Where it all started

I have struggled with acne for 8 years now. I went through different phases of self-pity, anger, defeat and acceptance, and through those experiences and my current struggle I have learned a lot. I learned that everyone is going through their own issues whether or not they are transparent about them, or if they are manifested in a physical, mental or emotional way, no one is 100% okay.

For some reason the whole “not everyone is okay” thought brought me some comfort. Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t find other people’s misery comforting but rather it made me realize that my acne is not the worst thing that could be happening to me right now. Yes, there are some days where I choose to stay in because I feel ugly or I breakdown because I think, “Why me?”  but every now and then I remember that this is not the worst thing ever.

So what did I do about it? I decided to change my focus and attitude. Instead of seeing my acne as a debilitating skin problem I thought of it as an opportunity to learn and share my experience. I was tired of conventional acne products that would dry out my skin and make me feel guilty for exposing my body to harsh chemicals. As such, I became invested in learning about natural skincare products, diet changes and herbal medicine. This curiosity for a more natural approach and positive self-image all began in my last year of undergrad, and as cheesy as it sounds it was a lightbulb moment for me. I looked for ways to turn this curiosity into a profession and discovered naturopathic medicine.

Not only is Everyday Olive a space for me to share simple tips, but it’s also a place for me to document my health journey. I am excited to see what happens and I’d love if you could go on this experience with me!

Thank you

Mutsu Applesauce

From the sweaters, the layering, the boots, the fall jackets to the smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon all around, fall is my favourite season of all. Oh, and we can’t forget the leaves…ugh so beautiful. BEST OF ALL…it’s apple season.

As per tradition I went apple picking with Dan’s family in Bowmanville this past thanksgiving and brought home a big bag of apples, and I literally had no idea what to do with them. Then I realized how much I loved applesauce and how long it has been since I had some, and thought why not make some?

I didn’t realize how simple it was to make applesauce so lets get to!

 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 12 medium sized apples (mine were Mutsu)
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• 2 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger (optional)
• water
• a big pot
• immersion blender
• mason jars or tupperware for storing (about two 26-oz pasta jars)

 

WHAT TO DO

1. Using a clean skin, fill it up with 3 parts of warm water to 1 part vinegar and soak your apples for 10 minutes, then rinse under running water to give it a good clean. (Note: this is important for store bought apples because they may be covered in wax for protection and colour enhancement.)
2. Slice up your apples and place them in your pot. I chose to keep the skin on for added fibre and nutrients but it really depends on your preference!
3. Once you’ve cut up all your apples and placed them in a pot and fill it with enough water so that it sits just below the level of your apples.
4. Add the cinnamon and ginger.
5. Place a lid on the pot and set your stove to medium heat and let it cook for about half and hour. Check and stir occasionally.
6. Once the apples are soft enough to be mashed with a spoon, take the pot of the heat and let it cool
7. Using your immersion blender, blend up your applesauce! (Note: if you don’t have a immersion blender handy just use a regular blender. You’ll just have to do it a few times!)
8. Once it is completely blended give it a taste and add maple syrup if you want it to be sweeter, but I find the apples are sweet enough
9. Store away and enjoy your homemade applesauce!

 

Feel free to leave comment and let me know if you decided to give this easy recipe a try 🙂

Chocolate Almond Butter Sauce

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Today I woke up craving something sweet, so I decided to make some pancakes. I usually like to top off my pancakes with fresh fruit but I didn’t have any. To make up for that I decided to treat myself to some CHOCOLATELY goodness! I didn’t think it would turn out as good as it did so I wanted to share a quick post.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• cacao powder  (Bulk Barn) 
• almond butter (I got mine at Costco and it’s organic!)
• coconut oil (Costco)
• maple syrup (Costco)

 

WHAT TO DO

It’s honestly quite simple…take a big tablespoon of everything, except the maple syrup, into a pan on low heat and mix until smooth. Add as much maple syrup as you would like but start with a small amount because maple syrup is very sweet but very good! Personally, I put about a 1/4 tsp of maple syrup. And that’s it.

 

SIDE NOTES

The almond butter adds extra protein in your breakfast. Alternatively you can use peanut butter for the added protein, but it makes me break out (and I don’t really like peanut butter *GASPS*). Almond butter also makes the sauce creamy and richer without overpowering the chocolate taste.

I added coconut oil to help reduce the thickness of the sauce and give it that “melted” consistency. It also adds a nice and subtle coconut flavour. For those of you who don’t like coconut you can add less of it, and more of the cacao powder! Best of all, coconut oil is a great addition to your diet (more on that in a future post). I usually put a tablespoon in my smoothies or occasionally use it as my cooking oil. But be careful because it is a saturated fat after all so don’t over consume

Lastly, not only is cacao powder yummy but it’s a great antioxidant. It also contains a fair amount of iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. And some say that it helps elevate your mood but I don’t really know much about that. I will do some research on it and share in the future.

 

Anyways let me know if you decided to give it a try!