.hoppy easter.

hoppy easter!

xo, the jack bunny

.super sesame bars.

once i had a taste for those amazing green kitchen stories hemp protein bars [recipe here], i went on the hunt for another type of treat that i could have on hand for those mid-day cravings. that's when i  found their super sesame bars, which turned out to be the perfect snack.
they are surprisingly sweet for a super nutritious bar, filled with lots of goodies like super berries and walnuts, but filling enough that just one little square hits the spot. they have been a huge hit over with us treb's, minus the little guy. he's still a bit too young ;)

Super Sesame Bars

[via green kitchen stories. Makes around 18 bars]

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups walnuts

1 cup sesame seeds [you can also use half unhulled and half hulled]

1/3 cup goji berries

1/2 cup dried super berries [such as aronia, inca, mulberries or unsweetened cranberries]

4 tbsp honey or maple syrup

3 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

1 tsp salt

Directions

1] Lightly toast the walnuts in a large saucepan on low heat for a few minutes. Transfer them to a food processor and blitz into a coarse flour. 

2] Add the sesame seeds to the sauce pan, make sure the heat is low as the sesame seeds are very heat sensitive - you want to lightly toast them without burning.

3] Meanwhile, add all the berries to the food processor. Pulse for at least a minute, then pour everything into the sauce pan. Add honey, coconut oil, shredded coconut and salt and stir around until everything is combined, sticky and warm.

4] Cover a 8x10-inch [20x25cm] baking dish with parchment paper and pour the sesame mixture into it. Flatten it out with your fingers and the backside of a spoon [dip it in water to prevent the sesame seeds from sticking to it]. Put in the fridge for at least an hour, then cut them up and wrap in sandwich paper.

.our jack, 5 months.

last week, the 17th to be exact, our little mr had his 5 month birthday! it's crazy to think how fast he's growing, but also so amazing to watch. he is turning into this sweet little gentlemen, but with a slight attitude and sassiness that makes me both smile and cringe. i mean, it's cute now but check back with me 5 years from now....

here's a quick update on our jack, 5 months.

to see his progress and growth, here is 3 months and 4 months.

.millie-vanillie's 1st birthday, complete with a drum class and breakfast bar.

completing our birthday round-up from last week, while papa was away, was my favourite little sweetie's 1st birthday.

the beautiful miss millie turned 1!

so we got all dressed in our fanciest jeans and headed over to share in the birthday fun. and boy were we in for a treat! not only did millie's fabulous mama [my beautiful friend, chelsea] put together the coolest breakfast bar [complete with freshly squeezed juices - hello, carrot orange apple! homemade muffins! and a yogurt bar!], but they also hired a seth rogan look-alike [seriously his doppelganger] to teach us all how to play the bongo-drums! how awesome is that, right?!

it was seriously such a blast! the kids were all enchanted [and i'd say a few of the adults too!] with even the littlest of the bunch, jack and james, joining in the fun. i admit i also have found myself to this day, 2 weeks later, strumming aloud to "follow the beat - bum bum bum" and tapping the nearest item! ha! the food was delicious [i found a new favourite way to mix my greek yogurt - coconut, granola, and pumpkin seeds - yum!] and was inspired to bust out my juicer again. i should also mention the gorgeous water-colour decor that chelsea stayed up all night to complete [poor mama], but was so worth it as just look at this party!!

and although arranged marriages aren't really the thing to do here in canada, millie and jack don't really have a say in the matter. i simply adore this family way too much and perhaps sharing grand-kids one day with these people would be pretty darn cool. organic, gluten free, paleo raised grandchildren, right chelsea ;)

thanks again you wonderful people, for having us join the fun. we really had a freaking blast!

.cheesy quinoa burger.

last night i made the most delicious dinner. perhaps a little on the light side, but amazingly tasty. and a little healthy too!

cheesy quinoa burgers!

i originally pinned these ages ago and just keep by passing them by in my weekly dinner planning, however after trying to use up some of my pantry staples, i decided to give the ol' quinoa jar a dust-off. see, i actually don't love quinoa. rice, pasta, couscous, or potatoes - sure! but quinoa i just can't seem to master. until now! this recipe is crunchy and light tasting, full of protein and may just be one of my newest fav dishes! the husband approved as well, so bonus!

and because this recipe is so versatile, here are a few changes you could potentially make:
1] throw some heat into the mix. add some tabasco or sriracha sauce to the recipe and treat it as an actual burger [minus the bun] by adding some slices of avocado and tomato then topping with the tzatziki.
OR
2] i would cook a meat dish to accompany it and use this recipe as a side dish. chicken, salad and cheesy quinoa cakes?! don't mind if i do!!
OR
3] make these as an appetizer. make the burgers smaller and top with a tsp of tzatiki or fry sauce [equal mix of mayo/ketchup] and pile on a plate = perfect appie!!
OR
4] for a dairy free version [not my cup of tea, but perhaps for someone else!], substitute the cheese for daiya cheese or tofu!

Cheesy Quinoa Burgers

[recipe adapted from here. Makes approx. 10 burgers]

Ingredients:
2 rounded cups Cooked Quinoa ]see below for cooking instructions]

3/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese [or other variety, if you prefer]
1/2 cup low-fat Cottage Cheese
1 medium Carrot, finely grated [OR 1 cup shredded Zucchini, squeezed dry]
3 Eggs
3 tbsp All purpose Flour
2 Green Onions, including white parts
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp ground Cumin
1/8 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
Olive Oil, for frying

To cook Quinoa for the above recipe:
1 cup uncooked Quinoa
2 cups Water
1/2 tsp Salt
*In a medium saucepan bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt to a boil over high heat. Add quinoa and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 18 - 20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed and the seeds are tender. Allow to cool for a few minutes.

Directions:
1] Make the cooked quinoa [as per above]
2] In a large bowl, combine the 2 rounded cups of cooked quinoa, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, carrot [or zucchini], eggs, flour, green onions, sugar, pepper, cumin, salt and garlic powder.
3] Heat a frying pan on medium with a couple teaspoons olive oil. Mixture will be slightly sticky, so using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, drop mixture into pan and lightly flatten to 1/2-inch thick. **To help them stay in patty form and not fall apart, cook them on medium-low to medium heat slowly so they have longer to set-up and cook without burning. Makes them easier to flip, too!**. Fry until golden-brown, about 4 minutes on each side.

Easy Tzatziki
[recipe from here]

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Thick Plain Greek yogurt
3 tbsp Sour Cream
1/2 Cucumber, peeled, seeded and grated [then squeezed of excess water]
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Sugar
1 tsp dried or 2 Tbsp fresh Dill Weed
Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
Directions:
1] In a small mixing bowl blend together the yogurt, sour cream, grated cucumber, garlic powder, sugar, and dill weed. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Chill. **This is best if made a couple hours in advance!