(Updated Feb 2023, back by popular demand!)

Last year, my family and I made an effort to eat less meat. We started with “Meatless Mondays” and now we are aiming for “Meat-free Fridays” too. I wanted to come up with something that was still tasty and fun, yet packed with goodness. So after some brainstorming, I concocted my Greek-inspired Crispy Lentil, Spinach and Feta Fritters.

Always trying to incorporate more veggies into our meals, these protein-packed lentil patties have just the right combination of tangy, low fat feta cheese, black olives, spinach and a good hit of lemon. We even use them as a hamburger substitute and throw a fritter on a bun with cucumbers, tomatoes and a dollop of tzatziki.

My kids love them! Add a squeeze of extra lemon and serve warm or cold. They also freeze great and are a regular addition to my daughter’s school lunch.

According to Lentils.org, my go-to resource and inspiration for lentil-based recipes, lentils are a powerhouse of nutrition. They are a low-fat source of potassium, calcium, zinc, niacin and vitamin K, but are particularly rich in dietary fibre, protein, folate and iron. These are a really fabulous meat-free alternative if that’s something you’re looking for!

Crispy Lentil, Spinach and Feta Fritters (makes about 12 fritters)

Ingredients:

• 1 can cooked lentils (540 mL) or about 2 and a ¼ cups, washed and drained
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup reduced fat feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup of pitted black olives, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh or dry dill, finely chopped
• A few pinches of sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup of frozen chopped spinach, slightly defrosted and separated or 1 cup sautéed fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped or put through a press
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

Directions:

1. I pulsed half of the lentils in a food processor and left the remaining half whole.
2. In a large bowl, add the lentils, eggs, garlic, dill, lemon juice, salt/pepper, feta cheese, bread crumbs, chopped black olives and mix well with the chopped spinach.
3. Allow the mixture to stand for a few minutes, enabling the bread crumbs to absorb the lemon and eggs.
4. Heat some olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan and set to medium.
5. Form lentil cakes or patties about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick. Place the patties in skillet, in batches if necessary.
6. Cook the patties until they’re browned on the outside, 3 to 4 minutes per side and then flip.
7. Serve warm with a squeeze of lemon and dip in tzatziki, a flavoured mayo or plain Greek yogurt. ENJOY!

Another fan favorite recipe is this organic homemade sandwich bread

The post Crispy Lentil, Spinach and Feta Fritters appeared first on The Mabelhood.

There are loads of homemade bread recipes out there. About two years ago, I was determined to try to make some homemade bread as I was tired of all of the processed breads and too lazy to drive to my local bakery. So I had a gander online for the easiest DIY recipe I could fine. At first, it was overwhelming, sifting through the various methodologies for baking the perfect homemade kitchen creation.  

So I rolled up my sleeves and got lots of flour everywhere, and after a few failed attempts, I finally landed on a winner! My Easy Overnight No Knead Bread Recipe was born! My method is a slightly altered version of the Girl vs Dough recipe. I am a huge fan of the Girl vs Dough and I found her recipe the easiest yet most flavourful yield. The best part? No bread machine or kneading is required! This is literally the easiest bread recipe you will ever make. No fuss and minimal mess, all you need is a large bowl, a Dutch oven, your ingredients and one night. Yes, while you sleep, this bread will magically do its thing!

What I love about this recipe is the minimal ingredients required, many of which you probably already have in your pantry right now.  While yeast was a hot commodity early in the pandemic, it is much more readily available so you shouldn’t have a problem picking up some in your local grocery store baking aisle.

What you will need:

• A Dutch oven or cast iron casserole pot – a kitchen staple in my book!
•  Flour – all purpose, bread flour and whole wheat flour work
• Active dry yeast – I use Fleischmann’s
• Sea salt and sugar – for some flavour and to kick start the yeast!
• Warm water – a kitchen or meat  thermometer is useful to ensure you get the accurate temperature
• Overnight – so your dough can rise! Literally throw the ingredients in a bowl and let the magic happen
• That’s it – yes, you read that correctly. This is ALL YOU NEED TO MAKE HOMEMADE BREAD!

My absolute favourite part of making homemade bread? THE SMELL! While baking, the scent of fresh bread that will fill your house is amazing. Last New Year’s (pre-pandemic of course), I hosted a party with about 25 guests in my cramped kitchen and served homemade soup and bread. The compliments that I received on the aroma alone were so positive and plentiful that I knew this recipe was a winner. Every Christmas I bake about 10 loaves over the holidays – they are the perfect host gift and this year, they will be making their way to several porch drop offs!

What is a Dutch Oven? Never heard of a Dutch oven before? I personally wasn’t familiar with this piece of cookware until about four years ago when my Mom gifted me one for Christmas. According to Wayfair.com, “a Dutch oven is a large, heavy, usually cylindrical piece of cookware. Due to its incredible heat-retention capabilities, it can serve almost any stovetop or oven cooking function – from simmering soup to baking bread.” Usually made of cast iron coated in enamel, this heavy and versatile pot is clearly the unsung hero of my DIY bread recipe because it really does all the work. They key is pre-heating it enough so that it evenly and quickly bakes your dough. Don’t have a Dutch oven? You may want to consider investing in one. They don’t have to cost $350 either. Winners, Canadian Tire and Homesense are all great sources for good quality Dutch ovens (mine is a Cuisinart cast iron casserole dish). I use mine to make soups, weeknight pasta, for braising meats and more.

I also love how this easy homemade bread recipe is so versatile. You can get creative and modify the basic bread recipe to feature any flavour you want:

• Two tablespoons of olive oil adds flavour and depth to the bread
• Incorporate your favourite herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, etc. Sprinkle a few on the top of your dough before putting in the oven for an flavourful garnish
• Try adding chopped olives or sundried tomatoes to your dough
• A quarter of a cup of grated parmesan cheese and a tablespoon or dried, chopped basil will add some Italian flair
• A Pinch of Yum has a fabulous no-knead cheese bread that I need to try!

Notes:

• All purpose, bread flour and whole wheat flour all work for this recipe. Please note that if you use whole wheat flour exclusively, your loaf will not rise as high and you may not get as many air pockets in the bread. This is because the whole wheat flour is heavier. I opt for  2 parts white flour and 1 part whole wheat to increase the fibre content and still get that decent rise (see my images), but you can go with all white flour too

My Easy Overnight No Knead Bread Recipe is also the perfect pairing with soup. It is preservative free, which means no added chemicals, however, it also means you need to eat it within 24 hours or freeze any leftovers. To be honest, this DIY no knead bread is so good, it probably won’t last very long in your kitchen! Give it a whirl over the holidays and be your very own bakery!

