Raspberry Bliss Oat Bars Recipe- Vegan & No Sugar, Oil, or Butter

I’ve recently found a wonderful and motivating website called “Oh She Glows” and her recipes are the healthiest recipes I’ve seen. :D It’s not so healthy that it repulses you or makes you go ‘oh gross, that looks like something a rabbit would eat’. It actually looks truly appetizing and sinfully delicious!

I tried out her “Berry Bliss Oat Squares” recipe a week ago and made quite a few modifications. This new Kirby version is called “Raspberry Bliss Oat Bars”!

Raspberry Bliss Oat Bars

(vegan, soy free, refined sugar free, no butter, no oil)

Ingredients:

·         2 cups raspberries

·         1 ripe banana, chopped

·         1/4 cup pure maple syrup (for berry mixture)

·         1 tsp pure vanilla extract

·         2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp warm water

·         3 cups regular oatmeal, divided

·         1 tsp ground cinnamon

·         1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder

·         1/2 tsp kosher salt

·         1/2 cup + 3 tbsp (6oz) unsweetened applesauce

·         1/4 cup + 2 tbsp pure maple syrup

·         1/4 cup  + 2 tbsp water

·         1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 375F and line a 8inch square pan with two pieces of parchment paper. In a small bowl mix together cornstarch with warm water to form a paste. Make sure all clumps are gone. Set aside.

2. Berry Filling: In a small saucepan, combine the berries, banana, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil and stir well. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and the pre-mixed cornstarch. Whisk until all clumps are gone and set aside.

3. Base: Place 1.5 cups of oats into a food processor and process until a flour/fine powder forms. Add this processed flour, remaining 1.5 cup of oats, baking powder, and salt into large bowl. Stir. Now add in the wet ingredients (applesauce, maple syrup, water, vanilla) and mix well. Pour 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan and push down firmly with fingers to smooth out. Grab the prepared berry filling and spread over the top of the oat base until smooth. Now crumble the remaining oat base mixture on top.

4. Bake for 30 mins. at 375F or until the top is slightly golden and firm. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting into squares

My carton of fresh Dole raspberries.

Make sure to break the berries and bananas apart when you’re cooking the berry mixture.

I used a circular cake pan instead of a square pan but it still worked out fine. The only thing was that I didn’t get perfect squares bars. :P

The top should be a nice golden brown.

These tasted very healthy and I felt so good eating them since I knew exactly what I was putting into my body. For people who despises oatmeal (Like me! I know... so bad cause they’re good for you =.=), these squares are perfect since you get the benefits of fibre without having to eat oatmeal.

The original recipe by Oh She Glows can be found here.

Happy Eating!

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The Hastings Warehouse- Everything On The Menu is $4.95!

I didn't know such a thing existed...but it's true. There is a restaurant/pub in Vancouver that serves up food for just $4.95. In fact, the entire menu is $4.95 (exluding drinks)!

It's called Hastings Warehouse and is located on, you guessed it, Hastings.

Their appys and entrees are both $4.95 so I guess it's a better deal to order an entree. And if you are wondering about their serving sizes, it's not too shabby for five bucks. It'll get you comfortably satisfied without putting a dent in your wallet.

I ordered the Baja Fish Tacos ($4.95) and it came with two soft tortillas piled with a small piece of fish, shredded lettuce, shredded carrots and a pineapple salsa.

The small piece of fish was unfortunately unseasoned so it was really bland. As well, the lettuce was on the dry end and didn't taste fresh. The only thing that stood out was the pineapple salsa as it did provide a nice refreshing contrast and flavour to the tacos. Overall, I wouldn't order this specific dish again.

Diana (foodology) ordered the Pulled Chicken Sandwich ($4.95) and it was a MAJOR disappointment.

It looked..so..sad. Not only was there not enough filling in the sandwich, the 'pulled chicken' looked disappointing. The only thing that looked good was the toasted brioche bun.

