Winter is here; Opportunity to refresh.

When you come home on a cold winter night and there's nothing in the fridge, and you're not in the vein to cook; a water based soup is inevitably the best way to go. No oil necessary. Just think about what flavors you want to taste in the soup. I actually made this recently & i wasn't feeling well that night. Mine contains Noodles, shrimps, chicken bits, mushrooms, onions and slices of cabbage for a veggie crunch.

A little winter note

Lately my positive attitude spiraled down or should i say took a full wavy spin; i used to hate winter when i just came to Canada and then i decided to think of all the good things it brings and see how i could make it work for me. That has evolved and improved over time but so far these are my 2 main winter excitements. 

THE SKIN - Your skin is always going to be on lock down, so you might as well prepare it to heal from all the summer exposure while it hibernates. Put on a lot of lotion and skin cream before you roll up the tights and or jeans. While you go about your business, the moisture locks in and your skin softens. (Pedicure's last longer too :p)

WARM DRINKS - I feel like warm drinks soothe my insides and give reassurance, i can't explain it. Drink as many as you can, they'll add liquid to your system and you'll feel full most of the time. (A lot of unnecessary feeding is done during the winter) Also, they'll help your metabolism. More tea, less coffee. :).

Just a collage of pretty things that i consumed recently.(I'll do these more often. I can't blog everything so that's when this is useful). 

The first row: All in honor of my birthday {good friends, good times :) }

The second row: White avenue experiences and {Green tea latte & cupcakes from - me moments}

The last picture: Health Watch Detox blend {i will make a post about that. Made at home}

With love! Stay warm burrrr!

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Short Trip Home & some history

By the way: I LIED ABOUT THE BREAKFAST PROBLEM. I wish i knew how to strike through my old post, haha. Well, the thing is, it's not really working for me. I might get a little more systematic with time and make it work but for now i'm grabbing coffee at work and sometimes a banana. It's not fit at all. I won't quit the quest for the breakfast solution thou. This post is sort of a photo galore of things i didn't make but are typical Cameroonian dishes. In most cases, i don't know the recipes.

Coki Corn: We had some sort of kitchen conversation about what Canadians would call this if they made it and my mom said it's typically 'a corn cake'. It is made the same way Moi Moi (Nigerian bean cake) is made; Usually wrapped in leaves but  aluminium foil will do in this new age. I don't know the recipe. I'll find it and blog it.

Achu: 

Well, this was made at a family friend's house. Achu is a full blown traditional dish from my village. It is served with either the Black soup(above) or the yellow soup(below). I made the below picture a while ago, See Here. The Black soup is made out of crushed cocoyam leaves and is a way healthier option than the yellow soup which is made from red oil. Both soups have the same spices in them (i think ;)). Well, i don't know how to make the black one. I think this is a real example of how ugly healthy things usually look versus the unhealthy things. 

PS: I here that the black soup came about as a result of poverty, when people couldn't afford red oil they came up with the leaves idea. Poverty breads healthy? lol 

S/O to North West Cameroonians! Bisous!

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"The Breakfast Problem"

What it is:  I'm pretty sure everyone has a breakfast problem. Either you have no time for it, you're just not a 'morning person' with breakfast, or you just like a hot drink and nothing else. (Even though we all know breakfast is supposed to be the most important meal of the day; gets the engine rolling)
My guilt: My own problem is, i just don't feel like making or eating breakfast if its not a weekend morning and/or its not for brunch. I want to go hard or go home,

The result: But i realize that once i miss breakfast or take it lightly i end up not eating till 4pm or 5pm and its totally unintentional. Either that or i grub on junk during work breaks, I'm sure everyone has a different version of the breakfast problem.

Solutions: I will be doing posts on solutions to the breakfast problem whenever i find them. So here's the first one:

The Breakfast Problem- Solution 1

If you like Oats, Tune it up 

I'm sure those who don't eat oats are like "click on the mental sign out button fast!!". Oats are a great way to start the day because of their source of fiber, but hey I'm not here to convince you. To each his own. 

This solution is best for people who are always in a rush. Make your oats mix and have it standing on your counter top like your rice and pasta canisters do. 

LE MIX: 

*Think imperishable, 

*Think 'what i like' before 'what is healthy' and 

*Think 'food groups balance'

I will keep updating mine, but so far i have brown sugar, roasted almonds, oats and protein powder 

Up and in a rush all i have to do is add water and some milk and let it cook in my small pan. This may not solve the problem for everyone but it can stir your mind up in the right direction and it saves time.
FEEL FREE TO SEND IN YOUR BREAKFAST SOLUTIONS & I'LL POST'EM

Gros Bisous & pardon the silence. i don't love you any less.

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