After a very relaxing holiday season I jumped right back into the swing of things to start the New Year including trying out a ton of new recipes from my fellow blogger friends from my Nourishing Recipes for the New Year round-up.

BUT, before I get to 2018, let’s swing back to the end of 2017 just for a minute because we took one unbelievable trip to Sweden!

We spent a few days in Stockholm which was fully decked out for the holidays and as someone who LOVES the holiday season, I was in heaven!

Everywhere was lit beautifully with lights and one of my favourite parts was going to the Christmas market in Gamla Stan where we drank traditional Swedish glogg which is their version of a mulled wine.

After many wonderful dinners in Stockholm we headed north to Skelleftea where we visited my brother; enjoyed many more delicious meals with my brother and his girlfriend; went on a winter hike; watched a hockey game; and, fully enjoyed the swedish tradition of fika, a break with a coffee and a little treat.

I am now obsessed with the swedish lifestyle of ‘lagom,’ which loosely translates to ‘finding spaces, moments, and ways of living that are not too much or not too little.’ And it just so happens a very good friend of mine gifted me this lovely book over the holidays all about this way of living.

I decided to bring this Swedish idea of a balanced way of living into 2018, always remembering ‘not too little, not too much, just the right amount’ in everything that I do.

I recently wrote an article and recipe for an upcoming issue of The Supper Club magazine entitled ‘Thoughtful Cooking for the New Year,’ where I reflect on these exact themes. I look forward to sharing the recipe with you later this year!

A couple of other favourite recipes from this month…

This Crispy Fried Egg Power Breakfast from The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook

My Tropical Blood Orange Smoothie (can’t get enough of citrus season!)

This Thai Chicken Zoodle Soup from How Sweet Eats

These Banana Bread Muffin Tops from Oh She Glows are the perfect grab n’ go snack too!

A Spicy Sausage & Kale Lasagna from How Sweet Eats

And, since we did not get out to the cabin during the holidays we took a quick little trip out for a weekend and enjoyed reading by the fire and cooking a couple of delicious dinners.

We tried a new pizza flavour combination, Spicy Kale & Ricotta, that is now one of my go-to pizzas!

Last but not least, I am VERY excited because my team (New England Patriots) is in the Super Bowl again! While I love watching the game I also thoroughly enjoy all of the snacks and you can check out a wicked round-up of 45 Super Bowl Snacks from fellow Canadian food bloggers (which also includes my Kettle Chip BBQ Chicken Nachos).

I’m feeling really good about the start of 2018, anyone else feel this way?  I have so many recipes I can’t wait to share with you this year as well as more entertaining-at-home themed blog posts and many more foodie travel adventures! If you have any suggestions or requests for the blog this year I’d love to hear them so please do leave a comment below 🙂

Let’s do this 2018!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post What’s In Season – January Favourites appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

So, I’ve enlisted a couple of my blogging friends to put together a round-up of our favourite dishes that are sure to add flavour to your weekly meal plans.

From soups and stews, to salads and wraps plus some nutrient-dense snacks, there are dishes to suit everyone’s tastebuds!

And, you can also find a variety of dishes for certain dietary needs such as gluten-free and vegetarian. I can’t wait to tuck-in with some of these dishes in the upcoming weeks and I hope you will enjoy them too!

Nourishing Recipes for the New Year:

Breakfast

Sweet Potato and Bean Burrito with Plantains from What She Ate

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats from Kitchen, Uncorked

Raspberry Gingerbread Smoothie from Food Meanderings

Pear Cardamon Granola with Pecans from Making Healthy Choices

Snacks

Maple Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins from Eyecandypopper

Sweet Potato Lentil Hummus plus A Vegan Mezze from Occasionally Eggs

Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Muffins from Cathy’s Gluten Free

Salads & Bowls

New Year Detox Salad with Pink Tahini Dressing from Justine Celina

Thai Buddha Bowl with Tofu & Peanut Sauce from What She Ate

Garlicky Peanut Soba Noodles with Roasted Broccoli from My Kitchen Love

Cauliflower Rice from The Athlete’s Palate

Shawarma Spiced Meatballs by From Pasta to Paleo

Cauliflower Alfredo with Peas from My Kitchen Love

Soups & Stews

Ribbolita Soup with Homemade Herbed Croutons (Vegan) from Eyecandypopper

Zucchini Noodle Curry Coconut Soup with Grilled Tofu from Girl Heart Food

Moroccan Lentil Stew from Kitchen, Uncorked

Smoky Chorizo, Kale and Squash Soup by From Pasta to Paleo

French Onion Soup from The Primal Desire

One Pot Meals

Veggie Korma from Girl Heart Food

Vegan Pumpkin Curry from Cilantro & Citronella

White Bean and Kale Vegan Pot Pie from The Stingy Vegan

Winter Black Bean and Pumpkin Chili from Occasionally Eggs

One Pot Stuffed Pepper Dinner from Jo and Sue

Curried Chicken Croquettes from Clockwatching Tart

There are so many wonderful delicious recipes to try, I think I’ve got my meal-plan ready for the next couple of weeks!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Nourishing Recipes for the New Year appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

I’m so excited about this one because I absolutely LOVE cherries.  In the Winter when there isn’t as much choice at the market, using frozen cherries in smoothies does the trick.

So here I have for you the Cherry Power Smoothie…filled with ingredients to get your day started right or power you up mid-afternoon.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Equipment Needs: blender

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen (dark & sweet) cherries
1/2 of a banana, frozen or fresh
1 cups coconut water
1 tbsp chia seed
1 tbsp agave nectar or honey
Optional: 1/2 scoop of your favourite protein (my personal favourite is Vega)

Pour all of the ingredients in a blender, blend & enjoy!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Cherry Power Smoothie appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

This is one of four smoothies I’ve created for you this month as we get back in gear and start fresh for the new year!   This smoothie can be enjoyed for breakfast or even a mid-day snack.  Sometimes I will make it ahead of time, store in a mason jar in the fridge and drink it later in the day before or after a workout.  I have also been known to drink these for lunch when I’m ‘on the run.’

Enjoy it as you see fit!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Equipment Needs: blender

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen mango
1 cup spinach
1.5 cups coconut water
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
2 tbsp shredded coconut
Optional: 1/2 scoop of your favourite protein (my personal favourite is Vega)

Pour all of the ingredients in a blender, blend & enjoy!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

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