Freshened Up Kitchen Shelves and A Healthy Chocolate Tart

One of the parts of un-decorating for Christmas that I anticipate most is putting back my kitchen shelves. Of course they never go back to the way they were before the red transferware is displayed. Something is always being added or taken away. But that's what makes things interesting in the kitchen.

Recently, I switched out the glass canisters and put back an older nesting set I had stored away. I'm enjoying the but of colour. I also hung this pastoral watercolour painting I had picked up over a year ago. It helped fill out the space.

My little Gold Crest tree fits perfectly in this old urn, and it doesn't feel too much like Christmas.

And since I've been spending a lot more time in the kitchen, I made a dessert to bring on New Year's Day. It seems that with the stroke of midnight, Pinterest has become an endless list of healthy recipes, all to aid in recently made resolutions.

My sister in law and I are trying to be more conscious of what we are eating, and since that meant I shouldn't be indulging in any more deserts, I decided to be proactive and make something healthier to bring. I came across this recipe for what was supposed to be a chocolate cheese cake, and while I can't really get my head around the whole cheesecake aspect, it was a surprisingly yummy chocolate mousse sort of tart.

So what's so healthy about this decadent looking tart, you ask?

It's made from avocados!

The bottom is a mixture of pecans, hazelnuts, raw cacao powder, coconut oil and maple syrup. The filling, a couple of ripe avocados, more raw cacao powder and maple syrup to sweeten it. It's not exactly as the recipe called for, but it's quite close. It turned out well anyway.

If you can get past the thought of avocados, and a definite healthier taste, it's quite good. It's definitely a decent chocolate taste, but refreshing and light, not decadent.

You can find the original recipe here.

A New Planner and Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

 

As promised, I wanted to share with you the beautiful planner that a friend recommended. Previously I had mentioned that my New Year's resolution was going to be to use a planner. A proper place to sit and think through my day.

 

To organize what I want to accomplish.

To keep track of the endless projects I want to work on.

To begin a budget.

To see all of the events and important dates in one place.

 

Something to bring order in the midst of what is often pretty chaotic.

 

I recently read, and sadly I can't remember where, that "a cluttered environment is the product of a cluttered mind. And a cluttered mind is the product of a cluttered heart". And that can be so true in my life. I am so often fluttering around from task to task, keeping myself so busy, but at the end of the day, when I finally stop and look back on the hours that have passed, I can't really say that I've accomplished much.

 

And so, not with the intent of being perfect, or getting it right immediately, because we all know how resolutions go... I just want to start making an conscious effort to find some order. And a rhythm.

 

But first, I wanted to share a recipe I tried yesterday with great success.

 

Vegan* Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins from Averie Cooks.

 

Now, in a moment of honesty, I could tell you that the muffins in these photos were actually Vegan and you would never notice the difference, however they were not. I didn't have any almond milk on hand so I had to substitute milk. I also used vegetable oil instead of the recommended coconut oil for the same reason. But, I am planning on trying them again soon with both coconut oil and almond milk. As they were made though, they were delicious and definitely worth sharing.

 

I'm predicting they won't last through the weekend.

 

Also, the little wicker tray was also a recent find. It was $4 at our antique market! It was another find with Willen last weekend.

 

Sometimes, when it comes to something with Pumpkin, I find that recipes tend to use a little less spice than I would prefer. This one however delivers a beautiful spiced pumpkin flavor that pairs well with the dark chocolate.

 

It was perfect with my cup of coffee this morning.

 

It hasn't stopped snowing for the past couple days. This morning it was - 19 degrees Celsius (but - 28 with the wind chill!). It's freezing. But we don't mind. After all, it is January.

 

 

And so, onto my planner.

 

This planner from Simply Plan was recommended to me by a friend who had noticed that I was looking to purchase a planner online. You can read more about the two women behind the planner on their website (linked above).

 

It was exactly what I was looking for: Clean, simple, easy to use, and consisting of all the parts I thought made up a good planner.

