Things have been a little rough around here. I am in deep denial about the end of summer, I can't seem to come to to terms with the return to work and all the kids programs- I have loved being home and having the time to plan and think at leisure about food, books, my garden, the kids, all of it. I began to panic a little about how I am going to manage eating local while working.
While I was pouting and sulking about all this, I made quick work of most meals around here- sandwiches, snacks, etc. All the while feeling control slip from my grasp. Last night my husband made dinner, he sliced some smokies into coins and fried them up in some garlic, butter, yellow zucchini, Ontario red wine, and sour cream. The result was a light creamy sauce over smokies and zucchini, colourful and delicious.
Half way through my bowl I realized that everything in it was local- except the wine, of course. I had to laugh at myself really, I was so worried that I wouldn't have time to devote to planning ahead that I missed the obvious- the fridge is full of local food- I don't need to do anything differently than I am doing now- continue to shop local and the rest will figure itself out.
So, in the coming weeks I will be doing my best to send local lunches to school with my kids and I, and meal planning will become more serious. For today, it was enough to drink wine and soak in the sunshine.
Dinners for the summer. Good, healthy, locally sourced dinners....from our backyards and farms near by. This is our journal.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunny Saturday
Just when I thought the heat was gone, we were treated to a beautiful, warm afternoon. Unfortunately I was committed to the laundry heap, and cleaning out Sydney's closet to make room for her new school clothes, so I didn't get out to enjoy much of it, but I did fire up the BBQ for supper. We ate beautiful pork loin chops from Dalew Farm marinated in rosemary, a honey dijon mustard from ELS, and some EVOO, potatoes with herbs and onions, and steamed broccoli with a homemade cheese sauce. Last time we had broccoli, the kids reluctantly ate their little trees without their beloved Cheez Whiz, but I could tell they weren't very happy about it, so I didn't want to push my luck. I made a roux out of equal amounts of melted butter and flour, cooked it for a minute or so, whisked it some milk and heated until it thickened and mixed in some shredded cheddar....everything locally sourced!! It was really good. So good Sydney had seconds of her broccoli! Mission accomplished.
For dessert I made a beautiful peach sorbet, the recipe I found at The Food Illusion. I should have chilled the peach puree first because my ice cream maker couldn't keep up with the warmth in the kitchen, so it didn't freeze up properly. It also wasn't ready until after the kids went to bed, so Keith and I indulged in extra large bowls.
Friday night we had BLT's, the kids had grilled cheese, and we were all treated to the best ears of corn yet. Cameron captured it best when he said "Farmer Dave grows THE BEST corn!". He also said this earlier this week about the cherry tomato he bit in to that burst and blew seeds across the table, in to my hair, and all over my clothes!
Shannon A.
For dessert I made a beautiful peach sorbet, the recipe I found at The Food Illusion. I should have chilled the peach puree first because my ice cream maker couldn't keep up with the warmth in the kitchen, so it didn't freeze up properly. It also wasn't ready until after the kids went to bed, so Keith and I indulged in extra large bowls.
Friday night we had BLT's, the kids had grilled cheese, and we were all treated to the best ears of corn yet. Cameron captured it best when he said "Farmer Dave grows THE BEST corn!". He also said this earlier this week about the cherry tomato he bit in to that burst and blew seeds across the table, in to my hair, and all over my clothes!
Shannon A.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Home
We just spent another few days at the cottage and we are on the home stretch of our eat local project but it feels like Fall has already arrived. Although my kids would say summer ends when school starts in a little over a week, and there are still over 3 weeks until the season officially changes, the nights have been quite cold, and there is a certain smell in the air, so it feels like it's already happened. The weather man says the hot weather isn't gone for good, but when you go to bed every night worried that a frost might show up that night, summer is a good as gone!
We've decided that if we are going to maintain this way of life, taking a holiday at the end of August is not in our best interest. I usually enjoy a week of doing next nothing, but the past four days have been torturous . As I was trying to sit still doing crossword puzzles, reading magazines, or watching the kids play on the beach, all I could think about was the veggies back home I could be putting up. Notice how I didn't say "should" but "could"? I know a lot of people's reaction to that would be "And THAT is why I buy my pickles, relish, and canned fruit at the grocery store!", but I don't find it a chore at all. For me, it's a hobby. It's fun. Something I get to do once a year. There is a time for kicking back and relaxing, and that's in July when the young veggies are holding their own (as long as you have a 10 year old boy in the neighbourhood who will come water your plants for $20 a week!), not in August when the bounty is showing up by the bucket load every week!
