Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

As you may know, I am an early childhood educator in training and have had the wonderful opportunity to have two of my children with me at work. This year, for at least two days a week, the three kids and I eat lunch apart. This is very exciting as the eldest is in his final year of high school, the middle is in her first year of kindergarten and it's my first year of college. With all those take away lunches, there has to be a way to make it economical, environmentally sound, and made in Canada!

Containers:

Our Buy Canadian First member, Era Group,  has a phenomenal selection of food storage containers that can store as little as 170ml up to 908ml! Made of polypropylene (#5 pp) a non-leaching, non-toxic food safe plastic, Era containers are also BPA free. Bisphenol A, BPA, is a chemical used in plastic manufacturing that has been found to be a hormone disruptor and is suspected of causing other diseases. In Canada, BPA was listed as a ‘toxic substance' in September of 2010.

Sandwich wraps and snack bags:

My kindergartener requires enough food for 2 snacks and a lunch. I try to anticipate what she may want to eat and and create a good selection of mix and match snacks. The only problem with this is the bags and plastic wrap litter. I discovered a few neat items: a Re-Usable Sandwich Wrap and Placemat in One from Wrap-n-Mat on fenigo.com . This product is so handy when you are out and about. Another great find are the reusable snack pouches (a.k.a cookie pockets) from EmmsPocketShop on Etsy. Funky fabrics, great prices and food safe, nylon lining. What a cute idea!

Fruit:

Wasting food is a big pet peeve with me and often apples and bananas aren't eaten after being bumped around during their travels. Sadly, I admit I am guilty of this as well; bruised bananas are inspected and only the white parts are eaten. There are two Canadian-made products that prevent this from happening; the fruit and Banana Guard . Made of BPA free plastic, these fruit guardians come in a variety of colours.

For more "brown bagging-it" ideas, be sure to check out our previous posts here , here and here. It isn't too hard to make your lunch green with these fabulous products and ideas!

What are your favourite eco-friendly lunch ideas? 

Photo credits: Buy Canadian First member Era Group, EmmsPocketShop on Etsy, banana guard.com

Our tomatoes are lush and gorgeous in my backyard in Manitoba . The plants that I put into the ground have turned into meter high shrubs, heavy and sagging with fruit. They mock me, the tomatoes; they are all green with a small flush of pink. I am afraid I will have a mountain of ripe tomatoes all of a sudden. If that happens, I am in big trouble. I need to prepare. There are oodles of ways to enjoy the fruit (and vegetables) of your labour all year round.

One of the easiest ways to preserve is a root cellar. Once a common sight across Canada, they are slowly making a comeback. This is evident in news stories  as well as this great web site called root cellars rock,  that focus on food preservation and historic cellars. Items such as potatoes, apples, onions, squash and carrots can all be stored there. Even without a root cellar in your home you can still create one in your garden by burying a large bucket or steel trash bin in the ground, ensuring that you have good drainage away from the container and a good, tight fitting lid. Once the bin is full, seal and then cover it with a bail of hay to insulate the bin during the Winter. Of course, this project may not always be in the cards so Buy Canadian First member Springwater Woodcraft have a beautiful potato bin  that would grace any kitchen or cold room.

The freezer is an awesome and easy way to preserve your harvest. Items such as berries, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis and carrots can be taken from fresh to frozen with little preparation. Berries can be washed and frozen on baking sheets to later be used in yogurt, smoothies, pancakes or just as is. I usually cut the top off my tomatoes and freeze them in large freezer bags whole. The best part is that when you are ready to use them, just immerse in hot water and the skins will come right off. Blanching and freezing is also easy. Vegetables like beans, corn, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and even dark, leafy greens such as kale and spinach can all be processed in this way. Each vegetable has it's own processing time and later can be used in any of your recipes. Buy Canadian First member Paderno and their stainless steel cookware  can help with the process for many harvest seasons to come.

What I adore about these preserving techniques is that the food remains as close to its natural state as it can. With that said, some days nothing compares to a delicious jam on your peanut butter sandwich or pickles, with my favourite being bread and butter pickles. In jams and other conserves, sugar is used to preserve the fruit. While pickled items such as cucumbers, onions, asparagus, peppers, carrots and radishes use acid and salt with seasoning. This will extend the shelf life of your precious harvest in the tastiest of ways. Of course if that is just too much work, Buy Canadian First member Crofter's Organic  has a scrumptious variety of jams for you.

Wish me luck with my endeavours with my tomato harvest! I will soon be hard at work making salsa and sauce to enjoy the year through!

How do you preserve your harvest?

image credits: Buy Canadian First members;  Springwater Woodcraft, Paderno and Crofter's Organics

I am not sure about the rest of Canada,  but I do know that the sweltering heat of Manitoba has us craving delectable, cold treats. It doesn't take much to break a sweat over here right now. So what Canadian treats can we get our hands on to keep us cool as the mercury soars?

What happens when Buy Canadian First member Ninette, a Canadian stay-at-home mom of seven children, decides to make ice cream? She makes the most dreamed of flavours ever that are low calorie and low fat: Cinnamon Apple Pie, Gingerbread Crunch, Raspberry Truffle, Mocha Almond Fudge, Thyme Lemon Fusion and Basil Lemon. I can only imagine scoops on waffle cones or homemade granola sprinkled over the Cinnamon Apple Pie! What about a Thyme Lemon milkshake? Oh be still, my taste buds! Sadly, I am unable to get Ninette's scrumptious ice cream here in Manitoba. In fact, outside of Quebec and eastern Ontario, the rest of us Canucks are out of luck. Don't dismay! If you Like the Ninette's facebook page,  you can enter to win a five pack of ice cream, valid anywhere in North America!!! Wouldn't that be a wonderful delivery? In the meantime, if anyone driving from Quebec or eastern Ontario is driving west with a few blocks of ice and a cooler, message me; I want one of each Ninette's flavours!

I may be unable to get Ninette's ice cream right now but I can still find some yummy ice cream locally and drizzle (or drench it) in Buy Canadian First member Crofter's  Organic Jellies, Spreads and Conserves. Wild Blueberries, Apricot and Super Fruit spreads are among the delicious flavours. Crofter's is environmentally conscious, and their fruit is organic and not genetically altered. Their cane sugar is also organic and sourced from ethical and environmentally friendly sources. I am dying to try these spreads on my plain Greek yoghurt, over vanilla ice cream or even a dollop on my oatmeal (though that's not a cold treat). While I know that I can pick up these jars of fruit preserves at local organic food stores and regular grocers, I can also have Crofter's delivered to my son, in British Columbia, or myself in Manitoba, through Buy Canadian First member Well.ca ! Be sure to join their facebook page  for updates and events.

Buy Canadian First member Soyummi  has healthy and wholesome, naturally sweetened desserts to indulge in on a hot day or anytime. Soyummi not only makes my favourite, tapioca pudding, with real tapioca pearls, they also offer Cherry, Chocolate, Rice and a limited edition Lime pudding. It is wonderful that they also use organic ingredients that have not been genetically modified. In fact, Soyummi has a long list of ingredients that they do not use in their products. I look forward to tasting their tapioca as I am not keen on making it myself from scratch. I guess that the proof is in the pudding! Catch them on Facebook!

While you are surfing Facebook, have a cup of my favourite, cold chamomile tea with crushed mint and honey over a mountain of ice, and make sure to come and visit us on Buy Canadian First's facebook page. Be the first to know about our latest blog posts, contests and great Canadian-made items!!

What are your favourite cold summer desserts and drinks?

 Image credit: Buy Canadian First members Ninettes Ice Cream, Crofter's Organics, Soyummi 

I hope everyone had a fantastic, Canadian-made Canada Day!! We had a fun day of local celebrations, playing in the pool and BBQ'ing some yummy food. Speaking of the BBQ and yummy food, I'd love to tell you about a new website I am co-authoring: Canadian Moms Cook.

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1C corn syrup
• 1C sugar
• 1/4C melted butter
• 1t vanilla

Is there one dish in particular that says "Canadian" to you?

Images courtesy Canadian Moms Cook.

One of our favourite things to drink here in my home  in Manitoba is chocolate soymilk. We discovered it when my youngest child was experiencing sensitivity to dairy milk. She has recently outgrown this and we are back to dairy, but we still indulge in one of our Canadian-made dairy-alternative favourites, from So Nice .

Like chickpeas, lentils and beans, soy is a legume and has been grown and harvested for millennia in Asia. Soya sauce made its introduction to Canada in the early 19th century and soy was cultivated in the late 19th century at the Ontario Agricultural College. Soy is jam-packed with protein! One cup of soy is equal in protein to 100g of meat, poultry or fish. It is also cholesterol-free and its fat content is made up of healthy, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Soy also holds calcium, iron and zinc. Of course, you'll need a little vitamin C to absorb that vegetable iron. 

So Good, has a yummy, non-dairy frozen soy dessert. Just add some rhubarb compote for a tasty sauce filled with vitamin C. Try this recipe at the Canadian Living website.

 

Do you eat soy products?

Image credits: So Nice and So Good

Holy whale tails! It's the May 24 Long Weekend and not a moment too soon, Canada ... well, at least not for me!! It's been a full week, with two assignments, an exam, work, housekeeping, my wonderful kids, the rest of the family, the cat, the garden and my darling ... all have been squeezed into one itty bitty week. If I can make it to four o'clock Friday afternoon with success at school and a happy collective of loved ones, I shall deem myself a superhero. It is reassuring to know that backyard party and BBQ season has begun! Good times with friends, play dates outside and just relaxing with my kids in the yard are just what I need!

Buying Canadian during the Summer season to enhance your BBQ event has never been easier! What is Summer without a Mr. Freeze ? These wonderful frozen treats from Buy Canadian First member Kisko Products  are a Summertime classic. Keeping things chilled is also the job of Buy Canadian first member Ravi Solutions  and their wine cooler. This great little tool cools your wine as you pour it from the bottle! 

An outdoor BBQ with great friends is always a wonderful time! Imagine Buy Canadian first member True North Salmon and their skewers  marinating in fellow member's Mari foods Wafu Japanese carrot ginger vinaigrette , then grilled. Finish the dish with a side of Noasap Harvest wild rice  and everyone will vote your backyard as "The Place to Be"!

Summer has almost arrived in Southern Manitoba and I'm celebrating What's on your grill this May 24 weekend, Canada?

Image source: Buy Canadian first nenbers: Kisko products, Ravi Solutions and Mari foods 

I love gardening but am terrible at it. I have even written about my Manitoba gardens here before, even though most of them have been mediocre in their successes. Last year I moved into my apartment. It has its own outside entrance into a lovely back yard and patio. It was mid-July when I started a small garden last year. Sadly, the groundskeeper thought that my small plants were weeds and "took care of them".

It's a new season, though and according to my co-worker, I am already a slacker, as I should have started my tomato and pepper seeds three weeks ago! Maybe if I keep a gardener's journal like this  one from Buy Canadian first member Lee Valley, I would have better results.

I need a fresh batch of seeds to start. I am interested in buying heirloom organic seeds. These seeds are open-pollinated and genetically diverse, free of chemical treatments and not genetically modified. In fact, unlike your standard seed and plants, heirloom plants often have unique characteristics and colours. A few Canadian seed sellers on Etsy have just what I'm looking for. Hollis and Hunter,  as well as Cubits, offer a varied selection of fruit, vegetables and herbs for Canadians. Salt Spring Seeds has seeds, too and also offers legumes and grains including oats, flax, quinoa and buckwheat.

I do have two small gardens that I can use in the back this year,  but the rest of my gardening will have to be in containers. Container gardening seems, in theory, pretty simple.You can plant in almost any container, from old coffee cans to claw foot tubs and everything in-between. Buy Canadian First Member Garant  has colourful 40L Tubby containers that would make great planting containers.

Make sure that the container has drain holes and do not allow the plants to become too dry or too wet. Adding mulch to your containers will help to retain moisture. 

I will be starting radishes, carrots, tomatoes, swiss chard and cucumbers for sure this Spring. Do you container garden?

images: Buy Canadian First members Lee Valley and Garant and A. Ryder via Andrea Willowcat  

A plan for health and fitness that is made in Canada...how wonderful would that be? Why not take a little initiative and do it yourself! School, work, homework for both, house work, three children and managing time zones to talk to my friend, can leave a girl spent, despite how wonderful it all is. So, towards the end of 2011, I dove head first into a healthier lifestyle. My main motivation was to lose weight, manage stress and have more energy so that I wouldn’t end up a bear at the end of the day. 

My friend joined the Tyson Method Boot Camp for Moms. The program is based out of L.A. but Tami Tyson , a mom of three from Steinbach, Manitoba, brought it back home. It is taking over southern Manitoba. I didn’t join her for the program but I watched my friend shrink in some places, get a boost in others and she raved about her strength. I joined the next session with a local trainer and after six weeks I lost a total of 8 inches!

I am now doing their nutrition program and, while I falter some days, I am enjoying my new view of foods. The one food that I am missing and seem to have the worst time finding are alfalfa sprouts, I don’t know why they are so hard to find, so I decided to grow my own.  So, I took a quick walk over to Roy Legumex  and bought some lentils and took them home. Lentils are easy to sprout. You need to soak them over night, fill a jar 1/3 full of lentils and cover the top with cheese cloth. They need to be rinsed twice a day for two to three days and then they are ready to eat. The wonderful thing about sprouts is that they improve cardiovascular health, prevent heart disease and stroke and can improve bone density. I liked, but did not love, the lentil sprouts so I am going back to Roy’s and buying five pounds of sunflower seeds to see if I enjoy the sprouted seeds more.

I have changed other aspects of my diet as well, and have fallen in love with Greek-style yoghurt and Buy Canadian First member Almond Fresh unsweetened almond milk, which is  the perfect start to any smoothie and provides eighty per cent of your calcium needs!

The very best part of my lifestyle change, besides being fit and healthy, is modelling a healthy lifestyle for my two young girls, as well as my son. I believe this to be one of the best gifts to give them; the tools to eating well and living a healthy life. 

Have you changed your lifestyle in any way this January?

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member Almond Fresh and Andrea Willowcat 

Happy New Year, Canada! It's almost time to celebrate the made in Canada way. Whether it's a house party, a game night, out on the town or at home in your jammies, New Year's Eve calls for snacks!! When I think snacks and hor d'oeuvre I think two names: M&M Meat Shops and President's Choice.

M&M Meat Shops is Canada's largest retail chain of specialty frozen foods with locations coast to coast. Some of the top picks from M&M's is their famous Oriental Party Pak - with potstickers, mini vegetable spring rolls and more. Another favourite that I've seen at many a party is their delicious cream puffs! They also have wings, hot dips, cakes, shrimp rings and my favourite, bacon wrapped scallops. Everything you need to make your get-together a hit!

President's Choice, another Canadian favourite, also knows how to celebrate with products like PC Phyllo Pastry, PC Mozzarella Cheese Sticks and my favourite, the PC Decadent Molten Chocolate Chip Cookie, just to name a few. A fun idea for a New Year's Eve party would be to buy a box each of the winning Recipe to Riches dishes and have your guests do a taste test. Take a vote and see who your guests would have picked as the winner.

For other great New Year's ideas, inspiration and recipes, look no further than Canadian Living magazine. Check out this fun drink, the Pomegranate Royale. For those thinking about some New Year's resolutions, have a look at Canadian Living's 7 ways to make this year your healthiest ever.

Happy New Year's Eve, Canada! Have fun and please, don't drink and drive! 

What snacks will you be having this New Year's Eve?

Images courtesy of President's Choice, M&M Meat Shops and Canadian Living.

It's Day 11 of our Cross Canada Countdown and we have some more gift suggestions for you. I am a HUGE coffee fan, and was in the market for a new pot for this Christmas. While I, of course, would like a Canadian-made one, the options just aren't there. My Mom found a Keurig for me at a great price at Sears Canada  and that is what will be wrapped up under the tree for me this year! Keurig coffee makers can also be found at local stores like Staples and Canadian Tire.

I'm excited about the single serve Keurig because I'm the biggest coffee drinker in the house and often, would love one in the morning of a busy day or at the 3 p.m. slump we all hit, but I'm not interested in making a full pot or in cleaning the whole thing after. I also love that, with the Keurig, you do not have to use the pre-filled K-Cups. You can buy a small basket called "My K-Cup", to use with your own coffee instead. While we don't have a lot of options on single serve coffee makers made in Canada, there are a few great Canadian companies offering coffee and accessories that would be perfect for a coffee lover in your life this Holiday Season.

Kicking Horse Coffee was one of the first ten companies in Canada to sign on with TransFair Canada in 1998 and in 2003 Kicking Horse Coffee went 100% organic, only purchasing and roasting 100% Certified Organic coffee beans. Then, in 2007, they became dedicated to 100% Organic Fair Trade. Kicking Horse Coffee continues to be Canada's #1 selling Organic Fair Trade. Their whole bean cans provide the best freshness in coffee, smell heavenly and come in a range of roasts, I like the Three Sisters myself.

