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Super Quick Dinner: Indian Red Lentils

Posted on 22. Jun, 2010 by kris.

Hey Everyone!

Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback from yesterday’s post on overcoming your fears and Keeping your Dreams Alive! I loved reading all of the comments you left. I can really get to know each and everyone of you through words and I love it

Kelsey left me an amazing and inspiring comment:

“dreams were always put on hold by my fears until just a short while ago. i think it was right after i turned 21 in april, something clicked for me. i felt like i had all this power and i could choose to no longer play victim to my fears but use that fear to drive me with nervous energy closer to what it was i wanted from life. it was a self acceptance that made me realize that i need to accept that i am the driving force behind my life and if i don’t challenge myself, no one will. fear can be so damaging and can hold us back from almost every aspect of positivity in our lives. it’s so important to push through our fears… and come out the other side victorious, and super proud”

I Love, Love, LOVE that she left me this!  Girl, you just helped me so much

I hope everyone had a beautiful night last night?  It was a friends birthday party last night so we hit up a local restaurant called Eatery down in the Kits area.  It was so much fun and a full little party!

Ryan and I dinned on steamed veggies with rice and it came with a side of teriyaki sauce for dipping.  We always make sure to eat before we go to places that we don’t know just in case the food choices for a vegan, allergy sufferer are poor

Before heading out to the party last night I made up a Red Lentil curry dish!  It was so magically delicious.

Super Easy Red Lentil Curry:

2 cups red lentils
4 cups water
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 medium onion
3 celery stalks
3 medium carrots
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp (or more) curry powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp coconut oil

Directions:

Heat large sauce pan over medium high heat.

Cut all veggies into 1″ thick pieces (this allows for quicker cooking time)

Add coconut oil and cumin seeds to the sauce pan and saute for about 1 -2 minutes or until seeds are fragrant.

Add veggies to sauce pan and cook for 3 minutes.

Add lentils, spices and water to veggies and bring to a boil.

Cook for about 15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.

Red lentils are the fastest of all the lentils to cook (usually only take 12 – 15 minutes) and I find they have a very mild flavour.  I would have to say they are my favourite of all the lentils

I am off for a meeting this morning with my sister at our usual coffee shop hang out and then to my first Nutritionist appointment! I am so excited and can’t wait to fill you all in later

Do you  like lentils?  How do you usually eat them?  Have you tried the red ones before?

**Tip Every time you wash your hands today recite everything you are thankful for!  This will make you feel amazing and give you something to do when you are scrubba-dubbing

To Your Glam Life,

xxoo

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Homemade Gluten Free Bread

Posted on 27. May, 2010 by kris.

Happy Thursday Everyone!

How are you enjoying your day?  I am at S’bucks enjoying some email catch up time and some usual people watching.

I know I have been ordered by the Life Coach to not compare or people watch for 2 weeks, but common, I am just observing  Observing that the barista has a wicked tan and that the lady sitting next to me has a massive sparkler on her finger and a pair of patent Tory Burch flats that look just my size  Just observing….I am not comparing….oiye!

Last night I was in the experimenting mood and rocked out some new eats in the kitchen.

Dinner was an amazingly easy soup which was deliciously thick and creamy.  I used Red Lentils which turn out amazing in soups because of their “mushiness” which adds a nice creamy texture.

Red Lentil Soup:

2 cups red lentils
3 large carrots
3 cups chopped broccoli
2 cups chopped cauliflower
1 medium onion diced
6 cups vegetable broth
2 cups frozen peas
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp seasoning (I used Mrs. Dash original)
1 tbsp evoo

Directions:

Heat a large pot over medium heat.  Add olive oil and onions.  Saute until onions are tender.

Add broth and frozen peas.  Let the broth heat up.

Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.

Turn down heat to low and simmer partially covered for 30 min.  Stir often as the lentils may stick to the bottom

I paired this “chowder” with a nice big salad and some Quinoa Bread I made earlier in the day!

Quinoa Gluten Free Bread:

2 cups Quinoa Flour
3 Chia Eggs (as seen on OSG – 1 “egg” = 1 tbsp ground chia seeds with  3 tbsp warm water)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp agave nectar

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 325

Mix “egg” together and let sit for 5 minutes.

Mix all dry ingredients together.

Mix all wet ingredients together and add wet to dry.  Mix well.  Add more water if dough it too dry.

Add dough to a greased or parchment paper lined loaf pan.

Bake for 30 – 40 minutes.

This bread is super tasty with soups, salads, as a sandwich and toasted with nut butter!  The slices are small and full of protein!