Easy Overnight No Knead Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour, plus some more for shaping
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius preferred)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, salt, sugar and yeast until well mixed. Make sure your bowl has some extra space at the top for the dough to rise!
2. Add your warm water. Use a wooden spoon to mix the flour and water until a shaggy, sticky dough forms. Add a few sprinkles of water to absorb all the flour (your dough should be a bit wet and very sticky!)
3. Cover the bowl and dough tightly with some plastic wrap or aluminum foil and set it aside in a warm place for at least 8 hours, up to a maximum of 18 hours. Your dough should rise slightly, taking up additional volume of the bowl (you should see some bubbles on the top and it will have a flat appearance). I prep my bread just before bedtime so it is ready to go in the morning!
4. Heat your oven to 450 degrees F. Once your oven is preheated, place your 6-quart Dutch oven  or cast iron casserole dish, preferably enamel coated (with cover) in oven for 30 minutes
5. While your Dutch oven is heating up, prepare your dough. With floured hands, punch down your dough and release some tension! Use your fingers to scrape the sides of the bowl, gathering the dough into the middle of the bowl and forming a loose ball (don’t worry; it won’t look beautiful…yet!)
6. Toss some flour onto a large sheet of parchment paper and carefully transfer your dough onto it. Flour your hands again and shape your dough into a ball, or as close to a ball as you can! Mine often look more oval shaped
7. Sprinkle some flour onto the top of your dough. Gently and loosely cover your dough with a sheet of plastic wrap and let it rest 30 minutes (I time this with my Dutch oven heating up)
8. Once your Dutch oven is fully pre-heated (be careful, it will be very HOT), uncover your dough and carefully transfer it to the Dutch oven, with the parchment paper underneath (this prevents the dough sticking to the bottom of the pot)
9. Cover your Dutch oven and return it to the oven and bake the dough for 35 minutes. Remove lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until you get that golden brown colour on top. The bread should be crusty and hard on top. Be careful not to overcook your loaf as the bottom crust can get very tough and chewy! Depending on your oven, you may need to experiment with the baking timings
10. Behold your DIY homemade bread! Yes, you did that! Allow the loaf to cool slightly before slicing. Top with fresh butter, dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar – whatever floats your boat! Eat within 24 hours or freeze leftovers in an airtight container. One loaf feeds about 8-10 people and is approximately 115 calories per slice

The post Easy Overnight No-Knead Bread Recipe appeared first on The Mabelhood.

My Healthy Gingerbread Squares are naturally sweetened by stevia and molasses and contain no granulated sugar. I have also reduced the fat content by ditching the butter and opting for coconut oil instead. Prefer butter? No problem – you can use either option as both work well!

What you will need:

• Gingerbread spices – To create the iconic gingerbread flavour, you will need ground ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and all spice
• All purpose flour or gluten free flour – Both of these types of flour work with this recipe, just don’t substitute for whole wheat flour as it weighs down the squares and they don’t turn out soft and chewy (trust me, I tried!). I do add 6 tbsp of whole wheat flour for added fibre, plus it gives them a nice golden brown colour
• Molasses – Along with ginger, it is the molasses that creates the classic gingerbread taste. The ginger adds that warm, cozy spice flavour, while the molasses adds a rich, earthy undertone. I do not recommend substituting anything for molasses because your cookies won’t taste like true gingerbread without it! Molasses is also inexpensive, versatile and has a long shelf-life (don’t keep it refrigerated). Molasses can also be used in many other Christmas recipes, like these healthy oatmeal cups by The Girl on Bloor
• Coconut oil – Unlike many traditional recipes that require a full stick or two of butter, my gingerbread square recipe only requires 2 tablespoons of the fat or your choice. I opted for coconut oil for this recipe, but you can still use unsalted butter if you prefer. Just make sure it is melted and at room temperature before adding it with the other ingredients. I also recently discovered liquid coconut oil at my local grocery store. I used to always buy the solid coconut oil and melt it down, but having the healthy fat already in liquid form in my pantry has proven super useful! Liquid or melted fat creates a much smoother and chewier texture and an overall better square experience!
• Stevia – Stevia is a plant-based, no-calorie sweetener that contains nothing refined or artificial (it’s clean eating friendly!). But because liquid stevia is so concentrated, you only need 1 teaspoon, which adds the sweetness equivalent of nearly a ½ cup of sugar!

My Healthy Gingerbread Squares with Festive Cream Cheese Frosting are perfect for the holidays—or anytime you’re craving a wintertime treat! They have that classic gingerbread flavour complimented by the sweet cream cheese frosting, making them the perfect pairing with a coffee or hot chocolate.

And we can’t have squares without the frosting! For the cream cheese frosting, I went with full fat cream cheese, but you can lower your calories by using lighter options too. Instead of traditional icing/confectioners sugar, I tried a sugar alternative called Swerve which contains erythritol, a naturally occurring sweetener made from corn using enzymes and fermentation. It has zero calories and tastes, bakes and measures like regular sugar! Content with your regular icing sugar? That works just fine for the frosting too.

The nice thing about these gingerbread squares is their texture. They are soft and chewy, unlike traditional gingerbread cookies which can be hard and stale. Even better, these healthy gingerbread squares contain minimal sugar, fat and only about 100 calories each, including frosting!

Once your healthy gingerbread squares are at room temperature and your festive cream cheese frosting is thick and creamy, just spread it on top, slice the pan into squares and voila! I topped mine with crushed up candy canes for that extra Christmas crunch! The squares will keep for at least three days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Try these healthier squares today and fill your home with the smell of Christmas!

Healthy Gingerbread Squares with Festive Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

For the Squares:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup all purpose flour + 6 tbsp (165g) whole wheat flour (gluten free flour works too)
• 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
• ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly (unsalted butter also works)
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp liquid stevia
• ¼ cup (60mL) molasses

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F and coat an 8 inch square pan with non-stick cooking spray
2. Grab 2 bowls – one large and one medium sized
3. In the medium bowl, mix together your dry ingredients including the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and baking powder. Use a whisk to ensure they are well blended
4. In the large bowl, add your wet ingredients including coconut oil or butter, egg, vanilla extract and liquid stevia. Whisk well before adding the molasses and stir the thick liquid until well combined
5. Next, add your dry ingredients to your dry ingredients in the large bowl. Incorporate the flour mixture a bit at a time, stirring just until incorporated and a soft dough forms. Feel free to use your hands to mix the dough a bit, but not too much
6. Using a spatula or your fingers, gently press the gingerbread dough into the prepared pan in a thin, even layer
7. Bake at 325° F for 11-12 minutes or until the center feels firm to the touch. Cool completely to room temperature in the pan before adding your frosting
8. While the squares are baking, prepare your frosting (see ingredients and directions below)

For the Festive Cream Cheese Frosting:

INGREDIENTS:

• ¼ cup salted butter, softened
• ½  block or about 4 ounces of plain cream cheese, softened
• 1 to 1 ½ cups icing/confectioners sugar, depending on your preferred level of sweetness (I used Swerve sugar replacement for my frosting)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Beat softened butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with electric mixer until smooth and well blended
2. Incorporate powdered sugar, a little bit at a time, and vanilla. Beat until creamy and fully blended
3. Top the squares while they are in the pan, but they must be fully cooled! Make frosting as thin or thick as you like. Keep any extra frosting in the fridge for up to 3 days and use to top muffins, cinnamon buns and more!

The post Healthy Gingerbread Squares With Festive Cream Cheese Frosting appeared first on The Mabelhood.

I absolutely love lattes and cafe mochas. Not a traditional coffee fan, I often opt for mocha or vanilla flavoured coffee drinks at my local cafe. I recently grabbed a peppermint mocha latte at the local Starbucks drive through and was surprised by the price – almost $6! I went home thinking, surely I can replicate this myself for less calories and half of the cost? With some experimenting in my kitchen, I was able to come up with a super quick copy cat formula for my favourite holiday hot drink: DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha!

Throughout the pandemic, I have been trying to watch what I eat. Eating cleaner and consuming less sugar have always been priorities, but finding replacements for comfort foods such as lattes and mochas has proven tough! I have been testing out different sugar replacements and recently discovered natural sweeteners like stevia and agave syrup. I have been experimenting with them in my cooking and baking and although it does take some time to get used to the different flavours, I have started enjoying them, especially in my coffee-based drinks. For my DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha, I used stevia as a sugar alternative. Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute derived from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana, native to Brazil and Paraguay. Stevia provides me with the sweetness I crave in my peppermint mocha, but without the excess calories a traditional drink would contain.