So, we are back home and I can spend the weekend trying to get caught up. We took a detour on our way home last night to go pick up our CSA bin from Dalew's since we were away for pickup night. I noticed there wasn't any pickling cucumbers in it. I hope that doesn't mean the season is already over for those! They usually put them on the side for those that want them on pickup night, but I didn't think of asking Farmer Dave if he could include some in my box. I may have to go on a scavenger hunt at the Farmer's Market tomorrow to get some more. Keith hasn't made his hot pickle mix yet!!
As far as our Eat Local dinners went this week...well, let's just say I wasn't in charge of the menu. I tried to supplement our meals with the green beans, corn, tomatoes, zucchini and cheese that I brought with us, but for the most part, we ate from the grocery store and we had some serious offenders (coconut milk, jasmine rice, jarred pasta sauce, pre-seasoned packaged with a cedar plank shrink sealed pacific salmon, etc). There really wasn't anything I could do or say without offending, so we ate. Sigh.
On a more enthusiastic note, I hope Shannon D. updates soon. I think she may have gone to the pot luck dinner Eat Local Sudbury was hosting last night to celebrate the end of the Eat Local Thursday Challenge they hosted this summer!
That's all for today. Off to finish our back to school shopping! Woohoo!
Shannon A.
We've decided that if we are going to maintain this way of life, taking a holiday at the end of August is not in our best interest. I usually enjoy a week of doing next nothing, but the past four days have been torturous . As I was trying to sit still doing crossword puzzles, reading magazines, or watching the kids play on the beach, all I could think about was the veggies back home I could be putting up. Notice how I didn't say "should" but "could"? I know a lot of people's reaction to that would be "And THAT is why I buy my pickles, relish, and canned fruit at the grocery store!", but I don't find it a chore at all. For me, it's a hobby. It's fun. Something I get to do once a year. There is a time for kicking back and relaxing, and that's in July when the young veggies are holding their own (as long as you have a 10 year old boy in the neighbourhood who will come water your plants for $20 a week!), not in August when the bounty is showing up by the bucket load every week!
So, we are back home and I can spend the weekend trying to get caught up. We took a detour on our way home last night to go pick up our CSA bin from Dalew's since we were away for pickup night. I noticed there wasn't any pickling cucumbers in it. I hope that doesn't mean the season is already over for those! They usually put them on the side for those that want them on pickup night, but I didn't think of asking Farmer Dave if he could include some in my box. I may have to go on a scavenger hunt at the Farmer's Market tomorrow to get some more. Keith hasn't made his hot pickle mix yet!!
As far as our Eat Local dinners went this week...well, let's just say I wasn't in charge of the menu. I tried to supplement our meals with the green beans, corn, tomatoes, zucchini and cheese that I brought with us, but for the most part, we ate from the grocery store and we had some serious offenders (coconut milk, jasmine rice, jarred pasta sauce, pre-seasoned packaged with a cedar plank shrink sealed pacific salmon, etc). There really wasn't anything I could do or say without offending, so we ate. Sigh.
On a more enthusiastic note, I hope Shannon D. updates soon. I think she may have gone to the pot luck dinner Eat Local Sudbury was hosting last night to celebrate the end of the Eat Local Thursday Challenge they hosted this summer!
That's all for today. Off to finish our back to school shopping! Woohoo!
Shannon A.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Fantastic Weekend!
Friends from Toronto came to spend the weekend at the lake with us. The weather was alright, the company lively and the food terrific. I return to work next week, and this was likely the final weekend away of summer. The trip into town to get local groceries on our way to the cottage has become our Friday routine, and this Friday was no different- I purchased the most amazing bread from Regency Bakery, a local business, bread made on site.
We ate! But of all the food consumed this past weekend, I can't stop thinking about the sandwich I had for lunch today- a classic bacon, cucumber, cheese and lettuce sandwich on buttered multi grain toast. PERFECTION.
We ate! But of all the food consumed this past weekend, I can't stop thinking about the sandwich I had for lunch today- a classic bacon, cucumber, cheese and lettuce sandwich on buttered multi grain toast. PERFECTION.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Local Nutella and Imported Peaches
I've been trying to find information about the pesticide use on Ontario produce. My counter and fridge are full of the sweetest and juiciest peaches, nectarines and grapes from the Niagara Region right now, and unfortunately none of it is organic. It really makes me wonder. We were able to order organic apples last summer, but that's all we've been able to source so far. On one of the websites I went to, I found this article. Although it makes a valid point that, for the most part, it's the most minute of amounts of pesticides found on our fruit, it still bothers me that we don't know what the impact on human health is, even of the smallest of traces. However, I still want to believe that the benefits of eating these fruits far out-weigh any risks they may pose. I'm not convinced that shipping organic fruit up from the Southern States is any better for us, so until I can find a local organic peach, plum or grape, Ontario's freshest fruit will be in my shopping cart.
