if you're in the toronto area and need a restaurant to stop at for any meal of the day, go to Fresh. omg. omg. omg. we went for john's birthday over the weekend and it is the best restaurant ever, hands down. we even ditched our dinner reservations to eat there a second time in the same day. it's seriously that good.
bonus feature? vegetarian and vegan only, and it'll make any carnivore buckle when you ask them why they're still eating meat. don't believe me? order a "miso burger" then we'll talk.
www.freshrestaurants.ca
for locations, hours, etc.
you can also order their cookbooks online, and i would totally recommend doing that. we bought both and are THRILLED about them!
bon appetite! ;)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
coleslaw salad dressing
my apologies to cabbage patches everywhere, but i've come up with a mega quick and totally satisfying coleslaw that can replace traditional mayo-based (and highly caloric) coleslaws.
i always have really good intentions of coming up with something special to make when i buy heads of cabbage at the grocery store. yet, usually about 2 weeks later i throw it out when it's started going brown because i still haven't used it. i meant to, but i sort of got carried away with other things, and really didn't know what the flip to do with it anyways... let's face it, we don't always have 2 hours to make cabbage rolls. so, presto! our cabbage worries can fall by the wayside as we start making a coleslaw that nourishes our bodies and takes minutes to make! (seriously, i just made it in 5 minutes, chopping and all. that even included inventing the recipe. yep, i'm that good ;) what i'm saying here is you have that much time to make it, i promise... and if you don't, you better hire a personal assistant or rework your own abilities to organize because that's just bananas!)
Coleslaw Salad Dressing
ingredients:
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (eat this all the time, it's amazing for you!)
3 tbsp oil (hemp, olive, something good for you)
2 tsp sugar (fairly traded, please)
s&p to taste
step by step:
1. add all ingredients to a bowl and give it a good mix, until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
2. toss over a chopped head of cabbage, any other veggies you might want to add (broccoli, i'm looking at you), as well as some seeds for added nutrition, crunch, and fun. i used pumpkin and sunflower seeds in mine, but do as you like! i chopped up some fresh parsley at the end and found it really added something special to the salad.
3. eat away and store unused salad for leftovers later today or tomorrow. i love that cabbage doesn't get mushy like lettuce, so leaving it to marinade only makes it better!
enjoy this quick and easy salad whenever you're short on time or looking for a satisfying way to short-cut your cooking for the day.
i always have really good intentions of coming up with something special to make when i buy heads of cabbage at the grocery store. yet, usually about 2 weeks later i throw it out when it's started going brown because i still haven't used it. i meant to, but i sort of got carried away with other things, and really didn't know what the flip to do with it anyways... let's face it, we don't always have 2 hours to make cabbage rolls. so, presto! our cabbage worries can fall by the wayside as we start making a coleslaw that nourishes our bodies and takes minutes to make! (seriously, i just made it in 5 minutes, chopping and all. that even included inventing the recipe. yep, i'm that good ;) what i'm saying here is you have that much time to make it, i promise... and if you don't, you better hire a personal assistant or rework your own abilities to organize because that's just bananas!)
Coleslaw Salad Dressing
ingredients:
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (eat this all the time, it's amazing for you!)
3 tbsp oil (hemp, olive, something good for you)
2 tsp sugar (fairly traded, please)
s&p to taste
step by step:
1. add all ingredients to a bowl and give it a good mix, until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
2. toss over a chopped head of cabbage, any other veggies you might want to add (broccoli, i'm looking at you), as well as some seeds for added nutrition, crunch, and fun. i used pumpkin and sunflower seeds in mine, but do as you like! i chopped up some fresh parsley at the end and found it really added something special to the salad.
3. eat away and store unused salad for leftovers later today or tomorrow. i love that cabbage doesn't get mushy like lettuce, so leaving it to marinade only makes it better!
enjoy this quick and easy salad whenever you're short on time or looking for a satisfying way to short-cut your cooking for the day.