I clock the calories in my DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha at about 60-65 (this isn’t counting the whipped topping of course!). Compare this with the Starbucks version, where a short (8 oz.) skinny peppermint mocha with no whipped cream has a whopping 160 calories, 4 grams of fat and 26 grams of sugars! No thanks!

My DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha recipe allows you to skip the Starbucks drive though, save a few dollars and maybe even a few calories! It literally takes me 5 minutes to whip one of these up, worth the effort to go to considering how much my waistline and wallet will thank me!

The nice thing about this recipe is that you can modify it depending on your tastes. Plus it is really easy to customize so that it’s exactly as chocolaty, pepperminty and sweet as you like:

Milk – any type will do including soy, almond or regular dairy. I opt for skim or 1% to cut down my calorie intake

Peppermint Extract – be sure to use a premium, pure peppermint extract. I like PC’s Black Label Pure Peppermint Extract and DoTerra’s Peppermint Essential Oil works too

Coffee – I don’t have an espresso machine (it is on my Christmas wish list!) so I make my DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha with strong, freshly brewed coffee. You totally could replace the coffee with espresso if you have the means to at home, just use less as espresso is a more concentrated and intense coffee.

Sweetness – any sweetener will do. I used stevia for my recipe to reduce the calories, but you can opt for traditional white or brown sugar, honey, maple syrup and agave syrup works too

Toppings: Totally optional, but I like to indulge with a little whip cream now and then. The crushed candy canes add an extra peppermint crunch too!

Tips for Making a DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha:

– I personally like a bit of froth in my peppermint mocha. If you don’t have a milk frother-thingy at home like me, you can simply pour your milk into a jar with a lid, making sure to fill it less than halfway. Just shake the jar as vigorously as you can (make the sure the lid of tightly sealed!) for about a minute or so, until the milk is nice and frothy and has doubled in volume. Be your own Barista and use a spoon to hold the froth in the cup while pouring the warm milk into your coffee. Lastly, use the spoon to scoop the foam on top and voila!

– You have a lot of options for adding chocolate to your mocha. Personally, I like to use unsweetened cocoa powder and then add my own sweetener to taste, but you could go for regular chocolate syrup, melted semi sweet chocolate, etc. – No coffee maker at home? No problem – try instant coffee or even instant espresso. Both of these work and with some tweaking of flavours, can be quite good

Skip the Starbucks drive through and try my DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha today!

DIY Skinny Peppermint Mocha Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup fresh, strong brewed coffee
• 2/3 cup 1% dairy milk or milk of your choice (FYI higher fat milk yields a richer mocha)
• 1 tbsp unsweetened, organic cocoa powder
• 2 packets or ¼ tsp liquid stevia or sweetener of choice (agave syrup, honey, Maple syrup, etc.)
• 1/8 tsp peppermint extract (I like President Choice’s Pure Peppermint Extract)

Directions:

1. Combine the coffee and half of the milk and warm in your microwave or in a small pan on the stovetop until nice and hot. Stir in the cocoa powder, stevia and peppermint and whisk well until fully combined
2. Pour the remaining milk into a jar with a lid and shake vigorously, approximately 60 seconds until it is nice and frothy and has doubled in volume. Remove the lid and microwave for 30-60 seconds until milk is warm and froth has moved to the top. Get your Barista on and use a spoon to hold the froth in the cup and pour the warm milk into the mocha mixture. Then use a spoon to scoop the foam on top. Eat your heart out Starbucks! Not a fan of frothed milk or want to save time and skip this step? Simply add all of your ingredients into a microwaveable container or small pan on the stove and whisk well until heated and combined fully!
3. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes or a sprinkle of extra cocoa powder and enjoy!

Please note: this recipe is derived from a recipe posted by the always fabulous Girl on Bloor. She has a great recipe for making peppermint syrup – check it out here.

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I am always looking for healthy, holiday-inspired recipes that my entire family will love and these healthy oatmeal cups are a quick and tasty Christmas breakfast or snack idea. You most likely already have the ingredients needed for this simple recipe in your pantry: – Milk of your choice (almond, coconut, soy, cashew or dairy milk)
– Maple syrup
– Coconut oil
– Eggs
– Rolled oats
– Ginger
– Cinnamon
– Nutmeg

The neat thing about these oatmeal cups is that they are gluten-free and refined sugar-free, but definitely not taste-free! Since the beginning of this pandemic, I have been trying to reduce my sugar intake and eat ‘cleaner’. This recipe contains no processed sugar other than maple syrup – it doesn’t get more Canadian than that, eh? What sets maple syrup apart from traditional refined sugar is the high mineral and antioxidant content. Don’t believe me? This Canadian Living article puts maple syrup to the test! Although maple syrup is still high in sugar, it at least offers a few benefits to traditional, granulated or refined sugars.

My Maple Gingerbread Oatmeal Cups are a school snack favourite for my daughters and are kid-approved! They also keep very well in the freezer and can easily be defrosted in the microwave for a fast, fibre-rich, energy boosting snack. Pair them with your favourite yogurt and fruit for a festive breakfast and you are good to go!

This versatile recipe also allows for ingredient substitutions, should you not have any of the required ones handy:

Milk: You can use whatever you have in your fridge – soy, almond, cashew, coconut milk all work and even regular dairy milk too. I opted for soy in my recipe.

Spices: the ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon are all key flavours in this recipe, creating the gingerbread experience in these oatmeal cups. However, if you are out of nutmeg, just increased the ginger by about half a teaspoon for similar results.

Toppings: My daughters like to add chocolate chips for some added sweetness. I have also topped these oatmeal cups with dried banana chips, chopped nuts and dried fruit. The options are endless!

Maple Gingerbread Oatmeal Cups Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk of your choice (almond, coconut, cashew, soy and regular dairy milk work)
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (liquid form, cooled)
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1.5  tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F
2. Grab two large mixing bowls. In the first large bowl, add your wet ingredients: milk, maple syrup, coconut oil and eggs. Mix well with a whisk
3. In your second large mixing bowl, mix together your dry ingredients: rolled oats, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
4. Pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients gradually and mix together well
5. Line 12 muffin tins with muffin cup liners and divide the oatmeal mixture among them, making sure to get an even ratio of oats and liquid in each cup. You may need to use a small soon to help with portioning
6. Bake in the oven for approx. 20 minutes or until set and golden brown
7. Remove the oatmeal cups from your muffin tin and let cool
8. Store leftover oatmeal cups in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze them in an air-tight container for an easy snack/breakfast!

Please note: This is an adapted recipe from the amazing Girl on Bloor. She has several varieties of oatmeal cups on her blog. You can check them out here.

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These are just a few words that have been used to describe 2020 and the current Coronavirus Pandemic. Wherever you are in the world, you have no doubt felt the negative impacts of COVID-19. Whether it be on your local economy or bank account, your mental health or physical health, your employment or education, this microscopic virus has no doubt had a massive impact on the global community.

The pandemic has caused many disappointments and challenges as families have had to miss out on planned vacations, school activities, big life events and social gatherings. Quarantine has cancelled concerts, postponed weddings and bar mitzvahs, kyboshed graduation ceremonies and generally ceased any fun and social events. Families have been forced to work and conduct class from home, causing much added stress on the typical average household. In short, we have almost had to re-invent ourselves, constantly analyzing what we do and how we do it.

