Tag Archives: simple

{“progressive one-pot” make-ahead meals : buffalo sausage w/ zucchini, red peppers, and sauerkraut}

22 Jun

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this meal was a total inspiration from a co-worker who i spotted eating this on his lunch break at least twice last week. so – i totally begged him to give me the recipe.  i added my own variations, of course… and you can make as much or as little as you want, but the base is simple :

– sausage of choice {i picked buffalo andouille from the buffalo guys – they have great ethics!}

– zucchini {cut into 1-2 inch strips}

– red peppers {also cut into 1-2 inch strips}

– sauerkraut {i chose bubbies brand}

and, i chose to add in a handful of shredded carrots because i had them around… and about a cup of kelp noodles, which i’ve written about here.

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{toasted bread cheese!}

9 Jun

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i know what you must be thinking – “BREAD CHEESE?! that sounds… bizarre?! intriguing?! delicious?!”

…all of the above?!

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it’s one of my favourite treats. it is rather expensive and therefore i do not buy it often. however, i had been craving it and so i nabbed an eight dollar chunk from my local market.

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i had this ridiculous butter just waiting to be used. i normally serve bread cheese with maple syrup and i swear it tastes like french toast!  i’m telling you – this stuff is insanely delicious!! Continue reading →

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{sunday brunch for judi – and a very happy mothers day to EVERY WOMAN out there!}

11 May

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i miss my mama.  today and all week. i’ve missed her since april 14th of the year 1993.  this time of year is hard for me – i won’t sugar coat that. sometimes randomly, i’ll think of something that reminds me of her and it will be hard. it never gets easier. however, i find comfort when i spot a penny on the ground, or when i catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and do a “double take” because i look so much like her… and i find great comfort in knowing that i am now living in her favourite part of the world.  she was absolutely in love with these rocky mountains – and it’s an honor to live here… for her and for me.

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if my sweet mother judi were alive today – i would make her this simple and amazing brunch… which i’ve been eating every day for like a month now. i buy the ingredients from a local store here in town and it’s all organic, fresh, and farm-grown – you know, like how REAL FOOD SHOULD BE!!!! 😀

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sunday brunch for judi : 

– farm fresh organic eggs

– asparagus

– cippolini onions

– garlic

– bacon cubes

– colourful cherry tomatoes

– herbed goat cheese

– fresh fingerling potatoes

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this dish is perfect for one – what with my cute little ramekins and all… but i do have a second one, and would love NOTHING MORE today than to be cooking for my mama and using the other one.

i lined the bottom of my ramekin with avocado slices, to start… Continue reading →

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{a look inside my lunchbox… volume 2}

2 May

a look inside my {colourful} lunchbox – volume 2

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– lemon pepper smoked salmon chunks

– noosa brand yoghurt with vanilla almond granola

– steamed chioggia beets 

– rainbow rainbow quinoa

– nut thins crackers : almond flavour

– sauteed swiss chard with garlic

– tomato, mushroom, and spinach amaranth porridge

– a few slices of premium salami

—

click here for volume one

 

 

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{tiny tuesday : a tour inside my tiny home}

15 Apr

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it’s been far too long since i posted an update on my tiny home… like, four months too long! 😉

it really amazes me how much this “movement” has taken off!

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i’ve made quite a few changes around the tiny home, and i’m rather happy with the way things look, now… i feel like it’s finally coming together. my next project is working on the upstairs bedroom/loft area… i need to maximize space and upgrade the whole “college dorm room” feel currently happening… 😉

upon entering my tiny home, you first see my personalized dresser from the target closetmaid collection… it’s actually two pieces stacked on top of each other, and i’ve managed to fit most of my clothing inside! just to the left of the dresser, i keep the ladder to my loft propped against the wall. as you may recall, this attaches to that black beam for easy access to the loft, and quick removal when not in use!

on the right is the kitchen table, which is where my desk used to be.  i just felt like it opened up the house more with the setup this way… Continue reading →

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{meatless mondays : a simple spring recipe – creamy bok choy with sauteed garlic scapes}

14 Apr

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have you ever used garlic scapes?! they are also referred to as “green garlic”…

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first of all – how fun and wild-looking are they?!  …reminds me of my hair in the mornings 😛

you can start to find them popping up in some specialty stores, organic grocers, and maybe even at a farmer’s market…if you’re lucky to live where you can shop at one now!

