The year is 1986.
My hobbies include playing in the snow, baking with my mom, and trying to be just like my older sister Kristi.
![20101023-SnowPic2 20101023-SnowPic2](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101023SnowPic2_thumb.jpg)
Life is good.
It is the middle of a long winter in Riverview, New Brunswick and we have just been pummelled with a snow storm. I would stay outside all day long, hour after hour, bundled up with layer upon fuzzy layer with just my excited eyes, red nose, and big grin peeking out through my scarves and hat.
Clearly, I was born to be an endurance athlete, don’t you think?
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Don’t answer that.
The year is now 1992.
![20101022-Paris_2010_001 20101022-Paris_2010_001](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101022Paris_2010_001_thumb.jpg)
My hobbies include building the world’s most awesome snowmen, baking cakes in my Easy-Bake Oven, and rocking a wardrobe full of neon clothing and snap bracelets. Life is good.
Despite my love for the great outdoors, there was one small catch.
My mom couldn’t get me to come inside to eat!
‘Just a bit longer, pretty please, with a cherry on top?’ fluttering my eyelashes encrusted with icicles.
It is now 2010.
My hobbies are about the same, in addition to taking too many pictures of my food, writing about my day to day baking high jinks, and running.
![20101024-IMG_9169 20101024-IMG_9169](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_9169_thumb.jpg)
I am a vegan and unlike my younger self, I now understand the importance of fuelling properly for endurance activities.
This is the tale of a couple who fuelled a day of hiking with all-natural energy foods.
![20101024-IMG_8585 20101024-IMG_8585](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_8585_thumb.jpg)
Won’t you join us?
![20101023-IMG_8358e 20101023-IMG_8358e](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101023IMG_8358e_thumb.jpg)
For the recipes, please see attached PDF document.
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In tote, was a delicious lunch brimming with healthy energy foods to fuel our 7 mile hike!
Eric observed, ‘Well at least we know if we get lost we can survive on this food for a month.’
He obviously doesn’t know me too well if he thinks I could make this delicious food last a whole month!
![20101023-IMG_8325 20101023-IMG_8325](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101023IMG_8325_thumb.jpg)
It was time to road trip and see some gorgeous Ontario Fall foliage along the way.
I had a plan. If I saw a Rattlesnake I was going to throw it a truffle and run like hell.
We searched for the perfect spot.
![20101023-IMG_8343 20101023-IMG_8343](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101023IMG_8343_thumb.jpg)
The park was packed with hikers and it was not easy to find a picnic table complete with perfect photography lighting (I joke, I joke).
Finally, it was time to feast…something I had been dreaming about all week long.
![20101023-IMG_8228 20101023-IMG_8228](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101023IMG_8228_thumb.jpg)
Our main dish consisted of Protein Power Vegan Chili packed with kidney beans, chickpeas, black beans, walnut burger crumbles, and chunky vegetables.
![20101024-IMG_8484 20101024-IMG_8484](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_8484_thumb.jpg)
I had a giggle fit after seeing Eric eat his chili with my teeny tiny spoon! What a sport.
The chili was comforting, chunky, with a bit of a spicy kick.
![20101021-IMG_7772 20101021-IMG_7772](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101021IMG_7772_thumb.jpg)
And was perfect for a chilly Fall day outdoors.
Alongside, Herbed Garlic Knots.
The garlic knots were great on their own, but even better when dipped into the chili.
![20101023-IMG_8233 20101023-IMG_8233](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101023IMG_8233_thumb.jpg)
For a side, I made Stacked Caesar Salads with eggplant bacon and homemade croutons. I thought stacking the salad was fun for a packed meal.
![20101024-IMG_8441 20101024-IMG_8441](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_8441_thumb.jpg)
Yum!
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To wet our whistle, we sipped Pumpkin Spice Lattes made on the stovetop with almond milk, spices, espresso, pumpkin, and vanilla extract.
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The lattes were comforting, warm, rich, and fragrant with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
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To say I was excited for dessert was a bit of an understatement…
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I saw a picture of a Cake in a Jar online and I thought it was a fun idea that would pack well! I put a fun twist on them by making Cake In A Jar Parfaits.
The flavours:
- Butternut Squash Apple Streusel
- Triple Layer Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
- Decadent S’more with homemade graham cracker crumble
![20101022-IMG_7850 20101022-IMG_7850](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101022IMG_7850_thumb.jpg)
Damn. Good. Comfort. Food.
![20101022-IMG_8187 20101022-IMG_8187](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101022IMG_8187_thumb.jpg)
My favourite was the Butternut Squash Apple Streusel. The cakes were still warm from the oven and incredibly moist unlike any other ‘normal’ cake I have ever tried.
![20101024-IMG_8491 20101024-IMG_8491](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_8491_thumb.jpg)
Mmmmm.
After lunch, we were bursting with energy and ready to tackle the trails! We dropped off our cooler in the car and were on our way.
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We brought along homemade Raspberry Vanilla & Pumpkin Apple Spice fruit leather.
![20101022-IMG_8052 20101022-IMG_8052](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101022IMG_8052.jpg)
Can you guess what athlete’s superfood is hiding in them?
