Mother's Day Menu

Mother's Day is this coming Sunday and since you can't take her out to the spa or spoil her at a fancy restaurant, we came up with a full day of meals you can cook her right from home.

Mother's Day is the day you let your mom or special lady in your life relax and enjoy the little things in life

Let mom or the special lady in your life relax this Sunday in her fuzzy slippers and her cozy bathrobe and tell her she doesn't have to lift a finger in the kitchen! You don't need a seaweed wrap or a 5-course gourmet meal to make her feel special and appreciated. So put on your apron, gather the necessary ingredients and treat mom to a day of home-cooked meals. Don't forget to do the dishes after!

BREAKFAST - fruit PARFAIT

A fruit parfait is the perfect way to start Mom's day!

Making mom a fancy breakfast parfait is a super easy way to wow her and to start her day off with a delicious, light and healthy treat.

A parfait is a combination of fruits, yogurt and granola. It is arranged in layers, usually in a fancy glass or mason jar, in the following order: Fresh or frozen fruits (make sure they thaw before serving), yogurt (we love thick and decadent Greek yogurt) and granola (make sure to use ILIOS organic granola!). Add extra visual interest and repeat the layers to create 6 thin layers of pure yumminess. Top the whole treat with a sweet sauce like maple syrup or a fruit coulis (make sure to use plain or vanilla yogurt so it's not too sweet).

Here are a few of our favourite combos:

Maple Orchard Parfait

Plain Greek yogurt

Diced apples and pears pan fried in brown sugar and cinnamon

ILIOS Nut & Pumpkin Granola

Top with pure maple syrup

very berry Parfait

Vanilla (or berry-flavoured) Greek yogurt

Thawed mixed berries in their juices

ILIOS Dark Chocolate Granola

Top with a raspberry coulis*

* To make the raspberry coulis from scratch, cook 1.5 cups of frozen raspberries in a frying pan with 1/3 cup of sugar and 3 tbsp of water or orange juice. Cook for about 10-15 minutes. Break down while cooking with wooden spoon or, blend once cooked for a smoother texture. Keeps for about a week in the fridge or 2-3 months if frozen.

very berry Parfait

Vanilla (or berry-flavoured) Greek yogurt

Fresh berries or thawed mixed berries in their juices

ILIOS Dark Chocolate Granola

Top with a raspberry coulis*

* To make the raspberry coulis from scratch, cook 1.5 cups of frozen raspberries in a frying pan with 1/3 cup of sugar and 3 tbsp of water or orange juice. Cook for about 10-15 minutes. Break down while cooking with wooden spoon or, blend once cooked for a smoother texture. Keeps for about a week in the fridge or 2-3 months if frozen.

Tropical Parfait

Coconut milk yogurt (BONUS! It's vegan!)

Diced kiwi, mango and banana

ILIOS Cranberry Granola

Top with a peach syrup (get the recipe)

lunch - Quinoa Falafels

Quinoa falafels are the perfect midday treat. Fresh. Healthy. Delicious!

Ingredients:

2 cups of cooked ILIOS Quinoa

1 jar of ILIOS Chick Peas

1 onion, cut into chunks

5 cloves of garlic

2 cups of fresh parsley

3 1/2 tsp. of salt

4 tsp. of cumin

2 tsp. of ground corianger

4 tbsp. ILIOS Vegetable Oil

2 tbsp. cornstarch

1/2 cup water

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a food processor (works better than a blender), combine all listed ingredients except for the cooked ILIOS Quinoa. Blend until semi-smooth with some small chick pea chunks remaining.

3. Transfer to a large bowl with cooked quinoa and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until well-combined.

4. Roll mixture into golf sized balls and place on the lined baking sheet. Spray balls with cooking spray and bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.

5. Serve falafels hot out of the oven with ILIOS Homemade Hummus, tahini sauce, or garlic sauce. Serve with a side of green salad or taboulé, and with warm pita or naan bread.

Dinner - pan-seared gnocchi with browned butter & sage

Pan-seared browned butter sage gnocchi is a decadent dish!

Ingredients:

1 package of ILIOS potato gnocchi

1/4 cup of butter

1 clove of minced garlic

15-20 fresh sage leaves

1/4 tsp. of salt

1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

2 tbsp. of grated parmesan cheese

Recipe:

1. Cook the gnocchi as per package instructions, drain and set aside.

2. In a skillet, melt the butter over medium hear. Add the garlic and cook until softened (about 4 minutes).

3. Stir in the sage and salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

4. Add the cooked gnocchi and gently toss with 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and pepper.

5. Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese to serve.

