Just a quick and easy outfit idea for the upcoming Easter holiday!
- Chetana
- Chetana
Pastels & Polka Dots |
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Easter is one of those things where people create their own traditions. Growing up in Canada, many people hid eggs for their children to find on Easter morning, or spent the day dyeing and decorating eggs. While I have a vague recollection of my mom doing the egg hunt thing once or twice when my brother and I were much younger, the main things that stands out for me are the family dinners. No matter what, we always made time to have dinner together as a family. Most often, my mom would prepare a fabulous meal (as always), and we'd hunker down and share stories. When I grew older and became interested in the culinary arts, I took to making Hot Cross Buns. Now, if you're not familiar with these, they're eaten on Good Friday across the Commonwealth. A sweet, sticky, golden-on-the-outside, pillow-soft-on-the-inside, bun marked with a cross on top by using either shortcrust pastry, a flour/water mixture, or as I do-- icing sugar/milk. My family loves it. They're best when homemade, because even though they're sold at some high-end supermarkets around this time, they're never quite the same as when you make them at home. Eaten plain, with some butter smeared in the middle, or, if you like sweet/salty tastes, with some lovely aged cheddar or gouda, in the middle, Hot Cross Buns are always a winner. Hot Cross Buns adapted from Anna Olsen's Recipe Ingredients Dough ¾ cup 2% milk, heated to just above body temperature (105ºF) 4 tsp instant dry yeast ⅓ cup granulated/caster sugar 3 large eggs, at room temperature (or, as I do, egg replacer for 3 eggs) ½ cup vegetable oil 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest ¾ tsp salt 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice ¼ cup raisins ¼ cup mixed diced peel Glaze ½ cup granulated/caster sugar 3 Tbsp water 1 tsp vanilla extract Icing ¾ cup icing sugar, sifted 1 Tbsp milk, plus extra if needed Method Dough - Measure all ingredients except the mixed peel into the bowl of a mixer fitted with the hook attachment or in a large bowl. - Mix dough on low speed until it comes together, then increase the speed by one and knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes (the dough is soft and should stick to the bottom of the bowl). - If mixing by hand, stir the ingredients with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together, then turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth. - Towards the end of kneading, add mixed peel and knead in. - Scrape dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 75 to 90 minutes, until doubled in size. - Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide into 12 even pieces. Shape each piece into a ball by rolling between your hands while it remains on the work surface. - Place the rolled buns in a greased 9-x-13-inch pan, leaving space between them. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the buns rise for 45 minutes. - Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Uncover the buns and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a rich brown on top. - While still hot from the oven, prepare the glaze. Glaze - For the glaze, bring the sugar, water and vanilla up to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved. - Brush this syrup over the still-hot buns, until it has all been used. Let the buns cool completely in the tin. Icing - For the icing, stir the icing sugar and together until a thick consistency suitable for piping (add a few more drops of milk, if needed). - Pour into a small piping bag and pipe crosses on top of each bun, letting the icing set for an hour before serving. Enjoy! ~ Chetana So, as I mentioned in my first post, I'm pretty terrible at mornings. It's not like I don't try... believe me, I do! Being the rushed mess that I am in the morning, I'm always looking for a healthy, quick, and easy breakfast option. If I can take it to go with me, then it's even better in my book! The idea behind this recipe was simple. After picking up the nutritional information pamphlet from my local Tim Hortons, I was shocked to see that their muffins have 300 Calories each. Yup. You read that right. 300 Calories. So after trying to do a mental count of how many muffins I'd consumed in my lifetime, I decided to make myself the healthiest muffins I could think to make. I used a combination of whole wheat flour, and oats as well as bananas, peanut butter, greek yogurt, and honey. The resulting muffins were moist and super light, AND delicious! I can't wait to make them again! Healthy Banana-Oat, Chocolate Chip Muffins Ingredients
Method
And now for the final weigh in. Tim Hortons' muffins were 300 calories. These ones come in at a miniscule 150 calories, with the added bonus of plenty of fibre from the whole wheat flour, and the oats, potassium from the bananas, and a good hit of protein from the peanut butter, and milk. If you wanted to cut back on the calories even further, you could definitely leave out the chocolate chips, or replace them with something else. A couple of suggestions that I have for that are: - walnuts - chia seeds - blueberries So, what do you think? Give these a try, and let me know how they came out! - Chetana Spring is here! Or so they say. In any case, it called for me to change the doodle on my friend's chalkboard, taking out the plain, winter white text, and drawing in some colour. Spring is one of my favourite times of the year. The air is alive with the thrum of new life, and everything just seems more vibrant after the white-washed façade of winter. Something else I look forward to each year is spring fashion! After a long Canadian winter of cozy sweaters and double layers of socks, I start to long for the days of lighter spring jackets, and light, clean, breezes that don't make your eyes water or your face hurt. This year's spring trends are absolutely gorgeous, and they are definitely going to transition well into summer. Here are a couple of my