Chocolate Chia seed pudding for dessert

I always have Cacao handy at home. It satisfies my sugar cravings because its sweet, rich and creamy. Cacao is a super food, filled with many minerals; magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese, and many vitamins. It is the unprocessed, sugarless, healthier option of Coco!. Cacao (I am going to keep saying that, hope you have seen the Portlandia episode). With all these healthy benefits of Cacao and me being a crazy chocolate lover, it obviously has an important spot in my kitchen.

So here is what I did to make this Chocolate Chia seed pudding:

Ingredients:

– 2tbs spoons Chia seeds

– 6tbs of Almond milk (you can use soy milk, coconut milk and even water)

– 1/2 tbs of Raw Cacao

These are the basic ingredients. I also love everything Peanut Butter, so that always makes it into my desserts. You can also add in shredded coconut, berries, banana, whatever you have; put it in there for the extra nutritional value.

Steps:

1. Mix Almond Milk, Chia seeds in a bowl, add the Raw Cacao Mix it all up. Then add all the extra yummy, healthy stuff you want in it. Mix it all up again.

2. Put it aside or in fridge for 5 minutes.

3. Come back to it. See if it is all gooped together, if it looks a little dry, put some more Almond Milk and mix it up. Let it sit for a couple more minutes.

Thats it. Enjoy. Super healthy, satisfying, detoxifying dessert. Chia seeds are binding, there are many many health benefits to eating these little guys. 

2. 

It’s more then just running

This year I spent the first 5 months running A LOT. I was training for the Vancouver BMO Marathon. After completing the Marathon (YA!) I cut back a bit. In the last month I ran maybe 3 times a week, nothing to extreme, just 5K runs when I could fit it in.

 

Last week I was feeling a bit off. All week I was agitated, prioritizing and spending time doing errands, I felt like I wasn’t getting things done, wasn’t doing things in the right order, I don’t know what it was. But I wasn’t feeling it.

 

All of a sudden I missed running again. I missed the routine of my daily runs. I missed lacing up my runners and getting out the door. I missed exploring new routes. I missed having goals, intentions and something specific to train for. Then I remembered it is my turn to blog for the SWTM. The reasons why I loved running in the first place all came back to me. With a new fresh outlook.

 

Running creates the routine in my day. It was the consistent practice that happened every day and I looked forward to it. It was mindless, lace up your shoes and get out the door. I was always guaranteed to feel like I was on top of the world right after.

 

No matter what the predicament at the beginning of the day, after a run I cam back with a whole new perspective and a brighter attitude. Sometimes after a run, things that seemed like big issues were no issues at all. It helps me let things go, and release any energy to a situation. I can honestly say that running is a meditation for me. Listening to my breath, clearing things out of my mind, and being with myself.

 

It was time dedicated to only me. While I was running I never felt like I needed to wind down at the end of the day. My sleep is immaculate. I felt like I utilized ever hour of my day.

 

I would get excited to listen to a new album or song during my run. I would be stoked to explore a new route or run by a new café or store and check to see what they are all about and what hours they are open. I got to explore some hidden places of different cities I wouldn’t have time to check out otherwise.

 

Most importantly it makes me a happy, optimistic, energetic individual. Yoga and running, what a good balance. I couldn’t imagine the person I would be without it.

 

It’s more then running. It is more then just physical exercise and I love it. 

The Best Pancake EVER!

I am serious. Its so good. Its not dry, its healthy, easy to make and delicious. I made them, ate them, and cant wait to make more tomorrow. This time I will try to save some.

Ingredients:

– 2 bananas

– 2 flax eggs (2 table spoon flax, 3 1/2 table spoons water)

– 1 cup oatmeal

and whatever else you want to throw in there. I baked a Yam and scooped it in there. I used cinnamon to regulate blood sugar. Added some shredded coconut and hemp hearts. Whatever you have, use it.

Directions:

1. Put it all in a blender and mix it up. Don’t mix up ingredients you might want whole in there (such as shredded coconut)

2. I used coconut oil for the pan. Turned the heat up high, and fried pancakes.

So easy. You don’t need any flour, no baking soda, no sugar, no oil. Just three easy ingredients.

I will look forward to my next batch and eating them with Peanut Butter on top!

* Credit and brains for the Pancakes goes out the my friend Emma Sproule. Thank you for the recipe. I had to share it. I hope it wasn’t a secret. 🙂

Black Bean Brownie

During a serious chocolate craving, I got inspired to make some Black Bean Brownies.

I only had a bag of dehydrated black beans. I set them out to soak overnight, then cooked them up in the morning. To cook them I rinsed them a bunch, then boiled them, then simmered them for about an hour. I am sure you can just used canned black beans. Just make sure you rinse them. I need you to know that I totally wing all that I make. These turned out pretty darn good though. Doug had about 7. He hasn’t written his review yet, but he did eat 7 of them.

