Mornings Are Peachy

Ever since I was younger and mum would leave for work in the morning during summer, leaving me to sleep through the sounds of the car pulling out the drive, and her sneaking in through the door to leave me beside a steaming mug of tea she brought down, I've always loved the morning. In the summer, when I wake up to a gentle breeze flowing through the open doors, and the sun has already warmed my favourite place at the kitchen counter, it's the best time to sit and to enjoy those quiet, precious moments to myself. Outside, neighbours softly pound at broken fences, or rake up the quickly falling blanket of leaves as August heightens and the strong sun with no rain to break it up browns the leaves before they fall from the trees. In the morning, there is only the sound of the radio coming from a top the microwave, or before I've fed the dog, I can hear her paws pattering along the floor as she skips along beside my feet, and curiously detects whether I'm heading to her food bowl. She too loves the morning, it means food, and it means playing outside. To me, morning is the time before I have to get up and start packing, before Tilly gets too anxious for a walk, happy with a play and her bowl, and it's an hour, or two, before I have to think past anything more than a nourishing breakfast, and keeping hold of this cup of tea whilst turning the pages of my book.

Usually, I take my time choosing a rainbow of fruits to go with my cereal, or decide the best variation of nuts and seeds to top. Unlike when I was at camp this summer, where the cafeteria decided our plates, and being gluten free left me little option of waffles and bagels there, here I have an entire carton of eggs to play with, the spice cabinets full, a vegetable and fruit drawer to choose from, and I can't forget the cupboard where we keep our cereals and nuts. To me, breakfast has the most freedom. If you like sweet, you can have sweet. And if you're in the mood for savoury, toast, eggs, vegetables, potatoes, all give limitless variations.

Time, to me, also seems to stretch out, and I have that freedom in the bubble of before I think its the day, before the clock endlessly chimes out 12. 

Peach and Oat Smoothie

{print me here}

Here's the smoothie that got me ready before a big day of packing, before I really have to make the final push of packing boxes for our moving date next weekend. With a bowl of peaches on the counter, I've been enjoying them in all ways, salads, sliced with a drizzle of raw honey, or as part of breakfast, and especially in this delicious smoothie. As the main ingredient, peaches add flavour, while banana adds a bit of sweetness as well as texture. There's also nothing better than oats in a smoothie, with tons of fibre, manganese, and absorbing powers too. I've also added chia seeds for a morning boost, and because they absorb moisture to thicken it up. 

Sweet, with a slightly tart kick, but thick and creamy, this is the smoothie for a satisfying breakfast, brunch or late night bash. Peachy!

{serves 1}

{Ingredients:}

1 fresh peach

1 frozen banana

2 tablespoons gluten free oats

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/4 cup natural almond milk

1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey

{Directions:}

Combine ingredients in a blender, and allow the ingredients to sit for 5 minutes to give the oats and chia seeds time to absorb some of the almond milk. This will help to give your smoothie a creamy consistency, the wait is worth it!

Then blend until completely smooth, allowing the blender to run until there aren't any lumps left. For a thicker smoothie, add more banana, or add more almond milk to thin it out. 

Serve in a tall glass and sprinkle with more chia seeds or sweeten further with a drizzle of maple syrup.

Enjoy! xx S

Finding Figs for Breakfast

I'm not sure what started my obsession with figs, whether it was realizing their sweet flavour and contrasting pink insides to the dark unrevealing skin, or the difficulty I've had finding them (making them all the more appealing) among groceries and market stalls. Nonetheless, I've finally found my figs, and have been chopping and slicing them, or biting into them just on the occasion of opening the fridge door, because they're so undeniable delicious, with everything.

Monday afternoon, while my sister was at work, her friends who had come down from Kingston for Osheaga had also stayed the night and had plans of exploring Old Port of Montreal. As I was already up, making a smoothie for breakfast with lots of the berries still in the fridge, I decided to go with them, and to see a little more of the city. 

We walked around the cobbled streets, poked in and out of shop windows, and pulled our sunglasses on and off the tips of our heads as shade and sunlight battled for space along every road. Families and couples rented out bicycle cars along the river, and raced around each other, among pedestrians and obstacles as well, as they both fought for the record speed. There were a lot of people also stopping for lunch in the square, a beautiful open space to the city where small trees grew up, and a fresh juice and smoothie hut had staked out the flow of thirsty people who milled about in the centre. 

