Tag Archives: foodie

My Latest Addiction: Vanilla Almond Butter

“Whenever you’re in the kitchen and it’s quiet, I know you’re eating nut butter.”

Does my husband know me well, or what? We have spent many nights together in the kitchen, quietly snacking on our respective butters. He’s a peanut butter guy. I’m an almond butter girl.

Are we in agreement that a spoon + almond butter is the best snack ever/all you really need in life?

It’s like the crack-cocaine synapses in my brain start firing when I even look at a jar of it. Almonds in their natural state? Meh. Almonds ground into butter? WHOA. Look out.

And, have you ever noticed how your voice changes when you make an almond butter statement? (No? Just me?) For example, I do this thing where I raise my spoon in the air and loudly proclaim, “I.LOVE.NUT.BUTTER.” Like I’m taking a stand against…not eating almond butter? Court does it too. We turn into savages. Sometimes he says really embarrassing statements such as, “I’m nutty for nut butter!” and then I know he’s gone too far. Backing away slowly…

Now, imagine taking almond butter to a whole new level of awesome by adding in vanilla bean, cinnamon and salt. Uh huh. Now we’re talkin.

If you haven’t made homemade nut butter before here’s what you need to know:

A food processor or high powered blender such as a Blendtec, Vitamix, etc is required. If your blender can’t even crush ice properly (or in a timely fashion) don’t attempt it.

Natural, unroasted almonds is what we’re working with. It’s best to avoid roasted almonds, as they’re heated at high temperatures with unhealthy oils that are extremely high in Omega 6s. Most of us already get too many Omega 6′s in our diets which create inflammation within the body. Instead, we’re going to add our own oil: organic flax or extra virgin olive oil.

Ingredients:
3 cups almonds
1/4 cup + 1 tbsp flax oil (or evoo, or a combination of both)
1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp pure vanilla extract)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
salt, to taste

Blend, blend, blend until it’s smooth, with multiple ‘taste testing’ along the way.

Another favorite almond butter snack:

Roasted sweet potato fries + a big scoop of the good stuff. They’re a match made in heaven!

Do you make your own nut or seed butters?

Also, todays question from ”Q&A A Day” journal asks ” ____ made you laugh today”
I haven’t laughed yet. (It’s 6am) Tell me your answer.

Local Dining Adventure: Baadshah

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One of the things I enjoy most about Lethbridge is the ever evolving dining scene. With an abundance of ethnic options, there’s always a unique culinary experience to be had. Japanese, Korean, Guatemalan, Ethiopian, Mexican, Afghan, Indian, we have it all! At this rate, I may never leave.

My mother in law, Lynn, has been raving about Baadshah, an East Indian restaurant for weeks, so it seemed like the obvious choice for our most recent dinner date. Lynn and I share a love of soul food- food that is prepared with love and nurtures the spirit. We are a match made in foodie heaven.

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My first impression of Baadshah’s atmosphere was a sense of ease and comfort. The combination of warm colours, spices and music instantly relaxed me. I felt like we were invited into someones home.

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To start, we ordered a glass of wine while we browsed the menu. I became slightly overwhelmed while trying to decide what to order – the menu contains a vast array of dishes, and everything sounded so good! Our server was kind and attentive, recommending his favorite dishes and welcoming any questions we had. Ordering gluten-free alternatives wasn’t an issue, and he even offered to provide chickpea naan in place of traditional naan.

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We decided to split three entrees: vegetable korma, Bombay shrimp curry and a half order of tandoori chicken; coconut rice and chickpea naan on the side.

Vegetable Korma

Tandoori Chicken

Bombay Shrimp Curry

I couldn’t get over how delicious the Bombay shrimp curry was – there were so many layers of sweet, spicy and smokey flavours, all melded into one.

After dinner, we chatted with the restaurant owners, and drooled over their dessert selection at the front counter. One particular dessert that caught my eye was a log-shaped cookie coated in silver. The owner explained it was cashew butter, sweet milk, pistachios and silver, and he gave me one to sample. It wasn’t what I expected at all – it looked like a shortbread cookie, but tasted like sweet milk. Yum!

Baadshah officially has my heart, and I can’t wait to share future dining experiences there with family and friends. During the week, they have a $12.99 lunch buffet with an assortment of curry, rice, bread, desserts and more. This restaurant has been on my foodie-bucket list for two years, and after my first experience, the new goal is to eat there weekly!

Have you dined at Baadshah?
Does your city have an abundance of ethnic restaurants?
What’s your favorite East Indian dish?

Foodie Quiz

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A few days ago, I was drooling over Laura’s recipes (she has Mexican chili spice black bean brownie recipe that I can’t wait to try!) when I found this foodie-inspired quiz. How fun!

Breakfast
1. Favorite cereal as a child?
Cocoa Pebbles, although my parents would only let me have them once a year! I loved how they they turned the milk chocolate flavored. Do Cocoa Pebbles still exist? I haven’t seen them in Canada since the 90s. Or maybe because I rarely venture down the cereal aisle.

