Beet and Carrot Soup

One thing that stays constant every January is the sudden upswing of people in the gym, health food store and diet centres. Some of them are truly looking to make a change - taking care to understand the "whys" behind the "hows" and implementing changes slowly. Others, though, are so hard-wired to look for an "instant fix" that they scour the earth for magic bullets and detoxes. You usually find out by February 1 which camp people are in.

I hate to say it as a nutritionist, but I used to be in the second group - I truly hated the gym, loved my junk food and was constantly on the look for fat-burners, cleanses and whatever else I thought would help my cause. By the third week of January, I was buying candy on the way home from school, finding excuses to skip the gym and was frustrated that all those pills did nothing to get me to a size 6. Over time, though, I wound up doing a total 180 - I'm a huge vegetable freak now (while my favourite food is still dark chocolate), hate missing the gym classes I take (but I admit I still won't go for just the machines) and prefer to get my physical and emotional nutrition from things that taste good that I can make from scratch, not pop a pill for.

While many people look at the use of beets, garlic and citrus in this light lunch as "detox foods", I argue that the whole dish is cleansing. Not only are the ingredients wholesome and fresh, but getting into the habit of cooking and eating better is a type of mental clear-out as well. The fact that a bowl of this is delicious and warming as well as good-for-you should put you on the track towards eliminating any guilt from the holidays - what's done is done. Make your next step a forwards one.
Finally, in Jewish theology, beets are known as “silka,” meaning removal. Eating beets is supposed to clear any spiritual roadblocks from last year's mistakes, ensuring a prosperous New Year ahead.

But more than anything, it's a perfect Winter-friendly lunch from the kitchen that freezes and packs well, and with a hunk of crusty bread will keep you satisfied until dinner!

Shared with Gluten Free Fridays

Lentil - Laced Carrot Cake

I love discovering other cultural traditions through food. Take the coming of the New Year, for example - there are hosts of "good luck" and "fruitful future" foods and recipes out there! Obviously, some of them are relatively well-known - black eyed peas, lentils, and greens - but I discovered recently that grapes, pork and fish are traditional New Year's foods too, and when you look at other (non-Western calendar) New Year's traditions you'll find honey, oats, carrots,beets, candy, pancakes and doughnuts too!

In celebration of all things lucky and New Year's-y, I wanted to share (yet another) carrot cake with everyone. I packed it as full of good-fortune foods as I could - lentils and carrots for "money", grains and seeds for fertility and fruitfulness and a hint of sugar for a sweet future. The roundness of the cake also has the meaning of "infinity", boding well for the next 365 days! As an added bonus, the cake is relatively nutritious as well, being made with legumes, whole grains, less sugar and of course the vegetables! If you need an excuse to bust out a cake even after the December glut, you can take heart that this recipe is also nut-free and vegan, with no need for frosting! 

Candied Pumpkin Cake

Happy New Year, everyone!

2015 for me began quietly at home, hanging out with my sis, the cats and the rats (yes, I said rats. They're adorable!). Apart from a one hour TV special, nothing overly unique conspired, since over the holidays we both somehow transform into night owls anyway so after-midnight bedtimes aren't really all that unique! However, I for one love nights like that, because there's no circumstance or fancy-pants airs to get in the way of simply spending time with others.

Like my holiday "un-parties", the cake I made as a "farewell to the holiday gluttony" treat is unassuming on the surface, but once you break into the plain, golden crumb there's no denying a glimmer of something special. Finally taking a break from chocolate on chocolate on chocolate (although, really, why?), I looked to my stash of Turkish Spice-Candied Pumpkin with it's rich spices and complex sweetness for a flavourful body. The light-textured, whole grain crumb took on slightly nutty notes thanks to sprouted Kamut flour, ground pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil - ingredients that also added to the "nutrition" factor of the confection (it is the season for resolutions after all - although my resolution every year is to not make resolutions!).

Obviously this recipe came about with previously made Turkish Spice-Candied Pumpkin in mind. However, if you don't get a chance to make that first (although I do recommend it!), peeled and diced peaches, persimmons or mango would suffice for the pieces of pumpkin, while honey mixed with ¼ tsp vanilla, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp allspice and a pinch each of cardamom, ground ginger and ground cloves would do nicely. The spices go perfectly with a strong cup of coffee, and while it isn't what I would call intensely sweet, it is rich enough to slake that 3PM craving!

