Tag: healthy

Salad Dressings »3 Ways«

14 Comments

Here’s a funny joke:

Q: Why did the tomato turn red?

A: Because it saw the salad dressing!

*cue laughter*
♡ Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

The Art of Salad Dressing

I typically don’t make salad dressing, as my mom makes better salad dressing than I do. I purchase Kraft salad dressings only when I am lazy or busy because they are easily accessible and convenient. However, homemade salad dressing is way better than store-bought ones – even my mom agrees. My mom lives halfway across the country, so I can’t show up at her house every day for freshly made salad. So that leaves me with two options: a) keep eating the Kraft salad dressings or b) learn how to make my own.

I’ve compiled these recipes so that you can enjoy more freshly made salads, and make salad a part of your diet. Many salads are healthy, but people don’t always like them because they’re so bland. If you dress the salad up with an interesting dressing, not only will it be more appealing to people’s taste buds, but it can also give their bodies all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. The best thing about this recipe is that it is all ready for you to use in just a few minutes and can be made using ingredients that are probably already in your house. I’m confident that these salad dressing recipes will be helpful to you, as they have been to me.

Salad Dressing Science: Salad dressing is a process where two liquids – oil and water or vinegar – are mixed together. Normally, liquid drops of oil and water remain separate from each other. If you start with just the oil and the vinegar, they won’t mix well until you add an emulsifier, which helps them to combine more smoothly. You can mix and match ingredients to create your perfect salad dressing.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴!

SALAD DRESSINGS »3 WAYS«

Servings: 1 mason jar each                         Time: 10 minutes                          Difficulty: easy

1. BASIC B* VINEGARETTE

  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • pinch of fresh ground pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

2. CITRUS SUNSHINE DRESSING

  • 2 tbsp. orange juice
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1/2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp. maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • pinch of fresh ground pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

3. SWEET HONEY VINEGARETTE

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp. honey
  • 1/2 cup peanut oil
  • pinch of fresh ground pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a mixing bowl, add the ingredients and mix them well using a whisk.
  2. Slowly add a little bit of oil while continuously whisking the mixture. Once you have added a small amount, start to whisk faster.
  3. Toss the dressing with a green salad, or add it to a mason jar for storing in the fridge.

♡ Image #1: Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

♡ Image #2: Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

great-vibes.regular (1)

Advertisement

Easy Hummus Dip

12 Comments

Continuing on with the challenge from yesterday, you probably have a can or two of chickpeas in your cupboard, right? I sure do! To accompany the guacamole dip, why not try some hummus dip? It’s just as tasty and quick to make.

While I usually can find store-bought hummus for a cheap price, I think it’s important to remember that it’s not always the best idea to buy something just because it is cheap. Store-bought hummus can be of lower quality than homemade, and sometimes you don’t get the same true taste. With my recipe, though, I’ve found that even though you might have to spend more time making your own, it will be worth the effort because this homemade hummus usually has a better taste.

EASY HUMMUS DIP

Servings: 5-6                         Time: 40 minutes                          Difficulty: easy

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 can (15 oz.) of chickpeas, drained
  • 2 tbsp. plain greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. water
  • 1.5 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. cumin
  • optional: sliced veggies, pita bread

DIRECTIONS

  1. Add a few inches of water to the saucepan and bring it to a boil.
  2. Add the cloves of garlic (still in the skin) and cook them for 10-12 minutes, or until the cloves are tender.
  3. Take the saucepan off the heat and run cold water over the garlic to cool it down. Once the garlic is cooled, peel the skins.
  4. Add the peeled garlic and canned chickpeas (drained) to the food processor. Add yogurt, olive oil, water, lemon juice, salt, and water to the mixture.
  5. Process the hummus for approx. 30 seconds, stopping periodically to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
  6. Scoop the hummus into a serving bowl and add a drizzle of olive oil.
  7. Serve with sliced veggies, pita bread, tortilla chips, etc. Enjoy!

Image source: https://www.dreamstime.com/

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

great-vibes.regular (1)

Easy Guacamole Dip

3 Comments

𝒩𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝒶 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒽, 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽 𝑜𝒻 𝑔𝓊𝒶𝒸𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓁𝑒!

