Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts

No Dough Pizza


Pizza, to me, is essential in life/considered a food group. In the summertime, my family and I (fine- just my mom) make homemade pizzas every Sunday and it is my favorite part of the summer. Paired with a glass of Merlot or Malbec, that my friends, is my definition of bliss. 

As much as I would love to eat Pizza everyday, I am not one of those girls that can eat whatever she wants and not feel/see the consequences. When I saw all the hype surrounding Cauliflower Pizza, I decided I HAD to try it out!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
-2 heads of cauliflower
-A few dahes of Oregano
-1 few dashes of Parmesan Cheese
-Slices of Cheese ( I used mozzarella) 
-1 cup of Tomato Sauce ( I made fresh tomato sauce!)
-2 Eggs
-1 tablespoon of Quinoa Flour
-2 Tomatoes
-Cut up Chorizio
-1/4 of an Onion
-1 tablespoon of Garlic Powder
-A few dashes of Salt & Pepper
-1 tablespoon of Chia Seeds

*You can use any toppings you want, I just decided on Tomatoes, Cheese and Chorizio

      

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Chop up your cauliflower into small pieces and place it in a blender! I used a magic bullet so had to do little bits at a time. I also added a few drops of water to get things moving. Blend until it is pureed. 
3. Place the pureed cauliflower mixture onto a plate and place paper towels over it to get rid of the excess water from the cauliflower. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART! ( I went through a lot of paper towels!)
4. Let the cauliflower sit with the paper towels over it for about a half hour
5. Discard any left over cauliflower liquid by turning the plate upside down with the paper towel on top of it
6. Move the purree mix into a large bowl, add the eggs, a few dashes of oregano, salt and pepper, garlic powder, some Parmesan  the Quinoa flour and the Chia seeds ( the Chia seeds are necessary but I found that they helped to thicken the dough) 
7. Mix together until it is blended in
8. Spread the “dough” into either 1 large pizza shape or 2 small pizza rounds on a lightly greased (coconut oil) pizza pan 
9. Do not spread the  “dough” too thin as the moisture will cause it the crack. 
10. Put in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Once you see the top turning a bit of a golden colour, you can take it out!
11. Remove the crust from the oven and let it sit for about 10 minutes. 
12. Add all of your favourite toppings! In my case, tomatoes, mozzarella, chorizio!
13. Place the pizzas back into the oven for another 15 minutes! During the last few minutes, change your oven settings to BROIL to make sure the top is thoroughly cooked. 
14. EAT UP!!!!


Wanderlust Love

         Wanderlust, the 4 day travelling yoga festival, was in one word a: dream. 

I was lucky enough to attend the Whistler festival this past weekend ( they hold festivals across the US and Canada) and got to share an amazing experience with hundreds of other yogis. We gathered together in the sacred place that is Whistler and downward dogged our way to a high state of bliss. 

If the festival had a recipe it would have included a cup of nourishing the body, mind and soul through yoga, a spoonful of live music, a dash of amazing farm to table food,  and a sprinkle of  positive community. Whether it was the violinist leading a power flow class, or singing together in Warrior 1, it brought us all together in these moments and created a powerful connection between us all. As a new yoga instructor, I felt very inspired. 

Aside from taking part in some the most rewarding yoga classes (led by some of the best yoga teachers in the country no less), we were encouraged to hike and meditate in the trails that surrounded us. Adding this element to an already magical experience, gave me such a sense of gratitude. I felt thankful for not only this experience, but for life and everything it has to offer. Life is so beautiful when you are able to slow down and re-connect to yourself ( I am fully aware how cheesy this sounds but it is true!) 

One of my favourite classes was led by Kerri Kelly and Suzanne Sterling and took place on a mountain top. I took the gondoloa up early Saturday morning and felt the positivity the minute I laid down my mat. I was literally on higher ground at 3,000 feet! Even though I was hella sore from the day before, I got a new wave of energy once the class had begun. 
The teachers, who also work at the organization Off the Mat, shared a favourite line with us that hit a chord in me and made me get "yoga high" within minutes. She said "Let the beauty you love, be what you do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground" which is a quote from Rumi. They encouraged us to take the gratitude and love we feel during practise off the mat into the world (which ultimately is the basis of their organization- LOVE). 
*most images are my own, 2-3 are from the Wanderlustfestival.com website
All in all, there is literally something for everyone at a festival like this. It is not a granola festival for people who only eat raw food and wear clothes made of hemp (although there is some of that and I totally bought a shirt made of bamboo tree-HA)! My friend who has only dabbled in yoga here and there before this, truly felt the benefits of the practise and is now fully on board to start it regularly. 
The only bad part of the whole experience was realizing they have another festival in Mont Tremblant later this month and another one next year in Hawaii-I seriously started looking up plane tickets! Yikes!
Although I won't be able to go again anytime soon, I know that I will never forget it and I will forsure be going to the next one I can swing!
See you next time Wanderlust and thank you for having me



XOXOXO