Banana Bloom

In Cookies

Vegan Cookie Base Recipe

November 19, 2018 1 Comment

Ever since I came up with this vegan cookie base recipe a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been on a cookie baking craze. I’ve made white chocolate, hazelnut and raisin cookies, triple chocolate cookies, and saffron whoopie pies. All of them using this base recipe! So, here’s how this magical base recipe came to be: as is my standard approach – I started contemplating ingredients for a kind of chocolate chip cookie. I whipped a couple of things together, using what I had on hand, and the result was delicious. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. Just the way a cookie should be! I’m very excited about this recipe, so much so that I’ve struggled to limit my cookie baking to only one (or two) batches a week. I have so many combinations I want to try! Bookmark this recipe, it’ll be your new go to for most…

In Food

Crunchy Caramel Chocolate Slice

September 25, 2018 No Comments

Here’s a post that’s long overdue! This is the recipe for the absolutely delicious no-bake Crunchy Caramel Chocolate Slice that I made for my birthday this year. Since we’re on the topic of my birthday, I guess I should start this off by giving you a little recap of how I spent my day this year. My birthday fell on a Monday this year, so for various reasons including convenience, we celebrated the weekend prior to the actual day. My boyfriend’s parents were visiting so we had a fun weekend of activities planned, ending with a birthday dinner on Sunday evening at a Lebanese spot. Then, on my birthday morning I woke up feeling like a wreck. Sore throat, zero energy and a flu that gradually gained momentum throughout the day. So, I spent 90 percent of the day on the sofa watching whatever half-interesting and/or entertaining series or movie…

In Lunch & Dinner

Vegan Food Prep

August 28, 2018 No Comments

On Sundays I do my vegan food prep. That means I spend a couple of hours busy in the kitchen preparing a couple of different meals for the week so that I have food prepared for lunches and dinners. It saves me so much time and is a real stress relief too! I always have a meal or food prepared so I don’t have to cook when I’m tired after a long day of work. Back when I first started working, and hadn’t properly learned how to adult yet (lol, still don’t know how to adult), I would buy lunch every day at work. Then one day I sat down and added it all up to see how much money I was actually spending each week (and month) by buying lunches. Whoops! It was a lot more than I had imagined. Seeing how much money I could save by making…

In Drinks & Smoothies

Golden Mylk Latte Recipe

August 24, 2018 No Comments

I’m going to be completely honest with you. I’ve had Golden Mylk Latte at cafés many times, but I was hella sceptic to try making it myself. Golden Mylk is a warm yellow drink with turmeric in it, but turmeric in itself doesn’t smell great. It has a very earthy and slightly bitter smell to it, so while making this Golden Mylk Latte Recipe, the smell of the spice mix made me think this was going to be one for the experimental failure books. But, not one to give up on one of my recipe developments, I finished making it and – with slight hesitation – took a sip and realised, it tastes amazing! Total hit and just as good as the Golden Mylk Lattes (or Turmeric Lattes) I’ve had at my favorite cafés. I typically use oat milk as my milk option, but you could use any base for this…

In Lunch & Dinner

Crispy Tofu Recipe

August 21, 2018 No Comments

I’ll usually spend a portion of my Sunday preparing food for the week. I like to make things that are quick, easy and make enough for several portions – and that are nutritious too. A recent favorite is this crispy tofu recipe of mine which can be added to salads, served with a side of rice and a nice sauce, or even topped on soups or stews. When I do my food prep on the weekends, I try to make sure I make enough to cover lunch boxes for the week and leftovers for quick dinners so that I don’t have to cook when I get home from work. It means I end up eating a lot of the same things during a week, but I like it that way. It’s super convenient and saves me so much time and energy after a long day of work. I absolutely love smoked…

In Lifestyle

What My Inner Critic Says

August 17, 2018 No Comments

I recently listened to Yoga Girl’s (Rachel Brathen) podcast From The Heart and the episode about our inner critic. In the two part episode, Rachel sits down with her 52 yoga teacher trainees and asks them what the voice of their inner critic says, and what their inner best friend says to counter that critical voice inside. Inspired by the podcast, I wanted to share with you what my inner critic says. Eating Disorders and The Inner Critic When I shared my eating disorder story, I introduced you to some of the thoughts that circle in my mind. Battling an eating disorder includes having a very mean and very loud voice going at you non-stop. I can tell you first hand that there is never a time when the voice of the inner critic is so strong and loud as when you’re wrapped up in an eating disorder. Working on my…

In Breakfast & Brunch

How to Make Overnight Oats

August 14, 2018 No Comments

If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely got your morning routine down to a T. Or maybe you’re the opposite – so far removed from a morning person that you snooze fifteen times before reluctantly dragging yourself out of bed. Whichever you are, I promise you your morning self will than you if you prepared breakfast the night before. Here’s how to make overnight oats that’ll be ready and waiting for you in the fridge when you wake up. First, a moment of honesty: I never used to be an overnight oats kind of girl. No matter the temperature, I preferred my oats warm. But, then the heat wave of this summer hit and I decided I had to give chilled oats another chance, and just like that, overnight oats became my go-to and saving grace during the summer of 2018. What’s so great about overnight oats? I’m sure this…

In Drinks & Smoothies

Iced Matcha Latte Shake

August 10, 2018 No Comments

When the heat is as oppressive as it has been in most parts of the world this summer, hot drinks just won’t fly. Believe me, I love my coffee but have honestly struggled to finish a single cup of coffee most days this past month. All I want is chilled drinks to combat the sweat perpetually sliding down my back. Which is how I came about whipping together this iced matcha latte shake. Matcha powder is green and made of ground up green tea leaves. It’s got a lot of caffeine in it (as green tea naturally does), so you’ll get the boost you crave from it. Matcha, or green tea, also has a lot of antioxidants in. And let’s be real, people go cray for those antioxidants these days. Whether or not you’re sweating it out this summer like me, throw together one of these iced matcha latte shakes…

In Lifestyle

Where to Find Beautiful Ceramics

August 7, 2018 No Comments

I am a sucker for beautiful ceramics. I can always find a mug I love, and don’t even get me started on tiny plates and bowls. So cute! Of course, running this blog and the baking and food styling that comes with it increases my lure to ceramic homeware. My foodie creations and photos just wouldn’t be as beautiful without them! So, as a fan of supporting small businesses and creativity, here’s my guide of Where to Find Beautiful Ceramics. My plates, bowls, and mugs are purchased a little bit all over the place. I often find beautiful homeware during my travels. Most recently, I a pretty ceramic tumbler at the Japanese Garden during our visit to Portland. I’ve also got really good at keeping my plants alive (I used to be the worst plant mama, always killing them by watering them either too much or too little), which has…