Blueberry Banana Flaxseed Bread

Everyone has a banana bread recipe that they turn to when the freezer starts to overflow with those sad brown frozen bananas. I have one that I found on Shutterbean, that my boyfriend and I love, the bread is gone so fast!

I wanted to change things up though, I am trying to add extra vitamins and minerals to my daily routine since winter is here and colds and flu are definitely here!!
To the tried and true banana bread recipe, I tweaked it slightly, adding one more banana, some frozen blueberries and ground flax seeds! It is moist but dense, perfect for breakfast, mid-morning/afternoon work snack or quick to whip up for coffee and tea with company!

Loaded Potato Soup

Another soup just for YOU!

Yep, it's all for you. You're so special!











This loaded potato soup is like a baked potato, but in soup form. Creamy, cheesey, bacony, what could be better??
Make it on a cold night, it will warm your soul up :)

Banana Yogurt and Honey Smoothie

Smoothies are one of the best ways to cram a whole ton of fruits and veggies (yes VEGETABLES!) into one meal that will keep your tummy full and you full of energy for a long time. They are also easy to take with you on the go!

I am here

I promise!

I also promise to start posting recipes again soon.

Things have been busy, life is funny like that. I haven't been experimenting lately and I miss it! Starting tomorrow I am going to be researching some new dishes and getting back into the kitchen!

It's getting colder outside, so some more soups and hearty dishes will be made to keep you warm throughout the winter months.

Also, the Christmas season is coming and I have plans to make lots of treats with my new stand mixer I got for my birthday! Hurraaaay!!

Cannot wait :)!

Sausage Bean and Spinach Soup

Here is another great soup for fall!!

If you like Italian Wedding soup than this is right up your alley! It's quick to prepare and only needs a few ingredients, the heat of the sausage is up to you, I don't like things too spicy but I used hot Italian sausage in this and it gave it just enough kick to give the soup a great taste!

This recipe is taken off of one of my favourite blogs to visit - shutterbean.com - visit it when you can, she has a lot of great recipes and decorating ideas!

Naturally Beautiful

Did you know that a majority of the personal beauty products we use daily can be substituted with something mixed up with ingredients from your kitchen? Crazy to think that you can replace your face wash, creams and scrubs with something you can whip up in minutes, right?!

Slow Cooker Meatballs

Nothing is better than having your house slowly fill with the smell of spicy tomato sauce and savory meatballs. Make these in the morning before work or on the weekend and all you will need to do come dinnertime is make a pot of pasta and you will have a delicious and filling meal!

Spiced Apple Cake

Today we welcome the month of October! It was a perfect fall day, cool and crisp but oh-so-sunny! I had baking on my mind first thing this morning. I went searching through my favourite blogs to find the best recipe to bring in the new month and compliment the beautiful day. I came across this Spiced Apple Cake on Joy The Baker and new it was the one, so I put on my jacket and favourite scarf and headed out to get the ingredients.  

Tomato Soup

Today was gloomy. Grey skies and rain were just begging me to come home, put my PJ's on and relax.
Unfortunately I have a lover who is under the weather and needed some comforting. What better way to sooth an achey soul than a bowl of homemade soup! This tomato soup is easy to prepare with items you would typically find in your pantry. It is ready in no time and so comforting on a cold fall day.
As the days grow shorter and the rain just won't stop, try making a pot of this soup and you will begin to warm up the moment you take your first sip.

Goodbye Sweet Summer... Welcome Beautiful Fall!

September is feeling more like October this year which means I have to say goodbye to summer earlier than I anticipated. This, I do not like. I love summer for its summer dresses, long nights, sweaty days and no socks. I hate socks.

Zucchini Boats



Toot! Toot! All aboard this delicious supper!!
Zucchini boats are easy to make, totally versatile and a great way to use up the last of the lovely vegetables in your garden!

Product Review: All Natural Lip Products

If you could only pick one beauty product to have for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

My choice ~ Lip balms!
I use to have a problem with picking my lips, it was one of my worst habits. I would constantly have chapped lips and I would pick the skin off my lips, which would in turn make them even worse than before.
What I finally realized was the chap stick I was using wasn't doing my lips any good. A lot of commercial lip balms out there give temporary relief from dry lips but have ingredients in them that don't help repair the skin and keep them healthy. Many commercial products have chemicals and preservatives that are meant to make them last a long time, but those ingredients end up in your bloodstream and are by no means good for you. Start reading labels, if you can't recognize or pronounce more than half of the words on that list, do you really want that in your body?
I have tried a lot of lip products, whether coloured or just moisturizing and have comprised a list of my favourites:

Burt's Bees -Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil - $4.50

This is my #1 favourite lip product! I have tried other Burt's Bees lip products but found this one to be the most soothing for lips. They never dry out (so no more picking skin off - Yay!! Bad habit kicked!), the scent is subtle, the moisturizers are long lasting and one tube lasts a long time. With commercial lip balms I would be reapplying every hour or so, with this product I put it on after I brush my teeth in the morning and I usually only reapply once during the day. Also, it is 100% natural - score!! It is widely available and cheap - definitely give this a try!
http://www.burtsbees.ca/natural-products/lips-lip-balms/replenishing-lip-balm-with-pomegranate-oil.html

Korres Lip Butter - Jasmine - $12Very creamy and rich with a subtle pink sheer colour. Long lasting, a little goes a long way! Super moisturizing from the Shea butter. Comes in other colours but I love Jasmine for the touch of pink.
https://www.korresusa.com/product/5005/butter/color/category/lips

Cheeky Cosmetics Organic Lip Gloss - First Kiss - $12
Handmade, all natural, organic and Canadian! I can't recall how I found this company but I fell in love instantly. Everything is handmade with all natural ingredients and their lip gloss is oh-so-amazing! With a touch of peppermint oil, organic, natural ingredients and mineral pigments, their lip gloss glides on smoothly and stays on well. P.S. - their eye shadows are AMAZING!
http://cheekycosmetics.com/lipgloss.html

A Simple Supper for One - Quinoa with Teriyaki Broccoli and Spinach

I do love cooking a big meal for my boyfriend and I but every once in awhile I get the house to myself and am able to cook whatever I want, no questions asked!

Tonight I made quinoa with broccoli and spinach mixed with some herbs and teriyaki sauce, it was flavourful and kept me full for a long time.

This can definitely be doubled for two people or keep it as is and use it for a side dish!

365

One of the reasons I started this blog was to help me with my photography. I love taking pictures and over the last year I realized that a majority of the photos I take are of the food I make but I am still not taking enough pictures.
I decided to join a group on Flickr that motivates people to take a picture everyday for a year of something food related. I know... I'm already 8 months late, but if not now then when?
Today I started this project as well as this blog and I not only think it will help me take more photos, I think it will help me get in the kitchen more and start creating! Here's hoping I can do it! I guess we'll find out in 365 days...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leahnyenhuis/

I love you, food!

My love for food runs deep, it makes me happy, it awakens my senses and helps to get my creative juices flowing.
I love making meals that are healthy and delicious, yes, they can go hand in hand - I promise!

I started this blog to have a place to put recipes I have been inspired to make or create on my own. To push myself to keep up with my passion for photography. Also to give tips and tricks on natural alternatives for beauty and living!