I had driven by a certain specialty shop a number of times and thought this would be the perfect day to see what it was all about. It was the best decision I ever made.

My life forever changed the day I walked into… THE OLIVE OIL EMPORIUM (cue the sound of angels singing).

I realize that sounds a little dramatic but seriously, I cannot say enough amazing things about this place. Lemme explain.

The shop itself is tasteful and unique and you feel welcomed as soon as you walk in. I believe this is largely because you are greeted right away by the owners, Andreas and Mary Voulgaris.  They answered my many queries about this oil and that vinegar with ease and suggested a wide variety of options on how I could enjoy each products unique deliciousness. They were knowledgable, funny and very willing to accommodate my crazy requests and need to sample almost every oil and vinegar they have.

Let’s talk about that for a second. With a name like The Olive Oil Emporium, you would assume that is what they sell, which they do. But they also sell a huge variety of balsamic vinegar as well. And the flavours will blow your mind. For real. I could literally drink it right out of the glass. I’m not going to list them all cause that would take too long but we’re not talking just your average vinegar here. I’m talking about flavours like dark chocolate, espresso, cranberry pear, lavender….the list goes on and on. Believe me, they have a serious inventory of product! I honestly spend about 45 minutes enraptured with the white flavoured balsamic vinegar alone!

And if we want to get healthy for a moment here, let’s just talk about the benefits. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated which can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. That’s not too shabby.

And their flavoured balsamic vinegar are all flavoured with real fruit and  herbs. No added sugar or guar gum which means no crap for you! You really need to taste them for yourself to see what I’m talking about. You won’t regret it!

We purchased a whole bunch for ourselves (like, 6. I’m not even kidding) and bought two gifts while we were there. I feel like it is going to be a problem that I live so close to the store because this may be my new addiction.

You however; you lucky readers you, don’t have to live close because you can purchase all of their amazing products online! Although, if you’re in the area I highly recommend going into the store to taste them yourself. Words can only tell you so much, you have to taste these beauties to believe it!

As far as cooking goes, the sky is the limit. You are only held back by your imagination! You could drizzle an organic garlic oil on mashed potatoes, espresso balsamic on ice cream or add golden pineapple vinegar to a martini. Get creative!

Watermelon, basil salad drizzled with dark chocolate balsamic vinegar

I’m including some pictures of the meals I cooked last night while experimenting with all of my new treats! They were unbelievable. And I’m not just saying the that because I cooked them, they really were.

Warm crusty french loaf dipped in blood orange fused oil and lavender balsamic vinegar

If you didn’t get it already, I strongly urge you to check this place out. It is independently owned as well so why not support a local business?

The Olive Oil Emporium

Prosciutto wrapped asparagus drizzled with organic garlic infused olive oil

And, I just want to mention the fact that I was in no way asked to write this blog. They didn’t pay me in many monies or get me drunk on vinegar although, that doesn’t sound so bad… I wrote it simply because I really loved these products. And I’m positive you will too.

Green salad tossed with traditional balsamic vinegar and organic garlic infused olive oil

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As always, high-five like you mean it!

Stacey

Hello again friends! I thought I’d do a quick posting on this lovely Saturday to show you how I spent my morning.

I have been reading a lot about digestion lately and how it can affect your overall health. Seriously folks, your gut is tied to way more health problems than you would believe. Because of how hard your digestive system works, a lot of what I have been studying talks about periodically giving the ol’ tummy a little break and just drinking juice. This way, you still get all the vitamin/mineral/enzyme goodness that your fruits and veggies have to offer without putting any extra strain on your digestive system. And trust me, with all of the crap we put in our bodies – our pipes can use all the help they can get!

Today I decided to do some juicing with my son. The beauty part here is that he loves to help. I mean come on, what 4-year-old doesn’t want to watch his food get pulverized?! I do all the washing and prepping and he gets to throw the fruit and veggies in and watch them turn to juice. It’s magic!

