Making Love In The Kitchen

Tell Me Have You Seen Her?

January 5, 2010 by Meghan Telpner

She is up and running! Oh the excitement!!! I am talking about my brand shiny new website. She is interactive, she moves, she is in full colour, she has fancy little links to Facebook and Twitter and she will make you want to put on your apron and get in the kitchen. Pretty much the only thing she can’t do is cook the meal!

The site was designed by the amazingly talented, astonishingly patient and healthy life leading (maybe that explains the patience?), Marie Poulin.

I am pretty sure by now youare getting sick of how I must have swallowed a therapeutic dose of lucky horseshoes but Marie is the perfect example of how things happen just when they should. In amongst the absolute insanity that was the sampling portion of my cooking demo at the Veg Food Fair (remember the one where people rushed the stage at the end and were eating fork fulls of raw falafel batter?). In amongst the fork swinging, were two cutie patooties who signed up then and there for my Healthy Meal Prep Workshop, running the very next day.

Marie sent me an email to confirm the next day’s workshop, and I looked at her website, cause that’s what nerds and overly curious (some might call nosy) people like me do. I saw that she was a designer. After my workshop, I told her I needed a new website and the rest, as they was true love. The greatest challenge for me was letting go of the site. I had never had anyone do anything like this for me before and with a background in design and little disability I like to call “control-freak perfectionism”, this was a very good practice for me.

The best part of it all was when I received a random Facebook message from Marie’s boyfriend, thanking me for teaching his girlfriend to cook. After a couple months, a move across the country (her, not me), a crashed computer (hers, not mine), she successfully saved me from the beast that was my previous, home-made website to produce this digital work of bright, beautiful, clean, simple, practical digital goodness.

This blog of course, will soon follow with a brand new outfit, and a much easier way to find all the recipes and for you to share my endless wisdom with every single person you have ever met in your whole life.

Now, talent like Marie’s doesn’t grow on trees. I imagine, because of the way I brag about the things I love, she will soon have a wait-list for work. Let me tell you, the wait will be worth every second. Haven’t you heard? The best things come to those who wait. Josh taught me that rule.

Go on, poke around on the new site, sign up for a class or workshop and we’ll get to play in the kitchen real soon!

Posted in Event | Leave a Comment »

Adventures In Lemon Grass

January 5, 2010 by Meghan Telpner

Check out the Greens+ Giveaway going on this week

Since I can’t be eating much chewable food at the moment as I slide into day 3 of the Green Smoothie Cleanse (gets easier every time!), I can dream about the goodness I cooked up last week- this soup being one of those holiday week adventures.

In the vision I have of my life, I like to see my days being spent wandering through the shops of China Town and Little India collecting the most bizarre ingredients I can find and coming home, researching them, and then making something with them. Of course, that is not how things really work on a day-to-day as my grocery shopping usually involves hopping on my bike and riding over to the local organic grocer and getting whatever they have. When a rare ingredient makes its’ appearance on their shelves, I am all over it like chocolate on a fig. Last week, my organic grocer fairy dropped lemon grass stalks into my basket.

Why was I so excited about this market find? Because lemon grass is pretty much the perfect doom and gloom cold winter herb. The healing properties of this ever so humble grass include analgesic (pain killer), anti depressant, anti microbial, anti pyretic, anti septic, astringent, anti-bacterial, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge (reduces fever), fungicidal, galactogogue (who needs breast milk?), insecticidal, nervine, and sedative. Yep- I am swinging from the rafters now.

If that isn’t a remedy for post holidays, I don’t know what is. Of course, if you are really after this herb to heal your woes, I would suggest the essential oil form.

As for my soup, which was adapted from about 63 different recipes, what I came up with was this delectable concoction- perfect for 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating and 5 Days Vegan (that fun starts tomorrow- not too late to play along). I know this recipe has a longer ingredient list than normal but that’s what happens when you combine 63 recipes. Just do the best you can!

