A Perfect Weekend

Today was my sister's birthday, but we celebrated yesterday with dinner and a cake, I didn't want to feel left out so I went to Kindfood for some vegan cupcakes.

I knew I would love the coconut one - I love coconut everything! I gave my sis the chocolate mint - because that's her type of thing.

Today was a pretty great day, the weather held up so Jim and I went downtown.

To start off the day we headed down to the Distillery District to check out the Sunday Market.

We popped into the Cube Works Studio that featured some neat art like these completely made out of rubik's cubes. I really liked pac man.

Then I hunted down the Apiecalypse Now booth for some vegan treats. I love supporting local vegan bakers!

I got me a mini apple pie and Jim the lemon loaf, and we split a slice of banana bread!

 We ate the slice of banana bread right away (yummy!) and saved the pie and loaf until later.

Back in about January I had seen a preview for the movie Forks Over Knives and I couldn't wait until it came out to see it. I had planned to go on opening night here in Toronto but something else came up so I had to wait a bit longer. I finally saw it today and it was great! I loved the China Study when I read it two years ago and was impressed to see it come to life on screen. I strongly believe if people see this movie it will change their minds, and open them up to a whole new perspective and lifestyle. I hope more people opt to prevent disease instead of waiting to go the route of a bandaid fix when it's too late.

My favourite quote that sums it all up: "The answer isn't another pill, the answer is spinach"

Following the movie, we headed over to Rawlicious to take advantage of their special for a smoothie, wrap and side salad for $15 (with a Forks Over Knives movie stub).

This time I tried the caesar wrap because I had heard it was amazing, and indeed it was fantastic! I had it with the Raspberry Bliss Smoothie and a side salad with balsamic dressing.

Jim chose the taco wrap (I loved it last time I was here) and he really enjoyed it as well. He had the strawberry milkshake which was heavenly and a side salad with balsamic dressing.

For dessert I had the brownie.

Jim had the cheesecake (today it was chocolate banana).

By the time I got back home I was too stuffed to try the pie and loaf - I'm looking forward to trying them at breakfast tomorrow!

Have you seen or are you planning on seeing Forks Over Knives? It's not in theatres for very long so if you haven't seen it go soon!
Have you tried Apiecalypse Now baked goods? They are at the Sunday Market all summer in Toronto's Distillery District - check them out if you can :)

Have a sweet day!

Girls Weekend in Ottawa

"Each human being is expected to be a soulful ambassador of good-

will to improve the standard of mankind." - Sri Chinmoy

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend. It turned out pretty nice weather-wise so I was glad to have spent the time in Canada's capital. My friend is moving out west so we thought we'd take advantage of the east while she's still here.

For the 4 hour drive I made some Peanut Butter Rice Crisp Squares. (Chocolate Chips in 2/3 of the batch).

 

I had a destination on my list (a vegan one) so first thing we did upon arrival was to venture out to find Auntie Loo's Treats (bakery) to pick up some cupcakes and whatever other goodies we saw. Good thing my travel buddies were up for the hike, this place was a bit out of the main area where we were staying and closed at 3:00 on Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday) so it really was now or never.

We made it 45 mins before closing!

Our purchase...

Strawberry Lemonade Cake (other purchases included Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcake, Earl Grey Lemon Cupcake, Pineapple Upside down cake and coffee cake).

Then a stop for a bite at Jak's Kitchen where I had a tofu wrap with greens and yam chips. Delicious!

After sight-seeing at Parliament Hill, and a river sunset cruise, we headed to the Byward Market for dinner saturday night, and ended up at Shafali Fine Indian. If you've never been to Byward Market, it is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets (dating back to 1826) approx 4 square blocks consisting of museums, cafes, pubs, specialty food stores, boutiques, galleries, salons and it is very pedestrian friendly!

Back to dinner, this is Shafali's:

We ordered: Dal, Naan, Stuffed Naan, Aloo Gobi, Rice, Coconut Curry. Very tasty and a fun dining experience!

Sunday morning we went back to the Byward Market so I could check out a veggie cafe called Peace Garden Cafe. 

 

I had a thai sweet potato soup, samosa and a mango raspberry smoothie.

This cafe has artwork by Sri Chinmoy (spiritual teacher) with many inspirational messages, like this one. Love it!

Overall it was a fun trip, exhausting because we did so much and I really like Ottawa, especially Byward Market. I will be coming back soon. There were other veggie/vegan restaurants so I have plenty to visit next time!

What did you do for the May long weekend?
Have you been to Ottawa?

Have a sweet day!

It's a Blueberry Kinda Day

Happy Friday!

For some reason waking up today was a struggle, and it took me awhile to gather the energy to do anything. First things first, a girl's gotta eat! I made a smoothie that had 1 banana, 4 strawberries, 2 handfuls of blueberries, 6 spinach leaves, 2 kale leaves, orange juice and soy protein powder.

I then devoured a vanilla cupcake with blueberry filling and blueberry "cream cheese" frosting.

I made the cupcakes yesterday and they definitely taste better today. The vanilla cupcake was a standard vegan recipe and the filling, was a homemade blueberry jam I whipped up. The frosting was interesting. I hardly ever use fake cheese but thought to give this a try with Tofutti. It was sweeter than I liked, thanks to all the powdered sugar but I'll have to tweak before I post the recipe. No food colour needed, these were vibrant with the blueberries mixed in!

Have a sweet day!

Orange Cream Cupcakes

These citrus cupcakes are not only vegan but gluten-free too!

Modified from: Gluten Free Goddess

Makes 12

Dry Ingredients:
3/4 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/3 cup corn starch
3/4 cup organic cane sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp xanthan gum
zest from 1 1/2 oranges (remaining zest of 1/2 orange for icing optional)

Wet Ingredients:
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp melted coconut oil
1 tbsp brown rice syrup
1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1 egg replacer (mixed)
2 tsp vanilla extract

Pre-heat oven to 350ºF
Whisk together dry ingredients. Add wet to dry and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes until the batter is smooth and creamy. Allow batter to sit for a minute as you prepare cupcake liners in tray.
Pour batter into liners and bake for 15 - 18 minutes, they will rise and darken slightly. Test with a toothpick. Once ready remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
Leave cupcakes to cool completely before icing.

Orange Buttercream Icing:
1/4 cup Earth Balance Butter or non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
1tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
zest of 1/2 orange

Whip icing for 2-3 minutes until fluffy and ice with sprinkles (or garnish with fruits) if desired.

Each cupcake packs about 2g of protein, and about 200 calories!


Have a sweet day!

The Last of the Easter Egg Hunt

There seem to be 3 Easter egg cakes remaining... then on to the next holiday!

Sweet Tooth

Today I woke up with the urge to sink my teeth into something chocolatey.

So away I went and whipped up chocolate cupcakes

Some other goodies I baked this month:

Pina Colada  cupcakes (just in time for the warm weather)!!

Mini sprinkle donuts. Recipe from Oh She Glows.

Pizza a la vegan

Kale chips

Banana flax muffins (chocolate chip and walnut)

Don't worry I shared some ;)