Eggs are one of the best ways to get protein with any meal. Hard-boiled eggs in particular are easy to grab to eat with fruit or a muffin for breakfast or cut into a salad for lunch. If they are overcooked the outside of the yolk will turn slightly greenish, which isn’t very appetizing. So I thought I’d share directions for how I boil eggs that turn out perfect every time!
Here’s the latest article from the Bodhi Tree’s Breathing Room Newsletter.
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Rise and shine! With the light returning minutes earlier every day, now’s a good time to start getting activity in at the very beginning of the day. Not only does exercise (mental and physical) do great things for your body, but it increases overall productivity, aids with sleep and will help you tidy up other areas of life once you see what you can accomplish.
Whether it’s yoga, the gym, or morning meditation, you may notice a voice inside your head, called the witness, that has a way of talking you out of things – a devil’s advocate, in a sense. I find the witness easiest to ignore if I hop right out of bed, throw on my clothes, and head out the door. If that doesn’t work, visualizing how I’ll feel during my chosen activity usually does the trick.
This month’s recipe is a perfect post-activity breakfast that you can double or triple, then package in smaller containers to have ready at your finger tips. So, make a promise to yourself, pick a day and before you know it, you’ll be catching the early morning Sun every day!
This egg dish is so simple to make and would be great for a big brunch where you didn’t want to spend a lot of time slaving over the oven. After posting this picture to Twitter/Instagram, I was informed that it’s called Shakshuka. I did a little research, and though this recipe isn’t the traditional form of the dish, it’s definitely along the same lines.
You can add whatever herbs and spices catch your fancy. Also, add any type of sausage, bacon or ham you like. I made a vegetarian version just by omitting the sausage and adding a few more whole tomatoes.
This was on the menu for the Interactive Monday Night dinner at Market 17 I hosted last week. Read about the Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cheese Biscuits I made for it too. So. Yummy.
I made these a few days ago for the Interactive Monday Dinner hosted by Casel Marche. It’s a dinner to introduce new people to Market 17 and J. Webb Wine Merchant using Cassis Bistro’s space. Not only do I love introducing people to good food, I love any opportunity to have free reign at a grocery store!
My theme was Breakfast (my favourite meal) for Dinner. I knew I wouldn’t have a ton of time to cook, so I chose simple items that still packed the wow-factor.
These biscuits from Canadian Living were so melt-in-your-mouth, even I was surprised! Whenever I’m making a cheesy pastry, I like to double the amount of cheese, so add as much or more of what’s called for in this recipe.
Here’s the latest article from the Bodhi Tree’s Breathing Room Newsletter.
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A few months ago I wrote about incorporating a new ingredient into your repertoire. What better time to revisit this concept than January, I say!
In the last few months I’ve been experimenting with chia and at the same time experimenting with bringing headstand and forearm stand back into my yoga practice – a little sprinkle here and there. You may have a yoga pose that you tried once, twice or many times, that has fallen out of your regular practice. Or perhaps you have a pose that you’ve always wanted to try but aren’t quite sure you’re able to. Well, this month it’s time to take the plunge!
Take a moment to think of that elusive pose you’d like to work on, then make a commitment to yourself to make slight modifications in your practice to accommodate that pose. Every little opening of the body is reaching that goal, no matter how long it takes to actually get into the shape.
I’ve been making an effort to do dolphin pose instead of downward dog and warrior pose with cactus arms to gradually ready my body for my goal pose of forearm stand. In the kitchen, I’ve been adding a tablespoon of chia into my baked oatmeal or a smoothie, experimenting with the texture and flavor of chia.
To help you along your way, try this Chia Smoothie recipe. One thing to note about chia is that it raises energy levels, which makes it a good substitute for coffee and not so great to ingest at night.
My friend Kendra and I had a bread day last week. We went a little crazy and made five different types! This Cherry Loaf came from modifying a recipe Kendra had for Strawberry Loaf (which is also delicious and which some day I will also post here) using ingredients that I had in my freezer – namely, 10 pounds of cherries I brought back from B.C. this Summer.
I’ll name some modifications we would both make next time we make it. We both thought it would be good with grapefruit glaze or some other citrus. This is delicious served with a fragrant tea like Roobois or Chamomile.
