My Blog | The Enthusiast

Oct 24, 2019
2 min

My Go-To Potluck Recipes

As we enter potluck season – otherwise known as gain 5 pounds season – it can be a little intimidating bringing something to the table. If you’re anything like me you want to be 1) extra and 2) not sitting in the kitchen all day. Potlucks should be fun! So after years of being the laziest cook and also liking to blow minds when I show up, I have perfected and am sharing my favourite potluck recipes. You can thank me later. The Most Impressive, Laziest Potluck Items For Your B

Oct 18, 2018
2 min

How I Spice Up Instant Ramen

While we typically think as instant ramen as fit for only college students, they make a quick, easy pantry staple in my house. And while I enjoy the real thing at the various ramen houses across Portland, the 5-minute version is good for a regular Tuesday night. A few weeks ago I shared on my Instagram stories my instant ramen dinner. Instantly my direct messages were filled with people needing to know what was in my noodles. And now I’m sharing my secrets. The above photo is

Mar 12, 2018
3 min

How I Changed My Diet {+ 3 Easy Ways You Can Too!}

Eating well is hard. Especially considering every few years we hear that so-and-so is good for us, and now it’s bad for us, and now it’s okay as long as you do _________. As someone who could eat pizza for every meal, learning to eat healthy has been a challenge that I’ve faced head on. And won. When I was 15 I found out I was lactose intolerant. At 19 I found out I don’t digest meat well. When I was 22 I found out I have a non-severe gluten allergy. And I grew up mostly drin

Sep 18, 2017
2 min

The Best Breakfast: Overnight Oats

Happy Monday! Do a little stretch, pour some coffee, and let’s read about the best, easiest breakfast I have ever discovered. I am a morning person, but I am no-fuss breakfast person. If it can’t be made in less than seven minutes I am not interested. That’s why poached eggs, smoothies, and cereal are favourites in my house. But lately I’ve been turning to overnight oats for a breakfast that takes no time in the morning. It is slightly sweet, creamy, and goes down easily firs

Sep 11, 2017
2 min

My Favourite Things at Trader Joe's

My coworker has a joke that I live at Trader Joe’s. And this isn’t as much a joke as a slightly exaggerated truth. I love Trader Joe’s and I am not ashamed of it. Here’s what I always have in my cart… My Favourite Trader Joe’s Foods Pollo Asado Burrito This burrito (the carnitas salsa verde is also delicious) is the best quick lunch ever. A little spicy, the right amount of everything, and always filling, I always have these in the fridge for a quick meal. Romano Caesar Dress

Jun 28, 2017
2 min

The 5 Best Gluten-Free Recipes

If you haven’t caught on, a few months ago I found that my body decided for me to go gluten-free. It’s been a big change in my life – goodbye soft, fluffy bread – but one that I’ve tried to deal with as gracefully as possible. Today I’m sharing the five recipes that have gotten me out of my food slump of boring, crusty food. These recipes are good whether you eat gluten or not, so definitely give them a try! Bye Bye Gluten! Hello Gluten-Free! The 5 Best Recipes Strawberry Ho

Mar 31, 2017
2 min

Favourites Friday #69: Bon Appétit!

I love food. Food is something that can take on so many different forms depending on the culture, the situation, and the palate. It’s just fascinating. This week I got to experience so many different foods as I started doing my 98% paleo (I make few exceptions) diet and tried out some new recipes because I’m just that kind of girl. Aka, a girl who realizes she’s a grown woman who needs to start cooking instead of heating up everything in the Trader Joe’s frozen section. So, f

Feb 24, 2017
3 min

Favourites Friday #64: That {lactose} Intolerant Life

One of the worst things that ever happened to me was finding out that I am lactose intolerant. No, not because I could no longer chug 2% milk, but I found out because my stomach had horrible grumbling fits during my 5th period chemistry class where I sat right behind my crush. Yes, milk was the cause of my tragic lack of love. But six years later I have learned to deal with leaving lactose out of my diet. No, it’s not quite as fun as eating whatever you want, but adopting a m

Feb 22, 2017
2 min

Enthusiastic Eats: Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Who’s ready for another very easy, very affordable meal by someone who loves cooking, but has very little patience. Today’s recipe comes from all of my favourite things to eat (lemon, garlic, shrimp, pasta) and the fact that one pot meals are the only meals I am interested in making. I love being in the kitchen, but not while doing the dishes. This pasta dish is perfect for comfort night, but healthy enough to not feel guilty for having a second helping. And there’s tons to s

Jan 30, 2017
2 min

Not Your Average Poached Eggs

I love poached eggs. They are the one kind of egg I feel confident making (yes, even over scrambled) and when I can find a delicious change to plain poached eggs on toast, then I am very happy! Today I will be sharing my recipe for Not Your Average Poached Eggs. It’s a small but flavorful twist to the classic, and definitely one for the books. Enjoy! The Enthusiast’s Not Your Average Poached Eggs This recipe is great because it’s super simple and the biggest changes are just