So has there been at least some positive impact on society as a result of COVID-19? The optimist inside of me says yes. Or at the very least, I hope. Before the cynic inside of you counters my optimism, at least read through to what I think the four unexpected benefits of this pandemic are:

Carpe Diem (seize the day)

When I found myself suddenly unemployed in March 2020, I felt lost. My teaching contract had abruptly ended and not being able to go back to a classroom left me feeling useless and a little bit depressed. Add to that the fact that everything was canceled, including our March Break trip and our summer plans to see the in-laws in the UK weren’t looking very likely either. And yet, after the initial shock of the spring lockdown sunk in and I started to accept the current reality of homeschooling my two daughters and not teaching for awhile, I started to at least try to look on the bright side.

As parents, we are always spinning many plates: planning dinners, making lunches, running errands, managing the calendar and extracurricular activities, attempting to keep up with chores, all the while working and trying to maintain some kind of quality family unit. Let’s face it – we are a busy society, and this busy life can cause exhaustion and have negative effects on our mental health. For our family, quarantine and cancelled extracurricular activities has given us the chance to reduce the places we need to be on any given day. And I love it. No commute to work or school meant we could sleep in and enjoy a half decent breakfast for once. We now have more time for leisurely activities, like going for a walk or bike ride after school, that we didn’t have time for in the past. I could barely sit through a movie with my family before the pandemic as I always had a list of to-dos swirling around in my head and guilt often got the better of me by the time the opening credits concluded. The Pandemic of 2020 has allowed my family to just breathe. And you should, too.

GSD (Get Stuff Done)

Any family or homeowner will tell you that chores around the house and home improvement projects are never ending. We literally had a new shelving unit sitting in its original packaging for six months, just waiting to be assembled. It wasn’t until lockdown was in full effect and all extracurricular activities were put on hold that we were able to bust out that storage unit and get it put together!

Quarantining has definitely given families a chance to catch-up on projects around the house and perhaps even spruce up their living space. I even found some time to focus on my health. For years I have been trying to shed those last, lingering post baby pounds. Firmly into my forties, I found that I just didn’t have the energy or willpower anymore to be as active as I wanted or needed to be. I have, however, always dreamt of being a runner. Jogging seemed like such a free spirited and cathartic activity and I longed to be able to run long distances and even participate in a 5 or 10km run.

In April 2020, I laced up my Nikes and started to run. Before I knew it, I was able to exceed distances of 5km without stopping and was pleased to participate in this years virtual Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, clocking in my personal best 8km run. Sixteen pounds of shed weight later and I am hooked! Jogging has given me the opportunity to have some much-needed alone time while improving my cardiovascular fitness too.

Find yourself with some extra time? Make a list of goals or tasks you want to accomplish. Who can you get involved to help spread the load? This is also a great learning opportunity for the kids as they experience firsthand how to do new things and appreciate the value of hard work.

Decreasing our Carbon Footprint

According to many studies, one of the biggest upsides to the global lockdown has been a tangible improvement in the environment. Studies have shown that with much of the world in quarantine, the levels of nitrogen dioxide have decreased. A CNN article described how the skies are blue in Delhi, India, for the first time in years and that the air quality in China has improved dramatically. Another research paper concludes that there is a significant association between quarantine measures and improvement in air quality, clean beaches and environmental noise reduction. With many business trips and vacations put on hold and flights dramatically reduced, our carbon footprint has been decreased greatly.

I know this has not been good news for the airline and vacation industry, but perhaps the world can collectively cut the total greenhouse gas emissions since it is evident that the environmental situation can be improved substantially with a little bit of effort.

Family Bonding Time

Traditionally, busy families would only get together during milestones like weddings or funerals or key celebrations like Christmas or Passover. I have found that during the Pandemic, we have connected more often with our extended family than ever! With the help of virtual platforms like Zoom, Whatsapp and House Party, we have been able to connect with our family almost on a weekly basis. With my husband’s family over three thousand miles away in the UK, my daughters have been able to maintain a close relationship with their grandparents during the Pandemic. Yes, it may not be the same as a physical visit, but when in desperate times, it is best to just make the most out of a situation! Another benefit of the Pandemic is that parents are becoming more involved with their children than ever before.

When schools in Ontario shutdown last March, many parents found themselves in the position of household teacher and kitchen tables became classrooms. As a teacher myself, I took on this role with fervor, but I realize that not everyone was as adapted to the role as I. However, I knew that this opportunity was gifting me something very special – quality time with my daughters. I realize that I may never get this kind of quality time together again, so I savoured every second.

The Pandemic has also given parents the opportunity to teach their children something that they don’t necessarily learn at school – life skills. With everyone stuck at home, some kids have learned to appreciate their parents busy work schedule, learn how to balance the books or comprehend the demands of chores and feeding a family. Getting kids involved in cooking, cleaning and overall family maintenance has been a secret blessing throughout this experience. Once things return to somewhat of a normal state, we will be back to swimming lessons and dance classes and I can already feel that precious bonding time slipping away.

Overall, what I have come to appreciate during this Pandemic is that time is indeed precious. I hope the bonds that families have built over the past 7 months will last a lifetime and the extra family time during quarantine will make for great memories for years to come!

It is important to understand that having extra time at home can be fun and relaxing some days and other days it may cause anxiety and feelings of loneliness. Everyone experiences things in a variety of ways and all feelings, no matter how different, are normal and acceptable. Talk to your kids about how they feel during these tumultuous times. Ask them what they are disappointed and sad about in an age appropriate way. Ask them about any positive outcomes of being quarantined. Acknowledging these feelings will help everyone work through the negative effects of COVID-19, while allowing us to celebrate the positives too. It may be a global Pandemic, but we are in this together, after all.

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The post Families, Here Are The Invisible Benefits of This Pandemic appeared first on The Mabelhood.

The Ontario Government website describes several safe ways to celebrate Halloween this year, including:

– Avoiding gatherings with people outside of your household
– Staying home if you are feeling ill, even if you have mild symptoms, or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19
– Turning off your porch light and not handing out treats if you are sick, even with mild symptoms, or self-isolating
– Staying within your public health unit region
– Avoiding door-to-door trick or treating in hot spots such as Toronto, York, Peel and Ottawa

For some, this may inspire a few eggs to be tossed at Queen’s park or maybe even a few of Premier Ford’s trees adorned in toilet paper. However, we all know how sacred toilet paper is during a pandemic, so hold that thought!

This pandemic has certainly caused a lot of frustration amongst families, but instead of letting my disappointment boil over in a cauldron of despair, I have learned to channel my negative energy into inspiration for pandemic-friendly activities that the whole family can enjoy!

For Toronto, Peel, York and Ottawa – I feel for you! Trick or treating has been a long standing tradition in my family. I have fond memories of bounding up and down my street from an early age, adorned in costume and pillow case brimming with candy.

Yes, it sucks we cannot trick or treat. Yes, it stinks we cannot dress-up and attend Halloween parties or go to themed club nights (when I was young enough to go to the club, at least!), BUT we need to take public health recommendations seriously and follow the rules. We are, after all, Canadian – eh?

If you find yourself in one of Ontario’s ‘hot spots’ this Halloween – don’t fear! There are plenty of fun, safe and spooky Halloween activities for families to participate in during the pandemic.

