Kathy's Bridal Day Sunshine Smoothie

Written with love, by Kathy Patalsky

This sunny day smoothie is sure to get you glowing on you wedding day! Loads of vitamin C, fiber and potassium to help keep you hydrated.

Ingredients

1/2 cup coconut water

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup orange juice (or 1 small orange if you have a high speed blender like a vitamin or Blendtec)

1/2 cup fresh strawberries

1 banana, ripe

1/2 cup ice 

A pinch of cayenne

A pinch of ginger powder or 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger

Optional: One scoop of dairy-free protein powder or 1 tsp raw hemp seeds

Directions

Blend until smooth!

Pro Tip: Try using coconut water ice cubes for extra flavor and added electrolytes! Coconut water is an excellent beverage for staying ready on your wedding day.

Home Style Chicken Dinner

Written with love, by Sarah-Elizabeth Labelle

While life is getting undoubtedly busier for all of us, we have to remember to take time for the little things. Whether you’re 6 months, 6 weeks, 6 days or 6 minutes away from getting married there are always things to get done. Taking time to have a nice dinner with your partner in all the craziness is really what it’s about.   

Keeping up with life as the weather gets colder, on top of wedding planning, can make any bride stressed. That’s why for today’s recipe I’ve perfected the home style chicken dinner that fits into your schedule so you can plan the perfect wedding and enjoy the little things.

This is a quick and easy recipe that you can change up to make your very own. 

Ingredients

·         4 chicken breasts

·         1 tablespoon of olive oil

·         1 cup of chicken stock

·         1/8 cup of margarine (or butter)

·         3-5 cloves of diced garlic

·         ½ cup of chopped onion

·         ½ cup of chopped celery

·         ¼ cup of diced spinach

·         1 cup of carrots

·         Teaspoon of basil

·         Teaspoon of parsley

·         Pinch of salt & pepper

Directions

1.       On low heat add 1/8 cup of margarine (or if you’d like to channel your inner Julia Child, butter) and 1 cup of chicken stock to a medium sized sauce pan. Make sure there is enough room to add the chicken breasts in later.  

2.       Once the broth is warm, add in garlic, onion, celery, spinach, carrots and spices. In this case, because we're cooking chicken, I’ve kept the spices light to compliment the broth by using basil and parsley.

3.       As all of the flavours are beginning to mix in the sauce pan, leave it to simmer on low heat for roughly 5-7 minutes. At this point begin the side vegetables dishes.

4.       In a small frying pan heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil and place the chicken in the pan for about a minute each side to brown them.

5.       Move the browned chicken into the sauce pan with the broth and let simmer for 20 minutes

6.       Serve with vegetables and a delicious glass of wine!

Tip: Take the left over broth and use as a sauce for the chicken and veggies!

Thanksgiving Dinner 101: Diving into your first Thanksgiving meal!

Written with love, by Sarah-Elizabeth Labelle

There comes a moment in every woman's life where she is faced with her first Thanksgiving as a budding cook. It could be in a tiny apartment with a less than perfect dinner table, it could be helping your mother in her kitchen as a family tradition carries forth, or it could be slaving over your very first pie for the in-laws. You could be in your first home together this year, or celebrating your last year as just the two of you. Thanksgiving takes on numerous roles in our lives, but one thing is for sure, it centers around the food we make and love to eat.

It's your turn to shine this year, it's your turn to slap your husband's hand as he sneaks a taste of the gravy and to smile over your guests enjoying their food. So set the table, pick out those Autumn inspired table cloths we all adore, and roll up those sleeves! This Thanksgiving you'll impress all of your guests with how amazing your food is and they don't even have to know how easy it was!

Ingredients

1.      Ham (half of a ham feeds roughly 5 people)

2.      1 cup of brown sugar

3.      1/4 cup of maple syrup

4.      1/4 water

5.      1 cup of diced carrots

6.      Five or six strips of bacon

7.      2 cups of potatoes

8.      1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder

9.      10-12 asparagus stalks

10.  1 tablespoon of olive oil

11.  1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper

Gravy Ingredients

 1.      1 cup of left over water from potatoes

2.      1/2 cup of chicken (or beef) stock

3.      1 teaspoon of flour

Directions

1.      Pre set your oven to 450F

2.      Start with peeling and chopping your potatoes for boiling and then set aside

3.      In a separate bowl mix 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of maple syrup (honey will also work) and 1/4 water

4.      Chop up 1 cup of carrots

5.      Lay ham inside of an oven safe dish and add bacon to the top in a weave-like pattern. This not only keeps the moisture inside of the ham but it infuses more taste.

6.      Add the carrots to the oven safe dish and pour the maple mixture over everything

7.      Place in ham in the oven and set a timer for 15 minutes

8.      While the ham begins to cook, more prep can be done. At this point you can clean your asparagus and lay them on a baking sheet to dry off

9.      Drizzle the asparagus in about 1 tablespoon of olive oil and add a pinch of salt and pepper then set aside.

10.  Once the 15 minutes has expired turn the oven temperature down to 350F and set another timer for 45 minutes

11.  At this point you can add your chopped potatoes to a pot and start to boil those as well as work on any side bread you'd like to add to your meal

12.  In the last 15 minutes of cooking time put the asparagus on the baking tray into the oven

13.  Once the potatoes are done boiling, add some milk, butter and a touch of garlic powder while you mash them for a fluffier texture

14.  Take out the ham and place on a serving dish, add the carrots and drizzle the maple mixture on top of the ham

15.  Lastly remove the asparagus from the oven and serve

16.  Don't forget to make the men do the dishes!

Gravy Directions

1.      Take 1 cup of left over water from potatoes and mix in 1/2 cup of chicken (or beef) stock

2.      Next slowly whisk in 1 teaspoon of flour until the mixture is thick

3.      Serve