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Romantic Thai Dinner For Two…Errr….Three

Posted on 03. Sep, 2010 by kris.

Happy Friday!!

You made it!  The end of the week is finally here and we can all treat ourselves!  I love Fridays because I allow myself to have that bowl of cereal for breakfast, have a splash of vanilla in my Starbucks Decaf Americano or eat a couple chocolate covered goji’s…….ahhhh….I heart Friday’s!

Dinner last night’s dinner was served on the patio, just the way I like it.  Something about eating outside I just love.  I am not sure if it is the breeze, the people walking by or the feeling of connection between my food and the fresh air.  Hmmm definitely the people walking by!  I am such a people watcher

We loaded our patio table with our Super Green Thai Dish and some Side Salads.  Sat down, felt the sun on our faces and dug in!

Until this little stinker kept on me for some green beans.

I tell ya, this dude loves broccoli, carrots and green beans.  Hates spinach or leafy greens  Kind of like this human pops!  Me on the other hand is fuelled by my greens and love them.

Dinner was super easy to prepare!

Super Greens with Spicy Thai Sauce:

2 small heads of broccoli
1 large zucchini
A whack of green beans
1 vegan bouillon
3 tsp Red Chili Thai Sauce
1 cup water
1 tbsp Coconut Oil

**I placed this veggie dish on top of quinoa

Heat the coconut oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat.

Add the veggies and stir fry for 2-3 minutes

Meanwhile boil the cup of water and dissolve the bouillon.

Add the boullion and the 3 tsp of thai paste to the veggies and cover.

Let simmer for 5 minutes and stir.  Serve when your veggies are at your desired tenderness (I like mine crispy!)

Pour over rice, quinoa, noodles, you name it!

Melissa yesterday reminded me that my Ryza Rice milk is the cheapest at the Super Store, so I ran and stoked up on some of that along with my other “needed” item:

This was cheap!  $6 bucks for organic, swiss water decaf.  It is good too!  Very full of flavor, low in the acid area and has a very nice, but strong, after taste.

I did remove it from the tin before keeping it in the fridge….I am really funny with keeping things in tin once they are opened, so hello glass container

Who else does this??  Do you keep your coffee in the fridge?  I know people that keep it in the freezer too.

Well I am off to go #FF a bunch of ladies on Twitter now!  Have I told you 100 times already today that I love Fridays??

I will have a new and improved raw, nut free, oat free bar recipe up very soon!!  I might even get to that later today….2 posts in one day??  I am living on the edge around here!

Where and how do you store  your coffee?  What are you treating yourself with on this fine Friday??

To Your Glam Life,

xxoo

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How To Wish Upon A Star

Posted on 08. Jul, 2010 by kris.

Happy Thursday Everyone!

What a sizzling week it has been here so far!  Holy mother of pearl it was a whopping 33 degrees yesterday (for my American friends that is like 92 ish).

You know when it is so hot most people don’t want to eat?  Yea, I am completely opposite.  I am always hungry when it is really hot out.  Who am I kidding?!  I am hungry always any weather, anytime and any day!

But I was good….no cookies or baked goods.  I did have a raw granola bar through, but I figured it was better because it wasn’t cooked.

Dinner was something that I threw together in 10 minutes and it turned out to be one of the best meals we have tasted out of our kitchen in the last few days.

Stir-Fry Veggies in Coconut Oil on Quinoa

2 cups quinoa
4 cups water
1 zucchini
2 heads of broccoli
1 medium onion
3 carrots
3 cups sugar peas
1-2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
2 tsp seasoning blend of choice (I used different pepper corns)
1 bunch fresh basil
a drizzle of wheat-free soy sauce over the plated dishes

Directions:

Cook the quinoa as the instructions show

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Heat the coconut oil and add chopped veggies and spices.

Saute for about 10 minutes.

Plate the quinoa and the veggies on top.  Then drizzle a tad of soy sauce over it

Super Yum!

After dinner we decided we would go on a little summer night adventure. One of the reasons was just to get out of the stinking house because it was so flipping stuffy!  We have an A/C unit, but because it only gets really hot here for a total of maybe a month out of the year, we only have one that will do one room at a time.

