Curry Hummus with Raisins

I hope you are all out enjoying the last moments of summer!  It feels like summer just started in our neck of the woods – the weather has been beautiful for the last couple of weeks, so I know I’ll be sad to see summer go.

So you know my love for all things hummus.

Artichoke hummus was definitely a fan favourite!  It’s my 2nd most viewed post with over 2600 views!

Then there was dessert hummus – which was oh so tasty!  I wish that I could say the recipe was mine, but it’s not… there is a link to the recipe though!

And the reason I love hummus?  I use hummus as the base to my pizzas (rather than using fake cheese!)

This recipe was given to me by a friend – after I ate about 1/2 of what she brought and most of her carrots too! (Carrots work perfectly as the vessel to get the hummus from plate to mouth!)

Curry Hummus with Raisins

2 cups cooked chickpeas (1 can)
3 tbsp lemon juice (I used a mixture of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar)

2 tbsp cashew butter  ( I used 3 TBSP cashews)
1 med clove garlic (I used more)
2 tbsp evoo
2 tsp curry
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground tumeric
1 TBSP agave nectar
Ground black pepper to taste
4-5tbsp water
2-3 tbsp raisins

Puree everything except currants. Use spatula to clean down the sides. Check flavour and adjust then add raisins and puree briefly to incorporate.

Season with salt and additional pepper and lemon juice if desired.

It is paired perfect with carrots!  I love the flavours together.  It also really reminds me of a curried mayo, so it would be great with sweet potatoes, or as a salad spread.

Thanks Yvonne for this awesome recipe!  It is my new favourite hummus recipe!  (by a landslide) I love the sweetness of the agave, with the spice of the curry and then the texture of the raisins –total winner in my books!

“Pause”

Hello!!

So remember when I talked about “Stepping out of my Comfort Zone”?

Here are the fruits of our labour!

I would REALLY REALLY appreciate your votes – every vote counts and you can vote from any device you have that connects to the internet!! (Computers, phones, iPads etc…)

Watch OUR PAUSE VIDEO here! 

Here are a few photos from our shoot!

Please cast your vote for us!!  

We just need to get into the top 10 to be viewed by Beto and Pitbull!

You can vote HERE!!

Feel free to share with everyone you know!!

Dairy Free Survival Guide

So I apologize for my lack of posting lately.  As mentioned before – life get’s SO busy sometimes!

I did think it would be a great idea to make up a Dairy Free Survival Guide of sorts. 

These are all my suggestions – with the help of some of my facebook crew.  I didn’t get anything for these suggestions – it’s just what I have enjoyed over the past few years of being dairy free.

(I apologize if I missed your name the the suggestions, there were an overwhelming amount of them – please see facebook for the feed back!)

 

Milk Substitute

<source>

Almond Milk (Almond Breeze, unsweetened vanilla is my favourite)  or homemade (super easy)!

 

Butter/Margarine

<source>

 Earth Balance (Michelle and Brooke are with me on this one!)  I’ve used this in baking, mashed potatoes, on corn etc. and it’s awesome! There is a soy free version too!

 

Caramel (one of the things I miss the most) The closes to caramel I can do?   tahini and maple syrup

Sour Cream – cashew cream (was never a huge fan before) Sheena suggests Tofutti Better than Sour Cream

Cream Cheese

<source> Tofutti Better than Cream Cheese is awesome – dare I say better than real cream cheese?  (Sheena agrees) Sonia also suggested a tofu ricotta – here’s how she makes it. “Just crush up firm tofu with my hands (after draining it), and add some lemon juice, nooch, and italian spices + salt!”

 

Meltable “cheese”

I don’t enjoy any of the cheeses I have found so far, but  Brooke, Michelle, Char, Jesse and Sheena vote Daiya

 

Creamy Alfredo like pasta sauce

Donna and I both agree Raw Rose’s is awesome.

 

Cheesey product – Nooch also known as Nutritional Yeast – I use the Red Star Brand.