Friday, August 20, 2010
animal kingdom
in case you haven't noticed, animals are kind of a big deal to me. in this post, i wanted to share a bit about the importance of rescuing animals from shelters, rather than finding pets in pet stores.
first off, i understand some people want a puppy or kitten, and they want to go to a breeder for this. while i'd hope they'd first consider adopting from a shelter instead (because puppies, dogs, kittens and cats all get dumped by people and end up in animal shelters), if you must find your furry friend elsewhere, just please do your homework. some breeders are amazing and treat their animals with the dignity and respect they deserve. some don't. the moral of the story here is be informed. my mom and i got our cat (tiffany) and dog (charlotte) from breeders, so i know the draw here. both are lovely animals and i couldn't love them more. both sweet, both cuddly, both from breeders who treated them with dignity before coming home with me.
when john an
d i were looking for another pet to add to our place though (we already had 2 budgies - atticus, blue; arthur, green), we headed to our local spca. the birds were purchased at a pet store, a decision john and i both regret. we love the birds, but their "bird bin" upbringing has them a little high-strung, not making for the most affectionate animal friends. we're trying to gain their trust and little by little we do, but pet stores take a toll on animals when they aren't hand raised in a loving environment (and birds are much more likely to hold grudges than furrier friends who just want a bed to cuddle up in). so, off to the spca we went in search of one of those furry friends, to hopefully add more animal cuddle time into our lives. this turned out great for the birds, because they now have a cat to taunt (and taunt they do, all day long!) but now i'm getting ahead of myself...
john's parents found their dog, penny, at the same spca a year and a half ago. with the amazing pooch they ended up with, going to the shelter for our pet seemed like a no-brainer. this is the floppiest dog on earth who loves nothing more than cuddling and snoozing in the sun, unless you're going in the house, in which case, she's following you indoors. this past summer she learned to swim in the lake at the cottage, much to her mom and dad's amusement! (she's also something of a frady-dog so we were shocked when she took to the water. congrats penny!)
on our trip, we found nala, a beautiful brown tabby with the most lovely personality i've ever seen in a cat. she snuggles with us when we're sitting, follows us around when we're cooking or doing various things around our place, and sleeps at the tops of our heads (always distributing time between both of us equally - she's rather considerate). she's helped make our apartment a home. she even helps me (un)write my blog by pushing down keys and closing programs for me. makes me a tad less productive, but it's well worth it. isn't she cute?!
so folks, there you have it. animals are amazing, but make sure they come from responsible places, and rescue animals whenever possible. good karma and good friends are found at shelters, just ask nala and her very proud parents :)
first off, i understand some people want a puppy or kitten, and they want to go to a breeder for this. while i'd hope they'd first consider adopting from a shelter instead (because puppies, dogs, kittens and cats all get dumped by people and end up in animal shelters), if you must find your furry friend elsewhere, just please do your homework. some breeders are amazing and treat their animals with the dignity and respect they deserve. some don't. the moral of the story here is be informed. my mom and i got our cat (tiffany) and dog (charlotte) from breeders, so i know the draw here. both are lovely animals and i couldn't love them more. both sweet, both cuddly, both from breeders who treated them with dignity before coming home with me.
when john an
d i were looking for another pet to add to our place though (we already had 2 budgies - atticus, blue; arthur, green), we headed to our local spca. the birds were purchased at a pet store, a decision john and i both regret. we love the birds, but their "bird bin" upbringing has them a little high-strung, not making for the most affectionate animal friends. we're trying to gain their trust and little by little we do, but pet stores take a toll on animals when they aren't hand raised in a loving environment (and birds are much more likely to hold grudges than furrier friends who just want a bed to cuddle up in). so, off to the spca we went in search of one of those furry friends, to hopefully add more animal cuddle time into our lives. this turned out great for the birds, because they now have a cat to taunt (and taunt they do, all day long!) but now i'm getting ahead of myself...john's parents found their dog, penny, at the same spca a year and a half ago. with the amazing pooch they ended up with, going to the shelter for our pet seemed like a no-brainer. this is the floppiest dog on earth who loves nothing more than cuddling and snoozing in the sun, unless you're going in the house, in which case, she's following you indoors. this past summer she learned to swim in the lake at the cottage, much to her mom and dad's amusement! (she's also something of a frady-dog so we were shocked when she took to the water. congrats penny!)