Between the two of us, we also shared a Warehouse Poutine ($4.95). It was 'aight. The fries weren't particularly crunchy or fresh (tasted like frozen fries), but I like gravy and cheese on anything so I was okay with it.

Out of the four of us, 50% of the dishes were disappointing. So I guess it's either a hit or miss since the other two had pretty good dishes. The first good dish is the Works Burger ($4.95) and M ordered it. He loved the burger a lot and said it was the second most delicious burger he's ever tasted.

The Meatball Spaghetti ($4.95) was also pretty good and plentiful with lots of yummy tomato sauce.

Based on these reasons:

• hit or miss type of restaurant/pub
• try the burgers or spaghetti
• Only $4.95!!!!! Did I mention its only $4.95?!

Service Rating: 2.5/5
Food Rating: 2.5/5
Price: $ (under $10)

Overall Rating: 2.5/5

Happy Eating!

 

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Jimoco Cafe & Pasta- My LOVE of Korean Style Pasta!!

Ever since "Bistro The Home" closed down, I've been trying to find a replacement for my beloved Korean style pasta. Now that I came back from two months of living in Korea, my craving for Korean style pasta is even greater! I was determined to find a place and Jimoco Cafe & Pasta was my calling.

Jimoco Cafe & Pasta is located in Coquitlam (kinda far from where I live, Richmond) and they serve up 2-for-1 pastas everyday! I read a few posts on this place before and everyone seemed to like it so I dragged Meta Knight to come here with me one day.

All the pastas were around the $16.95 range which is kind of expensive in my opinion, so I'm glad they have the 2-for-1 pasta special everyday.

The most raved pasta dish in Jimoco is called Linguine Soul ($16.95) and it is a take on Korean spaghetti. Essentially, it is seafood tossed in a spicy tomato sauce. But the cool thing about this dish is that it is served on a hot bowl/plate so it comes sizzling and boiling when it reaches your table.

There were exactly 2 clams, 2 mussels, 3 prawns, and a bunch of scallops (yes I counted..=.=). Not an abundance of seafood but not too bad. As for the pasta, I was pleasantly surprised that the pasta was still al dente even though it was kept warm for a long time. Both Meta Knight and I loved this dish. Thumbs up!

Because I knew the hot plate would be a larger serving (hehe I'm greedy like that :P), we ordered the Risotto al Filetto di Manzo ($16.95) which also came on a hot plate.

The risotto had peas, mushrooms, and beef chunks in a creamy white sauce.

Again, I was surprised at how they managed to get the texture of the arborio rice perfectly right. Risotto is always tricky as the grain can easily be undercooked or mushy if cooked wrong (no one wants rice pudding!). So anyways, props to them. :D

Overall, I think I found my 'Bistro The Home" replacement, guys. I don't even care that it's so freaking far away from my house (1 hr drive at least!!). It's good, it's tasty, I'll come back again. Let's just hope they don't continue to skimp on the seafood ingredients or take away the 2-for-1 deal.

Based on these reasons:

• great mum and pop korean pasta restaurant
• they know how to cook spaghetti perfectly
• pretty good deal when it's 2-for-1 (ends up being around $11 per person)
• located in Coquitlam so might be a bit far away for some people

Service Rating: 3/5
Food Rating: 4/5
Price: $-$$ (<$20)

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Happy Eating!


courtesy of 9gag.com

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Little Mexico Cantina- A Tiny Mexico in Steveston, Richmond

So apparently, there has been a little authentic Mexican place hiding in Steveston, Richmond and I never heard about it until now! :( It’s called Little Mexico Cantina and it is directly next to Mega Sushi (post here).

When my girlfriends and I stepped into the restaurant, we were flabbergasted by the large amount of people in the restaurant, and the awesometacular Halloween decorations that were hanging all around. Also, people were wearing sombreros. ‘Nuff said.

