Jan 21 2012

Late Night Snack Vlog – Hot Chickpeas

I had a huge urge to eat the bag of chips sitting in my pantry that a friend left here. They’re all-dressed Ruffles chips. I was really, really close to opening the bag… But I don’t want to put those in my body! I’m pretty good with resisting the majority of these junk foods, mind you I do slip up a few times… Tonight, I promised myself I wouldn’t give in [again]… So I decided to make something else that was spicy and crunchy! I also threw together a little something else for dinner this evening/lunch tomorrow! Click play to check it out! Enjoy! :)

Post-video posting thought: hmm… What a strange still of the video that shows up on the preview! Makes me look like the old lady on the episode of The Simpsons where Lisa gets lost on her way to the museum… The lady I’m talking about, she’s the one trying to get Lisa to buy an octopus or squid or something… Then she pushes it up against the window of a phone booth and says ”You buy it! You buy it!”… Ugh…

I also seem to talk with an upward inflection. Maybe it’s because I get nervous in front of a camera? <–That’s me mocking my upward inflections… ha… ha… ha…

Click below to see the written version of the recipe/method!

Continue reading →

Jan 20 2012

Late Night Snack Vlog – Easy Apple “Crumble”

Here’s a random vlog! I was hungry, and didn’t know what to make… So put together an apple “crumble”. It’s not quite a crumble in the traditional sense, but my goodness is it ever tasty! This video is MUCH shorter than my last one, and I go through the few ingredients of this tasty little dish slow enough for you to write it down if you need to, so I’m going to keep this a text-light entry! Here’s you go, enjoy! :)

Here’s the link to my original apple crumble recipe!

Here’s some pictures!

In the oven!

In the oven!

 

Mmmmmmm! :)

Mmmmmmm! :)

Jan 13 2012

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Balls

Here’s a quick and simple sweet fix for people seeking out some energy and protein before or after their workout session! As I was making them, I couldn’t help but eat a few because they were so tasty! I’ve used peanut butter this time around, but have made them in the past with almond butter, sunflower seed butter (not my favourite…), and a mixture of walnut and peanut butter. These are calorie dense because of the peanut butter, though you probably won’t be too hungry after eating a batch of these. Here’s the recipe, enjoy! :)

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Balls

Ingredients:

  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1/4 cup quick cooking rolled oats
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp carob chips
  • 3 tbsp natural peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice)
  • 2 tbsp honey

Method:

  • Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with your hands, and roll the dough out into little balls.
  • Place in a plastic baggie, and pop them in the fridge.
  • Let them harden for at least an hour. You can eat them right away if you like, but they taste better after being in the fridge for a bit.
An army of protein balls!

An army of protein balls!

Jan 6 2012

Review – Kensingtons Espresso Bar in Kensington Market

On a random urge to wander around the Kensington Market area, I saw this place called “Kensingtons Espresso Bar” and decided to try it because it had the word “espresso” in the name. I’m a coffee fanatic, and this place claims to have the best coffee in the city. Hmm, I’d have to say that’s not true… It’s good coffee, but far from the best…

So click below to check out my review!

Continue reading →

Jan 5 2012

Happy New Year!

Dear People Reading This,

I can’t believe it’s 2012 already!

Without going into detail, I’ve gotta say that 2011 was a year filled with good and bad. There were definitely memories made, tears shed, and laughs had. It was a year where I learned a lot about life, and about myself. As I’m sure many people did!
Here’s to hoping that 2012 is filled with good things for everyone! *raises glass*

Now that I’m settling into my new place, I’ll be posting entries a little more often! I don’t make resolutions for the new year, but if I DID make one, it would be to post more in this blog. Now that I’m back in Toronto, I’ll be wandering around the GTA a little more, posting more reviews, and letting all of you out there know about some hot little foodie gems hiding around this wonderful city. This new year feels like a fresh, new start. So in honour of that, I will also be making a few changes to the layout and feel of this blog! Check back soon to see! :)

For now, that’s all. I have a lot of spring cleaning to do… Wait, no. That doesn’t sound right… Winter cleaning? Hmm… I don’t know. Just cleaning. ;) Then I’m going to head out to a few of my favourite spots in the downtown core! So until my next post, enjoy your day! :)

Love, Nikki

Dec 16 2011

Starbucks Christmas Blend 2011 Review & A Frothy Treat

So I decided to put together my SUPER EASY eggnog latte along with a review for the Starbucks 2011 Christmas Blend, and here’s what I got: A video. Yay! :) I also talk about using a stove-top espresso maker… I make a mistake describing how to use it (at 3:30, oops! :P ), but I correct it… ;) I also talk a lot… But hey, if you read this blog, you should be used to how much I ramble about things by now!

The video was filmed and edited on an iPad 2 and the iMovie App! Such an awesome application, and so easy to use!

Dec 15 2011

Pre-Coffee Review Babbling

It’s that time again! Late at night, and I can’t sleep just yet… Thinking about doing a review for some Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee, and as usual, I just have to write/talk about what I’m thinking! Here’s some random babbling about tomorrow’s (er…Today’s…) pending coffee review! Now I just have to decide if I want to use the french press, stove top espresso maker, or a simple cup of coffee…

Dec 1 2011

Smart Water Rant

Okay, here’s the thing… I do drink bottled water, even though I know I shouldn’t. I know I should get one of those re-usable bottles and actually use it. But when I’m not at home, I end up buying these. The one thing that amazes me is when companies try to pass off their bottled water as if it’s something amazing. It’s WATER. In a bottle. It’s nothing special. And in light of the fact that I haven’t had much sleep, and needed to take a break from studying, here’s a video to accompany my written rant. :D

Dec 1 2011

Update Time! And… Video?

SO, life is CRAZY sometimes! I won’t even go into what’s been going on, but I will say this: life is fluid!

In about a week, I will be moved into my new apartment, which means I will have my own kitchen again. Which ALSO means that I will be back to posting yummy things in this little blog! :)

I’ve had a few readers suggest to me that I try video blogging. Now, I don’t really like being on video because, well… I’m awkward. Especially on camera. And I make mistakes when I cook. A lot. I’m also very new to editing videos… So things will be choppy for a while… But I’m going to try it! I’ll still post recipes, and pictures. But now, instead of having a whole paragraph of yapping away about some random story, you can click the play button and hear me tell the story instead. ;) And maybe even watch the recipe take shape from start to tasty finish so that you can see how my things turn out!

I’m actually pretty excited about this. So for those of you who have been reading for a while, and those of you who are new to the page, welcome to the introduction of my “video blog” (for lack of a better name). ;)

PS: Be nice, I’m still new to this… ;) There’s two videos because I haven’t figured out how to edit them together yet. Be patient. ;) And excuse the horrible camera quality. There will be something better once I start actually posting recipes! :)

Nov 16 2011

It’s been a while…

…but I haven’t forgetten about this blog! Things have been hectic with school and moving (and soon to be moving again)… I’ll be back and posting recipes and reviews soon!

-Nikki