favourites, as well as some tips as to how to work them in to your existing wardrobe. Floral patterns are always in for spring, and while most people tend to wear a floral print in a blouse or a dress, floral jeans are a great way to work this pattern into your wardrobe. Using a floral pattern like the one above, also serves the purpose of camouflaging any lumps and bumps and imperfections on your lower half. The pattern draws the eye, but the ample black spaces create a great slimming effect (if you're into that sort of thing). I've paired it with a plain grey tee, and a chambray shirt (roll the sleeves up, for a super casual look). A great cutout boot, and a floppy hat provide an edge to an otherwise simple outfit. Gingham is a huge trend this year, and I've done it in a simple sleeveless blouse , paired with a very light grey jean, a classic leather jacket, and a pop of colour in the blue boot, and blue necklace. Blue and white is another huge trend for spring, and while you could definitely use a white jean in this outfit, I've gone for a very light grey to appeal to those of use who aren't super-comfortable with wearing white bottoms. A cheeky clutch and a wine coloured lip are also great ways to bring interest to this outfit. This is by far the easiest way to dress for a casual Sunday outing. Throw on a simple t-shirt maxi dress, add a belt for some definition, some comfortable flats, a hat and some jewelry and you're all set! Now, I'm a HUGE fan of dressing up a simple look with a bold lip. It's easy, quick, and takes very little effort. No time to do makeup? Fill in the brows, put on some mascara, and add a bold lip. Done and DONE. If you don't believe me, then just ask Jeremy Renner. Star of films like The Hurt Locker, The Bourne Legacy, American Hustle, and The Avengers, oh-- and former makeup artist: I think I'll leave you that. Until next time! - Chetana Sweet potatoes are one of my favourite vegetables. They're versatile, can be used for savory, or for sweet and are super nutritious. With loads of Vitamin A and fiber, sweet potatoes are definitely a winner. One of my favourite things to make with sweet potatoes is sweet potato fries! Baked in the oven for 30 minutes, these sweetly spiced fries are a great snack, or as a side dish substitute for regular potatoes. You will need: 3 medium sweet potatoes 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tsp dried thyme 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (not pictured) salt to taste black pepper to taste 1-2 Tbsp olive oil squeeze of lemon juice Method: Preheat oven to 425 F. Cut sweet potatoes into fries (try to keep them the same thickness so that they all cook evenly). Sometimes I will just slice my sweet potatoes up into rounds. It's easier than making fries, and it tastes just as great! Place in a bowl, and toss to coat fries with the spices and olive oil. Lay the fries out on a baking tray, making sure there is ample space between fries. If you overcrowd the pan, then the sweet potato will not get nice and crispy. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes, flipping once mid way. Once fries are cooked and crispy take them out of the oven and squeeze a bit of lemon juice on them. Serve with some chipotle aioli, or just eat them plain! Enjoy! - Chetana Pour hot dressing over cabbage mixture and toss to coat. You can eat it straight away for a warm treat, or leave it overnight for the flavours to combine and eat it cold (like a regular coleslaw), or warmed up the next day. Sometimes, the best things in the kitchen, happen by accident. In the summer, we tend to make coleslaw a lot in our house. Mostly because cabbage is an inexpensive vegetable to buy, and one cabbage can really give you a lot of bang for your buck. Also, because we barbecue a lot in the summer, and coleslaw is a great accompaniment to anything that goes on the grill. So when my mom begged me for coleslaw last week, my gut instinct was to say "but that's a summer food". But then I got to thinking... I already boil my dressing before I add it to my coleslaw, I just usually let it cool first. Maybe to make it weather appropriate, I could add it while it was still hot? Would that change the coleslaw too much? I tried it. It worked. It was great. Glorious, even. The hard vegetables retained their crunch, and the cabbage softened slightly, giving it a texture reminiscent of Chinese-style pickled vegetables. And I fell in love with it. Here is the recipe: Ingredients: Veggies 1 small head of cabbage (I used red cabbage, but you could use green, or mix the two for some variety), shredded 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced 1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced 1 large carrot, grated (or thinly sliced) 1 celery stalk, finely chopped (leaves and all) 1 spring onion, sliced ** Dressing 1/2 cup white sugar plus 1 tsp extra 1/4 cup vegetable or olive oil 1/4 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 tsp mustard seed 1 tsp dijon mustard 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt black pepper, to taste Method: In a large bowl, combine vegetables and 1 tsp of white sugar. Then make the dressing. In a small saucepan add oil first, followed by mustard seeds. Heat until the seeds start to pop, then add the sugar, followed by the vinegars and seasonings. Bring to the boil, and let the mixture cook for about 3 minutes, stirring to make sure everything is combined nicely. I always find that coleslaw tastes best the next day, but this dressing is so flavourful that it tastes great the same day as well! ** I also added a handful of pomegranate seeds for some sweetness and texture, but feel free to experiment with whatever ingredients you have on hand! So, what do you think? Warm, or cold coleslaw? Creamy or tangy? What do you prefer? - Chetana. With Zucchini noodles being all the rage lately, I decided to revisit another squash that I love. Spaghetti squash. I'm not a huge fan of zucchini, but I do have a feeling that I will be getting around to at least trying it soon, so I'll let you know how it goes!