LemonGrassy Soup

2 stalks lemongrass, de-buldbed, outer layer peeled, bruised a bit and sliced into 3 inch pieces (more detailed directions here).
6 cups water
1/4 cup ginger, cut into match stick slices
1/2 cup broccoli, chopped into florets including stems
1 cup Brussels Sprouts (though any kind of cabbage will do fine)
4 carrots, sliced
3 stalks of celery, sliced
4-5 shallots, chopped fine
1/4 cup tamari (or soya sauce)
2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 can organic coconut milk
1/4 cup dried shitake mushrooms (optional)
1/4 cup arame seaweed

sea salt to taste
1 Tbs miso paste/ serving (optional)
Rice or soba noodles (optional)

In a pot combine water, lemon grass, carrots, ginger, celery, shallots and lemon juice
Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 20 minutes, and wow will your home smell good
Add in coconut milk, broccoli, cabbage, tamari and arame, and mushrooms and simmer for another 5-10 minutes until broccoli is soft but not mushy.
Remove fibrous lemon grass stalks (or pick ‘em out as you eat)
Add sea salt to taste
Just before serving, whisk miso with small amount of soup broth in a bowl until miso dissolved. Add noodles if desires, fill bowl with soup. Enjoy!

Posted in Recipe, Soup, Uncategorized | 13 Comments »

The Ingedients of Ingredients

January 4, 2010 by Meghan Telpner

(If you haven’t yet, check out the Greens+ Giveaway going on this week)

Gotta love a ‘food’ product with an ingredient label that includes such delicacies as Powdered Fat, Milk Derivatives, Silicon and Whole Egg Powder. Can I have seconds of that please?

For those of you playing along with me for the week that includes 3 Days of Green Smoothies and 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating or 5 Days Vegan (or both!) what you may find kind of coolio about these programs and the other recipes I share with you is that my ingredient lists on recipes don’t have ingredient lists of their own. Have I lost you?

Thousand Island Salad Dressing. Let’s start there. This was my all time fave salad dressing as a kid. Horror of horrors were encountered when I learned that this beloved pink and creamy dressing was made from ketchup, mayonnaise and relish. Grossitating! The point of this example is that every ingredient listed in this recipe has a lengthy ingredient list of its own. The tricky bit is that, by law, packaged foods must have ingredient labels but there is no requirement to list the ingredients of ingredients.

What I would like to know, for example, is what is the ingredient list of powdered fat, referring to the above label. Or those dip recipes that list fish sauce as an ingredient. What is fish sauce? Is it possible that foods that list ‘flour’ may have a little farm waste like bone meal mixed in?

Now I am not telling you to go and throw out all your packaged foods with mysterious ingredients that you will surely now start looking out for. All I am saying is that when you are looking at recipes and looking at foods, keep it simple. Let the ingredient list not require footnotes an appendix or a dictionary.

Curious about what that product was? Alright kiddies! It’s an ‘American Style’ pancake breakfast! (Found this in an Irish supermarket). If you are looking for the real deal pancake, how about these Banana Pancakes? If you want powdered fat, you’ll have to add it yourself.

The next group program kicks off on January 3rd, 2010. We will be starting with a 3-day Green Smoothie Cleanse followed by a program of your choosing, either 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating or 5 Days Vegan- whatever works best for you, works best for me. From now until January 5th, purchase any two e-guides to health or other available products (including The Healthy Cookie: Unbaked), apply the discount code ‘freshstart2010‘ at the checkout and save 20% on your purchase. Let’s get healthy together ’cause yaaaaay this is fun!

Posted in Wellbeing | 22 Comments »

Event: Health and Wealth, A Resolution Solution

January 3, 2010 by Meghan Telpner

Despite my resolution to not resolute this new year, one of the things I have decided to leave in 2009 is my complete disorganization when it comes to my finances. I kind of feel like keeping the funds in check is as important as keeping the health in check. Though we definitely can’t buy health, it is a major stress reducer to know that my finances are in order and the order I am referring to is the one that will make sure that when the time comes, my beach house and coconut tree will be well within my means.

With that in mind, I am sharing this invite with you.

This event has been roughly 26 years in the making. Macy and I met in Kindergarten and we are now over the moon excited to be presenting our passions together in a manner where they can absolutely compliment each other. We work in our respective fields for the shared purpose of helping you live the best life ever. Health and money are two of the greatest stressors we encounter but together, Macy and I will help you to bring awareness to both of these and make them both so much easier to navigate and thrive.

