Book Review: Pantry and Palate: Remembering and Rediscovering Acadian Food by Simon Thibault

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My husband and I are obsessed with eating local food and visiting Canada. At dinner last night, he mentioned that we should plan another trip there so that we know where to move when he retires (14.5 years and counting!) I never heard of Acadian cuisine but was excited and intrigued to learn more.

Enter Pantry and Palate: Remembering and Rediscovering Acadian Food by Simon Thibault. A cookbook into a history-lesson-slash-novel where I was wishing I was in his Grandmother’s kitchen cooking these delectable items right alongside her…Simon, you are so lucky to have had a Grandma who cooked and kept records! (And I commend your efforts of extensive research!)

A favorite line from Pantry and Palate: Remembering and Rediscovering Acadian Food:

“When talking about our favourite dishes, many of us start by saying that “My grandmother made,” or “My [insert family member] made,” and then talk about how those particular dishes were made in very particular ways.”

My mother has my Grandma’s meatball recipe. I know that my sister and I will fight over who gets the real handwritten version. I digress…

 

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The first section of Pantry and Palate: Remembering and Rediscovering Acadian Food is Preserves in which I can’t wait to make his salted green onion recipe. I use scallions on my nacho platter and in all my soup recipes. This just sounds delicious and would be a great addition to my daily recipes.

 

The second chapter is for the Breadmaking folk. I have both a gluten and dairy intolerance, so the only place I make bread is with my clients at work. These recipes seem simple enough – so sometime this week I will gather ingredients I don’t have in my pantry (there is a nice segment on stocking your pantry in Pantry and Palate) and choose a lucky client to make delicious bread.

Lard encompasses the third chapter. I never worked with lard. I don’t know if I want to work with lard. Lard seems like something I rather read about then experiment with in my kitchen. Sorry, Simon!

Tȇte de Cochon is the next section. Simon, you are more than welcome to come to my home in New Jersey and give me private instruction on cooking a pig’s head! (That would make a really great YouTube video, I promise!) I appreciate the Acadian cuisine but am not this adventurous when it comes to cooking.

The next two sections are my favorite! Section 5 reads Soups, Sides, and Staples while the last is Desserts. I love Meat Pies, and it reminds me of when my Grandmother made them when she was alive and well. Simon gives a few variations, one I hope to try soon. He also gives a Potato Pancake recipe that I can’t wait to make! I always wanted to make potato pancakes but couldn’t find the right recipe. I tabbed this page instantaneously! And, you better believe, that I will be making his Scalloped Cabbage recipe for Thanksgiving. I had to Google “summer savory” spice is and added it to my shopping list. I think this is my favorite chapter of Pantry and Palate; meals I can make simply and that I know will taste delicious.

I love desserts, but with my food allergies, I only eat them on very special occasions and have my DigestZen from doTERRA on standby. I think the Baked Apple Pudding recipe will be a hit for the holidays. I also have always wanted to experiment with rhubarb and his clear, concise directions make me feel like I can tackle that task.

Simon Thibault

©2017, Photographs by Noah Fecks. All rights reserved. Published by Nimbus Publishing

Pantry and Palate isn’t for those looking for thirty-minute meals, or people who need an illustration with every step. Pantry and Palate would be best for those looking to experience cooking and who want to integrate culture into their meals. When I read Pantry and Palate, I feel like I am holding a distinct piece of Acadian history in my hands. Thank you, Simon, for opening my eyes into a world I didn’t know existed. Pantry to Palate is a cookbook that I certainly cherish and will begin making my tabbed recipes immediately.

Amazon Affiliate link: Click here to purchase Pantry and Palate: Remembering and Rediscovering Acadian Food.

Please visit Simon Thibault’s website here, and follow him on Instagram.

Namaste.

 

Pantry and Palate by Simon Thibault

My copy of Pantry and Palate by Simon Thibault

 

Disclosure: Pantry to Palate was sent to me complimentary for review purposes. All opinions within are my own. If you would like your product featured on Realm of Vibes, visit my Contact page or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com

Cusa Tea – Premium Instant Tea

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I love coffee and tea equally. Before work, I drink a few cups of coffee, and when I get to work, I drink cold tea in my infusion water bottle. I love the way it refreshes my palate and gives me the caffeine to power through my morning. I am always down to try new tea varieties…enter Cusa Tea!

Cusa Tea was created by Jim Lamancusa. He concocted the first-ever instant tea that contains only high-quality, premium, USDA Organic certified teas and fruits.