Second Cup is Canada's largest Canadian-based specialty coffee retailer. Not only can you go in for a great cup of coffee or speciality drink, but they also have a wide range of products for sale. Pick up some whole beans or treat someone special to one of their Glass Mug Sets. They also have cans of a hot product this year - White Hot Chocolate, one of my personal favourites.

Always a favourite, Tim Hortons sells cans of their ground coffee and other hot drinks. They also have a new treat available this year, chocolate truffles! I miss the fudge they were selling the past couple of years; according to their website the fudge is only available in Quebec now, but I sure wouldn't mind a can of their famous coffee under the tree to use in my new Keurig.

What's all this coffee without a mug to put it in?! Browse Etsy for beautiful mugs made in Canada. I found this gorgeous canoe mug made in BC. I can't wait to be brewing in a few weeks.

What are you wrapping up for the coffee lover in your life?

Images courtesy of Dragon Pottery, Tim Hortons and Second Cup

Day 10 of the Cross Canada Countdown is here and we are zipping over to Ontario, to visit our blogger, "Super" Stacey Kazmer! Stacey is a developer/computer programmer, the mom of twin four year old boys and the wife of Dan. She also runs the show at her made-in-Canada  blog, "Did You Know Canada?" and is a weekly blogger here at the Good Shopper blog! She's one multi-tasking mama!

Stacey has been participating as a blogger/tester in a Canadian prime-time show called Recipe to Riches . It plays Wednesday nights on the Food Network and Saturday, on Global TV. The idea is that, each week three everyday Canadians are given the opportunity to submit their recipes in one of seven food categories, The winner gets $25,000.00 and has their dish sold by President's Choice in stores across Canada!  

It's a really fun concept and the food has been amazing! I've tried three of the products and loved them! The best part is that Galen Weston, the Executive Chairman of Loblaws, joins the celebrity judging panel for the final selection!

The show is drawing to a close, but you can still watch it tonight and catch-up with Stacey's hands-on experiences  making some of the recipes and reviewing them for the show.

Have you seen Recipe to Riches yet?

:: images courtesy of Stacey Kazmer 

We had a lovely Thanksgiving and I hope you did, too. My skills as a hostess improve with each passing holiday and I have been dubbed the chef of all family get-togethers. I am thankful for each and every day that is presented to me and for my family, my children, all the blessed moments of the past year and the wonderful people that surround me, both near and far. It has been nearly a week after the feast and I am still working through the leftovers.

I have been summoning memories of my grandmother; a frugal woman and an envromentalist before it was hip. She would wash her freezer bags and hand them on the line, gather bread ends and stale buns for crumbs and always saved bones for soup. As a single mom of three, we live by the old idiom "waste not want not". So, my turkey leftovers have been transformed into saucy turkey and rice, roast veggie poutine and turkey stock, which was used in a squash soup. My homemade cranberry sauce has become jam, ice cream topping and blended with plain yoghurt. The most important thing about leftovers is ensuring that they are handled safely and with the Christmas season soon upon us it wouldn't hurt to look at Health Canada's safety tips . 

The worst part about cooking holiday dinner is nibbling on leftovers in the wee hours of the night, as I am often up late with my studies or preparing my curriculum. To my dismay, I have gained some weight and in essence need to get rid of some leftovers. I have found just the way to do it, with Buy Candian First member Now That's Lingerie's Seamless unitard long leg convertible shapewear .

It's not quite getting rid of the extra weight but that's what New Year resolutions are for, right?

What do you with all your thanksgiving leftovers??

Photocredit: Andrea Willowcat and Buy Canadian First member Now That's Lingirie 

I think about food all the time, and I hate it. I’m only a few weeks into my all-Canadian diet, and the amount of time I need to spend shopping for and preparing food is a bit ridiculous. I also went cold turkey on Coke, a beverage I’ve drunk daily for the past, oh, 25 years. Don’t get me started on the headaches.

On a lighter note, it’s time for another contest. The good people at Saul Good Gift Company have donated a gourmet gift basket to the cause. It contains all sorts of tasty local stuff–pecan fruit crisps from Vancouver, chocolate bark from Ladysmith, season fruit preserves from Langley and so forth.

What do you have to do to enter this contest? Simply ‘like’ the 1Y1C Facebook page. Have you already liked it? No problem, you’re already entered in the contest. Not on Facebook? Good for you. Just leave a comment below and we’ll add your name to the mix. I’ll pick a winner in early October and Saul will send you the goodies.

Enter your comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from  Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

Image courtesy of Darren Barefoot.

It's that time of year again. Yes, back to school is on the agenda but I am really referring to birthday parties. I am sure I have mentioned my children over the years [over and over again]; the two youngest were both born in September; it makes it quite the festive month. The girls each have their own celebration on their birthdays with family and a joint party with their friends; always a great and fun day! This year is no exception, except that I was given the challenge to use as many Canadian-made  ingredients as I can. "So, feed the Canadian sprouts with a Made in Canada  meal, this should be a piece of cake!", I thought.

I was happy to see that I already had lots of ingredients that were locally found and  Canadian made in my cupboards and fridge. That helped as I created my menu for the party; pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, cucumber salad and buns. I proceeded to my local grocery store, list in hand and began scouting about the aisles. The birthday girls, drunk on excitement, ran rampant in the store as I read labels and compared products and prices. The girls had already completed one lap around the store as I picked up my pork roast which was from Buy Canadian First member Maple Leaf , I wish all Canadian made producers made it this easy!

I too made my rounds, around and around the store and finally had everything I needed; it was time to get cooking. I started with my BBQ sauce. When I cook, I rarely use measurements and I go by taste. This recipe is no different.

Dre's Pulled Pork BBQ Sauce

In a small saucepan combine:

Half a bottle of Canadian made beer (I used Sleemans Honey Brown )
Heinz Ketchup  - the biggest, longest squeeze of the bottle into the pot
125 ml of tomato sauce
Rogers yellow sugar - about a handful
30ml of Crosby Molasses
2-3 cloves of chopped garlic (found at a farmers market)

On medium low heat, let bubble and simmer until thickened. 

Pulled pork couldn't be easier. In a slow cooker combine one pork roast, some apples (crab apples were being offered for free in the learning centre at the college, so I grabbed some) a few onions (garden fresh from a friend), garlic and 125ml of water. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours. When cooked, remove from slowcooker, break apart with fork and add BBQ sauce and serve.

Quick Cucumber Salad
Cucumbers, peeled and sliced (these were garden fresh from a friend)
Dressing: 1 part Hellman's mayonnaise; 1 part yoghurt (I used Liberté greek style yoghurt ). Add a pinch of salt and some dill to taste.
Mix together and adjust for taste and sauciness.

So,  how much of this was made in Canada? All of it! The molasses and tomato sauce do not say made in Canada on them but the no name products that I compared state when they are a product of another country and Crosby's Molasses is an East coast company. Nothing a few phone calls couldn't settle! It was also quite simple to collect Canadian made foods from a small town grocer. Imagine the possibilities at a large grocery store!!

Do you have an all Canadian recipe?  

:: images courtesy of Andrea Willowcat.

I was about 11 years old when my parents got divorced, and I lived with my father until I left for university. When my Mom left, she gave my father a binder with seven recipes in it. My brother, father and I ate those seven recipes for the next seven years of my life.

Because I know you're wondering, the recipes were for hamburger soup, pork chops, Shake ‘N' Bake chicken, spaghetti, pizza and the much-hated sole. His seventh meal was flank steak, reserved for special occasions.

I went off to university, and cooked for myself for the next few years.

So, for some critical formative years, I ate in a kind of culinary desert.

The result? As an adult, I'm ambivalent, if not downright anhedonic about food. There are foods I moderately prefer to other foods, but, beyond health concerns, I'm not somebody who really cares about what I eat.

I used to not eat red meat for ethical reasons. Now I don't do it because it simplifies my eating decisions. When my wife is away, I'm happy eating the same food for two or three meals in a row. When faced with a restaurant menu, I scan it until I find something that appeals, and I stop there. I also don't drink alcohol, coffee or tea.

I'm not critical of people who find great joy or comfort in preparing and eating food. Well, I do think a subsection of foodies has a misbegotten sense of moral righteousness around their eating habits, but they're the exception.

But now I have to constantly think about food. I have to rigorously contemplate my every buying and eating decision. And you know what? It sucks.

With this in mind, will I miss anything over the next four months? I do drink Coke quite often, so that's a non-starter. And who doesn't like chocolate? I'll also miss the convenience of grabbing some sushi (or nearly anything, for that matter) for lunch.

The Rules

If I eat it at home, it has to be sourced in Canada. That's everything, from cooking oil to sugar to any processed food. I've been hosting some informative discussions on the One Year, One Canadian Facebook page which has helped me discover promising sources of Canadian bread, sugar and flour.

I've also been spending a lot of time at farmer's markets, asking irritating questions about Colin the chicken. I'll also spend some time this fall going right to the source to get food. I went snorkeling with a friend to catch the red rock crabs you see in the photo.

I don't plan to eat out that much, but when I do, I'm going to require that the main ingredients be sourced in Canada.

If you had to eat all-Canadian for a year, what would you miss most?

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from  Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

If you have a backyard veggie garden like we do, you may be on the verge of a huge harvest ...  made in Canada ! Just for fun, this year we planted about five different types of tomatoes and some yellow zucchini. Any other veggies that we crave we can get from our weekly Farmers Market.  Our backyard has become our other kitchen, and we try to grill our supper on the BBQ every night that we can. I've found two mouthwatering BBQ recipes that use fresh, home grown vegetables that I hope you will try!

Home Grown Food

Here's a great one from Buy Canadian First member, Peak of the Market , that combines our two favourites in a delicious, grillable main or side dish: 

You will need:

3 small zucchini

1 tomato, seeded and finely chopped

2 tbsp grated parmesan or asiago cheese 

1 clove of garlic, minced 

How to: 

Half zucchini lengthwise and with a teaspoon, remove the seeded portion in the centre. Spray the green side lightly with olive or canola oil spray.

This next recipe is so fast and easy and makes corn on the cob so delicious that you may want to eat it this way every day. (You probably shouldn't though!).

You will need:

Unshucked corn, 1 or 2 per person

How to:

You can pull the silk off of the corn, and remove the floppy leaves, but make sure that the cob is fully covered with husk. 

Place the cob on a piece of paper towel in the microwave.

Cook 2 minutes per cob, depending on your microwave.

When done, remove and place on your BBQ grill. Finish cooking corn by rotating husks so that there are brown grill marks on each side.

When ready, peel the husk off, add butter and salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy! (There's some debate over whether husk off is better for grilling than husk on, but this is how we do it and it tastes amazing. Let me know what you think!)

You can find more great recipes at Homegown Food and Peak of the Market! 

Have you ever tried veggies on the BBQ? 

::images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Home Grown Food and Peak of the Market.

Moving: a 6-letter word that describes the epitome of stress and madness! May is traditionally 'Moving Month' and I have moved alot in my 36 years; in and out of various dwellings, out of the country and back again, from cities to small towns and now, well, this time it's a little different. I'm moving at the end of the month, but this move comes in a big heart shaped box of bittersweet "what ifs" and "should haves", apprehension and relief, gooey centres and some nuts. It is what it is and you know what?  The kids and I will be just fine.

My new pad was built in 1897-98 and I will be residing in what was once the kitchen of a french convent. The suite has been modified to become an apartment; massive rooms and all the storage space a girl could dream of. It needs a little TLC but don't we all? Speaking of TLC, one of my moving rules is to pay attention to my health. So, I have bumped up my vitamin C intake and have added complex B vitamins for my sanity and vitamin D for good measure. I buy vitamins from our member Jamieson , because they are conveniently located at the supermarket, are made of natural sources with no artificial colours or flavours and they are made in Canada!

So how can we make the move smooth?  I do most things on the fly and moving is no exception but I have kept a moving journal for most of my moves. Buy Canadian First member Ecojot  has great books that are 100% recycled! They are perfect for collecting phone numbers, to do lists, utility hook up appointments, your new address and more. It helps me to keep everything in one place and eliminates the possible stresses of having misplaced or lost any vital information.

If someone were to mention Victoria Day Weekend or "May Two Four" to me, the first things that would come to mind are BEER, BBQ and PARTY!

Victoria Day Weekend has always been a party holiday where you get together with friends, sit outside, start up the BBQ, maybe for the first time this year, and just enjoy the sunshine.

When my husband and I moved out of our apartment and into a house (when I was 8 months pregnant with twins), the very first purchase we made was a BBQ for our deck! We've already run our BBQ almost into the ground in the 3 years since we've gotten it. One BBQ that I've been drooling over lately on the Buy Canadian First website is the Canadian made Outdoor Grill Napoleon. I see it's received a 5 star review!

Before starting that first BBQ of the season, be sure to read through Health Canada's Food Safety Tips for Barbecuing. Their tips include fantastic information on Internal Cooking Temperatures - something you can never tell by the look of the meat, especially on the BBQ.

Something I've already been researching while dreaming about a new BBQ is something I tried for the first time last year - corn on the BBQ. Until last year, I had only had corn come out of a pot of boiling water, but on the BBQ it's even more delicious!! There's many ways to cook corn on the BBQ including...

- peel the corn, put a spicy rub on it and wrap it in aluminum foil

- soak the corn in water for 20 minutes with the husk still on then throw them on the BBQ

- soak the corn in water for 20 minutes with the husk still on but then take the outer husk off leaving just the silk and then head to the grill with them

- peel the corn, wrap in a strip of uncooked bacon and pop them on the BBQ (this is very, very yummy)

Serve with some salt and butter, grab a bottle of Labbatt's and pull up a chair!

What are some ways you celebrate Victoria Day Weekend?

by Stacey Kazmir

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Outdoor Grill Napoleon, Maple Leaf Bacon, Jardinique.

Christmas is usually a gathering in my home. A week spent cleaning and scrubbing, trimming and decorating, then the shopping and the cooking. Sometimes it all seems like too much. Yet, in the end, it comes together and everyone has a lovely time. So when Easter rolls around I am usually anxiously awaiting a phone call from my mom letting me know where we will be brunching. A respite from cooking and cleaning is a welcome treat. With restaurant brunches starting at $20.00 a person, though, you are paying for the convenience but you lose the opportunity to have a ham sandwich the next day. You also give up the ease of relaxing in your own space rather than having to leave before the next seating. Perhaps it's time I start hosting the Easter brunch as well and we can make a day of it.

Why Ham?

Among Easter foods the most significant is the Easter lamb, which is in many places the main dish of the Easter Sunday meal. Corresponding to the Passover lamb and to Christ, the Lamb of God, this dish has become a central symbol of Easter. Also popular among European and Americans on Easter is ham, because the pig was considered a symbol of luck in pre-Christian Europe. Encyclopedia of Religion, Mircea Eliade editor in chief [MacMillan:New York] 1987,

And ohhh, the ham recipes that we can choose from, such as Glazed Ham with Orange Cranberry Sauce , Apricot-Glazed Spiral Ham  and Smoked Ham with Molasses and Rum Glaze. Imagine shaving the ham for dinner and especially late night sandwich snacks with a set of Grohmann knives, yummm! 

Hot cross bun, a round bun made from a rich yeast dough containing flour, milk, sugar, butter, eggs, currants, and spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. In England, hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday; they are marked on top with a cross, wither cut in the dough or composed of strips of pastry. The mark is of ancient origin, connected with religious offerings of bread, which replaced earlier, less civilized offerings of blood. The Egyptians offered small round cakes, marked with a representation of the horns of an ox, to the goddess of the moon. The Greeks and Romans had similar practices and the Saxons ate buns marked with a cross in honor of the goddess of light, Eostre, whose name was transferred to Easter. According to superstition, hot cross buns and loaves baked on Good Friday never went mouldy, and were sometimes kept as charms from one year to the next. Like Chelsea buns, hot cross buns were sold in great quantities by the Chelsea Bun House; in the 18th century large numbers of people flocked to Chelsea during the Easter period expressly to visit this establishment. Oxford Companion to Food, Alan Davidson [Oxford University Press:Oxford] 1999 (p. 114)

 

An bhfuil ocras ort?
Well, are you? Hungry, that is.

The Irish cuisine can be divided up into two categories: pre potato and post potato (much to the critics' delight or dismay). The pre-potato cuisine usually started with a large three legged cauldron that hung and simmered over the fire all the day. Ingredients varied depending on location; inland vs. costal. Shellfish, seaweed, vegetables, herbs and game were all chosen ingredients for the endless variety of soups and stews such as sheep's head broth or clam and cockle soup.

Feathered fowls were covered in a few inches of clay or mud and baked, and once the clay was hard, it was broken open and all the feathers and skin would peel away. Meats such as beef, pork, wild deer and mutton, were all commonly eaten and used for milk and wool. Bread seems to have not been eaten in vast quantities but eight cereals were used in Ireland, especially oats and barley. Corn was earmarked for the making of ale and mead, a honey alcohol, was a delicacy served before and after a feast. Dairy, fish, eggs, vegetables such as wild leeks, onions, and wild cherries and apples, all of which were foraged or cultivated.