We decided on an apple/grape/cucumber blend for him. He doesn’t like the strong taste of veggies just yet. He’ll drink carrots and cucumber though…probably because he doesn’t know that Mommy throws them in when he’s not looking! I also like to cut his juice with water because of the high sugar content of the fruit. He loves the taste and I love that I know exactly what is going in his body.

My juice was a little more complex but just as delicious. I like to cram as many vegetables as possible into my juice so I can tickle my organs with enzymey goodness. Today my blend consisted of carrot, celery, romaine, spinach, beet, cucumber and apple for a bit of sweetness. It is actually quite sweet anyway because of the carrot and beet but I like the flavour of apple.

There are no rules when it comes to juicing. Just go through your crisper and fruit bowl and throw together your own concoction! A little disclaimer about beets though. Beets are a very potent liver and kidney cleanser and should be used in small amounts. I used half of a small beet today and that is more than enough to get all the benefits it contained.

And that’s it. Just a quick posting to let you know that I’m still here and still trying to live the “green” life. I’m still plugging away at school. Slowly but surely I am making my way to the end and I couldn’t be happier to get there! Thank you all for your continued support. You truly are the best.

As always you can sign up here to get on my mailing list, follow me on Facebook or Pinterest and Twitter! I love getting your feedback.

As always, high-five like you mean it!

Stacey

(I apologize for the blurry pics, it’s hard to make him stay still!)

Here’s the deal my wonderful and patient friends - I have been studying. Yep, I wish it was more glamorous than that but alas, it’s not. As many of you know, I am completing my schooling to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and will hopefully be done by June 2013. I was moving right along quite smoothly until I hit this latest module – the science module. Dum dum dummm.  Now, to put this in perspective for you – I went to university for Theatre. Yes, you read that correctly. So asking me to jump into the science world has been quite the challenge. I am plugging my way through it though and I will persevere!!

That is why the world of staceygreenliving has been so dark. I do not want to post anything that is sub-par because you deserve only the best! So I won’t do it! You can’t make me! I will only post things that are helpful and funny and educational and fabulous, and these kinds of postings take time, love and nuturing…and sometimes a little bit of wine.

To sum up: I apologize for my absence. It hurts me too. And I will do my best to get my head out of my ass in the very near future.

Until then,

High-five like you mean it – because otherwise, what’s the point!!?

Stacey

But I digress…

photo credit: Loretta Campbell

A few months ago I wrote a blog on  making your own pasta sauce  and in this posting I referenced Chef Michael’s delicious Roasted Tomato Sauce. That blog got a great response so it got me thinking “wouldn’t it be great if I could ask Chef Michael some questions about food and healthy living? And wouldn’t it be great if he actually took the time to answer them?”

Why, yes! Yes it would!

So, I sat down behind my computer and wrote my little heart out. I contacted his publicist who was unbelievably gracious and passed on my questions. And wouldn’t you know it? HE ANSWERED THEM! I am bursting at the seams with excitement. This is like the holy grail of food for me. Honestly. I am so very grateful that he was kind enough to take time from his incredibly busy schedule of filming and book touring to let me pick his brain! And not only did he answer my questions, he also gave me two of his brand new recipes from his just release cookbook – Fast Flavours- 110 simple speedy recipes.

So, without further ado. I give you:

staceygreenliving’s Interview with Chef Michael Smith!!!

staceygreenliving:      You have travelled the world and cooked with some of the most unique ingredients out there. What would you say is your current favourite ingredient to cook with and why ?

Chef Michael Smith:     Local apples. I love the annual ritual of loading up the car with the kids and heading for MacPhees orchard, picking ourselves silly than going home and making pies and applesauce for the winter.

staceygreenliving:      You always stress the benefits of eating locally, and I totally agree! Now that we’re into autumn I’m loving crisp apples and delicious squash. Do you have a particular dish you love to cook up when the air gets a little crisp?

