PINEAPPLE CAYENNE DETOX

This gorgeous pineapple sat in my kitchen ripening for four long days. Although the anticipation was slightly painful, it did bring me a little joy each day just having this tropical accessory in the home. And when it came time for juicing, it did not disappoint- I could drink this glorious juice recipe every morning for the rest of my life, if pineapples were only so abundant in Canada. 

PINEAPPLE CAYENNE DETOX: an immunity booster, energizer and toxin detox. 

INGREDIENTS: (yields 2 servings) 

  • ½ pineapple
  • ½ cucumber 
  • 1 apple 
  • 1 lemon
  • 1- 2 inch piece ginger root (to taste) 
  • a pinch of cayenne pepper 

Wash and prep fruit and vegetables by removing the rinds of the pineapple and lemon, and removing the core of the apple. Cut everything just small enough that it will fit into your juicer with ease. Juice the above ingredients and add cayenne pepper at the end, stir and serve.  

HEALTH BENEFITS:  

PINEAPPLE: anti-inflammatory, digestive benefits, rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, as well as an excellent source of magnesium. 

APPLE: reduces cholesterol, rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, and promotes heart health. 

CUCUMBER: natural cooling and hydrating properties, digestive benefits, and a rich source of vitamin B.

LEMON: natural detoxifier, rich source of vitamin C, and contains limonene that promotes immunity and helps fight infection. 

GINGER: anti-inflammatory, anti-cold and anti-flu agent, clears microcirculatory channels of the body, promotes heart health, and improves absorption of nutrients.

CAYENNE: anti-irritant, circulatory stimulant which aids in the detoxification process, promotes heart health, and supports weight loss. 

Enjoy! 

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE HOST

We are bombarded with Holiday Gift Guides at this time of year, and I know it can be overwhelming. So please take this package of curated goods as a form of inspiration, not because we must give, but because it's the time of year to appreciate the significant people in our lives (that we may not take the time to appreciate on the daily).

For the next couple of weeks I will be delivering Holiday Gift Guides which will include something for just about everyone in your life- a gift from me to you. Today, we kick it off with the Holiday Gift Guide For The Host. Here are some thoughtful ideas to leave with your gracious hosts this holiday season.  

 

KNITS IN BLACK & WHITE

I found myself in a rabbit hole of cozy knits yesterday, and discovered the beauty of them being shot in black and white. The nature of black and white allows us to see the garments more graphically, and emphasizes the contrasting shapes and textures that make a beautiful knit, well, beautiful.

ELEVATIONS BY STUDIO ESINAM

Studio Esinam is a creative studio based in Sweden, founded by an art director and architect duo who created Elevations, a series of city posters that have certainly made an impression in the world of interior design. The studio released three new prints recently- Stockholm, an addition of the Elevations series, Goteborg and Brooklyn to launch their new series Landmarks. 

"In our first print series elevations, we seek to capture the unique feeling of various cities around the world. Cities that most of us have some kind of relation to, but probably haven't seen in the format of architectural drawing. By studying the facades, directing attention to details that mostly pass unseen, we hope to touch upon qualities to the architecture that contribute to that specific feeling the city imposes on you."

Now I will just be awaiting the release of the Toronto print to either of the Elevations or Landmarks series- patiently waiting I'm sure. 

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ZUCCHINI & SOBA NOODLE SPINACH BASIL PESTO

La Cucina Povera is an Italian phrase meaning "poor kitchen" or "peasant cooking." In the past, this peasant cooking style aimed to use those ingredients on-hand and available in the kitchen, garden, farm or ocean. Simply put: making do with what they had. Humble dishes, made of the highest quality ingredients available, that spoke for themselves.  

In our apartment, even when the state of the cupboards and fridge are grim, generally some form of nut, legume, vegetable, and/or grain can be found. This Cucina Povera inspired dish is a favourite of ours during those times, and has become a regular on the weekly rotation. Not only for the convenience of the ingredients, but with nourishing, fresh and savoury flavours, it's so delicious I'd miss a week without it.  

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We use a Spiralizer for the zucchini. I'd like to say you could finely slice your zucchini or shred it, but changing the texture and consistency of the dish would completely change the flavours and experience. If there is one kitchen tool I will never regret purchasing, it's the Spiralizer. Efficient, quick and clean, the value of this little device will exceed your expectations. Also, I'll be sharing plenty of ways to use it in posts to come. Do yourself a favour and grab one today. 

Kale chips are easy to make, and really elevate the dish. Sure, you can enjoy it without, but you won't mind the extra step once you experience the sea salt flavoured crunch throughout. 

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Zucchini & Soba Noodle with Spinach Basil Pesto is topped with sun-dried and cherry tomatoes, cashews, pine nuts and kale chips. Loaded with protein, amino acids, B vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (the list goes on), one can guiltlessly take comfort in this dish while enjoying a glass of red.