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2. Coffee or Tea? With milk or without?
Coffee, with half & half. It’s my morning ritual. I drink one cup in the early morning hours. If I have caffeine past 9am I probably won’t sleep for a week. I enjoy herbal teas later on in the day, too. ‘Mothers Little Helper’ tea by DAVIDsTEA is one of my favorite brews to unwind with. It contains valerian root, aka. natures valium. Evening yoga + valium tea= best sleep of my life.

3. The one food you eat most often at breakfast?
Eggs. I eat at least two a day; they are my favorite superfood. Is there anything better than a runny yolk?

Lunch

1. Sandwiches are generally considered a “lunch food.” If you had to choose between a grilled cheese and a peanut butter and jelly, which would you pick?

Grilled cheese, with tomato soup. Or, my favorite ‘grown up grilled cheese’ combo: creamy goat cheese, thinly sliced pear and sage. Mmmm.

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2. You can only put four ingredients in your salad (not including greens); what do you throw in the mix? Additionally, which greens and dressing do you pick?

I’ve been eating this combo lately: soft goat cheese, diced apple, walnuts & avocado. With mixed baby greens, dried sage & aged balsamic vinegar. I love sweet and savory salads.

3. One food you can’t live without at lunch?

Veggies! My lunches are usually based around vegetables – either leftovers from the previous night, or a massive salad.

Dinner

1. It’s the end of the day. You’re tired, hungry, and your fridge is empty. If fast food (from a chain) is your only option, where do you go and what do you order?

Starbucks. I’d get a protein bistro box containing a hard boiled egg, grapes, cheese, etc. They really need to start including a mini bottle of wine with those!

(source)
2. TV/computer on or off while you’re eating?

Computer, on. I like to read while I’m eating.

3. The one food you eat most often at dinner?

Lately it’s been squash. My kitchen is overflowing with butternut, spaghetti and kabocha. I’ve been making a lot of chili, soup and stew. Side note: What’s your favorite squash? I love buttercup and butternut!

Dessert

1. Choose between these two American desserts: cheesecake or apple pie?

Cheesecake, as long as it’s fruity cheesecake and not chocolate. My tastebuds dislike chocolate cheesecakes. Bleh.

2. Choose between these two foreign desserts: tiramisu (Italy) or flan (Spain)?

Tiramisu… from Paolo’s Bistro in Pahoa, HI. I would plan a trip *just* to eat there again.

3. Ice cream: cone or cup?

Cone! Although… I can’t remember the last time I had one. I need to change that, immediately.

Tell me…

What was your favorite childhood cereal?
Grilled Cheese or PB&J?
What are your top four salad ingredients?

Butterscotch Banana Bread Donuts

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Good Morning!

I’ve been going through my Hawaii photos and have a video to share of sunrise along Hawaii’s east coast. I used to get up around 6am, brew a cup of Kona coffee, then walk along the lava bluffs, watching the ocean swell.

I miss Hawaii!

Remember a few months ago where I went through that banana bread obsession? It all started when I created my own version of Buddha Belly Bakers ‘Bomb Banana Bread’.

During that banana bread phase, I made donuts with the recipe! Except I tossed in a couple handfuls of butterscotch chips.

Using my Banana Bread Explosion recipe, I poured the batter into a donut pan and baked for approximately 20-25 minutes until the sides started to brown.

Tell me….

Where have you found the best donut shop? (Don’t say Tim Hortons )

For me, Punalu’u Bakery on the Big Island…

LMG Meal Plan 7/9-7/15

G&B’s Strawberry Yogurt Parfait

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Favorite fruit combo right now. Strawberries, kiwi, banana. I just discovered how awesome this trio is and I probably deserve a Nobel prize now.

I based a minted pea potato salad on this recipe and loved the result. I hate sloppy, mushy, overly-dressed potato salads and in this recipe, the peas and herbs take the stage. In my version, I used just greek yogurt, added basil, extra mint, goat cheese and parmesan. My mom also makes a killer potato salad that isn’t drowning in mayo. I will get the recipe from her and share it this summer.

When I was in Hawaii, I ordered a purple yam and sweet potato salad that was annihilated with Miracle Whip. I’ll probably never get over it. Haven’t had a good nights sleep since then.

Lately, my bedtime snack has taken the form of fresh berries and yogurt. With Green&Blacks dark chocolate shavings.

It was almost too pretty to eat! I used the chocolate squares as a spoon. Best idea ever.

Into the mason jar went:
3/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
80 4 squares Green&Blacks 70% dark chocolate + shavings

Have you tried/Do you love Green&Blacks chocolate? It’s what gets me through life. They have a crazy good white chocolate vanilla bar that I’m obsessed with. I ate two bars last week. Plus an espresso bar. Can’t stop. Won’t stop. (Said in a Diddy voice. Is his name still Diddy?)

Mountain Detox – photos from the weekend

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Last weekend was filled with so many great things. Fresh mountain air. Girl talk. Tons of great eats: Dinner at crazyweed. Lunch at Nourish. An exciting internship meeting in Banff. Wine and homemade appetizers. Long sleeps. Yoga. Walks. More wine. An impromptu road trip to Lake Louise (I’d never been before!) A crackling fire.

