destination: delicious

Okay, its been a LITTLE longer then a week. Time really flies, and I can’t even remember what I was doing!

A few notable things that happened in the past 9 days:

I went to an amazing vegetarian tapas cooking class last Thursday, put on by Carolyn Cohen-The Delicious Dish (deliciousdish@rogers.com). She made, and we ate: Quinoa cakes with green destiny dip, Spanish spinach and chickpeas, beetroot tahini, eggplant bruchetta, artichoke and potato tortilla, Egyptian tomato and haloumi salad with shaved fennel and arugula-YUM!!!

Here is a sample of the deliciousness that went on that night:

On Friday, I worked from home, so decided to get a little creative and made a recipe that I found on Pinterest for zucchini chips. It took 3 hours, and they disappeared in 3 minutes, but it was worth it! Note: they shrink like CRAZY!!

Before...

After!

I made 2 flavours: one batch had garlic powder and salt, and one had lemon juice and zaatar. Both were divine.

Sunday I was hard at work trying to re-create the quinoa cakes and green destiny dip from Thursday’s class….it went….OK

We then headed to a Superbowl party, where the girls had tea and gossiped, and the boys watched football.

Live from the game, courtesy of my dad

There was a big switcharoo at the half time show, and then back to our native and natural activities we went! Even though there was tons of delicious food (chicken fingers, nuggets, pigs in blankets, chips, cookies and more), I didn’t touch a thing-thank goodness for David’s tea!

This week there was alooooot of deliciousness going on. Here are some of the things I made/ate:

Off to my new favourite grocery store, Highland Farms tomorrow to stock up on produce for the week. More delicious meals to come!

I cannot believe that it is February, and I have not yet worn gloves, not yet worn my winter boots and not needed my heavy winter coat everyday. Each time it snows, its melted away by the next day-this is my kind of winter! I can hardly wait to see what the groundhog predicts tomorrow!

As I have been feeling a little under the weather, yesterday started out slow, but once I had my breakfast of Holy Crap with peach-passion fruit Greek yogurt topped with blueberries, I felt much better! With the exception of a few raspberries I had at about 12pm it kept me full for about 5 hours!

After going to the office for a few hours,  I went to my friend Liat’s dental hygienist school to be the “client/patient” for a couple of hours. The good news is-no cavities!!!

I went back to work and had my typical salad, which was delicious and hit the spot. Les and I went to my parents for dinner, which I was super excited about since I didn’t have to cook! They all had salmon, but since I don’t eat fish, I had their leftover dinner from the night before. It was delicious! I ended up having a chicken breast stuffed with spinach, mushrooms and peppers, green beans, and the red quinoa from the day before mixed with a little brown rice-so good, and so filling.

I kinda got a second wind after dinner, and decide to join my sister and sister-in-law at a charity event downtown. We got all glammed up and mixed, mingled and silent auctioned until about 10:30-I couldn’t WAIT to get into bed!

This morning was extremely difficult to get up as well, but Holy Crap, with the Greek yogurt and banana slices helped me start the day right.

I had a busy day at work, stopping for some raspberries and a lunch presentation by Orient Express (learned about their Maroma property, on the beautiful Maroma beach in the Mayan Riviera-YOU need to get there! They are also opening an amazing hotel in Santa Barbara, and just redid over 50% of the rooms at their stunning property in St. Maarten). It was then time for my lunch, which was a salad topped with quinoa puffs and a side of mom’s homemade chicken soup (Jewish penicillin).

An extremely busy afternoon followed, and in between huge mug-fuls of tea, I had another meeting about destination weddings and honeymoons-some of my favourite things to book!

After work I went to my friend Orly’s, and together we made a great dinner! We had chicken fajitas (minus the fajitas)-she bought the chicken, I brought the peppers, and sweet potato fries that I made. Amazing!

Our friend Liat joined us and we watched Orly’s wedding video. Does anyone else find it soooo awkward to watch themselves on screen!? It was such a nice video, and kinda inspired me to get on top of organizing my wedding video….considering I got married before her!