After a refreshment of real lemonade, we continued down the square, and down a small alley filled with artist stalls and more people who danced around one another, eyes locked on the prize of a delicately entwined necklace, or a two for one deal on prints of the city's oldest buildings.

It wasn't until we had made our way back through the bustle of people, back onto the metro, and reemerged into daylight in the French part of the city, that we made it to the market. Known as one of the largest in Montreal, I was pretty excited to wander around, and hopefully find some figs to take back home with me. Stalls of fresh fruits and vegetables went aisle after aisle, colours contrasting against each other, and only broken by a stall which sold jars of honey and maple syrup. The larger stands, dominating the middle aisles that ran through the entire market, had plates of the fresh fruit chopped up for samples, but placed above the stands to avoid the pesky fingers of kids who would have happily grabbed handfuls of the sweet and juicy treats, I had to careful balance on my toes and reach to grab a slice of pear, or ripened nectarine from the platters. 

Finally, tucked away in a side aisle of the market, a young girl who spoke mostly French, sold baskets of deep purple figs, soft to the touch, and most definitely ripe.

Beside them, cherries of two types, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and grapes, and caught in the moment of innocent bliss, I almost bought two baskets thinking of how many dishes I could make with my fresh figs, and how many more smoothies I'd have a chance to try with a new ingredient. Even with the one basket of figs, I happily walked around the rest of the market with them tucked under my arm, drumming out smoothie ideas, pizza toppings, or simply dreaming of the taste of fresh figs.

So this morning, after my sister had left for work, I took to the kitchen in my pyjamas, and immediately began with the figs from the fridge. From there, a slice of gluten free bread slightly toasted with a spread of peanut butter, topped with slices of fig and more berries, and finally, a drizzle of honey. 

Tucked back up in bed, I snuggled up in blankets with my breakfast plate. 

With a little craving for something sweet, I also had a slice of yesterday's gluten free banana bread {recipe and post here} topped with natural yoghurt. It was a fruity and colourful breakfast, and with a warm mug filled with a maple ginger tea latte {oops! recipe dropping}, I was completely in bliss, and so happy to have the time this summer to spend long mornings without distractions, without television or computers if I choose, and to just enjoy the things around me as if being experienced new. It's amazing how structure and order, planned activities all day and everyday with rules, can be so exhausting once you come home to familiarity and comfort. Spending five weeks away from home is not long, I know, but it was definitely something I needed to do before going off to university when the time is longer, and there is likely more to get used to. With this program, at least the activities were designed to keep us from thinking too much of being away from home, especially for those who had never spent even a week away. However, as I sit here now beside a delicious breakfast and mug of homemade tea, I also realize the importance of appreciating every moment and everything that is familiar, because there won't always be time to come back and enjoy something afterwards.

Fig and Pear Smoothie

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With the soft sweetness of pear, this fruit is the perfect pair (no pun intended) with figs, which have a deliciously natural and sweet flavour that will be complemented perfectly in this blend of fruits. 

Smoothies are perfect for busy mornings, slow mornings, afternoon or bedtime snacks. I love dressing them up by adding natural yoghurt on top, and more whole berries, plus, it feels like a delicious dessert when eaten with a spoon! The yoghurt can also be blended into the smoothie for a creamier texture, or as an easy way to save time during a busy rush. 

{serves 1}

{Ingredients:}

5 - 6 whole black figs, chopped roughly

1 ripe pear, save 1/4 for topping

Large handful fresh baby spinach

4 - 5 strawberries, roughly chopped 

1/4 cup natural yoghurt 

Spoonful of slivered almond and fresh blueberries to serve 

{Directions:}

In a blender, layer figs, 3/4 of the pear, strawberries, and baby spinach leaves. Blend on high until smooth. 

Pour smoothie into a large glass, and top with natural yoghurt. 

Cut the last 1/4 pear into thin slices, and layer on top, sprinkling with slivered almonds and blueberries. 