We packed the dog, some water and some strawberries and hit the road.  I love driving when it is still hot out at night and I love having the sunroof open and the windows down!

Our final destination was a park called Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.  We had never been here before, but it was absolutely beautiful!  There is something calming to me being right on the beach when the moon is bright.

The park was quiet, so we unloaded our packing’s and hiked down to this little cove that perfectly held this pocked of warmth and sweet ocean smell.  Ahhhhh I was in heaven!

Sorry No Pics to go along as it was too dark.  So you will have to listen to me ramble about it

I was relaxed, allowing myself to be free and centred and was in the middle of wishing upon my star (we will get back to that) when this light in the ocean, like UNDER the ocean started moving around.

I think my heart stopped.  I whispered to Ryan that something is in the water.  We backed up and tried to see what was coming at us…..a sub?  I was freaking out.  Of course I am so engulfed in Vampires and Werewolves right now, my mind was playing some pretty nasty tricks on me!

This guy emerged from the water in a full black wet suit.  He was scuba diving alone at night!  Freaky!

After he left, I tried to get myself back into my wishing, but no luck.  I was freaked out of what was lurking in the bushes round me.

Normally when we go to the beach at night I will lay on the bench or a log and find my star and wish until my little heart is content. I have done this since I was a kid.  I used to stand in my bedroom window wishing to the first star I saw and would press my eyes really tightly together like I was thinking really hard that this wish was going to come true.

I seem to stay very true to my “wishing” routines.  I wish on my stars, I hold my breath through tunnels while I wish and Ryan and I always play the game where we try to throw things in the garbage and if we make it in something good with happen to us  Call me superstitious or call me connected.  Either one I am fine with

Bottom line is when I wish on my star I feel GREAT when doing it.  Those few seconds of me wishing is a way for me to KNOW that it is on its way.

How do you Wish Upon a Star?

1. At dusk go or look outside.  Find that one star that really stands out and appeals to you!  Bring that little kid that is in there somewhere out for a bit

2. Stare at this star like you love it.  This star is your genie and look kindly and warm at it.  I know this sounds silly, but trust me it works  Now in your head (or out loud) say “Star light, Star bright, the first Star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.”

3. Now make your wish!  Close your eyes and feel that wish circulate from your heart up to your head.  I envision this wish in a form of a white light that rolls through me.

4. Open your eyes and look at your star.  I always say “Thank You” as a nice gesture

Of course all of us are different in what we believe in, and how we get our messages, wishes or prayers out there, but the important thing is to believe that you have this power within you to ask for what  you are feeling.

I would love to hear feedback on this topic!  Do you Wish On Stars?  Do you believe Wishes come true?  Have you ever had a wish of yours come true??

To Your Glam Life,

xxoo

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Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on 20. May, 2010 by kris.

Happy Thursday Everyone!

We are in a major windstorm here since yesterday!  Thankfully our power has not gone off (fingers crossed) so I can still carry on with my daily activities ie. laptop

I quickly want to thank everyone for showing such an interest in the new Vega Shake & Go Smoothie!  I always have a wonderful time reviewing products that I love and I love, love, LOVE the Vega prods!

Last night for dinner I had a variation of the Quinoa Summer Salad found on OhSheGlows.com

I was missing a few ingredients, so I ended up throwing my own veggies in and made the same dressing!

I added cucumber, tomatoes, fresh basil, and avocado!  Paired this dish with a simple green salad and called it dinner!

*I deleted the pic off of my camera!  Omg….

After dinner I was craving something sweet (what else is new!) and I was missing agave in my cupboard *sigh* I never let my supply run down, but I have been trying to keep my treat consumption down to a minimum while on my Bikini Workout!

One thing I noticed recently about myself – If I have agave in the house, I will bake daily!

So I came up with a cookie that is tasty without agave  and I promised myself these were the only cookies this week!

Plus – I needed to make something delicious out of these speckled ‘ninners!

Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies:

2 cups Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
1 mashed banana
1 tbs baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 – 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
3 tbs almond butter
2 tbs oil (I used olive)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp honey
1/4 cup almond butter (if batter is too thick)

Directions:

Sift flour into mixing bowl and add dry ingredients.  Add Chocolate chips!

