It’s almost the end of May and it’s raining. Again. Or still? No, that’s not fair because we did have a few lovely days last week. Well one comes to mind actually- last Friday. It was clear and sunny….warm even. It’s summer in less than one month and if the sun doesn’t hurry up and hit this city I…I…um, well I don’t know what I’ll do but it won’t be pretty dammit! I. Need. Sun. OK, enough about what I need though and let me tell you what’s been going on lately…

We had a wolf drop by the clinic today. No, not a “pet” wolf- it was a wild one from the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife  who needed some medical attention. He came heavily sedated with his OWN Veterinarian and several others standing guard. I have to admit I was expecting this lithe grey coloured wolf like the ones recently featured in a National Geographic article I read…not the HUGE furry white beast that was carried in. His sheer size surprised me- he was massive. Had I familiarized myself with the Grouse Mountain website, I would have known what to expect! Weighing in at only 100 lbs though, it was pretty clear his coat was quite thick and dense thus attributing to that weight. For a ‘small animal practice’ it was pretty exciting to have a wild animal of that kind in our humble little clinic!

Last night, as My Guy and I sat through the most intense, nail-biter of a hockey game he said, “I can’t wait for hockey to be over so we can go for a bike ride again.” As much as we love our dear Canucks and the fact we’re in the Stanley Cup Finals, I don’t think we’ve even so much as glanced at our bikes for the past 3 weeks. Some may say it’s a sad excuse for hockey isn’t on EVERY night after all…but it’s our story and we’re sticking with it. We do have several days ahead of us however before the next game…so really there isn’t a valid reason I can’t get out and ride. Oh wait, yeah I forgot: IT’S POURING RAIN OUTSIDE!! Summer is creeping up on us and I’m not bikini-ready…

 I bought a big jug of OJ at my last grocery shop with the intent of getting back into taking my Greens. I used to take this stuff faithfully and felt great while doing it…and then I let life get in the way and I stopped. I started out using the Greens + Extra Energy and then with all the bowel and intestinal issues I had, I thought perhaps the Greens + Daily Detox might be a better product. I really did notice a difference on the Extra Energy but I got lazy. That’s all there is to it. This product doesn’t come super cheap but I truly feel like it’s money well spent because it’s so good for my body. I had some last night and will again tonight. If you haven’t tried the Greens products from Genuine Health I suggest you look into them and give them a try. Plus the website is jam-packed with info so that alone is a great place to start! Personally I’m happy and I’ve only tried 2 of them! Oh if only I could afford more! 

Coming soon will be some new recipes and reviews so check back often!

So I held off on writing more about this Asantae Java until we had been drinking it consistently for several days. Of course the first cup was delicious but can a blog post/review be built on one cup alone? It wouldn’t be fair. I needed to have more to base my opinion on and so I waited out a few days and several pots of coffee. It’s a solid cup of coffee first off, enough so that I want to drink more of it and I don’t bother with drinking crap coffee. It’s full bodied and smooth- My Guy remarked it was “delicious” even. I thought perhaps it wouldn’t have enough flavour but I was wrong. Dead wrong. “Al in Marpole” whom I mentioned in an earlier post, also sent me some Asanta Java and he did warn me that it may start out slow, and then you will notice the difference. He’s right! You can contact him at healthycoffee@inoutbox.com.

Something else that is extremely noticeable is the fact I can have (and enjoy) a 2nd cup from the same pot. Usually we make small pots because the 2nd cup of most coffees tastes burnt, hot and stale. I’m not kidding when I say the 2nd cup tastes damn fine. It’s amazing and we’re both quite surprised over that fact.

We’re drinking it right now. Check out this cool brew- it’s worth a sip or two. My heartfelt thanks to the great Folks at The Antioxidant Cafe for sending me some beans. My Guy and I are really enjoying this stuff and so are our co-workers! We’re not sharing it all though!!

I figure enough time has gone by since my last ‘Stuff I’m Excited About’ post and I can safely write another one without the fear of boring (or pissing off) some readers! Sometimes I need direction with my blog posts; I often just ramble and blab so feel free to shoot me an email and tell me to find a thought and stick with it.