Chef Michael Smith: Baked Apples from Fast Flavours- see recipe (I have included this recipe here)

staceygreenliving: I try to stress the importance of cooking using whole and fresh ingredients although sometimes I buy canned beans and frozen veggies so I always have solid basics to work with. What is one ingredient you always have on hand to ensure success in the kitchen?

Chef Michael Smith: I keep canned chickpeas, legumes and canned tomatoes on hand but that’s it for cans!

staceygreenliving: While you are extremely adventurous in the kitchen, which your audience loves – not everyone is as brave. What are a couple of spices that you feel people should absolutely try?

Chef Michael Smith: Try rosemary in sweet dishes like apple pie and nutmeg in savoury dishes like mashed potatoes!

staceygreenliving: I know you’re a new dad (congratulations!!) and also have 2 other beautiful kids as well. I have a 4-year-old son and getting him to eat well is sometimes quite the challenge! Do you have any tried and true tricks for introducing your children to new foods?

Chef Michael Smith: Practice patience and persistence. Be ready with healthy snacks when they come home from school. Put veggies on the table first at dinner. Give veggies names like magic bushes for broccoli or flying spears for asparagus or shark for any fish!  Our only rule is that you have to try it.

staceygreenliving: Finally, we all work crazy busy lives, you definitely understand this! When you come home and you’re tired and it’s late and everyone is hungry – what is your one go-to meal that saves the day?

Chef Michael Smith: Penne with rotisserie chicken and pesto from Fast Flavours

This recipe is also included below. I made it last night for my son who has never had pesto before and if you read my blog regularly, you know he’s quite the challenge when it comes to new food. Not only did he eat it, he ASKED FOR SECONDS!!

Baked Stuffed Apples

 Ó Fast Flavours Chef Michael Smith

Nothing says cozy comfort better than local fall apples and cinnamon. It takes mere minutes to get this simple treat into the oven. Just fix and forget and when you remember you’ll be rewarded with lots of cinnamon scented baked apple flavour!

 Prep Time>10 min

Total Time>50 min

 Serves 4 to 6

6 or 8 of your favourite apples

1/2 cup of softened butter

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1 cup or so of rolled oats

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350F. Turn on your convection fan if you have one.

Rest each apple on its side and neatly slice off the top half-inch or so. The stem will fall out. Reserve the little apple hats. Use an apple corer to pierce the works and punch out the seeds. Nestle the apples tightly together in a colourful baking dish.

With your fingers stir together the butter, sugar, oats and cinnamon working the mixture until its combined and crumbly. Evenly divide the mixture between the apples, stuffing and filling their centers and mounding the rest on top. Replace the little tops on each apples.

Bake until the apples heat through, collapse a bit and taste delicious, about 45 minute, maybe longer depending on the apple type. They’re done when they soften and look and smell delicious. Serve and share with lots of vanilla ice cream!

 Speed It Up

You can turn up the ovens heat and the apples will bake faster but above 350° you’ll run the risk of burning the sugar. You can use your microwave to dramatically speed up this treat. The results are not quite the same as baking but delicious nonetheless.

Penne with Rotisserie Chicken, Spinach and Pesto

 Fast Flavours Ó Chef Michael Smith

Done in 20 minutes!

This rustic dish shows off one of my favourite flavour combos ever: roast chicken and bright green pesto with chewy pasta and dark green spinach tossed in for good measure. These are true comfort flavours to me. It’s nice to roast your own chicken but just as nice to save time with a store bought rotisserie bird!

Serves 4-6

1 store bought rotisserie chicken

1 pound (450g) of penne

1 cup or so of pesto, hopefully homemade

1 bag (10 ounces/284g) of baby spinach

Lots of freshly ground black pepper

Use your fingers and a fork to shred as much meat from the chicken as you can. As the cook you get first dibs on the tender roasted wings. Snack if you like! (Reserve the carcass for making stock for another meal.)