Well we are off to watch Ryan’s niece compete in her track and field events  Thank goodness it is sunny!  Then I am shall go head on into Day 3 of the Summer ShapeUp.  I am so sore from yesterday’s Speed workout!

***Tip - Keep from comparing yourself to others by running your own personal mantra through your head all day  Mine is “I am perfect as ME, I LOVE ME”.  I say this over and over again.  Especially when glancing at Miss Tory Burch sparkly girl next to me

What is your favourite soup?  What is your favourite gluten free grain?  Do you eat grains every day?

XXOO
Kris

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Guilt Free Chocolate?

Posted on 04. May, 2010 by kris.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Lets just get this out of the way right now – GO CANUCKS GO!  Wooot!  Game 2 of the 2nd round!

Before we were health nuts, Ryan and I would order pizza and drink beer on playoff nights.  Now we are making salads and drinking water!  Fun times

I did get us a special treat to go along with our soft serve for after dinner – Guilt Free Chocolate.

You heard me right.  In my mind I believe this MacaSure Chocolate from Vega is totally guilt free.  I eat a couple pieces of this bad boy after dinner and the sugar is SO minimal.  You know me and sugar – love the taste, hate what it does to me.

This whole bar if you were to eat it has only 9g of natural sugars.  It even states on the back of the package to eat 1/2 bar – 1 bar a day

Maca is so wonderful for you and used to be labeled as the Peruvian Secret.  This root is so sweet!  Look at the list of things Maca will help with:

Help with Moods

Increase Energy

Balance Hormones (hello ladies!)

Enhance Libido (do we talk about this on blogs!? )

Reduces Stress

WOW!  You can have all the above by eating some of this chocolate a day.  I think I can handle that, can’t you?

The first bite is not as “traditional” as you might think and it does have its very own taste.  It isn’t bad at all and I quite enjoy it.  It tastes healthy and balancing

Fitness!

YIPPE!!!  I am on Week 4 Day 4 of my Fitnessista workout.  It is rocking the party I tell ya.  The skinnies are getting looser and dimples are fading……ahhhh how I love the results of working out.

Food!

Dinner last night was some Simple Stir-Fry!

Brown Rice topped with Zucchini, Peppers, Red Onion, Carrots, Broccoli and Fresh grated ginger! Super tasty and very “clean”.  I did use a vegan bouillon as the “sauce” with the fried onion and ginger.

What is your favourite low sugar chocolate bar or do you worry about the ingredients in your chocolate?

XXOO
Kris

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Amazing Soft Serve and Some More Mexican

Posted on 29. Apr, 2010 by kris.

Good Morning Everyone!

Happy Thursday to you all!

How have you been?  It has been wonderful around here lately, just finishing some year end stuff off, making lots of off the top of my head recipes and learning social media marketing!

Yesterday I spent the day doing online learning and then headed off to my Life Coach appointment!  I love Life Coach days and I feel so pure when I leave that office.  I enjoy her company, but more enjoy the fact that I can let go and really talk about areas that I would like to work on or change.  There is a time and place where you feel comfortable opening yourself up like that and I do when I am in my “safe place” with Ann

After my beautiful session I came home and whipped up Mexican Millet except I used quinoa instead.  It was equally yummy and still full of protein!  I put this on a bed of greens and added some natural olives.  I know, they are not gone yet!  I find a way to put them on everything!

Dinner was done and we decided to walk the dog and then watch some Avatar while eating “ice cream”.

This is the BEST vegan soft serve I have ever had!

Vegan Soft Serve:

2 frozen bananas
1/2 can organic coconut milk

Place together in the food processor and buzz!

This is the most simple freakin dessert to make!  Who knew 2 ingredients would be so darn good? Add some chocolate sauce or sliced strawberries on here…..YUM!

I have more bananas freezing as we speak for some more goodness tonight!

Today is going to be a busy one.  We are off to S’Bucks, the bank and a meeting.  Then home to workout and get some work done

Do make your own “ice cream”?  What is your favourite flavour?

XXOO
Kris

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Gluten Free Flat Bread

Posted on 16. Apr, 2010 by kris.

Well Happy Friday Everyone!

The weekend is here!  WOO HOOO!

Summer time is here my friends!  It’s so flippin good to see some sun and feel that heat on your face

It is early for me to be posting, but we are heading out to some early appointments and meetings and are going to enjoy some time at our fave little coffee shop by the water.  I just love Friday’s and especially sunny ones!

Last night I made the easiest dinner ever that was so uber tasty!

