DAIRY FREE IMITATION CREAM CHEESE

ITS CALLED TOFINI, MADE FROM TOFU- HAS NO CHOLESTEROL AND TASTES EXACTLY LIKE CREAM CHEESE!

*ME AND A FEW FRIENDS HAVE RECENTLY BECAME GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE RECIPIES AND STUFF TO TRY!

I'VE ALSO NOTICED GLUTEN FREE PRODUCTS CAN BE HARD TO FIND WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE GLUTEN FREE OR NOT, IF YOU DON'T SEE A GLUTEN FREE SIGN ON IT ASSUME IT HAS GLUTEN IN IT! I RECENTLY DISCOVERED SOY SAUCE HAS GLUTEN IN IT, I NEVER KNEW!

MATERIAL GIRL- SOLD AT THE BAY!

I RECENTLY DISCOVERED MATERIAL GIRL CLOTHING DESIGNED BY MADONNA AND HER DAUGHTER. THIS BRAND IS AFFORDABLE AND I LOVE THE DRESSES. THE MOST I'VE SPENT ON A DRESS IS 40$. IT FITS TRUE TO SIZE TOO! I RECOMMEND CHECKING IT OUT!

                 

GLUTEN FREE AND DAIRY FREE PIZZA

THIS PIZZA IS QUICK AND EASY TO MAKE! I'VE LISTED BELOW IN ORDER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THE INGREDIENT, WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THE BRAND NAME.

-BROWN RICE WRAP (WHOLE FOODS- FOOD FOR LIFE)

-SOY CHEDDAR AND MOZZARELLA CHEESE (WHOLE FOODS- DAIYA)

-FRESH SALSA, THE KIND WITH FRESH CHOPPED TOMATOES NOT LIQUID (WHOLE FOODS)

-CANNED CORN

-RED PEPPER

-SUN DRIED TOMATOES

-BBQ SAUCE OR PIZZA SAUCE

THROW ALL THE INGREDIENTS ON AND BAKE IN THE OVEN OR TOASTER OVEN AT 400 FOR 10 MINUTES OR LESS, WHENEVER CHEESE LOOKS MELTED. ENJOY!

Red wines-Flavour and Aroma-Body

PINOT NOIR

STRAWBERRY, BERRIES, CHERRY

LIGHT TO MEDIUM BODY

MERLOT

BLACKBERRY, PLUM, CURRENT, CHOCOLATE, VANILLA

MEDIUM BODY

ZINFANDEL

BERRIES, JAMMY, CHERRY

MEDIUM TO HEAVY BODY

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

BLUEBERRIES, BLACK CURRENT, CASSIS, RASPBERRIES, OAKY

HEAVY BODY

CABERNET FRANC

RASPBERRY, CASSIS, HERBACEOUS

MEDIUM BODY

MALBEC

BLACKBERRY, JAMMY

MEDIUM TO HEAVY BODY

SYRAH

PEPPERY, SPICES, BLACKBERRY, CINNAMON

MEDIUM TO HEAVY BODY

PETIT SYRAH

BLACKBERRY, PEPPER, JAMMY

HEAVY BODY

SHIRAZ

BLACK FRUIT, PLUM, BLACK PEPPER, CHOCOLATE, MOCHA

MEDIUM TO HEAVY BODY

SANGIOVESE- CHIANTI

CHERRY, FRUITY, SPICES

LIGHT TO MEDIUM BODY

BARBERA (ITALY)

BERRIES

MEDIUM BODY

AMARONE

RAISIN, VERY LITTLE ACIDITY

HEAVY BODY

A RICH ITALIAN WINE MADE FROM SOME PARTIALLY DRIED GRAPES CALLED CORVINA, RONDINELLA, AND MOLINARA

BAROLO (ITALY)

FLOWERY, ROSES, VIOLET OR FRUIT, LICORICE, OAK

MEDIUM TO FULL BODY

MADE FROM NEBBIOLO GRAPES WHICH ARE DEEP RED IN COLOUR WITH A THICK AND COMPLEX TASTE

BORDEAUX (FRANCE)

