Healthy Butter Chicken

Umm, wait, is there even such a thing as healthy butter chicken? Probably not, so let’s just go with less-fattening, cream-free, yet still flavourful butter chicken!

Butter chicken is a classic Indian dish loaded with cream and butter. It’s a warm, hearty comfort food that’s simply irresistible.

I believe in the idea of not depriving yourself in order to stay healthy – it’s all about moderation. So here’s my version of butter chicken. It still has that authentic taste, but it’s easier to make and has a lot less calories.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of butter
1 finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
Half can tomato paste
2 cups tomato puree/sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garam masala
3 cardamom, ground up
1 cup of milk (or if you want to go all in, use full fat milk or heavy cream)
3 large chicken breasts, cubed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons tandoori masala

Directions:

Start by mixing cubed chicken with vegetable oil and tandoori masala. Let it sit and marinate (the longer the better, so you can do this ahead of time and refrigerate)

Next, melt butter in a deep pan over medium heat. Stir in onion and cook slowly until it caramelizes to a brown colour, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for about a minute.

Then, add tomato sauce and paste, salt, cayenne pepper, ground cardamom, garam masala and milk or cream and mix well. (At this point, to make it restaurant style, you can take the sauce and blend it to infuse the flavours and get that bright orange colour. Then, remove from blender and pour back in pan.)

Cover and bring the sauce to a medium-low simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Next, add in the marinated chicken. Mix well. Cover and simmer for another 10-15 minutes (until chicken is cooked), stirring occasionally.

Serve over a hot bowl of white rice or with fresh naan bread. Garnish with fresh coriander, drizzled cream or green chillies.

This recipe makes about 3-4 servings.

Tips:

• With the milk, you may notice a bit of curdling, so you can try heating it first. You won’t have that issue with heavy cream, but since this is a healthier option, it’s not a big deal and won’t impact the taste.
• The longer you let the sauce simmer on low heat, the better the flavour.
• You can also marinate the chicken in a yogurt and masala mixture, cook in the oven and then toss into the sauce last minute.
• Cardamom makes a huge difference so try not to skip it. You can find it at most stores in the ethnic aisle.
• The tandoori masala has a little kick to it so if you can’t handle the spice, then reduce the amount of cayenne pepper. You can always adjust the seasoning at the end.

Whiter teeth and smoother skin with one simple, natural ingredient!

I’m super pumped to share my all-time favourite beauty product, and best of all, it’s natural, cheap and actually works!

So what is this magical potion? It’s sodium bicarbonate aka baking soda.

You know that white powdery stuff you thought was only to be used as a deodorizer or for fluffing up food? Well, it’s also great for your hair, skin and teeth too!

I use baking soda once or twice a week for my face and teeth, and I’ve started to notice a difference. Baking soda is a powerful cleansing agent so I wouldn’t recommend overusing it, otherwise it’ll cause irritation.

For whiter teeth: Wet your toothbrush with water and then dip the brush into the baking soda. Brush teeth for a couple of minutes, then rinse with water.

For oil-free, acne-free skin: Take a teaspoon of baking soda and add enough water to make a thick paste. Next, apply it on your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for about 5 minutes, or if you really don’t have time, keep rubbing it in a circular motion for half a minute, and then wash it off. Similarly, you can use this paste all over your body to remove dead skin.

For oil-free, cleaner hair: Add one teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo, shake bottle to mix, and use as you normally would. Leave it in your hair for about three minutes and then rinse. This helps remove any buildup left behind from hair products and control excess sebum.

When I say baking soda is a magic potion, I really mean it! Here are my other favourite uses:

• Add half a cup of baking soda to your laundry machine for softer, cleaner clothing
• Sprinkle in shoes to remove smelly odors – perfect for sports gear
• Wash fruits and vegetables with a mix of water and baking soda to remove dirt and pesticides
• Pour a cup of baking soda and hot vinegar down the drain to unclog and remove odor
• Sprinkle on cutting board to remove stubborn stains and odor

Do you have other uses for baking soda? Comment below and let me know!

 

 

Butternut Squash Pancakes

In my endless quest to feed my toddler healthy meals, I’ve come across another winning recipe.

It’s a basic pancake, but with butternut squash in it.

Here’s the link to the recipe. I ended up roasting and mashing an entire squash, since I didn’t know what to do with the remainder. And boy, oh boy, did I end up making a massive batch! I took the remaining batter and froze it, hoping to use it at a later day (not sure if that was a smart idea – I’ll find out soon enough!).