I ventured out and tried something new and made my own version of “flat bread”.  I will try to replicate it again and take note of the amount of ingredients.  I kind of just had an idea and went with it not knowing how these tops and bottoms would turn out.  It is no Wonder Bread let me tell you, but not bad for a healthy alternative!

Beautiful!

I had hummus, collard, salsa and peppers on the sammie along with a dollop of more hummus and some veg!  Perfecto!

**Tip – I heard Dr. Oz said that hummus makes you sleepy!  Apparently hummus makes you sleepy because hummus has tryptophan, so it stimulates your sleepy hormones to turn on, just like turkey!  You might want this dinner before you go to bed

FITNESS!

I am on week 2 (WOOOT) for my Fitnessista.com Bikini Body Workout!  It is fab and I love every minute of it.  I love that there is variety and I am already seeing differences.  Mwwwwaaaaaaahhhh to you Gina!

I am on my way to this —>

My treadmill cardio workouts have been rockin as well and I know it is because I am in LOVE with the new OMG song by Usher. I listen to it over and over and over again while on the ‘mill.  It makes my cardio spicy  I get my hips movin along nicely…….

OTHER TOPICS

My dog, Hudson found an old banana (all brown) in a lunch bag and ate the whole thing – peel and all down to the steam.  The house smells of rotten bananas and all he does is drink water now….ugh….dogs.

He is always getting himself into some food that he will find in my travel along bag.  Remember when he ate my vega?

Do you have pets?  Do they get into things?  Have you ever made gluten free breads?

XXOO
Kris

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Yummy Quinoa Burgers and a Fab Quote!

Posted on 14. Apr, 2010 by kris.

Happy Tuesday Yo!

I am just loving my life today!  Are any of you feeling this way today?

This morning started off with a wonderful meeting at a coffee shop in our old hood (about 20 minutes from where we live now) and then I went for a visit with my sis and we headed downtown to our fave spot – Urban Fair!  We chatted, sipped americano’s and saw some Canucks

All in all it has been a great day so far!

I am baking a delicious batch of sweet potato fries as we speak and all I have to do is heat up left over Quinoa burgers I made for last nights dinner to accompany them!  I heart easy, health dinners.

Let me share with you the Quinoa Burger!

1 1/2 cup quinoa
1 red pepper
1 medium carrot
1 cup flax meal
1 small onion
sea salt
herbs (fresh or dried – I used about 2 tbsp mrs. dash original blend)

Rinse and cook quinoa as it says on back of package – Usually for 12 minutes

Add cooked quinoa and all other ingredients to the food processor and process until blended.

Form into patties on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake @ 350 for 15 minutes per side.

Super crispy and YUMMY!!

I received this quote today from Ryan and fell in love with it!

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”

So true isn’t it?  And let me tell you all, I love my coffee black

Fitness Update!

Today was Cardio day!!  I rocked 30 minutes on the elliptical and my legs are killing, but in a good way Thank you Fitnessista!

**Tip - Remember to always listen to your body when working out.  If you are following a workout plan and it says to do 30 minutes of cardio and you can only push out 20 – it’s ok!  Your bod knows best

Do you love quinoa?  Do you eat if for breakfast or dinner?  Do you make a date to spend time with your siblings on a regular basis?

XXOO
Kris

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A Sunny Day Out and About!

Posted on 12. Apr, 2010 by kris.

Hey!  Happy Monday to you all!

Wow, the weekend is over and it is time to get back to work  Who am I kidding I do my thang even on the weekends.  The only difference the weekend brings is that Ryan is home for 2 days straight!

Yesterday was so beautiful here, so we decided to hit up our favourite S’bucks and enjoy a little relaxation and then we took the pooch to the beach to throw the ball around a little.  Hudson is addicted to the ball still!

Action Shot!

Hudsy made a friend “Beans”!  The owner said they named him Beans because he passed gas a lot

I decided to rock the flip flops out because it looked so Spring like out there, but by the water it was freezing!

So I went back in the warm car, when they played!

After the beach romp we headed to Whole Foodies for some lunch!

Pinto Bean Soup and Gluten Free pakoras

We got home around 2pm and Ryan headed to a meeting while I baked cookies, watched shows online and caught up on emails.  It was such a wonderful relaxing Sunday!

Dinner was super!  Mexican Millet on Greens.  So tasty.  I could eat this daily with the fresh avocado, I swear….

Off to the gym to do my Day 4 and 5.  I was a bad girl and missed my Day 4 cardio workout yesterday.  Honestly these legs of mine are still so sore from my Day 3 leg workout!!  I hope I can do cardio today!  Wish me luck!

What is your favourite thing to do on a Sunday?  Do you like having a full day or a relaxing day??

XXOO
Kris

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