on our trip, we found nala, a beautiful brown tabby with the most lovely personality i've ever seen in a cat. she snuggles with us when we're sitting, follows us around when we're cooking or doing various things around our place, and sleeps at the tops of our heads (always distributing time between both of us equally - she's rather considerate). she's helped make our apartment a home. she even helps me (un)write my blog by pushing down keys and closing programs for me. makes me a tad less productive, but it's well worth it. isn't she cute?!so folks, there you have it. animals are amazing, but make sure they come from responsible places, and rescue animals whenever possible. good karma and good friends are found at shelters, just ask nala and her very proud parents :)
sometimes there's no answer to the question "why?"
do you ever ask the question "why?"... it could be used in a longer question, like "why me?", "why did this happen?", or just a really long "whyyyyyy?" when things just don't make sense and you have no other words. i was asking that a lot last night after a challenging family situation. then i tried to recall the things i've learned about asking that question and started feeling better. now i'm passing that on to you. i hope it's helpful.
first off, here's some more good advice from mom: "sometimes there's no answer to the question why."
...sometimes, stuff just happens. sometimes, stuff just doesn't make sense. sometimes, bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people, and the world keeps getting screwed up in a variety of ways that don't have an explanation for the question "why?"
an aside: moms always know what's up, even if you don't always like it (this is assuming you have a good mom... if you're mom's a wacko, maybe ask an aunt instead. in my case, my mom's a pretty great resource). heed their advice whenever possible. it saves loads of your time because you're learning from their experiences.
a few ways to find peace with that in a book-wormy kinda way:
- read "the power of now" and "a new earth" by eckhart tolle
- read "the 4 agreements" by don miguel ruiz
those are 3 books i absolutely LOVE and found really inspiring when going through anything that seemed to make no sense and was eating away at me (not literally, in case you were wondering) or when i needed to help put myself in perspective.
another piece of advice from yours truly: if you feel like things are overwhelming or too challenging to deal with, think about where you are in the universe.
- look up at the sky and think of the grandeur of our entire universe.
- then think about how truly little each and every one of us is. vital to the whole, yes. (and yes, i believe each and every one of us matters.) but perhaps just try and think about how you're problems probably aren't the biggest issue in the vastness of the universe. your problems are your own in your life, and you can't let them rule your life, just as the universe can't dwell on the vast issues it's constantly dealing with. the universe evolves and rolls with the punches, and you can too.
- once you put yourself in perspective you'll find it easier to move on. go for a walk, even if it's raining. or do yoga. or do something else that's physically active. endorphins are a good friend when you're feeling bummed.
now... cheer up, buttercup ;)
first off, here's some more good advice from mom: "sometimes there's no answer to the question why."
...sometimes, stuff just happens. sometimes, stuff just doesn't make sense. sometimes, bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people, and the world keeps getting screwed up in a variety of ways that don't have an explanation for the question "why?"
an aside: moms always know what's up, even if you don't always like it (this is assuming you have a good mom... if you're mom's a wacko, maybe ask an aunt instead. in my case, my mom's a pretty great resource). heed their advice whenever possible. it saves loads of your time because you're learning from their experiences.
a few ways to find peace with that in a book-wormy kinda way:
- read "the power of now" and "a new earth" by eckhart tolle
- read "the 4 agreements" by don miguel ruiz
those are 3 books i absolutely LOVE and found really inspiring when going through anything that seemed to make no sense and was eating away at me (not literally, in case you were wondering) or when i needed to help put myself in perspective.
another piece of advice from yours truly: if you feel like things are overwhelming or too challenging to deal with, think about where you are in the universe.
