Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

Happy (early) Thanksgiving!! Canadians have been celebrating Thanksgiving Day every year since 1879, but I was surprised to find that the date was initially a Thursday in November. The date of the celebration has changed several times since then until, in 1957, it was officially declared to be the second Monday in October.


Who's celebrating the made in Canada way? Local turkeys, veggies, and pies are a great way to celebrate while supporting Canadian farmers and businesses.


Before we headed to one family celebration Saturday, we hit up another Canadian tradition - apple picking!! Did you know that apples are Canada's largest fruit crop in terms of weight of food produced, and that the McIntosh, which is the only variety grown in all apple-growing regions of Canada, makes up half of all Canadian apple production? We didn't get any McIntosh though; we stuck with my boys' favourite Galas, and my favourite, Mutsus. After picking, we stopped in the bakery for a pumpkin praline pie - it was delicious! If you're in the area, one great place to visit is Buy Canadian First member Wagner Orchards and Estate Winery . Not only do they have apple picking but also horse drawn wagon rides, a bakery and winery open for tasting and purchases - the perfect way to spend a fall day.

Speaking of apples, we enjoyed a great treat during another family thanksgiving get-together this weekend (yes, we had a couple to go to), apple cider! It's the perfect drink for a Thanksgiving celebration. Buy Canadian First member, Growers Cider , makes a fantastic line of cider including Granny Smith, Gala Apple Strawberry, and White Cranberry. It was a fun treat for everyone and brought back some great memories of crisp fall days of old.


As a young family, we are enjoying keeping up our family traditions and creating new ones. What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your family?

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Wagner Orchards and Estate Winery and Growers Cider.

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 

Results from a recent national study on consumer behaviour towards Canadian-made food products are clear: Canadians care where they food comes from and they prefer to buy Canadian.

Conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the study notes that substantial sales increases were recorded for food products clearly identified as being from Canada. Canadian consumers have spoken: they want to "Eat Canadian"!

 

But the question is: "what food products are made here, and where can we find them?"

We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Hope from The Marketing Edge as our new Food Marketing Specialist, in charge of developing our online Canadian Food & Drinks directory to help consumers find food products made in Canada.

                                             Karen Hope 

.

Isabelle Remy, Founder & Managing Director of Buy Canadian First explains: "Karen brings years of experience in marketing, business development and brand building in the food industry. Based in Calgary, Karen will be responsible for reaching out to food processors across the country to invite them to list their products on its website to reach these highly-motivated consumers who are specifically looking for products made in Canada. She can be reached at The Marketing Edge".

 

Welcome to the family, Karen!

Images courtesy of Karen Hope & The Marketing Edge.

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

Just ten more days until Hallowe'en, Canada ! I found three awesome Canadian sites, crammed with all sorts of fantastic, dare I say, "spooktacular" ideas! Let's take a look at what Canadian Living, Chatelaine and Yummy Mummy have to offer in the way of spooky inspiration for the quickly approaching fest!

 

Pumpkin Hermits

Canadian Living came up with Your Complete Guide to Halloween Fun !  From Hallowe'en menus and party ideas, to costume inspiration and crafts to decorate your spooky, spooky home to what to do with all that pumpkin - they have it covered! Since I haven't eaten yet, I was distracted by the seventeen, "Tested Till Perfect" pumpkin and pumpkin seed recipes. Yum! I know from how my mouth is watering that I will be trying a couple of them at least! I love pumpkin pie and roasted seeds but I'm also intrigued by the Pumpkin Carrot Soup and the Pumpkin Lace Cookies ! There is definitely more to see here than just recipes! It really is a complete Hallowe'en guide! 

 

Bloody Good Martini 

Chatelaine  has some very sophisticated Hallowe'en treats to tempt you with, including a Bloody Good Martini ! Not intended for the kiddies, mind you, but perfect for a Hallowe'en Howl of your own! It has ginger beer and vodka in it, among other absolutely delish ingredients! Since we won't want to drink on an empty stomach, let's consider serving  some Black Magic Toast with Orange Pepper Salsa  and following that up with some Scarecrow Chicken Sticks ! There does not seem to be any actual crow in the recipe, for those of you who wondered. I bet it would taste like chicken, though! You will find costume and decorating ideas too, and some great articles, including one on how expensive Hallowe'en is becoming!

 

Don't forget kids with allergies !

