FoodiePages.ca & RachelBies Nutrition Collaboration Announcement!

Happy Bastille Day to my viewers in France (and thanks for your support!) - As a French Canadian girl (1/2), I always like to acknowledge French traditions - be it in a #vivelaFrance or #labelleprovince manner! I'm currently doing a cleansing few weeks (two weddings last week & two more in two weeks) so NO fromage or poutine pour moi!

     Anyways... ANNOUNCEMENT time!

When FoodiePages.ca emailed me to work & partner up for some fun collaborations - I jumped at the opportunity!  

About FoodiePages.ca:

Founder & CEO,  Erin Maynes created FP's to be a great online presence - where you could connect with farmers, markets & wineries and buy directly from Canada's best small-scale & regional producers.  FoodiePages stands for good food - natural, local & delicious (which falls in line PERFECTLY with what RBN's motto is)!

Our first collab is MY most favourite things to do with local people - #recipe development!  

Our first star ingredient is something that all chefs/nutritionists/foodies naturally turn to to add flavour, layers & aroma to our meals.  Nutritionally its part of the allium fam-jam (onions and such) & is great for heart health, blood pressure, improves iron metabolism and is affectionately referred to as "the stinking rose"!

Garlic! Ail! Aglio! Knoflook!

When you roast garlic - the intense flavours disappear and are replaced with sweet and salty tinges!

Nutritional Powerhouses & one of my FAVOURITE go-to ingredients!

My job was to create a recipe highlighting the wonders of garlic! Hmmm. A bit of a new challenge as we naturally lean to it as a supporting character - but with a bit of trial and error, can easily become THE STAR.

 Roasted garlic, sweet potato & white kidney bean hummus!

What you'll need:

 1/2 c soaked & cooked white beans (black & chickpea would work too)

1 large sweet potato

2 heads of garlic

1/2 fresh lemon

2 tsp tahini (nut butter works too)

1/2 c extra virgin olive oil

sea salt & pepper

chili peppers (optional)

2 tsp fresh cilantro

1 tsp cumin

What to do:

Preheat oven to 375. Peel sweet potato & cut into quarters. Cut tops of garlic, place in a foil wrapper with olive oil. Roast for 25-30 minutes until soft and sweet. Potatoes - Toss in olive oil and s & p.  Roast until soft, 45-60 minutes.  Once everything has cooled down, throw all ingredients into food processor/blender/vitamix.  Blend with small increments of evoo until smooth.  Can use a bit of the water used to cook beans too!  Blend until desired texture - I like it so it coats veg/crackers without being too thin.  Season with extra spice or acidity!  Finish with fresh herbs a drizzle of your best olive oil!  Serve with crudites, sweet potato chips, crackers or use as sub on your sandwiches/pizza.  

Heart health, delicious and oh so colourful!!!  Drool worthy, non?

Variations:

1. Boil the sweet potatoes for a less "roasted" flavour.  Sub in your favourite squash or pumpkin.

2. For a fall hummus - add cayenne, ginger & cinnamon as your spices.  Curry would work amazing too.

3.  Finish with some goat cheese or feta for a zing!
4. Smear roasted garlic on crackers/toast with some cheese!
5. Toss in pasta with some roasted veggies & herbs.

Nutritional breakdown: Source of magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium & copper.  Reduces inflammation, protects our heart & chalk full of anti-oxidants!

Add garlic to all your meals, dressings and soups to add an extra dash of nutrients & flavours to your day!

Thanks to FoodiePages.ca and cannot wait to loop you all in on our other upcoming projects!!

Tweet us @rachelbies with your version & pics of this recipe!

Email us for consults, culinary collaborations, meal plans & food deliveries at rachelbiesnutrition.com!

love rbn

xox 

LOCAL LOVE TO FOODIEPAGES!!!

GFW2 ~ The National Women's Show ~ Super Detox Smoothie ~ Giveaway!

Happy Snowy Thursday!

Grey, wet & snowy day - balcony view.

For those of you who know me - either in real life or social media life, this week is our #gfw2 - GlutenFreedomTO Week in Toronto and its going oh so well!  I realize not everyone who read my blog resides in Toronto (or nearby)... BUT if you do -> I really encourage checking out one (or two or three) of our amazing participating restaurants!  Our event ends this Saturday which gives you 3 more eves of gluten-free culinary masterpieces!  Click HERE for details & all things GFWeek2!

For contests & more follow Us on Twitter -> Rachel Bies AND my business partner Rachael Hunt @GlutenFreedomTO


******

Thanks again to The National Women's show for the Media tickets & Giveaways, hope all that attended had a great time.  

My favorites included: 

Walter Caesar (click for details) - An all natural, artisanal & gluten-free Caesar mix made right here in Canada (recipe blog to follow soon)!  Check them out - They just went national!  Yumm. 

Orange Naturals (click for details) - A Canadian line of professional quality, naturopathic health products that are convenient to use and easy to understand.

Luv Lockits etc. (click for details) - Three women started this adorable locket co & I loved so much I bought one!   

Kitchen Mixer.  Eiffel Tower. Dog Bone. Josh & I's Birthstones.

 Be sure to check out The National Women's Show next year again & please tweet your favorites!


*****

Now that GFW2 is up and running, I've been able to make it back into RBN Kitchen for some recipe development & cooking for clients!  After my birthday week, decided after all the dining out & sparkling that it was time to DETOX; which for me is eating with lots of colour, 50% raw & lean proteins!  Morning smoothies and juices (after lemon water) were a priority - this is what I came up with!

 

 Super Duper Detox Smoothie

 

 

Green & Gorgeous!

 What you'll need:

1 thumb ginger, chopped

1/4 lemon, deseeded

1/2 tsp cayenne

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 handful of organic spinach

small bunch of fresh parsley

1 kale leaf, remove stem

1 tbsp organic coconut oil (or flax)

1 pear or apple (ripe is best)

1 tsp chia

1 tsp flax seeds

1 tsp bee pollen

1/4 cup cucumber 

1/4 cup celery

1/4 cup raw cashews (optional)

1/2 banana, ripened

1/2-1 cup water to liquify.

What to do:

After washing and roughly chopping all ingredients, add to bullet, vitamix or blender.  Pulse until desired texture.  Add a little more spice or greens if you're able.  Enjoy.  Makes 2 small or 1 large smoothie! **If too bitter add a touch of maple or honey.  

Will result in:

• brighter eye whites
• increased energy
•  skin & acne reduced/eliminated
• Alkalines your body to help ward off infections & flu's
• optimal health
• weight loss (once you begin eating clean whole food, naturally occurs)
• mood enhancer
• better sleep & more!
•  

 ****

Giveaway time... duh duh duhnnnnn!

Its that time of year again for The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo which is one of my favorite food shows..I think it's because I know the holidays are just around the corner (I've been cooking to holiday classics!)..there is something for everyone tastebuds & insight into whats happening in the industry!  

Up for grabs:  

2 VIP tickets to The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo 

Thursday, November 20th

6pm-10pm

&

2 Sunday Day tickets to The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo

Sunday, November 23rd

12pm-6pm

How to win:

Tweet OR Instagram me why you want to come this year! Super easy.  Contest begins November 14th, 2014 - Ends Wed afternoon 2pm!

Enjoy the wknd everyone and blog again soon xoxo

Me & my partner in crime (far right) at our GFW2 launch party!