Thanksgiving Dinner - Chinese Style

Thanksgiving is coming this weekend and for many of us it's the time to see family we may only see once or twice a year. I come from a really big Chinese family and the gatherings are always crowded, loud and a super good time!

And of course there is TONS of food. It is a tradition for us to have "two meals" at every holiday. We would have your typical turkey, stuffing and potato side dish. But then we would also have a big assortment of Chinese food. It may seem like an odd match to have turkey and potato salad on the same plate as fried rice and baby bok choy. But it always seemed to make total sense to us.

I don't think we are alone, I'm sure there are many Canadian families who are combining the past with the present or trying out many different types of cuisines. Food has a way of bringing people together and is a wonderful cultural symbol.

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, add something different and try out this vegetarian friendly recipe from Kopali via Gourmet Sleuth.  It's an Asian style Wild Rice Stuffing to go with your turkey (or tofurkey). It's a great way to put a little twist on your usual Thanksgiving dinner!

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

xo
penny

Incredible Food Carvings

For some of us, #Halloween is the favourite holiday. It's a chance to get dress up and be anyone or anything you want to be. There will be themed parties, graveyards on front lawns, jack-o-lanterns and lots of candy to give away as excited, sugar-rushed kids run from house to house.

To get you in the mood, I found this great site called The Invisible Underground  which showcases the work of Shawn Feeney (check out the videos), a stellar artist who reveals the secret life of plants through fruit carving, vegetable sculpture and edible alchemy.

This takes the jack-o-lantern to another level!

Breakfast of Champions

How about a little pie for breakfast?? It's true! 

A healthful way to start your day, this Raw Chocolate Avocado Pie is full of vitamins, antioxidant and protein. It's also gluten free, delicious and no baking involved :) 

**You can make it vegan by switching out the honey for agave.

 

Ingredients

Crust

·      3/4  cup raw almonds or macadamia nuts

·      ½ cup raw pecans

·      8 pitted Medjool dates

·      1/2 ripe banana (for those that like the banana chocolate combination, or omit)

Pudding Filling

·      2 ripe avocados

·      2 ½ tsp vanilla extract

·      ¼ cup raw cacao powder

·      ½ cup raw honey (more or less to taste)

·      1 tablespoon organic coconut oil

Directions

Crust

Blend crust ingredients in a food processor until they form into a sticky ball. Don’t over process. Using wet hand, press this mixture into the base of a pie pan (10", give or take). Set aside. Clean out food processor.

Pudding Filling

Seed and scoop out avocado into the food processor. Add cacao powder, honey, vanilla, coconut oil. Blend until smooth.

Spoon avocado mixture onto the crust and spread it evenly. Put into the freezer for 30 minutes before serving.  Store in the fridge.

If desired, top with fresh raspberries if not adding banana to crust or banana slices. 

Enjoy!

The Pumpkins are Coming!

Have you gone by a fruit stand lately? I have, and what did my little eye spy?? Sweet little perfectly round pumpkins. This is a sure sign that the season's they are a changing.

We'll soon have pumpkin everything: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin beer and of course pumpkin flavoured coffee! (Yikes, that might be a bit too much. Don't consume all at once!)

I love brunch so, why not pumpkin pancakes? Here is a great recipe from the blog Big Girls, Small Kitchen which blends the great flavours of cinnamon and nutmeg to enhance the fall favourite squash.


Enjoy!

xo
penny

Stress-Free Eating

Fall, for many people is a crazy busy time. Kids are in full swing at school, work is gearing up for year end and the days are getting shorter...the vacation is over.

So how do we feel? STRESSED!! and then what do we do?...EAT!

At least that's what I do. So I thought there must be foods that relieve stress rather than make you feel more stressed and bloated? Well, there are! Here's 5 that I found that work for me, are easy to add to your diet and are super tasty. Remember, all in moderation!
  



Chocolate

Let's start off by stating the obvious!
Dark chocolate, in particular, is known to lower blood pressure, making you feel a sense of calm. Works for me! Indulge in moderation but really, there is nothing like it!

Avocados 

These delish fruits contain lutein, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and lots of folate which help to relieve stress. Add a few slices to a salad, burger or sandwich.

Oatmeal 
This comfort food causes your brain to produce serotonin, a feel-good chemical. So it also creates a soothing feeling that helps overcome stress. A great way to start you day!



Asparagus
They are also high in folate, which is essential for keeping you cool and calm. Steam them up and add to pasta or salads.









Berries 
Berries, including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, have lots of vitamin C, which has been shown to be helpful in combating stress as it's been known to lower blood pressure. Add to yogurt, or eat a pint (kidding...but I could) on it's own.