White vinegar wash.

Our whole lives we are taught to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables to keep ourselves healthy and strong, but what is the sense in eating all of these things if we aren't going to properly wash them?

We all know that we should wash our produce but why? Our produce is handled by many people, not only workers, but other customers in search for the "perfect" apple, or nectarine, or whatever. But there are more reasons to wash your produce than just germs.

- Pesticides
- Bacteria
- Wax
- Soil
- Fungi
- Chemicals
- Organic matter

Studies have proven that soaking your fruits and vegetables in a white vinegar wash gets rid of 98% of bacteria! With all the food borne illnesses, why even take that risk?

I've always washed my produce, but it was always just a quick rinse under water. That was until a few months ago when I was feeling very house wife-ish. I decided that instead of washing my apple every single morning while in a rush, why not do them properly all at once to save some time. I had made a goal to switch all my cleaners to natural ones, so I headed to pinterest to do some research. Which brings me to the white vinegar wash.

I learned that the most effective way to get all the wax and nasty stuff off, you should was with a 3:1 ratio of water and vinegar. For example 1 cup of vinegar for 3 cups of white vinegar.

That day I washed every single thing in my refrigerator.  Starting with the apples. I added fairly warm water to a clean sink, along with white vinegar and apples, then let them soak for 20 min or so. Making sure that you turn the apples half way through. When I looked at the apples after, I could not believe my eyes. I knew there was wax on apples, but that much?! I was putting that into MY BODY?!  Once you are done soaking your apples, make sure that you scrub them really good, other wise you won't get all the wax off. You'll notice this when they dry. The first time I tried this, I scrubbed them about 3 times.

 

 Isn't that insane?! 

Apples aren't the only thing you can wash with white vinegar, I also did blackberries, kale, carrots, you name it you can probably do it.

Now the thing about washing any type of leafy vegetable, is that the warm water kind of wilts it. But have no fear, I have a solution! I learned this trick while working at a grocery store in the produce section. We used to do this ALL THE TIME. While your leafy veggies are still warm from the water, rinse them off to make sure the vinegar is off, now bear with me, put them in the freezer. (I know, you probably think I've gone mad by now.) Only leave them in there for a few minutes, then take it out. The shock from the warm to cold makes them perk back up, and they become crisp again. It does take a couple times to get it right, but it is a super easy to do, and very cost effective, because you'll be throwing less away in the end.

Taco seasoning.

If you were to open my spice cupboard right now, I can guarantee you that most of it would come crashing down on you. Not because I'm THAT messy, but because I have so many spices and blends. The best part about making your own spice blends, is that you can customize it to your taste. Maybe your allergic to something, or you like it spicy, or would like to cut the salt. It's all up to you. That being said, I'm going to share with you my all time favourite taco seasoning. 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (sometimes I crush these more than how they come in the store)
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt (I use Himalayan salt)
1 teaspoon black pepper (I use fresh ground)

Directions:

Add all the ingredients in an airtight container. Shake. And voila. You have homemade taco seasoning.

Yields 1 lb of hamburger

This recipe is completely customizable.  I LOVE hot foods, so I almost always add more cayenne and red pepper flakes than the recipe calls for. Just don't do what I did and forget the cumin! That's crucial to the flavour.

-Chantal

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bombs

I can't help but share one of my all time favorite foods; chicken bombs. I've made bacon wrapped chicken thousands of times, but it was always missing something. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. One day my boyfriend and I were making stuffed jalapeños and we had left over cream cheese and sweet chili sauce mix. We decided to experiment. With much trial and error, the bacon wrapped chicken bombs were born!

Ingredients:

-Chicken breast (butterflied)

-Jalepenos (washed, and halved)

-Cream cheese (or goats cheese)

-Bacon (thawed)

-Sweet chili sauce

Instructions:

Take about half a package of cream cheese and mix with the sweet chili sauce. I usually just keep mixing and adding until the flavor seems right. If possible, leave it overnight because it'll become more flavourful the longer it sits. Now is the time to add your spices if you a choose. I usually don't add anything, but you can put in salt, pepper, chipotle, or cayenne. 

If you don't know how to "butterfly" a chicken breast, nows the time to learn. Set your breast on a cutting board, and with a serated knife, cut it horizontally, about 3/4 the way through. When you open the breast up, it should be laying flat. If not just cut it a little more, but make sure not to peirce through the other side. 

Next you want to spread a good amount of your cream cheese mixture onto the breast. (Keep in mind some of it will spill out as it cooks)

Place half a jalepeno in the chicken breast, and fold over like a sandwich. 

Now this is the tricky part. Getting your slippery chicken wrapped. Take a slice of bacon and start at one end and gently wrap your chicken. I usually use 2 or 3 prices of bacon to do this. 

After I'm done wrapping it, I stick it onto a skewer to keep the bacon in place. It also helps when it comes time to turn your chicken bomb.

I also learned that if you brush some sweet chili sauce on the outside it becomes extra tasty! I did that twice, once before I put it in the over and a second time before I flipped it. 

Bake at 350 until done. Be sure to flip it once so the bacon on the bottom becomes cooked also well. 

When it is done you can serve with garlic mashed potatoes, or on a bed of rice. Either way I can guarantee you'll enjoy it.

-Chantal

Ginger Beef

The other day I had a craving for one of my favourite chinese dishes, but since I'm allergic to most take out, I set off on a journey to recreate it in my home. I've always had a love-hate relationship with ginger beef. I LOVED the ginger flavor of the sauce but I HATED the cheap cuts of beef they used to create it. Eventually I became allergic to some of the ingredients in it, and quit eating ginger beef all together. It wasn't up until recently that I've found a restaurant that would make it for me GLUTEN FREE. I was in heaven. That is until I was abruptly reminded of why I didn't like it.