Today has been a glorious day so far. I just got in from a bike ride and as I contemplated what to write I thought about the simpler things in my life that bring me such pleasure. Like the first bite of a cracker topped with olive tapenade, or a perfectly brewed and sweetened cup of Earl Grey tea. These 2 things are pure heaven to me. In fact I just had a sip of tea and it’s GORGEOUS.

So some things I’m excited about? Well first things first, my dear Mom has finally been exposed to Kicking Horse Coffee at a little cafe on the Island where she lives. She was so impressed she emailed me about how good it was and no word of a lie, she must have used at least a dozen exclamation marks. She has no idea what they were brewing there, only that it was indeed Kicking Horse. She went to her local Thrifty’s and looked at the selection available…and can’t wait to try it again. Ah my Mom, she’s the best. (Speaking of mothers- did you call yours?? It is Mothers Day after all…)

Something else crossed my path today…a new soy milk has entered the market. Or, quite possibly it’s been out for awhile and I have either been living under a rock or it’s not in Canada yet. It’s Earth Balance Soymilk. This is the company that makes a delectable vegan ‘margarine’ that is excellent for baking, and I had no idea they had milk too! I’m curious about it since I am a die-hard Silk fan, and it would have to be really, really good for me to switch. Maybe it’s not available in Canada…or maybe it is and I just need to make a trip to Whole Foods to wander through the aisles and drool.

My Guy picked up one of gardein’s complete meals: called a Trio. I think he got the Sicilian, but I’m too lazy at the moment to actually get up and go check in the fridge. It’s toted as a ‘complete meal ready in minutes’ and consists of their delectable ‘chickn’ with sauce, over top of brown basmati rice. We are going to try it together and I’ll have a review shortly. I imagine it’s going to be fantastic and this means another solid and satisfying (healthy) lunch time option for Veggies alike or those just trying to go a little Meatless these days.

I have a bell on my bike shaped like a little red bell pepper with a fist beside it. You pull the fist back when you want to ring the bell. Genius. My Guy and Moops got it for me for my birthday and I absolutely fell in love with it at first sight. A bell pepper for a bell! I am going somewhere with this…HUGE PET PEEVE…is cyclists who don’t use a bell when they’re on a crowded area such as the Seawall or not-so-wide bike paths. I think it’s courteous to give a heads up and let another cyclist (or a jogger, pedestrians etc) know that you are coming up behind them, and are about to pass them. In the same vein, if you’re one of those pedestrians and you are on a shared pathway with bikers, please be alert for the sound of a bell…we ring them for a reason. That’s it, that’s all today- enjoy your day! And Happy Mothers Day!

The coolest bike bell ever



I can’t stop making it. I am on this serious mission to get the PERFECT texture and mouth-feel to my seitan. I have a batch in the oven now baking; wrapped tightly in foil at the suggestion of several others over at The Veggie Boards. I’m told this *may* provide the not-so-chewy, meatier texture My Guy is looking for. I’m totally having a blast experimenting with this and don’t care really how many times I have to keep making the stuff, cause I keep on eating it! As I put away groceries yesterday after my big shop, I realized we have some gardein products that are nearing their expiry date! With all the crazy seitan-making going on in this house, the gardein and tofu got neglected. *UPDATE: the recipe I use now is here.*

I had an awesome bike ride through my beautiful Mount Pleasant neighborhood the other night. It was so nice to just coast along the flat parts of Ontario Street and watch life go on around me. The green spaces were full, front yards had children playing, bikes were whizzing past me and runners out as well. Everyone was out and the feeling that Spring is finally here, was palpable. It’s been a great week for exercising for me; I ran farther than I’ve run before at the beginning of the week but I also paid for that act by a throbbing knee! No worries. I’m resting it up and using my bike until I’m ready to use it again…This is a perfect time to begin an exercise program or to get back out if you’ve gotten a little lazy over the winter. There is nothing better than a spring day, with the fresh smell of grass, earth and leaves upon a slightly brisk wind…you can feel the warmth of the sun and know that soon it will be summer and it’s full strength will blast down on us! I feel energized at this time of year and have no desire to visit the gym. I want to feel the air and see others out and about, moving and celebrating the moment.