Yummy Mummy Club says "Horrors! It's Hallowe'en!". I think they like it though! They have a great article on how to have Hallowe'en with kids who have food allergies to contend with. You'll find some really helpful and fun suggestions!  I really like their article on how to have a green Hallowe'en,  too. Reusable trick or treat bags that the kids can decorate are a brilliant idea as is the Costume Swap! It all just takes a bit of thinking ahead, but the results are well worth it! 

These sites should keep your imagination fueled and your hands busy!

Are you trying anything new this Hallowe'en? 

:: images courtesy of Canadian Living, Chatelaine and Yummy Mummy. 

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?

 

Hi. My name is Greta Walsh and I am part of the the Buy Canadian First behind-the-scene team. This week however, I found myself in front of the camera for a very exciting experience: presenting Made-in-Canada gift ideas for the whole family on CityTV's Breakfast Televison show in Winnipeg! 

My Air Canada flight was smooth and enjoyable. Once I landed, I was off to The Inn at the Forks for a good night’s sleep before my busy morning at CityTV studio for the BT Winnipeg show.

The Front Desk at The Inn at the Forks treated me as if I’d stayed there hundreds of times before and were well prepared for all the boxes that were shipped there before my arrival. They greeted me with smiles and made my stay very relaxing.

 

First thing in the morning I travelled to the CityTV studio for the segments which are always done live (no pressure...)!  Everyone at the studio was pleasant and welcoming. A special thanks goes out to Evan for being my rock and letting me stand on his toes in order for me not to miss a step!

The first segment was about Canadian-made Christmas gifts for your kids, stocking stuffers and the perfect gift for your pets!

 

You can watch the first segment here.

Here are the companies we featured on the 1st segment:

Bloco Toys, from Quebec

Picquic Tools, from Ontario & B.C.

Oven-Baked Tradition, from Quebec

While I was setting up the second segment, which was "Canadian-made Christmas gifts for him and her", everyone on set was in awe of the Ravi Solution, as they had never seen anything like it. An instant wine chiller: Christmas was suddenly all around us!

 

You can watch the second segment here. 

Here are the companies we featured on the second segment:

Closson Chase wines, from Ontario

Ravi Solution, From Quebec

Earth to Body, from Quebec

Opalescence Jewelry, from Alberta

I loved the experience and look forward to doing it again!

Greta

Images courtesy of Inn at The Forks and  BuyCanadianFirst.ca

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?

 

Wagner Orchards and Estate Winery, in beautiful Lakeshore, Ontario, has 5 apple varieties growing in their orchards and their picking schedule is as follows:

 

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?

 

 

Summer is in full swing.  Like many people, I love to spend as much time outside in the summer as I can.  For many people, myself included, an evening out on the patio is a fantastic way to unwind and relax after a long, busy day.  Surrounded by family or friends, I love to use this time to catch up on the day's happenings and enjoy the lovely summer evening.

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

The last time I was in Winnipeg was 16 years ago. I was backpacking alone across this great country of ours by train, stopping in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Sault Ste Marie, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper, Kamloops and Vancouver, staying in youth hostels along the way. At the time (I was about to turn 19) this was something I felt I had to do before I started travelling to foreign countries. I only spent 3 days in Winnipeg but have great memories of this fun and historically rich city.

So obviously you could understand why I was excited to get a call from the producer at BT Winnipeg inviting Buy Canadian First to be on their show... and I'm thrilled to say that my second time out to Winnipeg was equally fun. I stayed at the Inn at the Forks. Primarily because of location as the CityTV studio is litterally around the corner from the hotel, but boy what a gorgeous boutique hotel!

Once there (at 7:00AM Wednesday morning), I was welcomed by the security guard and then the set director who gave me the 411 on how things were going to happen. He was really helpful and also very curious about what Buy Canadian First was about. As I crossed the set, while the BT crew was on a commercial break, Pay Chen, producer and co-host, recognized me. "Hi Melissa!" she yelled and waved. So nice... I set everything up for our first segment that I would be doing with Pay. Jon Ljungberg, her co-host, came by to chat with me and to talk about the wine we were going to feature (huge fan of Canadian wines)... The crew was also very inquisitive about the products and even gave me a few leads on Manitoban-made products they knew of (thanks guys!). I had a bit of time left to run through the layout with Pay and then we went live!   

Segment 1: Spring Cleaning for the Mind, Body & Soul. These are the companies we featured:

The Garlic Box, Ontario (official website)