My Fresh Prep Experience

Meal prep delivery services have been around for a while in the United States (at least that's what it seemed like thanks to the ads on literally every podcast I listen to) but, as far as I know, they're a relatively new service here in Canada... and in Vancouver, more specifically. I've always wanted to try one so I obviously jumped at the opportunity to when I was contacted by local business, Fresh Prep.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that my Sunday Instagram stories are usually full of my meal prep process for the week. It's something that I do because I prefer to bring my own lunches to work and it also means I can control the food that I'm eating. I was curious to see how Fresh Prep would stack up and now that I've tested it out, I'm ready to share some thoughts.

You're given the opportunity to select your meals for the upcoming week (as long as you do so by 11:50 p.m. on Saturday), and they are delivered to your door during a specified delivery window on a day of your choosing. I got a text message when the driver was on his way with an estimated arrival time, and I definitely appreciated the heads-up. The meals come packed in paper bags and are placed in a large cooler bag so that nothing goes bad.

Inside each paper bag you get an easy-to-follow instruction sheet and all the ingredients you need to make a full meal for either 2 or 4 people depending on your subscription.  Everything comes washed, chopped, and ready to be mixed together. Even with seasonings like sugar or spices, they are perfectly portioned out so you use exactly what you get and nothing is wasted. Prepping vegetables and sauces can be incredibly time-consuming and it's amazing how, by skipping that step in the process, cooking goes so much faster.

The first meal that I made was Miso Glazed Salmon with Seasoned Sticky Rice and Bok Choy (pictured above). I loved the miso glaze and the recipe was very easy to follow and make. Plus, when I plated it, it turned out really fancy-looking. 

The second meal that I made was Hearty Beef Stew with Mushrooms and Bacon. I really like making stews but they often take a long time in the slow cooker or Dutch oven so I was curious how this would come together with only a 30 minute cooking time (all of Fresh Prep's meals can be made in 30 minutes or less). Unfortunately this one really was not to my taste. The bacon and beef was a weird combo. However, I will say that the stew tasted better the next day when I had the leftovers for lunch. Maybe it just needed to marinate more...

Overall, I was impressed with the service although it's not something that I personally would use regularly. I happen to actually like my dedicated meal prep days and enjoy coming up with my own healthy recipes of the week.

If I was a different person, however, I can see a service like this being very useful considering how limited my time is when I come home from a long day at work and I just want to eat something. The temptation for many in this situation would be to grab some takeout but with Fresh Prep, it takes almost the same amount of time you'd be waiting for a delivery and you know exactly what's going into your meal. Plus, for those who don't really know how to cook, it can be a great way to learn some new recipes and get more interested in the cooking process. Or, alternatively, a fun and easy date idea where you whip up something yummy for your significant other without forcing them to wait around watching you wash and chop veggies for 20 minutes. Honestly, the possibilities are endless!

Di Morelli Skin Care

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a special VIP lunch at Market by Jean-Georges at the Shangri-La hotel with Di Morelli Skin Care. The brand was founded by Dr. Robert Morell of the Medical Rejuvenation Centre here in Vancouver and features a range of "cosmeceuticals" (a combination of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals with biologically active ingredients).

While we dined on some seriously delicious food, Dr. Morell and his staff walked us through a few of the key products in the Di Morelli Skin Care line aimed at targeting certain key concerns like anti-aging and brightening. Dr. Morell explained why he decided on which ingredients to include in each product, which I should also note are 100% Canadian developed, manufactured, and warehoused.

Since I am especially concerned with sun protection, it was interesting to learn about the differences between basic drugstore sunscreens, which only protect the skin from UVB rays (burning) versus cosmeceutical sunscreens, which also protect the skin from UVA rays (a cause of premature aging).

SPF 35 is made with micronized zinc oxide to protect against both UVA and UVB, and dries to a matte finish, making it an acceptable base for makeup. I have been using this daily and I like it a lot although it does smell like your typical sunscreen (no fancy scents... it's all business with this one).