Bisous et bon appetit! xx S 

Summer Plans

I can't believe that there's less than two week until I'm off to Quebec for six weeks: four weeks in a French program where I'll be speaking French entirely, plus another week and a half spent in Montréal with my sister before coming home again. I'll be put on a plane to Quebec City, after a quick layover in Toronto (I'll definitely check out the restaurants with an iPad at each seat!), where I'll then make my way to Rivière-du-Loup by coach - among another 3,000 kids all traveling to similar programs across the eastern part of the country that day. Atleast I won't be alone!

I'm nervous, I'm excited, I'm thrilled to be travelling somewhere new (crazy that I've traveled to Europe so many times, but have never visited anywhere in Canada farther east than the Rockies!), and I'm also a little apprehensive that I might miss the final moments with my friends on Bowen, before they're off to university, and we're off in a moving van to Victoria in the fall.

With the sun shining consistantly these past few days, up before I wake up and already warming the house, and setting just as we finish dinner on the deck (rare for our usually rainy June), I'm inspired to get up from the sunny breakfast table and explore - outside, in the trees by my house, or along the beaches... or even farther... an adventure of sorts, and with it, a new experience.

I thought with plans of upcoming adventures, I'd check back to Moorea Seal's 52 List Project, and choose another to begin summer with. You can check {here} to see the last list I posted: My Greatest Comforts. Today, I wan't to write down all my goals for this summer, just before it officially begins in the calendar year this Friday (and the longest day of the year!)

It's important to me this summer that I don't miss out on special experiences, once in a lifetime

Read more »

May Showers Bring Back Tea Time

It's May still, isn't it? Yep, according to my calendar we're still right in the middle of it, but heading into a series of days clouded by heavy rainfall. Just when I thought summer was finally nearing, and we were pulling out shorts and tank tops from the backs of our dresser drawers. We had already enjoyed a couple of evenings sitting out on the deck, a plate of chicken burgers on the barbecue, and a salad with fresh fruit set on the table. I'd already started taking those days for granted, riding around the island in shorts and a tank top, flip flops hanging off my toes, on my little red and white scooter. Just hoping for a couple more days of sun, especially over this Mother's Day weekend, I bought a pair of shorts to hopefully get a new shade of tan on my legs - and just as I came out the shops the wind picked up in a fluid motion of clouds covering the sun as well.

I guess it's back to long pants, hot drinks, and big umbrellas stacked by the doors and covering the sidewalks where people should be. Remember shopping in the rain? Jumping into a coffee shop after dashing across the street to be welcomed by a throng of the ten or so other customers who had the same idea - a hot latte and the last of the gluten free baking (oh my goodness, one more scone, don't let that guy take... Okay the cookie looks good too), and just because it is such a rainy day all of a sudden, I'll take a newspaper to watch the people passing by hurried and soaking (I won't laugh, at least not out loud).

You know, I've always wanted to just spend time in a coffee shop, working away at something odd in particular, and people watching. We spent a lot of time on Main Street this week, mum and I went shopping for graduation dresses and popped by to check out a store that was closed, and instead grabbed a drink in one of the restaurants, pairing it with jumbo shrimp and potatoes to keep us going. There are some very interesting people around Main, all doing different things and with different styles - and he stores could keep me entertained for hours! 

So in our eagerness to dress shop again at this particular boutique, with dad in tow this time, we entered the store pulling dress after dress off the shelf - each one beautiful and almost perfect in its own way. I got attached to two, very different, and bounced back and forth between them both, trying them on repeatedly and slowly coming to a decision. If you've ever gone dress shopping, no matter the event, you'll know how much goes into finding the perfect one - with the perfect fit and style for both the occasion and you. We were lucky that the store quickly quieted after we came, giving me all the time I needed in the change room, and all the attention of the salesclerk who was so helpful. She helped me come to a decision with my sister as well, who dad had on the phone, and it was so special to have my whole family there while I chose my graduation dress. 

Anyone up for another round of shops... I'm looking for shoes. (However, I might give it a week for my paycheck to be cashed, and a bit of recuperation). 

