Salmon Tartare

Whenever Billy and I venture out to a restaurant we often order some type of tartare to share. Tuna, salmon, beef, even deer (I ate this last week at Splendido) - they are all wonderful.

I decided to make an adapted salmon tartar the other night as a special treat for Billy, who has been working crazy long hours and is preparing to launch his first condo development, 383 Sorauren. I am beyond proud. Buttons are bursting!!

This recipe is super simple. Feel free to add or remove any ingredients that don't suit your fancy!


8 pieces of raw (sushi grade) salmon *I typically just buy 2 orders of sashimi at the sushi restaurant up the street, because very few grocery stores/markets sell sushi grade fish

1/2 avocado (must be perfectly ripe)

2 tbsp of finely diced english cucumber

Dressing:

1/2 clove of garlic - crushed

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp soya sauce

pinch of wasabi

1 tsp rice vinegar

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1 tbsp avocado oil (or another type of vegetable oil)

1 tbsp sesame seeds

Fresh dill

Instructions:

1) Dice salmon, avocado and cucumber, and place in a bowl

2) Crush garlic and add salt, mashing the two together with a fork. Add all other dressing ingredients and mix together with a whisk

3) Pour dressing over salmon/avocado mixture

4) Serve with rice crisps or crackers

ENJOY!

A tip for having perfect avocado's around when you need them: buy them firm and green at the grocery store. Leave them out on the counter (apparently storing them with banana's increases their ripening time). Once you can easily press the black nubbin/stem in, then they are ripe. If you don't need to use them for a few days, store them in the fridge, it will put a halt on the ripening process.

Power Parfait

Though the generic name for this snack is the Power Parfait, I would like to officially name it, Paul's Post-workout Paleo Parfait, as its secondary name. Paul is my brother-in-law, and it is his birthday today. I have been meaning to dedicate a blog post to Paul for a while now, so in lieu of birthday cake, I have created a parfait with him in mind.

Now, Paul and I have had our differences. We are both very competitive people so you can imagine that fighting for #1 spot in the eyes of our in-laws has created a little tension between us. However, I would like to use this blog entry as a forum to publicly admit defeat and congratulate him for all of his accomplishments.

To summarize: Paul is a stud crown attorney, runs a nation-wide volunteer organization, has 3.2% body fat.. and oh yeah, he has three kids (the eldest is 3... you do the math)... You don't even have to take my word for it: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-incorporate-the-primal-blueprint-into-a-busy-family-and-work-life/#axzz2L61tJzLy

So, my congratulations to you Paul, for being so unbelievably awesome. Happy Birthday.

Power Parfait:

Layering components:

1/2 cup full fat, organic greek yoghurt

1/2 cup whipping cream (I whip mine with pure vanilla extract and stevia)

1/2 cup mixed berries

Granola:

1/4 cup slivered almonds (toasted)

1/8 cup pecans

1/8 cup toasted cashews

1/8 cup of large gluten free oats

1 tbsp of salba seeds

1 tbsp of flax seeds or ground flax seeds

1 tbsp sesame seeds

- toast all of these ingredients on parchment paper with a bit of coconut oil, a dash of cinnamon and a tsp of honey

Blueberry sauce:

1/4 cup of frozen blueberries

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp of corn starch

1 packet of stevia

- heat frozen blueberries in sauce pan until the berries have released much of their juice. Add lemon juice, stevia and corn starch and mix until mixture thickens slightly. Set aside to let cool.

Layer all the ingredients in a cup or bowl and enjoy within 1 hour.

Smoothie Splendor

I have been dreaming about a particular kitchen appliance for months now, and last week my wish came true. A Vitamix arrived for my birthday!! The Vitamix is basically a blender on steroids. It can crush anything you throw at it in a matter of seconds. Bill and I have been experimenting with a number of blended combinations and I am going to add my favourite recipes as we discover them. Today I have three to share, but considering two of my three meals per day are now consisting of these delicious smoothies I am sure there will be more to come in the very near future. The Vitamix is great because, unlike juicing, you don't loose the pulp/flesh and can therefore benefit from all the wonderful fibre. Furthermore, there is no wastage! I can put the whole fruit or vegetable into the blender and its smooth as silk in a few seconds. I'm in love!

Smoothie #1 - Harvest Pear
2 pears (stemmed and pitted)
1 apple (stemmed and pitted)
1/4 avocado
1/2 cup spinach
1/4 cup natural coconut water (make sure to check the ingredients - you want unsweetened all natural coconut water)
1 tsp of coconut oil
1 tbsp chia or salba seeds
1 tbsp USANA Fibergy
dash of pure vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon
2 small packets of stevia (or to your taste)
1/2 cup of ice (I like my smoothies really frozen - you can omit this if you like it more juicy)

Smoothie #2 - Melonberry Mojito
1 pear (stemmed and pitted)
1 cup of watermelon
1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
1/4 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cup kale
1/3 cup coconut water
10 fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 small packets of stevia
1/4 cup of ice

Smoothie #3 - Rosebuds Super Smoothie
1/2 cup cooked beets (On Sunday I baked a bunch of beets - just peel and seal in tinfoil - then bake @ 400 for 45 min (or until fork tender))
1/2 cup mixed frozen berries
1/4 cup of carrot
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cup kale
1/4 cup frozen banana
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tbsp ground flax seed
2 tsp USANA Optomega (this organic oil blend is THE best - flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, pumpkin seed oil, extra virgin olive oil, rosemary leaf, turmeric)
2 small packets of stevia
1/4 cup of ice

So, there you go!! This blender has really helped me a) increase my fruit and vegetable intake b) reduce the amount of rotten/wasted vegetables I throw away (this used to make me really sad) and c) increase my arsenal of healthy breakfast options!

Please leave me a comment if you have any other great smoothie suggestions..
xo
Rosebud