I have a challenge for you! Using everything you have in your cupboard, come up with a recipe and actually make it. You can “cheat” by referencing google for inspiration if you need some ideas. Tomorrow, do the exact same thing. I bet that you will come up with two different recipes without the need to buy any new ingredients. Keep repeating this process and make a mental note to add your recipes to a database for easy access. If you do this for 30 days, then you should end up with ~20-30 unique recipes for your family.

With the avocado craze dying down and Canadians finally being able to find avocados for a reasonable price, it is easier to use avocado in my dishes. I love avocado toast, but guacamole is way better! 🥑😋 Guacamole pairs well with fresh tortilla chips and I no longer have to resort to store-bought guacamole on days when I am craving this healthy snack.

EASY GUACAMOLE DIP

Servings: 4-6                         Time: 20 minutes                          Difficulty: easy

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 green onion
  • 1 tomato
  • 3 ripe avocados, halved
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 bag tortilla chips

DIRECTIONS

  1. Chop the green onion and tomato into small pieces.
  2. Slice the avocados in half and use a spoon to remove the pits.
  3. Scoop the avocado sections into a bowl. Add the garlic powder and lemon juice. Mash it all up with a fork.
  4. Add the chopped onion, tomato, and salt. Mix everything together.
  5. Serve with a generous portion of tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Cute kawaii smiling avocado. Source: https://www.vecteezy.com/

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

great-vibes.regular (1)

Banana Bran Muffins

Leave a comment

Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted a very long time ago in a land far, far away. I am reposting the recipe as a blog post to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! 🙊🍌

I have a challenge for you! Using everything you have in your cupboard, come up with a recipe and actually make it. You can “cheat” by referencing google for inspiration if you need some ideas. Tomorrow, do the exact same thing. I bet that you will come up with two different recipes without the need to buy any of your ingredients. Keep repeating this process and make a mental note to add your recipes to a database for easy access. If you do this for 30 days, then you should end up with ~20-30 unique recipes for your family.

I live in Canada and our degrees are measured in Celsius, not Fahrenheit. For baking purposes, I use Fahrenheit because it’s universal and easier to follow. But if you tell me that the temperature today is 45 outside, you’re not fooling anyone given that it’s the middle of November and there is snow on the ground. I will assume that you have mastered teleportation and are probably enjoying a Daiquiri on some tropical island….. and you didn’t invite me, how rude.

This week I made banana bran muffins and the batter was delicious. However, the muffins were dry and slightly overcooked, so I would suggest baking them for 15-18 minutes at 350ºF instead of 20 minutes at 375ºF. You can find the original recipe here.

BANANA BRAN MUFFINS

Servings: 12                          Time: 40 minutes                          Difficulty: easy

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup mashed bananas (approx. 2 medium bananas)
  • 1 1/2 cups bran mix
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup flaked coconut (optional)
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup canola oil

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
  2. Combine bran with whole wheat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and coconut (optional).
  3. Crack eggs into a bowl and whisk the egg. Then add milk, mashed bananas, milk, and oil to the egg mixture. For a smooth consistency, use a blender to pulverize the wet ingredients. I use my Vitamix blender but a simple blender works too.
  4. Add wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir gently with a plastic spatula until ingredients are evenly mixed.
  5. Spoon into well-greased or lined muffin tins.
  6. Bake muffins for 15-18 minutes at 350ºF.
banana-2850841_960_720
Mind your banana. Photo from  http://www.pixabay.com

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

great-vibes.regular (1)

Creature of the Night

2 Comments

Disclaimer: This poem was originally posted as a separate daughter page, so nobody stumbled upon it. I am editing and re-publishing all of my poems to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding. If you like this poem, feel free to check out my other poetry musings here. ✨

Thanks for reading! ♡

great-vibes.regular (1)

Cantaloupe Smoothie

6 Comments

Disclaimer: This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding! ♥

Most recipes found on this blog are designed for 1-2 people, particularly college students or small families who are short on time. If you are making this smoothie for 4 people, simply double the recipe. You can add other fruits such as peaches or add a handful of spinach/kale for a green smoothie. If cantaloupe isn’t your preference, you can use other kinds of melon instead, such as honeydew or watermelon. #melon-fruit-power from pixabay.com

WHY SMOOTHIES?

