Bean Salsa

Bean Salsa

• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded & chopped
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 yellow pepper, diced
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1 can kernel corn, drained
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro 
• lime juice from 1 lime
• red wine vinegar 
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Seed and dice peppers, tomatoes and onions.
2. Rince and strain canned ingredients.
3. Combine prepared ingredients in a large bowl, add fresh cilantro and lime juice.
4. Toss salsa with red wine vinegar add salt & pepper to taste

Now your bean salsa is ready to enjoy! Great with tortilla chips or on its own. Keep refrigerated, stays fresh for a couple of days. 

Presentations

This term I have really learned the importance of a good presentation. With at least one presentation in each of my five classes in the last week. Needless to say my boyfriend is getting sick of listening to my business cases and brainstorming for ideas.

Reading Week Filled with Concerts!

This year has been the first reading week in a long time that I haven't gone on a trip somewhere warm. I was planning on booking a last minute deal, but waited too long to get the time off work (the headaches of working two jobs). Instead of working on my tan and relaxing on the beach I worked a bunch. I managed to switch some shifts so I could go visit my sister in London.

While in London we were out to dinner when our server asked if we wanted to be entered in the draw for Kings of Leon tickets. We didn't win the draw so we decided to head downtown and try to grab tickets from a scalper.

We lucked out finding free on street parking only a block from the concert and 2 seats in the 100's for $50 each.  The concert was excellent, and spending time with my sister even better!

After coming back from London on the tuesday of reading week I got down to business working and getting a bunch of homework done. To finish the week of with something fun I was off to another concert, this time Blue Rodeo. 

At this concert my boyfriend was in attendance for the first set and spent part of the second sound asleep. Hahah

Homemade Berry Sorbet

Another healthy thing I made this week was berry sorbet. I have been craving dessert lately but I find it hard to find good lactose free options. I used my food processor, making this diary free dessert fast and easy.

I used frozen raspberries, strawberries and blueberries blended with a splash of lemonade. This sorbet turned out amazing. The best part is you can use any frozen fruit you like and make as much or as little as you want.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust!

I have been trying out some new recipes lately, the first one I decided to post was Cauliflower Pizza since it turned out so good!

I found a couple recipes on Pinterest that I mixed together to make this recipe. 

These are the ingredients you will need to make the crust:

• 1 head of cauliflower 
• 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese
• 4 tablespoons of parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon garlic flakes
• 1 large egg

You can use any toppings you like on the cauliflower crust. 

To start I pre-heated my oven to 450 F.

I used my food processor to 'rice' the cauliflower, you can also use a cheese grater if you don't have a food processor. If you are using the processor don't blend the cauliflower too much, the cauliflower should be the consistency of rice. 

Once the cauliflower is riced you microwave it for 4 min. Then let cool completely, once cool wring all of the water out of the cauliflower using a clean dishcloth (this step is important if you want your crust not to fall apart).

In a bowl combine your cauliflower, cheese and spices mix these together before adding the egg. Once the egg is added I used my hands to mix and form the dough into a ball. 

Spread your dough out on oiled parchment paper. You want the dough to be formed together tightly, be careful not to spread it out too much. 

Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until it starts to look golden brown. 

Now add your pizza sauce and any other toppings you like. Put your pizza back in the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until your cheese is melted on top.

Let the pizza cool slightly for 3 or 4 minutes and enjoy!

Midterms

My week has consisted of studying, group projects, working and exams.


Really looking forward to reading week!

Bikram Yoga!

When I was going to Queens I went to a lot of yoga classes, Kingston seemed to be filled with really good yoga studios. Since moving to Barrie I haven't really got back into the routine or found a yoga studio that I really liked, until I went to Bikram. One of my friends asked me to go with her to try it out, I enjoyed it so much I bought an unlimited membership.

You might be wondering what Bikram Yoga is?

Bikram is a sequence of 26 yoga postures and 2 breathing exercises done in a heated room, at this location 105 degrees. Each posture stretches and strengthens your body in preparation for the next posture. The heated room allows for deep stretching, this helps with muscles, ligaments and joints. The different postures move and massage internal organs, and align the spine.  Bikram yoga is also focused on strength of mind and determination.  

Bikram yoga can help: weight loss, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, immune deficiencies, skin conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, arthritis, joint pain, chronic back pain, scoliosis, spinal injury, high cholesterol, heart disease, poor circulation, diabetes, hypoglycemia, sciatica, menstrual cycles, menopause, accident recovery, injury and pain, endocrine function, metabolism and emotional healing.

Yoga is becoming something I look forward to. It is an hour and a half where I get to relax, push myself, sweat and have "me" time. I feel great after the class and can't wait to go again. Yoga is helping me to manage my stress as well. 

Gallstones

Over the last month and a half I have been having terrible stomach pains through the night, turns out I'm the lucky owner of gallstones. The first night I had the pains I had eaten fast food after a long serving shift. Initially I thought I had heartburn from the fried food. After trying every heartburn remedy my medicine cabinet and Google could offer me I still had no relief, I was up almost all night. The pain usually starts out as a hot dull ache under my right ribs as the pain gets worse it stretches all the way to my shoulder blade.

A few days after the first "attack" I still had slight discomfort, my boyfriend was beginning to worry and insisted I go to the doctor. I was trying to avoid booking an appointment, trying to switch my work schedule and working around my group meetings and classes. One afternoon after class I was having my favorite snack an avocado, about half an hour after eating it I had my second major "attack". I was bent over in tears and had to call into work sick. I also called my mom and told her how I was feeling as soon as I described my pain she was sure I had gallstones. She had gallstones at 23 and gallbladder removed; all four of her sisters also had their gallbladders removed between 22 and 25. My grandmother on my father’s side also had her gallbladder removed in her 20's. My mom was sure I was having pain because of gallstones. I finally caved and made an appointment with my family doctor, the sleepless nights and mystery pain were taking their toll.

After going to the doctor having a few tests done and confirming my mother's diagnosis of gallstones I am forced to avoid fatty foods, alcohol, eggs, pork, onion, dairy, gluten, corn, beans, citrus, nuts, red meat, coffee, spicy foods, chocolate, ice cream, black tea, fruit juice, tap water, turnips, cabbage, cauliflower, oats. This list left me wondering what’s left to eat? Not much is the short answer. 

Now I am waiting on a referral to a specialist who can take out my gallbladder. Until then I will be watching what I eat and trying to keep a positive attitude. 

Well the first post is hopefully the hardest. My boyfriend is taking me out for a steak dinner to celebrate the start of my blog.

Starting Out

School, work, social life, and everything in-between; that's what I plan to cover in this blog. I will be posting recipes, crafts, commentary on my work and social life, along with the occasional rant.  This is my first blog so I will be learning as I go. I am in my last semester of my undergraduate degree, studying business. As part of my communications course we are required to start and maintain a personal blog.

I have been reading a couple other blogs and researched tips on blogging, and the most common thread of advice was to be yourself and honest. Keeping that in mind I can honestly say I'm excited and scared to begin. I think creating this blog will be a good means of self reflection and a good learning tool, I also think it will appeal to my creative side.

I will be posting a couple of times a week (my mark depends on it).