Through simple and applicable skills, tips and tricks we’ll inspire you to bring awareness to both your spending habits and eating habits.

The event details are below the above image outlines what will be shared in this fun-filled, complimentary event. I encourage you to come, and to pass the invite along to those you believe could truly benefit from the information we will be sharing. Space is very limited, so I encourage you to RSVP with integrity (say yes, only if you mean it!).

Health and Wealth: A Resolution Solution
January 6th, 2010 7:30- 9:00 pm
181 Bay Street, Suite 2200 (see map)
Brookfield Place – Bay Wellington Tower, Toronto
Cost: Complimentary

Please RSVP to Macy (macy.scharfstein@rbc.com) or post your RSVP here. (Please don’t email me, my email is down right now). Space is limited and this event is just about full. For more information on Macy Scharfstein, the greatest advisor there ever was, please visit her website.

Posted in Event, Wellbeing | 2 Comments »

Fresh Start: Cleansing and Feasting

January 1, 2010 by Meghan Telpner

Here we are! Two Thousand and Ten. Y2K10 if you will.

What does the new year bring? Often resolutions but I say resolutions smesholutions. All this talk about goals and aspirations and here I am thinking, but why? There is nothing wrong with us as we are? Yes, jeans might be tighter than we would like and I might be leading a retreat in St. Lucia next week with a few more jiggles to my wiggle than I think might be ideal, but when it all comes down to it, there is nothing and never has been anything wrong with how we are right now. I think resolutions set us up to want to fix stuff, making it seem rather obvious that we don’t think we are fine as we are and wow is that a viscous thought pattern to start swirling around with. So I have two things to say about that.

1. I am not making resolutions but instead have decided to leave a few things back in 2009. Things that did not serve me for the best. Some of the things I dropped off include a few habits, a few people, a few foods, a few late nights and a few thoughts and ideas. Dropping off the old will make room for some new mentally, physically, and emotionally supportive stuff.

2. Breaking any habit is tough but I seriously want to help. That is why on Sunday, January 3rd, we are all dropping off the old and picking up the new with the first 2010 group cleanse. Bring on the green. Drink your green drinks hot or cold. If you think about it, this 3 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse is not about only drinking green drinks and only stuffing our bellies full of the most nutrious goodness we can get our hands on but it means we are letting go of disease builders like refined sugars and grains, stimulants like coffee, alcohol and ciggies, bad fats and sodium saturation. January 3rd we’re going green and January 6th we’ll kick it 5 Days Vegan or 5 Days Low Glycemic. Your choiceroonie. I will be coaching via Twitter so check me there!

Check out the deets on each program:

And see what else I have for you to play with here.

Fresh Start 2010 Giveaway Announcement
Participate in the program and/or leave a comment here and you sign yourself up for a chance to win some sweet as sweet Greens+ amazingness. Let’s be clear here, I am not into selling and promoting other people’s stuff- I contacted the lovely Genuine Health people because I wanted to be able to offer you a little extra motivation to get on the healthy train and drop your junk food baggage off in 2009. Comment below or get one of the tutorials and you could be the lucky Greens + by Genuine Health devotee with a bottle of the Greens+ Daily Essentials and the Greens + Daily Detox.

Posted in Wellbeing, e-tutorial | 48 Comments »

A Delicious Year It Was

December 31, 2009 by Meghan Telpner

I don’t have a business plan. I have never had a 5-year plan. I don’t know what I was thinking when 2008 ended and 2009 began. I can’t even begin to guess what my expectations were, but I do know that I did not expect what came. I have learned, in my short life, that goals, though may be helpful, really mean nothing. They may be our driving force but we have to be flexible with the outcome. We are pretty teeny tiny, yes? The universe is pretty massive, yes? So what makes us think we actually have any control over what the universe throws our way? My meditation teaches that if we are to try and control our own evolution, all this really ends up leading to is our own suffering. Being open and taking things, the good and the bad as they come, is how we learn, grow and evolve. The good with the bad always for the unknown is the safest place to be. And what was delivered to me this year? More goodness, more success, more abundance and more life nourishing love than I ever could have imagined.

