I love to make soup in the fall, and squash based soups are my favourite. So, I decided to take all the delicious things I had in my kitchen that were in fresh and in season, and roast them with warming, autumnal spices. I picked up tons of squash and apples at a fresh food market in Creston, BC recently (where they grow their produce on a farm right behind the market), and I combined them with carrots, onions, and some rhubarb from my friend Heather’s garden (you can’t eat more local than that!). I also roasted the squash seeds and use them for a garnish! My Autumn Harvest Soup with Roasted Squash Seeds is the ultimate autumn comfort food — hearty, nourishing and velvety smooth. It’s an ultra clean recipe, if you’re looking for simple dinner ideas this week to help detox from Thanksgiving festivities!
canadian food blog
CLIF ORGANIC TRAIL MIX BAR REVIEW
I’m all about healthy, on-the-go options, so when I heard about these Organic Trail Mix Bars from CLIF Bar, I was excited to try them. Granola bars often get a bad rap for being full of unhealthy ingredients and tons of sugar, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that these trail mix bars were full of simple, clean, nourishing ingredients — and we all know I’m a big fan of trail mix! Today I’m chatting about 5 different flavours and giving you the run down on which ones I liked best (spoiler alert: they’re all pretty tasty!). These bars are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan (although some of them do contain dairy-free dark chocolate) — all the things I love in a snack! They’re also 200 calories or less.
PEPPERED PEAR ELIXIR
Since I haven’t been drinking this month (I’m doing a Sober September), I’ve been inspired to step up my juicing game! I seem to come up with the most unique flavour combinations when I’m trying to use things up around the kitchen — that’s how my Peppered Pear Elixir was born. We had a couple of peppers, pears and celery stalks that were on their last days, so I decided to throw them into a juice, along with a few other ingredients I had kicking around. The result is a sweet n’ spicy, aromatic juice brimming with a medley of awesome detoxifying ingredients. Enjoy this elixir on a fall morning while Bartlett pears are in season, and kick-start your day!
If you’re anything like me, you have a ton of frozen, ripe bananas in your freezer! Whenever I need to use some up, my Decadent Dark Chocolate Banana Bread is my favourite banana bread to make — it tastes like a decadent chocolate cake, but it’s full of healthier, more nourishing ingredients than your average banana bread (psst… it has an avocado in it!). I’ve made probably 10 different variations of this recipe over the years, and I always incorporate whatever ingredients I have in my pantry. I bet you have them in yours too! This recipe reminds me of drinking tea and baking with my Mom — I always make this recipe out at her place when I visit on fall weekends. So, I used her vintage tea cups, silver and linens to style this post — my Mom’s house is full of antiques!
GREEN JALAPEÑO MARGARITAS
My friend Elise served these delicious margaritas at our last girl dinner, and we all agreed they were the best homemade margaritas we’d ever tasted! I’ve dabbled in making cocktails with freshly pressed juice, but it usually goes a little something like “Hey, I bet this juice would taste good with vodka in it!”. I’m picky when it comes to tequila-based cocktails, but these margaritas are citrusy, savory and a bit spicy — it tastes like you’re drinking the most delicious green juice, and I couldn’t even taste the tequila! Plus, I like that this recipe is full of good ingredients (even some vegetables!). If you’re looking for a refreshing summer cocktail with a twist, you’ll love Elise’s Green Jalapeño Margaritas. Cheers, amigos!
TOASTED TRAIL MIX
Last weekend we were getting ready to go for a hike at Lake Louise and I decided (last minute, of course!) to make some trail mix for the road. It turned out to be really delicious (even the chipmunks liked it!), so today I’m sharing the recipe with you. My Toasted Trail Mix is more like a mixture of trail mix and granola — it’s full of awesome, nourishing, all-natural ingredients, and brimming with antioxidants to help fuel your day. It gets nice and toasty in the oven, and the toasted flavour is complimented by a bit of maple syrup, cinnamon, and a dash of cayenne powder for that little bit extra! I also like to enjoy this trail mix on top fruit parfaits and smoothie bowls to kick my breakfast up a notch — it’s a versatile recipe that I love having in my kitchen.
NECTARINE BASIL SALAD WITH PINEAPPLE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
I’m totally in love with nectarines right now, and I’ve been making my Nectarine Basil Salad with Pineapple Balsamic Vinaigrette for lunch often lately! It’s quick to whip together and combines a delicious summer flavour profile — nectarines and basil. You could also have this salad for dinner, just add some grilled chicken, shrimp (or more almonds) and you’re set! In this recipe I use a pineapple balsamic white vinegar from Lucero Olive Oil, which I picked up in Napa Valley last summer (and have been rationing like an insane person), because it’s absolutely heavenly.