GRAPES USED ARE CAB SAV, MERLOT, CAB FRANC, PETIT VERDOT, AND MALBEC

HEAVY BODY

BURGANDY

CAN BE RED OR WHITE WINE

REDS MAINLY MADE FROM PINOT NOIR AND WHITES MADE FROM CHARDONNAY

HEAVY BODY

White Wines-Aroma and Flavour-Body

SPARKLING

APPLE, PEAR, YEAST

MEDIUM BODY

SAUVIGNON BLANC

HERBACEOUS, GRASSY, HAY, CITRUS, FRUITY

LIGHT TO MEDIUM BODY

CHARDONNAY

PEAR, APPLE, OAK, BUTTERY, CREAMY

MEDIUM TO HEAVY BODY

VIOGNER

FLORAL, PEACH, APRICOT, PEAR, FRUITY

MEDIUM BODY

PINOT GRIS/ PINOT GRIGIO

CRISP, PEAR, PEACH, APRICOT

LIGHT BODY

PINOT GRIS TENDS TO BE A PINK COLOUR AND IS A BIT SWEETER. PINOT GRIGIO IS A LIGHT YELLOW COLOUR AND TENDS TO BE DRYER

PINOT BLANC

PEAR, APPLE, FRUITY

MEDIUM BODY

CHENIN BLANC

PEACH, FRUITY

LIGHT BODY

GEWURZTRAMINER

LYCHEE NUT, SPICY, FLORAL

MEDIUM BODY

RIESLING

APPLE, LEMON, FLORAL, APRICOT, FRUITY

LIGHT BODY

A MYTH ABOUT RIESLING IS THAT IT IS A SWEET WINE, BUT SOME RIESLINGS CAN BE DRY AND THEY ARE VERY GOOD AS WELL

VERDEHLO/ VHINO VERDE

TROPICAL, PINEAPPLE, GUAVA

LIGHT BODY

MOST VHINO VERDES HAVE A BIT OF SPARKLE (FIZZ) ADDED TO THEM

MUSCAT/ MUSCATO

FRUITY PEACH, CORIANDER SPICE, ORANGE

LIGHT TO MEDIUM BODY

GRENACHE GRIS

SWEETER, SAVOURY, ALMOST OILY (THINK LUSCIOUS)

LIGHT TO MEDIUM BODY

TORRONTES

GOOD ACIDITY WITH A LONG FINISH, FLORAL AND TROPICAL NOTES

MEDIUM BODY

Chateau Ste Michelle Gewurztraminer- with a splash of Muscat

This wine is medium dry. You can really taste the lychee, the spice, and the crisp citrus fruit. Gewurztraminer wines are typically a bit dryer than this one, but the 15 % muscat really adds a nice zing to the wine!

It pairs well wit turkey, asian cuisine, hot and spicy dishes, especially curry! Or on its own.

Retails for: $15.99 at Libations liquor store in Dundarave and may vary in other stores.

Vichy 3 in 1 Cleanser

This face wash is amazing! It's an EYE MAKE UP REMOVER, CLEANSER, AND TONER all in one!

It may be used on your face with or without water to rinse it off. However i use cotton pads to rub it all over my face and remove my make up and then rinse it off. I've been using it for 3 years and I have dry to normal skin and I've rarely had any impurities. It is a cleanser for ALL SKIN types.

Retail cost: $20.95

New Favourite Summer Reads!

A couple books I've recently read are:

"Thin, Rich, and Pretty" by Beth Harbison- About:

Three girls will do anything to be thin rich or pretty, they all have one of those things that they are chasing after!

and "The Undomestic Goddess" by Sophie Kinsella- About:

A women who finds her life change dramatically after a few mistakes we all can make in life. But overall, her life changes for the better.

They are both very funny, with just enough romance and thrill to make you want to read more books by these authors.

DON SIMON ORGANIC SANGRIA

If you are in the mood for sangria and don't want to gather up all the ingredients to make it yourself try DON SIMON ORGANIC SANGRIA! I'ts smooth, fruity, and not to sweet. If you do find it too sweet for you, just add some soda water and some lemon! Price ranges from $9.99- $12.49 depending on where you buy it. It's available in most BCL's and Cold Beer and Wine stores.

SaNgRia

Sangria is a perfect summer refreshment!

What you need:

-one bottle cabernet sauvignon
-one bottle pinot noir
-frozen peaches and strawberries
-peach juice
-raspberry juice
-lemons and limes
-ginger ale or soda water
-garnish with fresh cherries

The best way to serve it is to mix up all the juices frozen fruit and wine, and then pour the ginger ale or soda water in each glass as you serve, so the sangria doesn't go flat! Enjoy!

OBSESSION WHITE WINE

This is one of my new favourite white wines! It is a grenache gris and a muscat blend. This combination of grapes sounds sickly sweet, so I was hesitant to try it. But it was a medium dry wine and it was amazing! One of the best white wines I have tried in years.  I bought it at Libations Liquor store in West Vancouver for $17.99.

Sweet and salty TOFU

About a year ago a friend of mine taught me a really quick and easy tofu recipe! So for all those tofu lovers out there. I'm sure you'll love this!

WHAT YOU NEED:

-medium firm tofu (cut into small squares)
-soy sauce
-maple syrup

You can either throw the tofu in a pan and drizzle the soy sauce and maple syrup and sautee it up. Or you can marinate the tofu overnight and then sautee it all up! One of my favourite dishes and best served with some sparkiling wine!

Duwop Bronzing Body Moisturizer (Deep Tone)

I recently discovered this product at Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique, the West Vancouver Location in Dundarave Village. It lasts for one day and has no self tanners in it. It is great for a night out or a day at the beach because it has a SPF 15 in it! This is my favourite bronzing cream on the market right now. I've tried many others and not one compares to this. It's easy to apply, just rub it in a fast circular motion, as it does dry quickly. I tested it by trying to rub it off onto one of my old shirts and it stayed on perfectly with NO orange residue on my shirt. For a real looking tan without the sun, tanning beds, or a self tanner, this is a great solution!

It is $31.00 for 120 ml's and one other product that compares to this was the Loreal Paris one day Bronzing loltion for $17.00.