Gluten-Free Coconut Cupcakes in 8 Steps

I decided to make relatively nutritious cupcakes for my daughter's third birthday, a few weeks ago. The recipe that follows has no gluten, refined sugar, or butter. But, to tell you the truth these cupcakes are so delicious that you do not even miss the usual staples. In fact, they remind me of Kara's Cupcakes #HumbleBrag. It is a very quick recipe, and you will have delicious cupcakes in under 1 hour. The final product is just as airy and moist as your average cupcake.

Book Review: The Day the Crayons Came Home

My toddler and I discovered 'The Day the Crayons Quit' last year, and absolutely fell in love with it. In this funny book, by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers, Duncan's crayons write him letters, expressing their demands and woeful grievances.

Pomegranate Quinoa Salad in 6 Steps

A is for App	N is for Nuts or Nut butter
B is for Babyccino & Balsamic Vinegar	O is for Organic
C is for Chia Seeds, Carrot & Cardamom	P is for Pomegranate & Pistachio
D is for Dairy-free	Q is for Quinoa
E is for Edamame & Ergobaby	R is for Rainbow Sushi Roll
F is for Free-Range Eggs & Farro	S is for Swaddling
G is for Gluten-Free	T is for Trader Joe's
H is for Hummus & Honey	U is for Umbrella Stroller
I is for Ikea	V is for Vaccination
J is for Jute bag	W is for Whole Foods
K is for Kale	X is for Xanthan Gum-Free
L is for Linguistic Stimulation & Lemon	Y is for Yogurt (probiotic)
M is for Maple Syrup & Mint	Z is for Zombie-Mommy

You know it's time for a pre-fall salad, when kids start heading back to school, Trader Joe's starts handing out the above photographed back to school inspired ABC stickers, the pomegranate tree starts giving fruit, and yours truly shares this delicious quinoa salad recipe with you. The preparation time is only 30 minutes; and you are rewarded with a healthy salad, and the opportunity to teach your child a new series of ABC associations, which clearly evaded our generation.

Red Lentil Soup or Daal in 11 Steps

One of the fondest memories I have from our trip to Turkey is being welcomed with a warm bowl of red lentil soup as soon as we would sit down to eat in a restaurant, in Istanbul. It was such an unexpected delicious surprise. Sipping warm soup, while deciding which gastronomic Turkish delight (no pun intended) to eat.  Here is my twist on a Daal recipe with a few remnants of Turkish influence.

Homemade Berry Jam in 1 Step

When life gives you delicious summer berries, in abundance, the best thing to do is to eat them with yogurt. But, the second best thing is to make this quick delicious berry jam. This recipe is inspired by our trip to Denmark, earlier this year. I found Scandinavian fruit preserves/jams to be less sweet than their French counterparts. 

The berry jam can sit in your fridge for a month without getting spoiled, so you do not have to worry about learning canning techniques. I like to have it for breakfast along with peanut butter on a wholegrain toast. The cooking time is about 15 minutes, so you have no excuse but to try making this at home. I like to add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon for flavor, and its health benefits. 

Delicious Healthy Granola in 3 Steps

This healthy granola is rich in protein and fibre. You can have it with yogurt or milk, and seasonal fruits. It provides a healthy and quick boost of energy, first thing in the morning. This recipe has no refined sugars or fat. I use maple syrup (Go, Canada!) and coconut oil. I usually make this on Sunday night, and it lasts me a whole week. During the day I have to control myself from snacking on it. Yes, it's THAT good. Give this quick recipe a try, and you would be rewarded with a wholesome breakfast throughout the week.