Browsing: Food Shopping

Seven Natural Health Wonders of the World

June23

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Yesterday I had the opportunity to once again style for and learn from Michelle Book the in-house Holstic Nutritionist with the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA).

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Coming from every corner of the globe, the wonders that we displayed and she spoke of have been used for centuries in other countries to help with everything from soothing bug bites to achieving beautiful glowing skin. Although you may have heard of these natural health products you may not be aware of their secret benefits and how they can be used in our daily lives. We begin our tour in Asia.

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Turmeric (Asia)

Across the globe, turmeric is used for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to help alleviate joint pain and immune disorders and digestive aid. Michelle can demo a DIY turmeric face mask, as outlined below.

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Arnica (Europe)

Stemming from an ancient plant, arnica has been used extensively to help strengthen joints and muscles. Often used as a topical cream, rubbing arnica on a sore joint or muscle can soothe and provide fast relief.

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Tea Tree Oil (Australia)

This essential oil is a microbial that can be used to treat a number of skin conditions including dandruff and acne. It can also be used to soothe bug bites, making it a must to pack on the next family trip.

Argan Oil (Africa)

This rare oil boasts potent effects for improving skin elasticity in post-menopausal women and is proven to reduce the appearances of darkly pigmented age spots. Michelle can demo a DIY exfoliating argan face scrub, as outlined below.

Krill Oil (Antarctica)

These small crustaceans are found in the depths of the seas in Antarctica. For such a small species, it packs a big health punch. Rich in omega-3s, krill oil has been proven to help combat cardiovascular disease, and helps lower blood lipids and blood pressure.

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Chia (South America)

This seed is prized for its dense nutritional profile. It’s a complete protein that contains all nine of our essential amino acids. It’s a rich source of omega-3s and fibre, which helps to slow digestion and maintain weight. Michelle can demo chia pudding, a replacement for boring breakfast oatmeal, as outlined below.

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Ginger (North America)

Ginger is packed with phenolic compounds that help improve your digestive system, when consumed regularly. It is also able to reduce the feeling of nausea, and bolster your body’s immune system to combat the common cold, flu and other similar problems. A pot of water with ginger on your stove, provides your kitchen with a natural de-odorizer.

The recipes that Michelle shared for Tumeric Face Mask and Chia Pudding are both found at the Canadian Health Food Association Website.

Kath’s quote: “The greatest wealth is Health.”  ~Unknown 

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Love never fails.

 

Eating Resolutions

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Our last couple of chocolates are waiting to be consumed and then, we will be holiday-treat free. It has been a lengthy process as D’s Mom gave us an entire box of cookies and fudge and another of Reed’s candy (a family tradition). Boo’s chocolate cherries are in the fridge, stashed away for a very, very special time. D has the sweet tooth in our house which he is willing to offset by waking at 5:15 am to head for the gym. Me, not so much….

On the other hand, I have a salty tooth. I get a craving whenever we sit down to watch a Jet’s game or one of our favourite Netflix TV series. Typically, a zip loc of spicy, homemade “nuts and bolts” is waiting for me in the freezer but with the busyness of the holiday season, I have not had the opportunity to muster up a batch.

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Thank heaven for popcorn! We air-pop ours now that we know that the additives in micro-wave popcorn are a no-no. This way we can control the amount of fat and salt that we are consuming. But sometimes the Jet’s game is too close or we are too wrapped in in the villainy of Frank and Clare, to want to get the popper out. That is when it is nice to have a bagged snack at the ready.

Popcorn Indiana recently sent me two of their products to sample. Their Original Movie Theater (their spelling, not mine) tastes just like the big screen version  but with two added bonuses 1) it does not cost $20 including that extra large soft drink and skittles that you don’t even want and 2) it is made with the simplest of ingredients: popcorn, canola oil, clarified butter and salt. There are even instructions on the back of the bag as to how to heat it up (in the mic) if you so desire. I emptied the bag in a couple of sittings. One of my big thrills now that we are empty nesters and D is not always home for supper, is eating popcorn with a glass of wine as my meal, making me feel mischievous and naughty.

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In keeping with our resolutions for the new year, Popcorn Indiana also produces a “fit” version. On New Year’s day when D and I watched a marathon of “Newsroom” it was our sustenance. As the promo material indicates:

The skinny on fit: All the taste and crunch you crave, nothing artificial and…here’s the best part…only 40 calories or less per cup. All the taste without the guilt trip.