POST-WORKOUT ILIOS SNACKS

Many of us are taking full advantage of the warmer weather to get outside and get some exercise. That's a great thing! Living an active lifestyle is key to maintaining good health and a positive attitude.

Part of living an active lifestyle is getting the right foods into your body to supply your body with the right nutrients for adequate recovery and to maximize the benefits of your workout. The perfect post-workout snack is a combination of healthy fats, protein and good carbs.

Check out these great post-workout snacks using some great ILIOS products.

ILIOS Rice Crackers make the perfect snack!

ILIOS RICE & CORN CAKES

ILIOS Rice & Corn Cakes make the perfect base for the most delicious snacks! Try toppings high in protein like peanut butter (or any nut butter) with fresh fruit or go salty with turkey and hummus or mustard.

There are so many creative and delicious combinations! What do you dress your rice cakes with?

Have you tried ILIOS Fruit & Nut Bars?

ILIOS Fruit & Nut Bars

ILIOS Fruit & Nut bars are the perfect post-workout combo snack because they are a good source of healthy carbs (fruit!) and healthy fats and protein (nuts!). They are free of any processed sugars, only natural honey is used as a sweetener.

Workouts aside, these bars are so yummy even the kids will love them as a healthy afternoon snack. One of our favourites is the Peanut, Almond, Blueberry & Apricot bar. Have you tried them yet?

The Tuna Salad Sandwich: A light, healthy post-workout meal

ILIOS TUNA SALAD SANDWICH

Tuna salad sandwiches are part of an exclusive list of staple sandwiches that have been nourishing families at summer picnics, family parties, and outside gatherings for generations.

Because they combine the carbs of healthy whole wheat bread with the protein and healthy fats of tuna and mayo, tuna sandwiches also make great post-workout snacks.

Add some strips of cucumber and a bit of fresh dill for an extra cool and summery taste!

We DARE YOU to make your hummus from scratch! It's so easy!

ILIOS CROSTINI CRACKERS & HUMMUS

Another trifecta of carb/fat/protein goodness is the healthy spin on "Chips'n'Dip" - Crackers and Hummus! ILIOS Crostini Crackers are bursting with great flavours (hello rosemary) and are the perfect size and shape to dip into some fresh made hummus using ILIOS Chickpeas and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Did you know that fresh hummus is super easy to make? With the help of your trusty food processor, in a matter of minutes you have a batch of delicious, healthy, protein-packed fresh hummus. What's in our secret recipe? CLICK HERE to find out!

ilios quinoa and bean burger

It's finally here! BBQ season!

Fire up that grill and get ready for a recipe that will blow your mind: ILIOS Quinoa & Bean Burgers.

Packed with protein and delicious flavours, these burgers are a great plant-based option for you and your family.

ILIOS Quinoa & Bean Burgers

Ingredients:

1/4 cup ILIOS Quinoa (cooked)

1/2 white onion (diced)

1 clove garlic (minced)

1 tsp chilli Powder

1/2 tsp ground Cumin

1 jar of ILIOS Cranberry Beans

1 egg

1/4 cup of breadcrumbs

salt and pepper

Recipe:

1. Preheat the grill to medium. Line with aluminum foil (otherwise the burgers will stick!)

2. Drain and rinse the cranberry beans and place them in a large bowl. Mash thoroughly with a fork.

3. If you have a cast iron pan, use your grill to sauté the onion on a medium heat with a little olive oil for 2-3 minutes until the onion starts to become translucent. Mince the garlic clove and add to the pan, stir it around and cook for a further minute. (use your stove as an alternative)

4. Add the chilli powder and cumin to the onion mix and cook for 2 minutes until the spices are fragrant. Add the whole mixture to the bowl with the beans.

5. Add the quinoa into the bean bowl with the egg and breadcrumbs and mix everything together. Season with a little salt and pepper.

6. Shape the mixture into 4 burgers about 1 inch thick. Place the patties on the grill (on the foil) cook for 8 minutes. Then, carefully flip the burgers using a spatula and cook for another 8 minutes. Remove from the BBQ and allow to cool for around 5 minutes before serving.

7. Top with your favourite burger toppings in a bun of your choice!