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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

PUMPKIN BREAD FROM THE KIND DIET AND OTHER DELIGHT

Good Morning everybody!

Starting to get chilly outside, isn't it? Me and my sweet girl were freezing our A.. off during Trick or Treating on Sunday but we manage to get a big bag full of sweets just around the block! She wanted to go as a Princess, Again, second year in a row...What do you want me to do, she just love girly stuff might as well enjoy it now because it won't last too long right? In a couple of years she will be dressing up like a
Sexy Vampire Vixen sucking our blood for money or just for the fun of it...

Just kidding! She will never dress up like that, ( well according to her dad...!) freezing her butt like theses teenage girls that we saw dress up like trash cheerleaders from hell...asking for candy at almost 17 years old. No age limit to like the sweets, I get it, but good lord, put some leggings on for god sake! You think I'm prude or getting old or completely out of my mind and really old fashion???? Maybe all of the above but seriously, I'm afraid ....Will I be able to avoid that phase with my little princess? They grow up so fast, knowing stuff too young, wanting to be an adult way before your body is ready or your mind for that matter. Getting them out of trouble in our time will be hard, I must say...Having headaches just to think about it! Anyhow, you are right, this is a long time before it will hit our roof but I see this as a retirement funds
;

YOU HAVE TO PREPARE YOURSELF IN ADVANCE!!!

So, what do we do after Halloween and we are stuck with a big fat pumpkin? Well, I'll tell you:

PUMPKIN BREAD
From the Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone
  • 5 cups cooked pumpkins (fresh is best but canned will do)
  • 2 cups maple sugar
  • 2 eggs replacer (I use 6 tablespoons of water with 2tbs of flaxseeds pureed)
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 3/4cup safflower oil ( I use canola instead)
  • 1 ts vanilla extract
  • 4 cups spelt flour
  • 3 ts baking soda
  • 3 ts baking soda
  • 1 tbs ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup grain-sweetened nondairy chocolate chips
  • 1 cup whole macadamia nuts ( I use walnuts instead)
Reserved some of the last 2 ingredients to sparkle on top of your 2 loaf pans

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Oil 2 loaf pans 9x5 inches

Combine the pumpkin puree, eggs, milk, oil and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl,combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and most of the chocolate chips and nuts if reserving some to sprinkle on top. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients until just combined. Fill the prepared pans with batter. Top with the reserved chocolate and nuts. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until the top springs back when pressed with finger. Let the loaves cool in the pans for a few minutes and then to a baking racks to cool completely. Enjoy!







Malik was my first recipe tester, He was not harm in this experiment I swear! But the picture tell it all:




Other Topic:

I did buy my Piston 200 Sugoi pants after all and went for a great Run yesterday....VERDICT:

I LOVE IT!!!!!!! It is so amazing, I'm in love with my pants!
Do you think that the drivers will see me in this outfit?

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Keep on running

Good morning everyone!

I had a few runs this week including one in the Fog ( BOOOOUUUUUU) It was a bit spooky and right in time for the Halloween mood! I just love Halloween and autumn is really my favourite season of all. Nature is changing, leaves are falling in style. Adding colours to a boring concrete sidewalk, putting a big fat smile on my face while running on it! The CrockPot season is back with mouth watering perfume infusing houses, baking goodies for the mind and soul with earthy products like pumpkins and butternut squash. I just fell in love again with this kitchen appliances, what a great tool for a small family like mine, it gives you time while minding it's own business! LOVE IT! Speaking of kitchen tool, It's been a few weeks since a pull out my sweet Georges ( my hamilton juicer ;) ) for my Green morning booster juice and I must confess, my body really miss these:



That daily intake was providing me with so much energy like you wouldn't believe, better than coffee, I swear to god! I will put it back in my morning routine as soon as tomorrow and I suggest you do the same, especially with the flu season knocking at our door! That juice will give you all the nutriments and vitamins that you need to beat the crap of any sickness that you might catch and boost you immune system as well! My personal favourite is a mix of spinach, romaine lettuce, celery, lemons an apples with a kick of ginger!

CHEERS!