It was a Saturday night so we ordered a pitcher of Strawberry Daquiri ($17.95). It was made with fresh strawberries, ice, rum, and triple sec.

Personally, the daiquiri was a little heavy on the alcohol but not all my girlfriends felt the same.

I’m always skeptical of ordering Dry Garlic Ribs ($8.95) because I’ve had some before that were insanely tough and overcooked. However, FW and Lil Sis’ garlic ribs were awesome! The meat was perfectly cooked and the abundance of black pepper won me over. :P

FW and Lil Sis also shared One Taco & One Enchilada ($10.95) and if I’m not mistaken, they quite enjoyed it. At first we were afraid the portion sizes would be too humongous but after seeing this combo plate I think one hungry person could definitely polish this off by him or herself.

This baby on the other hand was larger than life and would be far too much for one person to eat by him/herself. It’s called the Wet Burrito ($15.95) and was the special of the day. It is essentially two 10” flour tortillas rolled and filled with beans, onions, spices, and pork, and then topped with more cheese, pork, and verde sauce.

This was more than enough for both Rae and I to share.

I absolutely adored the shredded pork. It was incredibly flavourful and moist. And not the least bit dry. As well, the beans, rice, cheese, and sauce just made the burrito a really comforting and hearty dinner. I can’t say this is healthy, but it is definitely worth a try and is my guilty pleasure from now on. Come hungry, leave with a food baby.

Based on these reasons:

• pretty affordable compared to other Mexican joints like Topanga Cafe
• awesome atmosphere (ask to wear their sombrero!)
• the owners/waiter/waitresses there were amazing and made you feel like a valued customer
• delicious authentic Mexican food!

Service Rating: 4/5

Food Rating: 4/5

Price: $$-$$$ ($10-$30)

Overall Rating: 4/5

Happy Eating!

courtesy of http://fashionbinge.blogspot.ca/2011/11/cats-in-sombreros.html

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Boo! Bacardi HALLOWEEN Event @ Indochine Kitchen + Bar Contest

[Note: This contest is closed]
Who here has no plans so far for Halloween (not that it’s a bad thing of course :P)?? Instead of staying at home and repeatedly handing out candy to little teeny boppers, would you like to attend an exclusive Bacardi HALLOWEEN event at Indochine Kitchen + Bar? I have two VIP passes to give away for this ‘invite-only’ event so if you would like to get your spook on and enjoy some complimentary Bacardi cocktails on Halloween, just scroll down and see the details for entering.

I think it’ll be a spooktacularly (hehe!) fun event so I definitely encourage you to enter this contest/draw! I will also be there so we can all have fun sipping on yummy cocktails all night. :) Unless you don’t want to meet me and in that case, that’s cool too. :P haha

SO without further adieu, here is how to enter:

1.       Follow @eatingwithkirby on Twitter and tweet the following: 
   [  I just entered to win a pair of VIP passes to Bacardi HALLOWEEN @indochinelounge from @eatingwithkirby! Details:http://ow.ly/eM1r4  ]

OR

2.       Leave a comment below this post with your name, and the name of your favourite restaurant in Vancouver (I need some new places to go!).  Just a note however: if you are applying through this method, you will have to leave your e-mail address in the comment as well or else there is no way of contacting you about your win!

 I will announce the lucky winner of the VIP passes (a pair) to Bacardi HALLOWEEN at Indochine Kitchen + Bar on October 29^th, 2012 via twitter and blog post. So if you don’t have twitter, please check back on October 29^th to see if you’re the winner! Contest ends Oct 28^th 2012, 11:59pm (Pacific Time) which is only a few days away so get your entries in early!

                  

And as always, HAPPY EATING! :D

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Berry Greek Yogurt Parfait w/Honey Recipe

Ever since I came back from Asia a month ago, I wanted to get back into the lifestyle I had before I left which was exercising often (3-5 times a week) and eating healthy. However, I gotta admit, it has been hard. My willpower has given in a few times so I've experienced quite a few food comas since I've been back. BUT. No more.