Ingredients:

– 1 cup of black beans

– 1/3 cup of raw cacao (I am sure you can use regular coco)

– 1/2 avocado (avocado tastes delicious in desserts, and I love the texture)

– pinch of himalayan pink salt (or sea salt, or whatever healthy salt)

– smidge of raw sugar (or any healthy sweetener)

– 1/4 cup of almond milk (or soy milk)

– 2 Table spoons coconut butter.

– 2 Flax Eggs (2 table spoons flax to 4 table spoons water)

Directions:

1. I blended the black beans in a blender with the almond milk, till they were as pureed as they will get it a blender.

2. I added the rest of the ingredients and continued to puree it all.

3. Greased a pan with coconut oil, and poured the brownie mush into the pan. The brownie mush was not runny, it was pretty thick, the consistency of icing.

4. Then I baked it at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. The top was almost black but the inside was gooey. Then I let it sit out.

The texture is my favourite part. They were dense and fudgey on the inside. Definitely worth a shot. They just might help you chocolate fix, without any guilt… all enjoyment.

Juicy Ideas

What went into my juice this mornin’:

-3 stalks of celery (brushed and scrubbed with warm water)

-1 orange (peeled)

-1 clementine (peeled)

-2 carrots (brushed and scrubbed with warm water)

-1 beet (brushed and scrubbed with warm water)

-2 stalks of kale (scrubbed with warm water)

-1 little cube of ginger (peeled)

Directions:

1. Put all veggies and fruit that you are not going to peel into a strainer. Run warm water and scrub them like hell. I use a veg brush scrubber. You dont want a pesticide juice do you?

2. Peel oranges, clementines, and ginger… whatever you are putting into it that has a thick skin.

3. I have to cut all the veg and fruit into thumb size pieces so they can fit into my juicer. Your juicer might be better then mine and this step in unnecessary

4. Juice away. Mix the order. Pour into a nice mason jar. Sometimes I add pepper on top. Enjoy.

Filled with vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, energyisng

 

Morning oh so good Smoothie

I love starting the day off with a smoothie. Here is what I put in my smoothies these days:

– Frozen banana. Use frozen to make it nice and creamy. I buy a bunch of bananas, cut them in half and freeze a whole bunch of them. Frozen bananas are always super available in my kitchen, smoothie filler and night time snack (with Peanut Butter)

– Frozen or regular blueberries. Sometimes fresh blueberries cost less then frozen, so I buy them fresh, wash, freeze. Duh. Frozen berries are also a great late night dessert (mashed up with peanut butter)

– KALE! yup! I am into it. Loaded with Fibre, contains vitamin A and C so it helps with immunity, joint function, detoxifies you, lowers cholesterol, lots of IRON, keeps your skin nice and bright, anti-inflammatory… what I am getting at… its a SUPER FOOD! why not eat it. It’s a nice extra filler filled with goodness

– Hemp Hearts: 3tbs of them = 11grams of protein! Lots of good minerals and loaded with vitamin E. Plus its a smooth buttery flavour to your smoothies. 

– Cinnamon: regulates blood sugar levels. Think sugar craving prevention… and its delicious

– Ground Flax Seeds: for the Omega 3 fatty acids and Fibre! They must be ground though, or they will just pass through you.

– Right now I am using an extra protein source a shot. It is one made with organic brown rice and maca. What I have noticed since including extra protein… I am full for much longer then usual. I do like that, as eating lots of fruit, veg and earth proteins gets me hungry pretty often. Since I am running more then usual, I do think that the extra protein has helped me recover faster. Stay tuned for these results. I have not taken a protein supplement in YEARS!

– Coconut shreds! because coconut is amazing. WATCH OUT FOR sugar and chemical loaded coconut shreds. They might look innocent but check the ingredients tab, some are loaded with words I cant pronounce and icing sugar. You don’t need that. Check out your local baking isle and look for UNSWEETENED. 

– Any other fruit I have. Mangos are sooo good, Papaya is delicious (helps with protein digestion), apples, pears, cantaloupe. Just throw it in there. 

– I top it all off with a sprinkle of some nuts on top.

– Spirulina… get those B12’s. Plus it makes everything so green.

– I mix it all up with water… trust me, there is enough stuff in here to give it a non watery texture

This is a good dose of mostly everything. Know what you are eating and how it will help to serve you and your day. 

This is a photo of a smoothie I am about to make for a couple of people. Not just me. Swear.

a Cleansing Drink in the a.m.

Try this “tea” on an empty stomach to elevate your senses first thing in the a.m. It can help you with digestion, suppress appetite and hunger, give you a lil boost of energy and definitely that extra hop in you step. 

1. 1/4 to 1/2 of squeeezzzed lemon.

2. 2 table spoons of honey or maple syrup.

3. 3 shakes of cayenne pepper

4. 2 table spoons of apple cider vinegar.

Mix it all up with hot, boiling water, and drink it while its hot. Once you try it like this, feel free to switch up the ingredients, add more honey if you need it to sweeter, add more cayenne if you love the spice. Do whatever you like…

and yum! Try it for a cleanse, try it ever morning, try it if you are stuffed up and not feeling well, try it instead of coffee for a week, just give it a shot its good to switch it up. I know it helps me start of the day on the right foot. 