Here are my 10 Spooky and Safe Activities for a Halloween in Quarantine:

1. Go for a drive – Due to COVID restrictions, a lot of traditional walk-though haunted houses have had to close their doors this Halloween. Some, however, have adapted to the times and converted to a drive-through model. We have tickets for Pumpkins After Dark, a magical Halloween attraction in Milton that includes over 150 pumpkin sculptures! Enjoy the spooktakular displays from the comfort of your own car at this COVID-safe attraction and meander through the park with an audio guide. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and time slots are selling out, so book your experience ASAP. Live in Burlington, Oakville or Hamilton? Check out Active Parents Interactive Map to Halloween Houses, a comprehensive listing of local hair-raising houses, all decked out for Halloween! With COVID-19 limiting traditional trick or treating this year, many residents are going all out on their Halloween decorations. The best part? It’s free and full of phantom family fun!
2. Watch a scary movie – love horror flicks? Pop some popcorn and stay safe on the couch and enjoy a mortifying Halloween or horror themed film. You could even host a watch party on Zoom with friends or family to ensure social distancing guidelines are followed. Pop Sugar Parents has compiled a fangtastic list of 17 kid friendly movies for families to stream on Netflix this Halloween.
3. Get Boo-baking – Create a spooky snack with little ones at home! How about mini spider pizzas or witch’s finger breadsticks? Delish has a terrifyingly tasty Mummy Brie recipe for cheese lovers. Good Housekeeping also has some super scary recipes including, witch cupcakes, black cat cookies, or choco-pumpkin ice-cream sandwiches to try.
4. Make individual treat bags – if traditional trick or treating isn’t cancelled in your region, but you want to practice safe social distancing, you could make individual treat bags for friends or fellow trick or treaters. Head to the Dollar Store and grab a box of sandwich/Ziploc bags or little paper bags and create personalized, individual grab and go style treat bags! With all of the restrictions, it may be nice to do something a little special this year! Leave your treat bags spread out on a table or in a large box at the end of your driveway to ensure proper social distancing. Gals and ghouls can saunter by at their leisure and grab some treats to go! Smiles guaranteed. I have even ordered some super cute, personalized Halloween cookies to share with my daughter’s besties! Please don’t forget that many trick or treaters will have food allergies so consider teal/turquoise bags of allergen-free treats!
5. Host a small, outdoor pumpkin carving party – Invite a few friends/family members from your social bubble over for a mini pumpkin carving party. Take advantage of the mild, fall temperatures and set up some tables in your backyard for an afternoon or evening of paranormal pumpkin fun. If you are trying to avoid the crowds, this may be a good alternative, but be sure to check with your local public health authority on their rules for family gatherings. Play some spooky songs from Good Housekeeping’s top 50 best Halloween songs round-up. Serve Halloween inspired treats or even make it a contest to promote some ghastly competition!
6. Try ghost hunting in the dark – I found this fun, non-scary activity in an article in Creative Child Magazine. You’ll need to grab some materials and prepare this activity in advance. Head to your local Dollar Store or Party City and purchase some white or clear balloons, clear plastic cups, glow sticks, a sharpie and something to hunt with like a foam sword, fairy wand or Nerf gun. Break the glow sticks and put one inside each balloon and clear cup. Draw ghost faces on all of them, and place them around your home or yard. Turn off the lights or wait until it is dark out. Then, let your kids “hunt” the ghosts! Fun, right?!
7. Have a Halloween Zoom party – by now, just about EVERYONE is familiar with Zoom calls, even my old school parents! Keep friends and family close and invite them to a costume party via Zoom. Give out virtual awards for wackiest, scariest, most creative, silliest, and funniest costumes. Want to host an adults-only Zoom Halloween party? Good Housekeeping has some great Halloween themed games that put traditional trick or treating to shame.
8. Create a DIY Halloween-themed cloth mask – Channel your inner seamstress and get crafty! With so many YouTube videos and online tutorials, making a personalized cloth mask is a breeze and it will let your child’s creativity shine through! Head to your local fabric store and find some Halloween themed patterns or create your own spooky mask to celebrate the season! Not super crafty? No problem – just buy plain white cloth masks for your kids and let them decorate it for Halloween. Kids can create a one-of-a-kind Halloween design and sport them on the special day!
9. Get outside – Enjoy the fall season with your family and friends and get some fresh air. We all know that winter is lurking around the corner! Pitch a tent and camp out in your backyard and tell scary stories. Go for a Halloween walk or bike ride and check out the best Halloween inspired houses in your neighbourhood. Daily physical activity is key for healthy hearts and healthy minds.
10. Try an online tarot card reading – My sister turned 40 in the midst of the lockdown so I threw her a completely virtual celebration, including an online tarot card reading! It was super fun and interactive and would be a great idea for a harrowing Halloween night! Look online for local mediums, most are offering their services virtually due to the pandemic. Invite some friends online and dust off that Ouija/spirit board and start a Zoom séance! Remember to record the Zoom meeting because too much champagne can cloud one’s memory (right, Carly?).

Wherever you live, be smart and stay safe this Halloween and remember to always follow public health guidelines and wash your hands. Happy Halloween in Quarantine!

The post Halloween in Quarantine: 10 Spooky But Safe Activities appeared first on The Mabelhood.

I’ve grown up with my mom’s classic pumpkin pie recipe – homemade crust, pumpkin filling, topped with delicious whipped cream. And I don’t mean a dollop on each slice. She literally covers every inch of the surface area with sweet, whipped creamy goodness!

Now pumpkin spice seems to be everywhere – in our lattes, cheesecakes, squares, cupcakes, donuts, bagels and even our ice cream! At first I was a bit skeptical about incorporating this traditional flavor into other foods beside pie, but I soon discovered that pumpkin spice is a very versatile blend and adds a touch of fall flavor to every bite.

According to Corporate Coffee Systems, pumpkin spice was around long before the latte and “has been referenced in cookbooks as early as the 1890s, as well as a similar spice mix in a pumpkin recipe from 1796”. So why did it take over a hundred years for the craze to really take off? “It can be attributed to coffee lovers in the late 1990s,” claims the coffee website. The pumpkin spice flavoured craze spread like wildfire across North America in 2003 with the introduction of Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte.

So, what is included in “pumpkin spice,” anyway? Although there are variances in the pumpkin spice combination depending on where you live, the most common combination includes the following ingredients: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice.

My DIY pumpkin spice blend is a tad more ‘spicy’ than traditional recipes (see below). I reserve some to add on to the tops of my muffins before baking, along with a few oats. You can easily blend all of the aromatic spices and keep them in an airtight jar in your pantry during the fall. It’s great to have as a quick add-on to coffee, lattes and baking.

One bowl pumpkin spice muffin recipe

But wait, what about “pumpkin?” Where does it figure in the pumpkin spice name? Interestingly enough, pumpkin spice doesn’t include pumpkin at all. “Although some coffee and other foods and drinks that contain pumpkin spice include extra ingredients,” states Corporate Coffee Systems, “pumpkin spice is simply a combination of spices that are traditionally added into pumpkin pie.”

The big question is, why do people love pumpkin spice so much? What is fueling this fall-associated craze? According to Corporate Coffee Systems, “some attribute pumpkin spice to be synonymous with the autumn season,” while “others say it reminds them of home.” Whatever your reason, the aroma and flavour of pumpkin spice certainly evokes some sort of emotional response!

The nice thing about my one-bowl pumpkin spice muffins is that they are relatively guilt-free:

-They have minimal Sugar (maple sugar, eg?)
-They use a healthy fat alternative.
-They have a high amount of fibre
-Above all else, they’re pumpkin spice flavor!

What I like about these muffins most is that they are dairy and nut-free. You can easily make them vegan by substituting the eggs for flax eggs or even make them gluten free by using gluten-free flour. Clean up is easy too, as you only need one bowl! They’re great for a healthy snack or a satisfying breakfast on the go and best of all, they are kid-approved!

Once you’re done, I also suggest you use your leftover pumpkin spice blend and pumpkin purée to make these amazing pumpkin spice lattes by the Girl on Bloor!

It looks like the pumpkin spice craze isn’t going anywhere anytime soon so give these healthy muffins a spin and get your pumpkin spice on.