The Spanish brought the potato to Europe in 1570; by 1590 it reached the British Isles. 1663 proved that the potato was an important crop to the Irish people and by 1770 it was known as the "Irish Potato". The potato is a quick and efficient crop, ready to harvest in 60 days. They contain vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium to name a few. The beginning of the 18th century was the beginning of traditional Irish cooking where soups were thickened with potatoes and potatoes were the vegetable accompaniment to all meals.

Cattle were prized, not for the meat, but for the milk. It was uncommon to slaughter a cow unless it was unable to provide milk, unable to breed or was injured. To eat a perfectly healthy cow in its prime was usually reserved for those who ccould afford it, like a king or a chieftain. A 12th century poem called the Vision of MacConglinne, gives us a peek at Irish food as it was eaten at the time. In the Vision, corned beef is described as a delicacy given to a king, in an attempt to conjure "the demon of gluttony" out of his belly.

 Read more:

After you make your corned beef be sure to make this  with it.

So when you go to the grocery store to try all your awesome new Irish recipes  be sure to look for made or grown in Canada. Here in Manitoba, even at this time of year, potatoes and carrots are still available from local summer crops. Read the produce lables and ask if you don't know. There is lots to buy locally: beef, eggs, milk and cheese are usually from local producers.  

What are you doing for St. Patrick's day? 

 image credits Flickr: Celtic Irish Carvings.com, FotoosVanRobin, flaurella

Your heart, we've discussed it in  February of 2009 and again in February of 2010. We've discussed strokes, exercise and even the mathematical formula for the approximate shape of a heart ( (x2+y2-1)3-x2y3=0). We spoke of the importance of exercise, weight control and quitting smoking, but, this year I won't get so technical. This year, we are going to the kitchen and having a little fun cooking and grocery shopping with help from Simply HeartSmart Cooking from Canada's cooking guru, Bonnie Stern. 

Shopping can be a dangerous event, especially if we are starving, so never do it hungry and stay focused by using a list. The Heart and Stroke Foundation follows the Canada Food Guide as a healthy way of eating by showing you what foods are important and how many daily servings you require. The average adult needs 5-12 servings of grain products, 5-10 servings of fruit and veggies, 3.4 servings of dairy and 2-3 servings of meats and alternatives. 

Upon first glance at the amount of grains, one may think that it is a lot, but it's not. The complex carbs keep our engines running and, of course, the serving amounts are based upon your age, sex and activity level, see chart here . When choosing your grain products think whole grains, add flax to your baking, try new grains as a new alternate to rice (like quinoa) and think of your fiber intake. Fiber is so important and adults should try and get about 25-35g of it daily. Not only does it keep you regular but it may also help regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of cancer and lower blood cholesterol.

When it comes to dairy, if you are over the age of 5, choose low fat or skim milk  to get the protein and calcium benefits without all the fats.

When choosing your meats and alternatives remember to look outside the meat cooler. Fish is an excellent choice and should be considered at least twice a week (like salmon or rainbow trout) but be aware of the mercury content in your fish . Including beans and other legumes in your diet packs a huge fiber and protein punch without all the animal fats. I made this recipe this weekend and it was so good! I had my patty with a salad without a bun and my son made a monster burger with his. We added the recipe to our home recipe book.

Falafel Veggie Burgers
makes 8 burgers
1-1L4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2- 540 ml (19oz ) cans (rinsed and drained)
1 284ml/10 oz can of mushrooms, drained and patted dried.
4 slices of bread moistened and squeesed dry
1 tsp baking powder
2 cloves garlic
1 small onion finely chopped
1 small carrot grated
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp hot red pepper sauce
1tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Tahini sauce:
1/2 cup soft yogurt cheese or thick yogurt
2 TBSP Tahiti
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove
1/4 tsp hot red pepper
salt to taste
2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1. In food processor, combine chick peas, mushrooms, bread and baking soda until finely chopped but not quite a paste (chop in batches if necessary). Add garlic, carrot, onion, parsley, cumin, coriander, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Mix lightly and shape mixture gently into 8 patties.
2. Bake burgers in single layer in preheated 350F/180C oven for 30 minutes. Or brush a large non-stick skillet with oil, heat and cook burgers on both sides until brown and crisp.
3. To make sauce, combine yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, hot pepper sauce and salt in food processor or blender. Blend in mint and cilantro. taste and adjust seasonings if required. Serve burgers with sauce.

What are your Heart Smart food habits? 

 photo credits : chapters-indigo, health's delight, buy canadian first, the heart and stroke foundation

Yikes! Was that 2010 I just saw go rushing by!? It seems like  yesterday - not 364 yesterdays - that my DH and I were making our New Year's Eve plans. We ended up spending the night with the Royal Canadian Air Farce and several Canadian celebrities on CBC Television! I don't think we even made it to midnight!

This year, it seems, we have a bit more energy. We have been invited out to several private house parties, all conveniently within walking distance, I might add. We are BYOBing ...bring your own bottle ... as well as BYOHD ... bring your own hors d'oeuvres!

Here is my take on a truly awesome Canadian New Year's Eve Party!

First of all, let's play party games, people! Wouldn't it be fun to be part of a Murder Mystery Party ? I am SO doing this for New Year's Eve 2011!

"It is the summer of 1928. Millionaire Holden Goldman has been found dead, stabbed to death in his daughter’s art studio aboard his luxurious yacht. The Captain decides to confine all guests to the dining room to await the arrival of the Coast Guard to apprehend the murderer. With each of the guests a suspect, they agree to attempt to solve the mystery and clear their names while trying to unmask the murderer."

Next on my list for the all Canadian New Year's Eve party? Food, of course! I love 99.9% of everything President's Choice has to offer, and their finger foods are sublime! I am definitely hitting No Frills to pick up some of the amazing frozen, heat and serve appetizers they have on offer! And wouldn't these Maple Pretzels from Jakeman's make a magnificent Canadian snack?

I think sparkling wine is the yummiest wine of all and, of course, de rigueur for New Year's Eve! When I found out about Peller's Estate's Sparkling Ice Wine , well, I knew it would be number one with a bullet on my list of Canadian party must-haves! The combination of delicious ice wine with bubbles makes me giddy just thinking about it!

Finally, party favours! Green Planet Parties has all sorts of goodies that will make my party Canadian ... and green! Items such as reclaimed wooden cutlery to biodegradable tableware will make for  a great party and start my year off with a smug feeling of satisfaction at being such a caring consumer!

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve everyone! Please don't drink and drive! Thank you for reading The Good Shopper Blog!

What is your favourite way to celebrate New Year's Eve?

Only 3 days after I boasted that Southern Manitoba had yet to get snow, the snow started to fall Thursday morning and just hasn't stopped. I peeked at the Environment Canada website and the forecast for the rest of the week consists of temperatures at least 10 degrees cooler than last week. Winter in Manitoba has arrived. Tomorrow we will have to leave early, my girls will have more to wear and it will take much more time to walk and inspect their new landscape. They will want to count the snowflakes (at most to 20), taste the snow, admire their footprints, then run around to admire more and giggle in the sheer newness of it all. Despite all my bellyaching, I do not hate winter; in fact winter is one of the best times to start a new project. Once the snow falls, my focus falls to Christmas and the planning and creation of hand-crafted Christmas gifts and winter necessities. It seems early, but when you are creating by hand, time is your best friend.

It wasn't until I moved to the country that I started receiving homemade food items as gifts; canned items like jelly, relish and salsa, a delicious selection of cookies and salty handmade treats. It was the season after my first Christmas here that I followed suit. The quest for the perfect homemade and unique food item has since haunted me. This year I am toying with barks and brittles, savoury crackers with homemade yogurt cheese spread and the relish I canned this summer or my hot chocolate mix with (something I have never tried before) homemade marshmallows . This list is not written in stone; coconut macaroons are one of my favourites, spiced nuts and biscotti are other treats I would like to try. This is why I start now, test the recipes, see what works and what flops, then mass produce the best.

Homemade Hot Chocolate (Pegg, is this your recipe?)

2.5 cups dry milk solids
3/4 -1.5 cups of icing sugar
1 to 2 cups cocoa
pinch of salt
optional (ground cloves, anise, nutmeg, black or red pepper, cinnamon, all spice, or any other spice and any combination)
Sift together. Keep in airtight container. Add mix (to your desired taste) to hot water or, for extra creamy hot chocolate, add to hot milk.

I love mittens and with two little girls (and myself) in the house, we lose a lot of mittens. So this year, the plan is to make extra mittens, so that in the morning rush of ski pants, boots, scarves, hats, screams of discontent and trying to remember lunch, we always have a pair of mittens. My materials are old fleece and old 100% wool sweaters. The fleece you can use as is, but the wool needs to be felted  so that the knit doesn't run. I intend to trace the girls' hands on to card stock and use that as a pattern to create simple, woolly mittens designed to keep our fingers warm during our walks to and from the centre. You can find patterns for fleece and felted wool mittens online for just a few dollars. With a trip to the secondhand store and a little time, we could all have a basket of mittens. Of course, these make great little stocking suffers that can be filled with little toys, goodies or....coal!

Yes I know this is a pretty short list but I have a lot on the go, school, work, kids, house, well.. you know. If I can make all the above and get some cards out before the new year, I am ahead of the game! That would be a first!

Do you make or bake gifts during the holidays? 

photo credits: willowcat, flickr becky_mckimmy and andrea_r

October is a demanding month, chock full of seasonal activities and to-do lists! I think its Nature's way of distracting us from the coming SNOW! We have Thanksgiving and Hallowe'en to think about, both of which call for at least a bit of pre-planning. Family get-togethers, big meals, making or choosing costumes, buying candy, decorating the house for Fall ... it's a good thing that we have 31 days in this month!

October also means the coming of cooler  weather, garden and yard duties, leaf raking and bagging and bulb planting. Then inside, there is the pulling out of "woolies", the removal and storing of air conditioners and fans, the sealing of windows and doors against drafts. Wow, Summer holidays are really over! *sniffs*

 It may be getting colder, but my family isn't ready to put the canoe away and stay onshore every weekend yet! Our new blogger,  Beth McKay-Smith, from Northern Ontario, and her family, like to take it outside in the Fall, too. Beth will have some Autumn camping tales to share this month, as well as some insights into Thanksgiving with the in-laws and lining the kids' stomachs before they go out for Hallowe'en! You can win cool things by reading and commenting on Beth's posts this month!

Drea has some delightful perspectives into October and buying Canadian first in Manitoba to share with us, as always. Drea will also be giving you the opportunity, each week, to win something wonderful from some of our Buy Canadian First members! 

Which brings me to our contest! All month,  you can win new prizes from our wonderful Buy Canadian First members! It is so easy to enter! Just leave a comment on each of three weekly blog posts for your chance to win! Next Monday morning we will pick this week's winner and then start all over again with a new prize for that week! I think that you will love what Shoal Lake , El Peto and Martin Munchies have for you!

We really do love your comments and we pay attention to what you are interested in! That's why you can look forward, for example, to an upcoming review of the iPad and a wonderful, Canadian, alternative! We would also be thrilled to hear about your experiences in buying Canadian first! We know you East and West coasters have stories to share!

You can comment on Facebook and Twitter , too! How is your October shaping up? Did anyone Run for the Cure? October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Are you celebrating Oktoberfest or going trick or treating this year? We'd love to hear about it!

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members

There is something about the cooler Fall weather that makes me absoloutely crave apples! I don't know if this is a result of Nature or Nurture. Luckily, it's apple picking time in Canada, and I can satisfy my craving with more kinds of apples than ever! Whether you pick your apples at the supermarket, the farmer's market or right off the tree, why not make a point of trying an apple that you haven't tasted before?

 

Harold and Janice Wagner, along with their children, Matt, Melissa and Katrina, operate the farm, and they are always happy to discuss any and all farming practices with their city guests! Their motto is "Families that Pick Together, Stick Together!" and they certainly are the proof in that apple pudding!

The Wagners are proud to be able to claim that they raise their own beef, pork and poultry free of hormones, chemicals and antibiotics. Their fruit trees have the minimal amount of chemicals needed to produce high quality fruit and where possible, natural pest control is used rather than insecticide.  At Wagner's, all the food is grown in the healthiest possible way.

What new apple varieties  do you want to try this Fall?

It's pretty disheartening when your children arrive home and their lunches have barely been touched. It's hard to compete against the packaged convenience food your children see some of their classmates eating.  So here are some fabulous lunch ideas followed by a top 10 list of awesome Canadian made snacks, to help your kids to keep their eyes on their own lunch boxes!

Little pizzas. Take an english muffin topped with your favourite sauce, and add pizza toppings and mozza cheese. Pop in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 or so minutes. Let cool and then wrap. Great cold or warm from the microwave. 

Leftovers - Everyone has a favourite supper, even the sprouts. Set some aside before dinner is served to ensure it's available for lunch.

Homemade burgers - The fast food variety may be loaded with fat and calories but a lean ground beef, chicken or bison burger made at home fits the fun and healthy bill! Take your favourite burger recipe and make some patties; let cool and package individually (the leftovers can be frozen for a quick lunch another day). Take your bun and dress it up with lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup etc. At school, just warm up the patty and enjoy.

Pancake sandwich! - Take 2 pancakes, spread each one with cream cheese, then place sliced strawberries on one pancake, drizzle with honey, sprinkle with orange zest and cover with the other pancake to create a  sandwich. Yummy!

Inside-out sandwich wands - The bread is in the middle and the meat is on the outside, which is what makes these inside-out sandwiches a hit! Check out the recipe at Canadian Family.

Here are five great Canadian made snacks and sweets for the lunch box from our fabulous members! 

Allan's Gourmet Kettle Corn -Trans fat, cholesterol, peanut, nut and gluten free. This snack is a huge win and super fun to eat. Popped in canola oil and sprinkled with suger and sea salt only, your kids will love it!

Purdy's No Sugar Added Milk Chocolate Bars - Keep the sugar rush at bay and enjoy the full chocolate flavour of these milk chocolate bars.

David's Milk Chocolate Potato Chips -I am drooling already! Sweet and salty, crunchy and smooth, chocolate AND chips, a match made in heaven.

Jakeman's Maple Pretzels - Another sweet and salty treat with the sweetness coming from pure maple.

Martin Munchies Cinnamon and Brown Sugar bites -  Chewy bite sized clusters of whole roasted barley and rice and a hint of cinnamon and brown sugar, I am keeping my eye out to grab some of these little bites, pronto!

With a little creativity and thought, lunches can be a great hit! Don't forget to include some fruit or veggies and a beverage (a smoothie in a thermos, for example) to complete the meal.

For more fun lunch ideas, check my back to school post from 2009. What are you packing in your children's lunch box this season? What are your tips to keep it new and exciting?

Many of us here in Ontario have tried and enjoyed venerable  Peller Estates wines in the comfort of our own homes. But what I really think is going to capture your imagination is the wonderful idea that you can actually make a weekend of fine Ontario wine, at the Peller Estates Winery vineyard!

With Summer drawing to a close and beautiful Autumn weekends in our future, Peller Estates seems like an ideal place to visit. It is located in  one of the most beautiful spots in Canada, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, about two hours west of Toronto. Driving there in your own car or with a bus tour,  as the leaves change colour, would be absolutely spectacular!

It seems that Peller Estates has so much to offer visitors! You can spend a day in the vineyards, tasting wine and learning how to perfectly pair wine and food. Eating in  the Peller Estates Winery Restaurant, which has been awarded the highest Zagat rating of  ‘Extraordinary', is something my husband and I would definitely want to try! Delicious combinations are created by Winery Chef and Toronto CityLine TV personality, Jason Parsons, and influenced by what's in season, locally. Yum! You can participate in custom designed group tours or even book your wedding at Peller Estates!

But what really intrigues me is Chicks & Chocolate! For $15.00, (or nothing if you are a Wine Club Member ), you will experience how wine and chocolate work together in a marriage of delicious flavours! This opportunity is offered every day of the week, and twice a day on the weekend! Put that on your Bucket List!

If a visit to the Peller Estates Winery isn't in your near future, don't worry. If you live in Ontario, you can order the Winery's most popular brands or rare and hard to find vintages, online! Plus, there are over 100 Vineyards Estate Wines retail locations in neighborhoods throughout Ontario, that you can visit personally.

But, if you would like to visit Peller Estates Winery, you can enter to win a $1,100.00 weekend in Niagara Wine Country! The weekend includes overnight accommodation, wine tasting experiences at 3 Niagara wineries, including Peller Estates, 1 lunch, 1 dinner and transportation throughout Niagara! Sounds like fun to me!

Do you have a favourite Peller Estates Wine? Cheers!

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First Member Peller Estates.

Peaches in the summer are a real treat. Dessert straight from a tree. My daughter will happily eat a peach when cut into pieces.  I like mine in a crisp (my recipe is below) and my husband prefers his simply sliced over vanilla ice cream.

Ice cream

No matter how you prefer to eat them, they are delicious.  Local, fresh peaches have been at Farmer's Markets and on supermarket shelves for a few weeks now.  But that sweet aroma of peach, or that favourite flavour can be found in other Canadian-made products.

Icewine

Bath Products

No matter how sweet the smell of peaches may be in my bubble bath, nothing beats eating them. 

