I recently had the pleasure of teaming up with CleanWorkout.com to create more Delicious, Healthy, Nutritious and Versatile Meals… Japanese Balance Bowls.
I was inspired by my travels through Tokyo last year. Major department stores like Shinjuku’s Isetan and Shibuya’s Tokyo Hands had large underground grocery stores and patisseries. Filled to the brim with fresh fish, meats and produce, simple preparations are best to let the beautiful ingredients shine.
These Balance Bowls are so simple to prepare and can be customized to suit your tastes. Plus, you can make them ahead of time and store them in the refrigerate them for a quick, balanced lunch or dinner.
I love finding natural beauty treatments and remedies that work just as well (if not better!) than store bought cosmetics. Earlier this year I experimented with the effects of Raw Honey Face Masks and was blown away by the results! It made me think about other simple, natural products and I remembered my experience with GreekYogurt.
I learned about the skin healing and beauty benefits of yogurt years ago in Greece. Back then, a local brand called Korres was being sold in pharmacies and specializing in natural and holistic remedies, creams and cosmetics.
The first Korres product I tried was their Yogurt Face Cream. It was supposed to soothe the skin, help minimize breakouts, and have anti-aging effects. Lucky for me, the cream delivered on everything it promised.
(More than a decade later, Korres is now available all over the world and they are still using unique ingredients and plants in their lines. Check them out on Amazon.)
Korres was definitely on to something, but you do not need to visit a cosmetics counter to benefit from the effects of yogurt – instead, shop your refrigerator for some plain Greek yogurt.
Yogurt is full of proteins and enzymes that help soothe, heal and treat your skin.
Gently apply a thin layer of plain Greek yogurt to clean skin for 10 to 30 minutes 2 to 3 times per week. On its own, it will moisturize, exfoliate, minimize acne, soothe sunburns and brighten your skin. For more intense all natural masks, try the following:
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.
Pasta has to be one of the ultimate comfort foods. I often get tired of tomato or meat sauce, so I am always thinking of new toppings for my spaghetti. One of my favourites is a light lemon dressing with lots of fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese.
Next time you are feeling a pasta craving, try this. It will surely become a staple in your “Quick, Easy and Delicious” recipe book, as well!
Easter is one of my favourite holidays and not just because of the food (which is epic!). It is a time of year to be thoughtful and to make small sacrifices during lent.
The Orthodox calendar is fairly strict when it comes to fasting, and while it is not good to make excuses, I am just terrible at following it. Aside from certain days when I try to avoid meat and dairy altogether, instead of exactly following the rules, I simply try to eat more vegan and vegetarian meals and limit eating red meat during lent.
I will be showcasing some of these delicious, hearty and simple veggie-based meals over the next few weeks. To kick off my Countdown to Easter series, here is a recipe for Spanakorizo (translation: Spinach Rice).
This dish can be a filling meal, or can be served as a side dish. I like to load it up with lots of spinach to make it extra healthy. Use the biggest pot you can find – it will make wilting down your greens a lot easier. Throw in as many onions, green onions, leeks, or shallots that you have – they will make it even more delicious!
Be sure to check back for more on my Countdown to Easter series. Enjoy!
These lemon bars are the ultimate treat for lemon fanatics. They are simple and can be made in one bowl for easy clean up.
A word of caution – they are very tart! For less tang, use 1/2 cup of lemon juice instead of 2/3 cup.
Try this recipe with any citrus – lime is equally delicious – but use less sugar if you are making it with orange juice.
Enjoy!
These Tangy Lemon Bars should be kept in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They will last at least one week, if they are not gobbled up sooner.
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.