The delectable treat is available at Loblaw’s (assuming this means Superstore in Winnipeg), Sobey’s and Shoppers Drug Mart. We can’t wait to try the olive & black pepper and the parmesan & rosemary versions.

Kath’s quote: “Have you ever pondered the miracle of popcorn? It starts out as a tiny, little, compact kernel with magic trapped inside that when agitated, bursts to create something marvelously desirable. It’s sort of like those tiny, little thoughts trapped inside an author’s head that―in an excited explosion of words―suddenly become a captivating fairytale!” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

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Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

 

A Made in Manitoba Sunday Dinner

December3

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The gang enjoying our Made in Manitoba dinner, including the Wee One.

Beep, J1, J2, Boo and The Frenchman recently had a siblings meeting and decided that this Christmas they are going to limit their gift exchange to home-made, fairly traded or locally produced items. This concept got me musing about the number of excellent Manitoba made food products available on the market.

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Coincidentally, a bulging basket representing the bounty of provincially produced items arrived at my door.

I incorporated as many of the items into one dinner as possible.  Our menu included:

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Chicken thighs marinated and grilled in Danny and Buck’s Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce,

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Naosap Harvest Wild Rice Pilaf

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(prepared with local garlic, mushrooms and a minced stick of Danny’s Pepperoni),

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carrots roasted in Manitoba Canola Oil and then tossed in Wendell Estate Honey,

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crusty loaves of Sleepy Owl Bread washed down with Naughty & Spice Porter from Fort Garry Brewing with

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scrumptious Piccola Puccina’s Coconut Almond Macaroons for dessert.  I received accolades for all the dishes and comments that sips of the porter were like tasting a spicy cookie!

Our offspring regularly depart from our place with left-overs or items that we know that they’ll appreciate.  We sent Hemp Pro 70 flavours home with one for her morning smoothies and Hemp Hearts for granola and salad toppings with another, both from Manitoba Harvest.  Yummy and healthy Zenbars were snatched up by one and D tucked the GORP Clean Energy Bars into his knapsack to help him get through his afternoon slump.

The next morning I ground and brewed organic and fair trade Arabica beans from Green Bean Coffee Imports as I prepared to assemble a fruit crisp utilizing Rolled Naked Oats from Adagio Acres.  A Made in Manitoba basket similar to the one I received would make an excellent Christmas gift for persons on your list.

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Since this dinner, I have met another Made in Manitoba creator: Peter Fehr of Gourmet Inspirations.  I think another themed dinner is in store for my family with this line up of amazing sauces.

Here’s how you can buy the items included in my basket:

Piccola Cucina Macaroons are available at Chocolatier Constance Popp, De Luca Specialty Foods, Generation Green at the Forks, GJ Andrews, High Tea Bakery, Organza, Vita Health Stores

Sleepy Owl Bread Bakery located at 751 Wall St.

Organic Naked Oats from Adagio Acres retail listing http://adagioacres.com/our-retailers

Manitoba Canola Oil, see their blog at http://canolaeatwell.com/

Naosap Harvest Wild Rice, products http://www.naosapharvest.com/Ordering.html

Wendell Estate Honey, where to buy https://secure.wendellestate.ca/

GORP Clean Energy Bars, where to buy http://www.gorpworld.com/wheretobuy

Zenbars, ordering details zenbars.ca

Hemp Hearts by Manitoba Harvest, to buy online http://manitobaharvest.com/category/13/Hemp+Hearts.html

Green bean Coffee Imports, who sells http://www.greenbeancoffeeimports.com/index.php/en/restaurants-and-stores

Danny’s Whole Hog, where to buy http://www.dannyswholehog.com/

Naughty & Spice Porter, more info http://www.fortgarry.com/

Kath’s quote: “You can’t buy happiness but you can buy local and that is kind of the same thing.” unknown

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Love-that is all.