Cusa Tea

Cusa Tea comes in 5 varieties:

  • Organic English Breakfast
  • Organic Oolong Tea
  • Mango Green Tea
  • Organic Green Tea
  • Lemon Black Tea

I tried the Mango Green Tea and Organic Green Tea varieties.

Cusa Tea - Premium Instant Tea

Cusa Tea has no additives, fillers, or sugar and uses a low-temperature crystallization process to extract the essence and provide all the benefits of drinking tea.

Directions:

  • Open the tea stick and pour it into an empty 12-14 ounce glass.
  • Pour hot or cold water and watch the tea dissolve.
  • Cold water may take 30 seconds to dissolve.
  • Adjust the strength of the tea by adding or removing water.

Thoughts

I never used anything besides loose tea or a tea bag, so I was super curious to see if a tea stick would hold up to my standards.

I really appreciate that the caffeine content and tea polyphenols were listed on the box. I am caffeine sensitive so this is important for people like me to know before drinking a cup…

Cusa Tea - Premium Instant Tea

The Mango Green Tea (pictured) was fabulous! I ripped open the tea stick, poured it into a cup, filled my cup with water (just eyeballed the amount), and gave it a stir. It dissolved immediately. I added some ice cubes and really enjoyed the mango and green tea flavors. Next time, I may add some fresh mint from my garden, to add even more flavor to the cup!

The Organic Green Tea, I tried hot. Again, the tea dissolved immediately into the cup and was super delicious. Green Tea is naturally bitter, so my husband likes when I add honey.

The Cusa Teas were super simple to make and I would absolutely love to try the other varieties. I think they are great for those who love to travel, are always on-the-go, or just love tea!

Make sure you head to the Cusa Tea website to order online or see where they are located in a store near you.

Follow Cusa Tea on Facebook, and Instagram.

Namaste.

Disclosure: Two packages of Cusa Tea were sent complimentary for reviewing purposes; all opinions within are my own. If you would like your product reviewed on Realm of Vibes, please contact realmofvibesdg@gmail.com 

 

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DIY Time for Bed Linen Spray

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I have a few quirks I’d like to address:

  1. I always go to bed with a clean face; I use my Homemade Face Wipes. My face is cleansed and feels squeaky clean.
  2. I like sleeping on a clean pillow case.
  3. I won’t use vodka in my homemade cleaning products. I’m too cheap!

Now that I settled those issues, let’s get to the post. I have been using my DIY Linen spray to give my sheets a refresher before bedtime. Not only do they smell relaxing (hello, lavender!) but they appear cleaner by using rubbing alcohol or witch hazel.

If your sheets could use freshening up, here is what you need:

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  1. 16 ounce Glass Spray Bottle (I used these from Amazon)
  2. 1 1/2 cups distilled/filtered/purified water
  3. 2 tablespoons of Thayers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch Hazel Toner
    1. Now – I prefer witch hazel over rubbing alcohol. No matter how much I shook the bottle, I feel that the rubbing alcohol still overpowered the essential oils (even when I added an excessive amount of essential oils). However, I felt that my sheets seemed more sterile when I used the rubbing alcohol. Each his or her own; use what you have!
  4. 50 drops doTERRA essential oils
    1. 25 drops Lavender, 25 drops Cedarwood
    2. 25 drops Lavender, 25 drops Vetiver
    3. 25 drops Lavender, 25 drops Bergamot
    4. 20 Serenity, 20 Cedarwood, 10 Vetiver

Combine any of the above (1-4) to create terrific sleep blends!

DIY Time for Bed Linen Spray Using Essential Oils

Directions

  • Add the water, witch hazel, and doTERRA’s essential oils to the glass spray bottle and SHAKE.
  • Before the first use, let everything combine for a few hours. (Make sure you shake before each use.)
  • Spray about 8 inches away from your bed linens a few minutes before bedtime.
  • Let dry, hop into bed, and enjoy the calming scent.

Note: I have not had any problems with spraying essential oils on my sheets. If you are concerned about staining, please spot test. 

doTERRA has Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils. These are the only oils I trust to apply topically, ingest, and diffuse. If you need to purchase doTERRA essential oils, please click HERE. I would love to help you select your oils. E-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com to get started.

Be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Namaste.