As you can see in the photo, the batter looks a bit unappetizing, but the final product is delicious. I skipped the maple syrup, since I prefer not to feed my daughter sugar.

In the end, my daughter ate it – without throwing it – and that’s all that matters to me. Happy mommy! 🙂

How to celebrate Earth Day

If you aren’t already aware, it’s Earth Day today, April 22.

So what is Earth Day? It’s an annual event held across the global to raise awareness about environmental issues. It encourages people to get involved in environmental protection and conservation efforts.

Did you know?

• The garbage in a landfill stays for a about 30 years
• Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed by pollution every year
• 14 billion pounds of garbage is dumped into the ocean every year – most of it is plastic
• Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100 million people
• Earth will face a 40 percent shortfall in water supply by 2030
• Glaciers have melted/thinned by over 10 metres since 1980

Join millions of people across the world today and do at least one thing to save our planet. All actions – big or small – make a difference.

Activities range from cleaning up a local park, leaving your car at home and taking public transit, to using a cloth bag when grocery shopping and teaching your children about climate change – and much more!

For more information on how you can get involved, see the links below.

• Top 10 actions
• 50 Earth Day activities for kids
• 10 awesome eco-activities to do this Earth Day
• Quizzes, games and activities

So get out, or stay inside, and get the entire family involved! Remember to make every day Earth Day.

Thai curry in a hurry

I love Thai food! And as much as I enjoy eating out, I would have never thought to attempt making any Thai food at home. But the other day, I was craving Thai curry… The spicy red one to be exact.

As much as I would like to make it from scratch, let’s be realistic, I’m no Martha Stewart! The long list of ingredients scares me – like, what’s galangal?

So off I went to the ethnic aisle of my favourite grocery store, only to be overwhelmed by the choices! Do I buy the paste or sauce? Which brand is better? In the end, I bought two. I made both a couple of weeks apart and here’s what I thought:

Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste
– needs to be used with coconut milk
– tastes more spicy, but less salty

VH Red Curry Sauce
– doesn’t need coconut milk (but I still added a quarter can)
– tastes a bit sweeter
– is more creamier in texture

Here’s my quick and easy (fool-proof) recipe for Thai curry.

 You will need:

• 2 tablespoons of oil
• A curry paste/sauce (either VH or Thai Kitchen…or another good brand if you have one)
• One can of coconut milk
• 2 cups of frozen Asian vegetables
• Protein (1 pack of firm tofu or 2 chicken breasts)

 Directions:

1. Start by dicing your protein. I prefer to cut them into one-inch cubes.
2. Heat oil in a wok, or a deep skillet, on medium-high heat. Add the tofu and fry until it’s a bit golden. Similarly, cook the chicken until it is no longer pink.
3. Add in about 2 tablespoons (I use about 3 tablespoons since I like it intense!) of the curry paste and entire can of coconut milk (or entire jar of VH sauce, no need for coconut milk). Stir until it’s all mixed.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Add in the veggies (don’t overcook; you want the veggies to still be crunchy).
6. After about 5 minutes, turn off the heat.
7. Serve with a bowl of steamed white rice.

This recipe makes enough for 4-5 people.

How to attract happiness, love and money

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, “like attracts like” and “we are what we think.” These two phrases may sound simple, but what do they actually mean?

Law of Attraction has become a big trend, especially since the release of the documentary “The Secret.”

The idea behind Law of Attraction is that we can attract and manifest things in our lives simply by changing our thought process. If you hold a thought in your head – good or bad – it will become a reality.

Essentially, by focusing on a thought, you are telling the universe you want it. Remember, the same applies for a negative thought. If you keep focusing on how much you dislike your job for instance, guess what? You are telling the universe you want more of it. It sounds odd, but the universe doesn’t know the difference between good or bad. It just knows that you’re spending a lot of energy focusing on this thought and its job is to not question, but to just bring it to you. So think positive – it’s hard, but in order for this to work, you need to make an effort and change the way you think.

Now I know it may sound like a bunch of hocus-pocus nuttiness, but believe it or not, there is scientific research that proves the effects of positive thinking.

So how does it work?

Ask: Clear your mind and think about what you want – think big. Don’t let fear get in the way. Ask for it in the present time, as if you already have it. For example, instead of saying, “I want to be debt-free,” say, “I am so thankful that I have a lot of money and living this wealthy life.”