Here is my recipe for Peach Crisp.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

8-10 peaches, peeled, sliced

1 cup instant oatmeal

1 cup dark or demera brown sugar

1/2 frozen butter

Directions:

1-Layer the bottom of an 8 x 8 casserole dish, or large pie plate, with sliced peaches.

2-Grate a thin layer of butter on top.

3-Combine sugar and oatmeal.  Add on top of peaches/butter.

4-Grate remaining butter on top.

5-Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, for until the topping is crispy and browning and peaches are starting to bubble. Serve warm, and if you like, with ice cream.

How do you like to enjoy your fresh peaches?

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members.

The Yukon Caribou Burger - In the Yukon Dall sheep, mountain goat, caribou and even porcupine are often eaten as burgers; have you noshed a porcupine? Use the ground caribou as a beef substitute in your favourite burger recipe but for every 454g (1 lb.) of caribou add 113g (4oz) of pork; caribou meat is very lean. Serve on a sourdough bun. If you are ever cruising the streets of Dawson City and are not faint at heart, you may wish to have a glass of the infamous Sour Toe cocktail ...or perhaps not.

The British Columbia Salmon Burger - The Pacific Ocean yields a vast selection of seafood for west coast fishing industry including salmon  (coho, spring, chum, sockeye and pink). According to wikipedia, the salmon burger was invented by Peter A. Jensen of  Tsawwassen, British Columbia, but this fact is not confirmed. I found for you 2 tasty recipes; one from fresh water fishing Canada and the other from Canadian House and Home magazine from Buy Canadian First member, Magazines Canada.  Serve on a whole grain bun accompanied by a herbed fruit salad. Choose from a vast selection of fruit grown in the province that include apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, strawberries, blackberries, bing cherries and loganberries and add some mint, rosemary, chives and /or cilantro. 

The Alberta Beef Burger - Ahh, Canada's cowboy country! How can it be anything but a big fat juicy sirloin burger? The Canadian Beef web site has a wide selection of beef recipes including this tasty inside out sirloin bacon cheese burger . The cheese and bacon are hidden inside the patty and on top is a mountain of sauteed mushrooms and onions...yumm!

The Manitoba Bison Burger - The bison is Manitoba's symbol and they roamed the priairies as early as 4000 BC. Sadly, as our prairie landscape was peppered with roads and railway lines, the bison were all but hunted to extinction by the late 1800's. Today we have a herd of wild wood bison that live in our Interlake region but most of our bison are farmed livestock. Bison is a dense meat that is high in iron and protein and low in fat and calories. I dare you to resist this recipe for  Bison Burgers with Gorgonzola Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes  from Best Health . You just put gorgonzola on your shopping list, didn't you?

 The Newfoundland Cod Cake Burger -Usually these little patties are served with a side of coleslaw, fiddleheads, chow chow or with spinach with hollandaise sauce and sliced hard boiled eggs. Any of these tasty sides could accompany your fish cake in the bun; imagine a cod cake burger with a scoop of creamy coleslaw on top or some fried cabbage and chow chow. The possibilities are endlessly delicious!

Cod Fish Cakes (Serves 6) from Northern Aqua Farms.com

Ingredients

1 lb. salt cod freshened, cooked and flaked;
2 tbs. margarine;
1 medium finely chopped onion,
6 raw potatoes
1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. Pepper, 1 tbs. savoury.
Directions

Freshen salt cod by soaking it overnight by covering in cold water. Drain and place in a stew pot and cover with fresh water. Bring to simmer with low heat. Drain. If the fish is still too salty, add fresh cold water, and bring to simmer again, and drain.
Boil potatoes until tender and then mash.
Heat margarine in a frying pan until hot.
Add chopped onions and cook until translucent.
Blend cooked onion into mashed potatoes together with cooked flaked cod, savoury, salt, pepper.
Shape into cakes and dust lightly with flour.
Fry in a small amount of heated margarine 3 to 5 minutes until golden brown.

Serve hot, with freshly baked home made bread or rolls and butter and a garden salad.

Note: I have subsituted crab, salmon, Arctic char, tilapia and other fish in this recipe. If it isn't salted fish skip the freshen part and cook only once.

The great Canadian Veggie Burger - I could not complete this post without addressing the wonderful veggie burger, especially for Buy Canadian First's very own Melissa Thibodeau. My favourite veggie burger of all time is from the Underground Cafe, a restaurant in downtown Winnipeg's exchange district. It is called the Sunburger and, in my opinion, it is the grand pubah of the veggie burger realm. Of course we can't all live in Winnipeg so for you I will share this tasty recipe  from Food Network Canada. 

Happy Grilling and summer worshipping, Canada, and don't forget to eat your burgers!  Of course you must tell us {me} what your favourite burger is, and what sort of delectables you place upon it? Give up your treasured family burger secrets, everyone {ME} wants to know!

xo

Want to beautify your patio area and need some ideas?  Earlier this year, fellow blogger Rebecca Stanisic wrote a blog post about her garden patio.  You can read about it here. 

I also found this patio set by BuyCanadianFirst member Flamborough.

To many people, spending the evening with friends and a great bottle of wine is more than enough to create an enjoyable evening.  There are many great Canadian wines to choose from.  BuyCanadianFirst Member Peller Estates recommends their Private Reserve Muscat VQA 2008 for such an occasion.

Not a wine drinker?  How about coffee or tea?  BuyCanadianFirst members have a few great alternatives for both coffee and tea.  Kicking Horse Coffee has Mocha Yoho which is a light coffee that they describe as "fruity, floral and buttery - with body".  But if tea is your preference (like myself) then BuyCanadianFirst Member Porcupine Creek Farm has some great organic tea blends like Citrus Cooler or Chocolate Spearmint.

Need a late evening nibble?  There are many great snacks to choose from.  I like this recipe from Theresa Albert of "Just One Bite" on the Food Network Canada.  Its healthy but has a bit of sweetness that appeals to kids and adults alike.  I think the yogurt dipping sauce sounds really good!

Fruit Sticks with Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Yield: 6

Ingredients

Fruit Sticks with Chocolate Dipping Sauce

• 2/3 cup whipping cream (35%) (150ml)
• 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped (100g)

Vanilla Yogurt Dipping Sauce

• 1 cup plain yogurt (250ml)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup (65ml)
• 1 vanilla bean

Directions

Fruit Sticks with Chocolate Dipping Sauce

1. Thread 6-8 skewers with a variety of your favourite seasonal fresh fruit. Here are some suggestions: Strawberries, Green Grapes, Pineapple, Melon, Orange or Clementine Segments, Peaches, Pears, Apples, Bananas. For a treat, you could also include marshmallows or cubed pound cake.
2. Heat the cream in a saucepan set on low until just steaming. Stir in chocolate and continue to heat gently until it melts, about 2 minutes. Stir until smooth and transfer to a small fondue pot to keep warm. Serve with fruit skewers.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Chocolate Dipping Sauce

1. Following the basic chocolate sauce measurements and method above, whisk in 1/4 cup/50 mL each smooth peanut butter and strawberry jelly to the warmed cream when adding the chocolate. Heat until melted, stirring to incorporate additions.
   Tip: This recipe could easily be doubled. And remember, the better quality the chocolate, the better the sauce. But in a pinch, baking chocolate or even chocolate chips, works wonderfully. You could "soup up" the sauce by trying flavoured chocolates in place of the plain chocolate.

Vanilla Yogurt Dipping Sauce

1. In a bowl combine yogurt and maple syrup. Cut vanilla bean in half and scrape out seeds and add to yogurt mixture.
2. Serve with fresh or dried fruit.

Makes 1.25 cups/175ml

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Canada

So how about it?  Spend a little time outdoors this summer enjoying time on the patio.  Kick up your feet and relax while making memories enjoying time with those who mean the most to you.

Cheers!

Photos Courtesy: BuyCanadianFirst Members Flamborough, Peller Estates, Kicking Horse Coffee, Porcupine Creek Farm, Food Network Canada

Yogurt- It is believed that humans have been eating yogurt for nearly 4,000 years! Yogurt is high in calcium and contains live active cultures that allow the calcium to be absorbed easily in to your body. It is high in protein, riboflavin and vitamin B12 and can be enjoyed by people who are lactose intolerant (as it contains lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose). Quebec's Liberté has a great yogurt line including plain yogurt . Dress it up with a drizzle of honey and some sunflower seeds or use this recipe to transform it into a creamy cheese that you can substitute for veggie dip or sandwich spread.

 

Omega 3 - ok, it's not a food and it sounds like a superhero troop and frankly it should. Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid that our body cannot produce on its own. Omega 3 can help reduce inflammation throughout your body, inhibit thickening of the arteries, reduce the risk of becoming obese and help prevent cancer cell growth, just to name a few of its benefits. If you suffer from Depression, Cardiovascular Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Fatigue, Dry, Itchy Skin, Brittle Hair and Nails, Inability to Concentrate and Joint pain you may want to up your omega 3s. Flaxseed and salmon are the top Omega 3 foods. Buy Canadian First member True North Salmon Co.  offers both fresh , hot and cold smoked Atlantic salmon. 

Blueberries -Rich in vitamin C, their dark colour makes these little rounds a treasure trove of antioxidants. Antioxidants are believed to protect us from the damaging effects of free radicals and diseases associated with aging. Research has shown that antioxidants can help prevent heart disease and cancer, reduce high blood pressure, and slow the affects of aging. It even has been associated with enhanced memory, improving vision, clearing arteries and preventing urinary tract infections. The blueberry is also part of a campaign to become our nation's national fruit. Native to all provinces and territories, blueberries have been a staple for all of Canada's peoples for centuries.

Tomatoes - Tomatoes contain a powerful cancer-fighting agent known as lycopene. Lycopene is found in several red fruits and vegetables, but in Canada the tomato is the sure winner. This is one food where its processed cousins (tomato paste, sauce and juice) are almost better than the real deal, as cooked tomatoes have more absorbable lycopene than fresh tomatoes.

Beets- Red beets are a power house of goodness. The pigment Betacyanin, that gives the beets its colour, is just one of the many reasons that the beet is a disease fighter. High in anti-carcinogens, fiber, folate and beta-carotene the beet plant protects again colon cancer, birth defects and osteoporosis.

Dark Leafy Greens A rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins; K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats. The star vitamin in the dark leafy greens is perhaps vitamin K. It is known to regulate blood clotting, protect the bones from osteoporosis, and may even help prevent diabetes. At the farmers market this summer, looks for fresh spinach, swiss chard, beets greens, collard greens, and kale. Some can be eaten raw and all can be cooked.

Nuts and Dark Chocolate Nuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fats and fiber. They also contain L-arginine, a substance that helps improve the health of your arterial walls. It does this by making them more flexible and less prone to blood clots. Nuts also contain plant sterols, a substance that helps lower cholestorol. Try nibbling on the Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds by our member Brookside Foods. This treat is a double whammie as Dark Chocolate is filled with heart-healthy flavanoids which keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.

Your health is nothing to laugh at and if a life time of care equals a better quality of life in your golden years it is sure with the extra effort. Don't you think?

What do you do to keep you and your future self healthy?

Photo credits: BCF members, blueberries Flickr Jeff Kubina, tomatoes Flickr St0rmz, beets Flickr BD's world, swiss chard flickr woodlywonderfulworks

Erin Go Braugh and Canada too!!

Happy St. Patricks Day! Today is a day when, if you wish, you too can be Irish! In fact the Irish are the 4th largest ethnic culture in Canada; 14%  of our population is Irish. So stand up and shout " Tabhair póg dom, táim Éireannac", I am sure a few will line up for a great big smooch! 

Who is St. Patrick?

St. Patrick was born in the year 387, to Roman parents in Scotland. His birth name was Maewyn Succat.  Patrick resided in Britain with his parents, Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were in charge of the colonies. As a teenager of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.

During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote:

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick escaped from captivity after a vision from God told him to go to the coast, there he found some merchant sailors who reunited him with his family.  He had another vision that showed him the Irish people calling "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." Patrick began his studies in the priesthood and after many years of study, and being ordained a Bishop, Patrick took the gospel back to Ireland. He spent the last 40 years of his life converting the Green Isle with his many disciples. He died March 17, 461.

 

So what's up with all the joyous consumption of ale and spirit?

Irish legend tells the story like this: once St. Patrick was served a measure of whiskey that was paltry, at best. He took advantage of this moment to teach a lesson of generosity to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper that in his cellar lived a fiendish devil who fed on the dishonesty of the innkeeper. In order to banish the devil, the man must change his ways. When St. Patrick returned to the hostelry some time later, he found the owner generously filling the patrons' glasses to overflowing. He returned to the cellar with the innkeeper and found the devil emaciated from the landlord's generosity, and promptly banished the demon, proclaiming thereafter everyone should have a drop of the "hard stuff" on his feast day. If the hard stuff is not your cup of tea, may I suggest a lager or ale from Buy Canadian First member Big Rock Brewery.

 

4 cups (16 oz) of all-purpose flour.
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1 Teaspoon salt
14 oz of buttermilk

Method:

Preheat the oven to 425 F. degrees. Lightly grease and flour a cake pan.

In a large bowl sieve and combine all the dry ingredients.

Add the buttermilk to form a sticky dough. Place on floured surface and lightly knead (too much allows the gas to escape)

Shape into a round flat shape in a round cake pan and cut a cross in the top of the dough.

Cover the pan with another pan and bake for 30 minutes (this simulates the concept of a bastible pot ). Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

The bottom of the bread will have a hollow sound when tapped so show it is done.

Cover the bread in a tea towel and lightly sprinkle water on the cloth to keep the bread moist.

Let cool and butter, enjoy with a cup of Buy Canadian First members Fully Loaded Tea, or Kicking Horse Coffee, both have a fabulous collection to choose from. The little ones may prefer a glass of milk. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day Canada, today we are all Irish, if only for 24 wonderful hours!!!

Image sources: St.Patrick (romanchristendom.blogspot.com), BigRock Brewery, Fully Loaded Tea, Kicking Horse Coffee

As the snow melts and the temperature rises we all have spring on our mind. This is also the time of year that brings to mind something else that's very special, and very Canadian: Maple Syrup and visiting a sugar bush.

I grew up surrounded by maple trees and sugar bushes.  My grandfather tapped a few trees himself and boiled his own syrup for many years.  It was extremely labour intensive, as he did it the old way of boiling in pots and manually collecting the buckets, but it tasted sweet and wonderful.

 (photo: syrup lines attached to the trees bring syrup back to camp)

How maple-country am I? I had my prom at a Sugar Camp. Yup, you read that right.  It was a lot of fun and so very typical of the area I grew up in. 

Maple Syrup was, and is, a staple food item.  As a kid, I would butter bread and dip it in syrup, pour it over bananas and I still to this day pour it over white rice.  Honestly, I've been known to drink it straight.  I just love it.

(photo: Jakeman's Maple Syrup, a BuyCanadianFirst.ca member in Ontario, Canada that has an online shop and pancake house to visit)

There is nothing more fitting than to visit a Maple Sugar bush (farm, camp) this time of year.  Most places are open to the public on weekends, some weekdays and possibly March break. They usual offer family-friendly activities like petting the farm animals, wagon rides, making maple taffy on the snow and of course, the pancake breakfast. Stacks of freshly made pancakes drenched in maple syrup.  My favourite treat? Maple sugar candy.

To find a sugar bush near you, check your local paper, google it in your area or check out this website. You may be surprised how close they actually are.  

Do you make going to the Sugar Bush an annual tradition? What activities do you do while you are there?

Photo credits: Flickr, Rebecca Stanisic, BuyCanadianFirst.ca

My husband and I are very fortunate to be able to eat just about whatever we want to ....and that's just it! We ARE lucky, because 1 out of 133 Canadians, including several people I know, have Celiac Disease, a condition that prevents them from eating gluten, a very common ingredient in many, many foods.

Gluten is an ingredient in flour that helps baked goods keep their shape. This is why gluten is found in so many processed and packaged foods. Foods such as barley, breading, Communion wafers, hydrolyzed wheat protein, modified wheat starch, oatmeal, oat bran, oat flour, whole oats, wheat flour, wheat germ, and wheat starch, must be avoided, and food labels diligently studied for 'hidden' sources of gluten. You really have to look because even freezies can have gluten in them! Thank goodness for nut free, dairy free, gluten free and kosher Freezies from Ontario-based Kisko Products !

 

Eating a gluten-free diet is a life long commitment! For the sake of my friends with this intolerance, it's good to know that companies like El Peto Products are dedicated t0 making and distributing lots of different types of delicious, gluten free foods. Known as "The Gluten Free Experts", El Peto has been in business since 1988 and all of their fresh products are made in Cambridge, Ontario.

But, oh oh! Gluten isn't just in food! It can also be found in things like lipstick,  skin cream, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste! Who knew? Well, companies such as Natural Beauty knew, a mom & baby store, owned and operated by Shelli Chastkavich, a Canadian mom in B.C. Natural Beauty carries everything from mineral cosmetics to cloth diapers and everything is  "free".

Vidoma Naturals  is another Canadian company that makes gluten-free skin and body care products. As a matter of fact, 99% of their products can be used by Vegans! They were ahead of their time when Marilyn Haggerty, an Aromatherapist and Dorothy Turner, a Chartered Herbalist, started their company in 2003 and continue to be so today.