I can't wait to try out more products from Di Morelli and lucky for us all, the brand is now available at Nordstrom Vancouver.

Eating My Way Through San Diego

After L.A. and Catalina Island, we hit the road. Destination: San Diego. Apart from the zoo and SeaWorld, I really didn't know much about the city but after spending a few days there, I can now say from experience that it is really is a nice place to visit!

A friend recommended we rent beach cruisers and ride from Mission Beach to Pacific Beach. Since I love casual bike rides, especially if there are some beach/water views involved, I knew I would love this activity. We also stopped for brunch at Miss B's Coconut Club where I had the most delicious Coconut Rum French Toast.

In fact, you'll see from this post that I spent a lot of my time in San Diego eating. Turns out this city has a really great foodie scene, with tons of restaurants to discover. For example, "hipster ramen" from Underbelly, the best fried chicken from The Crack Shack, and breakfast heaven takes the form of cast iron omelettes from Cafe 21. Yum!

La Jolla is a hilly seaside community that seemed very family friendly with less of a party vibe than Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. The cove is really pretty.

I also knew they I wanted to explore Little Italy for sure (such a nice neighbourhood downtown) and we were able to get a table at Bencotto for dinner. I don't typically eat pasta but vacation is when you can kind of pig out so I went for their handmade gnocchi al formaggi and then the pannacotta for dessert. If you remember my trip to Rome from way back when you'll know I love pannacotta.

If you get a chance to visit San Diego, I definitely recommend it! It was never even on my travel list but it turned out to be such a pleasant surprise... especially if you love eating as much as I do.

A Pinterest-Worthy Picnic with President's Choice Insiders Collection

Since I'm recapping events this week, I wanted to share some images from a very Pinterest-worthy picnic I attended with President's Choice last month. The event showcased some must-try products from the PC Insiders Collection which can be used for all those fun summer events you've got planned -- whether it's a picnic, BBQ, or road trip.

We started our own "road trip" with a bike ride around the Seawall (I bike the Seawall often and it's one of my favourite summer activities) from Yaletown to Stanley Park. Once in Stanley Park, we then headed over to the Stanley Park Pavilion where we happened upon this gorgeous outdoor picnic setup.

Nothing better than dining al fresco, am I right? Us lucky attendees were fed a veritable feast made using products from the PC Insiders Collection, including fresh salads, salmon and bison burgers, lamb flatbreads. and more. Even better, most of the recipes and serving ideas can be found on the PC Insiders website (grouped by activity choice), making entertaining easy for all of us home cooks who want to recreate them.

Also, Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream, you guys. I am so stocking my freezer with this and I'm betting a lot of you will too. Yum!

Coffee Alley

I'm a bit behind on my Chicago recap post. but in the meantime, I thought I'd share some photos from this cool alley located in front of Asado Coffee on E. Jackson. I've actually stopped drinking coffee on the regular (thanks to being sick, the effects of detoxing from my caffeine addiction were overshadowed by other misery). However, I had to make an exception during vacation... there were just so many lovely cafes to visit! Another Chicago fave we discovered was Goddess and the Baker, which had the best avocado toast. Yum!

Sweater: Oak + Fort / Jeans: Frame (similar)

Boots: Stuart Weitzman (here and here)

Nut-Free No-Bake Paleo Pumpkin Bars

It has been a ridiculously long time since I did one of these kitchen adventures posts, but I was so excited about these Nut-Free No-Bake Paleo Pumpkin Bars that I had to share.

My good friend and personal trainer recently opened her own fitness studio (if you follow my Instagram, you may have noticed that I have been hanging out at Blythe Toning Studio a lot) and along with working on our fitness, we have recently been into experimenting with new recipes. These bars came about after a discussion on how we could make "healthy" holiday treats since December can often be a bad month when it comes to maintaining one's eating habits.