But I digress. spaghetti squash. Some people love it, others hate it. I love it, but I admit that I've never actually had it as a straight substitute for spaghetti. That is, I've never just made myself some spaghetti squash and dumped marinara sauce on it. I prefer to bake it with minimal seasoning, and adding some steamed broccoli and a handful of cheese. It makes a really great, and light accompaniment to any type of protein. You need: 1 medium sized spaghetti squash 1 small crown of broccoli 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese salt, to taste pepper, to taste olive oil Method: - Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit. - Cut squash in half length wise and scrape out seeds (I use a spoon) - Rub squash with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper - Bake, cut side up, for 40 - 45 minutes until squash is soft - Shred with a fork -Broccoli : - Cut broccoli into bite sized pieces. - Wrap tightly with foil. - Place into hot oven with the squash when there are 7 minutes left on the timer. - Combine squash, broccoli and cheese. You may add more seasoning at this point if you'd like, but I kept it pretty simple for this. - Enjoy! ... AND this fabulous faux-fur vest that I bought from Forever XX1 for cheap. :)
Oh. And also, a rockin' new statement necklace! I love shopping. :) My favourite thing about winter is that you always have an excuse to sit down and indulge in some comfort food. Most of my friends are familiar with my food peculiarities, and in general, they're fairly accepting-- however, there is one thing that never fails to get them riled up.... ... I don't like cheese. There. I said it. I don't like cheese. Now, that doesn't mean that I hate cheese. I won't refuse a dish if it has cheese in it, but you'll never find me noshing on cheese and crackers if I'm feeling peckish. Or those string cheese products that you could make fun shapes out of... *shudders* They're not really my thing. So when I woke up one particularly blustery winter morning with a craving for a grilled cheese sandwich I was beyond surprised. Perhaps I was a bit inspired by my mom's Valentines gift to my dad-- a lovely mixed platter of sliced cheeses (this falls within the guidelines of V-Day gift giving outlined in my previous post). Just because I don't eat it often, doesn't mean that I don't make a great grilled cheese. So, here are some tips for a perfect grilled cheese: - Use an assortment of cheeses if you have them available. - Always, always, always butter the bread, and not the pan. - Cook on medium-low heat so that you don't burn the sandwich. Following these steps always manages to get me a great grilled cheese! So, what's your favourite comfort food? Do you have a better way to make grilled cheese? Leave a comment below and let me know! - Chetana So, unless you've been hiding under a rock recently, you, like me, have probably been inundated with Valentines Day media and gift ideas from every source imaginable. Also, if you're like me, you're probably frustrated beyond belief with it. While I don't begrudge the retail industry it's commercialization of holidays, I also was raised with the belief that both love and time are precious, and to express them constantly. I am fortunate enough to be part of a family that has no qualms about expressing love and appreciation. That being said, my mom has, on the odd occasion, bought my brother and myself stuffed animals and chocolate for Valentines Day, but I never really grew up with my parents exchanging gifts. As they've gotten older, it has (endearingly) changed to where they buy each other gifts for every occasion, and it's adorable and hilarious at the same time. Here is a guide to having the perfect Valentines Day, according to my parents: 1) Buy her a plant that comes in a pot. This is a nice sentiment, but if she hasn't got a green thumb, then it's an added stress to her life ("I HATE flowers, they ALWAYS DIE") instead of a comfort. In contrast, buying him a potted plant is totally fine. 2) Buy him a watch. This is appreciated, but somehow, it's never the "right" watch. ("This clasp is terrible, why would you buy this?") 3) Get her a bouquet of flowers. This is apparently also a miss because they die too quickly. Roses are appreciated though, despite their "unoriginality" ("These smell so nice though.") 4) Don't even joke about buying him flowers. He does not find this funny. This is apparently much different to buying him a plant. 5) She doesn't mind when you get her a stuffed bear, however, it will find itself homeless and constantly kicking around the living room. It will also become known as "the love dog", even though it's obviously a bear. 6) Stuffed animals aren't manly. ("Seriously? Why would I want a teddy bear?") Don't get him one. 7) Food is always welcome. Chocolate is even more welcome. Bonus points if you can find her favourites. 8) Actual food is always welcome. Cooking or buying his favourite is a sure win. 9) Packing the dishes in the dishwasher without having to be told, and cleaning up the house will get you more hugs and kisses from her in 10 minutes than you have gotten in your whole marriage. This is good because then everyone is happy. 10) Mutually decide to watch a film on Netflix, spend an hour trying to decide which film to watch, and then once the opening credits start promptly fall asleep. Well, at least they were together in dreamland. As comedic as it was to observe over the years, I came to observe that it was the heartfelt, thoughtful things that succeeded and made them happy. If snoring your Valentines Day away in front of the TV is what works for you, then do it! Who cares that society says you need to be up having a romantic dinner? As long as you're both on the same page, and you've expressed your love for each other, it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you do it together.
If all else fails though, chocolate is always appreciated. . . . . . Seriously. What's been your most memorable Valentines Day? Let me know in the comments! - Chetana |