Did you know that there is a National Popcorn day? I don’t know who makes up these random ‘special’ days, but if there is food involved, I’m willing to participate. But when I discovered this special day last year, I really wanted to take part in the celebrations but I wasn’t in the mood for popcorn. I wanted CHOCOLATE! But I didn’t want to dis my pal popcorn, so I did what any devoted and hormonally driven lady would do. I drizzled chocolate all over a bowl of popcorn and dug in. This slightly wacky combination turned out to be a huge hit with my taste buds!
In the spirit of the holidays, I decided to tweak this recipe to offer up a little seasonally delicious punch of mint to replace those artificially flavoured, garbage filled peppermint patty’s that are such a huge hit this time of year. Honest to betsy, just look at their ingredients:
| SUGAR; CORN SYRUP; SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE ( CHOCOLATE; SUGAR; COCOA; MILK FAT; COCOA BUTTER; SOY LECITHIN; PGPR, EMULSIFIER; VANILLIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR) ; INVERT SUGAR; EGG WHITES; OIL OF PEPPERMINT; MILK |
But I won’t dwell on the negative nancy narrative about why this stuff makes my tummy turn. Just know that PGPR (Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate), fake flavours and type 2 diabetes inducing corn high-fructose corn syrup are NOT ingredients you need to ingest in order to enjoy delicious peppermint chocolate treats. I’ve got a solution that only requires 5 ingredients, none of which are nasty.
This recipe calls for 6 cups of popped popcorn so if you’re thinking “I’ll just toss a few bags of that handy Orville Redenbacher’s stuff in the microwave”, don’t. Just don’t.
Use an air popper if you have one or do what I do and make it on the stove. Here’s how:
In a large saucepan, place in a couple tablespoons of coconut oil and melt over medium-high heat. Once the oil is heated, toss in about 3 kernels. Once they pop, you know your oil is ready. Remove the 3 popped kernels with a spoon and add about 1/3 of a cup of kernels (to make approx. 6 cups of popped) shaking the pot every so often. Once the kernels start popping, don’t let the pot sit on the heat for more than 10 seconds at a time. Remove from heat, shake and place back on the heat and repeat until the popping stops. And there you have it. Popcorn sans that chemical shitstorm.
- 6 Cups of Organic Popped Popcorn
- 1/4 cup Coconut oil
- 1/2 Cup Cacao powder
- 2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1/4 tsp Peppermint Extract
- A few pinches of course Sea salt
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Pour popped popcorn evenly on baking sheet and set aside
- In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil over low heat
- Once melted, remove from heat whisk in maple syrup, cacao powder and peppermint extract
- Lightly drizzle the chocolate mint mixture over the popcorn
- Sprinkle on a few pinches of course sea salt and place the baking sheet in freezer to set for approx. 15 mins
- Once set, give it a shake and enjoy!
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to eat.
- *This chocolate melts pretty quickly, so eat it right out of the fridge and arm yourself with a napkin.
![[CONFESSION] I’ve been eating a ton of packaged food lately. And I’m pumped about it.
.
2 months without a kitchen and way too much #ubereats has me releasing the beliefs around food that no longer serve me in this exact moment.
.
I hold myself to a pretty high standard when it comes to food. I enjoy making most things from scratch with love and intention and I feel best when I do. BUT trying to do that without a kitchen/sink/stove has been causing me unnecessary stress and guilt. So I had to let that shit go, step up and do the best I can given my situation.
.
This realization hit me when we got slapped in the face with a
2 month extension on our kitchen renovation, I saw my @ubereats_canada bills adding up and my body was getting pissed with all the ‘healthyish’ food I was dialling in from delivery.
.
Perfection is a limiting belief we can all benefit from letting go of. You don’t need superfood powders, magic dusts or hand-squeezed exotic rainforest nut milks to be healthy. Keep it real (and realistic) for where you are at right now. And if right now means packaged-foods with the most real food ingredients possible, just know that I’m right there with you. 👊🏻🥫🥚🍽 what are you letting go of to make your life better? Hit me 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
.
Peep my #instastory for a full kitchen tour and to see what other packaged eats I’ve been chowing down on!](http://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/f7e3b7dd69395589249f508938bfce20/5C8F8994/t51.2885-15/e35/s320x320/44550478_1163974803757596_6172538246373870280_n.jpg "[CONFESSION] I’ve been eating a ton of packaged food lately. And I’m pumped about it.
