tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60342658866694467042012-02-05T00:48:21.320-05:00Feed the mind, feed the body.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.comBlogger621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-3464906817143781722012-02-05T00:45:00.001-05:002012-02-05T00:48:21.328-05:00

Don't believe me? BEHOLD!!: om nom nom... Disclaimer: While veganism is generally healthier, and many people lose weight when they make the switch, this is not one of those recipes.  This recipe is for over-indulgence purposes only. Proceed with caution, and at least a pint of water. Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Cake you will need: Chocolate cake chocolate mousse raspberry jam fresh raspberries

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-29473725307860541442011-10-03T14:35:00.000-04:002011-10-03T14:35:06.981-04:00

Well it's October. Don't ask me how it happened, I haven't a clue.  It's summer, everyone is warm and happy, you look away for one second and BAM! cold, damp, fall swoops in to put an end to sundress season.   Wasn't it only last weekend that I was sweating my butt off hiking through Gatineau Park on a beautiful 25 degree day?  Yep.  That was definitely only 8 days ago.  Regardless of what evil

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-2959592444082741982011-09-30T11:29:00.000-04:002011-09-30T11:29:45.003-04:00

You'd have to be a fool not to love cupcakes.  I strongly believe that if there were more cupcakes in the world, we wouldn't have all the war and civil unrest, and general bad behaviour that humans seem to be so good at.  It would take a particularly evil person to eat a cupcake and then go blow up a village.  The point I'm trying to make is you need to make more cupcakes.  To do so, and possibly

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-47951706757811490612011-09-30T11:09:00.000-04:002011-09-30T11:09:17.232-04:00

I love smoothies.  They're hard not to love - delicious, healthy, filling, and can be consumed on your commute to work (unless you cycle, that would be tough).  But lately I feel like I've been in a smoothie rut, making the same couple of smoothies every day.  I needed to branch out!  Shake it up a bit!  So yesterday, while at the grocery store, I spied the box of spinach and thought to myself -

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-17889135112118219632011-08-05T18:31:00.000-04:002011-08-05T18:31:24.267-04:00

Late summer - and that's what we're at now, in case you blinked and didn't notice summer whiz by - is my favourite time of year.  There are many reasons why August is such a great month - cicadas are singing in the trees, meadows are in full bloom, back to school supplies are out, and nearly all of Ontario's produce is now available.  All summer long I await the arrival of two fruits more than

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-20457396985201989712011-07-21T00:48:00.000-04:002011-07-21T00:48:43.233-04:00

Summer is the season of BBQs, and the king of the BBQ is the burger.  Veggie burgers are a staple among many vegetarians and vegans in BBQ season (and beyond) because they are easy - easy to find, easy to transport, easy to integrate into the BBQ scene because you won't find yourself explaining your food to skeptical omnivores because it looks "normal".  Veggie burgers are not without their

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-17739293165749189942011-07-13T22:59:00.001-04:002011-07-13T23:01:34.416-04:00

This year I am celebrating my birthday at bluesfest, and I just polished off this decadent vegan (and gluten free!) brownie courtesy of B. Goods bakery. Mmm! Happy birthday to me!

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-52036867441017639352011-07-12T15:20:00.000-04:002011-07-12T15:20:26.984-04:00

Farmer's Market season is well under way, and, here in Ontario, July and August offer the widest variety of fresh local produce for you to plunder.  Don't believe me?  Check out the availability of produce on Foodland Ontario's website. One of my favourite market buys is green beans.  Whether you eat them raw or steamed, green beans are tasty, low-cal morsels of goodness.  A cup of green beans

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-73682241717100203622011-05-28T12:46:00.000-04:002011-05-28T12:46:49.329-04:00

Today is my one year anniversary with Rick! (xoxo)  One of the things we have in common is our undying passion for food.  It seems only fitting that this day should be celebrated by creating some truly epic pancakes.  I'm sure I'm not the first person to come up with chocolate pancakes, but maybe those of you reading this blog have never tried to make them. I think there comes a time in