![20101024-IMG_8598 20101024-IMG_8598](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_8598_thumb.jpg)
Chia seeds!
Chia seeds are great for hydration and contain healthy fats, iron, calcium, protein, and antioxidants.
![20101024-IMG_8624 20101024-IMG_8624](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_8624_thumb.jpg)
I also made a ‘box of truffles’-vegan energy truffles, that is– made from dates and nuts.
![20101022-IMG_8161 20101022-IMG_8161](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101022IMG_8161_thumb.jpg)
The flavours:
- Chocolate Kissed Peanut Butter
- Brownie Bliss
- Pecan Pie Delight
I could not pick a favourite!
These would make fun and unique Thanksgiving or Christmas gifts, wouldn’t they?
My happy customer inhaled several. ;)
![20101024-IMG_8458 20101024-IMG_8458](/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20101024IMG_8458_thumb.jpg)
And finally, Spiced Apple Pie Chips…
Cinnamon is not only great for maintaining steady blood sugar levels, but it also contains Iron and Calcium.
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All in all we hiked about 7 miles and had a grand old time, even despite the damp and cool weather!
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Thanks to the endurance lunch, Eric still had energy to carry me to the car!
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Life is good. ;)
This is my official entry for Project Food Blog Challenge #6. Voting begins at 9am EST on Monday October 25th. If you enjoyed this post I would greatly appreciate your votes in carrying me into the next round! Click here to vote . Thank you!
Angela, this is my favorite post you have ever written! The pictures are gorgeous, the food looks delicious, and your personality really comes through. Good work!!!
Angela, I love this post. You are amazing and have gone above and beyond for all of the challenges! All of the recipes look delicious and cake in a jar? YUM! You have my vote and I really hope you win project food blog! You deserve it :D
Great job my dear!!! I love the cakes in a jar… I’ll have to make those using my extra jars from Challenge 6 over here :)
haha I saw that you used Mason jars too….loved it. Aren’t they great?
YES! Awesome! And the best part: all the lids fit all the jars, and they work for drinks AND food :)
I’m pretty much in love with Mason jars.
Ive decided that I want my entire kitchen to be stocked with them in every cupboard holding everything from rice to chia seeds to dried beans and apple chips. ;)
Angela,
I have been following your blog for a few months now, and I haven’t commented before…I have tried several of your recipes and I love them all!
You are unreal! This is amazing and you are incredibly talented!
Thanks for your nice comment!
You did it again! All of these Foodbuzz Challenges posts are incredible, Angela! Well done. Love the pics (particularly the black and white, with the one parfait in color). Glad I could help provide a link for the fruit leather.
Did you like the raspberry-vanilla one??
Yes they were yummy! Thank you again for the link :) I had been searching forever to find a recipe. I can’t wait to experiment with different fruit!
Your creativity for all the challenges has been amazing!! I love this- especially the chocolates and the cakes in a jar!!
Another great post…you are doing so well!
I’m floored. Honestly. This looks like it took a month to put together. I can’t get over it! The photos are completely incredible and the food just looks beyond outstanding. I’m at a loss for words…such an inspiration. xo
Amazing again! Voting tomorrow!
Wow that is a beautiful picnic! So impressive! And those leaves are just gorgeous too!
Amazing. I can’t think of anything else to say. Everyone has stolen my comments! You should be so proud. Just to make a post like this… seriously unreal! Congrats :D
Thanks for your comments and support! :)
Holy Crap!!! that looks amazing!!! I must replicate this at once! I just need to find myself a companion to chow down the meal with Lol
How do you come up with these amazing ideas/recipes!? I’d love to know where you draw your inspiration from and how you know what amount of each ingredient to put into your baking items so they come out a success.
lol…I guess and I have some flops to go with the guessing!
I loved this post! It looks like a delicious lunch!! My mom was born in Ontario (Fort Eerie) and I’ve always wanted to visit. Seeing your photos definitely bumps it up on my list! I wish I had the time to cook as much as you do! Although, right now I’d just like to have a better equipped kitchen than my French apartment has to offer. Miam miam! (That’s yum yum in French!)
Um wow—I loved everything about this! Can’t wait to try all the recipes : )
Wow! That is so awesome. How do you vote? I will confess I haven’t voted for anything yet. (thought you had to be a member of something) But I would like to vote for yours — so cool!
http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/6 :) i think voting starts tomorrow?
Cool thanks! I’m on it!
love this!! this post is amazing and looks like you put your heart and soul into it!!! The chili looks delicious and cute salads :) Love the cake in a jar idea. Also wow eric looks slimmer than ever and is glowing!! Did you hike with the bag of empty jars?!
Wow. That is all I have to say because I’m seriously floored by your cooking, photography and story-telling talents. You totally deserve to win this competition!
Angela, I did not know you grew up in New Brunswick. I went on a cruise this summer and stopped in Saint John for a day and it was such a charming little town!
Also, that picture of Eric is just adorable. He seems like such a sport posing for your picture with that teeny tiny spoon!! hehe
Lastly, you are just so darn creative. :)
You are so incredible Angela. I am so jealous of you!!