Soups: $5 (small); $9 (large)

Carrot & ginger soup

Corn chowder

Salads: $5(small); $9(large)

Greek salad

Middle-Eastern Tabouleh salads

Family size meals $18(2-3 servings)

Free-range Butter chicken with rice ($22.00; half size $11.00)

Roasted Organic chicken with rosemary & lemon (full chicken -$22.00; half chicken -$11.00)

Barley & beef stroganoff with noodles

Mac & cheese toss with green peas

Fallafels,& Tsaziki dip with pita

Single  meals  approx.. half portions of above ( with vegetarian alternatives) $7

Extra Side Dishes: (single serving)
Jasmine/Basmati Rice: $2.00; Pasta: $2.00;  Brown Rice: $3.00  Quinoa: $4.00 Pita bread: $2.00;

stir-fried or roasted veggies:$3.00; Mashed potato: $3.00; Hummus $5.00

Your orders will have to be received by Wednesday morning for preparation on Thursday morning. Meals can be picked up or delivered fresh on Thursday afternoon (to pre-arranged locations in Surrey, Ladner, Richmond and Vancouver).

We offer free home delivery on orders of $75.00 or more within a radius of 10k. Please place your order with: Jini : jini@jinisgourmet.com (604-940-9355) or Suzann:Suzann.lane@hotmail.com

(604-839-5447) Note: we do not currently charge tax on our meals.

It is hard not to be, with such a confusing array of descriptions like omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, raw, gluten-free, sugar-free etc. Although some are self-explanatory, it is better to get the guess-work out of the way – just in case you are treating friends to lunch or dinner, and they happen to be one of these:

Omnivores- eat both animal & plant-based foods, as well as dairy and dairy products such as cheese.
Pescatarians – eats fish, seafood & plant-based foods and dairy.
Vegetarians – mainly eat a plant-based diet, but may choose to eat fish, seafood, egg, and dairy.
Vegans – strictly eat only plant-based foods; no dairy, egg or any animal derived foods like honey, gelatin, mayonnaise, chicken or beef broth.
Gluten-free – A gluten-free diet excludes foods containing gluten. Gluten is a protein complex found in wheat (including kamut and spelt), barley, rye and triticale. Corn and rice also contain gluten, but are considered gluten-free, as the gluten in these species do not cause celiac disease.

Happy 2013!

At the start of each year we make New Year’s resolutions to lose a few pounds and look trim
in time for the spring! You can surely lose a few pounds with a crash diet, but
the chances are you will gain it all back in a few months! This yo-yo dieting
can be very damaging to your health and metabolism.

Instead we can look at a more long-term SOLUTION  to the problem of gaining weight, which in fact will be more beneficial for
your Health and well-being overall.  All it takes is a little effort and some small changes to eat healthy and exercise! You
don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen or gym to achieve noticeable results!  Before long you will begin to feel less tired
and more energetic and even your friends and co-workers will notice the  positive changes in you! But if you keep doing the same thing day you did for
the last 10 years, could you expect different results?

So here are the 3 P’s to get you motivated:

1. Picture in your mind a new healthier you!  A picture says a thousand words, and the
   thought of that mental image should give you the motivation to take the first
   step even on days that you don’t want to get out of bed!    Remember the time you went on your first
   date, or to the interview to land that dream job? You were charged up, full of
   enthusiasm; your smiling face had success written all over…and of course you
   enjoyed every moment of it!

2. Plan what you want to achieve,  and how you are going to do it.  Break it down into small steps that you can
work on every day. Perhaps you are too busy with your daily work routine etc.
that you have no time or energy to figure out everything you need to do.

3. Plunge into action!  Don’t put it off just because you don’t know how to start.  Procrastination is the worst enemy!
If you want to set yourself a simple workout routine, consult a fitness expert at your local gym. Or, you may prefer to walk, use a treadmill or engage
in some fitness activity for at least 30 minutes a day.

If you want help with a healthy diet, consult someone who can help you
with a menu plan and recipes to get you started quickly. In fact, you will
benefit by taking the guesswork out of your planning,  and put your energy into doing.  The chances are you will remain
motivated.

If you do anything for 21 days, it becomes a routine that will become a habit.  Before you know it, you will not
only lose weight, but will be healthy and fit for life!

As a special New Year’s gift, I am offering a 3-week “Healthy-licious Eating’ program starting January 24^th
to the first six lucky people at a special price of $125.00.  (That is a saving of $100.00)! This course
will be held at a downtown Vancouver location.

