Woman in Real Life

Now that we've seen the first (and the second) snowfall of the year, my thoughts inevitably turn to baking. How many warm scones, muffins and cookies will it take to get me through the long, snowy, cold Canadian winter? Quite a few, my friends. Quite a few.

Berries are one of my favourite foods to enjoy in summer, when they are fresh, abundantly available, affordable and sometimes even local or pick your own. That being said, I'm not prepared to leave berries behind in winter. That's when frozen berries come in handy. If you are on the hunt for easy blueberry recipes or blueberry desserts, these delicious berry oat bars might be your jam (pun intended). They are also perfect for the strawberry enthusiast and the raspberry lover. Really you can use any combination of fresh or frozen berries you desire or have available. Infusing your recipes with berries offers not only great taste, but the added bonus of healthy antioxidants.

I'm willing to bet that most of us don't get around to canning fresh, homemade berry jam each year when strawberry/raspberry season rolls around. I do occasionally make this easy Breadmaker Strawberry Jam during strawberry season in June, but that recipe results in one jar that gets used up quickly! And then picking season is over when it seems it has just begun.

The thing I love most about this homemade chia seed jam is that you can make it at the drop of a hat, any time you need jam. And you don't even need fresh berries - you can use frozen berries - so you can make chia seed jam in the middle of winter without the need to search in vain for decent berries at the grocery store. Plus, it's made with all-natural, healthy ingredients and no sugar (just a bit of maple syrup if desired for sweetness).

I was really skinny growing up - I gained the "Freshman 15" my first year of university (thanks to my meal card) and I was still slim. Two decades and two kids later, I have myself a muffin top. It has taken me a while to come to terms with that lovely fleshy roll (about the last decade actually) but I finally decided to just buy higher jeans. My thanks to American Eagle Outfitter high-waisted jeggings!

My dad and his siblings are really slim - my dad can eat big bowls of ice cream during the night and never gain a pound. But I have watched my gorgeous mummy struggle with her weight for as long as I can remember, so I know just how strong the genetic component of weight is. If you wish you could lose 5, 10 or 50 pounds, I'm not here to add to your guilt. You are beautiful, Know that. Feel that. But maybe (like most of us past a certain age) you have aches and pains and health concerns. Maybe you have a desire for better health, a desire to worship your hardworking body and treat it to an abundance of beneficial nutrients and friendly, life-sustaining foods and activities. With that in mind, I have two book suggestions for you. (Oh, and read on for the recipe for the healthy, tasty breakfast parfait pictured above.)