happy new year + go to breakfast

Happy new year! I haven't posted in a while, so this is my first post of 2014! 2013 was such an awesome year, so I'm hoping 2014 will bring excitement as well ;) I wanted to post about my daily go to breakfast recipes. The first is toast and spreads. This sounds simple but it could be boring or super delicious. Depending on your ingredients. I like to start with, normally, Silver Hills' Squirelly Bread. This is a sprouted whole grain bread, as long as you dress it up with spreads, it tastes supe good, and healthy. Here are my favourites. Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter that I think is only available in Fall, but I'm not 100% sure. Also, Trader Joe's Fig Butter is sooooo good. I take it to school for lunch with crackers and smoked cheddar or havarti. MaraNantha's Roasted Almond Butter is probably my favourite right now. I got it at Costco in a plastic Mason Jar-looking container. MaraNantha's Nut Butters are all natural. The last one is a new discovery, The Earth Balance Organic Coconut Flavor Spread. Purchased from Save On Foods or Whole Foods. This is like a vegan butter. It tastes just like butter, but with a hint of natural coconut flavour. The one thing, it that it kind of has a really crumbly, dry texture like butter that had been melted then refrigerated again. But other than that, it melts nicely on a piece of toast or when heated, just like butter or stuff like that. And I absolutely love the flavour. The other breakfast idea is Greek yogurt and fruit. I pretty much only eat the KREMA brand Greek Yogurt. Vanilla is my all time favourite one, but I also love the coconut flavour. Then I top it with berries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or strawberries. Sometimes, if there is some in the house, I add granola. So, those are my breakfast recipes or ideas! Don't forget to always be CREATIVE in the kitchen!! 

'Tis the season!

Myles and I were having a cooking contest this morning. Main ingredient of the contest? Cranberries. Now, I'm sharing with you my winning recipe... I just came up with this recipe on the dot and it turned out super delicious!!! 

Cranberry-Balsamic Crumble

1 cup cranberries, halved

1/2 packet apple cider drink mix

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons agave nectar

3 tablespoons oats

3 tablespoons brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter, chilled and cubed

Combine oats, sugar and butter in a food processor or blender. Pulse until it makes a crumbly powder. Set aside. Combine water and apple cider powder in sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add cranberries, balsamic and agave. Cook down for 5 minutes, stirring every minute. Transfer evenly to ramekins cover with crumble mixture and broil for 1 1/2-3 minutes until golden. Enjoy warm. 

White Peppermint Hot Chocolate!

Today is the first holiday recipe of this year!!! Love this drink, I will show you 2 versions on how to make it, depending on what you have. 

White Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Version 1:

1 cup milk

5-7 candy cane flavored HERSHEY'S® Hugs chocolates

Whipped cream and crushed candy cane bits (optional)

Unwrap the chocolates. Melt and place in  a mug. Slowly add warmed milk while stirring. Garnish with whipped cream and candy cane bits. Enjoy!

Version 2:

1 cup milk

5-7 squares of your favourite white chocolate

A couple drops of peppermint extract (depending on how much peppermint you like) 

Whipped cream and crushed candy cane bits (optional) 

Melt white chocolate with peppermint extract and put in a cup. Slowly add warmed milk while stirring. Garnish with whipped cream and candy cane bits. Enjoy!

Nailah's Note

You can substitute milk or dark chocolate for the white in Version 2. You can omit the peppermint in Version 2 for just White Hot Chocolate. For both variations, you can use any milk, like almond or soy. 

currently snacking on…

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate (filled with) Speculoos Cookie Butter!!! From my last currently snacking on, you learned that I kind of LOVE Trader Joe's Cookie Butter. I saw that they had a chocolate bar filled with this stuff!!!! It is awesome. That gingerbread taste from the cookie butter mixed with the dark chocolate, yes please! I love this. 

currently snacking on…

So, my Mama recently went to Target and Trader Joe's!!! And got some delicious things!! At Target... There was some Gingerbread TWIX!!! I don't really know what those taste like because we aren't allowed to eat them 'till Christmas. But I DID try these amazing White Chocolate Peppermint M&M's!!! They are SO good! They taste just like my favourite drink from Starbucks, a white peppermint hot chocolate. And from Trader's we got this Speculoos Cookie & Cocoa Swirl. This is a toast spread that is TJ's cookie butter blended with like a nutella!!! It's really really good!

Crispy Roasted Broccoli and Onions.

Yum! I love this! I have always loved roasted broccoli... And... In case you didn't know, I actually did not win the grand prize (an iPad mini...) in the Global BC Contest. But, the experience was amazing. Thank you to my awesome chef mentor, Chef Ned Bell from YEW Seafood + Bar in Vancouver. He really helped me through me journey in becoming Global's Junior Chef. 

Crispy Roasted Broccoli + Onions

1 head green broccoli, cut into florets

1/2  red onion cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt + Pepper

Combine all ingredients on a baking pan. Bake at 400F for 30 min. Enjoy as a side dish or on pizza or mixed into pasta... 

Fresh Street Jr Chef Competition on Global BC

Catch me and my awesome mentor Chef Ned, this morning on Global BC between 7:45 and 9:00am. I'm so excited to be part of this competition!!