2008 began with yoga in the rain forest of Dominica,

where I got to hike through waterfalls,

ans maybe take off my clothes and take a dip.

and of course make a little music on an organic mushroom farm

I got to teach lots of classes and

do a lot online too for those of you far away. Green Smoothie anyone?

I made lots of time to spend with my two fave things: bicycles and beaches
and even ventured over to Ireland…

with my whole group of friends from high school for one of my bestest friend’s weddings.One wasn’t enough and so off to Winnipeg for another dear friend’s wedding- we haven’t all been together since camp when we were 14.

In amongst the busyness, I took the time to smell the flowers…

And do so with friends like Josh and Melanie.

My friend Vanessa published her first book, Sleeping Naked Is Green and I was made into a character in the book (and maybe a little bit of one in real life).

I developed a new addiction

and worked my heart out to spread the health vibe at bigger and bigger events like the Fresh Screening and the Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair,

and out on the street giving away some apples.

I made some new friends…

like Amy…

And David…

Ripped apart the heart of my home….

And it did hurt…

But we put her back together again…

And was able to carry on doing what I love.

The Fig…

became the date

and we had adventures together with bicycles,

nature,

food,

and sharing thought, ideas and opinions.

I spent lots of time with my family

cooking…and getting outdoors,

This year, I turned 30 and know for sure that age is just a number.

As long as you can live life full of colour,

with a sense of creation,

a sense of humour,

an appreciation for beauty,

and a curious mind,

while creating time for Making…

Love…
In…

The…

Kitchen,

then wherever you go and whatever you do, sunshine…

and rainbows…

are always in abundance.

With the greatest amount of gratitude, thank you for participating in my year and helping to make it the best year ever. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

Happy New Year!

The next group program kicks off on January 3rd, 2010. We will be starting with a 3-day Green Smoothie Cleanse followed by a program of your choosing, either 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating or 5 Days Vegan- whatever works best for you, works best for me. From now until January 3rd, purchase any two e-guides to health or other available products (including The Healthy Cookie: Unbaked), apply the discount code ‘freshstart2010‘ at the checkout and save 20% on your purchase. Let’s get healthy together ’cause yaaaaay this is fun!

Posted in Wellbeing | 37 Comments »

Spice Up Your Immune System… with Spicey Dal

December 30, 2009 by Meghan Telpner

It is possible to kick start the immune system with herbal and nutrient supplements, but you can also do it with amazingly potent and powerful anti-microbial, anti-viral, and ant-fungal spiced cooking. This, my dear lovers, is what I call Food as Medicine. Oh Hippocrates, you were so wise!

Though I have yet to find just the right teacher to advise me on how to use Chinese herbs in my cooking to medicinize it, Indian spices are easy peezy and so crazy healthful. Remember way back when I divulged that my family took our Chanuka celebrations the way of Indian cooking? Well, this spicy Dal was a part of that feast and the other dayzee, Josh and I pulled the leftovers out of the freezer and it was still just as deelish. With the mix of curry spices and oodles of ‘it had a kick’ fresh ginger, the slow cooking and one pot goodness of this Dal makes it amazingly easy, crazy healing and completely warming. Now isn’t that a recipe for immune system support?

To get a little technilicious (this would be the why/how), one of many reasons that curry spices are so great for our immune health is that curry contains the spice turmeric and turmeric contains the phytochemical called curcumin. In addition to being a holy smokes anti-inflammatory, curcumin is also rich in anti-oxidants and helps detoxify the liver. And it gives curries that gorgeous yellow colour. Heat this one up as we draw the year to a close.

Yellow Split Pea Dal
2 cups yellow split peas, soaked for 6-8 hours and rinsed thoroughly
1/2 – 1 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
1 onion, chopped
1 Tbs curry powder
pinch or two of chili flakes or cayenne
2 Tbs fresh ginger, grated
2 tsp black mustard seeds
2 Tbs coconut oil
6 cups of water
sea salt to taste
cilantro as optional garnish

Heat large pot over medium heat and add mustard seeds and toast until they begin to pop
Add in oil and onion and sautee until oil becomes translucent (about 8 mins)
Add in curry powder, chili/cayenne, and fresh ginger
Sautee for another minute or two
Add in the split peas and water.
Cover and bring to a boil then reduce heat and summer for about 45 mins (until peas are soft and creamy)
Then add salt and green peas and cook for a few more minutes.
Remove from heat and serve over greens or your fave grain.
Let the immune support begin!

