Whoops where has the time gone?!

Hello there!
I have gotten out of doing my regular posts since our kitchen renos - whoops! Also Kevin and I were away for a 3 night x-country ski getaway to Maplelag Resort in Callaway, Minnesota to ring in his 30th Birthday last week! 

Here are a few pics from the past week…

This Carrot Ginger Soup from my Joyous Health Cookbook was phenomenal and so easy!

Maplelag Resort! An amazing x-country ski getaway! They take care of all the meals and dishes you just have to show up! Days went like this….Wake up, Eat breakfast, Ski, Eat lunch, Ski, Afternoon relaxation including drinks and cards, Dinner, Drinks and relax in steam room and sauna, go to bed and repeat! Also we almost completed an 1000 piece puzzle while we were there. It was great to getaway for a few nights and relax! 

Kevin at the top of his favorite hill at the end of the Twin Lakes Trail

Bottomless cookie jars = trouble! 

We slept in a caboose!

My handsome hubby!

Beautiful winter decorations in the lodge

Entrance to the lodge

Fun on the trails!

I will hopefully be back to my regular posting this week. Have a great weekend!

Bye for now

Danielle

Week Recap & 11 Days without a sink

Oh hello there! Well what is my excuse for not posting since last Tuesday?

1) The Olympics distracted me
2) We have been installing our kitchen counter tops and I haven't had a sink for 11 days so I haven't been making any exciting food to share with you!

Most of the week consisted of counter top cutting, fitting, sanding, staining etc. Here is a little insight into how my kitchen looked this past week. I don't mind temporary chaos is our house because it means stuff is getting done! Everything from kitchen counter tops was on the dining room table.

Kevin doing dishes in our bathroom sink! Thank goodness we have a dishwasher as well!

Managed to soak up some sun with a x-country ski on the only warm day last week (+6)

All dinners last week were consumed on the couch, in front of the TV, while watching the Olympics!
I love the Olympics and cheering on all the athletes.  Sad it is over!

Waiting in line at Festival de Voyageur! Waited 3 hours in the freezing cold and still didn't get in to see Royal Canoe - oh well! We had fun times with friends.

Finished counter tops, new sink and faucet! 100% worth the wait.  My husband is one
hard working and talented man!

Danielle

This weeks food highlights - Week 7 & Lovers Day!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Currently our kitchen is ripped apart as we are installing new counter tops, sink and faucet.  I will hopefully have a kitchen sink again by tomorrow or Thursday! Safe to say I won't be making anything to exciting for food in the next few days as I am trying to minimize dishes. For now it is washing dishes in the bathroom sink (and the dishwasher!)  I am okay with living through this chaos in order to get things done around the house. I will post some kitchen progress pictures soon.

Here are the food highlights from this past week:

Top Left: Steak & Veggie Panini's with Tomato, Mozzarella Basil Salad Top Right: Moroccan Chicken & Chickpea Bowl with Goat Cheese (I adapted this recipe a bit…I used Quinoa instead of couscous and omitted the pistachios & dates Bottom Left: Almond Butter Cocoa Truffles (a very yummy snack to satisfy your sweet tooth :) Bottom Right: Veggie Burrito Bowl

3 Years ago on February 13th Kevin proposed to me in our living room! We have made it a tradition to celebrate what I like to call 'Lovers Day' every year on this day! Of course we try to celebrate our love everyday but it is fun to make a fancier dinner, drink a nice bottle of wine oh and dress up :) We took a couple pics to commemorate the occasion! 

February 13, 2014

February 13, 2014

February 13, 2011 (Picture taken in the same spot - our house has changed just a little bit…:) )

We enjoyed a delicious bottle of wine that I purchased while wine touring in Napa Valley, CA with my Mom and sister in November 

Steak with sautéed onions, garlic & mushrooms & Caesar Salad with homemade dressing and garlic croutons

Lovers Day Dessert - Full post to come on this soon

Danielle

5 Ingredient Healthy Granola Bars

Dates
Oats
Nut Butter
Honey or Maple Syrup or Agave
Almonds

5 ingredients, super simple, quick, healthy, delicious.

Perfect snack to store in your fridge or freezer and grab as your rush out the door!

Healthy 5 Ingredient Granola Bars - Recipe ℅ Minimalist Baker

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup packed dates, pitted (deglet nour or medjool)*
• 1/4 cup honey (or sub maple syrup or agave for vegan option)
• 1/4 cup creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter
• 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds, loosely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (gluten free for GF eaters)
• optional additions: chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a “dough” like consistency. (mine rolled into a ball)
2. Optional step: Toast your oats in a 350 degree oven for 15-ish minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw – I just prefer the toasted flavor.
3. Place oats, almonds and dates in a bowl – set aside.
4. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
5. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8×8 dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. (A loaf pan might work, but will yield thicker bars.)
6. Press down until uniformly flattened. Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let set in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes to harden.
7. Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn’t necessary.

