Category: Food

22 Days Challenge

.Reading time 2 minutes.

I know what you must be thinking… For those who already know, i’m not going to deny it! Yes, I have been inspired lately. Some of my friends went through different “body cleanse” (a form of extreme cleanse diet) and I was not sure if I wanted to do the same thing. Then, on Tuesday..when I read that Jay Z and Bey were doing a 22 days vegan challenge “a plant-base breakfast” everyday… I said: Why not now!

Vegan Challenge

Why not start my own 22 days vegan challenge now with the groceries I have and find different recipe as I go along. Plus, I can always rely on 2 of my favorite vegan restaurants Fresh (Fresh – Since 1999) and Live (Live Food Bar) to save my food or craving days. Why now ? I wanted to do a physical cleanse for a while and to challenge myself a bit more. Also, my birthday was last Monday and it’s one of the most beautiful gift I could give to myself…to simply try to maintain a healthy lifestyle for myself, my family and my entourage.

Pictures via Beyonce and oh she glows.

Shake

So here we go! I will post my progress and to the professional vegan, please feel free to share any tips or recipes you may have. It will be much appreciated. I don’t know what happens after the 22 days…We’ll see. And no, my boys are not joining me in this challenge.

Wish me luck!!!

xo,

Janice

Strawberry Christmas Tree!

.Reading time 2 minutes.

This strawberry Christmas tree is a must for your family & friends soirées or gathering during the holiday. Plus it so easy to make.

TREE1

You can use a styrofoam tree or papiermache about 13″ tall. No need to buy one any bigger because the strawberries increase the size considerably. (You actually might want to buy one a bit smaller when you read the rest of this tutorial). Buy an 8″ cardboard cake round for stability and a doily for disguise. 3*one pound cartons of strawberries (ones with smaller berries)at the grocery store. 2 packages of semi sweet chocolate chips.

TREE2

Cover the tree with waxed paper. Tuck in the ends and tape to secure it to the cone. Use melted chocolate ( you can microwaved it or melt in a pan on the stove) to stick the tree to the base. Cut a hole in the doily and slip it over the tree.

 Separate the strawberries by size and remove the greenery. Dip the large ends of the biggest berries in the chocolate and place them on the bottom of the tree. Add the next layers with the medium sized berries, saving the small ones for the top.
TREE4
Then scooped the melted chocolate into a small plastic bag, snipped the tiniest hole in one corner, piped a few stars on a piece of waxed paper and popped them in the fridge until they hardened. Using a bit more melted chocolate, you can add a couple of stars onto the top of the tree. Inspired by can’t stop making things.
TREE5
Et voila!!! Now tell me if this isn’t elegant. It sure beats the baby carrots and onion dip you usually bring to these soirées.

Enjoy!

xo,

Janice

Homemade Hot Chocolate.

.Reading time 1 minute.

Hot-chocolate mix is a wintertime staple. A homemade version is delicious and natural — containing only cocoa, sugar, and salt — and especially economical compared with store-bought mixes.

MARTHA

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups sugar

2 1/4 cups cocoa

1 tablespoon table salt

Whole milk for serving

Directions:

  1. Step 1

    In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Store the mixture in an airtight container.

  1. Step 2

    For individual servings, pour 1 cup whole milk into a microwave-safe mug, and microwave on high just until hot. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve. For a larger batch of cocoa, warm the milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, taking care not to let the milk boil; as it warms, stir in 2 tablespoons of mix for each cup of milk.

Source via Martha Stewart Kids, Holiday Cook | Martha Stewart

xo,

Janice