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-57611946452405832002011-05-14T20:13:00.000-04:002011-05-14T20:13:33.648-04:00

As I've told you before, the Rideau Canal is the world's largest skating rink, and a quintessentially Canadian experience.  In the spring, the snow melts to reveal bike paths that line the canal on both sides, meaning that skating the canal is not exclusively a winter activity.  I recently strapped on my roller blades and skated down the canal to the Tulip Festival (read more about my visit at my

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-43512552448924837812011-04-17T03:48:00.000-04:002011-04-17T03:48:52.124-04:00

Hey!  Remember when I used to write in here on a somewhat regular basis? Yeah.... sorry blog.  Sometimes life gets in the way, the passion dwindles, and you start asking yourself if you're even interested anymore.  Well I'm determined not to let a good thing slip away, and I will do what I can to reignite the cooking fires! It's not like I stopped cooking.  Ok, I have been doing less of it

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-23826906510625278352010-12-27T14:09:00.001-05:002010-12-27T14:10:00.920-05:00

As promised, I will post recipes for the cookies pictured in my last entry.  Of course, the holidays being what they are, it is hard to find the time.  And so, I will share with you the recipe for Lemon Cranberry cookies that Laura loved, and hopefully get around to posting the other recipes soon. I adapted this recipe from one of my many pre-vegan cook books: Cookies: a Cookie Lover's

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-49250114685327650312010-12-23T13:35:00.001-05:002011-02-18T12:01:05.900-05:00

Clearly the best part of the holiday season is baking, specifically, baking cookies.  Cookies are tiny bundles of love and goodness.  I also love wrapping presents, and what could be better than wrapping up a box of delicious homemade cookies to give to friends and family. Clockwise from top: Pistachio Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Toffee Bites, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Lemon Cranberry Cookies,

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-23746701248670954482010-12-15T22:50:00.002-05:002010-12-16T11:40:34.345-05:00

Not at all!  They could be carried... in this case, by a transport truck to the grocery store. While not overly fatty, the vast majority of the fat in coconut "meat" (and therefore also coconut milk) is saturated fat, and so sadly you probably don't want to eat large amounts of coconut regularly.  Coconuts do contain many healthy properties though, so our coconut indulgences are not all for

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-67099421386879375432010-12-10T12:24:00.001-05:002011-02-18T12:01:37.309-05:00

I came across this risotto recipe a few years ago via the "20-minute supper club" from Wish.ca. I obviously have omitted the cheese. Although it isn't a vegan site, they do occasionally post easily veganizable recipes. Risotto is frequently thought of as a cream-based dish.  While many risotto recipes call for cheese, it is actually the rice itself that produces the characteristic creamy

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-6080739959242325382010-11-05T20:03:00.000-04:002010-11-05T20:03:37.739-04:00

Like any real Canadian, before I was a vegan, poutine was one of my favourite foods. For any of you readers who are not from Canada and have not heard of it, poutine is fries covered in fresh cheese curds and gravy. A heart attack waiting to happen? Possibly. But it would be the most delicious of heart attacks. Sadly, one of the downfalls of veganism is a distinct lack of adequate poutine

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-65089329546160306272010-11-04T23:45:00.001-04:002010-11-05T13:28:19.763-04:00

Let's talk about squash.  I love squash.  All kinds of squash, even the sport!  Squash squash squash! Sweet dumpling and acorn squash Squashes belong to the family Cucurbitaceae which includes such wonderful fruits as melons, gourds and cucumbers.  There is a huge variety of squashes, including pumpkin, zucchini, butternut, acorn, hubbard, cushaw, buttercup, sweet dumpling, celebration, cream

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-51495289489654237872010-11-03T21:33:00.001-04:002010-11-03T21:34:53.545-04:00

