Back with a Fresh Perspective and New Inspiration

Sometimes a change of scenery is just what you need to kickstart your creativity and breathe new life into your businesses. I recently adventured to the beautiful Greek island of Crete with my *mom and business partner at Better Than Yia Yia’s Mediterranean Catering.

We spent one food and adventure-filled week exploring the island, sampling local cuisine, and seeing some of the most incredible natural phenomena imaginable. Crete is one of the most unique places in Greece and, in my opinion, the island produces some of the most delicious food in the whole country. They are probably best known for their mountain honeys, olive oil, and local cheeses, which are always featured in their traditional dishes.

I will be posting more details about our trip, including where to stay, how to get around, and (most importantly) what to eat when you are there. For now, here are some highlights of the Better than Yia Yia’s Tasting Tour #btyytastingtour.

*Special applause to my mom who, at 58 years of age, decided to launch her own catering business, and at 59, joined me to travel across the largest island in Greece; jump off pirate ships; walk across rock landscapes and climb mountains.

You CAN Win Friends with Salad

In recent years, it seems like the risk and frequency of various illnesses and diseases caused by poor diet has been rapidly increasing. As a result, celebrity chefs, doctors and personal trainers, among others, have been trying to communicate healthier lifestyle and eating habits to the masses.

Chef Jamie Oliver has been one of the most prominent personalities in the healthy eating movement for years. One of his newest shows, Jamie’s Super Food, explores cities and islands with the healthiest, longest living populations, and creates inspired healthy dishes.

In the first episode of Jamie’s Super Food, he ventured to the wild Aegean island of Ikaria, Greece. There, he “uncovered” what many of us know, yet we choose to ignore: to live long, full lives, we need to eat clean, vegetable-based diets, with smaller portions of meat, and exercise every day! For most Canadians and Americans, our portion sizes and waist-lines continue to expand at alarming rated, and we have not stopped to do anything about it.

As Jamie explained about the Ikarian diet, they eat tonnes of fresh greens and vegetables every day – dressed with healthy Greek olive oil – along with fresh cheese from healthy goats, and consume smaller portions of meat. It is the essence of the Mediterranean diet and something we should all aim to do more often.

To get you started with your Mediterranean diet, I am making a quick and easy Fennel Slaw. This is a great addition to your Meze (Greek appetizer and dip) spread, or served as a sweet and sour burger topping in place of fatty, sugar-loaded coleslaw. This Easy Fennel Slaw is a great dish to make in advance since it just continues to meld together the longer it sits.

Whenever I am creating recipes with CleanWorkout.com, we come up with fast, simple and healthy dishes that can be prepared early in the week and that keep well in the refrigerator. Most salad greens are too delicate to last for more than one day, but the fennel and carrot in this slaw are robust and will not break down.

TIP: Serve your Fennel Slaw on top of quinoa and wilted spinach, and with crumbled feta cheese for a balanced, light lunch.

Bon Appetit!

CleanWorkout: Easy Homemade Multigrain Bread

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Thank you, CleanWorkout, for letting me showcase this recipe!

This recipe was so good that I had to share it on my blog, as well!.As part of my role creating digital content for CleanWorkout.com, I have been working on healthy recipes and adaptations for their website and for their clients. This recipe for Homemade Multigrain Bread is delicious, easy, and healthy! Plus, it is vegan!

The recipe is slightly time consuming, but it is the perfect project to take on during a lazy Sunday or rainy day.

The link to their full article is available here (I highly recommend checking it out to learn some of the nutritional benefits of millet and the other superfoods used in the recipe), but I am copying the recipe below.

Enjoy!