.
2 months without a kitchen and way too much #ubereats has me releasing the beliefs around food that no longer serve me in this exact moment.
.
I hold myself to a pretty high standard when it comes to food. I enjoy making most things from scratch with love and intention and I feel best when I do. BUT trying to do that without a kitchen/sink/stove has been causing me unnecessary stress and guilt. So I had to let that shit go, step up and do the best I can given my situation.
.
This realization hit me when we got slapped in the face with a
2 month extension on our kitchen renovation, I saw my @ubereats_canada bills adding up and my body was getting pissed with all the ‘healthyish’ food I was dialling in from delivery.
.
Perfection is a limiting belief we can all benefit from letting go of. You don’t need superfood powders, magic dusts or hand-squeezed exotic rainforest nut milks to be healthy. Keep it real (and realistic) for where you are at right now. And if right now means packaged-foods with the most real food ingredients possible, just know that I’m right there with you. 👊🏻🥫🥚🍽 what are you letting go of to make your life better? Hit me 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
.
Peep my #instastory for a full kitchen tour and to see what other packaged eats I’ve been chowing down on!")
![[REEL LIFE VS REAL LIFE].
My first food pic in over a month! Why? Swipe right 🔨.
A TON of stuff has gone down over the past month. I lost my beloved fur son Ken (see last post) and my kitchen/main floor living space all in the span of 24 hours. So I’ve been living the crockpot & hot plate life over here in construction land and learning some seriously valuable life lessons.
.
1) PERSPECTIVE is everything.
Keeping a positive mental attitude (PMA) has been crucial for my sanity in the chaos of renovation land. The hubs and I are currently living in our basement during the reno and pretending our makeshift space is a tiny apartment in New York City and that we’re on some grand adventure! Washing dishes in the shower feels like camping. What a treat! 🤪
.
2) GRATITUDE.
The fact that I even have an opportunity to craft a dream kitchen with my new hubby so we can start a new chapter (and maybe even a family 😋) is beyond amazing and is something I can count my lucky stars for every damn day.
I’m also grateful for the black mold, knob and tube wiring and asbestos they found in the walls. Because now we get to take it out and create a safe and healthy home! 💸
.
3) SIMPLICITY.
A lack of stove, oven and sink means meals have been simplified which opens up some time to work on epic things (like the upcoming #impactlivesevent with my girl @drmeghanwalker ). Living with less stuff, clutter and space is something that I am absolutely loving and will carry with me as the reno completes in 8 more weeks 🤞🏻 and it’s time to ‘fill’ the space again.
.
4) PRIORITIES.
You make time for what matters. Eating real food is a top priority for me. Even if it means chopping veggies on a cutting board on the floor. I could easily turn to nightly pizza and takeout. I have all the excuses to make that happen, but I won’t because I want to show up as my best self every damn day. Garbage guts from nightly takeout doesn’t usually facilitate that.
.
So now I need your help! Hook a sister up with your best slow cooker or one-pot meals so I can keep this real eats train chu-chu-chugging along! @thatcleanlife I’m taking down allll your slow cooker goodness right meow!](http://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/73641996252e7c13d23ffd5aa9d6c3da/5C7DE215/t51.2885-15/e35/s320x320/42392732_476810996136491_8481453611215380951_n.jpg "[REEL LIFE VS REAL LIFE].
My first food pic in over a month! Why? Swipe right 🔨.
A TON of stuff has gone down over the past month. I lost my beloved fur son Ken (see last post) and my kitchen/main floor living space all in the span of 24 hours. So I’ve been living the crockpot & hot plate life over here in construction land and learning some seriously valuable life lessons.
.
1) PERSPECTIVE is everything.
Keeping a positive mental attitude (PMA) has been crucial for my sanity in the chaos of renovation land. The hubs and I are currently living in our basement during the reno and pretending our makeshift space is a tiny apartment in New York City and that we’re on some grand adventure! Washing dishes in the shower feels like camping. What a treat! 🤪
.
2) GRATITUDE.
The fact that I even have an opportunity to craft a dream kitchen with my new hubby so we can start a new chapter (and maybe even a family 😋) is beyond amazing and is something I can count my lucky stars for every damn day.
