Peanut Butter Love

I recently rediscovered my love for peanut butter, the natural organic kind of course. The love was instant and it quickly grew strong. My raw almond butter and cashew butter were cast aside in the fridge, for a later day..most likely when the peanut butter jar is empty. Throughout the week, peanut butter and celery was my new go-to combination, along with a dollop of peanut butter in my post-workout smoothie. There's just something about peanut butter, no?

And what better way to consume it than in healthy ball form?

Peanut Putter Balls

These bite size balls are packed with omega, fiber, and a good dose of protein.


Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 5-6 dates, pits removed and chopped
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (omega!)
• 1 tbsp ground flax seed (fiber!)
• 1 tbsp organic peanut butter (protein!)

Directions: With a food processor or high speed blender, grind cashews to a fine powder. Add chia seeds, ground flax, followed by chopped dates and peanut butter. Once your mixture starts to stick and and clump together, roll into small to medium snack size balls. If your mixture isn't sticky enough, add one more date or a touch of water. 

Healthy, easy, delicious. Perfect on its own or crumbled on top of a breakfast smoothie or porridge. 

My work is done here.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Twice is Nice: Blend & Bake Snack Duo

When it comes to snacking, I typically reach for hydrating fruits or vegetables, such as carrot sticks with hummus or an apple with almond butter. However, post-exercise sometimes my body needs a little something more. Something rich in protein and healthy fat, with a hint of natural sweetness.

Now that I'm back in Melbourne and in the groove, I've been experimenting with exercising twice a day. Nothing too exerting, but pairing power yoga with 30 minutes of elliptical training, cross-fit with ab work, or deep stretching with weight training. While my body enjoys the various duo-workout combinations, snack time becomes more crucial than ever. More calories burned = more fuel needed for safe and effective recovery time.

This doesn't seem to be a problem for me, seeing as I love snack time. Snack time was my favourite part of kindergarden, summer camp, and junior soccer practice (orange slices anyone?). Exactly. Glad we're on the same page.

Instead of my usual apple with almonds or carrots n' celery sticks, I've been amping up the protein with smoothies and most recently, protein-rich cookies! And please, trust me when I say this nutty-banana smoothie and protein rich cookie recipe is the ultimate duo.

Nuts for You Smoothie
inspired by a smoothie at Kale Eatery in Toronto 

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tsp cinnamon 
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp ground flax seeds
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 tbsp raw almond butter
• 1 scoop Vega smoothie infusion or other protein powder
• 1-2 ice cubes

Directions: Blend everything together and enjoy! You can turn this into a thick n' creamy breakfast by adding 4 tbsp of oats and leaving it overnight in the fridge. The oats and chia seeds will thicken up the smoothie and in the morning you'll have a delicious breakfast waiting for you!

*Note* The smoothie is slightly green in colour due to the Vega plant based protein. However, it does not taste "green" whatsoever! Other proteins may yield a different colour and taste, pending if the protein is flavoured. Regardless, you can't fail with this combination! 
Smooth, thick, and creamy goodness. I can't get enough!

Next up...

High-Protein Post-Workout (or just because) Cookies

Inspired by the bag of organic apricots in my cupboard 

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup Spelt flour (whole wheat flour or GF flour would work also, although rice flour may result in a denser cookie)
• 1 cup organic oats
• 2-3 tsp Cinnamon, depending on potency (I used 3)
• 8-12 Unsulfered Apricots, chopped (I used kitchen scissors, to make life a little easier)
• 2-3 tbsp Raw cacao nibs
• 1/8 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/3 cup ground flax meal
• 2 large tbsp almond butter (other nut butters are a fine substitute) 
• Organic olive oil (other heart-healthy oils work as well)
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup 
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
• Splash of almond milk (if batter is too dry)

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350F (180C). In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, cinnamon, coconut, apricots (or other dried fruit), chia seeds, and cacao nibs. Sift in baking powder and stir until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine flax meal, maple syrup, almond butter, and vanilla and mix until well combined. Stir in oil. Add wet mixture to dry and mix until just well combined (no need to overmix!). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon batter onto baking sheet evenly apart and lightly flatten. Bake for 12 minutes exactly. Remove from oven and let cool for a minute, then transfer to a cooling rack. 

Enjoy on their own or crumbled on top of fruit and organic greek yogurt. Delicious! Good to the last crumb. 


mmm snack time. Nothing beats a delicious duo. 


What did you cook this weekend?
xo

Sharing is Caring: A few of my favourites

Every morning, bright and early before 7am, after I stretch and prepare a cup of herbal tea - I'm currently hooked on an Ayurveda blend called 100% Mysteries -  I enjoy a protein rich breakfast, alongside some morning reading.

For those who know me well, I thrive on sharing knowledge and exchanging information, especially in the realm of health and wellness. I can talk about the power of chia seeds, and chia alone, for 30 minutes flat. No matter where I go, I always manage to make friends at my local health foods store and gravitate toward the nearest Lululemon (thus, my work place). I love connecting with likeminded individuals, who share a passion for healthy living, raw baking, sport nutrition, holistic beauty, and more. Moreover, I love connecting with fellow bloggers who fuel me with new inspiration, knowledge, and creative energy that brightens my time in the kitchen and/or everyday life.

And so, I want to share some of my favourite go-to blogs and online resources with you all! Because sharing is caring. This short, but sweet, list was not easy to compile. I have loads of blogs that I love, read, and stumble upon every day, so I naturally struggled to create a concise list of just ten.

10 Inspiring (and bookmark worthy) Blogs

1. Oh She Glows
   I've had the pleasure to meet and dine with Angela on several occasions. She's full of positive energy and creativity, which shines through her tasty recipes and gorgeous food photography.
   