Meanwhile, prepare a large pot of freshly cooked, steaming penne. Drain the pasta in a colander, returning 1 cup of the starchy cooking water to the pot. Don’t rinse the pasta. Stir the pesto into the water, add the chicken, toss in the spinach and top with the steaming pasta. Stir the works together until everything is combined and evenly coated. Serve and share with lots of freshly ground pepper.

Speed It Up

On the top ten list of time saving kitchen shortcuts is the ubiquitous store-bought rotisserie roast chicken. Just about every supermarket offers this tasty time-saver. You can slice and shred its goodness into a menu of food choices! Be sure to simmer its leftovers into a tasty broth, and you’ll save time for another meal.

——————————————————————————————

A giant thank-you to Chef Michael Smith for allowing me this opportunity! Make sure you get out and buy his new cookbook Fast Flavours- 110 simple speedy recipes and visit www.chefmichaelsmith.com

Did you like this posting? Want to see more just like it? Follow me here, on Facebook @staceygreenliving or on Twitter or Pinterest @staceygliving

High-five like you mean it!

Stacey

I got home from my crazy day outdoors and had a shower. Upon exiting my steamy bathroom I noticed that my skin was chapped and red. Now, I already suffer from very dry skin in the winter but the wicked winds and frigid temperatures were not my friends. So, I decided today would be the perfect day to give myself a homemade facial!

There are literally dozens of combinations you could use while making your concoction. And the best part is that everything you need can either be found in your kitchen or bathroom. Pretty great, right? I know! The following are just a few suggestions you can use to make your very own easy and inexpensive skin care products. Your epidermis will thank you!

You’re welcome for this fantastic picture of my facial in progress.

Dry Skin – You’re going to want to look for things that will add moisture to your skin. Also, to combat the flakiness that will surely come your way – remember to exfoliate with something gentle as not to damage the skin.

• Avocados
• olive oil
• yogurt (all-natural)
• papaya
• pumpkin

Oily Skin – Those of you with oily skin are going to want to look for thing with astringent properties – this will tighten your pores and reduce the amount of oil. Nothing too harsh though because irritated skin will just revolt against you and then you’ll have a whole different set of problems on your hands!

• lemon juice
• witch hazel
• peppermint
• egg whites
• buttermilk – I know, you’re thinking this is a typo but it’s true. The active cultures can tighten your pores.

Combination Skin – This is a tricky one because people with combination skin are often oily in their T-zone ( forehead, nose and chin) and dry everywhere else. You’ll most likely have to combine a few of the above products to come up with one that works for you.

• honey
• pineapple
• cucumber
• oats

For everyone -

• Remember to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water is your best friend for moisturizing from the inside out!
• Don’t smoke – it ages you, sucks the life out of your skin and body and it’s gross
• Dry brush – exfoliating your skin is an excellent way to keep it silky smooth and young-looking! You’ll be oh so touchable.

Stacey’s Banana-Honey face mask:

1 ripe banana

2 tsps of honey

2 Vitamin E capsules broken open 

Mash together the ingredients until smooth. Apply to your face and let dry. Rinse off with warm water and follow-up with your favourite moisturizer – olive oil works great here!

Do you have a homemade skin care trick you’d like to share? I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment here, on Facebook @staceygreenliving or follow me on Twitter and Pinterest @staceygliving

High-five like you mean it!

We’ve all heard that exercise is very important for our health and well-being. Doctors around the world recommend that everyone get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. The problem is that most of us are still not getting the physical activity that we need due to hectic work schedules, not having access to a gym, or lacking the willpower to do so. Over the past decades, we have become more and more sedentary. Years ago, our ancestors would be on the move all day long. Nowadays, we spend hours sitting behind a desk, getting up to go sit in our cars and drive back home. We are lacking the physical activity that is essential for our physical and mental well-being. Because of this, we are plagued with disease, stress, and mental health issues.