Mash banana in separate bowl and add vanilla, honey, and oil.

Add wet mixture to dry and mix well.  Place cookie balls on parchment lined cookie sheets and flatten into cookie shape with a fork.  These cookies will fluff up!

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until golden brown

I am off to my Life Coach appointment today and then need to stop at the health food store to restock my Alfalfa Powder supply!  I love this “grassy” stuff!

Have a great day!

**Baking Tip! Bananas are wonderful as a replacement for eggs in baking!  Bananas provide oil and act as a natural sweetener in baked goods like cookies and muffins!

Do you use Fruit as your sweetener in baking?  What is your favourite sweetener to use?

XXOO
Kris

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Lentil Patties and Summer Dressing

Posted on 14. May, 2010 by kris.

Happy Friday Everyone!

WOW, what a beautiful day it is today!  Friday’s are still the best day of the week!

Thank you for the wonderful comments on the Strawberry Banana Shortcake Post!  These muffins and the soft serve is amazing together

Yesterday was a busy little day for me.  I had a meeting with Krista (Ryan’s sis) at S’Bucks where we discusses so many useful tips and helpful ways to eliminate that voice in your head that may stop you from doing things that you love or want to do.  She has taken a course to really understand herself and she is now able to teach and guide me in areas that I have struggles with.  It is an awesome journey to be on!

After that I went to the mall and picked up some drugstore necessities and home I came to have lunch, do my workout, work online, webinars, dinner and the beach!  PHEW!

Dinner was pretty darn tasty.  I mixed some ingredients together and made some killer Lentil Patties.  As you can tell I am on a burger theme lately as I am trying to perfect the veggie burger

Lentil Patties:

1 cup dried lentils
2 1/2 cups water
dash of sea salt
1 medium carrot (diced)
1/2 red onion (diced)
dashes of Mrs. Dash (or other spices)
1 tbsp evoo
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup chia seeds
2-3 tbsp gluten free all purpose baking flour

Cook lentils with salt and water until soft (about 40 min)

In a frying pan heat evoo over medium heat and add onions and carrots.

When both the lentils are done and the veg is soft, mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Form into 1″ thick patties and bake at 400 for 15 minutes.

Serve on a Salad, bun or in Ryan’s case – Rice Cakes

I had my burger with a salad and made a super simple, yet very tasty dressing!

Orange Summer Dressing:

1 tbsp evoo
juice from 1 small orange
4 fresh basil leaves

Chop the basil very fine and mix all ingredients together.  Let sit for at least 15 min for flavours to enhance.

YUM!

Well I am off to a morning meeting and then should enjoy the rest of this sunny day!

If you could DO anything or BE anywhere today, what or where would that be?

XXOO
Kris

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Spicy Black Bean Burgers

Posted on 12. May, 2010 by kris.

Howdy Everyone!

How is your day going so far?  Mine is wonderful!  I was up super duper early today and again downtown before the street are lined with people.  Sitting at S’Bucks when the rest of the world is asleep is so peaceful!

I brought my green smoothie with me for my morning meeting with myself and my mac  And enjoyed a decaf americano.

I am still fully consuming 2 litres of the Alkaherb tea, so I am staying away from a lot of caffeine.  Its not really the jolt I like from coffee, I actually love the taste!

After posting the info on the Cold Brewed Coffee systems I found the best blog post by my dear friend Jessica at DairyFreeBetty.com – Her and her hubby did their own cold brewing without purchasing the special contraption!  I am so doing this and all I need to do is buy a pound of coffee  I will let you know how it goes!

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Last night was a very sad night as our Vancouver Canucks are officially in golf mode now and out of the playoffs  I did watch the whole game praying that in the last 30 seconds they could score 4 goals

For dinner last night to feel “hockey-ish” I made Black Bean Burgers, but made them spicy!  I also fried up some Sweet Potato Fries and enjoyed a Spinach Salad on the side with my fave Dijon Dressing.  I love easy meals!