On Facebook, some of my friends are actively discussing changing over to gluten- and wheat-free diets... and they don't have Celiac Disease or food allergies. They are just very concerned about the long term effects of the contents of the products that they are eating and using. With this in mind, they are turning to people like Maggie of Peterborough, Ontario, whose gluten-free blog, She Let Them Eat Cake,  both informs and entices!

I am in the middle of reading The 100-Mile Diet - a fascinating experiment in food that a Canadian couple wrote about. Their goal was to eat only food within 100 miles of where they lived (Western Canada), with some guidelines. If we look around, this may seem like a daunting task. Where would grains come from? How strict would the diet have to be about coffee, citrus fruit or chocolate?

This got me thinking. How easy would it be to at least eat Canadian? Inspired by the book and the Buy Canadian First website, I decided to try and make a meal plan for one day, using only Canadian made products and food. Luckily, as I discovered, the website has a lot of Canadian food sources. What do you think of the meal plan below? I think it sounds tasty!  

Breakfast: Natunola health's delight Omega-3 Instant Oatmeal topped with Jakeman's Maple Syrup. And, of course, at least 2 cups of Kicking Horse coffee, a dark roast.

Mid-morning snack: Fruit is always a nice, light snack in the morning, but in Canada, it's hard to find in the winter (but there are so many options in the summer!). If you have some Canadian fruit in the freezer, or if the seasons change and you have access to it, try adding fruit (fresh or frozen) to Liberté yogurt (I'd try lemon or vanilla).

Lunch: Most grocery stores now have their own bakery and make fresh loafs of bread daily. If yours isn't reliable, go to your local bakery and pick up a fresh loaf of multigrain bread and fill it with Gold Seal canned salmon and mayo. On the side, have a bowl of El Peto Gluten-free chicken soup. 

Mid-afternoon snack: Jakeman's Maple Almonds.

Dinner: Clearwater Fresh Mussels to start. 

To cook (2-3 pounds):

- Add 1/2 cup white wine to a large saute pan or Wok. When it reaches boiling point, add fresh mussels. Steam until cooked. Meanwhile, in a separate sauce pan, cook 6 pieces of bacon. When cooked and crispy, remove from pan and let cool. Drain the pan but don't rinse and in same pan, add 1 cup cream and 2 minced cloves of garlic. Stir until thickens slightly. Serve over cooked mussels.

For a main course, fresh Canadian chicken breast baked in the oven. Before putting in the oven to cook, marinate with Very Berry Honey's Pineapple Citrus Honey Glaze. Serve on top of healthy Canoe Cooked Wild Rice from Shoal Lake Wild Rice.

Dessert: This is really the best meal of the day, right? For a light treat, choose Chapman's Frozen Yogurt (cherry and chocolate? Yes please!) or for something more decadent, finish with David's Milk Chocolate Caramel Popcorn from Chocolate Signatures. If you are feeling really daring, try both!

Eating Canadian can be very easy if we stop to think about where our food comes from, read the labels and make different purchasing choices. 

Do you eat a lot of Canadian food? Do you shop at local farmer's markets during the year?

Image source: BuyCanadianFirst.ca

One of my favourite moments and joys in life are when there's a chill outside, but the sun is beaming and you just know that if it wasn't for the cold front, it would otherwise be a hot day. The sun is warming your face when the gusts of wind subside, yet your nose and fingertips stay cold. A day like that, whether it's winter or early spring, is a day when I love to be outside. Dressed warmly, walking alone, or with my boyfriend, or my dog (or both) and I'm in no hurry to get anywhere fast. All I do is walk, appreciate the moment and enjoy the now rare sight of a perfectly blue sky and the feeling of the bright sun's heat while sipping on some home brewed coffee that I made just for the outing. My senses are heightened on days like that. Suddenly, the sound of crushing snow underfoot is amplified, colours seem brighter and sharper and my taste buds are just loving the hot coffee as it goes down my throat. It's like it's the bestest cup of coffee I ever had in my life. Every time.

I don’t drink a lot of coffee. Typically one cup a day, yet as I get ready to go out on days like the one I just described, having my travel mug filled with my own hot brew sweetened with Quebec maple syrup, that warms me with every sip, brings comfort to me. It fits with my mood and my plan of the perfect afternoon I’m about to embark on.

I was once one of those suckers people who spent almost $5 on a medium latté every week day. I truly did love the taste, which made the price tolerable in my mind but eventually, common sense kicked-in and I stopped that terrible daily habit cold. Instead, I invested in a French press (like a Bodum) and a coffee bean grinder (got both for about $30, but sadly neither are made here. Never found either made in Canada).

Even if you buy premium organic and free trade coffee beans, which I think in this day and age everyone should, it still only ends up costing about $1 per coffee. You can’t argue with that, right? My all-time favourite brand of coffee is Kicking Horse Coffee (isn’t that a cool name?). They’re a Canadian company that imports only organic fair trade beans and roast them to perfection, at their plant in Invermere, BC. They have been a around since 1998 but only recently have they gotten a broader distribution. You can now buy Kicking Horse Coffee in the organic section of your supermarket, in most Shoppers Drug Marts’ - Pharmaprix in Quebec, or you can stock-up from their website here. My blend of choice these days is their Three Sisters, which is a medium roast, but they have other blends that are just as delicious with equally cool names like: 454 Horse Power, Cliff Hanger Espresso, Kick Ass and Hoodoo Jo, to name a few.

If you come across Kicking Horse products at the supermarket, give them a try. If you don’t have a grinder, remember that you could always use the grinder right there in the coffee isle and reseal your bag. There is nothing like the taste of coffee when the beans are freshly ground!

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons, KickingHorse.com

Author: Melissa Thibodeau

December is upon us.  The countdown to Christmas has begun.  It is about this time of year that I decide which holiday favorites I am going to bake for Christmas.  I must admit, each year the list becomes smaller as we are all watching our waistlines and eating less.

There is one Christmas classic recipe that I cannot do without though.  That is the shortbread cookie.  A favorite of many including me, it is a rich and buttery cookie.

Here is the recipe that I use.  It is from ACH Food Companies Inc., the makers of many great products including Challenge Canada Cornstarch.

Shortbread Cookies

Cook Time: 25-30 min.   
Prep Time: 20 min.   
Serves: 3 -1/2 dozen cookies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Mix butter, sugar and vanilla thoroughly using an electric mixer. Gradually blend in flour and corn starch.

2. Form into 1-inch (3cm) balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Gently press down on each cookie to flatten using fingers or a flat-bottomed drinking glass (dipped in sugar to prevent sticking).

3. Bake at 300ºF (150°C) for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bottoms begin to brown. Cool for 5 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. RECIPE NOTE: For European-style shortbread, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pat into a 1/3-inch (1cm) thick rectangle measuring 11 x 8-inch (28 x 20cm). Cut into 2 x 1-inch (5 x 3cm) strips. Place 1-inch (3cm) apart on ungreased baking sheets. Prick with a fork. Bake as above.

These are really delicious shortbread cookies.  I like the addition of vanilla for added flavor.  Here (above) are how my cookies turned out.  Not too bad I think!

Hope you enjoy this holiday recipe.  Feel free to try it out and let us know how they turn out for you!

What if there was a way to improve your concentration, learning ability and help you maintain a healthy weight? What if this could also help your kids get better grades and improve their behavior?

Would you take 10 minutes (or less) everyday and give it a try? It is a simple thing: just eat a healthy breakfast.

A recent study on Breakfast for Learning shows that 31% of all elementary school children and 62% of secondary school children do not eat a healthy breakfast. This is dreadful. A skipped breakfast means that a child will not eat until lunch time, leaving anywhere between 12-16 hours from their last meal! Food is the body and brain's source of nutrition and energy, not eating breakfast is akin to dragging your car to work, this is why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. 

Breakfast for Learning is the leading, national non-profit organization solely dedicated to child nutrition programs in Canada.

They provide:

• Nutrition grants to obtain food
• Staff and equipment to meet the need of the school community
• Child nutrition education resources
• Research information to support the link between child nutrition and learning
• and a voice that advocates a national meal program in Canada. 

Breakfast for Learning funded over 3,000 meal programs in the 2007/08 school-year serving over 56 million breakfasts, snacks and lunches to more than 360,000 students! That is truly amazing and still it doesn't meet the national needs, as they were only able to grant 27% of all fund requests last year. 

There are several reasons why children go hungry in the morning; 1 in 9 children live below the poverty line, long commutes, unsupervised meal time and busy morning routines leave children hungry. This in conjunction with the alarming rate of children who are obese and being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well as other health issues it is very important to educate children and their families about proper nutrition.  Please take a few moments and visit the website, they have a brilliant resource page and if you are able to donate, it is certainly an investment in all of our future. Especially the little people in our lives.

A good rule of thumb for a balanced healthy breakfast is to use at least 3 of the 4 food groups. Here is a handy recipe and breakfast idea list that may require some weekend prep but make for quick and easy and healthy breakfasts.

• Protein bars (Road Grill Food Network Canada) serve with either a glass of milk or juice.
• Vanilla yogurt topped with berries and granola
• Cheesy scrambled eggs stuffed in a pita with a glass of juice
• Banana and Date Flaxseed Bread (recipeshare.ca) with peanut butter and apple slices.
• Hot oatmeal with blueberries and milk
• A slice of leftover homemade pizza

Take the time for some breakfast. The short term and long term benefits are so worth the few minutes spent every day to prepare them.

As I look out my window this morning, I see a few leaves starting to turn a lovely golden orange colour.  Summer is dwindling and fall is rapidly approaching.  School has started and my garden is yielding wonderful bounties.  I do admit I start to get a bit sad when I know that winter will be here before long.  But like many other people, I do prepare my family for winter by freezing a few vegetables and fruit harvested and I even make some of my own jams, jellies and relishes.  When tomatoes are plentiful, I even manage to make some of my own salsa.

Nothing tastes better to me than homemade.  I admit, I am spoiled, my mother had a very large garden when we were growing up.  We were spoiled with homemade jams and other goodies.  Now I am happy that I can make some of the things mom and grandma made for my children.  My oldest started school this fall and she is very happy to have some of mommy's strawberry or raspberry jam on toast. My husband loves my homemade salsa, especially when I make it a little spicy.

I use my own fruits and vegetables when I can but also buy locally what I can't produce myself. I also try to buy Canadian grown fruits like peaches and cherries.  

I am so pleased to blog about a  Canadian company that have all the necessary tools for making your own canned goods. This company is called Bernardin and I use their products all of the time in home canning.

For those that are afraid of using a canner, they also offer Freezer Jam pectin.  Nothing is easier than making freezer jams and you certainly can't beat the taste either.

There is also a recipe section on the Bernardin website for use with their products. I have used these recipes and they do turn out well.  There are lots of interesting and delicious recipes.  There is even a recipe for a Tomato-Peach salsa that was featured on the television show CanadaAM.

Bernardin products can be found in your local grocery stores and you can even purchase their products online.

Why not try your hand at making your own jam or jelly?  Do you have a favorite recipe?  Feel free to share with us your comments!

Image source: Bernardin, Tina Farthing

The time has come, once again to think about packing lunches. Parents are often concerned about how much lunch is eaten and how much is given away. The goal for lunch time is to make the lunch enviable by other children while it is happily eaten by your own. Here are some great tips and lunch ideas to make your lunch the best kibble in the room!

Know your child and what they enjoy eating. Lunch time is not the venue to test crazy creations or new foods (unless your child enjoys a culinary adventure). If this means that they wish to eat the same thing all week, so be it.

Prepackaged lunch foods look like fun for the kids but are truly frightening especially with some varieties can be as much as 500 calories with 27g of fat and then add the salt and sugar too. Recreate these fun lunches using whole grain crackers, flat breads, multi grain chips, real Canadian cheeses homemade salsas and sliced turkey or lean ground beef. 

Have fun with bento box style lunches. Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine usually consisting of rice, fish or meat and one or more pickled or steamed veggies arranged in a box. I have noticed that this has sparked a global interest with people creating bento style lunches from traditional to off the wall edible artwork and the ultimate in cute.

Get creative and play with your kids' food! You do not need to have fancy bento boxes to pack your creations, try the great containers from Buy Canadian First member Era Seal plastic lunch containers, they can be found at your local Dollarama.

Make fruit and veggies a fun addition to lunch by cutting them up into bite sized portions. Include a yogurt dip for the fruit as well as a savoury dip for the veggies.

Have a favourite supper do double duty just by making a little bit extra for lunch. Things like pizza, noodles, lasagna, roasts or poultry for sandwiches, soup, stew, and breaded chicken are great supper-time meals transformed into lunch. Send a note or email to your teacher asking if your child has access to a microwave.

Stock up on large and small cookie cutters and create some cute sandwiches (keep the crusts and make croutons for your salads).

Make lunch part of your meal planning when doing your grocery list. Here's one that I came up with that got rave reviews from the little people in my life.

Five Day School Lunch Plan

Day 1: Pasta salad (Catelli Noodles with  Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Seed Oil, quartered cherry tomatoes, thin sliced celery, chopped parsley, salt and pepper), grape halves, cucumber sticks with dip and fresh apple cider.

Day 2: Nuts To You sunflower seed butter and Buy Canadian First Member Verry Berry Honey sandwiches (use cookie cutters for fun sandwich shapes), a small apple, small cauliflower florets with dip and milk (Nuts To You can be found in most health food stores or health food aisles in your grocery).

Day 3: Mini homemade meatballs (make these when you are cooking with ground beef or pork and freeze some for lunch) with seasoned sour cream dipping sauce, cheese cubes, avocado chunks, cherry tomatoes, whole grain tortilla chips and veggie juice.

Day 4: Chicken drumstick, celery sticks filled with cream cheese topped with raisins, fruit kebobs with strawberry yogurt dip, mini fun shaped crackers and milk.

Day 5: 3 mini homemade pancakes (here's my favourite recipe from Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash Ltd), sliced bananas with blueberries, Buy Canadian First member Jakeman's maple syrup, a breakfast sausage, some yogurt and orange juice.

Top off all the lunches with a little treat, Buy Canadian First has several members with tasty treats: Maple snacks from Jakeman's, chocolate treats from Chocolate Signatures and Purdy's Chocolate.

Lunch for kids can be fun, exciting, unpredictable and healthy. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box and some preparation to create unique lunches that your children will never trade for the processed convenience variety.

Check out Savvy Mom's website for more great ideas on preparing lunches.

What about you? Tell us what lunches you prepare for your kids that get you the biggest raves every time! We'd all like to know.

The other day I was visiting with a friend and noticed an empty box of Mr. Freeze on the floor. I smiled then asked her if she knew they were made in Canada; she did not. Kisko has been creating fabulous freeze pops and premium juice products since 1977 and is synonymous with summertime.

Founded by Leslie and Glenor Josephs, Kisko is a family run Canadian business that tirelessly brings us new and fun products along with our classic favourites.

Kisko is very proud to manufacture the best tasting freeze pops on the market. All Kisko products are nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher, in fact all Kisko and Mr.Freeze products are allergen-free. Kisko has full disclosure of their ingredients on each of their products on their Website. Mr. Freeze No Sugar Added Pops are sweetened with Splenda and the Motts Fruitsations 100% Ice Bars have no added sugar or color. They are created from juice concentrate, using only fruit and vegetables juices for color.

This summer Kisko has some brand new products ; Mr. Freeze Transformers freeze pops with a Transformers tattoo in every box, Soda Pop Flavoured Giant Freezies in Dr. Pepper, Crush Grape and Hires Root Beer and Nice 'N Juicy Freezies as well as the Motts Fruitsations 100% Ice Bars which are great for the very young and the young at heart alike.  

It was one of the greatest thrills of my summers as a kid to run all by myself to the corner store and buy a jumbo Mr. Freeze. I would nibble the top off and proceed to eat the pop, rolling up the bottom as the pop became shorter. When it was done I would unroll the wrap and try to squeeze every last drop of the juice out from the wrappers. As a kid any time was a perfect time for a 'Freezie' and frankly it still is to this day!

Kisko is all about fun, fun in the sun and fun online too. They have games to play and K-Tube videos right at their website!

What are your favourite summer memories with Kisko?

It seems like the prairies are in a cold snap. It's almost August and people are clad in flannel pjs, hooded sweaters and socks. I mean seriously! It is July and frankly I am a little irked that I cannot complain about the scorching heat and the relentless humidity. Incidentally, I also miss the seasonal air conditioning battles with my husband. So far, this has been the coldest July on record but Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says that July is not over and things should heat up soon, but of course, we all know the weather is a fickle beast. Fortunately even in this less than ideal weather, we are still harvesting crops of local potatoes and berries. Alberta is familiar with severe weather and this year is no exception  but it's great to know that despite this, Albertans can still buy local.