For more info, you might just want to download the newly released Mp3 Healthy Through The Holidays. Your $9.99 purchase will include the option to download for free, the 8 page accompanying handout with all the highlights and few holiday recipes. And don’t forget about the 20% off ‘freshstart2010‘ discount you can apply to this purchase(details at the bottom)

Healthy Through The Holidays (52 min. Mp3 + Highlight Handout)

Staying on a healthy eating plan can be tough throughout the year. It becomes even tougher around the holiday season. Not only are we tempted by the goodies and beverages being served at all the holiday parties, we are also under more stress as we work longer hours, attend more functions and cope with more family than we may normally be accustomed to. All of this takes its toll on our immune system. In this lecture you will:

What is the immune system?
Immune system busters
Immune system boosters
Learn how to navigate the holiday buffet tables, pot luck dinners and evenings of indulgence
Acquire tips and tricks keep your immune system strong and fighting
Discover some healthy holiday meal and dish ideas

Using humour, relevant and simple explanations, and practical solutions, Meghan will leave you inspired and motivated to keep yourself healthy through the holidays!
$9.99

The next group program kicks off on January 3rd, 2010. We will be starting with a 3-day Green Smoothie Cleanse followed by a program of your choosing, either 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating or 5 Days Vegan- whatever works best for you, works best for me. From now until January 3rd, purchase any two e-guides to health or other available products (including The Healthy Cookie: Unbaked), apply the discount code ‘freshstart2010‘ at the checkout and save 20% on your purchase. Let’s get healthy together ’cause yaaaaay this is fun!

Posted in Entree, Recipe, Veggie Protein, Veggie Side | Tagged Health, Meghan Telpner | 11 Comments »

Keep The Immune System Running Through The Holidays

December 29, 2009 by Meghan Telpner

I feel like this time between Christmas and New Year’s gives a little space for our immune system to take a big old sigh of relief and start doing what it can to repair and build itself ] a little. So while you are busy driving all over your fair country visiting family and friends and going from one sugar fest to the next, I suggest you consider what you can do to pick your immune system up off the soggy, alcohol sodden floor.

I feel like the immune system is this mysterious thing in our body. It’s not like the liver or the heart or any other specific organ that we can pinpoint and describe. The immune system is more like a series of bits and pieces that work together to form a total body defense. Part of it is the glands and nodes and there are hundreds of these guys- many located in our neck/throat, armpits and crochety crotch region, there is the lymphatic system that runs side-by-side with our veins that carry waste matter away, and a massive part is in the lowest bit of our small intestine. The thing is, we need all of these bits and pieces to be nourished, cleansing and replenishing in order for the total system to do it’s job.

Unfortunately, there are many things we do during the holidays that kick this system while its down. The main immune system killers:
1. Sugar/Alcohol
2. Too much food (and bad food at that)
3. Lack of sleep
4. Making out with strangers at holiday shindigs.

Now, for my holiday party survival guide, might I suggest the following:

Holiday Party Survival Guide

Drinking is optional! Cranberry and soda is delicious!
Eat a small healthy snack before the party so you don’t arrive starving
Get a plate! Take assorted appetizers onto your plate instead of grazing
Bring a dish to a potluck that could serve as your entire healthy meal.
Don’t be shy about asking what something is, or asking for yours to be plain
Keep to the lighter desserts- fruit and cookies, or small slices of the ones you want to try.
Find someone to split a larger dessert with.
Keep drinking water
Avoid the “But it’s the holidays” mentality- every action has a reaction and a result- Will your action produce the results you are after.
Careful of canoodling- Germs do spread! Keep hands washed and away from the face.
Get as much rest and exercise as you can.