I am home now waiting for Les to arrive back from the Leaf’s game, enjoying an apple with crunchy PB-a perfect late night snack!

P.S. while I was at Orly’s I got a Whatapp from my friend Christina, that I/my blog inspired her to make a healthy dinner for her and her fiance Matt! Although I don’t eat salmon and I am not exactly sure why there is a huge palm tree on their plates, I am glad to know I am working my magic and helping a friend!

I’ve been a little M.I.A the past 2 days, mainly because I am sick (bad cold, and just feeling blah) and couldn’t wrap my head around blogging. Let me fill you in with what you missed…

Saturday night Les and I had date night. We hardly ever go out for nice dinners anymore, and especially not out of our neighbourhood/familiar places. We (I) decided to venture out and go downtown to try somewhere new. Little did I know a snow storm was coming, so we ended up sliding our way downtown, ending up at a great restaurant called Carisma. As hard as it was to resist the steaming bread topped with herbs that arrived at the table, I held back saving room for my delicious organic greens, mushrooms and parmigiano  salad and my veal chop with mushrooms and onions. Sorry for the bad quality of the pictures-it was a dark, intimate restaurant and didn’t want to use my flash!

We ended the night hanging out with some of our closest friends, watching funny movies like The Hangover and Bad teacher.

Yesterday I did a quick work out (3o minute walk on treadmill) and got ready quickly, as I was going furniture shopping with my mom and sister. I think I FINALLY found kitchen chairs….now I just need Les to sit on them and approve, and pick which colour. I took a picture of them in white, but they also come in black. Our kitchen floor is white, as are our cabinets and the base of the table is brushed stainless steel while the top is glass. Suggestions please!

After doing an all-produce grocery shop, we went for dinner at Les’s parents-chinese! I tried to keep healthy and only ate a wonton soup, chicken lettuce wraps and a little chicken chow mein…delicious!

This morning I had my trainer (unfortunately and fortunately) so we did an abridged version due to my feeling like crap. I then decided to dig into Holy Crap…the new cereal I bought yesterday. This was featured on the TV show Dragon’s Den and sounded fab…all natural and extremely healthy.

I followed the instructions and put 2 tablespoons in 4 tablespoons of water, and once it absorbed, I mixed it into a peach-passionfruit Greek yogurt. It was all different textures, and really great flavours, and kept me stuffed for HOURS! At $14 a bag I don’t know how often I can enjoy it, but happy I found a breakfast idea I can actually stomach.

Looks like dry soup mix!

Expanding from the water

Finally mixed with the yogurt

While making a salad for lunch, I sipped on the homemade chicken soup my mom dropped off earlier….the cure for everything! I also had leftover chicken from the lettuce wraps last night.

My big lunch kept me full until dinner, which was also brought over by my mom (chicken and veggie stir fry) and I made some quinoa from a package (with seasoning, veggies, etc)-Les and I both agreed we like mine better. I ended up throwing it out.

I am going to get into bed early so I can get better, but not before having some blueberries and raspberries!

The past 2 days since I last wrote I have been SO tired and lazy….not sure what has gotten into me! Sometimes I am up and raring to go, other times I simply cannot get out of bed in the morning. It’s dead in the middle of winter, which doesn’t help either (luckily it’s been a pretty mild/easy one so far…)

This may have something to do with my feelings of "blah"

Thursday started out extremely lazy, so I made a hairdresser appointment for 11m, forcing me out of bed and out of the condo. Much to my mother and sister’s happiness, I got a cut and layers! Another thing that got me out of bed for the appointment-knowing that David’s Tea is in the same mall as my hairdressed, so I could grab a cup of heaven before I went in!