Clean Recipes: Homemade Multigrain Bread

Bread Ingredients (Yield: 1 Loaf)

  • 3/4 cup Homemade Multigrain Flour Mixture*
  • 1 1/3 cups Boiling Water
  • 2 tbsp Liquid Coconut Oil* or Melted Unsalted Butter or Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp + 2 tsp Honey
  • 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • (Optional) 1/2 tsp Bread Improver / Vital Wheat Gluten (to improve the softness of the loaf)
  • (Optional) Extra Whole Grains
  • Roughly 2 1/4 cups Wholegrain Flour (may need more or less depending on kitchen humidity)
  • 1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt
  • 1 tbsp Oats, For Topping
  1. Start by making your Homemade Multigrain Flour Mixture. In a food processor, combine equal parts of whatever grains you would like to add to your bread. Try the following mix, but feel free to add additional grains, or use what you have available:
    • Flax Seeds
    • Millet
    • Quinoa
    • Buckwheat*
    • Barley
    • Oats
    • Brown Rice (or Rice Flour)
    • Corn (use Corn Flour or Polenta instead)
    • Wheat (use Semolina)
      • Clean Recipe Tip: Make extra Multigrain Flour and store it in your freezer or refrigerator. Mix it with all purpose or wholegrain flour in your regular baking recipes.
  2. In a large glass bowl, mix your Homemade Multigrain Flour with boiling water. Stir to combine and let stand 20 minutes until it is just warm.
  3. Mix in the liquid fat (coconut oil, melted butter, or olive oil), then the honey. Stir to combine completely, then add yeast and bread improver (if using). Mix with a spatula and let stand another 10 to 15 minutes for the yeast to activate.
  4. Add one cup of flour and knead – you can knead your bread in a stand mixer or by hand. Next, add in your Extra Whole Grains, if you are using any. Continue kneading, adding half a cup of flour at a time. Knead the dough for 10 to 15 minutes, until it is no longer sticking to your fingers.
  5. Cover with a damp cloth and let stand 1 hour in a warm place.
  6. Sprinkle your risen dough with sea salt and knead for 5 minutes. Cover again and let stand for another hour.
  7. Grease your loaf pan with butter, coconut oil or oil. Roll dough into a loaf shape and place into greased pan. If you like, lightly press oats onto the top. Let rise 1 hour before baking.
  8. Bake your bread in a pre-heated 375 F oven for 28 – 32 minutes. Your bread will be golden brown and slightly hollow sounding when tapped.
  9. Remove loaf from pan and cool on a rack.
  10. There is nothing better than warm, fresh bread and butter… especially when the bread is packed with superfood grains like millet, quinoa, buckwheat, flax and chia seeds. This bread is loaded with fibre, protein and healthy carbohydrates.

    Enjoy your bread warm from the oven (the best way!) with a little butter, or enjoy it throughout the week. Bread keeps well in the freezer, so you can also freeze a loaf to have another time. Homemade bread is also a great gift for friends and family (no need to tell them how healthy it is before they taste it!)

Dinner SOS!

Roasting is a delicious way to enjoy a warm, comforting meal without spending too much time prepping or cleaning up. Just throw everything together in one pan, put it in the oven, and go!

Roasted Lamb Shoulder with Lemoney Greek Potatoes is always a crowd pleaser in our house. The only problem with this dish : there never seems to be enough potatoes! Crispy and roasted on the outside, tender on the inside and packed with lemon. These potatoes will help you cope with the long, Toronto winter. I promise.

Holiday Gifts from Better than Yia Yia’s

HUGE thank you to better than yia yia’s for the beautiful (and delicious!) Gingerbread Cookies and Baklava. I have been gifting plates to clients and friends this past week and the reaction has been tremendous.

So good. So addictive. So festive!

The baklava is flaky and nutty, with the subtle sweetness of honey. It is not too sweet or dripping in syrup like most Greek pastries from the store. Large pieces of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are wrapped in the delicate spice of cinnamon, complimented by the buttery pastry. I challenge you to limit yourself to one piece.

The Gingerbread Friends are the perfect type of gingerbread cookie – soft and chewy, and filled with festive holiday spices, they taste just like the holidays. Again, they are not too sweet and have a perfect texture. Almost like a cookie mixed with a cake – dense with a good chew. For the gingerbread lovers on your list, there is nothing better.

Check out better than yia yia’s website and their holiday menu here. Best of all, you can make any of their sweets into a beautiful gift platter! Beautifully wrapped and even topped with a bow.

Better than Yia Yia's Festive Gingerbread Friends are even better to eat than to admire. Soft, chewy, and full of holiday spice, they are a must for everyone on your list!