Healthy Life Lessons

This recipe was inspired by my mom's friend Lucille's famous mock crab.  It makes a delicious appetizer, snack or lunch.  Serve with whole grain crackers, or use in place of tuna salad on a sandwich, wrap or on top of fresh greens. I am not calling it mock crab because I think it is cruel to mock crabs.  Really, what did crabs ever do to you? Okay, that's not the real reason.  Actually, I think this is delicious in it's own right, regardless of whether or not it tastes anything like crab salad. White Fish Salad 1 lb light textured white fish (I used wild cod) 2 celery stalks, finely diced 1 onion, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, minced Pinch of paprika Salt & pepper, to taste 1/4 cup ketchup (preferably sugar-free) 1/4 cup low-fat mayo/Veganaise, etc.* Pinch of cayenne, to taste (optional) Place fish on foil-lined baking sheet.  Scatter diced celery, onions and garlic over top.  Season to taste.  Roast in oven at 425F for a...

Mornings have been really rough lately.  Not that they've EVER been easy since having kids, but lately they've been extra difficult because of Little A.  Instead of adapting to her new daycare, which she started in October, she is increasingly resisting going to daycare.  Monday to Friday I am faced with screaming, tears and protests while she begs me to let her stay home with me.  I have no concerns about the quality of the new daycare - it's the same outstanding one Big A goes to, which has a 3 year wait list - but I do have concerns about forcing her to go when she clearly doesn't want to.  Adam and I have identified the issue as being related to the strictness of her teachers.  They are kind and loving, but they run the preschool room with iron fists and there is a lot of structure and rules.  For a kid like Big A, this would be no big deal, but Little A gets very upset when she feels she has been reprimanded and if an authority figure even does ...

This recipe turned out great, only the batter made a bit too much for a standard loaf pan (the consequences of inventing my own recipes!).  I poured the remainder into 2 mini loaf pans.  Alternatively, you could pour all of it into a bundt pan or make muffins.  There is so much sweetness from the peaches, that even if you opt to use sugar, you don't need much, meaning this is as healthy as it is delicious.  As with all vegan baking, I find it is important to let everything cool completely before removing it from the pan.  1-28oz can peaches (preferably packed in water), drained 2 flax eggs (2 tbls ground flax whisked with 6 tbls hot water) 2 cups Mimicreme vegan cream substitute (made from cashews and almonds) 2 tbls powdered stevia (or sugar or other sugar substitute) 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups whole wheat flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp sea salt Puree peaches in a food processor and then transfer int...

Konjac is the plant used to make Shiratake noodles. These are the noodles I've mentioned many times before, that contain no calories, carbohydrates or nutritional value, and make a great substitute for rice noodles, glass noodles or bean thread noodles in a variety of Asian dishes. They are perfect for anyone who has allergies to wheat or rice, is gluten intolerant, or needs to limit their calorie or carbohydrate intake. Since noodles are generally a calorie-dense food, these noodles are also a great way for anyone to lighten up a traditional noodle dish. Although they contain no food energy, they are extremely filling, so pairing them with lean protein, healthy fats and lots of veggies, can provide you with a massive, satisfying, and nutritious meal while keeping calories in check. They also are quick to prepare and do not get soggy or mushy, so they are perfect for noodle soups. They do not, however, absorb liquid, so unless using them in soup, they need to be sauced with a ver...

Is there anything better than peanut butter?  Really?  It can be sweet, savoury or spicy, but any way you use it, it is bound to make your meal delectable. So it's a real shame that peanut butter - like all nut and seed butters - is something that should be eaten in moderation.  Waah!  Yes, it's full of good for you monounsaturated fats, but it is crazy high in calories (90 per tbls), and excess calories can lead to excess weight, which - even if it's due to overconsumption of HEALTHY foods, can put you at risk for Type II diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers. One of my favorite ways to enjoy peanut butter is simply spread on whole wheat bread with creamed honey on top.  I've loved this treat since I was a kid.  But I also love using peanut butter for savoury dishes.  Asian peanut sauces are a weakness of mine, they are so awesome for pouring over noodles or stir-fries, or using as a dipping sauces for salad rolls or satays.  But those...

If you live in Ontario than you likely enjoyed a quiet day off yesterday...if you have no kids.  Or an exhausting day, if you were trying to entertain your brood on Family day. We were supposed to take the girls to the Fantasy Fair indoor amusement park, but it was only open in the afternoon, and our friends we had plans with wanted to go skiing in the morning and switch our playdate for the afternoon.  So Adam and I were left scrabbling at the last minute to find morning activities. The ROM was a bust a few years ago (Big A got bored after half an hour), and like all museums around the city, if you have no membership - which we don't - than it's super expensive for a family of four.  The Science Centre didn't seem like a great option either because the girls go regularly with my in-laws and they wanted to do something different.  There was a carnival at the Rogers Center that we looked into, but quickly nixed when we found out it cost $35 per person!! So I was...

I know I've mentioned before that I'm not the biggest fan of live theatre...but I did admit that I adored Two Pianos, Four Hands a few months ago.  I also forgot to mention that I absolutely love Ronnie Burkett.  If you are not familiar with Ronnie, he does puppet shows.  Yes, puppet shows.  Marionettes, actually.  His work is definitely for adults though, and not for children! Adam first took me to one of his shows when we were dating.  I thought he'd gone mad when he first told me he was taking me to see a show with marionettes.  But I was completely blown away by this man's brilliance, so I was more than happy to see another show of his with Adam a few years later. When I heard he was touring his latest show, Penny Plain, here in Toronto, I eagerly bought tickets for Adam and I, and we went yesterday.  I am sad to say we were both somewhat disappointed, this show pales in comparison to his other ones we have seen.  That ...