Quick and Easy Breakfast Smoothie for Busy Mornings

Hello, my name is Alexa. I am the newest contributor to Natalie's Kira-Kira blog. Few days ago, I was contacted by Vivian and Natalie asking me to join them as one of the authors for this wonderful blog. When I got the offer, I accepted it without hesitation because I, myself, was considering creating a blog to document my life and share with others. The timing could not be more perfect. So, here is my first post which is about how to make breakfast smoothie to get you going in busy mornings.

I personally believe breakfast is the most important meal of a day. I try to eat breakfast every morning to my best ability. However, there are days when you just do not feel like making an effort to get up few minutes early to make a proper breakfast. I recently got into having smoothies as breakfast in morning. They are quick and surprisingly filling. Here is an easy breakfast smoothie recipe that will get your morning started!

Banana Upside-Down Cake

Have you heard of the banana horror story? An article from New Scientist had claimed bananas will be extinct in 10 years from 2013 due to various fungi and panama diseases. Blessed we are for we still have bananas around them and the claim was disputed ever since. I love banana and I believe most of you love banana too. Let's all hope that bananas will stay around forever and ever.

Anyways, since we still have plenty of delicious bananas in our kitchens, I thought it would be great to introduce you to "Banana Upside-down Cake" which is our family's all time favorite.

Favorite Starbucks Holiday Drink

I don't drink coffee. I am more of a tea-holic. As much as I enjoy various high quality loose leaf teas, Starbucks Chai Tea latte is something I cannot resist and also a treat helping to get through the day. We all know about the marketing and the tactics but the unique wholesome culture Starbucks stores provide for the customers is unbelievable every time.

If you are feeling festive and do enjoy their holiday red paper cups - try Chai Eggnog Latte today! (Oh, and you also have to be a sweet tooth!)

Eggnog is the traditional holiday drink in North America (although it really originated from England,) you will find the slightly thick (but not like milkshake) sweet vanilla milk taste. Turkey is always good too but given how easy it is to make a warm eggnog latte or even rum/brandy mix - although it's obviously a different story if you are making homemade eggnog... - cup of eggnog latte on my table represents holiday season. 

Guide to Perfect (Pan-Fried) Steak

I love steak. I have tried to become a vegetarian as an attempt to become a true animal lover - however, it was too hard for me to cut off meat completely from my diet.  Feeling guilty and all, instead I try to limit the number of meat in my family's weekly meal plan and also try my best to consume natural and humanely raised meat.  In addition to that, I also cook my steaks with perfection to satisfy the craving! Like Joey says from Friends, if you're going to do something bad, you've got to do it right.

Joey: Pheobe, what-what are you doing?
Phoebe: I can't help it. I need the meat. The baby needs the meat.
Joey: All right - look, you know how when you're dating someone and you don't want to cheat on them, unless it's with someone really hot?
Phoebe: Yeah, totally!
Joey: All right. Okay. Well this is the same kind of deal. If you're going to do something wrong, (he grabs two steaks from the freezer), do it right!

Anyways, so here is how I cook my steak.

Homemade Lemon Tea (Nat's Attempt)

I thoroughly enjoyed Viv's homemade lemon tea and decided to try it myself. After all, we all need that squeeze of vitamin C! My first batch was of 3* 500ml containers. Realizing this is actually fun and the feeling of accomplishment this brought me, I decided to turn my evening into lemon tea factory to gift my colleagues and other important people in my life.
For Vivian's original post on how to make homemade lemon tea, please follow the link: http://natalieskirakira.blogspot.ca/2014/11/easy-recipe-diy-lemon-tea.html :-) !!

Read more after the jump!

Easy Recipe: DIY Lemon Tea

My husband recently caught a cold and I am not a believer of cold medicine. Don't get me wrong, I am not a cruel wife! ;-p There are more than hundreds of different kinds of viruses that cause cold so it is impossible to have a medicine that can actually cure the sickness. Rather than curing, cold medicines simply help you feel less painful/irritated while being Ill. That is why I think it is more important to eat well and drink lots in order to speed up recovery and there is nothing better than a cup of warm honey lemon tea.

Easy Recipe Delight: Hazelnut Milk

Hi there! This is Vivian. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.  As it gets colder day by day, it gets harder getting out of bed especially when its raining so much like in Vancouver :(  I just want to snug in bed and hybernate forever until the summer comes back again - yawn...!  So today I would like to introduce you to a drink that is as cozy as a duck down duvet.  Read more after the jump!

French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup...

Ahhh... isn't it the perfect soup for a chilly autumn night!

I have to say though, at a fancy french restaurante, it costs around $9-13+tax & tips for this bowl of soup. Oyy!

Hi, I'm Vivian and I would like to share my foolproof French Onion Soup Recipe.

You don't have to worry about a tight pocketbook; just need a few ingredients that are in your pantry.