Friday, 25 April 2014

A Winning Coconut Curry

Spicin' things up tonight in the Vidal House.

It's always a good idea to keep the husband interested..
kitchen and bedroom being the two main departments.

So far this evening, I have focused on the kitchen.

I decided to try a new recipe (always risky)
and make a very healthy
Coconut Curry
(vegan friendly)

I got the recipe from my favorite food blogger,
The Minimalist Baker.

It's called the "30 minute Coconut Curry".

I paired this with a Barrel Aged Chardonnay
from Toasted Head winery in California.
(On sale in Vintages now for $14.95
& shout out to my aunt & fellow Chard Lover
for finding this gem)
 
Healthy Ingredients
 
 
 
 
 
Certainly not the most "effortless" meal I've made,
but a winner with the husband..
which could only lead to great things later tonight ;)
 
On that note, Sleep well!

xo







Thursday, 17 April 2014

Blogs.. the non-readers read.

Reading..
 
A hobby I have yet to enjoy.
 
I have about 50 books that I've purchased throughout the years,
in hopes I'd become a "reader",
 
all which still have book marks in them.
 
A sad truth is.. the only book I ever made it through is
"Why men love Bitches".
Fascinating.
 
 
 
I wish I was more into books.
 
I have tried going into Chapters to find a "good read",
and all I walk out with is a couple fashion magazines and some home décor.
 
But as of recently...
I have become highly addicted to reading blogs.
 
There are 6 blogs that I will not go a day without reading,
and will give them the credit they deserve.
 
Fashion Blogs
 
 
 
McKenna Bleu is my all time favorite.
I share the same fashion loves
(she also believes Kate Spade can do no wrong)
 as well as similar wedding anniversary dates.
*awww* 
 
Home Décor Blogs
 
 
 
Jillian Harris.. from a Bachelor love to a design icon. Love her ideas.
 
Food Blogs
 
 
 
 Healthy Recipes, Dinner party ideas.. I'm all over it!
 
So if you aren't so much into the ol' paperback,
and have already thrown your 20-20 vision out by starring at a computer screen all day at your job,
why not take on a couple blog reads.
 
Find your favs, and read away.
 
My favorite way to start a Saturday.
 
 
 XO
 
-Tshizzle
 
 
 


Monday, 7 April 2014

Zinfandel on Zinfandel - A Perfect Pairing

Saturday April 5th 2014
6:00pm - Sunday
Dinner on Zinfandel Court
 
What a treat to be invited to a dinner party.
 
Can you really go wrong if the hostess lives on a street named Zinfandel?
 
The efforts, money, time and overall work that went
into the evening was evident the moment we walked in..
and with wine and food contributions from each attendee, 
there wasn't any way we were leaving without a couple extra pounds.
 
The dinner party
was captured so beautifully
by Emily Flynn;
 Her pictures will speak for themselves.
 
 


 















 
EXCUISITE!
 
Courses Included:
 
Two incredible anti-pasto platters
 
Chicken Liver Moose with freshly baked bread
 
Oysters
(purchased at Tide and Vine in NOTL)
 
Roasted Beet Salad
 
Mushroom Risotto with Seared Scallops
 
Roasted Duck, with homemade Duck Dumplings
and Bok Choy
 
Coconut Cream Pie
Cheesecake filled Strawberries
Chocolate covered strawberries
Baileys and coffee
 
Dinner wrapped up at 3am,
and everyone hit the sack hard. 
 
Amazing Job Miss Flynn.
 
One for the books!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Friday, 4 April 2014

March Break.. from blogging.

Most Canadians would not be saying this past month went by quickly...
 
I on the other hand, have no idea where March went.
 
For the Vidals, this was an extremely busy month
consisting of eating, drinking and socializing.
 
I photographed most of our activities in March
with my quality Blackberry camera :S,
in hopes that I'd wake up with the motivation to blog about it.

 No such luck.
 
It seems all I needed,
 was to refresh the look of my blog!
*or should I say, get my techy sister to do it for me*
 
Before I dive back into revealing all that
I have put into my stomach this past month,
I will admit.... it did catch up with me a bit.
 
A mini 3 day detox,
going "hard" at the gym
 (aka adding 5 minutes to my 20 minute workout)
and staying low key for a week
was what I needed to get my bod back on track.
 
I feel fantastic today!
 
I have changed up a couple of my eating habits
to justify the bag of chips I will crush later in the day.
 
Here's what I start my day with:
 
A Protein Packed Smoothie
 
One banana
Spoonful of Almond butter
1/3 cup rolled oats (organic)
1 teaspoon Cocoa powder
1/2 cup Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
2 teaspoons Chai seeds
1/2 cup Vanilla unsweeted Soy milk
1/2 cup water
 
Then I magic bullet the crap out of it.
 
 
And there you have a morning breaky that will fill you until...
well...
snack time!
 
Happy to be BOTB...
Back on the Blog.
 