 

Yougert – homemade or soyourgut  - Michelle suggests So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt – which I have yet to see!! (I hope it comes this way soon!)

 

Ice Cream

So Good Butter Scotch Ripple 

AND

So Delicious Coconut Milk Cookie Dough-both are to DIE for… Steph totally agrees with this one!

 

Mac and Cheese Recipe – There are a few versions out there – I’ve personally tried this one and this one…

 

Buttermilk – dairy free milk of choice – 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice per 1 cup mik.

 

Creamer – coconut milk (I don’t really drink coffee, so I’m not sure on this one) and Emma suggests SOY NICE she said it’s the closest to half and half.

 

Chocolate Bar – Jokerz, Endangered Species  72% (I know Kris is with me),  Char also suggested the rice milk chocolate bars – which I loved until I found Endangered species!

Brooke and Michelle also voted for the Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips! I’ve never tried them!!

Pizza

Since I haven’t found a cheese that I enjoy – I find the best way to make a satisfying pizza is to use HUMMUS as the base!! – then no cheese is needed!! My favourite hummus is Sabre!

Something I didn’t realize was dairy free but am happy it is – for a random treat (really good crumbled in so good vanilla ice cream)

 

Oreo Cookies – they are not only dairy free – but VEGAN! (Yay Alyssa think they are great too!)

 

Now of course this list isn’t exhaustive and I may have missed a few things – if so please leave a comment here or on facebook! 

I know being dairy free can be a real challenge – so if you ever need any suggestions or tips, feel free to post on my facebook wall or leave a message with your email!  

I have also done a list of dairy free bloggers that I know of – you can find that here!

 

Good luck – and I’d love to hear if I have missed anything, or if you have favourites that I missed!!

Stepping Out of my Comfort Zone

Wow… blog land is QUIET!!   Is there anyone out there?

*Edit* I am having a hard time posting, I keep getting error messages…  This is my 12th time trying to post this – I hope it works!

So as you know I am working at a fitness studio!! I snapped a few photos of it the other day!

On this picture there is our fitness studio name across the back wall – but I like to keep things a LITTLE bit anonymous!

It’s just small right now – but there are over 15 classes per week, and we have over 250 members!   Once September hits, we will have 20-25 classes per week, this place will be rocking!

Anyways, if you follow the Zumba page – you’ll know that they have a competition going on right now for the best “Pause” video!

Here’s the song if you don’t know it!

So the group of ladies that work at the studio are going to be doing this video tonight!

I will be sure to share it with you because I’ll need your votes!  It’s going to be a bit cheesy, but I think it will be lots of fun and hopefully we will WIN!!!!!!!  

That’s all I have for today!! I haven’t been cooking much – a lot of hummus eating has been going down in this house!!  But I will soon – I’ve got some good things in mind!

Love love love you all!

Ps.  I saw this the other day here and thought it was sooo cute and funny!!

Tis true!!

What I love about summer!

Depending on where you live, you know what I’m talking about when I say It’s SO nice to finally have summer!  Our July felt like Fall – but since August hit, it’s been gorgeous!

I thought it would be fun to do a post about the things I love about summer!

Of course the BEACH – specifically white sandy ones!!

IT’s still too cold to swim here though!

Up next ICE CREAM!

(made with coconut milk sooooooooooooooooo good!)

 

Garden goodies of course!

SALAD!! Lots of salads!

This one has a lettuce mix, cucumbers, peas, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, blue berries and pumpkin seeds.

Sushi salad that I got from a little cafe – it wasn’t tasty at all though – but it was pretty!

Lemonade!!: ) 

Cute outfits!

 

Of course if you have been around my blog summer for me = kebabs!!  Brownie/Fruit ones and Red Thai Curry.

Starbucks on the patio!

Of course there is much more – but these are a few of my favorites!!

How about you – what do you love about summer??

Perfect Garlic

Hopefully all the foodies reading this will understand my craziness! 

                                    I     FOUND   THE   MOST  PERFECT  GARLIC!  haha

Seriously, look at it?

It is perfection.