This summer, while living in Kingston, I regularly frequented their fantastic farmer's market. While at one of the booths I overheard one of the farmers describing tomatillos.  As the name would suggest, they belong to the tomato family, and are closely related to ground cherries.  Like ground cherries, they're wrapped in a beautiful papery husk that remind me of paper lanterns.   They taste a

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-90496125860978038702010-11-02T21:08:00.010-04:002010-11-02T23:55:18.298-04:00

While some of you may be celebrating the month of November by growing a hideous creature on your upper lip (aka the Movember Mustache), vegans are celebrating by blogging about delicious food. This year marks the fourth annual Vegan Month of Food, affectionately known as Vegan MoFo. Over 500 vegan bloggers have signed up this year to share their love of food with the world. Heck, with numbers

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-49808633776155966162010-10-03T20:47:00.009-04:002010-11-03T16:52:01.818-04:00

It has not escaped my attention that I have not posted since May. Nor has it escaped my attention that I was in the middle of a 52 week challenge that I abandoned outright. I also seem to recall vowing never to let another blog fall victim to my forgetfulness, busyness and general laziness when it comes to my hobbies. And yet here I am, in October, over 4 months later, returning to you, dear

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-39908008714711325832010-05-27T19:00:00.007-04:002010-11-03T16:49:54.294-04:00

But they do make a damn fine salad! Nothing quite says bbq season like bean salad! Ok, things you actually barbecue probably say it better, but still, you need to have something to serve with your grilled veggie burgers, don't you? In my family, this is one (often two or three) of the following 4 salads: coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, and bean salad. Of these, only bean salad comes

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-7809868884900989172010-05-17T20:50:00.004-04:002010-05-18T21:30:22.523-04:00

Maybe I'm not starting a revolution here, but I'd like to think that I might inspire someone to observe a carrot freshly.The carrot, Daucus carota, is the same species as the common wild flower Queen Anne's Lace. It was domesticated in its homeland of Europe to make it sweeter and less woody than it's wild ancestor. It now also dons a delightful orange hue, and like most orange vegetables, it

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-23711366273491356072010-05-09T16:10:00.004-04:002010-05-09T16:26:53.588-04:00

Those of you who know me personally, know of my deep, unwavering love of Starbucks. I love that a 16 ounce cup of indulgent deliciousness can bring me immeasurable amounts of joy. I love that I can order a decaf grande cinnamon dolce soy no-whip latte, and not feel like a complete jackass. Mostly, I love that I can get my lattes however I want them, because, after all, that's Starbucks'

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-81701466893569352232010-05-06T19:15:00.010-04:002010-05-06T20:14:12.159-04:00

Back in November I visited Burnaby, B.C. (that's British Columbia, not Before Christ for any Americans who may be reading this). While I was there I ate at a terrific Indian restaurant, the Bombay Bhel. I've had Indian food many times before, but this time I had something I'd never tried before. It's an appetizer called "bhel poori" (or bhel puri as it's sometimes written). Not technically a

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-48118542181720613272010-05-05T17:47:00.006-04:002010-05-05T19:50:29.624-04:00

As I mentioned in my last post, there are people out there who have an aversion to cilantro. Maybe you know one of these poor unfortunate souls. Maybe you are one. Those who dislike it do so with fervor (there is even an "I Hate Cilantro" fanpage). The interesting thing is it appears that there is a genetic explanation for cilantro hating. In fact, they're not even experiencing the same

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-60601706464779868852010-05-04T18:12:00.009-04:002010-05-04T20:29:02.493-04:00

It is now the 18th week of the year, and yet I have only blogged about 15 salads. That means that this week I will attempt to make 3 posts containing 3 new and delicious salads. I could make excuses, but I won't. That's not what this 52 week challenge is all about.Last week I went away on an OBBN training course. The OBBN is the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network, and they are a network of

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-56924113735469048912010-04-17T19:11:00.009-04:002010-04-18T14:59:19.551-04:00

