Friday Top Five: Favourite drinks!

 Lemonade (with or without vodka!)

1(ish) cups sugar
4-5 cups water, divided
 6-7 lemons
1 lime

*In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup water and sugar to a slow boil until syrupy
*Juice lemons and lime into a pitcher
*Add remaining water and cooled syrup mixture

This is especially good with lime flavoured vodka

Hot Chocolate

1 cup water
2-3 tbsp cocoa, sifted
2-3 tbsp sugar
3 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla
freshly whipped cream

*In a saucepan, whisk together water, cocoa and sugar until disolved
*Add milk and vanilla and bring to a slow boil
*Serve immediately topped with freshly whipped cream

The Pink Fizzy (from Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook)

Handful of pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
2/3 cup pink grapefruit juice
1 cup sparkling wine

*Divide the pomegranate seeds among 4 champagne flutes
*Mix together juices and divide among flutes
*Top each glass with 2 oz of sparkling wine

Berry Avocado Smoothie (also posted here)

1 cup frozen berries
2 tbsp ground flax
1 scoop protein powder
1 very ripe avocado
1 cup yogurt
1/2 cup raspberry juice

*Combine all ingredients to a blender and process well

Lime and Blueberry Margarita

I think I originally got this recipe froma n Eatinig Well magazine

2 cups ice

1/2 cup blueberry nectar

1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/3 cup 7-up

2 tbsp frozen limeade

3 oz of tequila (or not)

*Combine all ingredietns in a blender and process until smooth

Friday Top Five: Favourite Recipe Websites/Blogs

Even though we didn't have pizza tonight (I know, can you believe it?!), I thought I should continue on with the Friday theme.  We are having a (8th!!) birthday party with pizza tomorrow and I didn't want to have pizza 2 days in a row.  I get my food ideas from all over: magazines, cookbooks, food blogs/websites, friends, etc.  These are my top 5 go-to websites when I'm thinking of new additions to our menu:

Savvy Vegetarian

I can honestly say this is my very favourite website for recipes.  The great thing is that it isn't just recipes!  There are a lot of recipes but there is also an advice section, articles, advice, menu ideas, and favourite cookbooks.  It isn't just about food it's about some green living too :)  Check it out, you won't regret it!

Vegan Dad

I love this blog and not just because the author is a fellow Canadian!  He has a lot of "faux-meat" ideas that my husband really likes.  I really like how he talks about how his children enjoy his creations, it helps me decide whether its worth it or not to make it for my kids.

Calico Girl

The newest of my blog obsessions is my friend Shannon's food/life blog.  I haven't tried anything yet but I have big intentions of trying out some of her (hella busy) Thursday recipes for our upcoming road trip.  Not only is she a great cook with some awesome ideas, she is also a super talented photographer.  And I love food pictures!

Canadian Living

Canadian Living has a lot of good vegetarian ideas but it is pretty easy to convert all their recipes to vegetarian.  If you have an account you can save recipes to your own personal recipe box, get help with your menu planning, and track your eating in a food journal.  I also love their kids cooking section!

Best Recipes Ever

The kids love this show and so I am constantly checking this website for recipe ideas - especially dessert recipes!  I like how the most recent episodes' recipes are right on the front page and also that you can watch the videos there too.  It's always nice to see what the meal is supposed to look like even if what you are making rarely turns out the same.  The recipes aren't often vegetarian but they do give you some good ideas for things to make.

Friday Top Five: Favourite Dessert!

As much as I try to feed my family healthy foods I also LOVE sweets.  I can be found (often) eating pie or ice cream, or cookies (or...) for breakfast in the pantry while making the kids eat steel cut oats.  Shhhh.... I can still hide it from them!  So, in honour of my sweet tooth, today's Friday top five is my favourite desserts!

Pear/Apple Crisp, or Apple Crisp, or Pear Crisp.  Basically any fruit baked with some sugar and oats on top.  Yum!  I featured this recipe already in my blog and you can find it right here!

Ice Cream Sandwiches are definitely at the top of my list!  Really... cookies and ice cream, can you get any better?  The best part about this dessert is how easy it is to make, that and that you can use any cookie recipe you have.  I made these ones using a chocolate chip and walnut recipe and already wrote about it here!