Since I have a severe nut allergy, we adapted this recipe and made it even healthier by throwing in some chia seeds and hemp hearts. Not only was it super easy to make with no actual baking required, the result is delicious (especially if you love coconut) and packed with protein!

Crust:

• 8 medjool dates
• ¼ cup of coconut flour
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• ½ cup chia seeds
• ½ cup hemp hearts
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon water
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Line an 8x8 baking dish with tin foil.
2. Add the ingredients to a food processor and process until crumbly like a crust.
3. Scoop the crust into the baking dish and press down with a spatula.

Filling:

• 1 can organic pumpkin puree
• 12 medjool dates
• ½ cup coconut oil
• ½ cup coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

1. Add the ingredients to a high speed blender (we used a Vitamix) and blend until smooth.
2. Pour on top of the crust and spread evenly with a spatula.
3. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Pull out by lifting by the tin foil and cut into bars.
5. Dust with ground cinnamon before serving.

Insta-Lately: Super Late Spring Edition

I'm cutting it a little close with these snapshots but it is still *technically* Spring... be sure to follow me on Instagram for more snippets from my everyday life!

A new wallet from Louis Vuitton: the Insolite in Corail (Summer 2014 colour)

Hanging out at the Faculty of Celebrity Studies with Lainey Gossip

Brunching at The Oakwood Canadian Bistro

Aforementioned trip to the Scandinave Spa in Whistler

Lots of Seawall bike rides

After workout juicing at Body Energy Club

Dark and Story, Calabash Bistro's signature drink

Peonies: a fashion blogger essential

Insta-Life / Insta-Beauty

Can you believe it's already August? I feel like time has just flown by. Since things were so busy at the beginning of summer (my trip to Hawaii, moving, work, and life in general), I'm really hoping to make the most of what's left. So while I'm relaxing this long weekend (Happy BC Day!), here's a recap of what I've been up to lately...

Early birthday present from my boyfriend: Biria CitiBike 700C Step-Through 7 Speed... just need to get a wicker basket!

A little something from Louis Vuitton: monogram vernis key pouch in Pomme D'Amour

Adding some fun to my drink with these heart-shaped ice cubes

Gorgeous trees during a hike at Lynn Valley in North Vancouver

Kamei Baru grand opening party

Warming up with some ramen on a cool summer night

Last month I also introduced a new "Insta-Beauty" round-up blog feature, and have another set of products that I've been experimenting with to share with you all.

Firstly, Revlon's #DareToWearBlue campaign presented the fun challenge of creating a bold blue eye look with the PhotoReady Primer + Shadow palette in Avant Garde plus a few other products. The Lash Potion mascara comes in some of the prettiest mascara packaging I've ever seen but unfortunately the formula is too wet to hold a curl in my straight Asian lashes. The PhotoReady Kajal Intense Eye Liner + Brightener pencils are double-ended so that you can line with the darker side and use the lighter side on your water line. I've been loving blue liner lately so I particularly like Blue Nile.

Schick recently introduced their new Hydro Silk Disposables, a disposable version of their popular Hydro Silk Razor (which I previously reviewed here). These razors are almost identical to the originals, featuring the same moisture-replenishing benefits and Water-Activated Moisturizing Serum, except they have the added bonus of convenience/portability. The next time I travel somewhere these will definitely be my razors of choice.

Another exciting nail polish launch is on its way this September from AVON as well. Urban Splatter will feature six sheer colours with matte black & white flecks that can be worn alone or over another nail polish. The bases are quite sheer so I prefer to layer these but they're an interesting take on the standard glitter polish. They actually remind me a lot of the Maybelline ColorShow Polka Dots collection I've been seeing a lot of lately.

As always, don't forget to follow me on Instagram if you're not doing so already! My username is @alison_elle.

My Go-To Recipes (& May Must-Reads)

Question of the month from Kristen: "What's your go-to recipe?"

Thanks to Pinterest, I've discovered a number of great recipes which have now become part of my regular cooking repertoire. In fact, one of my favourite things to do on lazy days is to scour the site looking for yummy food pins... often ending up hungry in the process!

