Homemade Vanilla Extract

Make your own vanilla extract at home. A couple months later, it's worth the wait!

Serves: 200 ml

Prep Time: 4-6 months

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  4-6 months

Ingredients

2 vanilla beans
200 ml vodka

Directions

1. Carefully slice vanilla beans lengthwise using a sharp knife. Gently open to expose inner part of the vanilla bean, called "caviar".
2. Stuff vanilla beans into a small 200 ml glass bottle or jar with a tightly sealing lid. Pour over enough vodka to cover.
3. Store in a cool, dark place and gently shake every week or so. In 4-6 months the vanilla beans will have infused the vodka.
4. Use as normal in baking and desserts.

Recipe from beanilla.com

Trail Mix

Make your own trail mix by choosing all your favourite ingredients and mixing them together!

Prep Time: 5-10min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  5-10 min

Nuts and Seeds (raw, toasted, salted or unsalted)

pumpkin seeds
sunflower seeds
walnuts
pecans
peanuts
cashews
almonds
pistachios

Dried Fruit (sweetened or unsweetened)
cranberries
date pieces
cherries
apricots pieces
banana pieces
gogi berries
pomegranate seeds
pineapple pieces
mango strips
papaya pieces
blueberries

Other Ideas
large shred coconut
banana or plaintain chips
crystalized ginger pieces
wasabi peas
chocolate or yogurt covered nuts and dried fruits
chocolate chips
cereal (Shreddies, granola clusters, corn pops)
Pretzels

Directions

1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Toss well and store in an airtight container. Portion into small bags or containers for an easy grab and go snack.

What's in you favourite trail mix?

Juice Ideas

Have a juicer? Try some of these incredibly delicious and super healthy ingredient combinations!

Carrot, ginger, apple and celery.

Serves: 1-2

Prep Time: 5-10 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  5-10 min

Combination Ideas

apple, celery, cucumber, kale, lemon, parsley
cilantro, lime, pineapple, spinach
carrot, ginger, orange
apple, beet, carrot, celery, ginger
apple, carrot, ginger
apple,grapefruit, kale parsley spinach
apple, beet, ginger, nutmeg
broccoli, carrot
apple, grapefruit, peach
cabbage (red), pear, lemon
apple, carrot, garlic, ginger, parsley
beet, carrot, sweet potato
apple, carrot, ginger, lemon
apple, fennel bulb, ginger, mint leaves

Directions

1. Wash all ingredients and juice according to manufacturer's instructions.
2. Enjoy your fresh juice!

What are your favourite juice combinations?

Crepe Filling Ideas

Looking for some exciting new ingredients to fill your crepes? Try these combinations!

Sweet Combinations

Chutney, pear, pecans and vegan Mozerella

• cinnamon sugar and lemon juice
• lemon ricotta
• Nutella and banana slices
• berry jam and peanut butter
• apple butter
• fresh mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries)
• cinnamon stewed apples
• tin fruit (mandarin oranges, peaches, pineapple)
• apple sauce and cinnamon
• charoset
• compote
• peanut or almond butter
• dessert hummus
• maple syrup, agave or honey
• healthy chocolate spread
• dulce de leche
• chocolate sauce
• fruit salad
• whipped cream or creme fraiche
• ice cream, soy ice cream, coconut ice cream, almond ice cream or frozen yogurt
• toasted peanuts, pecans, walnuts, almond slivers
• chocolate or lemon mousse

Savoury Combinations

• chutney, pear, pecans and Brie cheese
• orange marmalade and cheddar cheese
• pesto, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese
• garlic sauteed mushrooms, baby spinach and avocado
• tomato slices, fresh basil and goat cheese
• grilled eggplant, sauteed spinach and toasted pine nuts
• caramelized onions, baby spinach and toasted cashews
• baby spinach, black olives, red onion slices and feta cheese
• grated carrot, baked tofu bites and wilted spinach
• balsamic caramelized beets and feta
• grilled asparagus and toasted pine nuts
• beet and apple chutney with brie or white cheddar and baby arugula

What are your favourite crepe fillings?

Ideas for Oatmeal Additions

Add some of these ingredients to your bowl of cooked oatmeal. Get creative and experiment with various combinations!