Exercise and Physical Health

Exercise is very essential for our physical health. One of the biggest benefits is that working out increases our high-density lipoprotein (HDL ) cholesterol and decreases triglycerides. This increase in the “good” stuff and decrease in the “bad” stuff helps healthy blood flow freely throughout our bodies. This decreases our risk for heart disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, and certain types of cancers. Your lungs also benefit greatly from exercise. They work more efficiently and effectively when exercise is performed.

Exercise seems to decelerate the process of aging. The physical activity strengthens your muscles, improves flexibility, and decreases bone loss. Women that exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing osteoporosis. Regular workouts also decrease your risk of developing arthritis and bone or muscle injuries. The following Mayo Clinic website has excellent information on the health benefits of exercise:

Exercise and Mental Health

So, you managed to drag yourself to the gym and get through a rigorous workout and then you find yourself realizing that 1. It wasn’t that bad and 2. You feel excellent after the workout. We’ve all experienced the happy, energized feeling that a good workout leaves us with. This is because your brain releases endorphins when you exercise that produce a “happy state”. These endorphins are also natural pain relievers that can have an effect similar to morphine, which is why you sometimes find that your headache disappeared after your workout. The brain also releases serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, which are neurotransmitters that elevate your mood. In addition, working out results in individuals feeling more confident about their bodies and have higher self-esteem.

Exercise not only makes you feel happier and better about yourself, it can help relieve some chronic mental health illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. Studies over the years have consistently shown that regular physical activities are associated with a decrease in these chronic illnesses.

No Gym, No Problem

We all have a million excuses of why we cannot exercise. So, you can’t afford a gym, no problem. There are a lot of different physical activities that you can do that don’t require a gym membership. The great outdoors is a great place to exercise when weather permits. Go for a jog around your neighborhood or on a trail, visit some hiking trails in your city, ride a bike around town, go swimming, or play some sports. The possibilities are endless and you can mix them up so that you are never bored. The key is to look for opportunities in your city. If your city has tracks and trails then take advantage of them. You can also sign up for sports team or events in your city. If there are several people at work who would love to get out and exercise, start a soccer, softball, volleyball, or basketball team.

Exercising outdoors is really nice, but there are many times that it is rainy, too hot, or too cold to even be outside. You can always purchase home gym equipment, such as treadmills www.gymsource.com/treadmills and  or ellipticals www.gymsource.com/ellipticals so that you can work out from the comfort of your home. You can enjoy your favorite TV shows while doing your daily exercise. No matter what you do or where you do it, make sure you are getting up and active today!

Jim Rollince is a member of the creating writing department of Gym Source

http://www.gymsource.net

He enjoys writing about Fitness, Nutrition, and many other related topics.

Contact him at jimr@gymsource.net

Did you like this posting? Find it helpful? What do you do to stay fit and healthy? Leave your comments here, or follow me on Facebook @staceygreenliving or on Twitter or Pinterest @staceygliving

High-five like you mean it!

Stacey

The tradition of making sauce has probably been around as long as the tomato. I don’t know the exact date it all started but I do know that it is a craft that is passed on from generation to generation. If you’ve never seen someone make their own sauce, let me tell you – it can be a bit of a process if you don’t have the right tools. However, once you’ve pureed the tomatoes and strained all of the skins and seeds out, it’s really just a simple canning exercise after that.

I tried to document this years “sugo” extravaganza but was caught off guard and didn’t have my good camera with me. You see, the process is completely dictated by the tomatoes themselves. You have to make the sauce as soon as they are ripe because if you wait to long the whole bushel can spoil. Talk about time sensitive! These iPhone pics will have to do!

What’s really special about this tradition isn’t the fact that you make enough delicious homemade sauce to last you all year, although it is a wicked bonus! What’s special is the time you get to spend with loved ones. It is a time to talk about your lives and spend some real quality time with your family. I am so very grateful that I get to be a part of it and jump at the chance to help every year.