I felt like a little girl, peeping in at the perfect dress while the shop was closed. I actually picked out the one I ended up getting today on a previous trip, but I suppose something wasn't quite right. We ended up going around other stores and trying on other dresses. However, I needed dad, and my sister, to be there to make the decision. Ha! I should be on one of those reality shows with the emotion and depth I'm describing this "escapade" with. Don't worry, it really didn't take all that long, and a big plate of Egg's Benedict afterwards refueled us all nicely. Shopping is tiring. Especially trying on dresses and walking around in circles in too-big high heels - you have to curl your toes just to keep them on, and let me tell you, they start to cramp up after a couple laps of the store!

Ginger Maple Tea Lattes

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To end a rainy day, a long day, or as you sit and watch the activities of other people dashing past rain covered shop windows, and need an alternative to coffee or tea, a ginger maple tea latte is just the rich and flavorful hot drink - refreshing and comforting, the perfect balance between the teeter-tottering of this weather. 

I love ginger maple tea lattes because of the sweetness and spice of two key ingredients: maple and fresh ginger. Although I use almond milk for this recipe, cow's milk, or other milk alternative would work perfectly. What a great replacement for your morning coffee!

{Serves 2}

Ingredients:

1 1/2 inch of fresh ginger root, grated or chopped 

3 tablespoons maple syrup 

1 cup almond milk

2 1/2 cups water 

Directions:

In a saucepan over high heat, bring ginger, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and water to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. 

Divide the almond milk among two cups, and divide the maple syrup among them also. Place both in the microwave, heating for up to a minute. This can also be done in a separate sauce pan, before dividing among the two cups. 

When the ginger mixture has simmered, remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for another 5 minutes. (Or pour into a french press for this step).

Pour into the cups of almond milk, and serve.

Enjoy! Xx S 

To Sip a Winter Smoothie

Last week, on one of the endless days of rain and thick cloud cover, I stayed home from school to recuperate from early mornings and what felt like a hive activity for the past few weeks since school restarted for the new year. It was one of those days where very little was going on, so Mum and I got to spend the afternoon together in our cosiest socks and big thick sweaters. I spent the morning beautifying this blog, focusing on adding more pictures and clarifying the little details which had been bothering me for some time, so it was nice to completely relax when she got home from work.

Lunch was only something small to curb our hunger, so when four o'clock came around, and after we'd taken the dog out for a walk to the lake and back, we both felt the need for a little pick-me-up and something to hold tightly in our hands to warm ourselves up. The wind had chapped our lips as we strolled beside the lake, shards of ice perched on top of each other along the shores after being pushed aside by the strong wind. There was a slight breeze as we wandered, and the clouds threatened rain in small droplets that fell infrequently onto our heads and shoulders.

We came home in a flurry as the rain picked up and quickened. Mum put on the fire to heat up the house, and I turned up the stove to make a drink to heat us up. It was then that we both ended up choosing our favourite spots on separate sofas after sipping warm smoothies, and curled up around iPads in the nooks of our arms, absorbed in the trials of our preferred shows and covered in soft blankets. The fire blazed on; the animals snoozed peacefully.

I wish every day could be as peaceful as that day was, instead, I try and stay warm bundled in a big knitted scarf and a hot beanie on my stomach today while studying for an exam. I might just make another smoothie to remind myself of that day, and to sip while I try to memorise vocabulary.

Try a favourite gluten free cookie with your smoothies as well, they're delicious when dunked - see how long you can keep them in without them falling apart!

Before I get too carried away with the goodness of these smoothies, I must quickly tell you how amazing they are. As in, you must make them today, tomorrow morning, next week. In the summer after a day at the beach with ice, in the winter by the fire in a steaming mug. And for the pumpkin obsessed (oops, that's me!), try this for breakfast too. Then, as you take the first sip, you'll realise that this really is the most delicious, creamiest, smoothest, drink ever.

They'll be your neighbours favourite, and your friends favourite, too.

Go ahead, see what pumpkin can really do.

Warm Pumpkin Spiced Smoothie
Print recipe here.

If you thought pumpkin pie was just for Thanksgiving and Christmas - think again! You can pick up a can of pumpkin pie mix from your local grocery store, or puréed pumpkin, all year round. Serve this warm smoothie as an after dinner dessert, or quickly heat it up on the stove to start your day with just the right amount of sugar and spice.