I keep on running and keep on rocking with this new gadget of mine, check it out:



This is my Birthday gift in advance this year from my man. Since I committed myself to running, He couldn't wait until my birthday to give it to me. Smart move because I was looking at theses watches for a while now and was about to buy it for myself! AMAZING, really Garmin you have a way of pleasing the runner in me! This is the Forerunner 305 model. Now I can see my time, my pace, my distance, my heart rate..everything! After each runs, I can just in a blink on a click on the computer, see my results, witch is vary easy to set up and it got so many amazing features that I can wait to try in the near future...Did I tell you this tool is AWESOME? Really, my heart is giggling right now :)


Well now, I need a pair of pant to continue my journey as a fearless runner, hope to be able to run thru autumn and winter but for that, I will have to gear up myself with good apparel...I already got my jacket, my Arc'Teryx hat and gloves, my Helly hansen underwears I just miss a good pair of pant...

I found these one:




The Piston 200 for women, I tried it at the runner's room last week...I've been dreaming about it ever since!!! But oh boy, it is expensive, 99$ plus taxes... I know what you are thinking, should I? Really?

It is my birthday coming up after all isn't it? So, why not but this in a little pretty box, from ME to ME...Oh yeah! Sounds right to me, don't you think?

Have a great day and see you soon!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THE SOUL

Flipping pages on the Whole Living magazine the other day, I found this little list of thoughts...

1. Your body already knows how to heal itself; you just have to get out of its way

2. Go ahead- vent a little. Think of it as detox for the soul.

3. Good posture isn't about rigidity, but fluidity.

4. When you can appreciate being alone, you're rarely lonely.

5. Clutter is the by-product of indecision. Make sure everything in your space is there because you CHOOSE to keep it .

6. You may not be in school anymore but there's always more to learn ( So true, I'm always hungry for new stuff to learn, a real student of life I must say!)

7. True sufficiency doesn't mean having plenty; It means having enough. ( well, still have to work on that !)

8. Pay attention to how you walk. Ask yourself what you're rushing toward-or away from.

9. Transform anxiety into excitement; focus NOT on the fear of what lies ahead but the possibilities you might create ( WOW, definitely my new favourite quote for motivation now!)

10. Lead with your heart, NOT YOUR EGO!


What an inspiration list of random truth and kind wisdom quote!


And you, what are your best quote for the soul?

Thursday, September 30, 2010

I did it!!!

YES! I did it!

I completed my first 5K race this last sunday at the Scotiabank marathon in Toronto. My last post was a true moment of real inferno for me but it help me realize that in moment of complete disaster, emotionally dysfunctional and stress to a point that your own mind can't bare, YOU have a decision to take and drastic actions to pull yourself together and moving forward with your life, yourself and yours dreams...

And my goal for the last few weeks, since a started the Learning to run clinic with the Runner's Room, was to run a full 5K. In the beginning, I couldn't even run 2 minutes without imaging myself ended it in a hospital with oxygen pumps all over me!!! But look at this remarkable growth. Now I can run for 20 minutes and still, at the same time, be enough comfortable to talk with my fellows runners, isn't it wonderful?

I'm so grateful and SOOOOOOO proud of myself. I look at my medal with candid emotion and can't wait for the next races to come!

Note to myself: Don't be so hard on yourself...You are extraordinary, remember this feeling you had at the finish line, you will own it for the rest of your life! Cherish it, love yourself and continue to move forward!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

SABOTAGE

Have you ever experiencing a few days of complete laziness, no desire to complete your daily tasks and feeling like a big potato glue to your couch? Even though I've been on board with my new healthy lifestyle since a couple of months, seeing so POSITIVE results and feeling so much better, I find a way to sabotage myself and right now, It seem to consume me. I was so happy and then BOOM! , I persuaded myself that a fews days of slipping here and there will be find, that I deserved it and bla bla bla. Such Bullshit really! Why should I deserved to put garbage (again) in my body? Why will it be ok to smoke a fews cigarettes? Why will I deserve to fill me up with crappy process food? I wonder...

I never consider myself like a sportive kind of gal, either a person who is as healthy as she could be. I admired people with such a discipline hygiene for health and sports, something that I couldn't achieve in this lifetime...

My actions doesn't compute with my mind and soul. By doing that, I'm destroying my hope, my inner beauty and my self-confidence, why? I wonder....

What I am hungry for? I still wonder to this day. Can't seem to have answer this question completely or perhaps honestly is the right word...


What Are you hungry for?

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

GREEN is now my favourite colour!

