Andrea the Gastronaut

I wanted to do a significant post about this on Saturday or Sunday to provide one week notice but the other post took over. Instead, here’s what I’ve got time for before I head to work (I’m a slow blogger):

This time it’s on a weekend, which I think makes it even easier. In the past – and she’s facilitated, what, four of these now? – it was during the week. I imagine that a weekend Friday-Sunday smoothie cleanse is ideal because it removes the challenge/excuse of planning smoothies for work. The remaining challenge is social commitments, but weekends are a good time to relax and recharge and take a break from the social commitments. Personally, most of my social plans tend to be during the week. Some weekends I want to be a hermit.

I encourage you all to participate in this relatively simple, three-day, mid-summer cleanse. You may be skeptical but it’s worth a shot, right? You might get something out of it. If you don’t feel positively affected by it in any way after participating fully and with an open mind you’ve got more ammo for your argument about why you think they’re pointless. (I believe that you don’t know unless you try and one can’t insist that something health related doesn’t work without having experienced it.)  Here’s what Meghan says to first timers, cynics and those who live “on beer and fast food”.

Buy your copy here.

Of course, if this weekend doesn’t work for you you could do a three-day cleanse on your own if you feel like you could fully participate without the support, or wait for Meghan’s next facilitated cleanse. If memory serves (Meghan, help me out here?)  since spring 2009 she’s lead 3 or 4. Knowing her she’s got the next dates planned. I can see how a weekend at a cottage with barbecue and frosty alcoholic beverages (even Smirnoff Ice) would be more appealing than 3 days of nothing but smoothies. Hell I want such an invitation (minus the Ice). In this case I’d actually encourage you to wait for the next facilitated cleanse if it’s your first time so that you can get the support, but that’s just me. Why not buy the tutorial now if you haven’t already, read through it, and participate when the timing is best for you? Or, incorporate some of the ideas into your every day life now and do an actual cleanse when the time feels right. Every change, no matter how small, makes an impact.

This edition has recipes submitted by her blog readers. One of those recipes came from me, another from my sister. It really is new and improved.

Click here to hear how you can win a copy of Meghan’s brand spanking new Guided Meditation Program! Enter by day end Friday.

I’ve started tweeting “smoothie of the day” (sometimes referred to as “SmOTD”) every morning from Monday to Friday. I’ll try to get into the habit of hashtagging these.

Eat well, be well.

announcements, health Green Smoothie Cleanse, making love in the kitchen, Meghan Telpner

Image credit: Sarah B. Hood*

Wednesday, July 28, 7-9pm.

Cost: $25/person (preregistration is required)
25 Bellevue Avenue.

There’s so much fresh, local, delicious fruit coming up now, wouldn’t it be great to be able to savour it all-year-long?  Learn how to make and can your own jam so you can enjoy the tastes of summer goodness throughout the winter.

Go here for more information about the workshop series and for the link to register.

This workshop is part of the Jewish Urban Homesteading Workshop Series, presented by Kavanah Garden and Makom.

Open to all! You don’t have to be Jewish to attend.

Coming up in the Jewish Urban Homesteading Workshop Series:

Herbal Salve Making 101 (August 25)
Pickling 101 (September 15)
Seed Saving 101 (October 20)
Beer and Kombucha Brewing 101 (November 17)

*The image above is from Sarah Hood’s blog. Photo is three types of strawberry jam that Sarah made while she writes a book about canning.  The one on the left was made from a recipe given to her by Risa of Kavanah Garden.

announcements, events Kavanah Garden, Makom

My favourite nutritionist, Meghan, is hosting a contest over at her blog. Because she’s my favourite nutritionist and I find her adorable (look at that punim! And have you seen her YouTube videos?); and because I want more chances to win something that will make me feel good or have one of you win if I don’t, I’m promoting it here at Andrea the Gastronaut.

Win A Cute As Cute Can Be Kitchen Apron From Julie’s Aprons!

Go on over to her blog to see how to enter.

My favourite aprons by Julie? Well, my first list was 9 out of her 35 styles. My top three favourites (click for more views and details):

It has tulle. TULLE!

I love the sweat heart neckline on this and others in the “Sofia” line.

and

I like the neck line, the colours and the pockets.

Looking at these aprons makes me want to be a 50s housewife and sing songs about feeling pretty. If you want a chance to win, and/or want to increase my chances, click here.

Also, When you’re on the contest web page you can’t help but notice the banner that advertises the new edition of her green smoothie cleanse tutorial.   I’ll blog about it later this week, but for now I’ll say that it is bigger and better than before (I got an advance copy), and my sister and I both contributed recipes to it (hence my copy, although I’d like to think that I’m that special to Meghan). My sister and I don’t coordinate these things but I kind of indoctrinated her into Meghanism and she’s surpassed me. She contributed to Summer Sipping. It was an easy indoctrination for many reasons. We share similar interests and opinions when it comes to health. I’ve indoctrinated so many people that we could start our own camp.

GO ENTER.

(I know, I needn’t shout.)

Eat well, be well.

announcements, contests contests, etsy, making love in the kitchen

Wednesday, June 23, 7-9pm

141 Markham Street
Cost: $25/person (preregistration is required)

Discover how to turn your vegetable scraps into nutrient-rich soil! Join us as we learn the basic science of composting, the difference between backyard composting and the greenbin system, and how to keep your very own worm composter!

This workshop is part of the Jewish Urban Homesteading Workshop Series, presented by Kavanah Garden and Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism.

Open to all! You don’t have to be Jewish to attend.

For more information please contact Risa at 416-805-8382 or risa@torathateva.org.