Using canned pumpkin pie mix sweetens the drink, so there's no need to add sugar, and by adding a little extra spices it will bring out the pumpkin flavour a little more when paired with the coconut milk (this can be substituted with any choice of alternative). Try using pure puréed pumpkin if you'd prefer to adjust the sweetness, I recommend doubling the amount of spices listed below and add brown sugar or honey to sweeten, then simmer for an additional 10 minutes to develop the rich flavours of all the spices.

For a creamier dessert, serve these smoothies with a spoonful of vanilla Greek yogourt (the thick kind works best), and provide a spoon to eat.

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (the beverage kind)
1 cup water
1/2 cup pumpkin pie mix

Dash of vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice powder

2 cinnamon sticks to serve

Directions

In a medium sized sauce pan on the stove, whisk together coconut milk, water and pumpkin pie mix.

Add in vanilla and spices and bring to a near boil.

Simmer for a few minutes (3 to 5), whisking repeatedly.

Strain into two large mugs and serve with a cinnamon stick. Top with yogourt if desired.

Goddess of Mornings

The new year had me thinking about all the ways in which I wanted to make the most of my last year of high school, a big part of that being able to manage stress in order to enjoy everything around me. First, I instinctively thought to increase the amount of time in which I slept each night, going to bed earlier and if I was lucky enough to still make the ferry, sleep in a bit longer in the morning whenever I could.

I find it so much more difficult to live on an island this year. It seems to prevent me from so much more than previous years, I can't attend some mid-week grad events unless I stay over, and the planning involved with any late night event is extensive to say the least. In the afternoon, I get home exhausted just from traveling to and and from school, and take it out on people around me in my frustration. Can't it just be easy.

And then I think back, or forward, to the summers which we enjoy every year. The ease of carefree island life, biking around in shorts and sneakers, sun tanning all afternoon on the beach (just a minutes walk from our house!) and meeting at least a couple of good friends every time you head into town. Then there's the time when you really do become absorbed in talking with close friends, an easy thing to do when they all feel like family from so many years together. Preschool apple picking to daily ferry rides together, everyone is literally in, and from, the same boat.

You begin to forget the hassle of commuting. Laughter instead, carries you home.

I wake up later now, less inclined to get perfectly organized before school, and pick up a cup of brewed tea left in the fridge overnight, I love having chai or green tea in breakfast smoothies, and blend it up with an assortment of fruit (usually a banana), often some oats, and other healthy (and delicious) foods for new flavors.

Green Goddess Smoothie
Print recipe here.

It's time to start sneaking kale into foods, stir-fries, scrambled eggs, and yes, smoothies. Blend up some freshly chopped kale in a smoothie for breakfast, and you'll feel the super charge of a vitamin boost. A single serving of kale contains 10 grams of cholesterol-lowering dietary fibre, a complete day's requirements of vitamins A, C, K, and B complex. There's also potassium, magnesium and copper. If that doesn't sound healthy, then what is?

The best thing about smoothies is how versatile they are, new straw-sipping treats can be created from nearly any ingredients which you have in the fridge and they provide on-the-go convenience. Too rushed for breakfast? Make a quick smoothie in the blender. 

Be careful not to overload on sweet fruits in a smoothie, too much can overpower the palate; green vegetables tend to balance out the flavours. Try new ingredients often, many things can be incorporated for a new flavour every time, and smoothies can be the perfect start to your day with the balance of nutrients, a complete, tasty, meal.

Serves 1 for breakfast

Ingredients

2 tbsp gluten free oats (optional)

1 cup fresh kale, chopped
1/2 Pink Lady, Ambrosia or Granny Smith apple (for a tarter taste), diced
1 whole banana, chopped
2 dried dates, to sweeten

3/4 cup coconut water

Directions

In the blender, combine oats, chopped kale, and diced apple with some of the coconut water. Pulse until chopped finely.

Add banana, dates, and the rest of the coconut water. Blend until completely smooth. Add more coconut water to reach desired thickness.

Pour into a large glass and serve. The smoothie can also be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 or 5 days.