Bonjour!
Long time no blogging! We have visitors from our beloved Quebec province of ours this past few weeks, that is the reason why I've been neglecting my sweet blog of mine! But you know what happens beside the fact that we've been complete tourist in our new area, (and it cost us a lot of money) is that I've been cheating on my eat to live diet...Bouhou! So the result of the bad behaviour: I gained 2 pounds! OMG! BUT, let me reassure you ( and myself for that matter!) that everything is back to normal and I lost that 2 frustrating vacations pounds and I'm down another 2, yourrai!!! So now:

weight: 118 lbs
hips: 36 1\2
waist: 27 and 31
arms: 10
thighs: 20 1\2

Not bad! Slowly but surely ! I'm in my 5 week with the running room as well and everything going pretty good with the motivation of my amazing group. I will be running a small 2 K on Labor day in Oakville...Will see how it goes but I'm so exited, first race EVER! Wish me luck!

I've been reading a lot of book on veganism and raw food and I decided to put more raw in my food intake. Especially, the green monster juice first thing in the morning. I bought that juicer:




It"s been more than a week that I cut my cafe in the morning and this is my new thing, I Love it! It's not the best one in town but for a rookie , it's perfect! Let me tell you that with the green juice in the morning I don't miss caffeine at all. I got so much more energy it is unbelievable! This is what I usually put in my juicer, I name it Georges!




And this is the result:


I play a lot theses days with raw recipe like this zucchinis pasta:
I will definitely post some more Raw recipes since summer is so abundant with fresh local fruits and vegetables. I see my life in green and I'm loving every minutes of it! And another great thing: my kids are eating a lot more veggies and they just dig my almond milk,strawberries and bananas smoothie! Here is a picture of me and my kids down in Niagara falls last week. we had such a wonderful day, we walked a lot and have a blast at wonderlands with the belugas! Having kids it"s the best thing to keep your child heart , I never have a day without laughing with them! Love you my sweet M&M duo ( M&M stand for: Mia 4 and Malik 20 months)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Slow cook my heart

5Th day on the Eat to Live diet...

Basically my meals are based on fresh HUGE salads, fresh fruits ( plenty of it) with seeds and nuts here and there. I'm turning into a monkey! Although i feel so much lighter, no change on the scale yet...I know, I know, I've to be patient! Will see at the end of it what will be the final result but whatever that one will turn out to be, for now, I'm feeling awesome!!!

Today's lunch was my Booster Barley and Lentils soup

This is one of my favourite soup in a slow-cooker, so easy to do,with ingredients that we already have in the pantry! I just love blog with pictures in it but we are out of a camera here at the vegan zone house...We will get one soon cause I'll go crazy without it!!! I'm such a visual person, especially when it comes to food. Be patient my friends, pics will be in soon!

Here is my Booster Barley and lentils soup:

8 cups of organic Vegetable broth
2 cloves of garlic
4-5 carrots in slices
1 big yellow onions
1/2 cup of dried lentils
1/2 cup of dried barley
19 0z of diced tomatoes
Salt & Pepper and oregano to taste

1. Put together the vegetable broth, garlic, carrots,onions, dried lentils and barley into a 3,5 to 6 liters Slow-cooker

2. Cover and cook at minimum power for 8 to 9 hours or until lentils are tender, or cook a full power for 4 to 5 hours.

3. Trow in the diced tomatoes at the end, stir well, and let it cook for another 5 to 10 minutes.

When it's done, serve with fresh basil on top (or herbs of your choice) with home made croutons or pita chips...So good!

This soup is amazing, especially when the winter is coming. I just love the smell of it when you come home from work and it give you the perfect boost that you need when the lack of sun is getting to you and you are felling depress! This is a definite keeper in my book! You can also play with it as you like, the other day I put some eggplants in it and the result was as delicious!

I just bought a Black&Decker Food Processor, i must admit that it kind of frightens me at the moment , I definitely have to read the manual to conquer that beast! Because every vegans book that I read contains so much recipes that involve a food processor that I decided to buy me one; From me, to me! So now, time to go see if I will win this battle...Feels like a Terminator movie...I'll Be Back!

Friday, August 6, 2010

FIRST DAY OF EAT TO LIVE

Bonjour a tous!

This is it! First day ( middle of it actually!) of the Eat To Live diet challenge. I took my measurements this morning and I weight myself as well :

RESULTS:

HIPS : 37 inches
waist 1 : 29 inches ( above the Belly B)
waist 2 : 33 inches ( on the Belly B-never know witch one is correct!)
BUST: 35 inches
THIGHS: 21 1/2 inches
ARMS: 10 1/2 inches

WEIGHT: 120.4 LBS ( according to my old scale, even though is probably not the good number, still can figure out the improvement over the weeks)

Breakfast: strawberries, bananas

Lunch: the biggest salad ever! Romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas and green scallions with an italian parsley and olive oil dressing...UMMMMMM! Was so GOOOOOOOOD !