On the site I was reading, I also found this interesting little video. My initial reaction was "does that make Ferrero Rocher chocolates and Nutella local foods?"! Too bad they are both highly-refined junk, full of fat and sugar, and the chocolate itself certainly isn't grown around here, or we might have "peanutella sandwiches" for supper with Ferro Rochers for dessert one night! All kidding aside, the notion of trying to grow the hazel nuts close to the Ferrero factory seems a noble idea, but then I got to thinking at what cost does forcing a plant to grow in a climate it wasn't meant to become? Are they going to have to spray the plants heavily with fungicides and pesticides so they don't get sick? Is using "12 to 15 thousand acres" of land to grow a nut that will be processed in to junk food really something to celebrate? Turns out the Government has helped fund the research as well.
Makes me wonder if the money is really being spend wisely. ConAgra closed their DelMonte canning facility in the Niagara region, drastically reducing the market for fresh peaches and pears two years ago. ConAgra decided it was more cost effective to be growing and canning their fruit over seas. We were supporting local agriculture every time we picked up a can of DelMonte fruit before then...now we are supporting an international company. Farmers in the area had to pull up many of their trees now that they only had the fresh market to sell to. Could that money be better used to help them out some way? Teaching more people to preserve comes to mind. Teaching kids to that peaches are healthier than Nutella is another.
Shannon A.
On the site I was reading, I also found this interesting little video. My initial reaction was "does that make Ferrero Rocher chocolates and Nutella local foods?"! Too bad they are both highly-refined junk, full of fat and sugar, and the chocolate itself certainly isn't grown around here, or we might have "peanutella sandwiches" for supper with Ferro Rochers for dessert one night! All kidding aside, the notion of trying to grow the hazel nuts close to the Ferrero factory seems a noble idea, but then I got to thinking at what cost does forcing a plant to grow in a climate it wasn't meant to become? Are they going to have to spray the plants heavily with fungicides and pesticides so they don't get sick? Is using "12 to 15 thousand acres" of land to grow a nut that will be processed in to junk food really something to celebrate? Turns out the Government has helped fund the research as well.
Makes me wonder if the money is really being spend wisely. ConAgra closed their DelMonte canning facility in the Niagara region, drastically reducing the market for fresh peaches and pears two years ago. ConAgra decided it was more cost effective to be growing and canning their fruit over seas. We were supporting local agriculture every time we picked up a can of DelMonte fruit before then...now we are supporting an international company. Farmers in the area had to pull up many of their trees now that they only had the fresh market to sell to. Could that money be better used to help them out some way? Teaching more people to preserve comes to mind. Teaching kids to that peaches are healthier than Nutella is another.
Shannon A.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A Rainy Saturday Morning Update
I'm beginning to think Mother Nature got things mixed up again. Back in May it was record-shattering hot out, and now we are getting cold wet weather in August! This is quite unfortunate for people on summer holidays right now, and I doubt the farmers are happy about it either. I would think they would be counting on the sun and warmth to ripen the veggies, and fearing the wetness will make mould flourish and rot the plants. I'm betting the turnout at the Farmers Market will be lower that usual as well this morning....definitely not great when we are in the season of plenty!! Cameron (if he ever wakes up) and I however, will be heading out later this morning. Raincoats and boots ready to go.
I've been busy canning the past couple days. We had enough plum tomatoes in our CSA box Wednesday night to put up a 1L jar for the winter. I actually don't mind doing a small batch at a time since I can get them done quickly and without destroying the kitchen! I also strained and processed a batch of raspberry balsamic vinegar I've had steeping in the basement for several weeks. It tastes so bright and fresh, which I'm sure will be fantastic next June when we are up to our ears in lettuce! I also put up a basket of Niagara peaches in a honey and vanilla syrup. I was so happy to find a recipe that would bump up the localness a wee bit....half the sugar that would normally be used was replaced with local honey! The vanilla bean made a big trip, but it will definitely be a flavour that is noticeable and savoured with the peaches. Again, mindfulness is key.
I have pickles to tackle today, herbs to dry and I think I will make some cauliflower soup. My feet are frozen right now! It's definitely soup weather.
Last night was a bit of a fail for me. Sydney is away, Keith was on nights so it was just me and Cameron. I had no energy at all yesterday, and actually had a nap in the afternoon (which doesn't happen that often) after I finished the peaches. Come supper time I was craving something heavy, calorie rich and soothing. I hadn't taken anything out, we were hungry and both getting cranky, so we jumped in the truck and went over to the fry stand, rather than get a pizza (our Friday night tradition). This has happened once before, earlier this summer, and my justification then was that the potatoes were very likely to be locally grown...as in just down the road local. We are surrounded by potato farms here, and I don't think it would make any financial sense to buy anything but local potatoes. But, I still didn't ask. They were also advertising fish last night, which I heard one customer telling another that they were out of the "good fish"....meaning pickerel, which is usually bought on one of the local Native Reservations (which as far as I'm concerned are not caught ethically, but that's another story), so they were definitely serving local food. So, we ordered our fries, went home and ate them. And, they were good.