Grab a friend and go for a walk. Or pull out your bike and do a little tune up. When was the last time you rode it? Is it road-ready? Spring is meant to be enjoyed and savoured. It’s a time for new growth and new beginnings. Maybe you slipped on your New Years Resolution…so what? Spring is re-birth so make a new resolution and jump right into it!

My spring day involves waiting on the seitan to bake…a bike ride…a stop at Michaels for some stuff…and who knows what else?

What does YOUR spring day involve? Oh and yes, for those inquiring minds emailing me about the sietan, I WILL post pics of the baked stuff once it’s done!

So I’m at the gym today and I see someone out of the corner of my eye step onto the treadmill beside me. It’s a young girl in her Catholic school uniform! I see people wearing all sorts of stuff at the gym that I don’t consider work-out wear, but this one took the cake. She was standing on the treadmill, setting up her stuff and she wasn’t even wearing running shoes or sneakers! I thought to myself, “OK I’ll sit back and watch this play out…”

She held her own fairly well, wasn’t breaking a sweat but then again she wasn’t running either. When she finally did increase her speed, damned if I was going to let her beat me! I kept going past my time, feeling my legs burn and my chest begin to burn but I was determined to go farther and longer than this girl in a school girl uniform! Immature I know. She floundered just when I thought I might pass out, grasping at the bars on the treadmill to hold herself up…and I slowed down, as if I meant to stop soon after her. Sigh. Just a little friendly competition at the gym.

But this post is meant to be serious in the sense, I don’t understand people who choose to work out in what looks like uncomfortable clothing to me. I couldn’t imagine sweating up a storm in jeans and a sweatshirt! I also need proper footwear; it just makes everything go smoother if your feet and legs are happy. I’m not saying go out and buy expensive gear and top of the line yoga pants etc, it is possible to find exercise clothing for reasonable prices. The more comfortable you feel, the more apt you are to keep at it and return for your next work out. Ach, call me crazy.

My new goal is still what I posted last time, getting to the gym MORE but in those visits it’s to build up endurance. I’m so pleased with how my knee feels; how I sometimes don’t feel any twinges of pain AT ALL! And if I do, I stop…I don’t push it.

Another goal? My Guy and I are eating more fruit. We said we needed to eat more but both of us struggled with how high maintenance fruit can be…really. It seems like such a chore sometimes! We’ve been preparing up fruit salad to bring to work and we’re loving not only the awesome mid-morning snack but the way it’s making us feel too. It’s a little change but we really do notice a difference…I have to say in all honesty though, we eat very well. There’s no junk food in the house but we do keep some digestive biscuits around for a sweet fix with tea…or I’ll have a handful of raisins, chocolate chips and almonds.

Perhaps our biggest indulgence is beer and wine. Of course these are loaded with calories! My Guys current fave? Howe Sound Brewery’s Rail Ale Nut Brown. We first discovered this beer before Christmas and his eyes still light up whenever we pick some up. One of my favourites? Stanley Park Brewery’s 1897 Belgian Style Amber. Mmmm, so crisp and clean I can taste it now! I do love my wine still, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes a cold beer really hits the spot. So maybe this is where we indulge…where do YOU indulge? Oh and indulge responsibly. Of course.

In love with Chia

I learn something exciting that pumps me up EVERY day from CBC radio. Today was yet another mind-blowing commute into work as I tuned into the last 5 minutes of a segment on “Chia Seeds”. Yes the same chia as those popular grass headed characters from the 80′s is now back as a SUPERFOOD. I am totally serious. I had no idea this seed was so amazing and full of good stuff our bodies need.

