When my heartmate and I first moved to Toronto five years ago, everyone told us we wouldn’t need a car as we would be living in the core of the city, and as such, would be able to walk anywhere we needed to go. So the time came where packed up all our belongings in Montreal, we sold our car, hired movers... and 2 plane tickets later we were living in a new city, (the big city), in our condo waiting for our belongings to arrive. ...
Food
Warm & Toasted Homemade Cinnamon Spiced Granola (V, GF)
Sooooo, I know I’m completely off-season with this recipe because the flavours and profile just scream winter comfort food, BUT, I try not to think of homemade granola as a seasonal snack because it is literally one of my biggest weaknesses. And I embarrassingly consume it in amounts that stretch far beyond a normal portion size. But yolo. Many of you know, I’m sure, that my weakness is for foods that are both crunchy and savoury (i.e., I can make a bag of chips disappear in two seconds flat). ...
Vanilla-Orange Gluten Free Donuts | Easy Vegan Recipe
Sometimes you just wanna take a bite out of a warm, glazed doughnut. Ahhh, yum! A little indulgence from time to time, right? In moderation of course! The tough part about picking up doughnuts at coffee shops or dessert places is that it isn’t always easy to find “healthier” options. Gluten-free, vegan, allergen-free… Sometimes it can be a challenge. These doughnuts are both vegan and gluten-free, and I challenged myself to keep the sugar to a minimum. Half a cup of sugar for 12-13 ...
No Longer Vegan | What It’s Been Like
Let me start this off by saying, I’ve been trying to write this post for months now. Every time I’d sit down to try and gather my thoughts, I’d pick up literally anything around me to distract myself. My phone, a snack, my notepad… literally anything. I would realize that I had laundry to do, or dishes to clean... And before I knew it, the time I’d set aside to write this post was up, and I was on to the next thing. In hindsight, it’s clear to me that I was avoiding writing it because I ...
Eggplant Bolognese | The First Mess Cookbook Recipe [Vegan]
Last week my heartmate and I had a moment where we really (really) started to feel the brutal cold of the winter months. The temperatures had dropped below -20, the snow in our backyard was piling high, and our pup's desire to run out and chase the squirrels away in the mornings had run dry. Poor thing shivers even on the mildest of days. Despite the rain and slush that occurs this time of year, I love winter. Mostly because of comforting hearty recipes! ...
Avocados from Mexico & the True Benefits of Plant-Based Fats
There are a number of people I know who equate the colder months of the year to "bulking season”. Whether or not the connection between the two is made intentionally, it is in fact, fact! I’ve read studies from Cornell and the Daily Mail UK that show men and women in North America and the UK tend to gain anywhere between 1.3 - 4.5 lbs during the winter season. Is it genetics? Or maybe our subconscious telling us to put on more weight to store for the winter? I can’t tell you that, but I do ...
10-Minute Chickpea Chilli Sin Carne Recipe (V, GF)
From previous blog posts and YouTube videos I’ve shared, I think it comes as no surprise to anyone that I. Love. Comfort food! And chilli is no exception! A traditional chilli uses ingredients like ground beef, kidney beans, beef broth, etc. But a key ingredient to any chilli recipe is good quality, finely chopped tomatoes. Recently Mutti Canada approached me to create a unique recipe featuring their Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes (Polpa). The catch, however, was to use five ingredients or ...
Three Holiday Entertaining Ideas for the Health Conscious Friends This Season
On the side of one of our kitchen cabinets is a sort of makeshift “chalkboard wall” if you will, that my heartmate and I built when we moved into our home earlier this year. We jot down some important information like “don’t forget to pay this bill by that date” or “organics disposals on Wednesday”. And, every so often with four tiny cuts of scotch tape, we hang up printable monthly calendars for the next upcoming months. This time, November & December. Oh boy. Holiday season is here, ...
Bridging the Gap Between Fine Dining + Sustainability | With Aeroplan
Last week I attended a dinner #WithAeroplan, whereby Aeroplan’s Diamond Status members were shown appreciation with an invite-only, exclusive access, four-course dinner in an unparalleled setting at Toronto’s Evergreen Brickworks. (Thank you again for having me, Aeroplan!) The evening featured passed hors-d’oeuvres, an open bar, long wedding-style harvest tables, and intimate vibes. String lights suspended above and an atmosphere conducive to great conversation. What more could ...