Alberta
Alberta has a vast selection of foods ranging from bison, beef, lamb, duck, fruit, berries, vegetables, eggs, milk, sugar beets and more. These products are available in organic and free-range too. Here are some buy-local and other interesting links for Alberta:

• Alberta Farmers Market Association
• PickyourOwn.org
• Organic Growers Directory 
• Growing Alberta
• Food Alberta

Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Agriculture in the NWT is a new venture of sorts for the area. There are several projects and programs like the small scale food program, designed to explore the possibilities in "farming the Canadian north". To date, there are poultry farms as well as farmers with irrigated fields but most of the agriculture is conducted along the river systems, where the soil is much richer.

Traditionally, the Inuit of Nunavut are a nomadic people who followed the animals. Times have changed and sedentary lifestyles are more common place for Inuit communities. The permafrost of northern Canada is not generally good for agriculture but in the summer, the tundra is alive with over 200 species of small flowering plants like the fireweed, which is rich in vitamin A and C. Used for tea and medicine. Other local foods include arctic char, turbot, seal, caribou, bannock and muktuk (whale blubber).

 

I looked but could not seem to locate any farmers markets in the territories, so I ask Canada to help: If you know of any farmers markets in the NWT or Nunavut, let us know by leaving a comment below!

Yesterday, we harvested the first cucumbers from our garden, it was very exciting. And they were promptly consumed by my toddler. Our apples are also ripening on the tree and soon we will be transforming apples into pie filling and applesauce. I am happy to see that all that work we did as a family is finally paying off and what my garden doesn't grow, my local market will have, even in these lacklustre temperatures.

Image sources: Flickr: Jordan Pattern, MartinCathrae

Our very own Isabelle Remy will be on TV Monday June 29th and then on Tuesday, June 30th. We really could not have wished for better timing, with Canada Day 'n all. We are jumping for joy over here.

Isabelle's first stop is at the ATV studios in Ottawa for a sit down on the 'A' Morning show around 6:50 am ET. Unfortunately, unless you live in Ottawa or have satellite TV, you won't be able to see it (I wish we could here in Dorval because I really like Bill Welychka. I remember him well from the old Much Music gang, circa 1995). We will try to get a digital copy of the interview for a follow-up post.

Her second stop is at Canada AM in Toronto, Tuesday morning to record a segment that will air during the Thursday July 2nd show (between 6:00 am and 9:00 am ET. This appearance will be a dream come true for Isabelle. I share an office with her and on her bulletin board is a picture of Seamus O'Regan (David Suzuki is on mine). Isabelle is a huge fan of the show and watches it pretty much every morning before coming to work. What she likes so much about Seamus is how proud he is to be Canadian and how he takes a special interest in Canadian companies and products. As soon as we started this business, she declared that one day she would be on Canada AM, hopefully being interviewed by Seamus. Well my dear, that day has come... I'm so proud of her for having stuck to her goal and to never have given up (she must have written to them a half-dozen times).

Isabelle and our office mascot - named Seamus.

We hope that you will tune in and watch (or set your PVRs). Those who do will see Isabelle ahowcasing Canadian-made products that will be up for grabs in our biggest giveaway yet. Hint hint (you should really watch if you want to know what the dealio is ;-) 

These appearances will be a turning point for Buy Canadian First. I can feel it!

Image sources: 'A' Morning Ottawa, Canada AM, John Kenney - The Montreal Gazette

Author: Melissa Thibodeau 

Last week, while out for a long overdue lunch with my mom, I had a rhubarb crisp for dessert. Susie of the Jasmine Tea room in Altona, Manitoba had made it that morning with local rhubarb and served it with vanilla ice cream. I swear it was like nibbling on summertime. This first taste of local food has made me excited for the local produce available in my region and hopefully my garden too (keep your fingers crossed).

As we journey through our beautiful vast country we have not been disappointed by the selection of foods available to Canadians (read our other posts on local foods available in British Columbia & Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Maritimes). We are half way through our local foods cross country adventure; let's see all the delicious treats Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador have to offer.

  

Quebec
Quebec not only has local foods but it has foods available year-round, foods like cheeses, milk, eggs, flour, seafood and charcuterie (cured meats) to name a few. The region around Montreal has some of the richest black earth in northeastern North America, and 90% of Quebec's growers are within a 60Km radius of the city.

Le Marché du Vieux-Port  of Québec city open daily may to Christmas and then Thursdays through Sunday the rest of the year. This market gives you delights like cheese, foie gras and pates, cranberries, maple products, rabbit meat, fruits vegetables and so much more. This market mirrors rural life even though you never actually leave the city.

Pomme en Fête is available from March to December and located in the Lower Laurentian region of Quebec, about 45 minutes north of Montreal. This is where you can stroll between 40 farms, orchards, vineyards and other businesses involved with agri-tourism. You will also find some pick your own farms as well. There are several kinds of apples grown in this region and here is their harvest calendar.

Quebec boasts an impressive choice of organic foods: beef, goose, bison, goat, chicken, turkey, and even ostrich, eggs, grains, milk, fruit, vegetables, maple product and medicinal herbs. To find an organic producer in your region just use  Transformation Alimentaire Quebec's handy search engine.

Montreal's main Farmers markets are the Jean Talon Market, the Atwater Market and Place Faubourg. Learn about them here. There are many other markets and stands around town and on the outskirts as the agriculture around Montreal is vast and rich.

Finally, do not forget to read this website in detail: Équiterre. This organization is building a social movement by encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to make ecological and equitable choices, in a spirit of solidarity. They have lots of resources and ideas not only for local food but for a sustainable lifestyles as well.

Newfoundland and Labrador

I am sure this is a sentiment that Newfoundlanders are tired of hearing but they certainly do have some interesting location names. Wordplay.com has a humourous list some of my favourites are: Ha Ha Bay, Bumble Bee Bight, Bad Bay, Bacon Cove, Traytown and Harbour Harbour. This unique style of naming didn't stop with locations as some of their culinary staples are also exceptionally named: Brewis(hard bread), Jigs Dinner(traditional meat and potato dish), Lassy Mogs and Figgy Duff(pudding). One thing for sure, fish and seafood are main staples, specifically Codfish. Other local goodies include Pease Pudding - which is made of yellow split peas, Bakeapples Preserves, moose meat, and others.

Lester's Farmers market is a 150 year old tradition located on Lester's Farm near St. John's. Along with the market there is a petting barn, corn maze, a pumpkin festival and a U-pick strawberry patch. Open Daily from 10 a.m to 6 p.m.

After a wonderful first year, the St. John's Farmers Market will be open once again. Open for the 2009 season since June 6th every Saturday until November, when the hours will change to 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. 

Cormack's Farmer's Market located in Deer Lake (western Newfoundland) has all the ingredients of a lush farmers market including fresh cream and butter. Open daily June - August from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. offer.

Riverbrook Farms Country Market, in Corner Brook is one of the largest vegetable farms on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Open: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, Monday to Saturday; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays (June to December).

Canada is certainly one tasty country! Don't forget to leave a comment of your favourite local food, market or recipe, we love hearing from you!

Image sources: Flickr TyeGuyII, Max Shepp, Transformation alimentaire Quebec,  St. Johns  Farmers market

La semaine dernière, j'ai dîné avec ma mère au Jasmin Tea Room à Altona, au Manitoba. Pour dessert, je me suis laissée tenter par une belle pointe de tarte à la rhubarbe avec de la crème glacée à la vanille, préparée le matin-même par la propriétaire, Susie, à partir de rhubarbe récoltée localement. Cette combinaison, pour moi, c'est comme prendre une bouchée dans l'été!

Cette première dégustation d'aliments locaux me fait rêver aux fruits et légumes qui seront bientôt disponibles dans ma région, et me laisse espérer une excellente récolte dans mon propre jardin (croisons-nous les doigts!).

Comme nous voyageons à travers notre merveilleux pays à la découverte d'aliments locaux (voir nos billets précendent pour les aliments locaux de la Saskatchewan, la Colombie-Britannique & Yukon, les maritimes, le Manitoba - en anglais), notre aventure nous emmène maintenant aux plaisirs gastronomiques qu'offre le Québec, Terre-Neuve et le Labrador.

Québec
Le Québec a non seulement des fruits et légumes locaux, mais la province offre également d'autres produits du terroir tels que fromages, lait, œufs, farine, fruits de mer et charcuteries, disponibles tout au long de l'année. Le sol dans les environs de Montréal est parmi les plus riches en Amérique du Nord, et 90 % des cultivateurs Québécois sont situés dans un rayon de 60 km de la ville.

Le Marché du Vieux-Port de la ville de Québec est ouvert tous les jours de mai à Noël, et du jeudi au dimanche le reste de l'année. Vous y trouverez des fromages, du foie gras et des pâtés, des canneberges, des produits de l'érable, de la viande de lapin, des fruits et légumes, et tellement plus! Ce marché vous transporte à la campagne sans que vous n'ayez à quitter la ville.

L'événement Pomme en Fête se déroule de mars à décembre dans la région des Laurentides, à environ 45 minutes au nord de Montréal. Vous pouvez vous promener dans 40 fermes, vergers, vignobles et autres entreprises impliquées avec l'agrotourisme. Vous pouvez aussi y cueillir des fruits! De plus, il y a une très grande variété de pommes cultivées dans cette région. En voici leur période de récolte. 

Le Québec offre un choix impressionnant d'aliments biologiques; dont le boeuf, l'oie, le bison, la chèvre, le poulet, la dinde et même l'autruche, les oeufs, les grains, le lait, les fruits, les légumes, les produits de l'érable et les herbes médicinales. Pour trouver un producteur biologique dans votre région, consultez le moteur de recherche du site internet de Transformation Alimentaire Québec. 

Pour ce qui est des marchés à Montréal, il ne faut surtout pas manquer les incontournables comme le Marché Jean Talon et le Marché Atwater. Mais  il y a beaucoup plus de marchés dans la région, alors pourquoi ne pas en découvrir de nouveaux?

Finalement, n'oubliez pas de visiter le site Équiterre, qui s'est donné comme mission de "construire un mouvement social en encourageant des individus, des organisations et des gouvernements à faire des choix écologiques et équitables, dans un esprit de solidarité." Ce site regorge de ressources et d'idées intéressantes, non seulement au sujet des aliments locaux mais aussi en ce qui a trait aux styles de vie durables. 

Terre-neuve et Labrador
Je suis certaine que les habitants de Terre-Neuve sont fatigués de ce sujet de conversation, mais ils doivent avouer qu'ils ont des noms d'endroits vraiments intéressants... Le site Wordplay.com a compilé une liste de noms cocasses, et mes préférés sont; Ha Ha Bay, Bumble Bee Bight, Bad Bay, Bacon Cove, Traytown et Harbour Harbour. Cette habitude ne s'est pas arrêtée avec les noms d'endroits, mais s'applique aussi à certaines de leurs spécialités gastronomiques telles que: "Brewis" (le pain dur), le Dîner de Gigues (la viande traditionnelle et le plat de pomme de terre), "Lassy Mogs" et "Figgy Duff" (le pouding). Les poissons et fruits de mer, mais surtout la morue, sont très populaires dans cette région. D'autres spécialités locales incluent le "pease pouding" qui est fait de petits pois jaunes, les confitures de "bakeapple", la viande d'élan, etc. Plusieurs fruits et légumes récoltés localement sont aussi disponibles.

Le marché Lester's Farm est une tradition vieille de 150 ans, et a lieu sur la Ferme de Lester près de la ville de St. Johns. En plus du marché, il y a aussi une ferme pédagogique, un labyrinthe de maïs, un festival de citrouilles et un champ d'auto-cueillette de fraises. Ouvert tous les jours de 10 h à 18 h. (site web anglais seulement)

Après une première année couronnée de succès en 2008 le Marché de St. John's sera de retour pour 2009. De juin à novembre, ce marché est ouvert tous les samedis de 9 h  à 14 h.  (site web anglais seulement)

Le Marché de Cormack, situé dans la région de Deer Lake (Terre-Neuve occidentale), possède tous les atouts d'un marché luxuriant, incluant de la crème fraîche et du beurre. Ouvert tous les jours de juin à août, entre 9 h et 20 h. (site web anglais seulement)

Riverbrook Farms Country Market, dans la région de Corner Brook, est l'une des plus grandes fermes maraîchères sur la côte ouest de Terre-Neuve et Labrador. Heures d'ouverture (de juin à décembre): de 10 h à 20 h du lundi au samedi; et de 13 h à 18 h le dimanche. (site web anglais seulement)

Le Canada est définitivement un pays délicieux! N'oubliez pas de nous laisser un commentaire à propos de vos aliments locaux préférés, des marchés dans votre quartier ou encore de vos délicieuse recettes! Nous aimerions recevoir des vos nouvelles!

Photos: Flickr TyeGuyII, Max Shepp, Transformation alimentaire Quebec, La marché fermiers de St. Johns

Buying locally. This, to me is very important. Especially since I started writing for BuyCanadianfirst.ca, I have been reading labels meticulously.  I am pleased to find that a lot of the items I have been purchasing are Canadian-made or grown.  Finding Saskatchewan-made and Saskatchewan-grown items are a little more difficult though but I put together this post to help you find such products hopefully.

First and foremost, for me, I find that the best locally-grown produce is what I can grow here at home, in my own soil. You should give it a try if you havent. It's really simple. If you need a guiding hand, I wrote a post this past winter on garden planning. this past winter. You can read it here. 

Summer is a bounty of harvest for me.  I eat all of my vegetables right from my own back yard. This past weekend, I just finished planting my garden (with the exception of tomatoes and peppers - it's still freezing here at night and they are tender plants). I am growing lettuce, spinach, onions, beans, peas, carrots, corn, cucumbers, dill herbs and potatoes. I am also growing zucchinis, strawberries and pumpkins. I cannot wait to taste the first lettuce and spinach and know that I have grown it - it gives me pride to know this. I also have asparagus that is starting to shoot up and rhubarb that is just about ready to be harvested for the first time. I planted 2 apple trees last year and hope that maybe this year we will see our first apples.  I also started cherry trees and Saskatoon berry bushes.

I'm very fortunate to live on land that has acreage and to be able to grow my own vegetables but this is not available to everyone. There are great sources for Saskatchewan products; you just need to know where to look. Here are a few of my favorites that I have found.

Farmer's markets are a great place to find locally grown produce, meat, fish, eggs, baking and even handcrafted items from talented local artisans. Many small towns have their own farmers markets too but I am focusing on Saskatoon and Regina as they are major centres. The Saskatoon Farmer's market runs year-round. You can find out more about it here as well as a schedule for when the market runs and a calendar listing a bunch of really fun and special events happening at the market.

Regina also operates a farmer's market. Visit The Regina Farmers Market's official website here.

I have also found a few neat stores in Saskatoon and Regina that specialize in locally grown food. The Steep Hill Food Co-op is found on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon.  It is maintained by paid member-managers and specializes in local and organic food.

Want to buy Saskatchewan-made products online?  The Saskatchewan-made store is available to make these purchases. There is a great variety of products to purchase such as baked goods to preserves to even apparel.

These are a few places that you can find Saskatchewan products. Do you have any other markets or places that you buy locally in Saskatchewan? Share them with us by leaving a comment!

Image sources: Tina Farthing, Regina Farmer's Market, Saskmade.ca

Are there any economic gurus out there that are fans of buying local? I am curious, as my husband and I were having a discussion about buying local and comparative advantage. Today I found this informative albeit cheeky article about the same subject from Harvey Enchin of the Vancouver Sun. In his article Enchin is referring to Vancouver Counselor Peter Ladner's challenge for residents to create 2,010 urban gardens as a tribute to the Olympics as well as having other beneficial social and financial gains. Enchin discusses how time is money and unless you are a farmer chances are you will be spending too much "money" in your garden. I think what might be forgotten is the invisible investment that is made with these endeavors like time spent nurturing and teaching our children, building friendships within the community and soothing our own souls, investments worth so much more than the extra tangible dollars made, spending another couple hours at the office.

British Columbia
British Columbia offers lots of delights; various species of mushrooms, berries, fresh sea foods right off the boat, vegetables, fruit, cheese, eggs, meats and poultry and so much more. Finding a Farmers Market is as easy as this fabulous link from the BC Association of Farmers Markets! In most of the regions of this beautiful province there are both summer and winter markets.

Other Fabulous links

• The Certified Organic Association of British Columbia (COABC) boasts over 600 certified organic members.
• Urban Grains is a new venture providing local grown grain.
• GetLocalBC.org, helping residents of the Metro Vancouver area find local food.

Yukon
Farming in the North must have its challenges but certainly it is not impossible. Farmers welcomed the chance to try and grow grain, berries and even fruit trees north of 60, with success, despite short growing seasons and less than optimum soil conditions. Today Farming in the Yukon has grown and includes certified organic produce and grain, free range poultry, wild turkey meat and eggs, potatoes, rabbits, pork, sheep, elk, herbs, honey, berries arctic char, apples, pears, oats, grass fed bison (no hormones or antibiotics), goat milk cheeses, birch syrup, wheat, barley as well as mushrooms. I am sure I am sure I haven't listed all the foods raised, grown and produced in this region but it is, without question, rich in variety.

Other fabulous links

• Yukon Foods website
• Yukon farms products and services
• Fireweed community market in Whitehorse YK

Don't forget to comment and add all you favourite buy-local spots, sometimes the best places can't be found online (please note comments are not immediately posted). While you're typing, include your thoughts of the local and global impacts of the buy local phenomenon. I always enjoy hearing what you're thinking.

