Drink...something mysterious

With a name like Kings and Spies, how could I say no?

It has been a long while since I have done a drink post, hasn't it? 


Given that I was without drink for a good year and a half I suppose it is only fitting. However, with the dry spell complete it is time to delight in all sorts of libations (in responsible moderation of course)! When they are deliciously local, all the better. 


I have to admit, Sea Cider had me at "spies". I have been meaning to try Sea Cider for a long time as I drive past the turnoff to the cider house on many a trip to the island to visit family. So when I was in the store today, it was the siren call of Kings and Spies that caught my attention.


The Kings and Spies referred to on the bottle are actually heritage apples. In this libation, King and Northern Spies apples create a wonderfully refined and grown up cider. The bottle also features an optimistic valve top (as if the whole 750ml won't disappear in one sitting!). And when you buy this specific variety of Sea Cider, proceeds go to Lifecycles. If it gets much better than this, I am at a loss for examples.


You can buy Sea Cider at specialty stores or they will kindly ship cases in BC for free. And if you find yourself on the gorgeous Saanich Peninsula, be sure to stop by and say hello.


Salute!

UnDiet...Week 23+24

Hello UnDieters! 


You know when you are swimming lengths in a full size pool and in the middle of the lane the water gets a bit rough and choppy and it is a bit of a slug to get through it? I think that is where I am at with the UnDiet. I was considering bowing out early but I think that it is important to keep things going. Because these posts, like being on a healthy living journey, go through ups and downs. So I am going to stick with it, if you are going to stick with me!


So for this week (and last), let's do something bold. Can you handle going without an sweetened drinks for a whole week? Yes!! A whole week. That is no soda, no sweet tea, no mocha hazelnut frappucinos, no margaritas. Yikes. 


This challenge will separate the big kahunas from the teenie wahines. Sugar is all pervasive in our society and drinking sweetened drinks is a huge contributor to obesity. Blah, blah, blah. We all know it. Time to put our money where are mouths are. Who knows...you may even come out of this week looking pretty darn good on the beach.


Since I like to focus on what you can drink....here is a list of "Green Light" bevvies:


- coffee and tea, plain or with milk or veggie alternative. Think iced skim latte instead of coffee frap
- plain ol' water or club soda or seltzer or carbonated mineral water
- beer or wine (although if you go too crazy on the hooch, you probably won't shed pounds. if that is okay with you it is okay with me!)
- unsweetened liquor like vodka (watch out, some have added sugar!) or gin, with club soda or neat, you stallion, you!
- plain coconut water
- milk, soy milk, almond milk....all the veg milks but only UNSWEETENED versions


This could be a rough one, folks. But I believe in you. It is time to cut the sweet tooth. If you like the way you feel this week, try and keep it going all summer long.


In good health,
Desiree

Eat Drink...Be Local!

We talk a lot about local food here in Vancouver...but when it comes to eating, it is far more fun to use your mouth to actually eat! I am a proud East Van girl and 5 East Vancouver restaurants have collaborated to celebrate all that is great about eating and drinking in our hood...it's called Eat Drink Local Week! 

Between January 9 & 12 and again between January 16 & 19, for just $20 you can get a entree and a drink at Boneta, The Diamond, Cork & Fin, Two Chefs and a Table or Au Petit Chavignol. A thank you to Au Petit Chavignol and Boneta for vegetarian options (Wild Mushroom Mac & Cheese at Au Petit Chavignol? YES!!!)

Go have fun...go local!

Learn more at http://www.eatdrinklocalweek.com/ 

Drink...something festive!

How cultured...martinis and music! The Harvest Pear Martini makes its debut at my friend's cocktail party.

Yes, this is still a nutrition blog. But let's be honest: when I am at work, the number of phone calls and emails I receive from customers plummets spectacularly from December 1 to the 24th. Pretty much no one wants to talk nutrition in December (but come January 1st, you're mine!). So why not share a cocktail recipe?


My friends A & S hosted a "create your own cocktail" party last weekend and I thought I had better bring my A game. My friend, A, was busy infusing tequilas with all sorts of goodies so I grabbed the Grey Goose and got to work. Usually people recommend infusing inexpensive vodkas but I was too lazy to get E into the stroller and Grey Goose is what we had in the cupboard.


As a base for the drink, I infused one cup of Grey Goose with one cinnamon stick and one organic fair trade vanilla bean (premium vodka demands premium vanilla!). I left the cinnamon stick in for just a day as I figured that the cinnamon would overpower the vanilla and I was right. So give the vanilla a good week to infuse. Another tip: ensure that the infusing ingredients are submerged in the vodka. The cup of vodka will make about 6 drinks...be sure to share!


Harvest Pear Martini (way lighter than a rum and egg nog. There is my "nutrition" angle.)


1 oz infused vodka
1/2 oz Navan vanilla cognac
1 1/2 oz Knudsen's organic pear juice


Shake with lots of ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into martini glass. Serve with a twist of lime and enjoy!


Happy Holidays,
Desiree


PS. If you have noticed my conspicuous absence this month (sure you have...) I was without internet for almost 3 1/2 weeks. Hard to believe in this day and age but it's true! Thanks Telus.

Drink...something less sweet

Non-alcoholic drinks usually mean pop, juice or the ever inventive pop+juice combination (hello cranberry & soda!). As lovely as wine, beer and assorted treats are...sometimes you want or need something minus the buzz. And given that I am not much for anything sugary I usually end up with just plain soda water in my glass. Restaurants that offer interesting non-alcoholic cocktails (or good virginized versions of their signature cocktails) are few and far between and deserve much praise...hello Cascade Room, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Cafeteria and others.