Healthy Through The Holidays (52 min. Mp3 + Highlight Handout)

What is the immune system?
Immune system busters
Immune system boosters
Learn how to navigate the holiday buffet tables, pot luck dinners and evenings of indulgence
Acquire tips and tricks keep your immune system strong and fighting
Discover some healthy holiday meal and dish ideas

Using humour, relevant and simple explanations, and practical solutions, Meghan will leave you inspired and motivated to keep yourself healthy through the holidays!
$9.99

The next group program kicks off on January 3rd, 2010. We will be starting with a 3-day Green Smoothie Cleanse followed by a program of your choosing, either 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating or 5 Days Vegan- whatever works best for you, works best for me. From now until January 3rd, purchase any two e-guides to health or other available products (including The Healthy Cookie: Unbaked), apply the discount code ‘freshstart2010‘ at the checkout and save 20% on your purchase. Let’s get healthy together ’cause yaaaaay this is fun!

Posted in Wellbeing | 17 Comments »

What Can You Do Now?

December 28, 2009 by Meghan Telpner

If the holidays aren’t just one massive distraction that throw us off our health (or any other game), well… hmmm- prove me wrong. I read somewhere last week that on average, we gain 7lbs over the holidays. I am not a fan of the scale to measure our health, but something tells me that 7 lbs is not a measure of muscle mass increase. I’m thinking it’s more along the lines of cake and egg nog.

“We have all the wisdom to guide ourselves to immortality”, explained David Wolfe at last weekend’s raw holiday party. And he’s right you know. We really do. For some reason though, instead of focussing on all the things we know will make us strong like fresh, healthy plant-based and sustainably raised/grown foods, the best herbs, the best superfoods, the best nutrition and the most free knowledge and free resources that have ever been available, we focus on what is wrong.

We look to chemicals, to government dictated regulations, and we look outside ourselves to ‘professionals’ to tell us, what we inherently already know. Real food is what works, and if you have any doubt, check that other train headed in the other direction and ask if that is working.

Then, as we try and get ourselves healthy with our own research we get overwhelmed don’t we?

We think, well is this the right supplement to be taking and how much and should I be eating this protein with that starch and is it better to have it raw or lightly steamed and if I eat raw do I have to eat all raw and if I eat macrobiotic and vegan and one day I want fish than what does that mean and is olive oil good or bad, is fat going to make me fat or should I cut out the carbs to loose weight and do I exercise before I eat or after and how much protein should I have after and what’s a good afternoon snack and why am I waking up at four in the morning with my head spinning and crave sugar like a crack monkey?

Now what about this, stay with me here, what about if we do what we can. I have received many emails as the information on this site continues to grow asking how to get started and this is what I am going to say, what I always say, and what David reiterated: Baby Steps. What you can do now?

Take a look at all the change you’d like in your life, pick out what you can do now, find the balance, build on it and keep moving forward.

When I hear David Wolfe talk he kind of makes me want to throw my ovens out the window and live off the ten best foods and the five best herbs and nothing else, but I run a cooking school and like to eat with my students so that wouldn’t work. So I ask myself, what can I do now? And the answer is a whole heaping lot. And if you are reading this and asking yourself where to start, you are reading this which means you already have started.

Answer These Healthy Habit Building Questions:

1. What do you want to do?
2. What can you do right now?
3. What one little change can you make each week, that you can sustain and that you can build upon?

Have patience. Sustained changes won’t stick if they are drastic. How long did it take you to get to where you are now? Keep this in mind when you are trying to persuade others to ride this health train down the path of longevity and rejuvenation.

The next group program kicks off on January 3rd, 2010. We will be starting with a 3-day Green Smoothie Cleanse followed by a program of your choosing, either 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating or 5 Days Vegan- whatever works best for you, works best for me. From now until January 3rd, purchase any two e-guides to health or other available products (including The Healthy Cookie: Unbaked), apply the discount code ‘freshstart2010‘ at the checkout and save 20% on your purchase. Let’s get healthy together ’cause yaaaaay this is fun!

Posted in Wellbeing | 9 Comments »

Inspiration to Live Great and Have a Dance

December 25, 2009 by Meghan Telpner

Happy Holidays everyone! Even though it is Christmas and I don’t celebrate Christmas, I get the best of both worlds. I don’t have to fake appreciation for gifts I didn’t want, I didn’t have to fight through crowded stores but today is still a holiday which means I can go to the movies and take up ten seats if I want to. So because I figure you best be spending this day off the computer because wooo hooo it’s Christmas, here is some video inspiration, some of my faves from the last year.