INGREDIENTS: (yields 2 servings) 

  • 200g buckwheat soba noodles 

  • 1 large zucchini 
  • 10 cherry tomatoes halved (yellow or red) 
  • 3 large sun-dried tomatoes finely sliced 
  • ½ bunch of kale 
  • 2 tbsp olive oil 
  • crushed cashews and pine nuts to top
  • sun-dried tomato oil to drizzle over 

SPINACH BASIL PESTO INGREDIENTS: 

  • 2 cups fresh basil
  • 2 cups organic spinach
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup raw walnuts
  • 2 tbsp hemp seeds (optional if you don't have these)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp salt (to taste)
  • fresh ground pepper (to taste)

    COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: 

    1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. De-stem kale, wash, dry, and tear into smaller pieces. Toss with olive oil and sea salt. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly distribute kale on sheet in a single layer. Bake kale for 10-15 minutes, watching carefully and rotating pan once. Once crisp, set aside to cool. 
    2. Bring water to a boil and drop buckwheat soba noodles in. Reduce water to a simmer and cook noodles for 7 minutes or till al dante.
    3. While noodles are cooking, prep vegetables. Wash and half cherry tomatoes and slice sun-dried tomatoes. Set aside. Wash and spiralize zucchini using the blade closest to the soba noodle width (about spaghetti size). 
    4. Drain and place soba noodles in a bowl of ice cold water to rinse off remaining starch and to quickly cool. Ring water from noodles by hand squeezing. Set aside in fridge to dry and chill.  
    5. Once kale chips have cooled and soba noodles are dry and chilled, toss both zucchini and soba noodles in Spinach Basil Pesto. Click here for the pesto recipe. 
    6. Plate and top noodles with tomatoes, nuts, kale chips and season with a drizzle of sun-dried tomato oil. 

    URBAN SURVIVAL PACK

    New Zealand based designer, Ryan Ramones, was given the task to create and design a possible solution to the contributing factors of urban poverty. The result came in the form of a 20cm, white, square, cube enclosing an educational kit for kids, labelled- Urban Survival Pack.  

    Ramones says, “tactility and playful shapes invites the users to engage with the device whilst learning through play”. 

    Found inside the pack are twelve cardboard tubes containing seeds, essential gardening tools, and emergency equipment. Attractive in design, innovative, environmentally friendly, functional and fun- learning has never been so beautiful. 

     

    Found on trendland.com 

    BATHROOMS WITH BATHTUBS

    I don't know if its the colder weather or simply because I don't have one, but I've never craved a bathtub more. And with all the style options, variety of materials and possibilities for the bathroom layout itself- a girl can certainly dream.

     

     

     

    Cover photo: Mariah Fox

    SPINACH BASIL PESTO

    Pesto is far more versatile than given credit for- my recent appreciation for this Italian staple has opened my eyes to the many possibilities of form and flavour it can take on.  

    I'm certain the list of ingredients that I've been experimenting with would have your Italian grandmother rolling over in her grave. A classic Italian Pesto consists of basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil and parmesan. However, I was sure we could squeeze more nutrients and vitamins in there, after all, it's green! After dabbling with basil substitutes such as swiss chard, kale, and spinach, playing with cheese versus no cheese, and replacing pine nuts with every nut under the tree, I stumbled across a recipe that achieves both nutritional value and great taste. 

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    Nutrition Stripped Spinach Basil Pesto recipe includes the key ingredient to any great pesto: basil. Without basil, however which way you make it, its flavour will simply be lacklustre. Three other reasons why I think this recipe is awesome: walnuts, hemp seeds and nutritional yeast. These include an amazing combination of essential fatty acids, omega 3, vitamin B-12, amino acids and protein.

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    A food processor, Vitamix, or Jamie Oliver's pestle and mortar technique can be used to prepare this recipe. So, go whip up your batch! You'll have enough for my Zucchini & Soba Noodles with Walnut Spinach Pesto (recipe to be posted later this week), and some left over for other creative inspirations such as pesto toast with poached eggs, pesto portobello parmesan pizza, lemon pesto hummus, and tomato pesto grilled cheese.

    STREET STYLE: THE WINTER COAT

    It's that time of year here in Canada- when temperatures begin to dip, we are digging out warmer shoes and boots, reminding ourselves of what toques and scarves we bought last season and getting familiar, once again, with the heavier coats in our closet. And for those of you finding your winter closet isn't meeting all your needs, don't fret. I've gathered an array of inspiration from the streets of a few fashion meccas: London, Paris and New York. 

    Below, women owning the winter coat in different styles, colours and textures- in everything but black. 

     

    COLOUR: 

    1. chicismo.com 2. april robb 3. harpersbizarre.com 4. Rock and Fiocc

     

    COLOUR BLOCKING: