Looneyspoons' Asian Coleslaw with a Sesame-Ginger Dressing

I am not going to lie to you... I love me some cabbage salad. It's a slight food obsession of mine. I'll eat it non-stop for a couple weeks, then take a break for 5 months. Well, guess what peeps?!  I am currently mid obsession because I found a new recipe and naturally, I need to share it with you good people.

Typically I buy the coleslaw prepackaged mix, toss with 1/2 olive oil and 1/2 seasoned rice vinegar, add some nuts de jour and maybe avocado...but today, I share with you the Looneyspoon ladies delicious Nat King Coleslaw recipe.

I have eaten it the last 3 days and need to make batch number 2 #cantstopwontstop

Cabbage is some good ol diet food as well. *small digression* I once went out to camp with my grandma for a week after coming home from university (tired, hungover, fat, hungover, tired - you know how it goes). In a week of watching movies, stuffing my face with our simple cabbage mix noted above and even our infamous camp gingerbread cookies I lost 8 lbs. I came to town a new woman. Thank god for cabbage and Grandma Max.*digression over, you can keep reading*

Ingredients

Dressing
1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp grated gingerroot

Salad
1 pkg (about 1lb) coleslaw mix
2 cups bean sprouts
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 large Red Delicious apple unpeeled, cored and shredded ** I used 2 Granny Smith Apples peeled & finely chopped instead because GS are the only kind of apple in my eyes**
I also added some peanuts and slivered almonds

Directions

Wisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl. In a large bowl combine all of the salad ingredients and toss with dressing. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Good news, this salad tastes as good or better on day 3.

All ready for tossing 

Our Canoe Trip

I am happy to say we returned safely from our canoe trip adventure! I was nervous going with just the 3 of us, but we were just fine. I edited our packing list in this previous post and added things I wish I had brought, thankfully there were not many. 

The weather held out for the most part and we spent the weekend fishing, swimming, playing cards, paddling around and cooking! We are so lucky to have these beautiful provincial parks in our back yard for exploring and enjoying.

I only brought my cell phone because it has a waterproof case so my pictures are limited. 

 

View from our campsite - with a beautiful rainbow and no one else in sight!

Things I have learned from this trip:
- Spending time in nature is good for the soul
- Paddles work very well as serving tools
- I only want to be on camping trips as long as the ice, in my cooler full of drinks, survives (3-4 days) #glamping
- I am super into ciders this summer, specifically this delicious grapefruit raddler - try it!!
- Always bring decent pillow & sleeping pills (or gravol)
- I am so glad a married a guy who enjoys and is useful in the outdoors! *put this on your list ladies*
- Plan at least one camping trip per year

Canoe Tripping: Meal Plans, Supplies & Packing List with updates

We are headed on our annual canoe trip today and for the first time, we are taking Finnegan. I am a little unsure of how it will all go, but here's hoping it works out. This year we are going for 3 days and 2 nights. I always google what other people bring to look for new ideas, so here is our list for meals, clothes and supplies.

* updated post trip with added items and crossed out things we didn't need*

Menu Plan

Breakfasts

- Eggs, for making scrambled eggs and for fish batter (cracked into a plastic water bottle for easier transport)

- Instant oatmeal

- Protein bites (recipe here)

Lunch

- Quinoa Salad (I made this one here)

- Cans of tuna

- PB sandwiches 

Snacks

- Pistachios

- Beef Jerky

- Licorice 

- Cut up pineapple

- Spitz

Dinner

- Fresh pickerel 

- Potatoes

- Pasta and sauce

- Italian sausages 

Cooking extras:

- salt, pepper, butter, parmesan cheese

Ready to be packed away

Packing List

Matches

First aid kit

Flash lights/head lamps 

Extra batteries

Water proof speakers/ipod

Bug spray

Sunblock

Scissors

Knife 

Garbage bags
Rope for misc. things and clotheslines & clothes pins

Toilet paper (in a ziplock bag)

Shovel (you can imagine for what)

Pot and frying pan

Spoon and flipper

Extra ziplock bags (for fish)

Plates/bowls/cups/sporks
Biodegradable dish soap, cloth and bucket for doing dishes

Travel Mugs

Water bottles (1 case frozen to be our freezer packs and drinking water)

Bottled water

Water purifier

Axe
Saw

Life jackets

Towels

Frisbee

Deck of cards

Book we were too busy fishing lol

Sleeping bags

Travel pillows (huge mistake, uncomfy as all heck - bring better pillow next time)

Cooler

Beer/drinks & coozies

Camping chairs

Tent

Stove

Fish filet knife

Fishing rods and tackle

Map

Bear bangers

Cell phone (no service but will use for pictures)

Cell phone portable charger

Canoe

Paddles (seems obvious, but don't want to forget lol)

I packed each Jeff and I our own snack/drink bag to have handy while canoeing. I put frozen waters, flavoured soda water, can of tuna, licorice and pistachios in mine.

My cooler bag

Clothing

This is what I will be bringing, I am sure Jeff will bring half as much

- 2 bathing suits Forgot about skinny dipping, no bathing suit needed

- 1 pairs of shorts

- 1 pair of capris (workout style)

- 1 pair of sweatpants

- 1 long sleeve shirt

- 2 workout shirts (with built in bras, so no bras required)

- 1 rain jacket with a hood

- 3 pairs of underwear

- 2 pairs of socks

- 1 hat

- 1 buff (similar here) *so good for soaking and wearing around your neck in the blazing sun*

- 1 rash guard shirt

- 1 pair of sturdy, waterproof shoes. I bought these ones (sexy, I know) *seriously best things ever*

For Finnegan (our dog)

He has been treated for ticks

- Dog life jacket

- Towel

- Travel bowls

- Food

- Treats

- Frisbee

                                                                  Look how cute he is! 

All ready for his first canoe trip! 

Things I wish I brought:
- Baileys for morning tea and evening campfire drinks
- Some sort of cookie, I can't believe I went 3 days without haha
- Lemon for the fish
- Binoculars for checking out nature!

Summer Desserts: Coconut Whip Cream & Peaches

If you haven't made coconut whip cream yet, you are missing out...BIG time. Being lactose intolerant I am always looking for new delicious and healthy dessert treats and coconut whip cream on any fruit is the easiest, quickest dessert you could make.

The key to this recipe is always keeping can of coconut whip cream in the fridge UPSIDE DOWN.  When you choose a can from the store, pick one that when shaken does not sound very liquidy, the Thai Kitchen brand seen in the picture above works well. I try to always have a can in the fridge, but you need it to be in there at least 24 hours.


Ingredients:
1 can of coconut milk
1-2 Tbsp of pure maple syrup
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
fruit of choice
mint leaves

Directions:
Open the can of coconut whip cream upside down. Scrap the hard cream into a mix master. You can keep the liquid for smoothies or another recipe if needed. Whip the cream for 1- 2 minutes or until the lumps are gone.

Next add the maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. I always add more spice, but it's up to you.
In a bowl or martini glass spoon a heap or two of the coconut cream and add fresh fruit. Garnish with mint leaves. Makes enough cream for 4 desserts.

TA DA - Yum, yum yum!