Let’s start with a little background on this tiny seed. It’s Latin name is Salvia Hispanica; a flowering plant in the mint family. Folklore dictates it was so prized by the Aztecs it was offered to rulers, traded for goods and valued higher than gold. Chia has the highest amount of Omega 3′s of any other plant which means it’s great for our heart, skin and hair! The seeds are about the size of poppy seeds so they can be easily ground up to add to other foods such as breads and apparently, quite tasteless (not sure if this is a necessarily good thing…). I’ve been doing a ton of reading on chia today and many articles call it “natures forgotten super food” due to the omegas, high protein and fibre content.

Seems to good to be true doesn’t it? Well it comes with a hefty price tag…I thought quinoa was expensive! I urge you to check out your local health food stores and co-ops; maybe they have chia for a reasonable price. In my neck of the woods there is a little company that’s doing it’s best to bring chia to the masses via a cereal called (I love this) Holy Crap. The site claims it’s the ‘worlds most amazing breakfast cereal’ and I admit, I’m intrigued.

I’m a self-professed cereal-aholic. I have admitted it openly that I sometimes have cereal for dinner. Two bowls sometimes. I’m not ashamed to say this. I do not however have my cupboards full of sugar-laden garbage cereals, and do try to be somewhat choosy about what I put into my bowl. This Holy Crap cereal sounds like a little bit of heaven that is seriously good for you and yes, I need to try it. The company seems a little overwhelmed with orders and are shipping out a ton of cereal so once the frenzy dies down, I’d love to try some.

Another company selling this seed is Webber Naturals under the name ChiaNutra…Also Cobs bread is apparently baking with it now but I’ve yet to see this myself or check it out in the bakery…

Don’t get me wrong there are a TON of places selling chia seeds and products but I’m only going to mention the companies I know of, or were mentioned on CBC this morning in this segment…because I trust where the info came from.

Just when you thought that little green afro seed-head from the 80′s was a silly passing fad…we realize we could have munched on our Chia Pets if we were hungry.

Cheers to chia- I look forward to trying this super food!

What will I learn tomorrow?

For dinner the other night, My Guy cooked us up some Gardein Dijon Chick’n Breasts. He found them at Superstore and thought it would make a satisfying meal; something different we could ‘sink our teeth into’. Upon opening the package I was amazed at how much like a chicken breast this product actually resembled! My Guy and I agree that as Veggies, we’re not looking for a substitute for meat necessarily, but rather something substantial we can dig into and that would provide a little variety to our meal plan. The package offers up a few ways to cook them and we opted to pan fry with a smidgen of olive oil for flavour. They come with a tasty sauce and My Guy cooked up some basmati rice and broccoli to round out the meal…THE VERDICT? Delicious. Very hearty and filling for one, but also just damned tasty all around. My taste-buds were singing! I would definitely eat these again and more of the Gardein products. The only negative in this whole thing? Price. A package of 2 breasts cost My Guy $5.49 plus taxes. That’s expensive compared to the All-Mighty-Tofu. **COMING SOON: REVIEW OF THE PETE’S TOFU TO GO BY SUNRISE SOYA FOODS. GINGER SESAME FLAVOUR!**

So I was looking around again on Sunrise Soya’s Site and came across a list of tofu subs…or more acurately, how you can sub tofu in your cooking and baking in place of milk products. I thought this would be super handy to blog about for those readers who are lactose intolerant or Vegan.

Without further ado, here is THE LIST:

1 cup buttermilk = 1/2 Cup (125 ml) Sunrise or Soyganic Soft Tofu blended with 1/3 Cup (85 ml) water and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice – very close to buttermilk flavor – buttermilk is a bit more sour

1 cup cottage or ricotta cheese = 1 Cup (250 ml) Sunrise or Soyganic Medium Firm Tofu, well-drained & mashed

1 cup cream cheese = 3/4 Cup (175 ml) Sunrise or Soyganic Medium Firm Tofu, well-drained and mashed, blended with 1/4 Cup (60 ml) margarine and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice

1 cup yogurt = 1 Cup (250 ml) Sunrise or Soyganic Soft Tofu and 1 tsp (5 ml) Lemon Juice

1 cup sour cream = 3/4 Cup (175 ml) Sunrise or Soyganic Medium Firm Tofu, well-drained and mashed, blended with 1/4 Cup (60 ml) vegetable oil and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice

1 whole egg = 1/4 cup Sunrise or Soyganic Medium Firm Tofu, well-drained & puréed

Milk = the equivalent amount of Sunrise Unsweetened Soya Beverage

I will be sampling some Sunrise products soon so stay tuned!!