I was messing around in my kitchen with some DRY soda (no...they didn't sponsor this...) and came up with this little mocktail that tasted so good even my husband wanted to steal my drink.


I think I will call it a Peach Melba....here is the recipe...makes 3 servings


Puree 1 ripe (local!) peach with 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice and 1 tbsp of water. An immersion blender, regular blender or mini food processor will all work.
Pour one third of a bottle of DRY vanilla bean soda over ice in a short glass and top with 1/3 of the peach puree. Enjoy!


Why use DRY soda specifically? DRY soda is more of an "adult" oriented treat. All natural, not too sweet...in fact, the whole bottle of DRY vanilla bean soda is only 60 calories. It comes in other cool flavours like cucumber, juniper berry and kumquat. Awesome for mixers....if anyone else comes up with some great non-alcoholic drink ideas...let me know! 


It is a long, hot summer...


In good health,
Desiree

Drink...Tea

Good health depends on staying hydrated: water is the medium in which every single reaction in our bodies takes place. Unfortunately, should the urge to sip hit, there aren't a lot of healthy options on offer. Store shelves are stocked with a kaleidoscope of flavoured drinks that offer little more than sugar with preservatives and crayon box hues. Vitamin Water anyone? Kool-Aid with vitamins would still be Kool-Aid. Think about it!

Research shows that liquid calories are the worst offenders when it comes to weight gain because our bodies don't really register the energy intake like they do with a solid meal. So what's a health conscious drinker to do? We diligently shun any beverage with sugar...or fake sugar...or calories of any sort and drink loads of pure, simple water day in and day out (out of a BPA free reusable bottle). Which, truthfully, can get a little boring! Sometimes you need a little flavour...healthy flavour. The answer to your healthy drink quest? Tea!


Tea has a lot going for it: calorie free, much lower in caffeine than coffee and host to powerful disease busting antioxidants. So drink plenty of water...but when you need a little healthy flavour in your life - try one of these 5 great teas!


1. Oooli. Made right here in Vancouver, Oooli is all about oolong tea. What is great about Oooli is that it is real brewed tea, either plain (zero calories!) or lightly sweetened with fruit flavours. The highest calorie count is 80 calories for a 473mL serving and nothing artificial - which is waaaay less than other "iced teas" aka liquid glucose delivery systems. Flavour without the sugar hit!
2. Kombucha Wonder Drink. Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been enjoyed for centuries...the nice people at Wonder Drink people have conveniently bottled it for us! Kombucha is celebrated for detoxifying and energizing properties (try it for yourself to see how you feel - I like it!) and at about 60 calories per 250 ml....the highest calorie count of all 5 teas on my list but not too bad in moderation. One note...I didn't realize that Wonder Drink pasteurizes their products, so unfortunately there are no live probiotics to benefit your gut health - but the products of fermentation (the organic acids purported to detoxify) still live on!
3. Numi Pu-erh Teas. Ever heard of Pu-erh? Pu-erh is a highly prized tea picked from very old tea trees which is then fermented for 60 days. The result is a rich, earthy taste and a higher antioxidant count than most green teas. Pu-erh is purported to have numerous health benefits (you can check them out on Numi's site)....apparently in Taiwan, Pu-erh is called the "skinny tea"! Any Taiwanese tea drinkers out there...let me know! Did I mention there is a chocolate flavour? Yum.
4. Red Espresso. Not that coffee is hideous for you...it isn't really...but perhaps you are a latte lover looking to swap your bean for leaf? Red Espresso is calling! Red Espresso is a specially ground rooibos tea that can be used in your espresso machine or french press. Naturally caffeine free and antioxidant rich, long used in South Africa as a healthy beverage - rooibos tea has a sweet, rich flavour that definitely satisfies the coffee craving. You can buy Red Espresso in the shops and a few local cafes have started making tea lattes from it too.
5. Matcha. The classic green tea health beverage, matcha tea is a highly prized green tea that is ground into a vibrant green powder with a rich, grassy taste. Whisked with a small amount of hot water, matcha is traditionally drunk almost like an espresso shot and because you actually consume the tea leaves - matcha blows traditional green tea out of the water when it comes to antioxidant levels. A bit of an acquired taste....but matcha is where it's at.

To your health!
Desiree

PS....just in case you are wondering, no one paid me to talk about their products...but the nice folks at Oooli did supply me with the photo when I asked...these are all drinks I actually love!

Drink...Summerhill Winery

In Kelowna this week for work and had the exceptional opportunity to have lunch with Steve Cipes - the proprietor of Summerhill Organic Winery. Talk about a pioneer...it take cajones to start a winery in a new region (as the Okanagan was a time ago) and to go certified organic? Well, you've got to have passion.

Nestled on the eastern slopes of the Okanagan Lake, Summerhill is the largest organic winery in Canada. If you find yourself in Kelowna - you really must visit - the winery boasts a lovely restaurant with a pretty magnificent view (and tasty organic food to boot). And yes, the Pyramid does exist -

We chatted about organics and winemaking, among other things - so many of us are making a concerted effort to eat organic food and use organic body care but we don't give a second thought to our wine habits and organics are just as critical in viticulture, especially for those who tend the vines and live near them.

I tried the 2007 Ehrenfelser, the Icewine and the wonderful Cipes Brut...and the next day I couldn't resist a return trip to buy some. As I am totally not a wine expert, I will spare you the amateur tasting notes, but you can go to their website to check it out: www.summerhill.bc.ca