I’m working SO HARD right now to feel better. I’ve been feeling totally depleted lately. A diet consisting of pretty-much only almond butter, spelt bread, orange juice, soy chai lattes and multivitamins will do that to you.

It’s a wee bit challenging to eat well as a vegan. It’s like, when you pledge to become a vegan, you also pledge that you will EAT REALLY REALLY WELL. Indeed, part of being a vegan is being gentle and compassionate to your own body. And, I have not been. I’ve been so preoccupied with my children, and their health and well-being, that I’ve made no time for my own SELF-CARE. Cooking seems to take too much energy, and all I want at the end of the day, is to sit on my arse and eat sweet, and almond-buttery and BREAD-Y goodness…. But, my lips are chapped, and my energy is low, and I slip in and out of dark moods all too easily. Not a good sign.

So, yesterday, I vowed to make a change. I decided not to make any strict rules that I would end up breaking and berating myself for breaking. Instead, I decided just to eat a little better. To eat some meals and maybe even some greens.

Well, the FREEZING weather here in Canada made it difficult for me to fill my fridge with vegan delicacies (lettuce). But, I did have some KALE in the fridge…. And, I steamed it with my dinner….

…and it was good. I liked it. I didn’t put a single seasoning in it, and I LIKED it. Kale is an AMAZING vegetable. It’s one of the healthiest in the world — as are most dark-green leafy vegetables. Maybe it was so tasty because my body really needed it…. I’m not sure. But, go for it, Gorgeouses. Pick yourself up a bunch of kale, steam it gently in half a cup of water, and enjoy….

If your body doesn’t welcome the plain steamed kale as much as mine does, add a teaspoon of low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari sauce), a minced garlic clove or two, and some pepper. Let us know how you like it!

Guess who else liked it…? Josh-O and the RASCAL. The monkey didn’t try it. But, it’s okay, because she LOVED my latest concoction: “NATURE’S CANDY.”

Last night at dinner, Monkey asked me if she could have CANDY for dessert. Instead of saying “noooo,” I said, “sure! I’m making you ‘Nature’s Candy.’” She was SO. EXCITED. Squealed for joy! When I finished making it, I walked into the dining room and confidently handed her “Nature’s Candy.” And, to my delight (and surprise), SHE LOVED IT.

She loved it SO MUCH…that she POSED with it….

Later, when she was in bed, she said she really liked “Churchiss Candy.” So, you better get the recipe, eh, Gorgeouses!? HERE IT IS!!!

NATURE’S CANDY

INGREDIENTS (serves 2)

1 apple
1 kiwi
Raisins
(Really, any fruit will do; but, the raisins are a must!)
Tablespoon walnuts (optional; great for added omega 3s)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Chop up fruit and throw in a bowl.
2. Sprinkle with raisins.
3. Serve with chin up and big smile! AND MAKE SURE YOU CALL IT “NATURE’S CANDY,” or some other name with “candy” in it…. They’re LOVE IT! Hee!

I’ve been trying to do REALLY FUN things with the monkeys as much as possible lately. I realized that, if I’m going to be a stay-at-home-mom, it has to be about US — not JUST about them. Because if it’s JUST about them, NOBODY is benefiting. The happier mama is, the happier EVERYONE is.

So, we were lazing around on Sunday, and I decided we should BAKE MUFFINS! I could teach the monkey a little something about baking, AND we could all enjoy a HEALTHY alternative to the Halloween treats still sitting on our kitchen counter….

The recipe for these muffins was adapted from one of my favourite cookbooks right now, Nutrilicious: Food for Thought and Whole Health. I didn’t have any syrup, so I used my favourite natural sugar alternative, Agave Nectar, instead (which, BONUS, is lower on the glycemic index). I also felt the dough turned out a little dry, so I added more rice milk. The rest is pretty close to the original recipe. OH! Except for one more thing. The author calls for ALLSPICE. I would strongly advise using cinnamon instead. I have no idea why she chose allspice. Blech!

Other than the allspice, the muffins turned out GREAT! Nice and dense and filling and extra sweet because of the raisins…. AND, they’re super HEALTHY: high in fiber and a source of omega 3’s, baby! AND, NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THESE MUFFINS…. Love….

And, by the way, even though it says they’re optional? The SUNFLOWER SEEDS AS GARNISH is a must! They add both a satisfying crunch and necessary nuttiness!

INGREDIENTS
(Makes 12 yummy muffins)

2 tbsp ground flax seeds (buy them whole and grind them with a coffee grinder before use)
1/4 cup unrefined vegetable oil (I use Canola)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup OR agave nectar
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup rice milk (or, I would think, any milk alternative)
1 cup whole spelt or whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp ground allspice cinnamon
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup organic raisins
Sunflower seeds for garnish, NOT OPTIONAL

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Preheat oven to 375º F.

2) Grease muffin tin so muffins don’t stick, and set aside.

3) In medium-sized bowl, pour in the oil, syrup/agave nectar, bananas and rice milk. And, STIR IT UP!

4) In larger bowl, pour in the ground flax, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, oat bran, and raisins. And, MIX it up!

5) Pour the liquid mix over the dry mix just until the two are blended.

6) Fill the muffin tins with the mix.

7) Sprinkle the muffins with sunflower seeds.

8) Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick (or knife) poked into the centre of the muffin comes out clean.

The author of Nutrilicious, Edith Rothschild, says these freeze really well! So, place a bunch on the kitchen counter (covered if storing for more than a day), and pack the other bunch in an airtight container and freeze.

It’s ma anniversary! FIVE years of wedded bliss. Two monkeys and three cats to show for it. And, excuse me? WTF am I doing talking to YOU right now, Gorgeouses? I should be upstairs making MAD PASSIONATE LOOOOOOVE with the hubby.

Hi mom.

Alas, no. I’m sitting on my arse. Big Brother is on pause while Josh-O checks on the monkey.

So I got gifties! I got gifties! Sweet dude got me a gift certificate to a sunglasses store. HOLLAAAHHH! AND, he got me a gift certificate to my FAVOURITE place in the whole wide world. If you ever want to get me something, YE STALKERS AND SECRET ADMIRERS, THAT is where you go (and tell them I said hi). Lord knows this mama-o (otherwise, SADLY, known in this house as “BIG MAMA”…Dangit, monkey won’t stop with that! Hey, but I DON’T CARE ‘cuz I lost a whopping 3 pounds last week! Can I get a HOLLLAAAAAHHH!) could use a FACIAL….

Check where Josh-O and I went to dinner tonight — care of IT’SGRANDMA and PAPA’SHERE (my parents, who, PRAISE!, babysat the monkeys while we dined)….

I know I know. I don’t DO steak (I’m a Mammalian!). But, what I DO do is THIS:

Mmmmmmmm…. Breeeaaaaaaad….

And, most of all, I DO THIS:

THIS:

CLOSEUP THIS!!!:

Best cake in the city — if you can CALL it “cake” (should be called “HEAVEN”). Thought it was small when she first brought it out. But, MAN, is it RICH. It was PERFECT. PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT.

And, great blogger that I am, I forgot my camera. But, I asked for a photo…. So, we got this:

Awwwwww!

Today marks ANOTHER special occasion, by the way…. Rascal’s SIX MONTHS OLD today. Can you believe? And, no, he’s still not sleeping through the night. Not even close. And, no, there will be no more pictures of Rascal’s face on this website. I know, WAAAAHH. It’s HARD for me, believe me! But, don’t despair, Gorgeouses, because someone offered to step in for rascal when necessary:

He loves himself.

And, one more thing?…

Don’t have a cow….

MAKE a cow:

Moo.