Fruits and vegetables contain important enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that we need to stay healthy, maintain energy levels, and keep diseases at bay. Making delicious smoothies from fresh fruits each day is an easy and tasty way to obtain your daily nutrient requirements. Smoothies are thicker than fruit juices and they may contain other ingredients such as milk, yogurt, ice cubes, etc.

CHOOSING INGREDIENTS

The quality of a smoothie is directly related to the freshness of the ingredients that you use. Try and use the best fruit that you can get by choosing fruits at optimum ripeness. Although fresh and organic are usually best, fruits that are flash-frozen soon after picking may be better than fresh fruit that has a short shelf life. Examples of summer fruits are strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and peaches. If you use canned fruit, avoid fruit soaked in syrup and aim for fruit soaked in water or natural fruit juice.

EAT WELL, FEEL GOOD, AND LOOK GREAT!

The nutrition that you are consuming by drinking smoothies on a daily basis will also begin to show through your radiant glowing skin, energy levels, and overall improved well-being. For example, antioxidants are found in fresh fruits and are also essential for younger-looking skin. Another example is folic acid, which is found in many fruits and helps keep hair and nails strong. Another advantage of drinking smoothies is the high water content that is found in fruits. It is easy to forget to drink 8 glasses of water per day. Many beverages that we consume such as coffee, tea, and alcohol are dehydrating compared to smoothies which are very hydrating.

melons-848086_960_720.jpg

CANTALOUPE SMOOTHIE

Servings: 2                          Time: 10 minutes                          Difficulty: easy

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup peeled, cubed cantaloupe
  • 1/2 banana, frozen chunks
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1/2 tablespoon flaxseed (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

  1. Add the cantaloupe, banana, orange juice and lemon juice to a blender (I am using a Vitamix blender). Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
  2. Add the yogurt, flaxseed and vanilla. Cover and blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
  3. Pour into 2 glasses and add milkshake straws (optional). Serve immediately.

Thanks for stopping by! ❤

great-vibes.regular (1)

Raw Green Energy Soup

6 Comments
pexels-photo-255441edit
This recipe was originally posted as a separate page. I changed it to reflect the direction that this blog is headed in. Thank you for understanding. 🌱

This recipe is fantastic. Although Dr. Ann Wigmore’s energy soup is not the most palatable the first time you try it, it really starts to grow on you the more you consume it. I use this recipe whenever I am feeling moody, depressed, need to detox, or whenever I’m in pain (for example, toothache). Sometimes, I grow my own bean sprouts but I often buy them for convenience. Eating a 1.5-liter jar of homegrown bean sprouts is quite the challenge for one individual.

I doubt other 20-somethings eat energy soup at all. Even my husband cringes a the thought of eating this stuff on a weekly basis. Eventually, I hope to make this soup on a daily basis. The health benefits outweigh the taste, and the bland flavor is greatly improved with a little garlic and lemon juice. The original recipe was created by Ann Wigmore and you can read about her here. However,  the recipe I have adapted comes from Karyn’s, so be sure to check out these two amazing women.

“Let me share my vision with you: I see a world without sickness, sorrow or mental disturbance in which we are living in perfect balance with abundant health and harmony.  Reconnect with nature and your body will take care of the rest. This is the beauty of self-healing.”
– Dr. Ann Wigmore

Confession: I do not use Rejuvelac. Instead, I substitute Rejuvelac for green tea. I have adapted and modified Karyn’s version of Ann Wigmore’s energy soup. I do not think my version is necessarily healthier. In fact, I highly doubt it contains as many vitamins and minerals compared to the original recipe. However, as a university student who is tight on time and energy, my recipe is easy to make and very palatable. I am NOT a vegan or raw foodie by any means and I do not encourage you to hop on the bandwagon. I am currently dealing with Iron Deficiency Anemia and can use a boost of vitamins and minerals every now and then.