 

I love the simple design with lots of space to make notes. I also love how I can fold it over when writing on the reverse sides of pages.

 

But most importantly for me, it was supporting a local business.

 

It's only been a few days, but there is something wonderful about taking time to write out a plan. To see it on paper and not just as thoughts floating around my mind. I've been making a coffee, sitting in a sunny spot, and taking some time each morning to work on it.

 

I've also enjoyed some company in my sunny little spot.

 

This is Ellie. We are kitten sitting for my sister while her and her husband are away in New York. The boys are ecstatic as a few months ago we came home to find our beloved Hermione had been hit by a car. After that, we said no more kittens for us.

 

So a few days with an adorable (and very well behaved) little kitten has been lots of fun. We'll be sad to see her go. Everyone but Ollie that is... He's been a bit jealous.

Caesar Salad

 

I love salads.

 

They are a favourite for lunch, and an easy dinner when I'm home and Ryan is working late. But when I'm eating a salad for dinner, I need substance. I'm not looking for a simple pile of lettuce.

 

Bold dressings, berries, crumbled cheese, sauteed meat, candied nuts, seeds, eggs!

 

Now those are salads.

The possibilities are practically endless.

 

Here is my favourite Caesar salad.

 

It's especially delicious with homemade croutons and crisp prosciutto.

However, I'm trying to be good.

 

 

A few key ingredients - Crisp Romaine, Freshly cooked chicken breast, cucumber, Parmesan shavings and a delicious homemade dressing.

 

 

I was never one to add eggs to my salads, however, it really is delicious. I like mine soft so that the yoke mixes with the dressing and makes it even creamier. Plus, it's more protein, which means I'm full longer.

 

 

 

On one date, Ryan and I went to a classic Italian restaurant in the city and our waiter, who wasn't young, came out with a rolling cart stocked with ingredients. He crushed anchovies, mashed garlic and prepared the entire salad from scratch right in front of us. It was the most amazing (and expensive) Caesar salad I've ever had.

 

 

The dressing recipe is from Martha Stewart, however, I don't make it exactly and tend to free-hand. I don't add near as much lemon juice, nor the anchovies as I never have them, and I like to make it the consistency more of a vinaigrette by adding oil and finely grated Parmesan.

 

 

Though he won't touch a salad, he still loves snacking on fruit and veggies. Maybe because he can make his cucumbers into mustaches?

Spelt Pancakes with Strawberries

In an effort to try to be more healthy this year, I recently began experimenting with more health-conscious pantry ingredients. I've tried to eliminate my processed flours and refined sugars, and replace them with things like spelt and coconut flour, palm sugar, agave nectar and honey.

Trying different recipes has actually been quite fun, and though not everything I've tried has been a success (pureed cauliflower to name one), there are a few so far that have been pleasantly surprising.

Spelt Pancakes has been one of them.

If you asked my son, who is three, what he would like for breakfast, he would respond (as he does every morning) "Pancakes, scrambled eggs and dry toast." Yes, dry toast.

So you can imagine, I was a little worried that it would be hard to find a new pancake recipe.

I'm happy to report that he didn't even notice the difference. Though they were slightly different in texture, the taste wasn't far off.

Spelt Pancakes with Strawberries

1 cup Spelt Flour

1/8 cup Coconut Flour (it thickens the batter up a little nicer)

1 tbsp. Palm Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 Egg

1 1/2 cup Milk

They cook exactly like any other pancake and this morning, they were topped with fresh strawberries and syrup.

Though strawberries are far from being in season here, I happened to find these at the grocery store earlier this week. They are already a few days old and they are still nice and fresh. I froze some for smoothies later.

We are spoiled each March with a gallon of pure Canadian maple syrup from my mom. It's a treat that lasts us all year long.

 

 

Delicious.

As I'm getting ready to post this, I'm sitting at my office window, watching Willen play outside. It's the 12th of January and my thermometer is reading 13 degrees. I'm not complainging... It might as well be spring. But I wasn't quite ready for the snow to be gone just yet. After all, we are in Canada.