And I did a whole photo shoot with it!

I don’t even care if people think I’m crazy – it’s perfect and I find that beautiful!!

What do you think?  Am I crazy – or do you get it?!  haha

 

Garlic is a tasty addition to most recipes!  Here are a few that have caught my eye lately!

Here are a few that I have that I really want to try asap!!

Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic Falafel from Manifest Vegan

Coconut Crusted Fish with Garlic Lime Dressing

Baked Garlic Potato Wedges

Chilli and Prawn Linguini

What is your favourite garlic recipe!

Have a great day guys!  It’s ALMOST Friday!!

Fruit and Brownie Kebabs

Helloooooooo – long time no talk!!  I’ve been a busy bee!

I have an awesome easy take to a BBQ dessert for you today! 

Fruit + Brownies = perfect BBQ/shower treat!!

Fruit and Brownie Kebabs

10 kebab sticks

4 bananas

20 strawberries

1/2 fresh pineapple

10 mint leaves

Lemon juice

Brownies

For chocolate drizzle

1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips

1 tsp coconut oil/

First off you need to make some brownies (because I’ve been so busy, I used a bought brownie mix (many of them are dairy free if you look at the ingredients), if you want to make your own here are two different recipes!   Make sure brownies are completely cooled (I popped mine into the freezer).

Slice up strawberries, pineapple and bananas.  Toss in lemon juice

Cut brownies into 1 inch x 1 inch cubes (you need 20 in total)

Start assembling kebabs – each one should fit 2 pieces of each fruit, 2 brownies and one mint leaf! Arrange however you want!

For the drizzle – melt chocolate chips in a double boiler – add in coconut oil to make it easier to drizzle.

My brownies didn’t work out so well, so they weren’t perfect little squares.

Everyone really enjoyed them – especially the kids!  It’s a nice light dessert for a hot night!

_________________________________________

So I’ve noticed that the walking challenge has kind of died down… Today is the half way point!

If you have been walking – make sure to update your totals!  I know it’s hard in the summer time, but keep it coming!!  

__________________________________________

Hope you are having a great week!!   Hard to believe it’s already Wednesday!!

Childhood Food!

Do you have a food that reminds you of your childhood?

Mine is totally eggs in a hole!!

My dad used to make it, and would slather one side with honey!! Mmmmm honey!!

If you haven’t made it before there are instructions here! 

Served with some soy yogurt, blueberries and granola!

Awesome breakfast!!

What’s your favourite childhood food memory?

Enjoy your weekend!!

Puppy Love

Everyone must be out and about having summer fun – the blog has been a quiet place lately – that being said I’m still here and still writing!

I was so excited – I’ve started eating goodies out of my garden!!  The peas and cucumber is ready!! (As well as the zucchini – although I didn’t have any in this meal).

Loved this snack plate for lunch – garden peas and cucumber,  cherry tomatoes, blueberries, wasa crackers and some almond/cashew cheese!  So yum!

Garden cucumbers are such a tasty delight!  This is the first year that my cucumber has actually grown – every year my cucumber rots before it grows bit!  I was so excited!!

_______________________________________________________

As mentioned above – my zucchini has taken off too – I have pulled off two 1 foot long zucchinis in the last week – and there are about 8 more to go!!

Grilled zucchini is the best! It’s sooo sweet!

Served with marinated pork and sautéed kale with sunflower seeds!

Isn’t this kale gorgeous too?   I got it at the farmers market – it’s such a deep purple and green!

I Kale!

 

And now to finish off the back yard photos!  These dogs are just too cute!

For anyone new to my blog – the smaller dog is from next door and they have dug a hole under the fence to be able to play.  The are absolute best buddies.  They pretty much do everything together.

Enjoy your day today and I’ll leave you with an awesome quote I found while reading yesterday from one of my favourite authors – Sark – it’s on Making More Alive Choices…

~ When considering choices in your life, the “Most Alive Choice” feels like a bit of a risk, makes you giggle, or makes the hairs at the back of your neck stand up!!