Cauliflower Fried Rice

As we grow older, it seems that the world races by at neck-breaking speeds. Our high-paced society, technology, and increasingly busy schedules doesn't help. One of the issues with this fast-paced lifestyle so many of us have, is it makes having a healthy lifestyle much more difficult. Not impossible, just more difficult. And of course, when you have a few minutes to scarf down some breakfast, a short break in the morning, maybe a 1/2 hour lunch, short break in the afternoon and then 1/2 hour to prepare supper in between gymnastics, dance lessons, music lessons, soccer practice and basketball games. Never mind everything else that comes up on your day-to-day schedule. When life is this chaotic, who wouldn't go for the highly processed, quick and easy solutions for meal time. Our society has made this convenient with freezer meals, energy drinks, meal replacement bars and beverages, etc.

So today's meal is actually an easy, quick meal, that you can still prepare from scratch and is healthy for the family, never mind delicious. And even better, it's gluten free!

It's important, especially in our busy lives, to still have a healthy and balanced lifestyle. This can be as simple as reaching for those carrot sticks, instead of that chocolate bar, for your snack. Having an apple and piece of toast, with raw honey and cinnamon, for breakfast, instead of a bowl of corn pops. You get the idea :)

Today's recipe is a new spin on the classic "Fried Rice". But instead of using the starchy, which rice, we will be using my new favourite replacement, cauliflower! I came upon this recipe on Detoxinista which is a fabulous blog for healthy recipes. I encourage you to check it out!

Hope you enjoy

CAULIFLOWER FRIED RICE

Ingredients:
(serves 1. Adjust amounts for number of people. I tripled the recipe and it fed my husband and I with leftovers)

2 cups of cauliflower "rice" (1 head of cauliflower will produce approx 3-4 cups of cauliflower rice)
1 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 whole egg
Tamari (gluten-free soy sauce), to taste
sea salt, to taste

Directions:

- Make cauliflower "rice" but putting raw cauliflower florets into your blender or food processor and pulse until it becomes rice-like. So simple! (if using a blender, do small amounts at a time to prevent clogging by the blades.)

- saute the garlic in coconut oil, over medium heat.

- Add the carrots and a splash of water to prevent sticking. Cook for 5 minutes, or until crisp-tender.

- Add the celery and egg, which will start to cook quickly.

I buy TLC Farms eggs for the best quality!

- Add in the cauliflower rice, along with a splash of tamari and salt. Stir to combine and heat through, about 3-5 minutes.

- Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve piping hot.

Notes:

This recipe is easy to adapt to tastes and preferences. If vegan, omit the egg and substitute with crumbled tofu. If you prefer other veggies, use whatever you like or have on hand.

Happy Eating!

Monday Feature: Knightly Krafts

I love hats. The end. Ok, just kidding. But seriously now, I do love hats and over the years I have acquired quite a plethora of them. From toques to beanies and everything in between, I don my head with fashion and/or warmth. Even in the hot summer weather, if I have a cute hat that is just screaming to be worn, I will place it on my head proudly, disregarding the sweat droplets rolling down my face, and smile, because I know I look cute. I wouldn't say it's vanity, more confidence in my appearance ;)

Hats are also great for the excuse of not doing ones hair. I am guilty of this more often then not. Especially in the Winter. My logic is, I have to stay warm, thus I have to wear a hat anyway, so no one is going to see my hair and the hat would wreck it, so why bother taking the time to do anything with my hair. I could make better use of those precious minutes in my day and on and on the rant goes. It's true. And my logic of not doing my hair usually wins out. Even as I sit here at the computer, writing this, my hair is unruly, unkempt, and sticking out in all directions…and I don't care, because you can't see me and my daughter and husband love me just the same :D And I'm going to put a hat on when I go out tonight :P

My most recent, delightful hat purchase was at the formerly known Winter Market (now The Market @ Medalta) from a highly talented woman, Charlene Knightly of Knightly Krafts.