When I started to make this I was a little discouraged with the recipes I was finding online. Most had ALOT of sugar, or ingredients I didn't have etc. So I did what I do with every recipe. I made my own.

Ingredients:

1.75 lbs steak (sliced)
Cornstarch
Oil of choice
Carrots (sliced diagonally)
Onion (julienned)
1/2 cup fresh ginger (minced)
10 garlic cloves (minced)
6 tablespoons soy sauce (I used VH gluten free)
8 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1/2 cup of sugar
Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions:

I started off by cutting up 1.75 lbs of steak into little slices (It sounds like a waste of a perfectly good steak, but trust me it's worth it!) Make sure your steak is still cold, it's easier to work with, and keeps the steak tender.

Heat up your oil of choice on med-high. Meanwhile, take a zip lock bag and put in some cornstarch, your steak slices, and salt and pepper. Shake until fully coated.

Once oil is fully heated, add your coated beef. Flip after roughly 7 mins. I had to do mine in two batches.

Cut your onions and carrots. Also mince your garlic and ginger.

Sautee the carrots first, add onions after a couple mins, then the ginger, and finally the garlic. I always add the garlic last because it will go bitter if cooked too long.

Once the carrots are tender but still a little crunchy, you can start to add your soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil.

This next step isn't necessary, but I added some cornstarch to thicken up the sauce a bit.

Toss in the cooked beef, and put it on top of cooked long grain rice. You are now free to enjoy this masterpiece!

I don't think I will ever go back to traditional take out after making this dish! The beef is soooo tender and it's packed full of flavour. This will for sure be one of your new favourites!  

-Chantal

All Natural.

I know that I kind of sucked at my Happiness Project. I've been slowly making life changes in the direction I want to go, It's just been gradual instead of one thing per month. I will update with all progress I make towards reaching my goals.

First things first. I had the ultimate goal of switching all my products (hairspray, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner etc etc) over to natural. I don't want to do it the easy "I'll just pick it up at the health food store" way. I want to make it. Yes I understand there will be challenges, like it won't work the way the chemicals did, or adjusting to the way it feels. Whatever.

Yesterday I ran out of toothpaste. OK, ok, I ran out last week, but have been using baking soda instead.  I've done some research and alot of toothpastes do have it already in it, for its whitening and scrubbing abilities. It held me over until yesterday. I just got... in this mood I guess. I wanted homemade toothpaste. NOW. I set off on my journey of toothpaste. I knew what I wanted, it had to have tea tree oil and baking soda, but wasn't sure what else to mix to make it that perfect consistency. I soon stumbled upon familysponge.com and it was perfect, all my favorite ingredients.

Recipe:

1:1 ratio
Baking Soda
Coconut Oil

Then to add the essential oil. I added tea tree, because its my fav. But after trying it, I used more then the original recipe called for, and next time I will add spearmint as well.

It doesn't foam up like store bought toothpaste, and it feels weird having the coconut oil melt in your mouth, but your teeth are plague free all day long. AND YOU CAN DRINK ORANGE JUICE AFTER. Bonus.

- Chantal

July.

In the book "The Happiness Project," she started the year off, and every month added a new set of goals on. This month I'm going to make about spiritual and emotional well being. Why this month? Because this month in particular, I will be surrounded by people who motivate me to be more spiritual in my life. Every year in July I go to Trossaches Gospel Camp. I've spent the last 22 Years of my life going there, and last year I made the decision to get baptized. I was an amazing experience having my family and friends watch me make this life choice. The people there have always been a great support system for one another, its very rare to see that outside of camp. So I figure that its a great month to start.

Goals for this month are:
- Get in touch with myself. I'm bad for rushing through my everyday life, forgetting that while I'm off pleasing everyone else, I really should spend time on myself. I deserve it.
- Read the Bible everyday. I tried this a year ago. It went well, until I went away from the people that motivated me.
- Spend a couple minutes each night to write a thankfulness journal. I do this on and off, particularly when I see an example of someone I wish to be nothing like.
- Pray. I'm bad for getting in the habit, but then as soon as things go good again, I forget.



“Recognizing that you are not where you want to be is a starting point to begin changing your life.”
―  Deborah Day

- Chantal

June. Complete.

Well, my first month is over. I cant believe I've been going to the gym for a month. It's funny because I was soooooo against it. "Why would people drive to the gym just to run on the tread mill?" Just running in general made me laugh. One time I actually tried to run (actually twice, but who's counting) I got a running buddy and everything. I warned her before hand that I was in bad shape etc etc. She replied "Oh, don't worry, so am I. I haven't went for a run since rugby ended." HA! Yeah needless to say, I thought I was going to die that day on her living room floor, and she wanted me to stretch!

Now for the review.
- More flexibility. I don't know if I got more flexible per-say but I will keep working at it.
 - Go to the gym at least three times a week. For the first week I rocked it! After that my work schedule got hectic and I worked weird hours making it difficult, but I still went as often as possible. However, I just switched jobs, so I'm hoping that things will be a little more "normal." Whatever that is.
- Do some sort of exercise everyday (even if just a walk.) This one was pretty easy, as both my jobs are walking/standing.
- Make better choices (take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc.) I did do this as much as possible, although I don't really go places where there were elevators etc, so I was forced to take the stairs.

I'm hooked. I love watching my body change this month. I've noticed I can do certain things with ease now. I have found muscles I didn't know existed.

- Chantal