Recipe review -Skinny Bitch

"Curried Chickpea Cakes"
From Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook

First recipe is a success!
***** stars

They're made with cooked chickpeas and brown rice all mashed up and shaped into little patties with a perfect amount of curry seasonings, I added a little fresh chopped cilantro. Topped them off with some organic Peach Chutney from Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna BC and served them with a green salad. They are easy to make and reminiscent of pakora (chickpea battered & deep fried veggies) that you would typically find in an Indian restaurant. I would definitely makes these again! Can't wait for lunch tomorrow, leftovers! The only negative thing was that the kids didn't like them, booo. They "liked" them enough so they could get their dessert but complained about it the entire time. I'm hoping it's because the chickpea cakes are a new taste sensation for them and next time I make them will go over a little easier because they should have the opportunity to be skinny dudes ;)

Skinny Bitch -a cookbook review

Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook

I've never done a book review before but I couldn't resist plunging in when Bryn surprised me with Kim Barnouin's (of the Skinny Bitch series fame) "Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook" yesterday. I haven't put it down since he brought it home and even slept with it last night! I haven't had the chance to make anything from it yet but I'm already in love with the philosophy/lifestyle behind it and the pictures look good so the recipes must be good too. I mean if the title alone doesn't grab you then maybe you don't deserve to be healthified...but wait, yeah, you do! Who doesn't in some deep dark corner of their teenage self-esteem self want to be a skinny bitch? I know, I know, did I just say that out loud? In all honesty, we all are awesome just the way we are and it's not about our weight because we are all beautiful on the inside (gag)...Ok, let's just stop with the mamby-pamby pandering. The Skinny Bitch series is not about weightloss or having a "prefect" body nor is it a crash diet. This cookbook is promoting veganism without being in your face about it and I feel that it caters to the inexperienced layperson possibly new to vegetarianism or veganism or just a healthy lifestyle in general. The recipes seem simple with easy to find ingredients and simple steps and there are lots of pictures, which should be mandatory for all cookbooks. Kim hasn't lost any of her charm in this book and is just as sassy as ever, if anything, reading the book for this alone is worth the cost of the book. I haven't read all of her first book, Skinny Bitch, just the bits that are on google because I'm already on the same path of eating consciously but I do love a great cookbook and there's always room for one more. I never would have chosen this book for myself because I'm not a fan of celebrity-ism and probably wouldn't have gotten past the cover. So a big thanks goes out to Bryn for thinking of me and bringing this dandy home!

***** stars

First Recipe Review Curried Chickpea Cakes

Nut-thing Better!

Today I decided to try my hand at making a "healthy" sweet treat for myself to indulge in. I remember really loving Nutella but haven't had any in years since I started eating consciously. It was surprisingly easy to make...once I got all the hazelnuts peeled, oi vay! I think this is my new favourite thing.

Homemade Vegan Nutella

1/2 Cup Hazelnuts
1/2 Cup Almonds*
1/4 Cup Carob Powder
1 Tbsp Vanilla
3 Tbsp Maple Syrup
3 Tbsp Almond Milk
1 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil

I wanted to keep the ingredients raw but had to heat the hazelnuts slightly to help loosen the skins so I could peel them. Pre-heat oven to 275 F and roast hazelnuts for 10-15 mins. Roll the hazelnuts in a kitchen towel to help loosen the skins and peel the rest by hand, let them cool completely. Put almonds and hazelnuts in food processor and blend until they become smooth and shiny. Add carob, vanilla, maple syrup, almond milk and grapeseed oil and blend till mixed stop and scrap the sides if needed mix again.

Makes about 1 cup.

* I only had 1/2 cup of hazelnuts on hand so I subbed almonds to make 1 cup of nuts. You can make the recipe with 1 cup hazelnuts and I highly recommend getting organic raw hazelnuts that already have the skins removed.

He Won the Gold!!

Last Saturday was Kaden's Karate Tournament, yes the one I was very nervous about last week. He did such a great job that his Sensei and some of the Sempais didn't recognize him because he brought it when he stepped into the ring (also he had a hair cut -but still). He was so focused and intense. He and his best buddy were in the same category and they tied at first so they had to do their katas over again. After the second performance (I know I'm not supposed to call it a performance but I like to think of it as a dance :)) I have to admit I felt a little anxious for Kaden and his scores weren't as high as the last round...I know, I know it's not about what place he comes in and I really didn't mean to feel this way but I couldn't help get caught up in the drama of it, I mean, come on, they tied and I thought they both would've gotten gold metals. Anyway, Kaden ended up winning the competition by .1 of a point! It was so close. We are just so proud of him, what a wonderful experience for him too.

Family Love -The Johnston-Yu's stopped by to support Kaden!

Getting ready to begin the Katas

Milos & Kaden with their metals

Another Performer

This weekend is Kaden's first Karate Tournament. I filled out the forms, handed over the money, read the information handout and thought everything was done and taken care of. I registered him for "team kata" (what I like to call a coreographed karate dance routine) or so I thought. I emailed his Sensei to ask about some equipment that Kaden told me he needed for the tournament which didn't make sense since he was only entered in the team kata. Sensei told me that he didn't have Kaden on the team kata list, only for individual kata! What?!?!? Doesn't that mean he'll be going it alone, by himself, without a team?? There must be a mistake, how am I going to fix this for him 2 days before the tournament?
So I casually ask Kaden "who are you doing your kata with."
He casually answers back "no one."
"Really? How did that happen? I thought you signed up for team kata?"
His (again casual) reply "ya when Sensei asked us to put our hand up for team kata, I didn't raise my hand. I wanted to do it by myself so I could be in front."
"Oh, are you ok with that?" He nodded "do you feel prepared?"
He just gave another nod and said "yup".

I felt myself immediately bust with pride for this kid, who is nothing like me because I was insanely nervous for him, not only did he make this decision on his own and go for it but he's also so unassuming and humble that he doesn't need to announce to everybody that he's done it. If I hadn't emailed Sensei then I would've found out at the tournament. I hope I don't cry like I did at his talent show last spring. I'm just so darn proud of him and am amazed at the kind of kid he is which is much more like his Papa.