Enjoy the power boost tomorrow morning!
xx S.

Smooth(ie) Mornings: An Obsession With Oats

Okay, I'm obsessed with oats now.

I mean, they've got so much going for them, and they make me feel so good - I think of them as the popular super food that everyone's just got to have, got to know. I recently found that oats are okay for those with gluten-sensitivity, someone like me, and this truth about oats, has made me go crazy for them - I'm experimenting with smoothies, muffins, everything! They really help with baking, as they hold together the ingredients, making the outcome firm and moist, they also hold lots of moisture, instead of crumbly and flaky like many gluten-free baked goods.

And I just love that after having them for breakfast, whether in porridge or smoothies, I can start my day feeling nourished and full of energy. No need for caffeine!

Last year, I would make myself smoothies for the morning, blending fresh ingredients such as bananas and blueberries, yogourt and cinnamon together the night before, refrigerating it in a large container until I awoke, when I would pour some into a travel mug and leave the house in a rush - often forgetting an important project for school or even my mittens that protected my hands from the brisk wind, as well as keeping them warm as they wrapped around a cold mug, in my wake.

That was before I woke up early enough to allow myself the time to enjoy those dreaded hours, still dark before the sun rose, and just wanted to sleep as much as possible, without wasting a second on making and eating breakfast at home. However, as the days became shorter and jackets became heavier last winter, as they have begun to now, I replaced my mug full of smoothie with a hot drink to warm my hands, and left breakfast behind me, where I began learning to appreciate it at the kitchen counter before I left - keeping warm all the while.

This morning my parents and I awoke to a late start, and incidentally, a late breakfast, which then causes morning coffee time and then lunch to be pushed back farther into the day. I write this before lunch today, at three in the afternoon just as dad comes in the door with lunch in his hands - soup.

But today, I took coffee time on a healthier route, and announced it to mum and dad,

"I'm making something for you!"

I planned a detour from the unnatural high to low caused by the caffeine. Instead of grinding beans and putting them at the bottom of the pot, I heated apple juice on the stove, and as it simmered softly a comforting aroma of spices and cooked apples filled the kitchen, and then laid out delicate cups on matching saucers along the counter top.

Autumn smells filled the rooms.

Then, all the ingredients went into the blender, and maybe in excitement, I pressed the button to blend, without checking the speed or fit of the lid.

It splattered.

Across the counter, little droplets of smoothie were scattered, and oats congregated on the inside of the blender's lid, although luckily they were too large to escape from inside. It even got on me, and I had to run my arm under the cold water from the tap to relieve the burning sensation from the hot liquid. Fortunately, there was no evidence of a burn a short while later. Although evidence of my carelessness was left along the back splash, and on the jars that line the counter.

"You've left quite the mess here,"

Mum informed me as she wiped it clean.

I served the drinks, and we sat at the counter cherishing the warmth and taste, the rain heavily falling outside the house, where we were nestled in comfortably.

Apple-Oat Smoothie
Print Recipe.

Don't let cold weather and a bad nights sleep get the best of you, and don't opt for an unsatisfying cup of too-strong coffee to wake you up for only a few hours either, instead, try this perfect fall drink, which warms you right up, and will get you going with all it's vitamins and nutrients, and the energy that's packed in!

Apple and oats go perfectly with the blend of spices, and the almond add a perfect punch to your energy drive. This smooth and comforting smoothie is the perfect replacement for summer's popsicles and drinks, too cold to imagine having at this time. 

When blending the ingredients, make sure it is on the lowest setting to begin with, and hold down the lid as you press the button. For a smoother drink, grind the almonds beforehand, or try replacing them with other nuts such as pecans, or even dried fruit such as dried dates. 

Everything - before apple juice - in the blender

Serves 3

Ingredients

1 1/2 c apple juice
1 c water

1/8 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 c unsalted almonds
1/2 c quick oats (wheat-free)
1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup

Directions

In a saucepan, bring the apple juice and water to a simmer.

Add spices and simmer for another 5 minutes.

In a blender, combine almonds, oats and maple syrup, and pour in apple juice mixture.

Blend on low until smooth.

Pour into mugs and serve.