Portobello Mushroom and Avocado Panini

So this one isn't clean, and it could be a little healthier, but it was VERY tasty! It was also another excuse to use my Cuisinart Griddler (which I have at least twice a week since New Years).

Ingredients
-Any type of bread can be used here. I got some herbed panini buns from the grocery store.
-Portobella mushroom cut into slices
-Avocado cut into slices
-Any other toppings, I used a little mayo
-Olive oil in a sprayer
-Cheese of choice, I used jalapeno havarti for some spice

1. Saute mushrooms.
2. Spray olive oil on outsides of both top and bottom buns.
3. Place bottom bun on grill and add toppings, then top with other bun.
4. Grill for 5-7 minutes.

I added a Greek salad to this quick and easy meal.

Healthy Grilled Salmon and Veggies

I received a Cuisinart Griddler as a gift at my bridal shower. I had secretly wanted this for over a year and would always see it going on sale at Canadian Tire. However, I could never justify spending close to $100 on something I didn't "need". So needless to say it was one of my favourite gifts. I received it in August, and only opened it and used it for the first time on New Years Eve to make paninis. It was awesome! I think this is going to become my new cooking method of choice. Who needs a stove?
This recipe was actually from the book that came with the Griddler, you know the one with the instructions. There are a few recipes in there and I had already taken salmon out for dinner so I thought this would be perfect. The recipe is actually for a "not fried fish and chips" but I just used the seasoned oil mixture part for the fish. I substituted the grilled potatoes for roasted ones in the oven. Here is the recipe, enjoy!

Ingredients for seasoning mixture:
-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
-1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp dried thyme
-1/4 tsp sea salt
-1/8 tsp paprika
-1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
-2 salmon fillets

To be honest I always eyeball my spices, so I did not follow the measurements by any means.

1. Mix oil, lemon juice, and spices
2. Coat salmon fillets in mixture (I let mine marinate in it while I got everything else ready)
3. Grill salmon (You can cook this in a pan, a counter top grill, or a BBQ)

I used the following veggies:
-red pepper
-zucchini
-portobella mushroom

I seasoned my veggies with a little bit of olive oil, garlic powder,black pepper, and parsley, and then grilled them.

I used about 15 mini potatoes and cut them in half. I seasoned them with olive oil and Cajun seasoning and cooked them in the oven for about 30 mins at 350 degrees.  

Potatoes seasoned and ready for the oven

Salmon marinating in seasoning and oil mixture

Veggies all spiced up and ready to grill

Salmon on the flat top and veggies on the grill top

Salmon grilling

Veggies grilling

The finished product YUM!

Clean Eating Slow Cooked Pork "Roast" and Veggies

It has been quite some time since I've posted anything, but I'm hoping that I will have more time in 2013 now that all of my wedding planning is over.
Here is a very simple clean recipe that I threw together in my crock pot. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
-2 pork loin chops (boneless and trimmed of fat)--> I got mine at Costco and they are very thick so I was able to cut the 2 chops into about 5-6 pieces for easier cooking
-seasoning/herbs of your choice--> I used poultry seasoning because I find that it has a good mix of herbs that really taste good on any kind of meat
-3 small/medium sized potatoes cut into 2 inch cubes
-4 medium sized carrots cut into sticks
-1 small onion cut into large pieces
-1.5 cups low sodium vegetable broth

Directions:
1. Rub seasoning on meat inside slow cooker
2. Add in vegetables and broth
3. Cook on low for about 6 hours

That's it! How could it get any simpler? It ended up being a tasty and hearty meal, enjoy!

My Life According to Instagram: July-Dec 2012

Once I got engaged and realized I would have less than 5 months to plan a wedding, my blogging obviously went on the back burner so I would have time to run around like a chicken with it's head cut off. So here are some photos from my Instagram from July-Dec of 2012!







Mike and I at our good friends wedding. We were both in the wedding party:)





Good friend Melissa and I at her wedding



Me with 2 of my bridesmaids at my bachelorette



Visiting my brother in Ottawa





BRIDE-getting ready the morning of the big day in a shirt I made







All dolled up and ready to rock!




Yoga on the beach in the Dominican Republic

 

One of my honeymoon dinner outfits



Honeymooners!



Very neat wedding gift we received from friends with our wedding "theme"



Loving my wedding band:)







One of the teasers our photographer gave us!





First Christmas dinner at our house



My new Canon Rebel T4i from the best husband ever!







 


 

My Maids...And How I Asked Them

There are a few things you hear constantly when you get engaged:

"Let me see the ring"
"Did you set a date?"
"Where are you getting married?"
"Who's in your wedding party?"

This last question was one that I thought about a lot over the past few years. I always knew Mike and I would get married one day, and to tell you the truth, the girls I had in mind a few years ago are almost completely different than the ones that will actually be standing with me that day. That just goes to show how much can change in a couple of years.

So how did I choose my girls? Well I thought about it long and hard. Who has been there for me? Who doesn't judge me? Who can I see myself still being close with in 10 years? Who do I have the most fun with? Who knows ME? Once we decided how many would be in our wedding party, it was easy for me to know who I would choose. And also hard for me, knowing there were a couple girls that are all the things I listed above but we just didn't want a larger wedding party.

