Gluten-free baking with coconut flour-blueberry chocolate muffins
As you may already know, I’ve been on on a gluten-free diet for the past two months (click here if you want to read more about why), and it can be a challenge at times. One of the hardest meals to figure out is breakfast! After years of being using to eating cereal or toast in the morning, it’s somewhat of a struggle getting used to just having fruit smoothies and eggs in the morning. Sometimes, I’ll have quinoa or amaranth pudding, but I miss biting into a muffin once in a while. That’s where these blueberry and dark chocolate breakfast muffins come in. They are made with coconut flour, coconut milk, blueberries, dark chocolate and other good-for-you ingredients. Read on for the recipe and more about coconut flour…
Avocado, fennel and kefir soup with mint
Hello my lovely readers!
Today I wanted to take some time and talk about one of the things most of us love to hate – FATS! There was a time when I was on the low-fat bandwagon and everything I bought from the grocery store had to be low-fat. After all, isn’t that what every magazine and dietitian was telling us to do? I was all about the low-fat dairy, the low-fat cereals and everything else you could imagine. I actually thought I was doing myself a favour by eating that way. But, I really didn’t feel any better following that dietary advice, nor did I lose any weight. The worst effect of the so called low-fat diet was the poor state of my skin. It felt parched and dull! So obviously, I left the low-fat bandwagon and I haven’t turned back.
Read on for more about my experience with fats (good and bad) and for a chilled soup recipe made with avocado, fennel and kefir with lots of mint for an unbelievably refreshing flavour!
Amaranth and chia breakfast “pudding” with cocoa and cinnamon
Hello my lovely readers! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? I’m so glad to finally get back to blogging and I’m excited to share all the new recipes I’ve been testing the past few weeks.
As you may or may not know, my mother unexpectedly passed away three months ago at a very young age (she was just 51) due to a massive heart attack which was then followed by several cardiac arrests. Since she had no prior history of any heart problems, this came as quite the shock and I really needed some time to let it sink in, heal and return to my usual self. This experience has taught me that life is very unpredictable and we should really cherish each day that we have with our loved ones. You never know what’s around the corner…
Taking a short break…
Hello my lovely readers,
As some of you may be aware, my mother passed away very suddenly two weeks ago at a very young age. She was my lifelong inspiration and best friend. I have been spending time with my family and am coming to terms with this difficult situation. I am taking comfort in the fact that she did not suffer for many years, and I am confident that she is in a better and more peaceful place now.
I just wanted to let you all know that I will be taking a short break from blogging in order to regroup and rediscover. As I have recently been going through my mother’s belongings, I realized how much she sacrificed in terms of her creative aspirations in order to be a great mother to my sister and I. It made me realize that life is so short and unpredictable, and we should all strive to follow our dreams and passion to the fullest. I will strive to live up to her expectations and hope to make her proud.
Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support. I will be back soon.
Divya
Salmon teriyaki tacos
Hello hello! Today’s recipe is one of my favourites and was featured in my second online magazine. Since I’ve been trying to eat lighter this spring, this dish is perfect. These tacos are filled with stir-fried broccoli & carrot slaw, creamy guacomole, teriyaki salmon cubes and a generous sprinkling of pickled onions.
Spinach, cocoa and berry smoothie
Hello my lovely readers! Today, I’m sharing a delicious smoothie recipe that I also featured in my spring magazine. As you may have already noticed, I’m a HUGE fan of smoothies! And why is that? It’s because I’m usually lazy to have a proper sit-down breakfast in the morning, so a smoothie is a quick way to get all the nutrition I need to start my day. Today’s smoothie is rich in antioxidants and fibre. It’s also a great way to add some leafy greens to your diet without hiding them with sugar-laden fruit juices.
Are you hungry for change?
Hello my lovely readers! Sorry about being away for so long – it’s been over a week! But, I really needed to take some time to refresh and rejuvenate after completing the magazine. Now that I got my much needed “vacation”, I’m ready for lots more interesting posts and recipes. In the spirit of rejuvenation and change, I’ve been thinking about making a few changes to my current lifestyle in order to live healthier. Today, I randomly stumbled upon a new documentary ‘Hungry for Change’ and I just had to share it! It’s available online for free for another two days, so watch it soon. It’s one of the best food-related documentaries since Food Inc. If you loved Food Inc., I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too!
It’s here! Spring Issue of Flavour Fiesta Magazine!
Hello my lovely readers! I am thrilled to make an exciting announcement to you all today on the “official” first day of spring. The spring issue of Flavour Fiesta Magazine is finally here!
As you may (or may not) know, I’ve been working on this issue for the past few weeks and was trying to wrap up all the finishing touches this week. It’s taken a while, but it’s all worth it!
Here’s a peek of the front cover.
Spring is one of my favourite seasons because it evokes freshness and renewal. After a long drab winter, we can finally enjoy the bright colours of spring!