DIY Time For Bed Linen Spray with Essential Oils

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Homemade Face Wipes using Essential Oils

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I have tried every single face wipe on the market. I am slowly but surely changing all of my beauty products to natural concoctions; not only saving money but improving my overall health using the therapeutic benefits of doTERRA’s essential oils. (If you would like to purchase doTERRA products, please shop HERE).

Here is what you will need to make your own face wipes:

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Directions

  1. Add 5 tablespoons of witch hazel, 20 drops of essential oils (could use more or less depending on your needs), 1/4 tablespoon of Fractionated Coconut Oil, and 1/4 tablespoon of water to your measuring cup. Mix together.
  2. Put cotton rounds into the airtight jar.
  3. Pour mixture over cotton rounds.
  4. Close jar and shake until mixture is well distributed.
  5. Voila! Now you have all natural face wipes!

I have played around with this recipe for the past 2 months. The first time I created this face wipes, I added too much Fractionated Coconut Oil. I have combination skin, so it definitely helped my dry areas but felt a little too slick for my liking on my oily spots. If you have dry skin, I would recommend adding more FCO.

What’s next?

I usually use my face wipes before bed to “wipe away my day.” I also like sleeping on a clean pillow each night. I also use these in the morning and after I exercise. They are super cleansing and keep my face clear of blemishes.

Immortelle

Before bed, I apply doTERRA’s Immortelle. Immortelle is an anti-aging blend. It comes in a roller bottle. I make sure to apply it right below my eyes to negate any fine lines and wrinkles. A little goes a long way; lightly dab the oil on your face.

If you try my face wipes, place an order, or have any questions be sure to comment below.

If you are interested in my other DIY beauty products, check out my Homemade Mouthwash Using Essential Oils. 

Namaste.

Homemade Face Wipes Using Essential Oils

 

come home to delicious plant-based joy.

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Daily Mindfulness for a Healthier You

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by Yolanda of Inspire and Wander

Lucille Ball once stated, “Love yourself first and everything else falls into place.”

She was talking about self-care and taking care of YOU.  

Love Yourself First

Our daily lives are becoming busier and the need for self-care has never been more important. Advertisements for self-care are everywhere, especially social media.

Got my nails done…self-care. √

Created a healthy meal…self-care.  √

Dominated hot yoga class…self-care.  √

Yes, those are all fine and dandy, but they are all temporary band-aids.  Don’t get me wrong, I love all these things too and they are great ways to feel good. But mindfulness is a daily, personal, soulful kind of self-care.

Mindfulness is defined as moment to moment, non-judgmental awareness.  In other words, you are fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions.  Mindfulness is a practice that has been around for thousands of years.  It is commonly associated with Buddhism, but anyone can practice it.  It is very simple to do and has amazing benefits.

Mindfulness can:

  • decrease stress
  • increase empathy and understanding
  • create a more positive outlook
  • increase attention
  • create better focus and memory
  • improved immune system and overall health
  • improve creativity

One would think that with this list of benefits, everyone would be practicing mindfulness every day. However, we let our schedules overwhelm and drain us. Fortunately, you are reading this blog post and one step closer to a healthier you.  With my tips, you can help yourself in 10 minutes a day.  

So what is this crazy thing I want you to do every day?  

Listen to yourself.  That’s it.  When was the last time you listened to yourself?  

Mindfulness is being present in the now.  What are you thinking about now?  Hopefully, just reading this post.  Not what you are going to make for dinner, not taking out the dog, and certainly not what else is going on around you.  Mindfulness is focusing, being in the now.  Do yourself a favor and reteach yourself to focus and introduce yourself to being completely aware of what is going on around you. Don’t judge it, don’t overthink it, just acknowledge it, move on…and focus on that one thing, the present.

I teach this process through a technique called Mindful Art Journaling.  You definitely do not need to be an artist do this, in fact, the less you know, the better.  I invite you to play like a child and listen to your intuition.  It is always fun and always beneficial. Promise.  I teach mindfulness through this journaling technique because quite frankly, we as humans think too much.  This creative art process allows us to step outside the “thinking” and learn the mindfulness technique much faster.  Plus, it is so much fun!  

If you would like a creative guide on how you can bring the benefits of mindfulness into your life, sign up below! 

Dailymindfulness

Meet Yolanda of Inspire and Wander

A special thank you to Yolanda of Inspire and Wander for guest posting on Realm of Vibes. If you would like to contribute, please e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com or fill out the form on the Contact page.

Namaste.

 

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for busy people who love to eat

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