Chili Day

Breakfast:

Woke up late so I crammed down a banana and a glass of Chocolate Almond milk. Did my hour of dog walking, ran some errands and headed home for lunch.

Lunch:

Made grilled cheese sandwiches for my husband and kids.  For myself a Bird in the Nest.  Cut up kiwi, oranges, blood oranges, grapes and cherry tomatoes for everyone.  Everyone had water with lunch.

Bird in the Nest:

Slices of Gluten Free Bread of your choice
1 egg for each slice
butter
salt and pepper, to taste

If GF bread is frozen, toast first to warm up.  Cut a small circle out of centre of bread slice using small glass or cookie cutter.  Save cut out.  Melt butter in pan.  Lay bread slice and cut out in pan side by side.  Break egg into the circle cut out of the bread.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  When egg is partially set, flip over both the slice and the cut out.  Cook until egg is set to your desired hardness.  Use the cut out to sop up egg yolk, if you like.

Afternoon Snack:

It's March Break here in Toronto and so we took the kids to Snakes and Lattes on Bloor St. W.  This is a little coffee shop where, with a $5 entry fee per person, you can choose from hundreds of board games to play.  There's a huge variety, including tons that are suitable for small children.  And there were gluten free nanaimo bars and cookies in the bakery display!  I can't remember the last time that I had a nanaimo bar.  It was HEAVEN.  Also gulped down a fabulous soy latte, although they have a $0.50 extra charge for the soy option.

I do not have enough kind words to say about Snakes and Lattes.  The staff was easy going and relaxed, the atmosphere, at least in the middle of the day was relatively quiet and we all had a blast.  If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive first date idea or just a place to chill with friends or kids, this is the place to go.  Oh, it's licensed too and they do have a selection of alcohol to choose from.

Snakes & Lattes

Dinner:

Chili

2 lbs extra lean hamburger
1 large onion
2 small green peppers
2 stalks of celery
4 cloves of garlic
1 28oz can of whole tomatoes
1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 14oz can of kidney beans
1 14oz can of black beans
1 cup of beef broth
4 Tbs of chili powder
1 tsp of basil
1 tsp of thyme
2 tsp of Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp of kosher salt

Dice onions, celery and peppers.  Mince garlic.  Brown hamburger along with the vegetables.  Drain if you wish, I usually find there's very little fat and I don't want to loose the juice from the vegetables so I don't. Drain and rinse beans and add to pot.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20-30 mins until  flavours are set and the chili is the consistency you desire.  This wasn't too spicy so both of the kids ate a little bit.

Served with rice and corn on the cob.  Had a glass of regular Coke with it (I know, I know, I already had the nanaimo bar today, but after already downing a litre of water today, I could not hack another glass...)