I'm blogging to you now from Brockville, Ontario, my new home base for the next 6 months. In case you were wondering why I dropped the ball again and missed yet another week of my salad challenge, I will use the excuses of moving to a new city, and starting a new job (which means adjusting to a new sleep schedule). So this post will be a 2 for 1 deal of salad fabulousness.Earlier this week I

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-66556111971335735992010-03-31T19:13:00.010-04:002010-03-31T21:18:18.646-04:00

Last night I attempted to introduce my cat, Skrabble, to my friend Brett's cat, Lily, in a hope that they would become the best of friends and have an outrageously adorable play date. This didn't occur. They generally just growled at each other and avoided each other for the majority of the evening, punctuated with the occasional screaming encounter.You may be asking yourself, what does this

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-18396238473731576572010-03-28T18:49:00.005-04:002012-01-02T13:05:10.582-05:00

It's been a dreary, cold, blustery week here in Eastern Ontario, which is particularly disappointing after we had an unseasonably warm spell a few weeks ago. So this kind of weather usually makes me want to make soup (which I did), but for this second of this week's two salad challenges, I decided to bring summer into the kitchen by making my friend Laura's Sunshine Salad. Made with spring

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-48392674803380008512010-03-23T14:33:00.004-04:002010-03-23T16:38:19.483-04:00

Why did I think I could do this 52 week challenge again? It's amazing how quickly a week can fly by without you noticing. Particularly if that week is filled with a lot of driving and apartment hunting. Lucky for my blog, I found an apartment. Next up, however, I must buy a car. How on earth will I manage car shopping, a Sens game, AND 2 salad blogs in one week? Yes, 2 salad blogs, since I

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-59939689491643049672010-03-14T19:58:00.004-04:002010-03-15T11:04:49.906-04:00

I'm sure it's not surprising that this week's Salad Challenge recipe is based on my last entry on the Blue Days Diet. As a review the blue day diet includes: tryptophan (to boost serotonin), spiciness (to release endorphins), B vitamins (increase energy & elevate mood), carbohydrates (increase tryptophan uptake), and chocolate (cause it's awesome).Ok, so this salad doesn't have chocolate. I

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-51769975893829045962010-03-11T13:56:00.003-05:002010-03-11T15:33:43.007-05:00

The Brothers Gibb once asked "How can you mend a broken heart?". I don't have the answer to this age-old, disco question, but I have been told that time heals all wounds. The problem with that is that you're probably going to feel pretty darn miserable in the meantime. The good news is that food can help take the edge off. Think of it like nature's morphine. You're stressed, had a rough

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-62956821705403950802010-03-06T23:26:00.005-05:002010-03-16T01:59:08.149-04:00

Actually, you can, and should have-a-da Mango. Just as long as you don't steal mine! I absolutely love mangoes, but I don't buy them as often as I should. I was in the grocery store the other day picking up some bananas when I spied a basket of mangoes, and inspiration hit. Mango salad. Mmmm.... what a delicious idea. I grabbed the least cement-like mango, not having any idea what kind of

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-11075160358510683122010-02-28T20:40:00.005-05:002010-11-03T16:55:28.151-04:00

So, I don't know about you, but the Olympics have completely consumed my life these last few weeks. So much so that I nearly forgot about salad of the week. I wanted to create some kind of salad inspired by Canada's 14 gold medals.... or maybe something to symbolize both of our fabulous hockey teams that conquered their american foes. I really wanted to.... but I couldn't think of any way to

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-23817252973768208442010-02-22T01:12:00.010-05:002010-02-22T12:34:11.809-05:00

You know when you make weight loss or diet goals and everything is going well, you feel great about yourself and your excellent will-power, and then something happens. It can be any number of things - you injure your foot, derailing your running regimen, or you go through a busy spell causing you to eat entirely too much falafel. These set-backs can often be overcome after an undetermined

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-59614198384624948972010-02-19T23:59:00.009-05:002010-02-20T02:20:58.273-05:00