Gardein. What is it you ask? Gardein is a plant-based food- a tofu like substitute if you will- that Veggies and those wanting to go more ‘meatless’ cause use as a main protein source in cooking. Visit their site and click on the FAQ at the very bottom of the page, because it really will explain everything…It’s perfect for Vegetarians, Vegans and those who are lactose intolerant…AND if you’re an omnivore or maybe recently turned Veg and you miss the ‘texture’ of meat, this may appeal to you.

With that said, as a vegetarian I am not repulsed by the texture or look of this product. You can get get gardein made up into ready-to-go meals and snacks or simply buy the “pieces” to add to your own dishes…I’ve tried alot of meat-substitutes over the years and Gardein is one I stick with, as is Tofurkey Sausages, but that’s ANOTHER post entirely…another post, another day…

If you’re Canadian and you shop where PC products are sold, their Blue Label sells chicken strips and beef tips made with Gardein. It’s much more economical to buy them this way, but of course if you want more variety, you need to go to exclusive Gardein products.

I’m always slightly skeptical of using processed foods like this for ALL my meals but it’s certainly okay to use in moderation and to supplement the many meals a Vegetarian can enjoy. It just offers up another level of TASTY options and I believe products like this can help turn Meatless Mondays into Meatless Months.

I still love and support Tofu 100%. Just today on my drive home I passed Sunrise Soya on the East Side, and exclaimed to My Guy, “Wow they have their facilities on a WHOLE BLOCK!” and I recounted their many tofu products I absolutely love. I do have a bone to pick with them, and that’s the demise of Pete’s Tofu (or what appears to be a demise, where DID that product go? The original Petes)…I digress though as maybe delving into Pete’s Tofu and the decisions of Sunrise fuel for ANOTHER post…

If you check out Sunrise though, make sure and make a stop here and check out the cookbook: Vancouver Chefs Take on Tofu. It’s about time this food was embraced and treated to the Royal Treatment by a Chef. Tofu is NOT a scary word.

And try Gardein. What have you got to lose? If you don’t like it, send it to me.

I don’t have trouble believing this story. It’s about a little weight-loss experiment where the author ate a mostly “junk food” based diet (think Twinkies…) and lost the pounds. He did it by cutting calories- so of course this makes sense. This is a common sense answer to an age old equation: If you put in less calories than you normally eat on a day-to-day basis, then you WILL lose the weight….just the same as if you burn more calories than you put into your body you WILL lose weight. Makes total sense right? I think we all need to keep this story in perspective. It’s not about WHAT the author put into his body so much as it’s about HOW MUCH he put into his body. I think he made a really valid point and I hope consumers see this: we need to watch how much we eat. I don’t mean what we’re eating necessarily, because I do believe treating ourselves is a great way to live…but the amount of food we’re ingesting. Simply put we’re eating too many calories.

This site can give you an idea of how many calories you burn on an average day; so what your body needs to function at the level you are accustomed to. If you take the amount and eat LESS calories, along with a regular exercise regime, you WILL lose weight.

Did you know 3500 calories make up a pound? Think about the calorie dense foods/drinks you may indulge in on a daily basis, and then eliminate them. How about soda? Drink alot of that? One can of Coke  has 140 calories approximately. Are you someone who has 3 Cokes a day, 7 days a week? If you cut those out you would see a savings of almost 2800 calories a week! It’s the little things people! How about a little treat with your morning cuppa coffee at Starbucks? Personally I love the Banana Nut Bread but at almost 600 calories a (teeny) slice, I have learned to pass it up. Imagine one of those bad boys 5 days a week? Saying no to that bread is equivalent to a pound of fat. Chew on that.

It’s common sense living. Take the initiative and look at what you’re eating every day. If you’re struggling to lose weight than make a few simple changes with your diet…baby steps…