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i just love garlic scapes!  they are not nearly as strong as garlic itself, and provide a fun texture to a dish. the “scapes” are the “flower stalks” of the plant, and are typically pruned or discarded in gardening practices.  however, this foodie knows better and has learned that they can be an amazing substitute for garlic itself. Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday : “plumango” vitamix smoothie}

10 Apr

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“plumango” vitamix smoothie :

– 1 fresh plum

– 1/4 cup dried mango

– 1/4 organic banana

– 1/4 cup frozen cherries

– 1/4 cup fresh spinach

– 1 teaspoon flax seeds

– 1 cup almond milk

 

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{meatless mondays : my first millet experience}

7 Apr

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i’ve been wanting to try to play with millet for a while now.  i have had a package of it on the shelves for a good bit now and i thought it was high time to give it a whirl.

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i like to store things in glass jars… packaging just annoys me! 😛

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millet is a tiny grain that reminds me of something from my youth… when cooked, it is almost like a pilaf. i read online that it also can turn into more of a mashed-potato like consistency, if cooked the right way. Continue reading →

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{meatless mondays : double rainbow quinoa}

31 Mar

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no, it’s not a typo. i called this dish “rainbow rainbow quinoa because… well – look at it. 😉

i wanted to use up some stuff in the fridge – like my shredded carrots and leftover cabbage… both of which, to me, can be a challenge to use up for one person. i find that quinoa is a great “anything goes” kind of dish. so when i’m looking to use up fresh veggies, i usually throw them in with quinoa. another reason i love quinoa is because it is a complete protein. basically what that means is it contains all 9 essential amino acids. this makes it a great grain for vegans or vegetarians.

rainbow rainbow quinoa – ingredients :

– 1/2 cup rinsed rainbow quinoa

– 1/2 cup chopped red cabbage

– 1/2 cup shredded carrots

– 1/4 finely chopped onion

– 2 cloves diced garlic

– 1 cup raw baby spinach

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{a look inside my lunchbox…}

27 Mar

a look inside my {colourful} lunchbox :

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– natural raw almonds

– fresh asparagus sauteed in olive oil

– large colourful salad w/ italian vinaigrette

– savory parmigiano reggiano baked chicken

– steamed zucchini medallions

– pastrami turkey strips and parm reggi chunks

– fresh organic strawberries

 

{i just love my laptop lunches bento box!} 😀

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{glorious golden beets}

25 Mar

another beautiful piece of produce i picked up at the cutest organic store in town….

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have you ever had golden beets?!  i just loooooove them!  i am pretty sure you can keep the skin on – so long as you scrub it pretty thoroughly.  i just peel mine.  these were so cute and little!

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love the colour!

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i usually just steam mine.  i find them to be so delicious, i don’t even add any S and/or P.  i think they have the most unique flavour. i just love to put them in salads or just munch on them alone… so good! beets are loaded with vitamins and minerals and they are just an all around amazing vegetable!

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{meatless mondays : colourful roasted mushrooms w/ veggie ribbons}

24 Mar

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i noticed a few new followers have joined the fun – thank you and welcome!

in case you don’t know this about me, i love to eat anything with colour. i believe in living by the motto… well, a lot of “mottos” really – but one of them is “eat the rainbow.”  if your food has colour naturally, it is good for you!  this dish definitely meshes with that motto.  i whipped it up last week when i was doing a short veggie cleanse.  i just love mushrooms – do you?!

this is a great vegan dish, or a healthy random way to get in a ton of veggies all at once.  sometimes i’ll construct meals entirely of vegetables… this one i just made up on the spot, when inspired by the fresh-looking produce in the market.

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simple ingredients : portabella mushrooms, zucchini, purple cabbage, shredded carrots.