In this issue, you’ll find not only healthy spring recipes inspired by global cuisine, but you’ll also find tips on making homemade yogurt, decorating Easter eggs and even making DIY face masks. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not turn to page 63 and learn how to make homemade blueberry liqueur? This issue has a little bit of everything and you’re sure to find something that catches your interest.
The most exciting part of the spring issue is that you will “meet” a few of the most talented food bloggers from around the world. This season we have seven amazing guest contributors – each one is an inspirational woman with a passion for food. I hope you enjoy “meeting” and connecting with them! I wanted to thank these lovely ladies for their beautiful contributions and amazing recipes! A big thanks and hug to Nadia from Nature Insider, Manu from Manu’s Menu, Kankana from Sunshine and Smile, Nami from Just One Cookbook, Sylvie from Gourmande in the Kitchen, Callie from Rawxy and Tracey from CheeCha Puffs.
The last two issues have been a wonderful learning experience for me, but I wanted to take things further with this issue. Spring is the season of new beginnings, so it’s only fitting for me to start things with a new perspective. Not only did the magazine receive a “makeover”, but this issue is interactive! Which means more interesting links and videos for you to enjoy. To spot a link, just hover over the pages and you’ll see blue rectangles that will guide you to different links. So enjoy browsing around!
I really hope you enjoy this magazine and I would love to hear from you. What did you like? What do you want to see more of? I look forward to all your suggestions and comments.
To access the magazine, you can either click on the image below or access the magazine through this link.
If you like what you see, “like” us on Facebook/Twitter and help spread the word!
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If you would like a full-sized pdf copy of the magazine to read or if you’d like to read it on your iPad, the magazine is now available through HP MagCloud in both print and digital versions! The digital version (which you can read on the iPad or your computer) is available for just $2.99. All profits from the sale of the magazine will go to the Toronto Daily Food Bank, so please support a great cause! Click here to go to HP MagCloud.
Note: The print version is available as well on HP MagCloud, but I prefer the digital – it’s more green!
Flavour Fiesta Magazine – Spring 2012
Spring issue of Flavour Fiesta Magazine. A food magazine for foodies looking for healthy and flavourful cuisine inspired by global cuisine. In this issue, not only will you find recipes, but you’ll also find tips on making homemade yogurt, decorating Easter eggs and even making DIY face masks.
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Enjoy!
Cheers,
Divya
Chocolate,mango and coconut cups -blog birthday and magazine sneak peek!
Hi everyone! Hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed a little spring weather.
Today’s post is extra-special for me because a) it’s my blog’s birthday! (FF is one today!) and b) the spring issue of Flavour Fiesta magazine is almost done and I wanted to give everyone a little sneak peek into it.
I made these rich and creamy chocolate cups for the magazine which turned out to be amazing and just had to share them today for my blog’s birthday. Chocolate + dried coconut + coconut milk + mango = instant bliss! Read on for more…
Banana coco-chai smoothie
Hello hello! What plans do you have for the weekend? I’m working on the magazine this weekend (trying to finish the design), so I can start planning my photo shoots next week. Busy times ahead… So I wanted to make something quick and easy to start my day on the right foot. Here’s an anti-oxidant packed smoothie with an Indian twist. It’s got chai tea (who doesn’t love that!), cocoa powder for more anti-oxidants, chia seeds for fibre, probiotic yogurt, raw honey and my favourite ingredient – frozen bananas. Fibre…check! Fruit..check! Protein…check! And the taste…delicious!
Green tea, orange, peach and mango cooler
Hello hello! It’s absolutely gorgeous outside today (well at least it looks that way from my window!), so I wanted to make something reminiscent of spring. It’s still pretty cold outdoors, but at least the sun’s shining. To bring a little more sunshine indoors, I made a green tea cooler with orange, peach and mango juice and a hint of lemon. It’s absolutely refreshing!
Book Review and Giveaway- DAILY RAW by Nadia Petrova
I’m so excited to write a book review for my friend Nadia Petrova at Nature Insider! If you haven’t ever popped over to Nadia’s site before, I would urge you to go now! There are thousands of blogs out there and it isn’t possible to follow them all, but I highly recommend her site. It stands out from the crowd. Her blog is not only gorgeous to look at, she’s also put in a lot of love and time into each and every recipe and it truly shows. She’s a holistic nutritionist so you know you’re getting a wealth of healthful tips and information on her site and she also has an eye for photography. Her photographs are beautifully styled, but retain the raw beauty of the foods she blogs about.
I stumbled onto her site many months ago and now I’m a regular reader. Whenever I’m looking for some inspiration to eat healthy or inspiration for creating a beautiful and unique dish – I know I can get a few ideas from Nadia’s site. She recently wrote her own e-book (isn’t that amazing?) and I had a chance to read it cover to cover a few weeks ago. If you’re interested in incorporating raw and natural ingredients into your lifestyle – definitely check out her book ’DAILY RAW’.