You may not believe it, but we really wouldn't survive without fungi. Often unseen, fungi are all around us and exert a powerful influence on the world. They are the major driving force of the nutrient cycle, they possess the necessary enzymes to break down tough plant material, returning the nutrients to the soil. There's hardly a natural molecule in the world for which there isn't a fungus

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-78769794002470599182010-02-16T19:01:00.007-05:002010-02-17T11:00:17.725-05:00

Today I found myself on Facebook, as I often do, while procrastinating and watching Olympic curling. I noticed that a lot of people were posting messages about pancakes, more specifically, about pancake day. I had never heard of this, but it sounded like a delicious idea. Wikipedia informed me that what these people were talking about was "Shrove Tuesday", aka Fat Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras.

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-839336334581954152010-02-15T18:52:00.018-05:002010-02-16T00:37:58.129-05:00

My spicy Thai peanut dressing from last night put me in mind of spicy peanut dipping sauce, and my favourite thing to dip in that sauce is Thai fresh rolls (aka summer rolls). They are crunchy, fresh (as the namesuggests), snazzy looking and super easy. If you want to wow a date or dinner party, whip up some of these babies. They can be made up to a day ahead if you store them covered with a

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-32062391622975748732010-02-14T20:34:00.012-05:002010-02-15T00:27:36.221-05:00

The winning ice sculpture at this year's international ice carving competition at WinterludeI've been distracted this week by statistics homework, winterlude, and a kickass show featuring two fantastic Canadian bands, the Sadies and Young Rival. With all this fun, I almost forgot about my salad of the week! This does not bode well seeing as how I almost dropped the ball only 6 weeks in. That

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-42242301022062173682010-02-09T12:08:00.005-05:002010-02-09T13:29:42.545-05:00

That's the tagline of the one of this year's nominees for Best Documentary Feature, Food Inc. I just finished watching it, and am here to tell you, all of you and everyone you know, to watch this movie. It might be the most important movie you ever watch.I've watched a number of food documentaries, but this is the one that I would recommend to absolutely everyone I know. So what makes Food Inc

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-41950730757754247132010-02-07T17:56:00.008-05:002010-02-08T01:31:43.941-05:00

That is, of course, unless your problem is hunger or scurvy (more on this later). It's been a while since I've posted a soup recipe, which is quite unfortunate because soup truly is the perfect winter food. It is the ultimate comfort food, made all the more comforting by the addition of the humble potato.As a Canadian and descendant of some collection of Celts and Brits, I am obliged to adore

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-52878548709638070122010-02-03T18:42:00.005-05:002010-02-03T19:25:19.847-05:00

This week I am taking a break from the traditional lettuce-based salad in favour of a protein packed bean salad. I simply adore bean salad, and it has long been a fixture on the BBQ potluck table in my family. While the old stand-by bean salad is delish, and perhaps the subject of a future salad challenge post, I decided to do something a little different.As we all know beans are awesome, both in

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-34365032645645695942010-02-03T13:18:00.008-05:002010-02-04T15:12:15.858-05:00

When I think of Ottawa and winter, one thing comes to mind: the Rideau Canal. It is the worlds largest skating rink at 7.8km in length. It is home to Winterlude, which kicks off this weekend. And what's the first thing most people think of when you say the words "canal" and "winterlude"? BeaverTails. Not the actual tails of beavers, but a delicious pastry that is deep fried and covered in

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-9170522279099785982010-01-31T22:04:00.006-05:002010-01-31T22:37:37.309-05:00

You thought I forgot about Beet Week didn't you? Not so! I had one last beet recipe in store, but I only just got around to making it today.I found this recipe for Crispy Beet Chips and thought it sounded like a good idea. I love sweet & salty food, and I love chips, how could I go wrong. Armed with a newly purchased mandolin and an apron, I excitedly sliced my beet potato chip thin, lovingly

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-18811109906093017722010-01-29T18:59:00.006-05:002010-01-31T00:05:32.975-05:00