DIY Pumpkin Spice Blend:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon raw organic sugar or brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Blend the spices together in a bowl using a small spoon or fork. Ensure all lumps are broken up
2. Store spice mix in an air-tight jar or Ziploc bag for up to one month

One Bowl Perfect Pumpkin Spice Muffins:

INGREDIENTS

• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ cup maple syrup or honey
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup pumpkin purée (I like pure, organic in the can!)
• ¼ cup milk of choice (I used almond milk)
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend (see my DIY recipe above)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup milled flax seed
• ⅓ cup old-fashioned oats, plus more for sprinkling on top
• Optional: chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). Use a non-stick muffin tin if available, otherwise grease all 12 cups of your muffin tin with butter or non-stick cooking spray
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil and maple syrup/honey. Next, add the eggs and whisk well so that all ingredients are combined. Work quickly here so the coconut oil doesn’t solidify!
3. Add the pumpkin purée, milk of your choice, pumpkin spice blend, baking soda, vanilla extract and salt and mix well
4. Add the flour and oats to the bowl and mix with a large spoon, just until combined (a few lumps are ok). OPTIONAL: you will need to incorporate your add-ons here, like chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, etc. if desired
5. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups. Here I sprinkle the tops of the muffins with a few oats and a pinch of pumpkin spice blend! But you don’t have to, of course!
6. Bake your muffins for 20 to 24 minutes, depending on your oven or until a toothpick/cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the muffin
7. Let muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes then remove and enjoy!
   
   NOTE: Store the muffins in an air-tight container for up to 3 days or seal in a freezer safe bag/container for up to 4 months. Perfect for grab and go snacks!

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The post One-Bowl Perfect Pumpkin Spice Muffins appeared first on The Mabelhood.

Have you ever been at a play date or at the park and someone has mentioned a new product to you? What started innocently as an informal chat between parents becomes somewhat of a sales pitch: “Oh, you should try this!” or “I know someone who can help with that!” Finding out about new products and services on the playground is something I never envisioned as a first-time parent, but it seems that this new and direct way to generate income on the side has become hugely popular. Although you may not have experienced a sales pitch like this yourself, chances are, you know someone who has. Perhaps on a Facebook or Instagram post you’ve seen an old high school acquaintance or distant cousin posting about amazing business opportunities selling essential oils or fake eyelashes, natural skin care products, make up and more. It seems particularly popular with those of the female persuasion. So what is this new retail phenomenon taking stay-at-home moms by storm anyways? Welcome to multilevel marketing!

According to the US Federal Trade Commission’s website, in multilevel marketing (or MLM for short), “individuals sell products to the public, often by word of mouth and direct sales. Typically, distributors earn commissions, not only for their own sales, but also for sales made by the people they recruit.”

Also referred to as direct selling, referral or networking marketing, MLM is on the rise both locally and internationally and has become a popular way for people to make money as a side hustle without any need for a physical storefront. Some people even claim to base their entire annual salary on this form of income generating activity. Popular MLM brands include Arbonne, Stella&Dot, Scentsy, Isagenix, Norwex, doTerra and more.

For those who are not familiar with the MLM structure, companies basically operate through a triangle-shaped commission model. Ask any MLM company to show you a diagram of this structure and it is pretty self-explanatory. Sellers are self-employed ‘consultants’ as they are commonly referred to, and are usually required to pay a start-up fee or purchase a start-up kit, which can put initial consultants back about $100 to $200 and contains a complete product catalogue, business manual, sample products and training materials. As a consultant, you are now able to make further purchases at wholesale prices. Sounds attractive right? Said consultants earn money either through commissions based on sales they’ve made, or commissions based on salespeople they’ve recruited (known as “downlines” in MLM speak).

For example, when a 30-something mother of two buys essential oils, a diffuser and foaming hand soap from a DoTerra consultant, she gets them at the wholesale rather than retail price (you actually can’t purchase these oils at any retail stores). She may even be locked into a monthly subscription type plan, where you are required to make a purchase (albeit small) every month in order to continue getting these wholesale prices. The consultant who on-boarded said 30-something will also get a commission for these monthly purchases. MLM companies will also entice consultants with loyalty rewards or points that you can earn for higher, more regular purchase amounts. In turn, these points can be redeemed for further product purchases (you pay tax and shipping only in most cases). In several MLM companies, consultants will earn a commission fee when the consultants ‘under’ him or her make purchases or then recruit even more family and friends to buy products. Word-of-mouth is one of the key strategies in MLM sales along with online social networks, but quality content has to be constantly pumped out. And at what cost to the consultant? It seems unclear.

Having said all of this, the MLM model seems to be working. According to the Direct Sellers Association website, in Canada there are over 1.3 million independent sales consultants (ISCs) who fall under the MLM umbrella, with 82% of those females and a mere 18% males. A whopping 68% of all ISCs are either married or cohabitating, proving this trade is popular with the mom crowd. The Direct Sellers Association also claims that direct selling brings in over 2.58 billion in sales in Canada alone, with ISCs making $924 million in annual personal revenue. Interestingly, Canada ranked 11^th globally in direct selling sales in 2018 on an international market, but is this revenue spread evenly throughout the company? Or are those at the top of the so-called pyramid the ones making the cash? I turned to the US and Canadian governments for advice.

“Not all multilevel marketing plans are legitimate,” the US Federal Trade Commission website warns.  “If the money you make is based on your sales to the public, it may be a legitimate multilevel marketing plan.” They also caution that, however, “if the money you make is based on the number of people you recruit and your sales to them, it’s probably not. It could be a pyramid scheme.” Additionally, the US Federal Trade Commission makes it clear that “pyramid schemes are illegal, and the vast majority of participants lose money” in the United States.

But what about Canada? According to the Government of Canada’s website, “when operating within the limits set by the Competition Act, multi-level marketing is a legal business activity with set responsibilities for both operators and participants.” The website also points out that however, “pyramid schemes are illegal multi-level marketing plans that require purchases for participation, compensation for recruitment, inventory loading, or the lack of a buy-back guarantee on reasonable terms”.

Now I know what the authorities are saying about MLM, but what about the consultants on the ‘front lines’ of this supposedly lucrative income-generating endeavour? Rather than just complete a simple Google search on previously written and researched MLM companies and articles, I decided to do my own investigative reporting and reach out directly to consultants currently working in the MLM field.

After some further digging, I discovered that most critics don’t see MLM companies as anything other than annoying; even going as far as branding them ‘spam’ entrepreneurism. However, a lot of individuals who have bought in to the allure of making income as a side hustle think otherwise.

A local, anonymous mom (who we will refer to as Jade here) jumped on the MLM bandwagon and got into the business for two reasons: 1. She genuinely believed in the product and 2. She was hoping to make positive connections with other proactive, like-minded moms in her community. Jade saw it as more of a relationship building exercise with the added bonus of some extra income while raising a busy family of five. “I personally feel that these MLM companies feed into the desire to belong to a community and so they’re very desirable to those people who might feel a bit lonely, like stay at home moms,” she says. “And the reality is that a lot of those women really don’t have a lot of extra cash and so they ‘invest’ in this idea and it works for a while, but being honest,  it rarely sticks.”

“The only people who actually make any money are the ones who are actively getting people on their team over and over again,” Jade continues. “Asking your friends and family to buy items that they normally wouldn’t is tough. I can’t ask someone to willingly spend hundreds of dollars a month on products they may not actually be interested in. It seems irresponsible.”

Jade goes on to warn about the downfalls of becoming an MLM consultant. “I have only ever had one person ‘under me’ on my team and when she asked me to tell her about the opportunity, I spent more time trying to convince her out of it than I did telling her the benefits. I knew it wouldn’t be long lasting, and that it was too easy to go into debt on items you can’t sell.”