Sep 19, 2016
2 min

My Favourite Fall Breakfast: Pumpkin Honey Overnight Oats

As the leaves begin to fall and the need for a jacket in the evening becomes necessary, it’s time to switch from eggs and fruit to something a bit more hearty for breakfast. As autumn is time for pumpkin and brown sugar and crockpot soup, I love a good bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. And something I can make the night before and just heat up the next morning (or eat cold) is exactly the kind of breakfast I want when I’d rather just stay in bed than face the bitter wind. This r

Sep 14, 2016
4 min

10 Recipes Every College Student Should Know

This week I went back to babysitting the kids I used to watch when I’m in high school. I feel like the older sister who came back from college and is now here to impart wisdom upon my younger brother and sister. In reality, they think I’m their best friend and like to try the cool things I tell them, as I am a decade older than them and seem very hip with my cropped skinny jeans and penchant for chai lattes. While making them lunch they asked what I ate in college and it made

Sep 9, 2016
2 min

Favourites Friday #44

The best part of being home, in my opinion, is being able to cook. My parents have a big kitchen and a pantry filled of every little ingredient I could possibly need. When I’m home I’m always in the kitchen trying a special new recipe that has a 50/50 chance of being good. This week I tried out a few new recipes and they were all so delicious I figured I had to share them with you so you can also have a yummy week! Let the cooking begin! Note: Links to favourites are hyperlin

Aug 1, 2016
2 min

The 3 Smoothies Everyone Needs to Be Drinking

I am a smoothie fanatic. If it’s not stuck in a blender and in a cup with a straw, I don’t want it. Smoothies are easy to make, can be relatively cheap, and if you use the right ingredients very healthy for you. What could be bad about them? In my smoothie adventures I have discovered three smoothies that are perfect for my busy lifestyle. They keep me full and aren’t just filled with sugar, which keeps my body happy. Last summer I went full smoothie for two weeks and it was

Jul 13, 2016
3 min

What Really Happens When You Go On the Military Diet

I love diets. I love diets so much that when I find a really interesting one I have to try it. And recently I found one that was so bizarre that I basically flew to the grocery store to start! The thing about dieting is that there are two ways to look at it. 1) It’s a way to lose weight or 2) A social experiment for why we do insane things to our bodies. I fall under the second category, and with something like the military diet, which combines odd food groups in order to los

Jun 3, 2016
2 min

Favourites Friday #33

Are you hungry? Whenever I’m working on big projects I am starving. I get so hungry that I end up cooking so much food that I have enough leftovers for the rest of the month – or week in this case. As I have had all of my finals due this week (and finished with flying colors) it means that my cooking bug/eating bug has been in full force. But my recipe book has been overflowing! This week’s favourites are based off of all the delicious things I ate while pouring over my lapto

May 16, 2016
3 min

The Easiest Breakfasts for the Busiest People

I am a bum in the morning. I watch Netflix in bed until the last possible moment, and am always rushing out the door with breakfast in a paper towel and about 10 minutes to get across town. It’s not exactly the perfect way to promote a healthy breakfast situation. But after years of this practice, I have found the perfect “busy bee” breakfasts that promote eating in the morning (which is so important) and not wasting a single moment in the morning. Because what could be bette

May 9, 2016
2 min

What to Have For Dessert This Week

Who doesn’t have a sweet tooth? Sometimes dessert is the best part of your day. When you can put up your feet, turn on your show, and take a bite of something delectable and satisfying. That’s why dessert was created! And as snack cookies and brownie mix has become more of a norm in society, the beauty of dessert has become something quick and easy. It is no longer that little treat it once was. This week, bring back the art of dessert with some of the most delicious (and not

Apr 27, 2016
4 min

I Did the GM Diet, and Here's What Happened

“We always think of a diet with a big groan. But I think diets are fun. I think it is an American pastime for a lot of women.” – Mindy Kaling I love trying new and interesting diet plans that show up on the internet. There’s something about trying something that is completely out of the norm that I love. And last week I decided to try something that made me go from 0 to 60 on the healthy eating scale. The GM Diet is something that General Motors used to put their employees on

Apr 20, 2016
2 min

The Enthusiast's Perfect Granola Meal

I love eating healthy, but more importantly I love eating delicious food. I’ve been on a health kick lately, eating baked chicken in almost every meal and my water intake up the wing wam. So finding something that is so delicious that I can barely stop the temptation for seconds, yet not giving me a heartache, is a rare find. But I’ve found something that fits that objective and I probably eat at least once a day because of how delicious it is. Are you ready to find out what