Recipe: Zingy Pineapple and Papaya Chia Shake

I know I keep posting shake recipes but I can't get enough of them! It is such a convenient way to get your fruits and nutrients that I've made it part of my daily routine. Having a shake/smoothie each morning knocks out at least 2 servings of your daily fruit intake, plus a bunch of other good stuff like essential fatty acids, anti-oxidants and protein.

Chia seeds aren't just good as pets (remember ch-ch-ch-chia?), they are an extremely great source of fiber, protein, and omega-3 essential fatty acids. When immersed in liquid, chia seeds release a gel like cover, making it slightly chewy and crunchy at the same time.

Chia is a member of the mint family and pairs great with fresh mint leaves. This recipe calls for 6-10 mint leaves because it all depends on the size of the mint leaves you have on hand. In the summertime, my mint comes fresh from a garden and are slightly smaller than the ones I find at the store. Start with 6 mint leaves and add more if you want.

This refreshing shake is perfect for a weekend brunch.

This recipe yields 1 cup.

Zingy Pineapplea and Papaya Chia Shake
- 1 cup of pineapple
- 1 cup of papaya
- 1 tsp of chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp of flax oil
- 1 1/2 Tbsp of pumpkin seeds
- 6-10 fresh mint leaves
- juice of 1/2 a lemon + rind of 1/8 of a lemon
- honey to sweeten (up to 1 Tbsp)

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Recipe: The Elvis Shake (Rattle and Roll)

When a friend told me about combining peanut butter with banana in a shake, my body grew weak with excitement. Sweet ripe banana combined with a spoonful of thick creamy peanut butter is a killer combination. I was so excited about the shake idea that I stayed up all night trying to think of the best combination for a breakfast shake.

And, here you have it! I present you with the Elvis Shake. The dash of cayenne pepper in this recipe and playing Elvis' song in the background will surely make you want to get up and dance!

This recipe yields 1 cup.

The Elvis Shake (Rattle and Roll)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup of almond milk
- 6 Tbsp rolled oats or your favorite muesli
- 1/8 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 large pinch of cayenne pepper

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Recipe: Spiced Breakfast Berry Shake

As you can see, I've been into my shakes lately. I find that it is the easiest way to get all the good stuff your body needs, all in one go. Eating healthy meals takes planning, and sometimes, my brain just gets tired of doing it. With the right shakes, you can substitute your meals with shakes or have it on the side to complement your meal.

This is not your regular berry fruit drink. But then again, I don't think any recipe on this site is regular. This berry shake has added spices like turmeric, cinnamon and ginger that contain added health benefits. You may be skeptical about it tasting good, but trust me, it is! Another great thing about shakes is that it's a great way to sneak in ingredients that you may not necessarily have on a regular basis. This is a great tactic for your the little kids in the family...and big kids too! The ginger may be a bit too much for some so I have listed that as optional.

Turmeric and cinnamon are considered superfoods, which simply means that it has a high nutrient content and disease-fighting agents. Turmeric, cinnamon and ginger have all been identified as cancer-fighting ingredients, along with a long list of other health benefits like its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and immune-enhancing properties.

This recipe yields 1 1/4 cups.

Spiced Berry Breakfast Shake
- 1 cup of frozen mixed berries, slightly thawed
- 1 ripe banana, frozen and peeled
- 1/2 cup of almond milk
- 4-6 Tbsp of rolled oats or your favourite muesli (less will give a smoother consistency)
- 4 Brazil nuts
- 2 Tbsp of flax oil
- 1/8 tsp of cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp of turmeric
- 1 small nob of peeled ginger, approx 1 inch x 1 inch (optional)

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Recipe: The Ultimate Green Shake

When one hears green shake or green drink, a scrunched up face usually follows. It never sounds tasty and what usually comes to mind is a cup full of bitter vegetables blended together. I can assure you that it is NOT the case with this green shake. It is delicious and packed with a whole lot of goodness such as leafy greens, fresh fruit, omega-3 and anti-oxidants.

When life gets hectic, I usually forget to eat my fruits and veggies regularly. This is a great shake to get all the essential nutrients and fats you need. The fresh fruit, sweet dates, and cacao nibs make this shake great tasting, and I don't even notice the broccoli in this drink! I have to warn you, it is pretty filling. One or two servings of this shake is usually enough for one complete meal.