Jade confides that she did ultimately onboard this potential consultant and “now she has a closet full of products she can’t move”. She adds that her new consultant will ultimately lose money on those investments and also lose a little self confidence. “I saw it coming,” Jade admits. “It happened to me.” Jade goes on to explain how when consultants are under-performing, consultants higher up in the chain can try to actively coach you. She goes on to admit that this coaching made her feel like dog poop.

“I had a good friend before she joined a local MLM company,” Jade explains. “We would have play dates with our kids and talk about eco-friendly living. Now when we see each other, she just wants to ‘support me’ as she says it. She never asks about my regular life. It’s all business now and I miss the friendship”. Jade also describes how that with some MLM companies, if you don’t make monthly targets, you are demoted to a lower tier consultant rank.

“But I will tell you the good stuff, too,” Jade counter offers. “It’s fun to get to know new people and some of the incentives are fun to achieve. Plus the discount helps, but ultimately, I found myself buying a lot of stuff I didn’t need.”

So the question remains: do multilevel marketing companies make promises they cannot keep? Enforce unrealistic goals in order for consultants to actually make profits? Are they empowering or exploitative experiences?

While some MLM companies reassure consultants by saying they have no targets to meet – the fact remains, you NEED to sell to make money. There are, however, plenty of MLM consultants who say that the business model does work for them and that it is an overall positive experience.

According to Dara Randall, a local Thirty-One consultant, “There are some great companies out there and MLMs in general get kind of a bad rap”. Dara explains that when she started, her husband was convinced it was a pyramid scheme and wasn’t really into the whole idea, “but I joined because I have loved the products for a long time and I really just wanted the discount.” She describes how Thirty-One is definitely not a pyramid scheme and how the entrepreneurial endeavour turned into more than she ever expected.  “I have met a lot of awesome women since I’ve joined, both customers and fellow consultants,” Dara explains. “My network has grown so much because of it,” she continues. “I don’t earn a lot doing it, which I think is the norm. The majority aren’t able to quit their full time jobs and just do their MLM gig. That’s not why I do it. For me, it’s fun and it’s something I do for myself, which I think a lot of women, especially moms, need.”

Dara goes on to explain how MLM companies are a way of supporting other local women. “I love a lot of products from other MLMs too,” she admits. “There is a lot of great stuff out there! I also like supporting other women. I am more likely to buy from someone I know, so for me, that model works.”

Another consultant who is willing to openly advocate for her MLM company is Jennifer Walker, a consultant or ‘wellness advocate’ for doTerra. Not only does Jenn sell doTerra brand essential oils and their affiliated products, but she also operates a business called Soul Kind, a Facebook page devoted to spreading the word about the positive health benefits of essential oils. Posts include practical ways to incorporate essential oils into your daily life like preventing illness, treating burns and even making DIY foaming hand soap. It also doesn’t feel very pushy or sales pitchy, like many other social media posts I’ve seen.

According to Jenn, her overall experience with doTerra has been very positive so far. At first, however, she admits “I was a hard no”. What started out as a hobby and genuine interest in the benefits of essential oils quickly became a passion for her. She goes on to explain how she got hooked into the MLM world by a neighbour. “(She) kept asking me to teach her friends and family about the oils, just as I had taught her. I politely declined and said I don’t do that. She ended up asking me again about a month later and within that time frame (my son) became so sick.” Jenn admits that her son’s illness, which took awhile to diagnose, literally rocked her world. “I knew at that point,” she continues “that I would not be returning to full-time work anytime soon. I had my part-time retail job that I quite liked so I still wasn’t thinking of saying yes, but it was my husband that encouraged me.”

And so, after some convincing, Jenn joined the ranks of doTerra as a wellness advocate. “I was being asked by so many people to help them through their struggles with chronic pain, heavy emotions, sick kids… it ended up feeling a little selfish not to.” Since then, she adds, “I found myself saying yes, more often to things than ever before. I’ve overcome fears, I’ve met the most incredible people and I’m teaching my kids about taking risks and figuring things out when you don’t have the immediate answer.”

Jenn goes on to explain that her original intentions were never to sell the products, but more to spread the word on the benefits of essential oils and the positive impact they have had on her and her family’s life. “I think when you come from a place of serving; it’s so different than selling just a product. I have never once felt like I’m being “salesy” and it’s a great compliment when people refer others to me because of this.” She adds that “this little oil biz allowed my family and I to move halfway across the country to live where we always wanted to. I am doing the same job here as I was in my hometown. I have customers and a team under me that cross provinces and even go over to Europe. I can go as far as I want with this and as fast or as slow as I need to. I can take on another full-time job, or work this full-time. There is so much power in that.”

Jenn does admit that working for a prominent MLM company is not all smelling of roses. “It’s not to say it’s without its stresses,” she admits. “When it’s all up to you, there is a different kind of pressure, especially when you rely on the income that you’ve created.”

When I pressed Jenn about the so-called spam that some MLM consultants consistently pump out, she admitted that “there are some in this direct-sales business that leave messages in people’s inboxes out of nowhere, just trying to sell what they’ve ventured in to”. She goes on to explain how “they give this business a bad name” and “those are not the people who will succeed in this. I think most do not take it much farther than a hobby anyway”.

Jenn also described to me how she has lost several consultants on her team who found that this endeavour just wasn’t for them. “It takes grit,” Jenn admits. “It takes really staying connected to why you’re doing this. As leaders drop from my team, new ones emerge and I attract people along the way that are ready to make a change, whether it’s financially motivated or because they need to do something for them”. Further evidence that for some women, joining an MLM company can in fact be an empowering experience.

At the end of the day, Jenn is content with her choice in joining an MLM company. “I’m so grateful for the push from my husband, my neighbour and my friends,” she says. “I still come up against sme haters (even within my extended family), but I have learned that their opinion doesn’t affect how I run my business and in the end, when I have my house on the lake and my kids put through University, that’s all that matters.”

It appears that there are both positive and negative aspects to multi-level marketing companies and even those directly involved in the industry admit the pros and cons. While some women feel empowered, others may feel taken advantage of or exploited. There also seems to be a disconnect between what most people think about MLM companies and what the women who are on the front lines actually participating in these businesses experience. Are we doing a disservice to these women by characterizing all MLM companies as scams? Or are we justified in being apprehensive and judgemental?

At the end of the day, you do you. While I have never had a salesy bone in my body and know that this likely is not the avenue for me personally, it may be just the right fit for others!

Considering joining a multi-level marketing company? Here’s the overall advice: Make sure you do your due diligence and research the company, its code of conduct, core values, etc. Network and connect to others in your community who are already well-established consultants to get first-hand experience of the role, the type of commitment and initial and subsequent investments required. It is important to get the big picture – including the good, the bad and the ugly. And as always, trust your gut. 

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The post The Truth Behind Multilevel Marketing: Is It Worth It? appeared first on The Mabelhood.

I was browsing the aisles of a store pre-Black Friday when I spotted the mountain of Instant Pots on sale. Taking full advantage of my rare ‘kid-free’ time, I wandered over to investigate further. A long-time skeptic of food trends and fad diets, I cautiously examined the Instant Pot. I started to think, “would I actually use this?” and “do I have the storage space?” It was, after all, significantly reduced in price. A follower of many food blogs, I have noticed how pressure cooking and the Instant Pot particularly has been gaining notoriety over the past year or so. I was definitely curious and decided to take the plunge right then and there, adding the Instant Pot to my cart rather unexpectedly. Why not jump on the band wagon of this pressure cooking renaissance?