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i’m fascinated by the intricate insides of certain vegetables – like cabbage. Continue reading →

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{classics : grilled ham and cheese}

15 Mar

did ya’ll sleep in today?!  i sure wanted to… daylight savings always jolts my system.  takes me a week or so to get used to it – but goodness, do i love having that light in the evenings!!! i just look forward to the mornings catching up, ya feel me?!

i’m going to start my seeds for my garden this weekend and of course, i’ll be documenting the whole thing. i bought tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, chives, and leeks for now.  i have attempted to grow from seed before, but to no avail.  i learned my lesson with my lovely tomato plant last year and i just don’t think some kinds of lettuces grow well here.  SO – we are going to try again 😀

my awesome landlord has all the fixins’ to get my garden going and plenty of outdoor space in which to plant it all… one of the things i’ve wanted so desperately over the last couple of years was to have a garden. i’m so glad i can finally try!

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i do love me some good ol’ romaine lettuce from time to time – the crunch is so good.  not much nutrition going on, but i do find myself craving the fiber and just wanting something to put dressing on, mostly.

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it’s a comfort food kind of day.  grilled ham and cheese on 7-grain toast with roasted red pepper and tomato soup…

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it’s a childhood classic… grown-up style.

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{aspen-leaf swiss chard}

11 Mar

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i have always thought swiss chard was so beautiful.  the colours, the intricate web-like design on the leaves, the fun “bubbly” type texture… and i thought this one was particularly cool. for one, it kind of reminds me of an aspen leaf – the shape of it.  and for two, look at the fun pink tip – it’s like a paintbrush…

nature’s paintbrush 😉

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how beautiful and cool is that?!  nature does it best. Continue reading →

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{sauteed sunchokes}

10 Mar

i have been wanting to try sunchokes {aka “jerusalem artichokes“} for a long time now. they are so interesting-looking {as most root vegetables are} and one time i bought a bag when i was doing a cleanse, but i didn’t get to cook them and unfortunately they spoiled.

so, when i was at the cutest little organic store in town the other day, i picked some up so i could fotograph and blog about them.

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and of course – EAT THEM! 😀

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{foto friday – local love}

7 Mar

how happy am i to have recently been made aware of an amazing little local/organic store within biking distance of where i live!!?!??!!!?!?!?!

SO!!!!!! 😀

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beautiful cherry tomatoes grown within 60 miles of my home…

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exploding with flavour!!  i’m guessing they are hydroponically grown… which in my opinion, seems to be the most tasty way to grow tomatoes – just from personal experience, having eaten a bajillion of them over the last few years. 😉  hello, remember my san marzano obsession!?  cuz i do… Continue reading →

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{organic beef and potato lettuce wraps w/ caramelized shallots and fresh sugar snaps}

5 Mar

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this is one colourful dish! and fun to eat, too!

simple ingredients : 

– 1 pound organic grass-fed beef {i choose 85%}

– 1/2 pound fingerling potatoes {any potato will do, i just had leftovers}

– 1 medium shallot

– handful sugar snap peas, shelled

– artisan lettuce wraps

– organic shredded cheese of choice {i went with cheddar}

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{meatless monday – “the av-egg-ado”}

3 Mar

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i saw this somewhere on the web recently and i’ve been so eager to try it. i mean – isn’t is so apropo for food & foto? simple, easy, delicious, and healthy!

two ingredients: {3 if you decide to sprinkle cheese on top…}

– 1 ripe avocado

– 1 medium egg Continue reading →

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{wild rice with lemon chicken, shallots, and tomatoes}

24 Feb

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it’s a little sad for me to admit that i just haven’t been cooking as much lately. i lovelovelovelovelove my tiny home, don’t get me wrong… but it has been a bit of a challenge to fotograph my recipes in action within 180 square feet.

so, i’ve just had to change the way i do things a little. and that’s okay.  i’m super forever inspired by one of my favourite bloggers – i mean she’s cute as a button, and she is into the same stuff i’m into regarding eating healthy and with the seasons.  i love her style of fotography as well; so simple and elegant and she’s such a new yorker – so classy.

i’m still working out the kinks to finding the perfect way to fotograph inside the tiny home – but for now, here’s a simple recipe i made up this weekend that turned out delicious! Continue reading →

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{snow-covered aspen}

5 Feb

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“go spend time with the aspen trees.  they’ll tell you how it works.  they’ll tell you to look to your roots for energy.  they’ll tell you there’s warmth beneath the surface.”  – kaya mclaren

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