NOTES

*If your dates don’t feel sticky and moist, soak them in water for 10 minutes then drain before processing. This will ultimately help hold the bars together better.

Danielle

This weeks food highlights - Week 6

This week started off with a delicious lunch at 'Boon Burger'!  Boon Burger has 2 locations in Winnipeg (Bannatyne Ave & Sherbrook St.).  They are a Vegan Burger restaurant with AMAZING food! I had lunch with two friends, one of whom is vegan and the food was absolutely amazing. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or neither the combination of flavours and fresh ingredients results in a very satisfying meal! We had a sample of the vegan chocolate coconut milk ice cream - OMG to die for!

The rest of the week at home included lots of experimentation in the kitchen. I made homemade granola bars (post on that to come soon!) and some yummy dinners.  I should add things are not always super healthy around here…. on Thursday we made hot wings with crumbled blue cheese and last night we went snowmobing with some friends and cooked smokies and grilled cheese on the wood stove at a warm up shack! My eating philosophy is to balance healthy meals and indulgent meals to satisfying all my food cravings ;)

Top Left: Chili Fried Butternut Squash Tacos with Mango Pineapple Salsa Top Right: Mango Pineapple Salsa! (I used canned pineapple and frozen mangos - added an amazing fresh tropical flavour to the tacos!
Bottom Left: Sweet Potato Coconut Curry Soup - if this sounds at all appealing to you then MAKE IT - super simple - came together in 30-45 minutes and was so delicious! Bottom Right: Boon Burger lunch - Pictured was the daily Special - Surf & Turf Burger and House Salad

HOMEMADE PIZZA!! We had our friends Derek and Ashleyy out on Saturday night and we collaborated to make 4 delicious pizzas! Top Left: Pesto, Sundried tomatoes, onion, goat cheese topped with fresh arugula and balsamic glaze Top Right:  Roasted Veggies, Prosciutto, Mozzarella & Parmesan Bottom Left: Roasted Veggies, Prosciutto, Spicy Prosciutto, Banana Peppers, Jalapeños, Cheddar & Parmesan Bottom Right: Roasted Veggies, Mozzarella, Fresh Basil  

Danielle

Healthy Limeade

Sometimes when it's -30 out and has been for weeks on end you just feel like something summery to lift your mood! What better way to do this then with a refreshing summery drink full of lime and fresh mint that will have you dreaming about beaches and the sun!

This recipe came from my new favorite cookbook 'Joyous Health'

Limeade with Fresh Mint

RECIPE

*Juice of 2 Limes

*3-5 Drops of liquid stevia (depending how sweet you like it) Or agave or honey

*2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint

*1 1/2 cups chilled filtered water

Combine all ingredients in a glass and enjoy! Quadruple the recipe if you want to make a jug.

Danielle

Random Wednesday

Hello and Happy Wednesday! 

Today I feel like posting some random things that are going on in my life or my friends lives that I'm excited about!

1. Royal Canoe has been nominated for a Juno award for Alternative Album of the Year! Way to go guys - well deserved!!

2. So excited for the 2014 Winter Olympics! Cannot wait to watch Megan Imrie race her heart out and represent Canada and our community of Falcon Lake. Go Megan and all Canadian athletes!

3. CBC's Q coming to Winnipeg on March 27th! Attending a live taping of my favorite radio program has been on my 'Life List' for a while now! I know I know what 26 year old wishes to attend a live taping of a radio show? I'm a nerd and I love Jian Ghomeshi.

4. Girls… Does any one else watch the HBO show girls? I was really into it for a while but the latest episodes have been boring and annoying to me. Hannah is starting to really bother me! Anyway I will likely continue watching in case it gets better… Downton Abbey on the other hand..oh my goodness! Love that show and will never get sick of it.

5. My dog is 5 today! I can't believe Kona is 5 already. Here are some cute pictures of when he was a wee little puppy.

Kona's 1st Birthday - Yes we bought birthday hats

The day we picked him out at the farm

6. I'm trying to read more books this year! I've already finished two. 'The Help' and 'Half Blood Blues'. I am going to read all 5 of this years Canada Reads books along with my sister and Mom.

7. New Workout - I have started a new workout and am loving it! It's called T 25 and it is 5 days a week, 25 minutes per day of intense workout using just your own body weight (you advance to using weights after 5 weeks).  I am feeling so great - a lot stronger and more toned already and I'm only half way through week 3 of the 10 week program! I have been doing it every morning with my friend Sharon - it's great to have a workout buddy that you are accountable to.

8. I'm going to be an Auntie in less then 4 months!! I am sooo excited :)

Okay I'm off to clean my house and bake now! 

Danielle