Nuts and Seeds (toasted or untoasted)
almonds
pecans
walnuts
peanuts
cashews
shelled pumpkin seeds

Dried cranberries and toasted almonds

sesame seeds
whole or ground flax seeds
sunflower seeds
chia seeds

Fresh and Dried Fruit
strawberries
raspberries
blueberries
peaches
plums
pears
cherries
apple, grated or chopped
raisins
prunes
dried cranberries
dried cherries
dried pears, sliced
dried apricots, sliced
dried gogi berries
dried dates, chopped

Sweetness and Spices

Maple syrup, almond milk, dark chocolate
ground flax, shredded coconut

brown or white sugar
honey
maple syrup
agave
molasses
date paste
apple butter
berry jam
vanilla extract
almond extract
ground cinnamon
ground ginger
ground clove
ground cayenne pepper
salt

Dairy and Substitutes
milk, soy milk, almond milk, oat milk etc.
cream or soy cream
butter or margarine

Chocolate and Nut Butters.
chocolate chunks, milk, white, dark
cocoa or carob powder
protein powder, vanilla or chocolate
Nutella
peanut butter
almond butter

Other Additions
shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
pumpkin puree
grated carrots


Is there any ingredient that I've missed and you love? Leave a comment below!

Stirfry Ideas

Here are some ingredient ideas to liven up your stirfry:

Vegetables
red or white onions

Baby Bok Choy

green onions
bell peppers
broccoli
kale
spinach
baby corn
various mushrooms
zucchini
carrots
snow peas
snap peas
green beans
water chestnuts
bok choy
napa cabbage
cabbage
celery
bean sprouts

Meats and Substitutes
beef
chicken
pork
extra firm tofu
tempeh


Oils
sesame oil
peanut oil
chili infused oil
vegetable oil

Spices, Sauces and Garnishes
dried chili flakes
ginger
garlic
teriyaki
sriryacha
garlic chili sauce
sweet and sour sauce
soy sauce
peanut sauce
sesame, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted
peanut or cashew pieces, lightly toasted

Serve over

Basmati rice
jasmine rice
brown rice
wild rice

rice noodles
soba noodles
egg noodles
ramen noodles
chow mein noodles

Royal Icing

Icing cookies with royal icing that dries hard is a super fun and creative project.

Serves: icing for 1-2 batches of cookies

Prep Time: 15 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  15 min

Ingredients
For Piping

2 cups confetioners' sugar
3 tbsp. liquid pasteurized egg whites
1 tbsp. warm water (or more if needed, 1/2 tbsp. at a time)
flavouring of choice (1 tbsp. lemon juice, 1/2-1 tsp. vanilla or other extract)
food colouring (optional)

For Flooding
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tbsp. liquid pasteurizer egg whites
3 tbsp. warm water (or more if needed, 1/2 tbsp. at a time)
flavouring of choice (1 tbsp. lemon juice, 1/2-1 tsp. vanilla or other extract)
food colouring (optional)

General Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, or the bowl of an electric stand mixer.
2. Beat on high for 5 minutes with an electric stand mixer, and 10 minutes with a hand-held electric mixer.
3. After mixing, add food colouring if desired and beat until fully combined.
4. When desired consistency is reached, cover icing immediately or transfer to an airtight container, piping bag or squeeze bottle, as royal icing  hardens fast.

Piping Directions

1. When beginning to mix piping icing, it will be the consistency of white glue.  At the end of the beating process, it will turn glossy and become the consistency of toothpaste.
2. Test consistency by piping a small loops of icing through a #2 or #3 tip onto a piece of parchment paper or a test cookie.  The icing should hold its shape as it lands.  
3. Pipe a border of icing, or outline around the area of the cookie that you want to flood.  The aim to to make a seamless, unbroken wall, that will hold the flood icing.
4. Leave to dry before flooding.

Flooding Directions

1. When beginning to mix flood icing, it will seem very watery.  After mixing it for a while, it will turn opaque and slightly thicker. However, the consistency shouldn't be too thin or too thick, as it should spread easily over the cookie, creating an opaque layer of icing.
2. If your piping icing was coloured, try make the same colour flood icing.
3. Transfer flood icing to a plastic squeeze bottle.  Flood the cookie by squeezing icing into the area with piped icing walls.  If needed, use a toothpick or wooden coffee stir stick to guide icing over the cookie to cover every corner.
4. Decorate cookie with another colour of flood icing piped on top of wet flood icing, or by adding other decorations such as sprinkles metallic decoration balls.
5. Leave for 2-3 hours until icing has set.  Do not cover cookies while the icing is drying, as it slows the process and can damage your designs.

Recipe from Peterson and Fryer's Cookie Craft: From Baking to Luster Dust (2007).

5 Easy Salad Dressings

Whisk together the following ingredients to make a delicious and easy salad dressing.