For course details,  please go to: www.jinisgourmet.com, or email:  jini@jinisgourmet.com/

This morning I attended a Food coalition meeting at the EarthWise garden Society in Tswwassen…we brain-stormed many ideas to spread the word about the wonderful programs they have ..the CSA , Family Harvest Box program, and getting the community to buy locally grown organic produce.and I had the good luck to come home with a few heirloom tomatoes from their organic garden. OMG! how sweet and fleshy they are. I made myself a delicious bowl of cold gaspacho soup with some tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, garlic and fresh basil from my garden.
It was delightful and refreshing and so satisfying..to say the least! You must taste it to believe it!

How I love berry season! Besides being delicious, berries are one of the best nutritional bargains around. Low in fat, carbs, and calories, but high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, these yummy nuggets of flavor not only contribute to overall health, but may even help prevent cancer and heart disease, as well as slowing the aging process. And thanks to the freezer, we can have the advantages of berries year-round.
Basic Berry Nutrition
Berries are not only sources of concentrated flavor, but little packets of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. For example, a cup of sliced strawberries contains a whole day’s requirement for vitamin C. A cup of blackberries contain a day’s worth of manganese, while the same amount of raspberries supplies a third of our daily niacin needs. Blueberries and strawberries are even surprisingly good sources of vitamin E. And they all contain between 4 and 9 grams of fiber per cup.
Why are Berries So Good for Us?
The seeds of berries are mainly spread by birds and other animals; the bright colors of the berries help attract those seed-distributors. The skins of berries have to be thin enough so that they are easily eaten, but at the same time not vulnerable to pests and diseases. The chemicals which cause the color and protect the plant also turn out to be good for us.
Health Benefits
Many of these phytonutrients (such as anthocyanins, quercetin, and ellagic acid) have an antioxidant effect: They counter the natural oxidation in the body that contributes to aging of the tissues and many degenerative illnesses such as cancer, dementia, and damage to the arteries. One study of blueberries in the diet even showed improved memory of middle-aged rats. In fact, it’s hard to think of a body part that isn’t positively affected by these nutrients. Blueberries are especially high in these chemicals, perhaps the highest of all fruits.

Agua Fresca is to Central America as lemonade is to North America on a warm summer day!

Make these delicious frescas with watermelon, strawberries, rasperries, pineapple, cucumber or any combination of fruits for a refreshing treat.

Add a sprig of mint for a more refreshing tingle!  Save berries, or fruit in zip lock bags in the freezer!

2 cups water

3-4 ice cubes

3 cups watermelon, seeded and cubed

3 Tbsp. agave nectar (or sugar to taste)

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

Add ingredients to blender.  Pulse a few times, and then blend until ice cubes and fruit are thoroughly crushed.

Serve garnished with a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon.

How to make a simple Strawberry Daiquiri! at home

Welcome Summer  with a Delicious Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri!

Local strawberries arel in season..and let’s celebrate with our local strawberries…

So luscious and delicious!

Here’s what you  need:

Handful of  strawberries

Handful of  ice cubes, crushed

1 tbsp. sugar or Agave  syrup

Juice of  ½ a lime

1 strawberry for  garnish

Here’s how to do it:

Mash strawberries with lime juice and sugar or Agave syrup in a shaker  using a pestle or muddler.

Top up with crushed  ice, and put a sprig of mint.
Enjoy!

PS. Add a dash of Tequilla and Tripple Sec for some extra cheer, if you like!

Starting a New Year is always exciting and so full of hopes – to do more, to achieve more and so on. But perhaps, for a change we should ask ourselves:
“What can we do to make the world a better place for everyone else”!
I am glad a couple of years ago, I had this vision of providing food to people with economic challenges. I am glad we started a community kitchen in our Delta, BC area. Honestly, I had no idea where the food would come from and who will help me make it each week. But my experience is that when you start something good, others will rally around you to help. That is exactly what happened in our community. I have a set of kind and dedicated helpers who have offered to help out each week….many others continue to send donations, and thanks to all these wonderful people we are now in our 3rd year of operation and doing well!
Resolve to start something that interests you and that can help others as well. Then watch it blossom into reality and take a life of its own!!

Searching for a Better Diet on this planet?

Learn about the reasons and many benefits of following a vegetarian diet, rich in all the essential nutrients, in my 3-week cooking series starting in August. The sooner we start, the better it is for our health and the whole planet! You will be surprised how easy it is on your wallet too!