Remember Shake'n'Bake? Crispy, lower fat alternative to deep frying, reminds you of your childhood and comfort foods cooked by mom. Chances are you haven't even looked at a box in a while. Well it's not just for chicken anymore!Enter Cauliflower. Yes, that's what I said. Cauliflower. Maybe you love it, maybe you don't, but this bland looking vegetable is a nutrition powerhouse.It boasts a

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-82314719277704137502010-01-26T13:49:00.010-05:002010-01-26T14:59:01.299-05:00

In case you were wondering, I've recently started a Statistics course, which is horribly dry (obviously), and explains the recent dramatic increase in the frequency of my blog posts. Good for my blog and my belly, not so good for my homework. Alas, here I am again.Growing up Jean Paré's "Company's Coming: Muffins & More" cookbook was our baking bible. Every recipe was simple and delicious.

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-75028284625070401592010-01-25T14:21:00.006-05:002010-01-25T20:00:44.130-05:00

I am a firm believer that everything tastes better when it has been roasted. Roasting seems to bring out the best in vegetables, and beets are no exception.Betacyanin, the magenta pigment that gives beets their fabulous colour, is contained in vacuoles inside the beet cells, and these cells and vacuoles are very delicate. As soon as the beet is cut or heated there's red dye everywhere. But

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-8864785454651041982010-01-23T19:59:00.009-05:002010-01-24T22:36:37.471-05:00

"The beet is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly, is more feverish, but the fire of the radish is a cold fire, the fire of discontent, not of passion. Tomatoes are lusty enough, yet there runs through tomatoes an undercurrent of frivolity. Beets are deadly serious." - Tom Robbins I used to hate beets, or so I thought. As it turns out, I hated the way my mom used to make them -

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-82882672069664554072010-01-22T11:38:00.010-05:002010-11-05T11:11:44.149-04:00

While the former pope was using vinegar in a negative context he really couldn't be more wrong. Vinegars are wonderful culinary delights. They can come from a great many sources from barley to coconuts. They are found in a great number of foods, particularly condiments and pickling, and make an excellent cleaning product owing to their acidity and antimicrobial properties. Additionally,

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-37632191816050898812010-01-17T17:37:00.009-05:002010-01-17T19:55:46.566-05:00

Last week's blog gave me an idea. I'm sure you've all heard of the 52-week challenge, the latest craze in new year's resolutions. If you haven't the basic premise is that people come up with a list of 52 things to do, and each week they have to check one off their list, or some kind of variation on the theme of weekly accountability.I'm not usually one to jump on bandwagons, but I like the idea

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-53468225286194910992010-01-09T13:21:00.008-05:002010-01-17T18:41:37.824-05:00

In the Simpsons, when Lisa decides to go vegetarian, Homer and Bart taunt her by chanting "You don't make friends with salad! You don't make friends with salad!"Clearly, Homer and Bart had never tried this salad. This is a salad, dear readers, that you can proudly present to friends and family as they ooh and aah at your culinary prowess. It is a salad worthy of any high end bistro, and it

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-89166518326633814902009-10-22T15:53:00.009-04:002009-10-22T16:41:14.463-04:00

Well I've done it again! Over a month has gone by without a post, though I've been thinking about blogging all the while, alas, I never found the time to get on here and write about the delicious foods I've discovered since our last meeting.During my absence, Canadian Thanksgiving came and went. Holidays often pose problems to vegans and vegetarians, especially when their families cannot

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-21016839367912027802009-09-14T21:45:00.019-04:002010-02-14T21:57:51.356-05:00

September is back to school season. While this makes many people think of school supplies and a new fall wardrobe, this time of year makes me think of sniffley-nosed freshmen and all the germs they are sharing. I am the furthest thing from a germaphobe and I almost never get sick, but I still like to fill my diet with immunity boosting ingredients just in case.It is common knowledge that

