So far so good!

Hi Everyone - hope you're all doing okay. It was a beautiful day today. That could have something to do with the Canucks evening up their playoff series with the LA Kings. Last night's game was a little tense to say the least. But in the end the Canucks managed to kill off a couple of penalties and the twins were able to do what the twins do best - score. I'm now anxiously awaiting game number five on Friday night. Back on home soil and back in our winning building. I have my toes crossed that the boys can pull off a win. But that will have to wait until tomorrow.

So today was pretty much spent looking for a new job. It's been a little tough as of late. There just isn't a whole lot out there for a gal with a writing background and some advertising experience. I've applied for a few and I'm deeply hoping for a few more postings to pop up in the next few days. In the meantime I've been doing a hell of a lot of walking. Today I spent about two hours trolling around. It's amazing to see all the cherry blossoms falling from the trees. The ground is alive with the colour pink! It's quite incredible to just stop and watch the blossoms fall to the ground. So peaceful and so beautiful. I found a wonderful new park where I could probably do a lap or two if I finally get out there and do some jogging. The walking has been easy but jogging not so much. I find myself wanting to go on long treks rather than short speedy bursts. Perhaps I need to balance both in the coming weeks.

I've also been doing some experimenting in the kitchen. We've got this uber awesome new KitchenAid 12 cup food processor and I've been having fun getting to know its uses. Today I made a lovely zucchini hummus. No chick peas required. It's smooth, rich and not at all heavy like a chickpea version. It's a favorite in my raw arsenal of recipes. After all - raw food is living food and good for the soul. Here's the recipe if you want to make it yourself. Zucchini can be a little bit watery so I've also added a tsp of xanthan gum to my recipe to reduce water separation. You can get xanthan gum at any health food store. If you want to learn more about this crazy food binder click here.

Zucchini Hummus

2 medium sized zucchinis peeled and cut into chunks
juice of one lemon
1/4 cup of raw tahini
1/4 cup of olive oil and a splash of flax oil (optional but I like the taste)
1 tsp of ground cumin seeds
1 big clove or 2 small cloves of garlic
1 tsp of xanthan gum (optional - helps prevent separation)
1 tsp of salt and a dash of pepper
small bunch of dill or parsley (optional)

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

So simple and so tasty. I like to serve this with my raw falafel balls. Hmm, maybe I'll post that recipe soon as well.

Happy Earth Day everyone. Remember to get out there and appreciate the beautiful planet we live on.

I always love this time of year. The sun is staying out longer, it's getting warmer and of course, it's hockey playoffs. Yes the Canucks are in the playoffs again this year and yes, they have just as many opportunities as any other team to go all the way to the finals. I feel somewhat optimistic this year. And why not? The team has consistent scoring with the first line of Henrik and Daniel Sedin as well as Alex Burrows rippin' it up. Then there's Kesler, Samuelson and Raymond. Not to mention Wellwood chipping in when needed. And how about the Canucks defense? Bieksa is returning to form after the lacerated calf muscle. Salo will be ready for the playoffs and Erhoff has been unbelievable this year. The one question mark is consistency. Without Willie Mitchell in the lineup, the defence will have to all play shut down from time to time. I'll have to wait until the series against the kings really starts to truly gauge how this team will play. But I have high hopes for them. Here's hoping they don't let me down.
I always feel that this time of year is for renewal as well. The trees and foliage is coming alive. So why not us humans? This time of year is great for restarting the old batteries and jump starting all those projects that have perhaps lay dormant over the winter. For me that means writing more and embarking on getting in shape both in body and mind. I hope that a few of you out there feel the same and might want to join me on my journey. It only takes a few minutes a day to feel a sense of renewal and growth. Here's what I want you to do. Before you head to bed tonight I want you to write down one thing you want to accomplish tomorrow. I can be something as simple as walk 1000 steps. Or as complicated as learn how to make a rack of lamb. Whatever it is, write it down. Then close your eyes. Think about that one task or one thing you want to accomplish. Visualize yourself doing that task. But most of all, visualize yourself finishing that task. Then when you wake up tomorrow I want you to look at that piece of paper. Take it with you and think about it throughout the day. But most importantly, finish that task! And when you've finish that task, write down another task for the next day. My task for today was writing this blog entry. Mission accomplished.