The term ‘local' when applied to food is officially defined as produced within a 50km radius of your location but some will have it include within their own province and others in their own country, but here at Buy Canadian First, we're comfortable with all these "definitions". The official definition works out great though within 3 of the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. I had sent out a public plea to help me find locally grown foods in Canada. One Halifax artisan quibbled that all that would be available in her area would be potatoes, lobster and apples... I thought I was in for it. 

Please tell us in the comments below, your favourite market, farm or product name and don't forget to mention your city and province!

Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia offers a plethora of tasty treats made with just local ingredients as well as produce, grocery items to buy including other goods like wool spun from Canadian sheep.

In Nova Scotia you can find an impressive selection of organic foods like eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb, strawberries, raspberries, apples, lavender, goat milk cheese, wild blueberries, herbs, leafy greens, garlic and so much more.

At the Halifax Farmers Market you will also find more vendors of local foods such as asparagus, pears, honey, yogurt, fish, seafood, maple products and the likes, as well as organic foods.

If you don't know what you can buy in your area try this fantastic map from Select Nova Scotia. 

New Brunswick
New Brunswick food growers offers an equally impressive collection of orangic food options: beef, garlic, dried beans, chicken, maple products, peas, squash, lettuce, apples, herbs, potatoes, melons, beets and flour to just name but a few.

Looking for a market in New Brunswick is not tough regardless of the region you live in. Here are a few:

River Valley Region that follows the Saint John's river, host several markets including the famous W.W. Boyce Market .

The Fundy Coastal Region that is located on the south-end of the province boasts having the oldest market in North America. The Saint John City Market was built in 1876 and takes a full city block!

The Acadian Coastal region runs along the eastern line of the province and will provide you with all your culinary needs as well as some interesting town names in which I hope an Acadian will comment on and help me pronounce Kouchibouguac ;-)

The Miramichi River Region is in the interior of the province and described as upbeat giving you arms filled with treasure and your spirit in very good humour.

The Appalachian range offers maple treats with sugar camps in the spring that allow you to eat, sleep and drink maple.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island like its other fellow Islands also has a grand organic foods selection. Here are some examples: lamb, soybeans, grains, chicken, eggs, potatoes, strawberries, shitake mushrooms and other fruits and vegetables.

Check out this guide to eating fresh and local in Prince Edward Island.

I have noticed that several of these markets are open year-round giving you access to local products all the time. Clearly these regions are rich in food choices that all produced in the area. One does not have to become a locavore to exist. Items like coffee, chocolate and bananas are things I am not willing to live without but I can support my local growers and producers. Your areas are more bountiful than you think.

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons: Zach Bonnell, Will Pate and Saint John City Market

We are making a pledge to buy local, in fact we already found a source for our eggs from a delightful couple on highway 14 just west of the 30. They sell regular sized eggs and peewee eggs in the spring and late summer as well. To reduce our carbon footprint we have also started our seeds for the garden, this will be our third year trying to garden. Our first few years have shown some results but we would really like some volume this time, if that happens it would be a 'victory garden' indeed. We have 2 apple trees that will be picked, eaten, shared and made into buckets and buckets of apple sauce.

Buying local has several benefits; it supports local economies, helps conserve local farmlands and wildlife habitats and reduces the environmental costs of long distance food transport. Not only that but local produce will be fresher and less likely to be sprayed with chemicals designed to prevent mould and fungus growth. If you want some more reasons to buy local here are 10 reasons to buy local.

Where to buy local food: a Manitoba Guide. 

Please comment with your favourite market, farm or product name and don't forget to mention your city and province.

Manitoba

Tall Grass Prairie Bread
Makes bread and lots more using Manitoba products.

 

Manitoba Harvest - Hemp Foods and Oils
Hemp seed oil, shelled hemp seed, hemp seed butter and protein powder. Manitoba hemp is grown without herbicides, pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Eatit.ca - Canada's online organic store, that delivers!
Eatit.ca offers a wide selection of Manitoba made products that includes various flour, eggs, bison meat, maple syrup, honey, steel cut oats, milk (no hormones or antibiotics!) and more.

Organza  - Natural and Organc Market
A super store of natural and organic products, you can find a great selection including local grass fed beef. Sign up for their newsletter to keep on top of their upcoming seasonal products.

Crampton's Market
This is my favourite seasonal ‘eat local' food market. They work with local farmers and blog about upcoming deliveries. Oh and the baking is to die for! Currently they have local hydroponic basil, hothouse cucumbers, hothouse tomatoes and hothouse cherry tomatoes as well as local wild fiddleheads and wild morrel mushrooms.

St Norbert Farmer’s Market
The Humdinger of farmers markets where you can not only find local artisans and crafters but a one stop produce dream. Growers from all over Manitoba offer you a selection of from pumpkins, potatoes, beets, dill, cilantro, cabbage, melons, blueberries, strawberries, broccoli, and so much more, here is the harvest schedule.

Prairie Fruit Growers Association
Find U-Pick strawberries, raspberries, Saskatoon berries, currents, pin cherries and more from the members of this Association.

100 mile Manitoba

Organic Producers Association of Manitoba

Local grocers carry New Bothwell Cheese, Loveday Mushrooms, and Peak of the Market produce, all of which is Manitoban.

Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled on the highways during your summer travels as many farms have stands in their yards and towns have daily or weekend farmers market . Buying local is easy and affordable. Are you going to give ot a try?

Image sources: Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company, Jeanette Greaves flickr 

It is maple season and what better way to celebrate then putting a little maple hugs on all your meals! Orillia, Ontario's own Everything Maple is well versed in the sweet and savory of it all. With over 70 maple products created by Tracy Moore, former caterer and chocolatier, it's safe to say that maple syrup  is not just for breakfast anymore. This is clearly a truth when the top seller is the Maple Balsamic Reduction Sauce, followed closely by Add a Little Love: Maple Roasted Garlic Dressing.

Each of the Everything Maple products begins with at least 30% to 90% pure Maple Syrup, which is naturally fat free. Studies show that maple syrup also contains antioxidants as well as significant amounts of manganese, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. A serving of maple syrup is comparable to a serving of broccoli! Everything Maple always have natural products with no artificial additives or chemicals and with 3 of their 8 top selling products contains zero fat, the Everything Maple slogan - Maple, what's not to love - is right on the money.

What are Everything Maple's top 8 selling products? They are:

• Maple Barbeque Sauce, Yikes! and Maple Barbeque Sauce with a Kick. Made with a perfected balance of spices, garlic and tomato combined with a wholesome serving of 40% pure maple syrup, the tangy sweetness of this barbeque sauce makes it one of their most popular products. The sauce is available in two heats: Original is a mild heat sauce, and Yikes! is a medium heat sauce.
• Maple & Berries Vinaigrette. A delightful combination of fresh raspberry, blackberry and blueberry bits swimming in a tangy mix of poppy seeds, cracked pepper, lemon, and pure maple syrup for a simply exquisite product.
• Maple Citrus Twist. The zing of mangos, lemons, orange, and grapefruit added to pure maple syrup give this product a light, fresh sweet and sour taste.
• Maple Balsamic Reduction. Blending the full rich flavour of balsamic into the smoothness of pure maple syrup quite possibly makes this our most versatile product.
• Maple Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Dressing. Nicknamed ‘Add a Little Love', this savoury product is a marriage made in heaven of inspired ingredients.
• Maple & Roasted Garlic Dip Mix. This funky product was initially intended to have its savoury contents blended with cream cheese to create an incredible dip to serve with veggies, fruit, or even to spread on a bagel.
  Now, the ideas seem never-ending for this product!
• Hot Maple Mustard. This product is complimented by the taste of pure maple syrup and a blend of ingredient that is sure to kick food up a notch.

Don't these sound amazing? And those are just the top 8. There are dozens more to pick from.

Not quite sure what to do with these delectable sauces, that's ok because Everything Maple are one step ahead of you with some tasty recipe ideas but they are always  excited to hear from their Everything Maple Foodies. So much so they have set up a great contest:

Tell us which of our Everything Maple products you are enjoying and how you are using them. You'll be entered for a chance to WIN each time you give us your feedback.

Check out all the details here.

Everything Maple Products can be ordered online or find a retailer near you .

In Stephen Harper's press conference on May 21st 2008 he announced that changes would be made. The new guideline, under the Conservative government's proposed Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, will change both the ‘Product of Canada' and ‘Made in Canada' guidelines. This is how:

Product of Canada will now be redefined to include a 98 per cent domestic product content as well as all processing and labour are done here as well. So then ‘Product of Canada' will mean that consumers can be confident that their food is grown and made here, supporting Canadian farmers and jobs.

Made in Canada is defined as having the last major transformation done in Canada. Any product that has more than 2 per cent foreign content will have the Made in Canada label but, it will have to also have the stipulation of either: "...from domestic and imported ingredients" or "...from imported ingredients." So to elaborate my peanut butter brand that says Product of Canada will be, under the new guideline, Made in Canada from imported ingredients, which can include peanuts from China, Nigeria, the United States and India.

If you are nutty for peanuts, be very excited, because we have peanut growers in Ontario! I talked with Nancy Racz of Kernel Peanuts Limited, who confirmed she grows Valencia peanuts that are transformed, on site, into tantalizing peanut treats. For a limited time Kernel Peanuts Limited is offering the Buy Canadian First readers a fantastic promotion: Buy any three products and get 20% off, visit their shop today!

Just so you know, this particular labelling is voluntary and only applies if a company wishes to state they have a Canadian product. It is likely we will not see very many examples of the new labelling out on the shelves yet, as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency excludes the products that were produced before December 31st, 2008 (when the new guidelines took effect). If you are uncertain about where your food is coming from, contact the 1-800 number on the product, most companies are happy to answer all your questions.

Finally most unprocessed agricultural commodities fall under a country of origin labelling, that is why, when shopping at the supermarket, it's shown the bananas come from Mexico. Other products that fall in this category are meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs and honey, to name a few.

How do we feel about this at Buy Canadian First? Well obviously we would like to see more wholly Canadian-made products and their Product of Canada labels on store shelves, but we must also concede that with the Made in Canada goods made from foreign ingredients, the companies who have decided to participate with the new guidelines are offering full disclosure about the origin of the ingredients. That's something. AND, these transformation plants employ thousands of Canadians. This being said, the more information that is given to the consumers, the better equipped they are to make an educated decision about which product is worthy of their hard earned money.

So the next time you go to the supermarket, as much as possible, try to buy products that are labelled Made in Canada or choose produce that was grown in Canada or specifically, your province. If nothing appeals to you, widen your radius to include the US, then Mexico (there is a growing Buy North American movement happening too... but that's a different post ;-)

Don't forget to wear green!
Wear your Canadian-made green attire for all March 17th to this weekend's festivities. Your toes will be warm as you sip your Guinness in carmine daffodil navy wool socks by Les Bas de Julie. Keep your items safe as you run amok in the great Saint Paddy's Day pub crawl of 2009 with new Roots Lauren Tote in super lux leather by Roots Canada. Whether you are sitting on a stool or decorating shamrocks, being comfortable never looked so cute in the velour daisy piping pant by Gioka Clothing. All pictured below.
 

Some Celtic tunes!
A little music from Manitoba-born Loreena McKennitt, to Scottish and Irish parents, this singer is personally one of my favourites, especially her Elemental album. "Celtic history would become my creative springboard", Loreena recalls of her growing fascination with the subject. 

Happy Lá 'le Pádraig everyone!

Photo sources: Historica minute, Flickr Creative commons-wiki, BuyCanadianFirst.ca

I couldn't think of a better time to get a caffeine fix in order to get spring cleaning done, well maybe not, but go get your ‘extra large double double' and an apple fritter and enjoy a little Canadiana. But before I begin...

For kicks, Buy Canadian First is hosting its own contest!!

We have 4 - $10 Tim Hortons gift cards to give away!  Leave us your email and comments  about why you buy Canadian and Friday morning (March 13th) we will pick 4 winners using a random numbers generator. Good Luck!

Now, for a bit of history and facts...

Tim Horton was born in Cochrane Ontario in 1930 and was signed to the Maple Leafs in 1949. He played 17 full seasons and 3 partial seasons with the Leafs, he also played briefly for the New York Rangers before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. His final years in hockey were with the Buffalo Sabres. His whole 22-year career with the NHL was played as a steadfast defenseman on the blue line. Famous for his strength, Gordie Howe called Horton "hockey's strongest man" but despite his legendary strength, Horton was not a supporter for violence on the ice.

Horton knew that his hockey career wouldn't last forever so he sought out a way to supplement his hockey income. In 1964, Horton decided to try out the coffee and doughnut business and opened a location in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1967 he became partners with retired police offer and franchisee of the Tim Hortons store # 1, Ron Joyce. The rest, as they say, is history.

Horton never saw the chain's iconic success. While returning to Buffalo from a game at Maple Leaf Gardens, Horton was killed in a tragic car accident on February 21, 1974. At the time there were only 40 Tim Hortons locations. The Buffalo Sabres retired his jersey as a tribute to his memory.

Today, Tim Hortons has 2,942 stores in Canada and employs well over 10,000 Canadians comprised of many talented individuals with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, styles and characteristics.

Tim Hortons offers a vast array of employment positions that include some or all of these ‘perks'; Flexible schedules, Convenient locations, competitive wages, comprehensive training, free uniforms, advancement opportunities, incentive programs and benefits.

The true wonders of this company are the community involvement and care of its staff. Every year Tim Hortons give out 20 $1,000 scholarships in Canada to their staff, their children and grandchildren, who also believe in giving back to their community through volunteer work.

It is great to know that the place where you work is concerned about your education and is willing to help out. I am very grateful to Tim Hortons for their support.
- 2005 Tim Hortons Scholarship Recipient

Certainly the goodwill and programs doesn't stop there, in fact this company with its rich Canadian roots does so much more. The Children's Foundation was founded in 1974 to the memory of Tim Horton who loved kids. The foundation sends kids to camp from economically disadvantaged homes. Local programs like free spring break skate and swim times, Tim Bits minor sports program, Earn a bike and more. Tim Hortons support local organizations and charities with donations or sponsorship as well as national sport sponsorships including curling, CFL, NHL, fishing and the Canadian Cycling Association. Sustainable coffee program supporting farmers in their communities and an environmental campaign with several different projects, Tim Hortons is a leader in community involvement.

The Toyota segway...

Now, going back to the Roll-up-the-rim-to-win contest...There are over 31,026,135 prizes to be won ranging from a beverage to to a brand new Toyota Venza. While the Venza is not Canadian made, Toyota does make the Corolla, Rav4 and Matrix right here in Canada! Here is their  current promotional campaign about it! All three models are top of their class for fuel efficiency combined with Toyota's quality and affordability.

Our own Melissa, Partner and Director of Marketing is a very proud owner of a 2009 AWD Toyota Matrix, which she bought because (one) she loved the new model and (two) because it was made in Canada (we don't just talk a good talk here at Buy Canadian First, we really do walk it too ;-)

Necessity is the mother of invention...

So we have our contest cup and we are using our teeth and hurting our fingers trying to roll up the rim to see if we won... But now, there is a better way. Buy Canadian First member, Paul Kind of Novel Solutions has invented a gadget known as the Rimroller that was featured in CBC's Dragon's Dene in October of 2008. The Rimroller is easy to use:  just push down and pull up. You can buy them at Lee Valley or any Zellers location for less than $3.

Iona, of Novel Solutions, wanted me to point out that the Rimroller allows you to see if you've won and if you did, you need to remove the whole message (French and English) otherwise you may be denied your prize! You have until May 24th, 2009 to claim your Roll-up prizes. Our contest ends this Friday, with the winners being announced Friday as well.

Image source: Tim Hortons, Toyota Canada, BuyCanadianFirst.ca

I recently started baking and I really enjoy it. As much as I can, I use organic and Canadian-made ingredients in all my recipes. I'd like to share with you THE recipe for the best muffins I've ever made or even tasted for that matter. It's called: Oat bran chocolate chip banana cranberry muffins. I also included links to the brands I use.

Makes 6 large muffins
15 minutes to prepare, 25 minutes to bake

• ½ cup milk - Liberté
• 1 egg - Burnbrae Farms
• 1 cup oat bran - La Milanaise
• 6 ounces chocolare chips - Hershey's Semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup mashed (overripe) bananas - Fair Trade Bananas
• ½ cup cranberries -  Atoka  
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil - Maison Orphée
• ½ granulated sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract - Vanilla Sky
• 1 cup whole wheat flour - La Milanaise
• 1 tsp bking soda - El Peto
• 1 tsp baking powder - El Peto

1. Mix egg, milk, oil, bananas, vanilla in a small bowl.
2. In a bigger bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients.
3. Incorporate the small bowl's content into the larger bowl and mix well.
4. Fill your muffin molds and transfer to a 200 Degree pre-heated oven
5. Bake for 25 minutes

As much as I love bananas, I sometimes buy too many and don't eat them fast enough and then suddenly the dark spots start to appear and I lose interest in them altogether. Instead of wasting them, I now bake with them! I always have the above ingredients in the pantry on standby, just in case those spots start to appear on the last 2 or 3 bananas left over.