RAW GREEN ENERGY SOUP

Servings: 2                         Time: 10 minutes                          Difficulty: easy

INGREDIENTS

  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups green tea
  • 1 teaspoon seaweed
  • 1-2 apples, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup baby spinach leaves
  • 1 cup beansprouts
  • 1 avocado

DIRECTIONS

  1. Prepare 1 1/2 cups of green tea. Set aside. Soak the dried seaweed in water and add 1 teaspoon of soaked seaweed to the green tea. Pour into a powerful blender such as the Vitamix (what I use).
  2. Coarsely chop the garlic and add to the blender. Blend on low until smooth
  3. Coarsely chop the apples and add to the blender. Add the avocado. If you don’t have avocado you can substitute with coconut oil. Pulse the apple and avocado to combine with the green tea base Pulsing adds texture to the soup.
  4. Add the beansprouts and the spinach leaves. Pulse in blender until you have reached the desired consistency. Add the lemon juice for freshness and flavor.
  5. Pour into a bowl and serve. Garnish with parsley if desired. Store the leftover soup in a glass container and refrigerate up to a week. The soup tastes best when consumed within 1-2 days.
P1040674
Yes, the raw green energy soup is really this green! Put your future in good hands ❤

Note: I garnished the soup with cilantro because I couldn’t find the parsley. I tried making the soup from memory and the color of the soup ended up being much lighter. Why?! Because I forgot to add the seaweed! The raw green energy soup was still delicious – a perfect midnight snack!

Thanks for stopping by!

great-vibes.regular (1)

S.L.E.E.P.S. 7-Day Challenge

11 Comments

Today, I was searching for new podcasts to listen to and I stumbled upon a podcast called Operation Self Reset. Immediately, I was hooked because this highly-engaging podcast focusses on personal growth and development which happens to be my favorite genre! There was a specific episode that made me think deeply about finding the motivation to gain more balance and happiness in my life.

By embarking on a 7-day challenge, this challenge will help me reflect on my daily activities and pinpoint areas that need improving. I want to do this challenge because I need to make positive changes in my life, and most importantly, maintain long-term positive vibes. I feel like the main points of the acronym cover all of the areas that I need to focus on. NOW is the time to start. Not tomorrow. Not next month. No matter how many excuses I have, I need to start this challenge today.

The acronym is S.L.E.E.P.S.

S – Smile: what made you smile yesterday?
L – Learn: what did you learn today?
E – Exercise: how did you exercise?
E – Execute (x4): what are your goals and what are you doing to achieve them?
P – Phone call: who did you call/text today? Show them gratitude.
S – Smile: what made you smile today?

Day 1 ~ May 18, 2018 

S – I don’t remember what made me smile yesterday because I had a bad day. I was so tired and lethargic and I slept for 12 hours last night. I was worried about my clinical next week. I was worried about my husband and daughter flying on the plane. I was praying that they would arrive safely at their destination. I was full of worry.

L – I learned about Family Assessment Models and Intervention Models in lecture today. The material is dry but I managed to get my readings done for the week. I was able to follow the lecture because I read ahead earlier this week. It is rare for me to work ahead so I guess that is something to smile about. ☺️

E – I walked to school and wandered around campus today. I think that the campus is big and my classes are spaced relatively far apart. Ever since moving to this new city, I started engaging in a great deal of walking. There is no need for me to join a gym because I get adequate exercise when I’m outside.

giphy1.gifE – Here are my goals for the weekend:
(1) Need nursing shoes for May 31
(2) Need another pair of scrubs
(3) Take the bus and find the clinical placement
(4) Finish cleaning the apartment

P – I tried calling my husband but he seemed busy. I texted a friend and she seemed annoyed that I sent her an article to read. I don’t like texting because it is difficult to read body language. Usually, I don’t call people unless it’s my husband or my mother. It will be hard to reach out to people through phone calls but I understand the impact of a phone call vs. a bland text message. At this time, I don’t see myself executing phone calls to friends yet.

S – I broke my Tim Hortons steeped tea fast today after my 21-day ban. Society’s belief system suggests that it takes 21 days to break a habit. However, I was miserable without my steeped tea and the caffeine withdrawal headaches were unbearable. It is not worth being miserable so I will allow myself 3 large steeped teas per week and the occasional iced coffee at MCDs as long as I walk there and back (3 km total distance).

giphy (2)

Will you join me on this 7-day challenge? Please leave a comment below ↓ and feel free to leave a link to your blog if you decide to join me. I would love to read about your S.L.E.E.P.S. Let’s spread some love while crushing our goals!

great-vibes.regular (1)