 

In the Driver’s Seat this Christmas

November27

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I was recently invited to a special pre-Christmas event by Ford Canada which included a luncheon speaker to help us all on the “Road to Wellville” this season.  She had these great suggestions to ease the stress in preparation for the holiday season:

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  • Make sure that your vehicle is in top working order so that it always starts, you never run out of gas, your gas line never freezes and you never get stranded on the highway.
  • Have a family meeting to prioritize events and divide up the task list.  Agree to due dates.
  • Always have healthy snacks available while shopping and running errands to avoid eating unhealthy fast food.
  • Stay healthy by eating extra portions of fruits and vegetables.
  • If your vehicle is equipped with blue-tooth or a voice activated feature, make arrangements via phone while driving.
  • Use the time while your car is warming up to take a few deep breaths and consciously relax.
  • If you send cards, create a spreadsheet of addresses for future card sending.
  • It is okay to say “no” over the holidays.

I really appreciated these hints and added them to my own suggestions for saving both money and time over the holidays:
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  • Have an appetizer exchange instead of a cookie exchange with friends and family.  Appetizer ingredients are more affordable when purchased in larger quantities.  The time to make six dozen is not a great deal more than a single dozen.  Baking off larger quantities is also more energy and cost efficient.
  • Grocery shop in the early mornings when there are no checkout line ups and there are clearance stickers on many entertaining items like dips and pate.  Immediately place these items in the freezer when you get home.  When unexpected company arrives, defrost in the mic, place in a fancy bowl with some crackers and voila!
  • Attend bake sales at community clubs and churches.  You will be supporting your neighbourhood, save time and you can buy a variety of hand-baked items.
  • Stick to tried and true recipes so that you never experience a culinary disaster and have to waste food.  My siblings and our families even have a traditional menu for Christmas brunch so I always know that I will be providing the sausage rolls, so I can shop and cook in advance.
  • Mix up spicy cocktails with apple or cranberry juice and spices, that can be quickly heated up.  The taste is extravagant even though the ingredients are not.  Prepare sangrias and punches so that guests can pour their own and you are not running back and forth to the fridge.
  • Prepare some old school treats like nuts and bolts or peanut brittle instead of purchasing expensive alternatives.  Bowls of popcorn and dried cranberries make a pretty and healthy treat.
  • Shop for your turkey early.  Prices can go up just before Christmas when demand is high.  Use every single part of the turkey including saving the carcass to cook up for soup stocks.
  • Plan your dinner menu in advance, then when your guests ask “What can I bring?”, you can be specific and assign a dish from your list.  This also saves your guest stopping at 7/11 to buy you a box of Turtles that you don’t really need.
  • Get everyone involved in the clean up.  You can assign duties by pulling tasks out of a hat.  In my husband’s family, the guys do all the clean up complete with their annual tea towel flicking fights.
  • When you think that you are getting tired of your left-overs, swap yours with a neighbour.  You’ll get to taste someone else’s cooking and the tastes will be new for everybody.

Use the time that you save to reflect on the meaning of the season and take the money that you didn’t spend and pay it forward, you will be richly blessed.

Kath’s quote: “I don’t like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate.” A three-year-old’s reaction to her Christmas dinner.
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Love-that is all.

Chocolatier Constance Popp

October17

Constance and I met a number of years ago, brought together for Canola Camp.  I had been to her first location in old St. James on Portage Ave. but had never had the opportunity to visit her at her new home on Provencher Ave.

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This amazing creation was made to celebrate the upcoming Dali exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.  Constance is always promoting something to do with a not-for-profit organization or cultural event in our fair city.

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I spotted this in the front window of her Provencher Ave. shop.

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Look at the detailing and artistry of the work?  Even the lace is edible, having been made from spun sugar.

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Wouldn’t it be fun and delicious to eat your way through this chess game?

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Everywhere you look in the pristine little shop, there is something delectable to purchase as a treat or a great gift.

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On the day that I visited, they were promoting their extended selection of baked goods and I was very impressed with the classic pastry offerings.

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But my very favourite treat, when I visit Constance’s shop is her hot chocolate. Remember the scene in the movie “Chocolat” when the character portrayed by Juliette Binoche prepares a chocolate elixir for one of her patrons?  I cannot imagine that the concoction could possibly taste better than this-heavenly.

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There are a couple of bistro tables in the shop to enjoy said hot chocolate or perhaps a croissant.  I look forward to taking our Frenchman there for a visit very soon.

Kath’s quote: “If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?”-Marquise de Sévigné

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Love-that is all.

 

 

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