An easy lunch

Feel like you have nothing to eat in your fridge. Are you absolutely starving and ready to eat a package of crap because there are no other options?
Well…
Do you have a can of beans? Chickpeas? Fava beans? Black beans? (You should have lots. They are like $1 and will save you at desperate times. So stock up.)
Do you have random vegetables in your fridge? They might even be about to go off… But obviously fresher is better.
Have lots of lemon or I am sure lime would work. If those are not available use vinegar. I am currently hooked on apple cider vinegar, it’s flavorful and has tons of healthy benefits. Grab some oil, some spices and voila! You just saved your body from a crap feast of crap and made a delicious healthy salad.

Below is what my salad looked like. Here are the things I put in it: can mixed beans, diced avacado, diced tomato, diced cucumber, cilantro, half a lemon, hemp heart, pine nuts, mystery Asian sauce dressing with lots of garlic and chilies, pepper, and that’s it’s! It took 7 min! No excuses. Make it easy.

The importance of Sesame Seeds

 “I think they could take sesame seeds off the market and I wouldn’t even care. I can’t imagine 5 years from now, saying, “Damn, remember sesame seeds? What happened? All the buns are blank” – Mitch Hedberg

I always love a good laugh. You should definitely listen to Mitch Hedberg live. It’s sooooo funny. Anyways. Lets get down to whats actually important and what really matters… SESAME SEEDS.

Why are they good for you:

– Loaded with calcium, magnesium and iron! Who doesn’t need that?

– Exceptional source of Amino Acids! Such as: Methionine boosts metabolism function and serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood stabilization.

– Nuts and seeds are a key component to lowering high cholesterol. Eating a plant based diet filled with nuts and seeds in moderation will give you a smooth pumping heart.

On top of all those good things… they look really good added on top of salads, in salad dressings, on your fave curry, pad thai, sprinkled over sushi, on top of your green smoothie, on an avocado sandwich, the possibilities of Sesame Seeds are endless. Whatever you want to do with them will work. OR eat hummus, it contains Tahini, essentially Sesame Seed paste. 

But they are so small, why bother with them?! WHY NOT? add new things to your diet. Try a bit of everything good. Buy the weird asian Pear/Cucumber at the grocery store. Get the most out of your food. Try something new. Be wild. SESAME SEEDS! 

Anyways. Below is a salad with Sesame Seeds! This was my lunch. Spinach, caramelized onions, mushrooms, tofu in asian sauce, sprouts, shredded carrots, walnuts, tomato, avocado, cauliflower, baby potato, garlic and ginger. Hope you have a happy and healthy day! 

Hows your digestive system? Mushroom Miso Soup recipe

Full of Probiotics! ok so…

What are Probiotics? Probiotics are living microorganisms that when taken in sufficient quantities provide benefits to the host (YOU!). They are outside of our daily nutrition plan (unless you are an every day Sourkrout lover!) Fermented food! I’ve heard so much about this… but what is it? Fermentation is a metabolic process in which an organism converts a carbohydrate, such as a starch or sugar, into an alcohol or acid. Most of our foods are highly perishable, and this was a method to preserving them. (cool fact: Pirates did this. They pickled sourkrout and ate in on long voyages. It offset scurvy!) It preserves nutrients, and even takes them down into more easily digestible forms. It kinda sounds gross, how does it taste… fermented flavours tend to be very strong and pronounced. Fermented foods are a key aid in Chinese medicine.

Benefits:

– the fermentation process is also said to cause new nutrients to develop as the bacteria take over, such as Riboflavan, Thiamin, Niacin, Biotin. In some studies, even B12, which is usually unavailable in a plant based diet! Woo Hoo for all our Vegans.

– Fermentations rids toxins from our foods

– So good in breaking down foods during regular digestion

– FIlled with so many antioxidants

– Great during the stressful pages in your life

– It’s really one of those things that could have a very long lists, from allergies to colon cancer.

I dont know, I try to include fermentation into my life on a regular basis, and I feel great (Knocking on wood).

Examples of probiotic food: Sourkrout, kimchi, miso, pickles, kombucha tea the list can go on and on. Oh, and I guess wine would be considered fermented! Everything in moderation!

Enjoy this miso soup.

What you need:

– 1/3 cup Miso Paste

– some green onion

– 1/2 cup of different types mushroom, or same type mushroom (whatever you have will be great)

– 1/2 block tofu

– 1/2 sheet of Nori (sea weed)

What you do:

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a simmer and put the Nori (sea weed) in. Let it SIMMER with just the sea weed for 4-5 min.

2. Put all the other ingredients in! Don’t let the soup reach a boil! This will kill all our crucial microorganisms we need to eat. (dont tell your friends this, they will be grossed out)

3. Let it SIMMER for 15min. until mushys reach desired tenderness and flavourless. Serve in little Japanese bowls with chopsticks and a spoon.

What a great appie or lunch!

楽しむ (enjoy in Japanese)