Tag: Blog

Desserts, RECIPES

No bake coffee & cashew mousse cake

Cristina Carlos-Supino

CRUST

200 gr almonds
30 gr shredded coconut
20 pitted dates

FILLING

400 gr soaked cashews (up to 12 hours) *Note 200 gr when dry
160 gr oat milk
160 gr maple syrup
1 tbsp cacao powder
2 shots of espresso

Add almonds & shredded coconut into a food processor and pulse until fine texture, add the dates and mix again.

Press the crust into an 8 inch springform pan and set aside.

Drain and wash the cashews and blend well along with the other filling ingredients. Pour the filling into the cake pan and freeze for 6 hours or overnight.

Decorate with your favorite toppings, could be a chocolate drizzle, berries, crushed roasted cashews or simply as is

Keep cake in the freezer, remove 15 minutes before serving

Delicious !

Cristina for Peas & Peace

HEALTH

Physical Activity

Cristina Carlos-Supino

Due to scientific research, we are now well aware that nutrition plays a huge role in how we feel on a daily basis and the impact it has on our health. Adding an activity, has to be your favorite !, could be a daily brisk walk, running, swimming, cycling, will affect and also increase your wellbeing, I insist on it must be something you enjoy !. Physical activity impacts your stamina, your mood, your weight, your muscles. For those that live in parts of the world where winters are long and bitter cold at times, I hopefully might inspire you in showing you a room I converted into a small exercise/yoga room so that winter doesn’t sabotage your exercise.

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On a daily basis I alternate between tennis (outdoors in the summer, indoors winter), Pilates, cycling (indoors or outdoors weather permitting), so to not always be overworking the same muscles and also so that it doesn’t become repetitive.  I also sneak in daily walks for added fresh air while walking the dogs. Personalize your gym !, go with your favorite colours, gear, make it conducive to wanting to be in that room or area of the house.

Little tricks to share with you to maximize space and economise, we bought a set of weights all in one (Nautilus), this way we don’t have a wall of weights taking up the entire space. The screen is not so much to watch programs as I prefer to have music on, it is to follow free yoga/pilates sessions on youtube.

 

Cristina for Peas & Peace

 

Mains, RECIPES

Meatless Balls

Cristina Carlos-Supino

But soooooo tasty !

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Add them to your favorite Pasta and top it with Parmesan (see my recipe), Delicious !

Ingredients for meatless balls:
1 cup of oats
1 3/4 cooked black beans
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax & 2 1/2 tbsp water, mix together and let sit for 5 minutes)
Salt & pepper to taste

Ingredients for the sauce:
500 ml of ground tomatoes
1 1/2 cup of vegetable stock
3 garlic cloves (minced)

Add oats to a blender, pulse until ground, add all the other ingredients and blend until well combined

Use an ice cream scooper for size and shape in your hand afterwards, add to a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes

Set the oven at 350F and bake balls until golden brown.

While baking add the sauce ingredients to a pan then transfer balls to sauce and cook  medium heat for 20 minutes stirring occasionally

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas & Peace

HEALTH

Volunteering

Cristina Carlos-Supino

It is official, I have received my training and am now a volunteer at the Oncology Department at a nearby hospital. Every week  I will be greeting, assisting, listening to, and comforting patients scheduled to meet the Oncologist, or to receive a chemotherapy treatment.

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You may be wondering why I opted to volunteer with the Oncology Department. Three simple words…………it grounds you. I get to converse with individuals of all ages. Some patients are humorous about their situation, some are still in shock, and some are understandably very angry. However, some are in recovery, and simply follow-up with the department when necessary.

This is a constant reminder to me that I am blessed, as my family is all in good health, and we can go about pursuing our projects and dreams. For cancer patients, some projects and dreams have to be put on hold.

Volunteering or giving back may have positive benefits for the person or community but for the volunteer as well

I get inspired meeting individuals in adversity, and I feel a have a purpose if somewhere I was able to bring comfort or make someone smile in such times.

 

Cristina for Peas & Peace

 

 

Desserts, RECIPES

Raspberry Cheesecake

Cristina Carlos-Supino

Try this delicious and easy recipe when hosting or simply for yourself !

Crust:

40 gr Almonds
1 tbsp Hot water
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Coconut oil (melted)

Process the almonds in a food processor until small pieces. Then add dates and water, continue to blend until a sticky dough forms. Grease a 18 cm diameter springform pan with the melted coconut oil. Press the dough into the mold and refrigerate at least half an hour.

In the meantime prepare the filling:

1 cup soaked cashews (at least 4 hours)
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 cup Coconut cream (solid part of the can)
4 tbsp Agave
2 tbsp Coconut oil

Process the soaked cashews in a food processor until creamy and smooth, then add in the rest of the ingredients until smooth.

