One of the greatest challenges that I face in the land of maple syrup, aside from dealing with the cold and avoiding goose poop, is planning my meals. I was warned by family and friends that when living alone, the temptation to order a pizza every night or alternatively, skip every other meal, is lurking around every corner. Therefore, I was determined to not let laziness get the better of me and to eat healthy.
Of course, it involves a certain amount of planning (I even drew up an Excel sheet!!) to ensure I get a well-balanced meal, three times a day. This was, at first, a daunting task considering that this is the first time I'm living on my own and that I have courses, TA work, cleaning and laundry to take care of! However, I have come to enjoy the process of deciding what to eat and preparing the food itself. I resolved not to succumb to the enticing print of the takeout menu, and instead cook nutritious meals at home. This does mean overcoming some hurdles such as the lack of cooking equipment and ingredients, but that's where the miracle of the Internet comes in - just type 'simple recipes' into Google and you're good to go!
I especially relish the task of being creative with my breakfast; I'm churning out smoothies, fruity crepes and yummy breakfast bowls, though I do occasionally resort to oats when I'm pressed for time. Here's a simple recipe that's packed with flavor - mix an egg, milk, sausages, spinach and cheese in a bowl and microwave on high for 45 seconds, take it out and push the edges in and put it back in for another minute et voila:
The other day, I decided to experiment with shrimp and I can say with some certainty that I was quite successful in satisfying my taste buds. However, when it comes to cooking traditional dishes, I feel my results leave room for desire, but I blame it on the dearth of the requisite ingredients in this dear town of Waterloo. I also like to dabble in putting together desserts to indulge my sweet tooth and these include bread puddings and homemade ice cream. It's as easy as blending frozen banana coins and some almond butter (you can substitute peanut butter if you wish) to produce an iced treat!
Despite these culinary adventures that I am savoring, I cannot deny the fact that I'm counting down the days till I can eat a home cooked meal by mother dearest - nothing beats the added flavor that a little mummy's TLC can bring!
Happy cooking!!
Of course, it involves a certain amount of planning (I even drew up an Excel sheet!!) to ensure I get a well-balanced meal, three times a day. This was, at first, a daunting task considering that this is the first time I'm living on my own and that I have courses, TA work, cleaning and laundry to take care of! However, I have come to enjoy the process of deciding what to eat and preparing the food itself. I resolved not to succumb to the enticing print of the takeout menu, and instead cook nutritious meals at home. This does mean overcoming some hurdles such as the lack of cooking equipment and ingredients, but that's where the miracle of the Internet comes in - just type 'simple recipes' into Google and you're good to go!
I especially relish the task of being creative with my breakfast; I'm churning out smoothies, fruity crepes and yummy breakfast bowls, though I do occasionally resort to oats when I'm pressed for time. Here's a simple recipe that's packed with flavor - mix an egg, milk, sausages, spinach and cheese in a bowl and microwave on high for 45 seconds, take it out and push the edges in and put it back in for another minute et voila:
The other day, I decided to experiment with shrimp and I can say with some certainty that I was quite successful in satisfying my taste buds. However, when it comes to cooking traditional dishes, I feel my results leave room for desire, but I blame it on the dearth of the requisite ingredients in this dear town of Waterloo. I also like to dabble in putting together desserts to indulge my sweet tooth and these include bread puddings and homemade ice cream. It's as easy as blending frozen banana coins and some almond butter (you can substitute peanut butter if you wish) to produce an iced treat!
Something else I have learnt while in Canada is to be self-sufficient - when it comes to lattes! I can never be sure when the closest coffee shops are open, so I have some supplies on hand that are very handy when I need to make a white chocolate, berry mocha or a mint chocolate latte! Here is one of my recent creations of refreshing minty, chocolatey and coffee goodness:
Happy cooking!!
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