You should try this recipe. Let me know what you think. Make em' the Canadian way if you can too!

Image source: Flickr Creative Commons - steffenz

Author: Melissa Thibodeau

To me, gardening is the ultimate in eating local. I mean, growing your own garden filled with healthy vegetables is one of the most rewarding things that anyone could do. You have absolute control over the varieties grown and the gardening practices. You know exactly what is put into that row of carrots or tomato from the vine. 

What better way to feed your family than to grow your own produce? Children love to see how things work and watching them help tend to a garden or plant is wonderful. My daughter has her own special row in my garden where she has a little bit of everything growing. She loves to see the seeds sprout and harvest the vegetables later in summer.

I have what most would call a very large garden, well, my garden alone is probably as big as most city house lots. So I am lucky, I can grow exactly what I want and don't have to worry about space issues at all. But, if you live in an apartment or house with a small yard, you can still grow your own vegetables on a smaller scale.

There are container varieties of plants. Strawberries to cucumbers to tomatoes and peppers and even blueberries can be grown in a container situation. Many seed companies sell these varieties. Just ask at your local nursery for varieties suitable to where you live. They often sell plants already started for container gardens.

McFayden Seeds is a Canadian Seed Company that has been operating since 1896.  Originally based out of Winnipeg but now out of Brandon, Manitoba, McFayden serves several customers by mail order. I personally use this company for my seed purchases and do find they have great customer service.  You can request a catalogue from them here. Just click on the request a 2009 catalogue link.

Try your hand at growing something this spring. You may be surprised at the joy you will hopefully get from it... Not to mention fresh and delicious produce all summer long!

 Image source: Flickr Creative Commons - Tina Farthing

The twelve days of Christmas is a song we are all familiar with but what is that all about. Long ago time was measured by both the sun and the moon. The solar calendar year gave us 365 ¼ days while the lunar calendar year was 354, an 11 ¼ days (or 12 for convenience) difference. Those 12 days are from December the 26th through to January 6 and in Canada 6 of those days are celebrated (Boxing day, Holy Innocents Day, New Year's Eve, New Years Day, Twelfth night and Epiphany). Traditionally, because of these 12 odd days, people were also known to behave peculiarly; banging pots and pans, wearing costumes and other tomfoolery! These fun practices can still be seen as Belsnicklers in Nova Scotia and Mummers in Newfoundland where people wear masks, play tricks, sing songs and ask for candy! On her Majesties ships stationed in Esquimalt BC if at sea on Christmas day the lowest ranking official gets to be captain for the day!

Day of the Holy Innocents is recognized on December 28th and is a blessed day for children in the Christian church. King Herrod the Great, concerned about his status when it was learned that Jesus was born, ordered the slaughter of all the male children under the age of 2. In some customs it is tradition to be mischievous and play tricks on other, not unlike April fool's Day. In other cultures it is simply a time to bless the children in church.

New Years Eve is a custom that that is celebrated throughout the globe. Some French Canadian communities participate in La Guignolée, a custom of going door to door doing silly things to collect money, food and clothing for the less fortunate. The Gaelic people in Cape Breton have a similar custom for Oidhche Challuinn (New Year's Eve) collecting onions and potatoes.

Epiphany is celebrated on January the 6th it is the twelfth day of Christmas and marks the end of the holiday season. Many people take their decorations down by this day to avoid bad luck. Epiphany celebrates the nativity and the visit by the Magi (the wise men) and the baptism of Jesus.

Julian Christmas is the 7th of January Ukrainians and many others from the eastern Orthodox churches celebrate on this day. On the 6th a candle is lit and placed in windows, to light the path for travelers, in memory of Joseph and Mary's journey. The Ukrainian Christmas begins when the first star (the star of Bethlehem) is seen in the sky, a prayer is said and sheaf of wheat is placed under the Icons in the house. Dinner is a 12 course menu beginning with kutia (a dish made of boiled wheat, honey, nuts and ground poppy seeds) and ending uzvar (an aromatic dried fruit compote). Marika of Yevshan Communications in Montreal helped me find some Christmas items and even sent me a recipe for Kutia from the Ukrainian Daughter Cookbook.

Traditional Kutia - (courtesy of Ukrainian Daughter's Cookbook)

Kutia is the ritual first dish (or final dish) of the 12-course Christmas Eve dinner. The wheat represents the staff of life. The honey represents the spirit of Christ.
[traditionally the man of the house would throw a spoonful of the kutia on the ceiling, and observe how much would stick. This would indicate the quality of the harvest for the coming year! ..]

2 cups wheat
3 quarts water
1 cup poppy seeds
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey dissolved in 3/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
(optional: 1/2 cup raisins)

Dry wheat in 250'F oven for 1 hour, stir occasionally.
Wash, soak in cold water overnight.
Next morning, bring to boiling point, simmer 3 - 4 hours until kernels burst.

Scald the poppy seed in boiling water, simmer 3 - 5 minutes.
Drain and grind twice using the finest blade of a food chopper (processor)
Set aside

Combine honey and sugar in a bowl.
Add poppy seeds, nuts (and raisins)
Add cooled, boiled wheat
Mix well.

Keeps in refrigerator for several days if needed.
Decorate bowl with nut halves or dry fruit.

Finally your evening would not be complete without caroling Koliada Ta Shchedrivky book and cd would be a perfect accompaniment to your caroling adventures.

Happy Holidays still to all of those who are celebrating and regarless of which calander you follow may blessing and joy follow you always.

 Photo Credits: victoria lodgings, urzadzamy

When I think of Christmas, I often think of snow and lights and decorations but I also think of wonderful Christmas goodies and treats.

Every family has their own special recipes for cookies and sweets that they make every year for the holidays. They are special and often evoke fond memories of mom or grandma in the kitchen baking and the wonderful smells wafting through the house during the holidays.

I would like to share a holiday recipe with you.  It has become a favourite of my family and I hope others will try it out and maybe it will become a favourite of yours too.

Here is my recipe for Gingersnap Cookies:

1 cup granulated sugar

¾ cup margarine

¼ cup fancy molasses

1 egg

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon ginger

A pinch of salt

Combine margarine and sugar and mix until well blended.  Add molasses and egg.  Sift and add dry ingredients.  Roll cookie dough into balls.  Take and roll in sugar to coat.  Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes.  Let rest on the pan for a minute or two before moving to a cooling rack to cool.

Just a little tidbit for you... there is molasses that is produced in Canada!  I use Crosby's molasses in my cookies. Crosby's is a Canadian company that has been producing molasses since 1879. Crosby's molasses should be easy to find in your local grocery store.

And in the spirit of buying Canadian, if you can, try to find locally farmed eggs and product-of-Canada margerine, flour and spices.

Let me know if you try this recipe! Enjoy!!!

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons,  Crosby's and Tina Farthing

My desk is littered with little chocolate and candy wrappers, treats stolen from the toddler's Halloween goodie bag in the kitchen. It is located in the heart of my home and to get to any room on the main floor one must travel through there, clearly a bad place for sinful food and treats! I am determined to motivate myself and others to jump on the fitness bandwagon, clean out the refrigerator and cupboards and embrace raw foods and yoga, but not today. Instead we will explore some delightful home grown confectioners.

Looking at the vendors on our site Everything Maple, is perfect for those who adore a dash of sweet with their savory or spicy flavors, but what of us with not just a sweet tooth but sweet teeth? We shall not be disappointed, as we begin our confections journey with Ganong's chocolates in St. Stephens New Brunswick, Canada's Chocolate Town. Ganong Bros. Limited is Canada's oldest candy company founded in 1873 and its primary operations are still in St. Stephens. Their online shoppe has a great selection for weddings as well as candy packages for the children but I am itching to try these the original chicken bones. In fact if you live or head out that way you can learn all about the chocolate experience at the museum!

Diane McMillan of Winnipeg runs Sweet Truth Canadian Gourmet Candy Company with some wonderful delights including almond butter toffee with a ginger twist; a "spicy symphony" containing cinnamon and cardamom. Sweet truth is a company who stems from a long line of candy makers and she buys her butter from a Manitoba dairy producer. Winnipeggers who can't wait to try her toffee should go to Cherry Tree Lane they have most of her flavours including the newest cappuccino toffee with toasted pecans, yummy. Those of you in Toronto, she'll be at the One of a kind show!

I would like to share with you a little gem I stumbled upon. Earth Belly Candy Co. of Northern Ontario specializes in all natural, organic lollipops and brittles. These lavender lollipops especially caught my eye, what a wonderful thing for something so fun to be soothing as well. Some of her other fresh and intriguing flavors include Ginger Honey Orange, Old Fashioned Root Beer and coming soon chai, and peppermint/anise. I am very excited to see a naturally made candy and will be purchasing some for my family, but first the lavender lollipop for me.

So my fellow Canadian sweet teeth, whether you require chocolate, candy, or a little sweet and savory this country can take you to your sugar heavens, even organically.

Image sources: Ganong Bros. Ltd, Earth Belly Candy Co - etsy.com,

 Blog post writen by: Joseph Wilburn

I'm talking seafood here folks! In all seriousness, I grew up on the west coast and now that I'm living in Ontario, I have to say my consumption of seafood has drastically dwindled. I need to change that.

Fortunately, Buy Canadian First does has some seafood retailer leads for you, on both coasts that can send you the best of what they have to offer if you're like me and not living on a coast.

First up, on the east coast, H&H Seafood located in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia. H&H Seafood has a wide variety of seafood both fresh and frozen available. From fish, crab and clams to (what argubly the East Coast is known for) -- lobster, all shippable from their door to yours.

Seafood, unlike me on a sunny day, should not lay around too long. H&H Seafood has you covered because it's literally hours from the time the fresh fish is caught to time it gets to you.

Should you be local to H&H Seafood in Nova Scotia, they are able to assist you with your special events and catering needs, too. If buying from a Canadian isn't enough, you can also breathe easier and eat with a healthy conscience because H&H Seafood is a supporter of sustainable fishing.

Up next, also on the east coast, is Clearwater Seafoods, one of our largest seafood vendors. On their site, you can see complete price lists and pictures of the yummy seafood they have on offer. Clearwater even has entire dinner packs available for shipment to your door. How cool is that?! A complete dinner at your door. I love it when good things are made simple.

Clearwater is also a sustainable seafood provider. If you're interested take a look at their online brochure for their plan on providing good, sustainable food for Canadian tables.

Take a look at both of these great Canadian seafood vendors!

Have you ever had any of these products before? What's your favourite seafood (mine's salmon)? Be sure to tell me about it in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you!

 Photo credit: ojbyrne, Flickr-Creative Commons

 Blog post written by: Joseph Wilburn

I love this time of year. It's harvest season! But, instead of talking about your typical corn, apples and pears, I found something that we produce in Canada that you wouldn't normally associate with Canada: rice! More specifically, I'm talking about wild rice. 

Canadian wild rice is primarily harvested on the Canadian Shield of northern Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. And, as luck would have it, our vendor Shoal Lake Wild Rice is one of those harvestors you need to know about so you can get some for your own pantry.

Before I did the research for this story, I had no idea of the labour involved in cultivating wild rice for the table. It's an involved but interesting process:

Once the rice is picked, it is then cured for a period of time to let it ripen further. Then, the rice is roasted to give it the distinctive flavour and colour that makes wild rice so unique. Next, the wild rice undergoes a husking process to separate the kernel from the chaff before being sent down a gravity table to sort the kernels by size. Finally, it is packed and ready to be sent to the consumer.

Our vendor, Shoal Lake Wild Rice, was founded in the 1930s by Peter Ratuski and is still owned by the Ratuski family in Keewatin, Ontario in the amalgamated Kenora, Ontario area.

When you check out their website, you will see the various lines they have to offer. You may also know their products under the La Verendrye, Canoe, Zizania, Oh Canada and Pure Canadian brands. Each one has a differnent twist, so be sure to check out and find one that suits your cooking needs. You can order their products directly from their website. As well, Shoal Lake Wild Rice is able to serve private label and food service markets. If you're in need of a little culinary inspiration, take a look at their recipe section.

Be sure to check them out!

Photo: Shoal Lake Wild Rice

 Blog post writen by: Joseph Wilburn

Je fais appel à une image qui pour certains d'entre vous, évoquera un souvenir de votre tendre enfance. Vous vous rappelez certainement  des Mr. Freeze, n'est-ce pas? Ce délice incontournable de la saison estivale. Vous rappelez-vous de ces moments amusants entre amis ou vous tiriez la langue pour comparer les différentes colours laissées par ce délice glacé? Vous souvenez-vous d'avoir siroté jusqu'à la dernière goutte la partie foude de ce merveilleux liquide sucré? C'était ça le vrai été!

Et bien, devinez quoi? L'été est de nouveau parmi nous! Soyez certains que le Mr. Freeze a toujours sa place dans mon congélateur! Même si je ne suis plus un enfant (Je le suis toujours dans l'âme), j'éprove toujours un faible pour ces petits pops glacés lors des journées collantes et humides.

À l'époque je n'étais absolument pas préoccupé par le sucre et les calories. On pourrait même dire que c'était le contraire - plus un aliment était riche en calories, plus j'éprouvais du plaisir à le déguster. Je consomme maintenant pops glacés sans sucre puisque je surveille ma consommation d'hydrates de carbonne. Il est donc pratique d'avoir ce delice a la portee de la main lorsque monstre à la dent sucrée refait surface.

J'aime bien faire attention à ce que je mange. Je suit le genre de personne qui prend le temps de lire les merveilleuses histoires à l'endos de boites de céréales, sur les sacs et les contenants. Il y a tant de choses intéresantes à decouvrir. Ainsi, j'ai pris le temps de m'imformer sur l'origine du Mr. Freeze et, à ma grande surprise, j'ai decouvert que l'entreprise qui fabrique ce produit s'appelle Kisko et est située a Woodbridge en Ontario. L'entreprise fut fondée en 1977 par Leslie et Glenor Josephs et demeure une entreprise canadienne jusqu'à ce jour.

Mmmmm!

Photo: Kisko Canada

 Blog post writen by: Joseph Wilburn

I'm going to invoke an image of childhood for many of you. You all remember Mr. Freeze, right? The ice pop that you HAD to have during the summer. Remember comparing tongues with your friends to see the different colours? Remember slurping down the last bit of melted sugary sweetness? Yeah, that was summer right there.

Well, guess what? It's summer now! You better believe I have some in the freezer! Even though, I'm no longer a little kid (still a big kid) I love a good freeze pop on a hot, sticky day.

Now, back then I didn't care about sugar and calories. In fact, probably it was the reverse - the more, the merrier. Nowadays, I eat sugar free pops because I'm watching my carb intake. It's a good thing to have when the ol' sweet tooth gets to acting up as it inevitably does.

So, I like to look into the things I'm eating. I'm the type of person who gets into the stories on the backs of boxes, bags and containers. You find out so many interesting things when you do that. I looked into where Mr. Freeze came from and it turns out that they are made in Canada by a business called Kisko located in Woodbridge, Ontario. It was started in 1977 by Leslie and Glenor Josephs and they are still Canadian-owned and Canadian-made today.

Makes you want to run to the store, right? Mmmmm!

 Blog post writen by: Joseph Wilburn

One of the many perks that I have living in Ontario is having a ton of great produce grown right nearby. However, I, like many other Canadians, take it for granted that the produce in the aisles of our neighbourhood grocery store is locally-grown. I didn’t realize that much of the produce in my local grocery store wasn’t grown here. I even checked a local farmer’s market and found a majority of the produce for sale (many items Ontario produces) were not Ontario or even Canadian-grown.

In this day of high transportation costs and some questionable foreign agricultrual hygiene, it seems that it would begin to make more sense to source as much local produce as possible because buying Canadian produce helps support sustainable Canadian methods of agriculture and keeps our neighbours employed.

In Ontario, for example, we can look to the Foodland Ontario brand as one of the most recognizable brands for Ontario produce. Other municipalities, such as Summerside, PEI are also contemplating creating brands and policies to support their local industries.

If we have all these brands running around, then why don’t more of us know about them? What’s the big problem in expanding these sorts of brands? It turns out we, ourselves, are the problem. I have to admit, I was one of those not in the know, so I’m not throwing too many rocks without hitting myself too. In Ontario, Ontarians just aren’t buying their own produce and not buying Ontario-grown produce keeps it out of the stores. To be fair, we also need many more convenient opportunities to “buy local.” If we want to be sure we are consuming in socially conscious and environmentally sustainable ways, we need to be more conscious of the labels on the items we buy and ensure our governments give us predictable ways of knowing that we are buying Canadian when we intend to. Ironically, this seems to go for so many items we consume not just agricultural produce.

So, fellow Canadians, I’m telling you today to just “eat it!” and by that I mean, “eat Canadian produce.” It’s a place to start. While we’re at it, let’s buy other Canadian made products, too. Remember, we have an economic slowdown on our hands in parts of this country. We helped the Canadian beef industry during the BSE crisis and we can help eat our way out of this economic situation too and support our agricultural and manufacturing industries in the process.