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-42858448658464415002009-09-07T19:36:00.003-04:002009-09-07T21:54:21.971-04:00

If you are reading my blog I will assume you fit into one of the following categories:a) Already a vegan or vegetarianb) An omnivore considering veganismc) A friend of mine who is just creeping on me cause I linked to my blog on facebook If you are either b) or c), then I have a dare for you! If you are a) then feel free to pass this dare on to friends of yours!The dare: the 21-day Vegan

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-80428331364065048952009-09-03T18:02:00.009-04:002009-09-12T20:35:53.003-04:00

It has been a mighty long time since my last post, I shall try not to make a habit of it. I spent the end of August in my home and native land, the Ottawa Valley. While I was there the weather took a turn for the worse, as it does every time I visit. It seems hurricane Bill (seriously? Bill? Could they have come up with a more benign name?) brought some cold weather and rain inland, and it

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-16350655229996615282009-08-08T13:38:00.007-04:002010-02-14T21:59:17.946-05:00

One of the best things about living in Southern Ontario is the produce. Unless you're after citrus fruits or mangos, southern Ontario is the place to be. From the beginning of May when asparagus season hits, til the fall when apples and squash abound, the roadsides of Ontario southwest of Toronto are littered with produce stands. And nothing beats fresh, local produce, except of course for

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-81322359230070001772009-08-04T19:39:00.016-04:002009-08-08T13:01:53.742-04:00

I had plans on making vegan empanadas for my Latin America inspired dish, when who should come by the lab but Luis, a colleague who just so happened to come with us to the conference in Miami. Having read my blog (and critiquing my spelling) and learned of my culinary intentions, he decided to share with me one of his favourite recipes. I will attempt to recreate this dish and do it justice,

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-59706254240838758702009-07-29T23:26:00.003-04:002009-07-29T23:38:26.405-04:00

You, who clearly is an avid reader of my blog, may have noticed my absence. I have been gone for a few weeks and things have been a bit hectic. But I am dedicated to this blog and I am determined not to let it be pushed aside by my often busy life. I recently went to a conference in Miami, where English is a second language to Spanish, and there had the opportunity to eat in Peruvian, Cuban,

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-79544947916071361582009-07-08T16:43:00.005-04:002009-07-12T22:34:04.903-04:00

In the last episode of the saga, the eggplant had found it's way to China. Not quite ready to leave Asia yet, I also made myself a recipe with a Japanese influence. In my quest for fabulous recipe ideas, I stumbled across Ashbury's Aubergines, a veritable treasure trove of eggplant recipes the likes of which ye have never seen. It was here that I discovered Soba Salad with Roasted Eggplant

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-86088367992800148012009-07-06T23:50:00.016-04:002009-07-07T02:05:07.682-04:00

Archaeologists and historians seem keenly interested in what we used to eat thousands of years ago. It is because of this curiosity that they have been able to unlock the secrets as to when and where plants were domesticated, when they first came to an area, and just what those people thought about it at the time. In part 1 of the Eggplant Saga we learned that the aubergine's origin story

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-41142956633105541582009-07-05T17:53:00.010-04:002009-08-08T14:36:00.369-04:00

One of my labmates does her research in greenhouses and one of the plants she is using in her current experiment is the noble eggplant. It just so happens that last week all her plants produced copious amounts of fruit, and I ended up coming home with 9 eggplants. I wasn't exactly sure what I would do with all these eggplants, but if I didn't take them, they would have gone in the compost, and

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034265886669446704.post-9510178153894125742009-06-20T10:09:00.009-04:002009-07-05T17:53:07.966-04:00

Hello to anyone who happens upon my blog! This isn't the first time I've started a blog, not even the first time I've started a vegan blog. My first attempt at blogging didn't go so well. I started one to talk about all the science, psychology, nutrition and other knowledgey type things regarding veganism, but I found that I just didn't have the time to do the research. You see, I'm a

Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186232212664011149noreply@blogger.com0