   
2. Holistic Vanity
   Friend and co-owner of Pure+Simple spa (my home-away-from-home), Kristen Ma, is the queen of holistic beauty, detox tips, and Ayurveda inspired living. Kristen shares all this and more on her blog, Holistic Vanity. I always look forward to her posts and appreciate her honest and knowledgable advice. If you're unfamiliar with Pure+Simple products, I highly recommend you get acquainted with them!
   
   
3. Joyous Health
   I met Joy a few weeks ago, when I was home in Toronto. We chatted non-stop about raw/vegan snacks, veggie restaurants, and whole food recipes. She shares loads of knowledge on her blog and personal website, Joyous Health, and leads regular workshops/demos for those in Toronto.
   
   
4. Peas and Thank You
   I can't recall exactly when I started reading Sarah's blog, but I'm so glad I did! Her witty sense of humour and easy n' delicious recipes are both entertaining and worth while. Sarah recently published her first book - Peas and Thank You - which I purchased on pre-order! Woo-hoo another book for my kitchen library!
   
   
5. Daily Garnish
   Author Emily is a culinary arts graduate who shares yummy vegetarian recipes. I always enjoy her personal stories, intertwined with healthy baked goods and dinner ideas.
   
   
6. My New Roots
   Sarah Britton is a holistic nutritionist and vegetarian chef who writes on her blog My New Roots. Her photography is stunning and recipes are always paired with useful knowledge. I love her take on raw food and unique approach to whole food cooking.
   
   
7. Crazy Sexy Life
   Stared by Kris Carr, Crazy Sexy Life is a mash-up of contributors who share inspirational content pertaining to diet, lifestyle, love, and more. While I enjoy some articles more than others, Crazy Sexy Life is definitely a part of my blog bookmarks.
   
   
8. Fearlessly Floating
   My best friend and soul mate, Nadine, shares her award-worthy photography and personal journey on her blog, Fearlessly Floating. Her raw, honest, and heartfelt blog posts often leave me smiling or teary-eyed. You don't have to know her to fall in love with her positive approach to life and poetic writing style.
   
   
9. Green Kitchen Stories
   Just look at the recipes...need I say more? Beautiful photography and fresh wholesome food, with an emphasis on local food..yup, bookmarked!
   
   
10. That's Fit
    Powered by AOL, That's Fit is a consistent resource for health, fitness, and lifestyle content, written by both talented and credible contributors to boot!
    

And that's a wrap! I hope you enjoy and bookmark a few of favourites..and don't be afraid to share the love. 

What are some of your favourite must-read blogs? 

Love & Light

Sometimes the unexpected catches you off guard, sending prickly pins and needles down your fingertips and into your toes. Sometimes the unexpected can derail your day, surprise you with delight, or overwhelm you with shock, and then deep sadness.

Last Monday I woke up to receive some tragic and completely unexpected news; a childhood friend of mine was killed in an unforeseen accident. At first my head felt fuzzy, I was shocked. As the day wore on, my state of shock transitioned into sadness.

It was difficult to be in Melbourne and feel so far from friends and family back home in Toronto. I exchanged tears with my best friend via Skype, spoke to my Dad, and reached out to those who needed a little extra strength. I felt a little bit closer.

It's not easy to lose a friend, nor is it easy to fathom the pain that their parents and best friends endure. Sometimes it takes time, but love and light always pokes through tragedy and lifts you up in unexpected ways. It strengthens your core and reminds you to live and to live brightly. It reminds you to fill up with gratitude and project kindness into the world. As inspired by the Lululemon manifesto, it reaffirms to breathe deep and appreciate the moment.

I'm so grateful that I was home, with friends and family, for three whole weeks. If I wasn't just with my friends and family, the unfortunate news would have hit me a lot harder. Thanks for flying me home, Dad.

I'm so blessed to have such loving and inspirational people in my life. They are always with me, no matter the distance or ocean between us.

When I was home, I saw my little brother graduate High School - as he walked across the stage. I'm so grateful and happy to be his big sister. Bryce, you mean the world to me.

I'm grateful to love and be loved. 

I'm grateful for friends who make me laugh. When I was home, I spent time with my dear friend, Patrick, and enjoyed almost every single day with my best friend, Nadine. I love you both.

 I'm grateful for my loving parents and family home. I'm grateful for close friends, who live around the corner.
I'm grateful for delicious and healthy food, which I enjoy every single day.

I'm grateful for the likeminded people in my life. During my visit, I laughed until my abs hurt and enjoyed holistic meals with my heart-of-gold friend and soulmate, Ingrid.

I'm grateful for my good health, sharp memory, and University education.

I'm grateful to have been a part of my friends life. I'm grateful to have shared a seat next to him in Grade 1, and to have grown with him all the way through High School. Even though I'm down under, so far from home, I feel close as I shed some love and light.  

Make a wish and send your love and light into the world. Life is too short not to. 


Love,

Cleansing Summertime Meals

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Canada Day long weekend. I sure did! I celebrated the long weekend with a trip to St. Anne's Spa and summer barbecuing, complete with loads of fresh alkalizing foods.

I was particularly happy with a simple massaged kale and avocado salad, which received a' lotta nods round' the dinner table. I featured this recipe on Holistic Vanity, one of my absolute favourite blogs. I frequently mention Pure+Simple here on Forever Addicting, but if you're still scratching your head I urge you to check out their website, or better still, head to your nearest location in the Toronto area. P+S products, services, and staff are worth while meeting, especially if you're keen on natural skin care.

Mosey on over to Holistic Vanity for this yummy cleansing summertime salad :)

This is one of the back patios at St. Annes Spa. It was country bliss combined with clean country air, yoga, and natural pampering (St. Annes uses Aveda products)..my kinda weekend ;)

Happy Monday!

xo