Coming up in the Jewish Urban Homesteading Workshop Series:

Jam Making and Canning 101 (July 28)
Herbal Salve Making 101 (August 25)
Pickling 101 (September 15)
Seed Saving 101 (October 20)
Beer and Kombucha Brewing 101 (November 17)

Click here for more information or to register.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Composting 101: How and What to Compost (benway.net)
• How To Pick An Ideal Compost Bin For Your Garden (stepbysteptips.com)
• Natural Organic Fertilizer: Turn Your Kitchen Waste Into Fertile Garden Soil (backyardgardeningtips.com)

announcements, events

Organic Gardening 101: Planning & Planting

On Wednesday, April 28 from 7-9pm, discover how to grow your very own Garden of Eden! This workshop will address the basics of planning and planting your own urban food garden. Pre-registration is required.

Click here for more information about the workshop series and for the link to register.

Part of the Jewish Urban Homesteading Workshop Series presented by Kavanah Garden and Makom.

All are welcome! You do not have to be Jewish to attend.

Fourth Annual Strawberries and Asparagus Festival, call for volunteers

Open Call for Vendors, Volunteers, Partners and Sponsors for this year’s Strawberries and Asparagus Festival happening on Saturday June 12 in Cedarvale Park.

What began as a neighbourhood barbecue as a celebration of the anniversary of the Spadina Expressway is now in its fourth year and growing. Strawberries and Asparagus is now a spring harvest celebration that incorporates renewable energy, live music and green living. This family event will include free food, festival fun, live music, solar stage, solar cooking, green gardening and the “Inorganic Market” with activities for children all day and a Yoga and Zen Zone.

Find the event invitation and the event group on Facebook. You’ll find more information about volunteering on the group page.

Mentioning the Spadina Expressway made me think of The Shuffle Demons song Spadina Bus, and The Shuffle Demons are feel-good music, so here it is  for your viewing and listening pleasure. Chair dancing is encouraged. Let this be a good start to your Monday.

The original video

Video from last summer’s performance at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, which I was at, but this isn’t my video. Mine isn’t consistent from start to finish- though I did get some great video of the walkabout for which they are known. It was an awesome time. It was also an attempt to break the world record of number of sax players.

Eat well, be well.

announcements, events

Toronto event announcement

A Taste for Life is a restaurant-based fundraiser helping Fife House provide supportive housing and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

A Taste for Life originated in Ottawa in 1999 when Bruce House, Fife House’s counterpart in the nation’s capital and The Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation successfully collaborated with 10 local restaurants.

Patrons were invited to spend a special evening in their favourite establishments and each restaurant agreed to donate a portion of the evening’s gross revenue from all food and bar sales, excluding taxes, to the charities.

It’s simple:

1. Book a table at one of the participating restaurants across the GTA.
2. Enjoy a fabulous dinner with family, friends, business associates.
3. The restaurant will donate a percentage of the cost of your meal to Fife House.

Good food for a good cause!
See Fife House’s website for participating restaurants and make a reservation today!

Eat well, be well.
(And help others be well.)

announcements, events

Andrea the Gastronaut is now part of the new Beer and Butter Tarts network of Canadian food blogs run by Greg Clow and Sheryl Kirby, the duo behind Taste T.O., aka the king and queen of Toronto Food Blog Snark. Sheryl and Greg wanted to provide food-related content from acr0ss-Canada (hence the name), in addition to the Toronto specific content of Taste T.O. There are so many great Canadian food blogs and so many great Canadian food writers.

Every time a blog in its network is updated it will be aggregated into Beer and Butter Tarts. Multiple sources of Canadian food blog content in one place, it’s win-win-win! This means that I can actually purge some of my RSS feeds (yay!) as B&BT will be aggregating many that I subscribe to.
(It also means that the next time I want to deviate from writing about food, say… to yoga or whatever my latest activity is, I’ll have start a temporary blog elsewhere or incur the wrath of Ms. Kirby.)

Good luck to Sheryl and Greg on this venture. I look forward to reading.

announcements

Chefs, wine doctors, why French women don’t get fat, and Good Karma Morning Walking Class

Next Wednesday, April 14
Chef Lucy Waverman and Wine Doctor Edward Finstein lead a tasting of three food and wine pairings – featuring recipes from Lucy’s new cookbook, A Year in Lucy’s Kitchen: Seasonal Recipes and Memorable Meals and wines that complement her dishes. This event takes place at the new premiere event venue The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 6 to 8pm.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online.
Online ticket sales end at midnight, Monday April 12.

This event is presented with Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants and The Cookbook Store.

Monday, April 19

Starting Tuesday April 20
From Leehe Lev of Whole Self Fitness:

Good Karma Morning Walking Class

For years I’ve been talking about how great my morning walks are. For me, (and maybe you) it’s my morning coffee. The beginning of the walk may be a challenge but once you’re past that, the mind and body are most connected at that time.
I can’t think of a better way to start the day and as much as I like the lack of people out at that early hour, I really want everyone of you to try it. And so, I’ve decided to share my walks with you and turn this into a class.

Starting Tuesday April 20th at 6:30am, I invite you to meet at the Cedarvale Bridge. We will start with a warm up, and gradually pick up the pace to give you a cardiovascular workout. We’ll end the class with a cool down and stretch. There will be stops along the way to introduce some resistance exercises. You’ll not only get a good workout, you’ll be energized and in more positive spirits that day. That’s why this class is PWYC and what ever you pay, I’ll donate to a local non-profit charity. I’m leaning towards, The Stop Healthy Food Bank for the month of April and May.
Join me and other morning enthusiasts (if you’re out there!) every Tuesday and Friday from 6:30am-7:30am. Come share and spread the good karma! Please email leehe@wholeself.ca to let me know to expect you!

Eat well, be well.

announcements, events Edward Finstein, French Women Don't Get Fat, Lucy Waverman, Mireille Guiliano, Toronto Reference Library