When my boyfriend and I were low-carbing last month, I made these Prosciutto-Wrapped, Boursin Cheese and Bacon-Stuffed Chicken Breasts for dinner a few times. To make the dish less meat-heavy, I often stuff them with asparagus instead of bacon.

Paleo Pancakes have also become a breakfast staple for me. They are so easy to make and I love the banana flavour. I make mine with 1 banana and 1 egg because I find 2 eggs a little too "eggy."

For dessert, this recipe for Easy Vanilla Coconut Rice Pudding has been a great way to use up leftover rice on the rare occasion we eat it (I don't really like rice but rice pudding is a whole other story!) Plus, I love anything made with coconut/coconut milk.

If you have any go-to recipes of your own, please do share! And don't forget to check out the other girls' must-reads for the month of May below:

• Alison*Elle - Alison is giving white denim another go this season.
• Beautygirl24 - Target did it again - Noelle found the perfect Summer wedges from the Sam & Libby collection.
• Ella Pretty - Ella's got a brand new bag!
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen is all ready for baby's arrival and shared her nursery with us.
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle talks makeup and highlights where to save and where to splurge.
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette has finally found her perfect striped skirt!
• The Currently Obsessed - Mehreen organized Makeup drawers.

The Ticket Kitchen & Bar

Buytopia recently had an awesome coupon deal for The Ticket Kitchen & Bar, which I was lucky enough to preview as a member of their Vancouver Inner Circle.

The Ticket is located in the former Player's Chophouse, right at the entrance to BC Place. It's a great place to get together with friends before a game and even if you're not attending one, the sports enthusiasts among us can still keep up with the scores since, as my boyfriend pointed out, "there's not a bad TV in the place" (the TVs seem to be positioned to give a perfect view no matter where you're seated). Bonus: you might even get to see some local celebrities! On the night we attended, we sat right beside the guys from Hockey Night in Canada.

The menu is kind of upscale pub fare with a bit of class. There are, of course, the "standards" like sweet chili chicken ($12), pizza, and burgers, along with some more unique options like the braised short rib poutine. 

For our mains, my boyfriend and I both opted for steak (typical for us). He chose the filet mignon ($38) and I got the New York strip and fries ($30). As you can see, both dishes are a little on the pricey side but we both thought our steaks were cooked to perfection. Those with big appetites probably wouldn't get full with the filet mignon though... it is, after all, French for "dainty fillet"!

For dessert, my boyfriend chose the blueberry cheesecake while I went with the trio of crème brûlée (if there is crème brûlée on the menu, there is a 99.9% chance that it will be my dessert of choice). The trio consisted of vanilla bean, chocolate, and mocha, and all three were delicious.

All in all, we had a wonderful evening. The service was excellent and the food was good (though I do think it's a bit expensive for an everyday outing). Many thanks to Rob for being so welcoming and Buytopia for the wonderful experience!

Address: 808 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC
Website: http://www.theticketbar.ca

Insta-Calgary to Vancouver

Once again, I've let a ton of time pass since my last Instagram update (some of these photos are from Calgary and I've already been home for 2 months if you can believe it). Nonetheless, here are some snapshots of what I've been up to:

Winter snowstorms in Calgary made bearable with my trusty Sorel boots

White Chocolate Mousse Cake from Brûlée for my last day at the Calgary office

This did not taste like banana bread and I am still not a beer drinker

Snowshoeing at Cypress Mountain

Eggel and latka for breakfast at Solly's

Previewing the new Gorilla perfumes at LUSH Cosmetics (Sun is my favourite!)

Follow-up on my workout wishlist: I ended up with these grey/pink Nike Free Run v4 shoes

White chocolate and raspberry cheesecake at Trees

Karaoke = one of my favourite activities because I like pretending I'm a popstar

Brunch at Forage, a local & sustainable restaurant

For more snippets from my everyday life and updates in real time, find me on Instagram at @alison_elle.