- look up at the sky and think of the grandeur of our entire universe.
- then think about how truly little each and every one of us is. vital to the whole, yes. (and yes, i believe each and every one of us matters.) but perhaps just try and think about how you're problems probably aren't the biggest issue in the vastness of the universe. your problems are your own in your life, and you can't let them rule your life, just as the universe can't dwell on the vast issues it's constantly dealing with. the universe evolves and rolls with the punches, and you can too.
- once you put yourself in perspective you'll find it easier to move on. go for a walk, even if it's raining. or do yoga. or do something else that's physically active. endorphins are a good friend when you're feeling bummed.
now... cheer up, buttercup ;)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
attention, people of earth. the cheez has spoken.
my friend megan, who often jokes that her last name is "cheez" because it's often mispronounced, led me to a very moving documentary that's really got me shaken me up.i just finished watching the documentary "earthlings"... oh wow. what an eye-opener. if you watched "food, inc" like i suggested in my article about 2 sources that helped me go veg, definitely watch "earthlings" now. "food, inc" is a better starter movie as it's a bit less graphic than "earthlings," so start there if you need some inspiration to lose meat from your diet (and wardrobe). (and if you've only watched "food, inc" you're probably really weirded out and curious now about this new suggested watch. yes, it gets worse. sooo much worse.)
i think the key message to take away from the scary shots of animals being mistreated in some of the scariest ways i can think of in the film is this: we are all inhabitants of the earth. animals, no matter cold blooded or hot, on land or sea, we are all here. we are all experiencing life from day to day and understanding it to the greatest capacity by which we are able. none is superior to another. we don't know why we're here, really. we can only get through our life living to a moral code that's been instilled in us by our surrounding influences and our gut... if we apply this idea to people, the mistreatment of animals is a lot like racism. making one superior over an inferior due to colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and indeed, species too, is a toxic behaviour and point of view. until we have harmony with the living things of the planet, we cannot have harmony in the world as a whole.
ready to jump on the veggie bandwagon yet? if not, watch "food, inc," then "earthlings"... if you aren't compelled to make a change, you didn't watch it. honestly. you couldn't have.
please remember, i'm not telling you what to do, but i am saying that good conscience will when you tune in. it's an ugly truth. even the most misinformed person with half a brain should have something hit their gut to tell them "this just isn't ok." and again, i promise you'll still get to eat yummy food, so please take that argument off the table. literally.
let's work toward a better truth together, shall we?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
lebanese salad dressing
fattoush (aka lebanese salad) is my absolute FAVOURITE salad. i finally have my own version of the deliciously amazing dressing that goes on top, making the salad the yummy perfection it is. no need for those yucky store-bought dressings loaded with bad oils, preservatives, and synthetic flavour. this dressing takes no time at all and makes enough to dress a large salad for about 4 people.
the salad is a bed of romaine lettuce and basically any veggies you like. often you'll find cucumber, cauliflower, radish, onion, and carrots in this salad, but make it into the garden salad of your dreams and top with this dressing. for the finishing touch, throw a pita bread into the oven to crisp up. 350F for about 5 mins should do it, but keep a close eye because it can go from perfect to fire-alarm burnt almost instantly (just ask john, he's the master of burning bread in the oven;) )
Lebanese Dressing
ingredients:
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons worth of juice if you don't feel like measuring.)
an aside: please don't use the fake lemon stuff. if it isn't right out of a lemon, it doesn't taste the same, nor is it very good for you. i'll give you the dollar if it's that much of a hassle.
