Veggie Girl Power

 I have to put a link up veggie girl power. The link is to the most gorgeous blog Healthy Happy Life.Full of the most amazing recipes,photography and fantastic articles. One of my favorites from her beautiful blog is the series Veggie Girl Power where she interviews some of the most interesting women. Colleen one of my personal vegan inspirations is interviewed this year. I also loved reading about a young designer named Leanne. I hope my son will inspired one day to live his dreams with the passion this young lady has...and I LOVED her winter jackets.If you have been interested in changing your life to be more veg I think you would love the blog and the series.This is the third year it is worth it to go back and read the previous years.She has done 4 of these inspiring ladies with Portia, Kathy and Anya to go.Enjoy!!!!

brussel sprout love !!!

        In this post I thought I would share a fantastic recipe from the November's Whole Living magazine. Dad this one is for you. I bought brussel sprouts thinking I would roast them. Then I saw this recipe and had to make it.
                                                 
Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Grapes

about 8 cups of halved brussel sprouts
about 4 cups of grapes
2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
I did 2 tsps of dried thyme as I didn't have fresh on hand ( if using fresh 4 tbsp)
coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tsp of balsamic vinegar
( Now they added toasted walnuts 1/2 a cup-I didn't have any)

1. heat oven to 450.On two baking sheets toss brussel sprouts and grapes with oil and thyme.Season with salt and pepper.Roast until caramelized and tender, about 20 minutes. 2. Drizzle each tray with 1 tsp vinegar and scrape up any caramelized bits with a wooden spoon.( toss on walnuts if wanted.)

This recipe was quite easy ( okay the brussel sprouts took the longest ) and I really liked it.John had some and warmed some up the next day. ( As you have read by now John is my "should I make this recipe again gauge") So this one is going into the recipe file as a keeper.It might even come out for Christmas.

  So I decided to make a small change to my life. I joined Weight Watcher online. I have to lose some weight and with me not being able to workout with much intensity. I have to look at my food choices. I have two friends who have liked the program so I thought I would give it a go.

  So 5 days in and what have I learned....holy crap...alot!!!  My portions are out of control, just inputting items to get the points had been so eye opening. Some things like chips I would have eaten easily 10 points in a sitting. Yesterday for lunch I counted them out so I would have 2. I find myself really thinking about what I really want.

      My next shocker..... I have 29 points in a day....I was consuming that many in just beverages alone.  I knew they were high but never would I have thought that high.7 points for my soy chia latte from Starbucks or Timmy's dble dble( These were the indulgent venti sizes).5 points for a can of Pepsi.So I did the research I can have them...but smaller and just one a day. I am finding I am enjoying them more.

   I am being more mindful.What should I eat that is no points if I pick something I really want. Tonight with dinner I want a red wine.That's 4 points and I am at my limit.So if I want something later my new Elf's Help David's tea and a banana. I love that almost all veggies and fruit are free points.My fiber intake has soared through the last few days. I am slowing down and enjoying my food more.I have to think this is your points, I can have more...but here is the kicker.Do I NEED more? My light bulb moment.

  In all I like the program.I am still learning and I will get faster. On Sunday I hope to share my new recipe creation. I love earl's Mediterranean Pasta, I just could never get it right.But, I have made one that I am in love with.

   I want to end with sending prayers and gratitude to all of our veterans and Canadian soldiers.You do us proud every day.Much Love to you all!!!!

Fall Fun

   This post is going to have a little of everything fall. I like fall..I don't LOVE it. But, I like it. The colours outside, the crisp air and warm drinks.I would love fall more if winter wasn't so close behind. I have heard we are in for a cold one and the last winter was hard and long. So I am going to have to come up with some ways to make this winter more fun.But, that will be another post.So today I just wanted to share some of the fun things we have been up to this October and November.




When we were on holidays John's aunt need some of her apples picked. I volunteered Josh and I. It was outside, he loves to be busy,  it had a ladder and it's something we hadn't done yet. We had a grand time and it was so gorgeous outside.The apples were yummy too!!

          Yummy!!!

  When my in laws came home a week later I got the best surprise. John's aunt's sent us some homemade goodies.Apple butter- oh my word. I lick the knife.I will not waste a drop of it. Apple butter. Pickled beets and grape jelly. I am a very lucky girl!!!

  So from my recent cookbook purchase "Peas and Thank you" I made black bean soup (yes.. you see kidney beans-the recipe wanted two can of black beans and I only had one. So in went the kidney beans) This soup was easy, it freezes and John and I had it for lunch for the week.John asked me to make more. Now that's a good review.








I also made the cornbread from the book but, I will be looking for a new recipe. This one was too heavy and I like a little zing to my cornbread.

  I also had my birthday celebration. It was everything I wanted it to be. My husband worked so hard on it. I got to spend the evening with the two most importants males in my life and my family and freinds.That's what I wanted.... music, food and wine. It was the best way to end fall because....the next morning we woke up to snow and it's not leaving.So goodbye fall and hello winter.