So here are my girls:

Maid of Honour-Shauna
I've known Shauna for 5-6 years now. We met because her husband and Mike grew up together. We went to their wedding 5 years ago, and when we would visit from Calgary and see them we always had a good time. When we moved back to Ontario over 2 years ago, we became a lot closer. She has the same kind of humour as I do, and I can literally tell her ANYTHING without worrying if she will think I'm weird. She's my soul sista!



Shauna (on the right) and I in Jamaica last year

 Maid-Jenny
Jenny and I went to high school together, but we weren't really friends then. We dated the same guy (at different times!) and I don't think she liked me that much at first. After high school we started hanging out through a mutual friend, and we've been close friends ever since. It's been almost 10 years! Jenny and I have had our ups and downs, and while I was in Calgary we would lose touch every now and again. But I always knew if I needed her, even if we hadn't talked in a long time, she would be there for whatever I needed. We've been through a lot together, and any time I was down she was the first person there helping me pick myself up.

Jenny!

Maid-Kristen
Kristen and I met while we were both living in Calgary. She is dating another Mike who went to high school with my Mike (confusing I know). After they moved out west, some of our mutual friends came to visit, and we all got together one of the nights. We were pretty much inseparable after that. A year later, when it was my last night in Calgary before moving home, we were in my parents foyer after a night out crying and hugging about how much we would miss each other. We talked about how we would be in each others weddings one day. And now that day has come! 


Kristen!

Maid-Lisa Lisa is Mike's sister. I grew up with 2 brothers, and always wondered what it would be like to have a sister. I felt that it was very important for me to have her as a bridesmaid, because I know we will be in each other's lives forever. She is an extremely talented graphic designer and I'm SO excited that she has been able to help me design all the wedding stationery. She also co-hosted my bridal shower with my future mother-in-law and did an amazing job.


Lisa!

Asking my maids was something I wanted to hype up a little. I had seen these "be my maid" boxes on a blog I follow quite awhile ago, and was instantly in love with them.



Photo from rinserepeatblog.com

Check out the Rinse. Repeat. blog tutorial where I drew my inspiration. I pretty much followed the tutorial other than changing the wording, photos, and colours. I also added their initia to the front of the box, and I freehanded all the writing rather than using stickers or a stencil. Instead of using pre-scalloped cards, I printed the descriptions out and glued them to cardstock, then cut the edges using scallop scissors. The last difference was the VISA gift card. After going to the store to buy them, and realizing there was a $6 fee to activate them, I opted for just making a little money holder out of card stock and just giving them cash instead.

Here's how mine turned out!

All 4 girls were very surprised by the boxes and thought they were neat and cute. They all said yes of course and now they have been by my side helping me every step of the way. As I had mentioned before, my future mother-in-law and sister-in-law hosted an amazing shower for me. All of my bridesmaids were able to be there as well as my mom who was visiting from Calgary. I was overwhelmed with all of the guests gifts and well wishes. I'm not used to having so much attention on me, but I guess I will have to get used to it for the wedding!

Big News

On Sunday June 17th, I was asked the greatest most exciting question of my life, thus far. Mike asked me to marry him...and I of course said YES!

We have been together now almost 6 years, and have lived together for 5 of those years. We are beyond ready and excited to start this next chapter of our lives together.

I was very surprised that the engagement came at this time, he was definitely very sneaky and kept assuring me that the "ring fund" kept getting depleted with house costs, a new truck, and so on. So I was maybe expecting it at the end of the year or even next year. I am VERY happy that it is happening now!


He proposed during our Sunday morning hike with the pup, in one of our favourite places. I cried for a few seconds and then I was just so shocked and happy. He said I made the most hilarious face with my mouth hanging wide open haha! Now our hiking spot will hold a lot more meaning, and every time we are there it will remind me of this moment. 

Right after he proposed, we are both SO HAPPY!

So now that we are engaged, the planning will start, which I am really looking forward to. Our goal is to plan something with as little stress as possible, and focusing on what WE want, and not what we are told is right or is traditional.

Still getting used to having this rock on my finger and a perma smile:)

We are tying the knot on November 17, 2012. Yes this year! We always both knew we would want a short engagement, I think mainly because we have been together so long and already feel married that we didn't want to waste anymore time. This only leaves me about 4.5 months to plan a wedding, but I think I'm up for the task. The way I look at it is that it's less time for me to be browsing Pinterest and wedding blogs and finding too many ideas. Also the extra time would have probably led to us spending more money than we wanted to. I feel like this is the way it was always supposed to happen for us. 

My beautiful ring, and party nail because I am SO excited!

Now to the most important detail, the ring! Absolutely stunning and gorgeous. More than I could have ever dreamed of. My favourite thing in the whole world right now!

June Photo Journal

Summer salmon

Finally started the series this month!

Yummy quinoa bowl

Bachelorette party invitation

Leftover salmon turned into a tasty wrap

Hooked, onto the second book

Some snuggles with my love

Remembering my Aunty Lisa, 1 year 

I'm engaged!

Foster the People concert with my bestie! We only waited 6 months.

FTP, amazing

My new fave, Avocado macaroni & cheese

Quite possibly the best combo EVER

Finished all 3 books within a few weeks, now I can watch the movie!