Cherry tomatoes + basil + olive oil + salt, along with dates + honey goat cheese

Here’s an easy lunch I’m currently loving: Ultra thin crust margarita pizza. Using a (brown rice) wrap as the ‘crust’, I topped it with homemade pizza sauce, fresh spinach and basil, cheddar, sliced tomato and goat cheese. Pop it in the oven for about 10 minutes at 400F until cheese is bubbly and the crust is crisp. Steamed asparagus on the side.

Make this.

Where’s your favorite place to ‘detox’ and unwind?

DIY: Strawberry Vanilla Milk

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Random thought that popped into my head yesterday morning: “I wonder if they still make strawberry Nesquick?”
80′s children probably have fond memories of the chocolate and strawberry flavored syrups and powder. When I was a kid, I used to make this disgusting concoction of ice cream with about 15 scoops of Nesquick powder. I was really gross. Still am, actually.

Anyways, with that thought in mind I created my own strawberry flavored milk.

In a blender or food processor (I don’t have a blender! It’s sad) add:

1 cup strawberries
1/2 cup milk of choice (I used Good Karma Flax milk, which I love)
1/2 tsp vanilla
optional: sweetener of choice. If you use a sweetened milk, you might not need any.

Blend.

I used my strawberry vanilla milk to make a big bowl of oats, hemp hearts and almond butter.

Oats do not fill me up – at all. I feel like they’re empty calories, and my stomach is always rumbling within an hour. I even ate two eggs with it and still went into starvation mode.

Does this happen to you too? Or am I crazy?

Lunch Idea: Quinoa Chicken Salad

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“Hey Jo, what kinds of things are you cooking up today?” my fast-food loving co-worker always asks me. Food-wise, we have nothing in common, but I think he gets a kick out of my laundry list of daily food rants. Or maybe he’s secretly mocking me.

“Well, this morning I had eggs, along with a baked sweet potato topped with coconut oil, shredded coconut, cinnamon and walnuts. I also prepped lunch ahead of time and made a quinoa-veggie-chicken salad. I love making food!” Talking about food excites me, but now that I’ve recounted that conversation I kind of want to punch my cheery early-morning self.

His eyes glazed over and he responded with: “I like to sleep in the morning. That’s my idea of fun.” I think I lost him at ‘sweet potato.’

So, about that salad.

I like cooking big batches of quinoa ahead of time, so I can easily throw together a quick weekday meal or snack.

In this mix:

1/4 cup cooked quinoa
shredded chicken
tossed with 1 tbsp dijon mustard and 1 tsp light mayo

With:
1/4 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1 small tomato, quartered
1/4 cup cucumber slices
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp minced garlic
salt & pepper
optional: goat cheese (which is never an option for me. I eat it on nearly everything!)

It’s tasty warm or cold, and very filling. I served it on a bed of greens, and ate a small bowl of leftover sweet potato chili on the side. Plus a giant chocolate dipped strawberry. I’m a garbage disposal.

What are some of your ‘make-ahead’ staples or meals?

We Found The Mangoes

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Mango-fans, have you ever noticed that finding a decent mango is like chasing the dragon? A good mango is hard to come by – even in Hawaii. They’re either under-ripe and piney tasting, or over-ripe and piney tasting. In Kona this past week, the markets were overflowing with organic mangoes which sent Court into euphoria. They’re his favourite fruit. I love them as long as they don’t taste like a Christmas tree.

The farmers markets on the Kona coast are geared towards tourists – with crafts, clothing, jewelry, and less fruit and veggie stands. Meh. Give me veggies. Lots of fresh leis for sale which I can’t resist burying my nose into every time I pass them. Plumerias are my favourite scent -they’re like lilacs… but better.

We had lunch at a wonderful burger place called Annie’s a few days ago. It’s conveniently located next to Island Naturals (our favourite Hawaiian health food store) in Kainaliu. Some guests we met at Ka’awa Loa recommended it, and we weren’t disappointed! The atmosphere was unexpected for a burger restaurant. It’s a partial open-air setting with a casual-contemporary cafe vibe. When we walked in, Tiesto was was blaring throughout the restaurant, and at that moment I knew I was going to love our meal.

We ordered Longboard beers and a bowl of tomato-basil soup to start.

I’d been told the ‘Mala’ burger was amazing, so I had to try it. Chickpea patty seasoned with herbs, topped with tzatziki sauce and lime coleslaw. Purple potato salad on the side. Sounded promising! Someone in the kitchen went a little crazy with the sauce in both my burger and salad, which was disappointing. All I could taste was tzatziki. It was still good and I’d order it again – minus the gallon of dressing.

Court had the ‘South Point’ burger with a side of fries that I helped him devour. His burger was outstanding!

To balance out the salt, we stopped by Gia’s Gelato next door for a scoop of strawberry-lillikoi and mint chocolate.

My gelato was sickeningly sweet and I could only tolerate a few bites. Serious sugar burn in my throat. Lilikoi is already such a naturally sweet nectar that it doesn’t need extra sugar added to it.

Gelato, ice cream or frozen yogurt – what’s your favourite? Fro-yo, hands down! (Yogurtland… taro… mmmm)