I can be a sucker for trendy kitchen gizmos. I bought the Bullet, I gave in to the Vitamix and I was definitely curious about the Instant Pot (although, admittedly, I do have a stand-mixer that I got for my wedding that is still brand new in the box – oops). I absolutely love cooking, something that really took hold once I had kids. The aim to make them healthy, fresh, yet yummy and preservative-free meals was a daily challenge, as many busy families can attest to. Would the Instant Pot help me create healthy meals in a flash like it boasts?

With my Instant Pot still in the box, I started researching Instant Pot blogs and websites and even found some great how-to You Tube videos to help me get started. Admittedly, I was nervous about pressure cooking. I had read about some pressure cooker lids attempting to blast off into outer space, only to take out the kitchen ceiling instead. I was nervous!  But I also really like the idea of one pot, dump-it-all in dinners, as it creates less dishes and easy week night meals.

Then I came across Taylor Stinson’s Eating Instantly website. Not only did the blog have loads of family-friendly, easy and healthy meals, but they were legit quick to make! A busy millennial entrepreneur, Taylor is known online as The Girl on Bloor and is famous for her blog which “aims to help other super busy people like (her) eat more wholesome, homemade foods on-the-go.” Between her two websites, Taylor has well over 1.5 million page views per month, almost 50,000 Instagram followers and 35,000 Facebook followers collectively. Clearly, Taylor Stinson knows her stuff and I was hoping she could lend me some Instant Pot wisdom!

As I dug deeper into the Eating Instantly website, I discovered a complete online resource library, choc full of Instant pot recipes, a handy user guide and practical tips for meal prepping and utilizing a pressure cooker to its full potential. Feeling totally inspired, my Instant Pot adventure began!

Before fully diving in with my Instant Pot (yes, I did take it out of the box!), I decided to reach out to Taylor directly for some expert advice and to find out what all the fuss was about. Ultimately, I wanted to see how the Instant Pot could help my busy family of four eat healthy and fast! Taylor promptly responded with some great tips, information and inspirations that I wanted to share with you here:

Q: What is the difference between pressure cooking and slow cooking?

A: Pressure cooking is when you cook foods under pressure, a process that cooks way faster than most other cooking methods. Using your Instant Pot, you can cook most foods within 30 minutes or less by the time the appliance preheats and depressurizes. Slow cooking on the other hand takes anywhere from 4-6 hours. Both methods often use a one-pot, dump-all-ingredients technique, but both have very different cooking times.

Q: Is the Instant Pot hard to use? I have heard pressure cookers can be dangerous!

A: The Instant Pot is super easy to use! You’ll cook most recipes using the manual button (labelled the high pressure button on certain newer models), where all you have to do is ensure the sealing ring is in place, place the lid on and make sure the pressure valve is set to seal. That’s all there really is to it! Because the Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker, it eliminates many common errors that can cause harm and it automatically locks the lid to prevent it from opening while the cooker is pressurized. With the Instant Pot, there’s no hassle or worry during cook time.

Q: Why is the Instant Pot a worthwhile investment for busy families?

A: The Instant Pot is a great way to batch cook a ton of food all at once, and it’s a multi-cooker so you can also cook rice, steam vegetables, sauté, slow cook and more in addition to pressure cooking. It saves so much time because it cooks most foods quickly, and most recipes are one pot meals, meaning there is very little clean up. And because everything cooks in one pot, it’s relatively hands off while everything is cooking, leaving you more time to run other errands around the house or just relax in the meantime.

Q: Which Instant Pot is right for a typical busy family of four?

A: The 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus is the perfect option for families of four, and you can also comfortably feed up to 6 to 8 people if need be. The 8-quart is a great option for larger families, and the 3-quart mini is perfect for couples.

Q: Can the Instant Pot help families who are on a budget?

A: The Instant Pot can definitely help families on a budget! One of the best ways to save money is to make big batch dump meals like pasta (check out this Chicken Fajita Pasta recipe ) or rice dishes (like this Sweet and Sour Chicken). If you have a really tight budget, you can make these types of recipes without meat or chicken too and just sub in canned black beans, lentils, chickpeas or other vegetarian sources of protein. Either way, having food on hand at home that’s cooked up in a hurry will help you save money in the long run.

Q: Is the Instant Pot good for ‘kid friendly’ yet healthy meals? HINT: I like to hide as many veggies as possible!

A: The Instant Pot is great for kid-friendly meals. You can easily sneak extra veggies into recipes like this Chili Mac & Cheese or this Greek Chicken & Rice. Most recipes also incorporate tasty sauces that kids will love while still remaining relatively healthy. It’s not all soups and stews!

Q: What are your 5 favourite things to make in the Instant Pot?

A: I love to make everything from rice to casseroles, soups, curries, pastas and more in the Instant Pot. It’s great for meal prep because you can batch cook one or two recipes for the week to enjoy as lunches or reheat as dinners, and if you aren’t able to prep ahead you can at least enjoy a short cook time that’s relatively hands-off if you’re making dinner last minute. You can even cook breakfast in it! Here are my top recipes for meal prep with the Instant Pot:

• Instant Pot Pepper Steak
• Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki
• Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
• Instant Pot Bruschetta Pasta
• Instant Pot Lo Mein

Q: What are your top 5 tips for using the Instant Pot effectively?

A: The Instant Pot is super easy to use, but here are 5 quick tips to using it quickly and efficiently:

• Make sure you always use at least ½ cup of liquid when cooking
• Make sure the valve is always set to sealed to keep the pressure in while cooking
• Press the manual button to cook on high pressure, and the cancel button once it’s done; I also use a spoon to flick the pressure valve to let the pressure out to keep my fingers clear from steam
• Make sure you layer in olive oil and meat first, followed by sauces and seasonings, then add rice/pastas last so that nothing sticks to the bottom and you don’t get a burn message
• You can use the rack that comes with the Instant Pot to cook things like chicken breasts and boiled eggs – this way you can use the least amount of liquid possible without anything burning

Q: Can the Instant Pot cater to all palates and diets like vegan and paleo?

A: The Instant Pot is great for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free recipes but recipe options are more limited when it comes to paleo, low carb and Whole 30. Because these diets often restrict the intake of grains, veggies often need to be cooked separately from the Instant Pot or cooked using the steam function. Meat and grains can be cooked together for the same amount of time, but vegetables can get overcooked very easily under high pressure. Things like cauliflower rice and other veggies should be cooked separately if following a low carb/paleo diet.

I found Taylor’s tips super helpful and I am happy to report, based on my personal opinion, that the Instant Pot is indeed a good investment for busy families. This is especially the case for families who want to eat healthy, eat on a budget and/or have little time to cook. We loved the Instant Pot Greek Chicken and Rice and the Spring Pea Risotto Instant Pot (my mouth is literally watering while I type this!).  One personal tip from me: use the exact type of rice the recipe calls for! I tried substituting brown rice for regular, white rice and it didn’t fully cook nor did it absorb all the fluids and I was left with a soupy stir fry! Just stick with what the recipe calls for an you will be good.

With a little advanced planning, the Instant Pot can provide healthy, satisfying meals in a flash. Prepping your veggies and meats ahead of time means you can literally toss everything into the Instant Pot, hit a button and in 15-30 minutes, you’ve got dinner. Voila! Looking for an easy, go-to guide for using or starting with the Instant Pot? Need some recipes ideas? Be sure to check out Taylor’s informative website Eating Instantly for more information.

Photos kindly provided by Taylor Stinson

The post The Instant Pot: How to Use It and Why It’s Worth All The Hype appeared first on The Mabelhood.