Pour *half  of the filling over the refrigerated crust. Place the mold in the freezer for at least half an hour.

For the pink layer:

Blend some frozen raspberries along with the other half of the filling, pour it over the white layer and put it in the freezer for another half hour.

Ready to enjoy !

My inspiration was @foodie.yuki

Love

Cristina for Peas & Peace

MISC

Expo manger santé et vivre vert 2019

Cristina Carlos-Supino

My visit to the Health Expo was most enjoyable. Am always looking to discover new products. Here are my 4 favorites exhibitors  for this year !

Gourmet Sauvage ! www.gourmetsauvage.ca

A tribute to the Canadian wilderness

*Drawing inspiration from a rich and ancient Native American tradition, Gourmet Sauvage presents a unique selection of gourmet specialties featuring the best vegetables and wild fruit of Canada. Carefully picked by community groups and indigenous people across the country and processed entirely by hand*.

I purchased 3 different varieties of Pasta, their latest addition. Bolete mushrooms, Lobter mushrooms & Balsam Fir. Cant wait to try them out !

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Varech Phare Est ! varechphareest.com

Hand picked seaweed in Gaspésie by its owner Stéphane Albert. you will notice on the image that he distributes in various venues. Love seaweed, purchased his Wakame from the Atlantic and a Gomasio mixed with various types of seaweed that I can not wait to add to my salads and other dishes,

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Kémia ! Kémia.ca

*Kémia offers original condiments, marinades and vegetable spreads, as well as grilled vegetables. Their creations come from the Tunisian culinary tradition, perfect blend between the Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern cuisines. Kémia is the Tunisian word that describes an assortment of finger foods traditionally served before a meal.*

I often like to add kick to my meal so I purchased their Harissa, sample tasted it and WOW !

They distribute in Quebec and Ontario as well

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Boulangerie Citron Confit ! citronconfit.ca

Artisanal, Vegan, gluten-free Bread & pastries. They deliver at no cost across Quebec if order is over $ 100.00

Tasted their Bread simply delicious !

If you come across these products while at your preferred grocer, do give them a try, they wont disappoint

Cristina For Peas & Peace

RECIPES, Sides

Purple Flesh Potatoes Please

Cristina Carlos-Supino
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Purple potatoes add a unique flair to your dish due to its beautiful hue. They can be a side or they can be added to a salad !

I roasted mine at 350 for approx half hour

  1. Cut potatoes in half
  2. Then cup 5 to 7 garlic cloves in slivers
  3. Drizzle with olive oil
  4. Once cooked through add your favorite herbs, I in this case added smoked chili flakes and shallots
  5. Salt and Pepper to taste

Nutritional value

  •  fiber
  •  protein
  •  vitamin C
  •  potassium
  •  vitamin B
  •  phosphorus
  •  copper
  •  manganese
  •  thiamine
  •  niacin
  •  magnesium

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas & Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

No Bake Lemon Raspberry Bars

Cristina Carlos-Supino
  • Love week-ends, gives me a chance to be in the kitchen and practice my photography as well !
  • Made these this morning, light in taste, perfect dessert or snack !

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Photo taken by Peas & Peace

Inspired by

@briewilly 

  • 1 1/2 cup pitted dates
  • 1 cup raw almonds or walnuts
  • Pinch of salt
  • Filling
  • 3 cups pre soaked raw cashews 
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice 
  • 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 
  • 2 tsp lemon zest 
  • Raspberry chia topping 
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
  • 1 tbsp pure maple syrup 
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds 
  • Soaking The Cashews
  • In a bowl, cover the cashews with water and let soak for 3-4 hours. If you’re in a pinch for time, you can put the cashews and water in a pot on the stove. Bring the water to a boil and then remove the pot from the heat and let sit for 45 minutes to 1 hour. You can prepare the other ingredients in the meantime.
  • Making The Topping
  • Mash together raspberries, chia seeds, and maple syrup. Set aside to gel.
  • To Make The Crust
  • Add dates and nuts to a processor and pulse a few times to break up the big chunks. Add the pinch of salt and process for 2-3 minutes, or until finely chopped. Mixture should hold together when pressed. If mixture is too dry, add in a few more dates and process until well combined. Press mixture into the bottom of a 8×8 or 9×9 pan with parchment paper.
  • To Make The Filling
  • After your cashews have soaked, rinse and drain the dirty water. Add cashews to your food processor, along with lemon juice, coconut oil, maple syrup, and lemon zest. Blend until creamy.
  • Putting It Together
  • Pour filling onto the crust and spread across the pan evenly. Spread the raspberry sauce on top of the filling until evenly distributed. Cover the pan well with foil and place into the freezer for 2-3 hours, or until mixture has firmed. Cut into bars and thaw for 10-15 minutes before serving. Best eaten when cold, but creamy. Keep in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve.