This recipe yields 4 servings.

The Ultimate Green Shake
(Adapted from Sue Riedl)
- 1 green apple, cored and chopped with skin
- 1 ripe frozen banana, peeled
- 1 cup of frozen broccoli
- 3/4 cups of leafy greens (I use watercress, kale, or spinach)
- 3 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
- 1 1/2 cups of almond milk
- 1 Tbsp of flax oil
- 2 Tbsp of cacao nibs
- 5 Brazil nuts

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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The Clinic, Singapore

The most out-there, and controversial bar I have ever been to was The Clinic in Singapore.

Located in the heart of bustling 'pub-hopper' central Clarke Quay, The Clinic cannot be missed. Why? Because it resembles a hospital. The furniture consists of hospital beds and wheel chairs, and their cocktails are served in syringes, IVs, and test tubes. WTF! Right? That's exactly what I thought too!

Six syringe cocktails for $50, and six 'mood tube' cocktails for $38.

The wheel chair and hospital bed decor:

IV cocktails are $50.

The whole concept is a little ridiculous to me, but so bizarre at the same time. You can't help but contemplate checking it out. The prices, however, may make you think twice.

The Clinic
Block 3C The Cannery
River Valley Road
Clarke Quay, Singapore
Telephone: +65 6305 6768

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Bike Wine Tour Through Marlborough Vineyards, Blenheim

While in Blenheim, CK and I decided to do a wine tour by bike. We wanted to take it slow, and get some exercise at the same time.

Marlborough is internationally known for its Sauvignon Blancs. The climate and soil in the Marlborough region is the reason for its aromatic, acidic, and herbaceous wine characteristics. It is New Zealand's largest wine producing region, and the 110 wineries & 450 grape growers make up about 80% of New Zealand's total wine production. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough wineries also produce Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir.

The primary wine bike tour company in Blenheim is Wine Tours By Bike; however, to pump up our hearts and to save some money in the process, we decided to rent bikes in the city at Spokesman. Doing so will add 6km to the journey, but you do save $15 per person.

Maps of different wineries in the area were provided to us, and we just zoned in on where we wanted to go.

The climate in the Marlborough region is also great for olive groves. Marlborough olive oils are light, grassy, and peppery in taste. All the oils are cold pressed, and the majority are extra virgin. A great place for olive oil tasting is The Vines Village. We ended up purchasing a lovely Tussock chilli pepper infused extra virgin olive oil.

Marlborough Olive Oils at The Vines Village

Another great culinary experience in the area is the award winning Hans Herzog winery and restaurant. In the 90's, Hanz and Therese Herzog left their Michelin-rated resto in Switzerland to start a life in Blenheim. You can try the 3- or 5-course Herzog degustation menu along with a wine from their prestigious wine list. Afterwards, you can enjoy a treat from their cigar or digestives menu. If very keen, they also offer cooking classes.

Unfortunately, Herzog restaurant is only open between the months of Oct - May, so we missed the opening by a couple of weeks.

CK and I had a great time doing the bike tour but some things to note:

- it is very windy this time of year, and you may end up biking into headwind for part of the ride. We experienced that first hand!
- In order to get the the wineries, you will need to bike along highways with speed limits of 100km/h. If that is out of your comfort zone, I'd steer away from biking.
Some other things we saw along the way:

Jersey Cow

Cherry Trees

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Tea Store, Ottawa

The Tea Store in Ottawa offers over 200 different teas including oolong, rooibos, white, black, and green tea. You can buy it in either loose leaf form or in tea bag form. When you walk in, you will notice their wall completely covered with jars of exotic teas (pictured above). The nice part is that you can open each of their jars to catch a whiff before buying. The Tea Store also offers many tea accessories such as tea balls, pots, and cups.

Many of their teas come from estates monitored by the Ethical Tea Partnership, which ensures that the working and living conditions on tea estates are carried out in a socially responsible way.

The store also has a small seating area where you can enjoy a pot of tea in house with scones or cookies. It is always busy when I visit, so consider yourself lucky if you can snag a seat.
Here's what I bought for myself the last time I was at the Tea Store.