3 tbsp hemp oil
2 tbsp honey
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp mint
1 tbsp ground sumac
another aside: ground sumac was a pain to find. the grocery store didn't have it. the health food store didn't have it. we finally found some at the local farmer's market, at a stand that sells spices. go the extra mile here to find sumac, it's what makes the dressing special.
supplies:
- measuring cups
- bowl for mixing
- whisk or fork for mixing
- cutting board and knife
- container to store dressing
step by step:
combine all ingredients and refrigerate until use. you can either toss the salad veggies in the dressing, or put it in a decorative container for individual dressing at the table.
fyi: if it looks like you've got more spices than dressing base (as is sometimes the case when using fresh herbs), add some more lemon juice and hemp oil. make sure you taste-test it before serving in case it needs anything else. if you feel like it's missing something initially, try adding a bit of salt (or herbamare) and pepper and see if that does the trick. failing that, play with the spices you've used and add a bit more of the things you like best. homemade dressings are supposed to be crafted to suit your taste buds, so taste-test first to ensure a satisfying salad!
the salad is a bed of romaine lettuce and basically any veggies you like. often you'll find cucumber, cauliflower, radish, onion, and carrots in this salad, but make it into the garden salad of your dreams and top with this dressing. for the finishing touch, throw a pita bread into the oven to crisp up. 350F for about 5 mins should do it, but keep a close eye because it can go from perfect to fire-alarm burnt almost instantly (just ask john, he's the master of burning bread in the oven;) )
Lebanese Dressing
ingredients:
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons worth of juice if you don't feel like measuring.)
an aside: please don't use the fake lemon stuff. if it isn't right out of a lemon, it doesn't taste the same, nor is it very good for you. i'll give you the dollar if it's that much of a hassle.
3 tbsp hemp oil
2 tbsp honey
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp mint
1 tbsp ground sumac
another aside: ground sumac was a pain to find. the grocery store didn't have it. the health food store didn't have it. we finally found some at the local farmer's market, at a stand that sells spices. go the extra mile here to find sumac, it's what makes the dressing special.
supplies:
- measuring cups
- bowl for mixing
- whisk or fork for mixing
- cutting board and knife
- container to store dressing
step by step:
combine all ingredients and refrigerate until use. you can either toss the salad veggies in the dressing, or put it in a decorative container for individual dressing at the table.
fyi: if it looks like you've got more spices than dressing base (as is sometimes the case when using fresh herbs), add some more lemon juice and hemp oil. make sure you taste-test it before serving in case it needs anything else. if you feel like it's missing something initially, try adding a bit of salt (or herbamare) and pepper and see if that does the trick. failing that, play with the spices you've used and add a bit more of the things you like best. homemade dressings are supposed to be crafted to suit your taste buds, so taste-test first to ensure a satisfying salad!
mom was right about proof-reading
a little goof-up on cupcakes today... i was working on carrot-cake cupcakes, but halfway through i figured out i had actually been making gingerbread cupcakes. you'd think that would be difficult to mix up, but somehow i managed to do it.
the result? well, i made 2 batches (naturally. i couldn't NOT not make carrot-cake cupcakes even though i goofed!). now i have 2 dozen cupcakes in my already over crowded fridge. so kids, always re-read. it doesn't matter if it's a school paper, a diary entry, or a batch of cupcakes... it's sort of like measure twice, cut once. get my drift? at least this time it was a delicious mistake! (unlike when i was in first year university and missed 1/4 of my exam because i neglected to turn the last page over and read those questions. that was worse. (obviously).
the result? well, i made 2 batches (naturally. i couldn't NOT not make carrot-cake cupcakes even though i goofed!). now i have 2 dozen cupcakes in my already over crowded fridge. so kids, always re-read. it doesn't matter if it's a school paper, a diary entry, or a batch of cupcakes... it's sort of like measure twice, cut once. get my drift? at least this time it was a delicious mistake! (unlike when i was in first year university and missed 1/4 of my exam because i neglected to turn the last page over and read those questions. that was worse. (obviously).
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