I am confident and determined to set myself back on track and resume a healthy lifestyle! From now on, I will try to cook and bake as often as I can with as little artificial, sugary, and fattening ingredients and I’ll also share my recipes with you guys. My first recipe is quick, simple, and delicious as a snack or breakfast. It’s called Berry Greek Yogurt Parfait w/Honey.

You only need five ingredients for this recipe. See? Told you it was simple.

You need some 0% fat greek yogurt and granola. I’m using greek yogurt because it provides double the protein of most regular yogurts (and thus can also be a post-work out snack!). Greek yogurt is also a great source of calcium, probiotic bacteria, and has less fat than regular yogurt.

You will also need a honey bear :P, a cup or glass, and whatever berries you have on hand. I happened to have blackberries so I made it a blackberry parfait. :P

First step is to fill the bottom of the glass with greek yogurt, and then drizzle it with copious amounts of honey. I find greek yogurt to be too sour and bland on its own so I always like to put a little bit of extra honey in mine.

Next, sprinkle on some blackberries (or whatever berries you are using).

You just repeat the previous two steps again so put another layer of greek yogurt, honey, and then berries.

The last and top layer is the granola. Try to find granola with lots of nuts, seeds, or raisins as they are healthier than just plain clumped oats. I used regular granola that I got from Superstore and mixed in a handful of sliced almonds for an extra crunch.

FYI- I have been eating this for breakfast for the past three days now! It’s really healthy and keeps me satisfied until lunch. No need for greasy breakfasts anymore! 

Try this recipe out and let me know what you think!

Happy Eating!

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agnes b. LE PAIN GRILLE + CAFE (Hong Kong)- Clothing Brand Turned Cafe

Trixie and I wanted to specifically visit the agnes b. LE PAIN GRILLE + CAFE while we were in Hong Kong since it seemed like an interesting concept.

If you don’t already know, agnes b. Is a clothing brand but they expanded their brand and now they have their own restaurant and cafe. We specifically went to the one located in IFC because this was supposedly the prettiest location of all.

agnes b cafe is not cheap (roughly $5.00 for a latte) but it isn’t outrageous either.

Trixie and I took forever deciding what to order since every piece of cake looked stunning! As for taste, however, we didn’t have high expectations for it because we read reviews beforehand and most of them said it was average.

Notice most people dining at this cafe are women. Most of them were girl chatting and discussing about their daily lives/problems... Not that I was listening. :P

We shared two between the both of us and first up was Jasmine. It consisted of jasmine bavarois, vanilla crème brulee, and almond sponge cake. It also had a dollop of glittery gelee on top along with a branded chocolate piece.

We were mostly intrigued by the ‘vanilla crème brulee’ aspect of the cake and to me, it did not disappoint. However, Trixie found the crème brulee flavour difficult to detect, and if you don’t have a strong palate for subtle flavours, you probably won’t be able to taste it too. This overall was so-so for the both of us and was more of a novelty item than anything. Girls just can’t pass up anything that’s pretty.

Next was the Venezuela. Again, a very intricate and delicate piece of patisserie. It is made of 70% single origin chocolate from Venezuela, chocolate sponge cake, and chocolate ganache. It is also garnished with a tiny gold leaf and a white chocolate piece.

This was oh so rich, and oh so satisfying. The dark rich taste of 70% cacao chocolate was like heaven for the both of us since we both ADORE extremely dark chocolate.

Since we were dehydrated and wanted something refreshing, we shared a Watermelon and Lychee Juice. It was very refreshing and not too sweet which was my biggest concern prior to purchasing it.

What a beautiful entrance to the agnes b. Restaurant. O.O  All in all, agnes b. Cafe is a nice little place for you to catch up on girl talk with the girls but don’t count on the patisseries to wow your tastebuds.

Happy Eating!

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