My Mother

                Too often in life, we take for granted the things most important to us. The things we wouldn't know how to live or function without. Mother's day is approaching and I began to think about all the ways in which my mother has inspired me throughout the years. She has always believed in me and offered me encouragment. She has always been there for me, and I cannot describe the depth of my gratitude and appreciation, nor the tremendous importance she holds in my life. I am the luckiest person in the world to have such a wonderful mother who I know I can always count on.

Nourishing the fields of youth,

wiping away the stinging tears in the gloom of the night,

lulling me into sweet rest time and time again.

Always there to listen to failing words in a time of hurt.

Opening my eyes to the magic of the wind,

the gift of grass and meadows and wildflowers.

With nectar thoughts,

she introduced me to the charms of life,

my mother.

 

Black Bean Brownies

 

Total Time: 50 min   Prep: 15 min   Cook: 20 min   Yield: 12 brownies

Ingredients

• Butter, for greasing pan
• 3/4 cup cooked black beans1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 9-inch square baking pan.

In a blender, puree the beans with the oil. Add the eggs, cocoa, sugar, coffee, and vanilla. Melt half the chocolate chips and add to the blender. Blend on medium-high until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the blender and pulse until just incorporated. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake until the surface looks somewhat matte around the edges and still a bit shiny in the middle, about 20 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting and removing from the pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/black-bean-brownies-recipe/index.html

If you've been feeling guilty about your dessert habits, this is the solution for you! Why not get your vegetable servings in at the same time as you indulge on a tasty treat? You may never have thought this possilbe, but low and behold, it is! This brownie recipe contains black beans, and while that may sound quite strange and not at all appetizing, the outcome is surprising. I have tried this recipe before and was put off by the fact that there were beans in my dessert, but truth be told you can't taste them. These brownies are a little less sweet than most but the flavours mix nicely. Also, they are probably the moistest brownies I have ever tried! I highly recommend trying these out, could be a life changer!

Motivational Poem

You Can Be Whatever You Want To Be!

by: Donna Levine

There is inside you
All of the potential
To be whatever you want to be;
All of the energy
To do whatever you want to do.
Imagine yourself as you would like to be,
Doing what you want to do,
And each day, take one step
Towards your dream.
And though at times it may seem too
difficult to continue,
Hold on to your dream.
One morning you will awake to find
That you are the person you dreamed of,
Doing what you wanted to do,
Simply because you had the courage
To believe in your potential
And to hold on to your dream.

I was searching for motivational poems and came across this one by Donna Levine. I think that this poem is incredibly inspirational, as it is not referring to a specific problem that needs to be overcome. You can take the strength and encouragement offered by this poem and apply it to any struggle in life. I thought it was fitting for this blog as it can be related to health and fitness. If you dream of getting your life back on track, putting only good things in your body, and being the best you can be, that can seem like a daunting and unachievable goal. This poem reminds us that no matter what we want out of life, we can achieve it if we believe in ourselves. It might be a hard and slow journey but every day matters and making small changes along the way add up in the long run and get you closer to your goal. I’m going to start reading this quote if I ever start to doubt my capabilities of something, or if I’m feeling unmotivated to do a workout, or am faced with food I know I shouldn’t eat! I really liked this poem for that reason; the broad range of circumstances it can be applied to in everyday life.

Broccoli...a superfood!

Broccoli

You know how your parents constantly battled with you when you were a kid about eating your broccoli? Turns out, they were actually trying to do you a favour...yes, a favour! Being one of those children who put up a vicious struggle and had to be force fed her greens, I would've had a hard time believing this but the proof is in the facts!

The following are some unbelievable facts about broccoli that may tempt you to cook some up, and regret you childhood stubborness!

• Broccoli is extremely high in vitamin C. In fact, consuming one cup of raw broccoli will give you your entire required daily amount!
• It's also an incredible source of vitamin A.
• It protects the eyes from degenerative diseases such as glaucoma.
• It helps clear skin and aids with cell production. It also helps protect against sun damage as it contains glucoraphanin which helps the skin detoxify and repair itself!
• Broccoli is a source of both soluble and insoluble fibre, both of which your body must get from outside sources. It's good to know that broccoli can provide two in one!
• It is an anti-inflammatory and protects the body from cancer and heart disease.
• Broccoli is a great source of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc, selenium, and phosphorus.
• Promotes a healthy nervous system and brain function.
• Low in calories but high in fibre. Instead of eating a cup of rice, eat a cup of broccoli for the same amount of protein and ultimately half the calories!