Below is the Sencha Kyoto Cherry Rose tea. This is the same tea that was featured in my teastick post, and it is a green tea flavored with sweet cherry, and a hint of rose. This is a very flavorful tea.
Sencha style tea is first steamed, then rolled into thin cylinders, and finally roasted. It differs from Chinese green tea in that it has a more grassy flavor. Chinese green tea is pan roasted right after picking, and has a more smoky flavor.

Sencha Kyoto Cherry Rose Tea

I've always had great memories of my blooming tea from the Slanted Door in San Francisco, and any time I can buy blooming tea, I will. I bought two different kinds from the Tea Store.

 

The first was the 3-Flower Burst Tea. I initially put it in a wine glass, but when I noticed that the wine glass was not wide enough for the flowers to fully bloom, I transferred it into a pyrex bowl to take photos. This tea may have been light in color, but it had a strong bitter taste.

 

This is what the tea looks like before you steep it in hot water.

 

3-Flower Burst Tea

Here are some shots after the tea fully bloomed.

3-Flower Burst Tea Fully Bloomed

3-Flower Burst Tea Steeped in Water for Almost an Hour.

The second blooming tea was the Tiffany Rose Melody. This one doesn't grow as large as the 3-Flower Burst, so a wine cup is just fine for this one. This tea had strong floral notes.

Tiffany Rose Melody Tea Before

Tiffany Rose Melody Tea

The Tea Store also has a location in Kingston, Ontario.

Tea Store
53 York Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Telephone: 613-241-1291

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The Gamila Teastick

If you are anything like my mom, and will only drink loose tea, then this product is for you. She hates tea bags, and avoids them for many reasons: taste isn't as good, glue adhesive in the tea bags, messy...etc, etc, etc.

She brings a teapot to work every day to make tea, but it is a hassle because she has to bring it home every night to clean.

I saw this teastick in San Diego and thought it was perfect for her. The teastick concept is simple:

1. Scoop it

2. Slide it

3. Steep it

It works great, and it is easy to clean. This teastick is even dish washer safe.

Now my mom can make and enjoy her tea one cup at a time...and in style! (Wow, I sound like an infomercial, don't I?). The teastick is best for small to medium whole tea leaves. Tea that is too fine may seep through the holes of the teastick.

I found mine at the San Diego Museum of Art, but you can also buy it on the Gamila website.

In my next post, I'll show you where I got my beautiful tea.

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Christian Lacroix 2008 Limited Edition Evian Water Bottle

My aunt Mims just bought me 2 beautiful Christian Lacroix "Prêt-à-Porter" 2008 Limited Edition Evian water bottles.

Every year, Evian creates special edition water bottles to celebrate the holiday season. For 2008, two holiday bottles were designed with fashion designer Christian Lacroix. There is an ordinary pret-a-porter bottle with a snowflake/lace design, and there is an haute couture bottle that is in the the shape of a doll. While the pret-a-porter bottles are easier to find, the haute couture ones are not. Only 99 bottles were made worldwide.

Did my aunt buy the Evian bottles for me because I love Christian Lacroix, and the Evian company? Not the case. It was because I love anything edible (or drinkable), and it was on sale at Loblaws Superstore! Ah, it makes me laugh.

If you are interested in getting one for yourself, there is a blowout sale this week in Ottawa. The Evian website advertises them at $13.95 USD a bottle, and Mims bought them for just under $2 CDN a bottle. This is something you could buy to impress the guests.

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Basil Seed Drink

While walking through an Asian grocery store, I found this basil seed drink. When I first saw it, I scrunched up my nose really tight, and asked to myself "What on earth is this?"

It looked really scary to me at first...like a drink full of little, creepy bugs. I examined it in amazement for a long while, and then walked away. I thought that was the end of it, but when I got home, I kept thinking to myself that I should have bought it to at least try it. A few days later, I was still thinking the same thing, so in the end, my curiosity got the best of me and I tried it.

The drink was surprisingly good. It had a really nice fragrant to it..much like the basil herb it comes from. It tasted almost as if it had rose water in it. I read the ingredients, and it only contains basil seed, water, sugar, salt, and honey flavor. The texture of the seeds was nothing like I imagined. It was a jelly, pulpy texture, which made it fun to drink.

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