    • Peas & Peace

    TRAVELS

    NOMU Casa de Te

    Cristina Carlos-Supino

    Visited this quaint tea salon in San Jose Del Cabo and fell in love ❤️ had a Rooibos and vanilla tea, divine

    HEALTH

    Remembering Penelope

    Cristina Carlos-Supino

    Anyone that knows me knows that I am passionate about horses. I once had my own horse, Penelope. She has since passed away, and I miss her….immensely.

    Now, being in my mid-fifties, I know that it’s not feasible to get another horse, as we leave for longer periods of time when vacationing. This is not fair to an animal, despite the fact that there are wonderful individuals that can look after them while we are away.

    After a few months of struggling with this notion, I came across an inspirational lady named Anouk Lorie, the founder of Wásábi Coaching (Wásábi is an Algonquian word, that means “eyes wide open”, “seeing clearly”). She is also the owner of four beautiful, gentle horses. This one is Buck !

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    Amongst her many different workshops, I noticed one that intrigued me; Chakras and Coaching with Horses. Although I didn’t necessarily understand the meaning nor the purpose at the time, it appealed to the dormant Yogi in me. Not to mention, I loved the idea of being in contact with horses, as well.  I decided to follow suit and attend.

    Well, it just so happens it did me a world of good. I was outdoors all day long with horses, learnt about Chakras and what they can communicate to you and came to terms with Penelope’s passing.

    No experience with horses is required, so if you love horses and this is something that appeals to you, simply consult the website to find workshops and certifications that best suit your needs.

    They are located in Morin-Heights, Quebec, Canada.

    -Cristina for Peas and Peace

     

     

     

    JADE, WILLOW, SKYE & VALENTINA

    Body Image

    Cristina Carlos-Supino

    Hi! I’m Jade, and I am a Maine Coon cat. Interesting fact: Maine Coons are one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. That being said, not everyone knows that, and when we have visitors at our home, many of them look at me and say things like “wow he’s huge!”, or,  “oh my, he’s fat!”.

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    I just wanted to say that no matter how different you may feel you are from others, and no matter who you are, receiving comments, such as “huge”, “fat”, etc. is hurtful, inappropriate, and unjustifiable. Of course, if medical advice is administered in a polite, controlled way by a physician for health purposes, that’s a different story. But the fact of the matter is that we need to build each other up, understand each other, and work to make the world a more positive place to be.

    That being said, I am glad that we are living in a time where body image and body positivity are things that are being adressed more and more, and that the molds we tirelessly try to fit ourselves into are being broken down one by one.

    There is beauty in shapes, wrinkles & white hair !!! Never change !!!

    -Jade

    TRAVELS

    Montreal Vegan Festival October 2018

    Cristina Carlos-Supino

    Hello everyone! I had the pleasure of attending the Montreal Vegan Festival.  I was actually told that attendence has tripled since the event first started 5 years back! From this fact, one can draw the conclusion that more and more individuals are becoming curious about veganism and want to know/understand more about all of the wonderful benefits it has to offer. One can also ascertain that there has been an increase in people leading a plant-based lifestyle, for whom the festival is a great opportunity to see what new products, food items, etc. are currently out there!

    Interesting data supporting this idea of an incline in plant-based diets comes from recent research conducted by Dalhousie University as conveyed by an article on ctvnews.ca, which asserts that “there are 2.3 million vegetarians in Canada, up from 900,000 15 years ago. Another 850,000 people consider themselves vegan. Those two numbers add up to 9.4 per cent of the Canadian population”.

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    More about the festival now… There were many new and not so new companies (of the beauty, shoe, apparel variety), as well as bakeries, food item producers, etc. selling/displaying their wonderful offerings. I remember 20 years ago there weren’t nearly as many options!

    Speaking of bakeries at the festival… special shoutout to Audacieuse Vanille, a Montreal-based bakery from which I bought the BEST pumpkin muffin ever!  And my husband couldn’t resist trying the banana bread with chocolate chips, which he says was divine.

    Also, while at the festival, I discovered a new company that I truly believe to be my “coup de coeur,” or my newfound love. I plan on featuring it in an upcoming blog post! I’m not going into further detail right now, as I was only able to order some of their products online, as opposed to purchasing them at the festival (they had their complete line on display, however no stock to sell) and I’m 100% committed to ALWAYS testing items personally before writing about them. Stay tuned for that!

    To conclude, in exiting the festival, I was left with this wonderful feeling that a collective interest in protecting animals and the environment is alive and growing here in Canada, which is great news!

    Bye for now,

    -Cristina