What was your favourite part of New Year's Eve? Did you party? Keep it quiet? Or sleep through the countdowns? Did you make a resolution? Tell me in the comments below!

A Delicious, Party Perfect Snack - @Popcorn_Indiana

As the clock ticks down to midnight, I know there's a flurry of parties and other gatherings about to kick off. If you're anything like my family, food is one of the last things on your mind right now, but the fact is, whether you're hosting (or attending) a cocktail soiree for twenty or an intimate movie night for two, you will need something to snack on.

Luckily, popcorn is a treat that is both light to eat and easy to serve (just check out these festive cones!), and not only that - it's a naturally gluten free, vegan whole grain food kids will go crazy for! With so many variations available, it can be hard to decide which is the best balance for taste, nutrition, convenience and cost - and Popcorn, Indiana is a worthy contender! Proclaimed an "innovator of all-natural popcorn", the company is all about healthier, convenient snacks that deliver big flavour. In their  facility, there are special kettles that are filled by hand and popcorn chefs who do nothing but dream up fantastic flavor combinations. All the company's whole grain products are certified gluten-free by the The Gluten-Free Certification Organization  and are made from non-GMO corn. With a mission to show North Americans "What Fun Tastes Like, one kernel at a time", I think they're well up to the task.

Warm, unburned popcorn can be a hassle if you're entertaining a crowd, which is one of the reasons I love the "warm up bag" idea from the folks at Popcorn, Indiana. I served their Movie Theatre popcorn this holiday, and it came out of the bag piping hot, without being soggy or burned. Taste-wise, it definitely had the "cinema" flavour, which was a hit with the movie-philes in the house and not so overwhelming that those of us preferring more "natural" popcorn couldn't stomach it. At only 160 calories per two-cup serving, it's a lot easier on the waistline, not to mention will save you some green - no need to splurge on a bucket of popcorn at the theatre when you can have TV on Demand and a bag of this at home!

For those of us with New Year's resolutions to keep, the company also makes a line of "Biggest Loser" approved popcorn called Fit. Fit currently comes in four flavours (Sea Salt, Real Butter, Parmesan & Herb and Olive Oil) ranging from 37-40 calories a cup. Definitely less greasy than any standard popcorn and even fresher-tasting than the Movie Butter variety to me, this would be my go-to for kid's parties and general snacking - though the two "gourmet" flavours beg for a recipe application (savoury popcorn balls or bars, perhaps?). When this becomes available in my local grocery store, I will definitely be looking for it!

So, whether you're hosting tonight or simply looking for a healthier snack-time craving satisfier, it's time to take a new look at popcorn and imagine the delicious year ahead!


Popcorn, Indiana offers an assortment of flavours, including Kettlecorn, Aged White Cheddar, Touch of Sea Salt, Cinnamon Sugar, Sweet & Tangy BBQ, Bacon Ranch, Buffalo Cheddar and Smoked Cheddar. Along with their "standard style" popcorns, the company also offers chocolate-cloaked "Drizzlecorn", granola-style clusters and dippable chips.

Follow them on Twitter:@Popcorn_Indiana and Facebook

Disclosure: I was provided free product for the purpose of review. I was not monetarily compensated in any way. 

Bananas Foster Truffles

I know - I'm bombarding you with chocolatey, decadent things these days. What can I say - the season sparks the "naughty" side of life and it's not just me, either! Over the two weeks of the holidays, we've seen two panettones, seven (+) boxes of chocolates (I lost count), one chocolate layer cake, a mincemeat pie and more cookies than I can imagine! I figure that this is all well and good, though, since after school and work start back full time we have to resign ourselves to normalcy yet again. For now, we have chocolate, good booze and good times.

I can't leave the decadence of chocolate on its own alone - oh, no. If I'm going to be a party to furthering the belly-busting gluttony of the season, I'm going to do it all the way, adding a couple vices to the list. These truffles are deceivingly simple on the surface - chocolate and cocoa, with a little glimmer of edible gold - but upon biting into one you discover the rich, butter-caramelized banana base livened up with no small glug of spiced rum. If you make the base this morning, you'll have perfectly creamy, dredgeable balls of ganache tomorrow night without the need for stress, running to the store or undue fuss. These are just sweet enough to be satisfying on an after-dinner dessert tray, as well as being gluten and nut-free, easily dairy free (use Earth Balance or another vegan "butter" and coconut or rice milk chocolate). More than that, they're a definite showstopper for the adults-only crowd that cries

"Adieu 2014! Laissez les bons temps rouler!"