Believe: Imagine that you already have your wish. Visualize it daily. See yourself driving that luxurious car, having dinner with the love of your life or standing in your dream house.

Receive: In order to receive your request from the universe, you first need to be in a positive state. And what’s more uplifting than being thankful and grateful? Every morning and night, list five items that you are thankful for. It could be for your wonderful family or that delicious lunch you had today or as simple as being thankful for the roof over your head.

Remember that this isn’t instantaneous; it really is a change in not only your thought process but your lifestyle. When you start thinking positively, you change the energy and vibration in and around you. The higher your energy is, the more in tune you are with the universe and the more likely you are to attract what you want.

In time, you will start noticing small – and hopefully big – changes in your life!

“Be grateful for what you have now. As you begin to think about all the things in your life you are grateful for, you will be amazed at the never ending thoughts that come back to you of more things to be grateful for. You have to make a start, and then the law of attraction will receive those grateful thoughts and give you more just like them.” ― Rhonda Byrne, The Secret

 

Baked Avocado Fries

I love avocados. They’re very healthy and easy to eat on the go – definitely my kind of food!

I saw this recipe for baked avocado fries and instantly fell in love with the photo that accompanied it. I may have been drooling actually! That creamy, crunchy goodness…yum!

So, naturally, I had to try it out.

Here’s the original recipe. The ingredients are minimal (avocados, flour, eggs, Panko crumbs, seasoning) and it took about 25 minutes to make. I have to admit it was a bit messy, but worth it in the end.

Once I pulled them out of the oven, they were golden and crunchy. I wasn’t sure if the heat would make them mushy, but the avocados held their shape, so it was nice and firm.

I ate them with some Sriracha mayo, which gave it that extra kick. Next time, I would add more spices and herbs straight in the flour for more flavour.

Bon appetite! 

How to find the perfect diaper bag

Choosing the perfect diaper bag was a confusing shopping experience for my husband and I. Being first-time parents, we weren’t sure what we would be carrying around. I figured as long as the bag was big enough to hold everything, it’d be a good choice. But, since we would be carrying it around a lot, it had to be stylish too. Once at the store, the choices were endless – even more confusing!

In the end, after reading endless reviews, we went with the Fisher-Price Fastfinder diaper bag. I would have preferred something more feminine looking but my husband wouldn’t carry it. I mean a bright coloured, funky designed diaper bag on a man? Not my husband’s style!

Now that my daughter is a bit older, and we don’t need as many items to carry, I can buy a bag for me.

I recently came across the Designer Messenger Diaper Bag by ANEMA and ordered it. It’s a sleek, light grey coloured bag with a chevron design. It has many pockets on the inside and outside and not as bulky as my Fisher-Price bag – it’s leaner and longer. There are also straps on both ends to hold or hang off the stroller. It also comes with a change pad, which is mandatory, but it didn’t include a wipes container, which would have been perfect. And as an added bonus, there are two tall insulated pockets on either side for bottles.

It’s been about a week and I’m quiet pleased with it so far. It’s very functional yet attractive, and best of all, something my husband does carry around!

Tips on how to find the perfect diaper bag for you and your baby:

Size and Weight: Since you will be carrying the diaper bag around often, you really need to consider the size and weight. If you have twins, you’ll need one large bag, rather than having two separate diaper bags. Take into consideration your body size. If you’re petite, you’ll want to opt for a thinner, leaner bag. If you’re taller, you can try a bulkier bag. Also remember that it needs to fit on your stroller.

Storage: Think about all the items you’ll be carrying around for you and your baby. Once you have a list of the essentials, count the number of pockets you’ll need. Insulated pockets for bottle storage is good to have. Also, make sure your bag includes a change pad and wipes container.

Style: You want the diaper bag to be an extension of your personality but still something your partner or caregiver will carry around as well. I would recommend against choosing gender-specific bags, unless you want to change the diaper bag with the next child. Think of this diaper bag as a long-term investment.

Material: Your diaper bag will be travelling a lot, and I mean a lot! It’ll get tossed in the car, sit on the floor, get wet and messy – pretty much everywhere your baby is going, so is the bag. You want a material that is durable and waterproof. Also, zippers are ideal so things don’t fall out.

 Cost: Diaper bags aren’t cheap. They really are a long-term investment, so go ahead and spend a little more. Trust me, it’ll pay off down the road. A reasonable price range is between $40 to $60.