Making a salad is like taking care of your inner self...Meaning that you have to prep your veggies, slice them, assemble them gently , make your own dressing to pour on top of it and see the amazing result before you! Truly a work of art with all the colors and that smell of pure freshness!

Because, really, are we not a work of art?

Thursday, August 5, 2010

eat to live and run for life

I have to be more discipline with my dearest blog of mine, but i have a great excuse for my lack of consistency ; my mother and big sister were here to visit me last week! My mother turn 70 years old and we celebrated her birthday, here in Mississauga! I think that she give me the greatest gift ever, to be able to enjoy a girls night out at the famous Ruth Criss steakhouse...Hold on, are you suppose to be vegan? Well yes, but i managed to order the grilled Portobello dinner plate with full veggies and it was so yummy! What can i say, my mom just love a good steak and we can refuse that to a 70 years old woman, can we ? Right?

Change of heart, i've been reading a lot on the vegan way of life and i know that most of you probably lose weight tremendously on this way of eating but for me, it is not the case at all. I've never been so alive, full of energy but the number on the scale seem to have reach a "plateau" , can't seem to get my weight down rggg! I'm so lazy, i admit it, rather read than run 1 miles, never been the sportive type of gal...But i decide to push myself even more. I so want to be healthy, in shape, stronger and liner like i use to be, before my 2 pregnancy. So starting tomorrow; i'll be doing the EAT TO LIVE diet by M.D. Fuhrman. I will let you know my personal diary on that diet (with before and after pics of course, at the end!)

Yesterday, i also register myself to the learning how to run clinic here, at the Runner's room, in Mississauga. My goal is to run the 5K race on the Scotiabank Toronto event end of september 2010. The clinic is on for 10 weeks and the coach said that for sure, the group will be able to complete that race without any doubt...WOW, I can't wait to see that! I always stat something with the greatest motivation but after a couples of days, I usually quit...With the group, I think it will be much easier for me. I let myself down so many times before and I really want to change that. It is harder to let down an entire group right?! And you, do you struggle with lack of motivation, self-confidence? Come on, share your thoughts, don't be shy!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

coming soon to the Veganzone


My creations will be feature soon on this blog for all of you, Vegans of the world!

Here a sneak peek of what I do

This Green Monster Mug was made for Angela from the ohsheglows.com blog. She just dig green monster in the morning so much and so do I!


When I went vegan, I searched the web like you probably all did, to find vegan bloggers and then i found her blog. We have so much in common and now, her blog is one of my favourite to follow! And yes, I confess, Angela made me realize that everything is possible when you speak from your heart and soul!
Thank you Angela!

Hail to the Beef!

Becoming a Vegan happen right after i read the Kind Diet book by Alicia Silverstone. Before moving here, in Ontario (originally from Quebec, so be kind to your new Frenchie friend!), 3 months ago, my ex-collegues from work gave me a Chapters gift certificate which a use ,in part, on this KD book. I was intrigue by the title. Though i always like Alicia Silverstone over the years, i never flirt or at least consider becoming even a vegetarian! But, let me tell you, when a book speak to you in a way that you can't ignore the facts anymore...Well, the KD book was the ONE that change me!

Every single descriptions of the symptoms that Alicia felt before switching to the super hero Vegan diet, was the EXACT same thing that have been feelings for years now! So i said to myself that night ( cause i read the entire book in one shot), what will be the cost for me to give it a try, to embrace that way of life for at least one week...Nothing right! So i did and never look back.

The morning after, i went to the grocery store to buy some vegan stuff. I was a big milk drinker before so i turn to soy milk...First sip, eurkkkk! Oh boy! That's gonna be harder than i thought. But, i really was ready to commit myself for that 7 days goal. But what happens? After that week, i tasted again that soy milk, and it was amazing! My taste buds probably rejuvenate themselves or something..I mean, everything i ate was now completely delicious! And the most important change was the level of energy that i gained. OH MY GOD! till this day, i feel like my early 20's!!!

My M.O.M. ( Man Of Mine!) even thought that it will be probably a phase and just a few days into veganism will be enough to go back to put beef in my plate...He actually is proud of me, proud that i stick to my decision and principles.

I am still cooking meat for the rest of my family. I'm a mother of 2 awesome toddlers and still passionately in love with their father. But sometimes, i found it hard to be vegan surrounding by meat lovers! Especially cooking it!

And for you out there , do you live a similar situation at home?