Loaded Maple Balsamic Salad

How’s it going guys? It’s starting to feel like summer vacation because the weather is finally warming up! I’m starting to establish some rhythm and being more productive, so that’s a plus. These posts are keeping me busy and thinking!

Sooooo I heard that lots of people don’t like salads. What’s up with that? I don’t know what kind of salads that they’re eating, but in my world, salads have hot veggies, cold veggies, protein, mashed avocado, and SICK dressings. Making salads is actually so much fun because you can play around with flavour combos and pretty much add whatever you want. Today I’m sharing the recipe for this Loaded Maple Balsamic Salad. And before you ask, yes, it is VERY loaded. You’ve got sauteed peppers and golden brown butternut squash, corn, carrots, cucs, spinach, avo, hemp hearts, and an awesome maple balsamic dressing. Is it even physically possible not to like that combo? I think not. Go check out the recipe!

Loaded Maple Balsamic Salad

Serves: 1 very hungry person

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

For the Salad:

  • A handful of baby spinach
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Half a bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup cooked corn (I used frozen)
  • 3/4 cup frozen butternut squash chunks (If you don’t have these you can use roasted squash or sweet potato, and skip the steps related to the frozen squash)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 of a large cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 a large carrot, shredded
  • 1/2 an avocado, mashed
  • A sprinkle of hemp hearts

For the Maple Balsamic Dressing:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp maple syrup
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Whisk the dressing ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a small pan over medium heat, and add in the peppers to saute.
  3. While the peppers are cooking, bring some water to boil in a small pot and add in the frozen butternut squash chunks. Cook them for about 2 minutes, then drain and add them to the pan with the peppers.
  4. Cook the squash and the peppers until they’re soft and have some browning going on on the outside, about 6 minutes. Then remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper.
  5. In a large bowl, arrange the spinach, peppers and squash, carrots, cucumber, and corn. Place the mashed avocado in the centre, and top with the hemp hearts and maple balsamic dressing.
  6. Enjoy!!

I hope this salad changes your mind about salads. It’s the salad to end all salad discrimination!

Yours Truly,

Olivia;))

Berry Banana Smoothie Pops

Hi guys! Since we all could use a little ray of sunshine right about now, I made these delicious Berry Banana Smoothie Pops that will transport you to a sunny beach😎😎 They’re delicious, refreshing and healthy, plus you only need four ingredients to make em! If you have a lot of frozen berries on hand, this is a great way to use them up. I’ve been loving frozen berries lately because you can incorporate them into so many things, and they’re delicious just warmed up and served with granola. I also used spinach and avocado in these pops, which add nutrients but aren’t detectable! What are you waiting for? Go make yourself some!

Berry Banana Smoothie Pops

Serves: Makes 7-8 pops

Total Time: 10 minutes to fill moulds, then freeze overnight

Ingredients:

  • 1 small ripe banana
  • About 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen mixed berries
  • 1 packed cup of spinach
  • 1/2 a ripe avocado
  • 1/2 cup water

Directions:

  1. Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender. The smoothie should be pretty thick.
  2. Spoon the smoothie into popsicle moulds, making sure not to over fill them. Stick in the popsicle sticks and place in the freezer overnight to freeze.
  3. Run some warm water over the moulds to loosen up the popsicles before removing them from the moulds.
  4. Enjoy!

Hope you enjoy this recipe!

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked;))

Chickpea, Quinoa and Avocado Salad

Hi guys! I hope you’re keeping busy and satying safe;)) Spring is almost here, and so I thought I’d make a fresher recipe today. This Chickpea, Quinoa and Avocado Salad is light and makes a great lunch👍👍 I used tri colour quinoa, which I discovered a year ago and it’s awesome. It’s usually the same price as regular quinoa, but it’s three different colours and looks super cool. Also, there’s soy sauce mixed in with the avo, which is one of my new favourite combos. Here’s the recipe:

Chickpea, Quinoa and Avocado Salad

Serves: 3

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 a red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • Juice of 1/2 a lime
  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Directions:

  1. In a small pot, combine the quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the water has evaporated, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  2. In a small bowl, mash the avocado and add in the oil, lime, garlic, and salt sauce. Stir until combined.
  3. Mix together the chickpeas, tomatoes, and peppers in a large bowl. Add in the quinoa and mashed avocado and stir. Enjoy!

Keep cooking and stay creative my friends;)

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked;))

Tofu Sandwich

I promised I’d be back with more sandwiches, and I keep my promises. Today I have a delicious tofu sandwich for you that’s a bit simpler to make than my Epic Veggie Sandwich, but no less epic. It’s delicious and satisfying and will definitely have you looking forward to lunchtime. I like using sprouted grain bread, but any bread will do. This sandwich would be great on rye:)) Hope you enjoy!

Tofu Sandwich

Serves: 2

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 4 slices of sprouted grain bread, toasted
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 175g block of extra firm tofu, drained (see Soy Marinated Tofu for more info on tofu)
  • 1/2 an avocado
  • 1 tomato, sliced
  • handful of sprouts
  • 2 pickles, sliced

Directions:

  1. Cut the tofu lengthwise to create four tofu “steaks”. Heat the olive oil in a pan and place the tofu in it. Cook until browned on one side, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 2 minutes on the other side. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  2. Mash the avocado in a bowl. Scoop half of it onto a piece of bread and spread it around. Place two of the tofu “steaks” on top, along with half of the sliced tomato, half of the sprouts and one sliced pickles. Place another piece of bread on top.
  3. Repeat step 2 to make another sandwich, then enjoy!

Now you have another awesome veggie sandwich added into your repertoire!! These are my new favourite thing to make for lunches;))

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked;)))

Epic Veggie Sandwich

Hey there;) Sometimes you just need a good sandwich in your life, you know? This Epic Veggie Sandwich includes chickpea mash, carrots, balsamic mushrooms and onions, red pepper and avo. Oh, and it’s all packed between two slices of sprouted grain bread. SIGN ME UP!! Step aside Subway, ‘cause there’s a new sandwich shop in town and it’s your kitchen😋😋😋😋 I will definitely be making and sharing more veggie sandwiches in the future, because they are amazing. 🤩🤩🤩

Epic Veggie Sandwich

Serves: 2

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1/4 of a red onion, diced
  • 1/4 of a red onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 white mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 a red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 small carrot, shredded
  • 2 pickles, diced
  • 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 slices of sprouted grain bread
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add in the mushrooms and thinly sliced red onion and cook until the mushrooms are soft and the onion is translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar into the pan and cook for another minute, then remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
  2. Mash 1/2 of the avocado in a medium sized bowl. Add the chickpeas and mash them slightly as well, then mix to combine. Stir in the diced red onion, and pickles, and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Spoon some of the chickpea mash onto a slice of bread. Add half of the mushrooms and onions, some carrot, red peppers, and half of the remaining avocado (thinly slice the avocado first). Press another slice of bread on top and enjoy!

Hope you love this sandwich as much as I do!!

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked;))