Roasting tomatoes maximizes flavour even when the tomatoes used are more on the bland side. It may not be the most practical way to prepare them, the roasting takes a while and the volume is severely decreased, but oh they are delicious. For such a simple vegetable dish it really packs a lot of flavour and can bring something special to a whole range of meals. It is great on toasted crusty bread or english muffins, perhaps with some avocado or some freshly grated parmesan. It can also liven up pasta and eggs or create a base for sauces, soups or stews. Extras can be portioned out and frozen for easy access. Continue Reading →
Berry Chia Pudding Parfaits
There are currently a couple pretty trendy dishes to make from chia seeds- chia pudding and chia jam- and this is sort of a combination of the two. Along with some yogurt and a thick smoothie it makes for a very healthy parfait with a large range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Continue Reading →
Strawberry Power Balls
Power balls a.k.a. energy balls are exactly what they sound like- little nutrient-dense balls of food that provide a burst of power or energy. They are jam packed with a good balance of fats, protein and carbs to provide a boost during an afternoon energy slump or to fuel or refuel before or after a workout. Continue Reading →
Fried Quinoa
One of the main keys to eating healthy is being prepared. An easy, regular way to do this is to cook a large pot of whole grains at the start of the week and use it to create fresh, fast meals. Asian style fried brown rice, or quinoa in this case, is something my brother and I have been making pretty regularly lately. He takes the extras for lunch, topped with some baked, diced chicken to make it extra filling. Brown rice, millet or any other whole grain can be used instead of quinoa, they all work pretty well and have subtle, nutty flavours that go well with eggs, tamari (or regular soy sauce) and any vegetables desired. Continue Reading →
Quinoa Greek Salad
Quinoa is, like most whole grains, a great source of several minerals and B vitamins and fiber but what makes it special and unique is the type of protein it contains. Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids and there are 8 which we must obtain through food (our bodies can make the other ones on their own as needed). I like to think of each as a different colour of lego and most plant foods are missing one or two colours. Quinoa, an ancient grain prized since ancient times is technically a seed and it contains all 8 amino acids needed- making it a “complete protein”. Continue Reading →
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a vegetable filled side dish- basically it is vegetables cooked in vegetable sauce. Sliced eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers and onions get a boost of flavour from the base of tomato sauce they are placed in. All together it becomes a cozy side dish with fresh Mediterranean flavours and a big range of nutrients. Continue Reading →
Peanut Butter Banana Fig Smoothie
Growing up, the only encounters I had with figs were the dried and processed versions in the Fig Newton’s my grandpa would try to pass off as “cookies”. Then, despite the misgivings inspired by how gross I thought they were, I finally tried them fresh and unadulterated when I was visiting family in New Zealand. They ripened on the tree in the yard and were like precious jewels that magically appeared on the kitchen counter every so often. That’s where I fell in love with these fruits- warm, squishy and incredibly sweet- almost too decadently sweet to pass as fruits. Now, whenever I have them I’m taken back to lounging by the pool with the soft breeze coming in from the ocean and the sun warming my skin amid the laughter of loved ones. Continue Reading →
Bacon Yam Waffles with Corn Salsa
There are so many different ingredients that can be put into a waffle maker and be transformed into fluffy waffles with lightly crisped edges. This version uses mashed yams as the main ingredient (potatoes would work too) and they are held together with eggs and flavoured with onions, chili powder and fresh thyme. Bacon is an optional addition- when chopped into tiny pieces it folds in well to the yam mixture and offers a rich, smoky, meaty touch in every bite. Continue Reading →
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
A name can hold great power. If I baked these in a tray then cut them into rectangles and called them oat bars, my brothers would instantly turn their noses up in disgust. But, dropped onto a baking sheet and called cookies, these are at least given a chance. They taste the same and are just as healthy, but the presentation is familiar and associated with positive memories. Now, if I made these too healthy and cut down the sweeteners or tried to pretend they were just like less healthy cookies, they would no longer trust my baking. When substituting ingredients and making healthier options for people who aren’t too into health food it’s imperative to take baby steps. Continue Reading →
Banana French Toast
French toast is technically not that French and it existed well before France was even a country. Bread has long been a staple food for many cultures since the shift to agrarian societies and it was discovered that soaking stale bread in milk (and also often eggs) then frying it extended its shelf life- making it edible past its prime. Our first written record of the dish was in a cookbook credited to Apicius, all the way back in 4th century Rome. With the right bread it can be a good, healthy base to build a breakfast plate off of. Continue Reading →