1 can Black Beans
1/2 cup oats
1 red pepper
2 small carrots
1/2 red onion
2 cups spinach
1/4 – 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp – 1 tsp mexican chili powder
1/4 tsp  cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup chia seeds

Mix all in a food processor and form into patties.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes per side.

Enjoy!

Workouts!

Can you believe I am on Week 5 of the Bikini Workout found on Fitnessista.com!  Wow how time has gone by.  My jeans are looser and my arms are more toned, so things are going very well!

**Question – Do you do a Special Workout for getting your body bikini ready?  Do you workout all year round or more when Spring hits?  What is your favourite workout DVD?

Have a lovely day Dolls!!

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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Heaps of Olives

Posted on 27. Apr, 2010 by kris.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

It is a very nice day here today (at least for right now…sometimes the weather changes here often!).

I was m.i.a yesterday as I was hardcore doing taxes.  A very fun way to spend a rainy Monday  The great news is they are complete, and I can now breathe again.

Because I was so busy yesterday I did not have time to make it to the grocery store before dinner, so lucky I was at my parents doing the taxes and my lovely mom gave me some food items for dinner!  HAHA, I tell ya, you never get too old to raid your ‘rents kitchen!

She was kind enough to supply me with rice noodles, mushrooms, zucchini, spinach and a can of all natural olives!  I already had tomato sauce from the pizza the night before, so I whipped up a very late pasta dish.

Natural Black Olives aren’t even that black!!

I am officially addicted to olives.  I eat them alone, in my dinner and today for lunch I had a salad drenched in them!  I don’t even know why I think they are so good, but they are my favourite thing right now!

You must try this Natural Value brand, their olives ROCK!

Unfortunately today the family and I are off to a funeral for a neighbour that has passed away.  I just filled up on my salad with olives, so I think it shall keep me full for a while.

I will be back with an AMAZING, easy dessert recipe!!

Do you like olives?  Do you eat the all natural kind?

XXOO
Kris

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Eat Your Avocado, Missy!

Posted on 23. Apr, 2010 by kris.

Happy Friday!!

Woot Woot!  Friday’s are the best freakin day ever!

Are you enjoying your day?  Mine is very Good!

Ryan and I hit up the S’Bucks this morning for a little relaxation session and then did our drive through our favourite neighbourhood to keep our visions and dreams alive   Make sure to take the time to be in areas that make you feel good and surround yourself with things, people, etc. that keep your vision and dreams going.  This neighbourhood we walk through is where we eventually want to live and we have pictures of homes for sale in this ‘hood on our vision boards.

After that morning outing, I hit the gym!  I am already on Week 3 of my sexy Fitnessista workout!  I can’t believe it!  Wow, time flies when you are having fun

FOOD!

Last nights dinner was something super tasty!  Sometimes I really surprise myself you know….

I threw together some Black Beans, veggies, salsa and guac to make a healthy, super easy, Mexican din din.  I placed all this Mexican goodness on top of a bed of mixed greens and called it a dinner.  FAB!

I also made some “dipping chips” with oat flour!

Oat Flour Dipping Chips

2 cups oat (ground into flour)
1/2 tsp sea salt (or more if you like saltier chips!)
1/2 cup water

Mix all ingredients into a bowl.  You might need a tad more water if the dough gets hard to mix.

Break dough into 4 ball and roll each into a circle.  Cut into wedges and bake @ 350 for 20 – 25 min.  Keep an eye on them!

These were ok…..they are NO corn chip, but I wanted something crunchy and the ingredients were simple

Speaking of guac we all know the wonderful main ingredient in this mexican dip is the gorgeous Avocado! I am a lover of DianaStobo.com and was send this amazing post she has done on the wonders of eating avocados!

You have to check out the post!

The post explains that avocados are wonderful to eat and leave you with glowing skin, shiny hair and WEIGHT LOSS? YES!  Oh my goodness, I am so excited that I read this.  I love avocados and was always questioning the fat content.  Well my friends, avocados are safe and healthy.

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You will also find in this Post how you can use avocado’s externally for enhancing your already beautiful bodies!

What are your plans for the weekend?  Do you LOVE Avocado’s?  How do you normally eat them?

I love my avocado plain, or with a tad bit of sea salt….ahhh heaven!

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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