Cherry Cardamom Vanilla Loaf
5 cups of sweet cherries, pitted and mashed (next time I’d pulse it a few times in the food processor)
2/3 cup grapeseed oil
2/3 cup applesauce (I used the Crabapple Sauce I canned a few months ago)
1.5 cups sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsps pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsps ground cardamom (I only had whole cardamom, so we ground it ourselves)
2 pinches of allspice
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (more…)
Ok, so. Those of you who know me know that I’ve been wanting – nay, yearning – to learn how to make bread. My relationship with yeast has been tepid, at best. I’m not talking about tepid as in the lukewarm water you’re supposed to use to activate the yeast. I mean every time I’ve ever tried using yeast, I’ve somehow killed it (the time I thought I was supposed to use 100 degree CELSIUS water, not 100 degree FAHRENHEIT – whoops), or it’s only partially risen (not enough rising time??), or it’s risen and then baked into a brick (no idea)!
I got The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Easy Artisan Bread from the library, without even knowing it was a collection of no-knead bread recipes. I’ve seen Michael Smith’s Chef at Home episode where he makes no-knead bread as per the technique developed by Jim Lahey and outlined in the New York Times piece by Mark Bittman. So I thought, how hard can it be? It’ll perfect for my computer weary arms.
The first try I did everything the book told me, including mixing the yeast in with the dry ingredients and then adding the liquid. Two hours of rising time went by and…nothing happened. My hopes dashed, I asked around and was told that I had to activate the yeast (I totally knew that…but I was following the book directions!)
Anyway, I made the recipe again, with already activated yeast, and viola – bread was made. Calgary is SUPER dry, so I ended up adding a full 1/2 to 1 cup more water than the recipe called for.
Classic French Boule – from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Easy Artisan Bread
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp instant or rapid rise yeast
1 1/4 – 2 1/4 cups lukewarm water (I activated the yeast in about 1/4 cup lukewarm water with 1 tsp sugar)
2 tbsp cornmeal
Stir everything but the cornmeal together in a large bowl, until it comes into a ball. Loosely cover with plastic wrap (and a damp tea towel) and let rise on the counter in a draft-free place for 2-3 hours. Place in the fridge and let sit overnight up to 48 hours.
Preheat a Dutch Oven (enameled pot) in a 425 F oven for 45 minutes. With floured hands on a well-floured surface, draw the dough together into a 6″ ball. Let rise, seam side up in a bowl (covered again with plastic wrap or a damp, floured towel) for 30 minutes – 1 hour.
Once the Dutch Oven is heated, sprinkle the cornmeal on the bottom and turn the dough into it (seam side down). Cover it and bake for 30 minutes. Remove lid and bake for 20 minutes more or until an internal temperature of 210 F is reached.
Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
Enjoy!
Green drinks/smoothies are one of my favourite breakfast meals or snacks. There are so many combinations of fruits and vegetables to use, usually whatever you have in your fridge! I add protein powder in to make them a full meal that will keep me satiated for around 3 hours. The trick is to use a very good blender. Otherwise, you’ll end up with pulpy slush that isn’t very appetizing. In this version, I added a beet, which not only lends its beautiful colour to the drink, but also its vitamins and nutrients!
1 small beet, peeled and cut into wedges
3 cups greens (kale, swiss chard, lettuce, mesclun)
1 stalk celery
1 small carrot, peeled
1/2″ fresh ginger
1 apple (or pear, nectarine, peach, whatever’s in season)
1 banana
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1/4 cup fresh juice (cranberry is my fav)
1 serving’s worth of protein powder
water
Place everything in a blender and add enough water to almost cover. Blend until super smooth. You can stop and start the blender to let the larger pieces settle to the bottom. Pour into your favourite smoothie glass and enjoy! Keeps in the fridge for about 2 days.
Happy Cooking!
Jacinthe
On my cabin getaway in mid-August I came home with A LOT of fruit. This is my attempt at making Apricot Jam.
Here’s the original article from Bodhi Tree’s April 2011 newsletter.
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One cannot think well,
love well, sleep well,
if one has not dined well.
~Virginia Woolf.
I’m sure you’re all familiar with the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” You may have found that if you come to yoga on an empty stomach, you get dizzy and have very little energy, especially first thing in the morning. Your body is a complex machine that needs fuel to function properly. Nourishing the body with good food at regular intervals maintains your blood sugar levels, allowing you to think clearly and use your energy efficiently to remain active throughout the day. (more…)
Hi, I'm Jacinthe.
I like simple recipes, made with whole foods, that are good for the body and the soul. I have an affinity for freshly made pie, strong Earl Grey tea, learning about nutrition, doing yoga and making the most of the short Calgary growing season in my vegetable garden.
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