After spending a busy afternoon at work, I came home and made a first-Brussells Sprouts! I tossed them with some oil olive, lemon juice, salt, pepper and a little garlic power and roasted them in the oven-they were delicious!! Les made chicken breasts for me and chicken thighs for himself-loving cooking together

After dinner, my friend Liat came over to hang out. I introduced her to Pinterest, and she brought me some homemade orange, strawberry and pimelo juice. I had never heard of pimelo until I was drinking it, but its definitely something I’d like to try in its regular form!

After she left, I decided to play around with my computer and take some cool (nerdy) pictures of myself and my new haircut!

Yesterday (Friday) started out with me going to a art framing store. My dad bought Les and I some artwork which needed to be framed, along with our Ketubah-so happy to check that off the list!

After a fairly relaxing afternoon at the office, we went to Les’s grandmothers for dinner, followed by a mad rush to get ready and get downtown for a pre-drink (pre-game for the Miami people) for a friends birthday. After walking (SO happy I wore flat boots) to the club, we drank (a little) and danced (a lot) the night away…until 3am!

Slept through my trainer session this morning….(really needed the sleep!) and Les spent close to 5 hours of the day at the walk-in clinic under our building, waiting to be told there is nothing he can do about his sore throat/loss of voice, but try not to talk. I could’ve told him that!!!!

Today I basically had all my meals/snacks at once (besides breakfast which was a banana with chunky peanut butter and jam) at about 3p.m. I had a makeshift salad with whatever was left in the fridge, minestrone soup with quinoa noodles and some chick peas with salt and pepper.

Since then we have been hanging out, watching TV, reading by the (fake) fireplace and relaxing until our 8:30 dinner date at Carisma, downtown!

It’s Day 3 of no grains and no dairy and I am actually feeling lighter! Now this could be in part to my difficult workout with my trainer this morning, but I’d like to think its because of my new eating habits!

Yesterday and todays breakfast started off the same-an apple, with honey peanut butter (yesterday) and cinnamon raisin peanut butter (today).

Lunch yesterday was my typical salad, topped with 2 leftover falafel balls from the night before for some delicious protein!

Dinner was a combined effort between Les and myself. He makes the meat, I make the rest! He broiled up a nice, juicy steak and some big, chunky beef ribs. I made sweet potato fries and a big salad. It was delicious, and I loved being in the kitchen with him (when he wasn’t setting off the smoke detectors EVERY time he opened the oven!!!)

I woke up early this morning (major YAWN, I can never fall asleep when I know I have to be up early!) to work out with my trainer. We did weight training, squats, lunges, pushups and interval training on the treadmill-I was pooped!

I went into work at 10:30 and had a tea to tide me over until lunch, which was last nights dinner-revamped! I had some rib meat (cut off the bone by my helpful hubby), sweet potato fries and strips of crisp orange and yellow peppers-YUM!

I was so busy today at work that the day flew by, and before I knew it was 3pm and I was starving, so I filled myself up with some kale chips and tea!

I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and picked up a new veggie that I am very excited to try-brussells sprouts! I tried these babies at a great restaurant in Miami (Gigi) for the first time and was surprised to enjoy them! If anyone has any fab sprouts recipes-please pass them along!

Tonight was another joint effort in the kitchen, Les making lamb chops (for him) and a veal chop (for me). I finished off the meal with some baked garlic brocollini and quinoa-delicious!

Cheers to Ikea for their surprisingly delish non-alcoholic drink!

I have been back from Florida for almost a month, and I am getting antsy to go away again! I am getting used to go to a warm destination each month, and I’d prefer not to stop the fun! Looking for suggestions of where to go in February, if only for a few days….

I’ve been so busy since Saturday, I’ve had no time to write, but I’m back with lots to say!

After a cute rendition of Disney’s Aladdin, I went for dinner with my mom, aunt and family friend to a new neighbourhood restaurant. I started with a organic green salad, and had gnocchi with braised oxtail and squash for my main course. They served a baguette (which they charged .75 for!!!) with AMAZING white bean dip-way worth the money!

The cast of Aladdin!