All this time I wasn't blogging..
I was online Spring Wardrobe shopping....
Stay tuned for a few of my fav latest purchases!
 
 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
 
xo
 
 
 
 
 


Thursday, 6 March 2014

Black Bean Brownies


While the husband is quarantined in Vegas,
I have the opportunity to
try new healthy recipes,
so he'll come home
to some fresh new snack & dinner ideas.
*I foresee him needing a serious detox after this trip*

My two favorite (daily) snacks,
are chips and desserts...
but as I get older, I know I need to tone it back
*a little*
before it all catches up to me.

My girlfriend and I planned an evening of cooking
and baking while he was away, and she told me
about these healthy brownies she makes that would
satisfy my sweet tooth!



WOW.

I must say...
these brownies seem
too good to be healthy.


Vegan Gluten Free Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
  • 1 15 oz. can (~ 1 3/4 cups) black beans, well rinsed and drained
  • 2 large flax eggs * We used regular eggs*
  • 3 T coconut oil, melted (or sub other oil of choice)
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder (the higher quality the better)
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • heaping 1/2 cup raw sugar, slightly ground or pulsed in a food processor or coffee grinder for refined texture *You can also use honey*
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • Optional toppings: crush walnuts, pecans or semisweet chocolate chips


Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Lightly grease a 12-slot standard size muffin pan (not mini).
  3. Prepare flax egg by combining flax and water in the bowl of the food processor. Pulse a couple times and then let rest for a few minutes.
  4. Add remaining ingredients (besides walnuts or other toppings) and puree – about 3 minutes – scraping down sides as needed. You want it pretty smooth.
  5. If the batter appears too thick, add a Tbsp or two of water and pulse again. It should be slightly less thick than chocolate frosting but nowhere close to runny.
  6. Evenly distribute the batter into the muffin tin and smooth the tops with a spoon or your finger.
  7. Optional: Sprinkle with crushed walnuts, pecans or chocolate chips.
  8. Bake for 20-26 minutes or until the tops are dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides. I found mine took about 25.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes before removing from pan. They will be tender, so remove gently with a fork. The insides are meant to be very fudgy, so don’t be concerned if they seem too moist – that’s the point. Plus, they’re vegan so it doesn’t really matter.
  10. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. Refrigerate to keep longer.

Our finished product paired with a
Sunnybrook Organic Rose


Indulge in these brownies guilt free!

Bon Appetite!

xo


Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Gettin' Nailed

 
 
And no..
I'm not referring to anything sexual
*for a change*
 
Some women have a routine of getting
manicures and/or pedicures regularly.
 
Then there are others who only do it occasionally,
 like for a special event.
 
 Getting a manicure or pedicure can be a wonderful stress relieving way to indulge a bit.
 
Whenever I have an event or upcoming trip,
I hit up 'The Nail Shop'
on Vine St. and Carlton in St. Catharines.
 
The two ladies, both named Monica,
do an amazing job with "hip" designs.
 
The quality job done at this particular place,
always lasts me 3 weeks.
I get gel nails every time,
as I don't have any nails of my own.
 
 
Trip Nails
 
 
Christmas Party Nails
 
 
 
Cuvee Nails
 
 
Nautical Birthday Nails


I LOVE trying out new nail designs
and colors.
 
I can't wait to go back and get the hot pink
for Vegas in May.
 
 
If your looking for a great nail salon,
I'd highly recommend 'the Monica's'
aka "The Nail Shop".
 
Now go get nailed!
 
xo
 


Monday, 3 March 2014

Cuvee.. the Oscars of the wine industry


CUVEE...
also referred to as,
The Oscars of the Wine Industry
 
I have been fortunate to attend
the last 7 years.
 
 Cuvee has changed a lot over time,
but a few things have remained the same..
 
Incredible food, top shelf Niagara wines
and a gorgeous array of beautiful dresses 
and stylish suits.
 
 
 
It is Jesse and I's most anticipated annual event,
because it combines all our favorite things;
Food, wine, fashion
& each other.
*loving*
 
It holds a lot of meaning to me,
as this is where I met my life partner.
 
 
Unfortunately, I forgot my camera this year.
All I had was my phone...
and it died shortly after arriving.
 
I wish I could have captured the food presentation..
simply exquisite - I couldn't pick a favorite.
 
We discovered some great new Niagara wines
that will be filling the wine cellar soon.
 
Bachelder Wismer Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay $44.95
G. Maruis Silver Line 2010 EPIC (Merlot/Cab Sauv/Cab Franc) $29.95
Pondview Estates 2011 Bella Terra Chardonnay $22.20
Westcott Vineyards Oaked Chardonnay - yet to be released 
 
The evening led into an after party
with JONESY (a local band)
leading the dance floor
and a champagne/icewine/beer open bar for all attendees.
 
 
 

Photo: Jen and I @Cuvee
 
Another great Cuvee!!
 
If I had watched the Oscars beforehand..
 
My dress choice would have been one of the following two:
 
 
Probably a good thing it wasn't!
 
xo