Balsamic Vinaigrette (from ohsheglows.com)
2.5 tbsp. balsamic, white or red wine vinegar
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1/2 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper


Lime and Sesame Dressing (from cookincanuck.com)
2 tbsp. lime juice
1/2 tsp. grated lime zest
1 tbsp. canola oil
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 clove garlic, minced
pepper


Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette (from canadianliving.com)
1/4 cup oil pack sun-dried tomatoes, drained and cut into small pieces
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. white sugar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper


Creamy Lemon Chive Dressing (from canadianliving.com)
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. fresh chives, minced
2 tbsp. water
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. white sugar
salt and pepper
*shake all ingredients in a jar.


Honey Lime Vinaigrette (from theyummylife.com)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
salt and pepper

OXO's Julienne Peeler

I don't usually write posts recommending items or foods, but I feel that this tool deserves one! Meet OXO's Julienne Peeler.  

OXO's Julienne Peeler

This past summer I was looking for an alternative to spaghetti, and saw a lot of recipes for zucchini "spaghetti" - which is basically a zucchini that has been cut into long spaghetti-like strips, giving you a spaghetti texture, without all the refined carbs.  I was considering buying a spiralizer, one of the often mentioned culinary tools on blogs and forums dedicated to raw food, but I found that they were quite expensive, and a lot of reviews mentioned how finicky the spiralizers are.


I then discovered OXO's Julienne Peeler at a small kitchen store for $8.99.  The price was right, so I gave it a try...and haven't looked backed since! Making zucchini "spaghetti" is has never been easier! I've also used OXO's Julienne Peeler on carrots, potatoes and apples, and have only good things to say about it.


All in all, the handle is easy to grip, the safety cover is a useful design feature, it is easy to clean, and it is much cheaper and takes up less drawer/cupboard space than a mandolin grater or spiralizer. Get creative with it and enjoy!

Taco Filling Ideas

Here are some ideas of fillings for your taco, burrito or tortilla.

Diced fresh tomatoes

Main Fillings - Meat and Veggie
ground beef
shredded chicken
tomato rice
(not) refried beans
baked sweet potato chunks

Vegetables
avocado
black olives
jalapeno

Jalapeno and green onion pieces

fresh tomatoes
shredded lettuce
corn
red onion
green onions
red, orange, yellow or green peppers
cilantro

Dairy
sour cream
grated cheese

Sauces
salsa
guacamole
hot sauce

Burger Topping Ideas

Try some of these ingredients on your burger!  Tasty on both meat (beef, turkey, chicken breast, salmon) and veggie burgers (portabello, black bean, chickpea, veggie protein, tofu).

Veggies

Grilled vegetable stack:  eggplant, onion,

mushroom, spinach and tomato.

lettuce
tomato slices
pickles
red onion slices
caramelized onions
avocado
sundried tomatoes
sauteed mushrooms
sauerkraut
beets
pineapple slices
grilled eggplant
roasted red pepper
jalapeno
baby spinach
baby arugula
banana peppers
olive slices

Cheeses
cheddar
Monterey jack
Gouda
brie
blue cheese
feta
Havarti
goat cheese
sour cream
cream cheese

Sauces
mayonnaise
aioli
ketchup
Dijon mustard
honey mustard
salsa
peanut butter
horseradish
tzaziki
hummus
pesto
BBQ sauce
baba ghanoush

Other
fried egg

Pizza Topping Ideas

A list of ideas full of traditional and unexpected foods to top your pizza. Try some of them out!

Sauces

tomato sauce, homemade or bought
roasted red pepper sauce

basil pesto
roasted tomato pesto

hummus
roasted garlic oil

Tomato sauce, mushrooms, green pepper, arugula, goat cheese, onion slices

Vegetables

diced red onions

mushroom slices
portabello mushrooms
tomato slices

garlic, pressed or diced

olives
capers
roasted red pepper
roasted garlic
roasted sweet potato cubes

red, orange or green pepper slices

baby arugula

baby spinach

artichoke hearts

sundried tomatoes

pineapple pieces
caramelized onions
fresh avocado slices
balsamic cherry tomatoes

grilled vegetables (eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, butternut, asparagus, fennel etc.)

Cheeses

semi-soft goats cheese

crumbled feta

grated mozzarella
cheddar cheese
brie cheese
parmesan cheese
blue cheese
bocconcini (fresh mozzarella)

Meats

grilled chicken breast
lemon chicken
tuna
shrimp
scallops
smoked salmon
anchovies
sausage
bacon
meatballs
proscuitto
salami
pepperoni

Herbs, Spices and More

fresh basil
fresh rosemary
oregano
BBQ sauce
tabasco sauce
jalapeno pepper slices
banana pepper slices
toasted pine nuts