipe successfully, but I failed –I either burned them or they were too dense or the flavour just wasn’t there.

My grandma cooked mainly from memory; what she was taught by her foremothers and by touch and taste. This summer though, as my travel plans were put on hold; I challenged myself to successfully make one of her recipes…and this time I succeeded.

Ingredients…
7 Tbsp honey
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp gingerbread spice

Directions…
-Preheat oven to 390 F 
-Combine honey, oil, egg and sugar
-In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and spices.
-Add dry ingredients to the honey mixture and blend together to make a dough
-Take 1 teaspoon of dough and roll into a ball
-Place honey cookie on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
-Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the bottom of honey cookies become slightly brown
-Cool completely

*You can glaze these cookies; however, in our household that wasn’t done.