I’m also grateful for the black mold, knob and tube wiring and asbestos they found in the walls. Because now we get to take it out and create a safe and healthy home! 💸
.
3) SIMPLICITY.
A lack of stove, oven and sink means meals have been simplified which opens up some time to work on epic things (like the upcoming #impactlivesevent with my girl @drmeghanwalker ). Living with less stuff, clutter and space is something that I am absolutely loving and will carry with me as the reno completes in 8 more weeks 🤞🏻 and it’s time to ‘fill’ the space again.
.
4) PRIORITIES.
You make time for what matters. Eating real food is a top priority for me. Even if it means chopping veggies on a cutting board on the floor. I could easily turn to nightly pizza and takeout. I have all the excuses to make that happen, but I won’t because I want to show up as my best self every damn day. Garbage guts from nightly takeout doesn’t usually facilitate that.
.
So now I need your help! Hook a sister up with your best slow cooker or one-pot meals so I can keep this real eats train chu-chu-chugging along! @thatcleanlife I’m taking down allll your slow cooker goodness right meow!")
![[GRIEF] 4 weeks ago, I lost my handsome prince Ken. On our last night of a perfect 4 day family weekend at the cottage, Ken wandered away from the campfire and has not been seen since. Maybe he got lost? Maybe he decided it was his time to lay to rest? Perhaps he just couldn’t stand my campfire ukulele sing-alongs any more. Not knowing, crushes my heart every day. No more morning wake up calls for pellets, no more snugs and no more adventures with my best pal. But damnit we had a good run!
.
Along with many other life lessons (I previously wrote a whole blog post on him), Ken has now shown me how I deal with grief. And it’s no bueno.
.
Turns out I shut down and avoid ‘exposing’ it and I cry. A lot. The thought of sharing this was so hard and I’ve realized it was because a) saying it would make it real and b) because grief shows vulnerability, and vulnerability ‘feels’ like a weakness for me. Although, when others show their vulnerability, I value it, honour it and appreciate it so much! I’ve decided it’s time to stop believing the bullshit I’ve told myself about vulnerability.
.
So here I am bearing my broken heart for my silly prince. He was the absolute best and I’m so mega grateful for every single moment I had with him. Squeeze your fur babes a little tighter for me today.
Love,
The Mom xoxox
.
I haven’t shared anything on here since losing Ken because nothing felt authentic without sharing this first. I how could I possibly post pics of #eggsonstuff and pretend all is well? I promise to return to your regularly scheduled food pics and instavids real soon. From my hot plate in the basement because I have no kitchen. More on that in another post...](http://scontent-lax3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/f5ea800b541272c60bfc3d9865a8b22c/5CAEFB21/t51.2885-15/e35/s320x320/42003664_2149777065260634_4557401231317762188_n.jpg "[GRIEF] 4 weeks ago, I lost my handsome prince Ken. On our last night of a perfect 4 day family weekend at the cottage, Ken wandered away from the campfire and has not been seen since. Maybe he got lost? Maybe he decided it was his time to lay to rest? Perhaps he just couldn’t stand my campfire ukulele sing-alongs any more. Not knowing, crushes my heart every day. No more morning wake up calls for pellets, no more snugs and no more adventures with my best pal. But damnit we had a good run!
.
Along with many other life lessons (I previously wrote a whole blog post on him), Ken has now shown me how I deal with grief. And it’s no bueno.
.
Turns out I shut down and avoid ‘exposing’ it and I cry. A lot. The thought of sharing this was so hard and I’ve realized it was because a) saying it would make it real and b) because grief shows vulnerability, and vulnerability ‘feels’ like a weakness for me. Although, when others show their vulnerability, I value it, honour it and appreciate it so much! I’ve decided it’s time to stop believing the bullshit I’ve told myself about vulnerability.
.
So here I am bearing my broken heart for my silly prince. He was the absolute best and I’m so mega grateful for every single moment I had with him. Squeeze your fur babes a little tighter for me today.
Love,
The Mom xoxox
.
I haven’t shared anything on here since losing Ken because nothing felt authentic without sharing this first. I how could I possibly post pics of #eggsonstuff and pretend all is well? I promise to return to your regularly scheduled food pics and instavids real soon. From my hot plate in the basement because I have no kitchen. More on that in another post...")
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