As I am the market manager, I've been privileged to have gotten to know our faithful vendors, Charlene being one of those, and thus we have become friends. Sitting beside her table every week, I couldn't help but continually wander over and peruse her wares time and time again. I would try this one or that one. I finally settled on a beautiful red and gold knitted beanie, with a gold ribbon and dragonfly brooch on it. I wear it ALL THE TIME! If you know me, you've probably seen me wearing it. It's the perfect shade of red to compliment all my earth toned clothes (which is almost everything I own). I absolutely love it!

the only difference now is I have a dragonfly brooch instead and my ribbon is in a bow.

Not only is Charlene amazingly talented, she's also sweet as sweet can be, easy to talk to, honest, hard working, full of love and life, witty, and super fun to be around. I look forward to growing the friendship that has blossomed between us.

Charlene's love of knitting, crocheting and all things crafty began as a child. She recalls, "I grew up in a home where my mother did lots of different crafts. She taught me to knit, crochet, sew, cross-stitch, and several other different types of crafty things."

"I was married in 1987 and my husband and I began a family 2 years later. I had 4 children and was a stay-at-home mum. I was always interested in opportunities that would allow me to stay home and still make some added income to help out with the budget." A feat so many of us momma's are trying to do these days, so we can stay home with out babies and experience their firsts :)

In 2005, Charlene and her husband, Pete, moved their family to Africa, where they spent the next 3 years. "While in Africa, I taught many ladies how to sew and do bead work. This is one of the things I am most proud of. I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend there, helping and teaching women how to run their own business and to create beautiful works of art."

"When we came back to Canada in 2008, I continued to bead jewellery, but one day a lady from church asked if I would knit some hats to send to Kenya, for a project that they were supporting there. I began knitting and crocheting hats to send and got completely hooked (pardon the pun) on crocheting! Some people suggested that I start selling them (once the project was over, I found myself still crocheting like crazy) and so I began to advertise them for sale on my blog and eventually through Facebook."

After Charlene moved out west to Medicine Hat, in 2011, it was suggested to her that the Farmer's Market may be a great place to begin selling her wonderful creations. Thus, Charlene joined the Farmer's Market in the Spring of 2012 as Knightly Krafts.

"Things expanded quite rapidly and I am thoroughly enjoying creating and meeting so many neat people in this city."

The future is looming with opportunity for Charlene and Knightly Krafts, as she intends to grow her business in the area of the online market industry, as well as continuing to sell through local markets. Charlene also has plans to add to her inventory, sewn hats, some being made from recycled clothing. "I'm a huge fan of upcycling old products into new ones, instead of filling the landfill," a passion that began during her years in Africa, where almost everything is recycled.

Charlene also began including stunning brooches (vintage and new) onto her hats last summer, much to the delight of her customers. Needless to say, it was a huge hit.

"I continue to research what products and colours are trending. I create beanies, slouchy beanies, newsboy, and a variety of other types of hats for women, men and children. I include ribbons and brooches onto a lot of my hats."

Charlene also makes special orders for those who request them, so if there is something you like, but want in a different colour, or something you envision, you have but to ask.

Head over to Knightly Krafts Facebook page here and "like" them. There are up-to-date pictures on items available for sale and also on sold items (for those who may find inspiration for a special order). There is also a "shop now" tab on the page which enables you to purchase products using paypal.

You can also find Knightly Krafts at The Market @ Medalta every Thursday (beginning Feb 21st) from 4:30 - 8:30pm, located at Medalta Pottery in Medicine Hat, Ab. Sometimes it's always nice to touch, feel, and try on something, to realize your life will never be the same without it ;) Try on at your own risk! :)

If you have any further questions or would like to make a special order, you can message Charlene through her Facebook page, or email her at charlene.knightly@gmail.com.

Knightly Krafts has a very special incentive just for my Growing Green readers! Simply use the PROMO CODE: Handcrafted on any hat order and receive 20% off your purchase! Sounds like a plan to me!

Enjoy your beautiful day today, and remember to stay warm and stylish!

next week's feature hint: taking it back to ol' natural.