After dinner I came home and skyped with my best friend (Michelle) who is living in Amsterdam for the year, and then headed to a post-potluck party solo, and ended up staying until 1 a.m. having an amazing time laughing and telling stories with friends.

Sunday began the new me! I went home to work out with my mom and her trainer, and boy am I feeling it now-OUCH! My first “real” workout besides the treadmill in a long time. He advised me that if I want to shed a few pounds, trying going without grains and dairy for a week, SO I am taking on that challenge! I hardly eat dairy, so that won’t be a problem-grains are my weakness!

Following the workout we went downtown to check out a few furniture stores like West Elm, CB2, Urban Mode, Urban Barn, and some other stores on Queen Street. As much as I wanted to find furniture for our condo, I only ended up with some awesome placemats, cute coasters and funky chip clips! I also did a HUGE healthy produce grocery shop!

Rainbow of delicious-ness

Dinner last night was sushi with my sister in law, cousin in law and one of our closest friends. I had a brown rice wakame roll, teryaki beef rolled around enoki mushrooms and green onions, a miso soup and miso eggplant-YUM! I also made kale chips for my first time! Recipe to follow…

Brown rice wakame roll

Kale chips!

This morning started the challenge of no grains and dairy. Breakfast was an apple with cinnamon raisin peanut butter and chia seeds, followed by some raspberries.

Yummmmm!

Lunch was a salad packed with veggies, and the extra dressing from the kale chips, followed by some almonds and an apple!

After work, I went to visit my grandfather and then to the mall with my mom and sister. After reloading at David’s Tea and finally buying myself a pair of Tom’s, we had a great dinner at Oliver and Bonacini. Their bread is the BEST and comes out warm, so it was hard to resist, but I filled myself up with their creamless mushroom soup, and falafel caesar salad (I know, I cheated a little with the no-dairy rule!)

I am currently hoping my building doesn’t blow over due to high winds, facebooking, pinteresting, and blogging while waiting for my hubby to land from Chicago!

Before I talk about what a beautiful day it is today, I need to catch you up on yesterday! I spent all day at home, cleaning/organizing/purging/doing laundry/social media-ing/working!

Spare bedroom-spick and span!

I started my morning with another treadmill workout (35 minutes), before quickly dashing to work to drop something off (feeling blessed to live a 1 minute drive to my office)! I was starving after breakfast, so decided to have a whole wheat thin bagel, topped with chunky peanut butter, half a banana, and a sprinkle of Chia seeds for good measure! I polished off the other half of the banana too!

I was so busy around the condo I didn’t realize how quickly 12pm came, and I realized I was absolutely starving for lunch because I didn’t have a mid-morning snack. For lunch, I had leftovers from dinner the night before-small piece of chicken, small piece of steak, chunks of sweet potato and I cut up a fresh orange pepper to go with it-delicious!

As the afternoon went on, I was on my feet the entire time, moving things around, organizing, throwing things out, etc-I realized I was absolutely starving again. An apple and a granola bar did the trick and held me over until dinner!

When hubby (Les) got home from work, he brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers-JUST CUZ!

As we all gathered for dinner at Les’s grandmothers house, wedding talks/planning were in the works for our cousin that just got engaged last week. She asked me to be a bridesmaid last night-I am super honoured and excited!!

After an amazing dinner of chicken soup with kreplach, a chicken burger and lots of asparagus and green beans, Hubby and I, along with his best friend and his fiance went to see the movie Contraband. Let’s put it this way-next time I am choosing the movie! While the storyline and plot were pretty good, there were some parts that scared me to my core. At least I had my popcorn to get me through!

I decided to sleep in a little bit this morning, and had a hard time getting out of our super comfy bed! I did some jumping jacks, sit ups, mountain climbers and leg exercises before digging into breakfast!

What a view!

It is such a beautiful day outside, it looks like we could be in the middle of summer….besides the snow that is covering the ground and rooftops. The sun is streaming in the condo and making it warm and cozy.

Off to see my 11 year old cousin’s play! Have a great day!!