The other afternoon we went on a picnic/bonfire at a local provincial park and brought along these Carrot Cupcakes!  Spring, remember?  My daughter had picked up these cupcake liners and decorations in the dentists treasure chest so we figured we better use them right away.  We used this recipe and a simple icing of cream cheese, butter and icing sugar.

I made this Cherry Pie the other day to celebrate my husband's first royalty cheque for his new book series!  I used a mixture of this recipe and this one...it didn't turn out exactly how I planned but it was still DELICIOUS.  The problem is mostly that its not exactly cherry season around here so I had to settle for canned cherries, and well, they left a little to be desired.  I had no problem however eating it for breakfast this morning.

I made this last Monday for our favourite Monday 2 year old as a bribe.  There I said it, I tried to bribe her into liking our meal.  It didn't work.  She ate as little of it as she had to in order to get the Chocolate Pudding, and then threw the rest of it away.  My oldest daughter suggested we fancy it up with some freshly whipped cream and strawberries, it was an excellent idea that I promptly took her up on.  I swiped the recipe for it from my sister and I can't seem to find the paper now... it was basically cocoa, sugar, milk, butter, cornstarch and vanilla boiled up together and simmered until thickened.  Cool and serve ;)

Friday Top Five: Favourite (Winnipeg) Restaurants!

In honour of date night (yes, occasionally we do get to do that!) this week's top five will be my favourite places to eat in Winnipeg.  We don't get to go out to eat often, especially without kids, but when we do the decision is always a tough one!  Hopefully this will help me narrow down the choices for tonight!   

 Mondragon Bookstore & Coffee House is a restaurant that I don't go to often but that I never regret visiting when I do.  It is reasonably priced and fun to go to!  Personal faves: Southern Fried Tofu Strips and their Veggie Burger.

 Affinity Vegetarian Garden is the kids' favourite restaurant, ever.  They, actually we all love the lunch buffet.  It is a bit pricey to go for supper with all 6 of us but for lunch it is very inexpensive as you pay by the weight of your plate.  Personal faves: Crispy Veggie Balls, Sweet and Sour Veggie Ribs, and (just for my son) Spicy Tofu! 

 Boon Burger just opened last year but it has quickly become one of our go-to's on date night.  It is pricey for the family to go but just right for the 2 of us.  We generally get take out but if we do dine in the atmosphere is great and the staff are so friendly.  Personal Faves: Buddha Burger and the Poutine!

 India Palace got me through my last pregnancy, no joke!  I couldn't keep most food down, even crackers, but somehow I managed to eat chickpea curry and samosas quite regularly.  We always get take out but the staff are quite courteous and the food is always ready very quickly.  Personal Faves:  Vegetable Samosas and Chickpea Curry ;)

The Star Grill is another restaurant that we don't frequent often but that I always have a soft spot for.  The restaurant itself is very intimate and inviting but it is small so plan ahead and make reservations or go at non-peak times.  Personal Faves: Veggie Burger (really I love burgers? lol) and French Fries and their Hummus!



Honourable Mentions: Kelsey's, Hu's Asian Bistro, Delicious Vegetarian, Cousin's Deli, and Stella's.

Friday Top Five: Favourite Foods!

I love food.  I know it must come to a shock to you all, I mean, a food blogger who loves food?  But really, I love food.  I thought for today to celebrate pizza Friday, I would share with you all my top five favourite foods.  Not meals, just food.

Lemons!

We use lemons for all kinds of things in our house.  Lemonade, marinades, different rice dishes, cleaning!  We always have a large bowl of lemons on top of our fridge.  Lemons are very very high in vitamin C and low in calories and fat. Expect quite a few lemonade (with vodka!) recipes come summer/bbq season.

Carrots

I have always loved carrots, and have passed on that love to all of my kids.  We go through an embarrassing number of them a week.  Carrots are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, fibre, potassium, and a whole lot more.  I like them best raw but they are often found in many of the meals we have in our home.

Garlic

I have a motto: "if the recipe calls for garlic, double it. If it doesn't, add it in any way."  If we are at any time out of garlic, it pretty much means we need an emergency grocery shopping run.  Garlic is a good source of vitamin C (this was new to me!), vitamin B6 and selenium.




Quinoa
Quinoa is my ultimate super grain.  You can use it in breads, salads, pilafs, breakfast cereals, burgers, and I'm sure I'm missing many more things.  Not only is it delicious but it is also CHEAP and SUPER EASY to make.  It is low in fat and calories but high in iron and magnesium.  AND did you know it is a complete protein?  I really love my quinoa.