I particularly enjoy hanging out with the older generations as they make the sauce their parents and grandparents before them made. There is so much to learn and so much we can absorb from their stories. Nothing is measured, everything is done by hand – often with machines they’ve made themselves! It’s just incredible to watch and take part in.

Each jar is filled with basil fresh from Nonno’s garden another home-grown, organic touch. Fresh herbs are such an easy way to add flavour to your dishes. And you can grow them year round on your windowsill! Or, if you have access to them now, you can hang them upside down and dry them yourself. They won’t be fresh but they will still be potent and delicious.

This is the final stage. You fill up your jars to the brim, tighten the lid like a son of a gun (I still have bruises on my palms!) and then boil the jars for around an hour or so until the lids “vacuum” themselves down. That’s me, on the right, in Nonna’s fancy apron. Be jealous!

And here is the finished product! Amazing, homemade, healthy and stupidly delicious sauce that will last in your pantry for at least a year. Pretty fantastic if you ask me.

If this process is a little to intensive for you (and I totally understand if it is!) – here is the recipe for a quick and easy, fresh tomato sauce that I make all the time. I got it from Chef Michael Smith, I love his stuff! This is me paraphrasing his genius.

Roasted Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

15-20 small roma tomatoes cut in half

2 large onions diced

3 cloves of garlic finely chopped

Olive oil

Salt, pepper, oregano and basil to taste. 

Directions:

Place whole tomatoes, onion and garlic in an oven ready glass dish. Drizzle over top with the olive oil – approx. 1 cup, salt, pepper and seasonings. Toss everything together until well mixed. Roast in the oven at 400 degree for about 60-90 minutes stirring occasionally. 

Mix with your favourite pasta and serve.

Did you like this posting? Was it helpful? Did it get your creative culinary juices flowing? Tell me about it here, on Facebook @staceygreenliving or follow me on Twitter and Pinterest @staceygliving

High-five like you mean it!

Stacey

http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/recipe.html?dishid=10431

Water is of course ideal when it comes to hydration. It is really the only thing we need to keep our bodies running in tip-top shape. Sometimes it’s nice to throw a little bit of flavour in there though, just to keep things interesting! So what are some alternatives to juice that will keep the sugar content down but our taste buds happy? Well, you can always go with the stand-by: squeezing in some fresh lemon or lime. If you want to get fancy, you can try adding some orange or cucumber slices to your next pitcher of water. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the taste. Ultimately you could add whatever fruit you want your H2O and come up with something fabulous, but let me share with you my trick for making an awesome sugar-free yet tasty juice alternative.

Herbal tea! Woot woot!

Just chill whatever delicious caffeine free tea you have, throw it in a pitcher in the fridge and you’re all set! Besides being delicious, herbal teas also offer a variety of health benefits: they are known to be calming, can help ease an upset stomach and they offer all of the goodness of the plant they come from -in an easily digested form.

I’m personally a fan of the berry and citrus teas but don’t hesitate to try whatever you’ve got in your cupboard. I also like to mix a few different bags together to make a sort of “fruit punch” of tea. Just make sure you’re choosing a caffeine-free tea if you are sharing it with your little ones. Green tea as well as a few others have caffeine in them so be sure to read the label before brewing. And sometimes I add a touch of honey for a hint of sweetness.

Tip of the Blog!!

Make sure to let your tea steep for 10-15 minutes before removing the bags. This way you can be sure you’re getting all of the wonderful benefits and nutrients that are packed away in those tiny bags. Good things take time so be patient. Chilled herbal tea can also be made with loose leaf tea if you have a tea strainer or an infuser.

For these pictures I used pomegranate tea and some ice cubes that I had frozen with the zest of a lemon inside for an added treat.

Do you have any great thirst quenching ideas? Any awesome tea concoctions you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments below or  follow me on Facebook @staceygreenliving. I’m also on Twitter and Pinterest @staceygliving. And you can always sign up so you never miss a blog in the box marked “I wanna be green too!”

High-five like you mean it!

Stacey