Lemon-Ginger Labourade

Here is my recipe for a large jar of Lemon-Ginger Labourade, the quintessential chilled beverage for any mom who knows that a) birth is a marathon that needs fuel and b) lemon and ginger taste great!

1/2 tsp magnesium powder - I used a sweet, flavoured powder called Natural Calm, you could also open up a magnesium supplement capsule 
1 pinch sea salt
1 pinch baking soda
2 T honey
1 ginger tea bag, or 1 inch fresh ginger root
1 litre coconut water
1/4 cup lemon juice

Dissolve magnesium powder in 1 T water that has just boiled. Add sea salt, baking soda, honey, 1 additional cup of boiled water and ginger and stir to combine.
After 5 minutes remove the tea bag or fresh ginger. For added ginger flavour you can add a pinch of powdered ginger.
Pour in coconut water and lemon juice and chill until ready to use.
 

Amy's "Amaretto Sour"

It was at a Red Lobster probably six years ago that I heard my friend, Brittanie, order an amaretto sour.

It was delicious. Perhaps the first time I'd ever really enjoyed an alcoholic beverage. The unreal mix of amaretto's sweet buttery almond-cherry flavour cut with the acidic punch of lemon. Heaven.

For several years now I've been making a total unauthentic version of this drink based on things I actually keep in the house: butterscotch liqueur, fresh lemon juice and almond extract.

But then...

Recently I realized that J.R. Watkins isn't just * the best natural beauty brand ever * they actually make many other products. From laundry detergent to bug spray to bathroom cleaners to gravy mix, they have it all. And it's totally natural. I love it! Where am I going with this?

I was able to get my hands on J.R. Watkins' line of 100% natural extracts for cooking, baking, etc. (Full disclosure: I did not have to pay for them, in exchange for writing a completely honest review.) The almond extract took one look at me and said: Make me into an amaretto sour. So I did.

Here is my recipe, perfectly by my new addition of J.R. Watkins' 100% natural Pure Almond Extract (which tastes like everything that is good in the world). Keep checking back as I post new recipes using this line. (Spoiler alert - lemon and vanilla are coming up!)

Amy's "Amaretto Sour"
1 part butterscotch liqueur (I use Butter Shots)
1 part fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 part filtered water
1 drop of J.R. Watkins Pure Almond Extract
ice cubes
lemon slices

Combine and shake to mix.

Favourite Recipes

I was just dusting off our collection of holiday recipe books and magazines and had a looksy through my recipe book which was started by my mom, that I now add to.

Here are some of my top favouite go-to recipes that I've made a million times. They aren't necessarily healthy!

Freezer Cookies - Calvin's Favourite

I always have a minimum of 12 of these in the freezer at any given time.

Boil: 1/2 cup butter or coconut oil, 2 cups raw sugar, 1/2 cup milk & 4 T cocoa powder, for one minute. Add 1/2 cup peanut butter, 3 cups oats and 2 tsp vanilla. Drop on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once frozen you can keep them in a container.

Small batch of Lemon Curd

I use this on ice cream, in yogurt parfaits, on pancakes, and in tarts.

In a double boiler, whisk 1 egg, 4 T sugar and 2 T lemon juice until thick, then add 1 T butter and a pinch of salt.

Orange-glazed Tempeh

We figured this one out at a health food store I worked at and now I'm obsessed.

Fry 2 packages of tempeh, cubed. Mix together 1 c orange juice,  1 T grated ginger, 2 tsp soy sauce, 1 1/2 tsp mirin, 2 tsp maple syrup, 1/2 tsp ground coriander and 2 cloves minced garlic. Pour the sauce in the warm pan and let thicken. Add fresh cilantro and lime juice.

Polenta Pie

Another health food store winner.

Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix 1 1/2 cups water, 1 1/2 cups milk and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and add 1 c cornmeal. Simmer for 8 minutes. Mix in 1/4 c parmesean and 1 T butter. Press half into a greased 8 x 8 pan. Mix the other half with 1 c ricotta or feta, 1/2 c chopped spinach, 1/4 c chopped bell pepper, 1 juiced and zested lemon, 1 T dill and 1 egg. Press on top. Bake 12 minutes.

Jody's Secret Apple Crisp

A family recipe. The secret is no oats and a long cooking time.

Preheat oven to 350. Peel and dice a 5 lb bag of apples (Macs). Fill a deep dish with the apples - make sure it has a lid. Top the apples with a mix of 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Press on top. Sprinkle heavily with allspice. Lid it and bake for an hour. Then bake uncovered for another 15 minutes.

Best, best, best Salad Dressing

4 T tahini
2 T oil
1 T soy sauce
1 T lemon juice
1/4 tsp garlic salt
Fresh chopped cilantro