Lentils

This should come as a surprise to no one.  Lentils are (in my humble opinion) the most versatile, delicious, and easy legume.  They are high in folate, fibre, magnesium, iron, protein (18 grams in 1 cup!), and vitamin B1.  You can find some of my favourite lentil recipes here. 

Friday Top Five: Five Favourite Cookbooks!

  How it all Vegan!

This was the first vegetarian cookbook I picked up after I had children.  I had been interested in cooking before but having children made healthy eating that much more important to me.  I must have tried every recipe in this book several times.  Many times the food didn't turn out but I have to say that it was mostly chef error.  This cookbook has been well loved and well used in our home.  The pages are dirty and some pages are torn and I still love it.  Favourites:  Tortilla chip soup and the hummus!

Moosewood Restaurant: Simple Suppers

Simple suppers... that is all I should have to say.  There are some days I just want to make us peanut butter sandwiches and call it a day but I just can't do it.  The recipes in this cookbook are easy, quick and the perfect thing for lazy days.  Favourites: Pasta with Broccoli, Edamame & Walnuts and the Blueberry Lemon sauce.

Veggie Burgers Every Which Way

I think I have posted enough recipes from this cookbook already for you to know why I love it.  I have yet to try something that hasn't worked out.  I can't wait until the weather here changes and we can enjoy these burgers on the barbeque!  Favourites:  Easy Bean Burgers and Baked Quinoa Burges

Veganomicon

I remember seeing this book at McNally's and not being sure if I should spend the money or not.  I put the book on hold at the library and waited (and waited and waited..) until it was finally my turn.  I don't think I waited 3 days before I went out and bought it.  It really is the ultimate vegan cookbook!  Favourites: Broccoli and Potato soup and the Banana bread!

The Vegetarian Family Cookbook

This cookbook is the most decorated one I have and by decorated I mean its covered in post it notes.  I have them sticking out from every recipe that I have wanted to try and most of my favourites.  It is sometimes hard to find vegetarian recipes that are family friendly.  A lot of them are too fancy for my kids tastes or have too many processed foods in them.  One of the things I like best about this book is the Making it a Meal feature which gives you ideas for what to serve with it.  Favourites:  Veggie Pot Pie and Quick Cinnamon-Raisin Bread.

Friday Top Five

We have pizza every Friday.  Same dough recipe, same cheese pizza.  That wouldn't make for a very good blog post... different angles of the same recipe.  Haha.  So I'm going to do something a little different on Fridays.  Let me know if you have any top five ideas for upcoming weeks.

My Top Five Kichen Must-Haves!

*At least one really good knife

My sister got me this (beautiful) henckels chef knife a few years ago for Christmas.  Despite the fact that my husband dented it *grumblegrumble*, the knife still works wonderfully.  I use it many times a day, and now that I think about it I should probably buy another.  (*hinthint* sister)

*A food processor 

I use my food processor for shredding cheese, dicing veggies, blending soups, making baby food, and much more.  I've recently had to replace my original because I used it so much it burnt out.  I recommend getting one with as large a capacity as you can find.  It's worth the extra money, trust me.

*An apron

Maybe it's just me, but when I'm in the kitchen I make a HUGE mess.  All over the counter, on the floor, and almost always on myself.  The kitchen can be easily cleaned but I really can't be changing my clothes after every time I prepare a meal.  I have a couple of aprons, but I recently ordered this one from my friend Jenn at Aprons by Jeek on Etsy.  I have been checking the mailbox everyday waiting for it to come! 

*A rasp

I didn't know what I was missing until I got my rasp.  I tried my best to zest and grind spices with a hand grater, and it didn't work so well.  They are relatively cheap to pick up at any superstore, zellers, etc.  I think mine was less than $5 and I use it everyday.

*Dishwasher

I lived without one for many years (and many children) but now I don't think I could ever live without a dishwasher.  Silly?  Maybe.  But with 4 kids running around the house (and almost always in the kitchen) I'm not sure I'd be very sane if I had to wash all the dishes we go through.  It is even more environmentally friendly to use your dishwasher if it is an energy star appliance and if you only run it when it's full.  It's also good to open the dishwasher door to let it dry instead of using the dry cycle.