And then, we went for a bike ride to work some of them off!
Thursday night however, was much better, and maybe why I let myself slack off. I cooked the last of the homemade fettucini I had dried and put on the shelf and made a lovely pesto from the basil and oregano in my garden. My husband can't eat garlic, so I had to leave that out unfortunately. I used Thornloe Asiago, but store bought EVOO and a walnuts. I have no idea if any nuts grow around here...I really should look in to that. It was REALLY good. My pasta is gone now though, so I better take some time soon to make some more. With the tomatoes coming in now, I think we can take a break from potatoes!!
I also want to share another blog I found the other day. The Food Illusion is the chronicle of a mom who has taken on 100 days of eating nothing but whole foods. They aren't buying any refined or pre-made food (like crackers, bread, breakfast cereal, etc) that have more than 5 ingredients in it, so she is able to buy somethings (Triscuits qualify!) but most of their food is from scratch. She has some wonderful recipes and the site is quite educational.
I love how eating well takes on so many forms. It doesn't seem to matter if you chose to go organic, local, whole, raw, or some combination. Each one has it's pros and cons, so none is perfect, but they are all significantly better than surviving on "foods" from boxes made in a factory.
Changing the world...one bite at a time.
Shannon A.
I've been busy canning the past couple days. We had enough plum tomatoes in our CSA box Wednesday night to put up a 1L jar for the winter. I actually don't mind doing a small batch at a time since I can get them done quickly and without destroying the kitchen! I also strained and processed a batch of raspberry balsamic vinegar I've had steeping in the basement for several weeks. It tastes so bright and fresh, which I'm sure will be fantastic next June when we are up to our ears in lettuce! I also put up a basket of Niagara peaches in a honey and vanilla syrup. I was so happy to find a recipe that would bump up the localness a wee bit....half the sugar that would normally be used was replaced with local honey! The vanilla bean made a big trip, but it will definitely be a flavour that is noticeable and savoured with the peaches. Again, mindfulness is key.
I have pickles to tackle today, herbs to dry and I think I will make some cauliflower soup. My feet are frozen right now! It's definitely soup weather.
Last night was a bit of a fail for me. Sydney is away, Keith was on nights so it was just me and Cameron. I had no energy at all yesterday, and actually had a nap in the afternoon (which doesn't happen that often) after I finished the peaches. Come supper time I was craving something heavy, calorie rich and soothing. I hadn't taken anything out, we were hungry and both getting cranky, so we jumped in the truck and went over to the fry stand, rather than get a pizza (our Friday night tradition). This has happened once before, earlier this summer, and my justification then was that the potatoes were very likely to be locally grown...as in just down the road local. We are surrounded by potato farms here, and I don't think it would make any financial sense to buy anything but local potatoes. But, I still didn't ask. They were also advertising fish last night, which I heard one customer telling another that they were out of the "good fish"....meaning pickerel, which is usually bought on one of the local Native Reservations (which as far as I'm concerned are not caught ethically, but that's another story), so they were definitely serving local food. So, we ordered our fries, went home and ate them. And, they were good.
And then, we went for a bike ride to work some of them off!
Thursday night however, was much better, and maybe why I let myself slack off. I cooked the last of the homemade fettucini I had dried and put on the shelf and made a lovely pesto from the basil and oregano in my garden. My husband can't eat garlic, so I had to leave that out unfortunately. I used Thornloe Asiago, but store bought EVOO and a walnuts. I have no idea if any nuts grow around here...I really should look in to that. It was REALLY good. My pasta is gone now though, so I better take some time soon to make some more. With the tomatoes coming in now, I think we can take a break from potatoes!!
I also want to share another blog I found the other day. The Food Illusion is the chronicle of a mom who has taken on 100 days of eating nothing but whole foods. They aren't buying any refined or pre-made food (like crackers, bread, breakfast cereal, etc) that have more than 5 ingredients in it, so she is able to buy somethings (Triscuits qualify!) but most of their food is from scratch. She has some wonderful recipes and the site is quite educational.
I love how eating well takes on so many forms. It doesn't seem to matter if you chose to go organic, local, whole, raw, or some combination. Each one has it's pros and cons, so none is perfect, but they are all significantly better than surviving on "foods" from boxes made in a factory.
Changing the world...one bite at a time.
Shannon A.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Strawberry Crisp- sweet and local!
Dinner was great, the company, the corn, all of it; delicious. It was the first time Shannon and I have shared a meal this summer, a testament to the busyness of summer living. I was glad to share the last of my strawberries with those who'd appreciate it as much as I did.
I have a tendency to hoard things. I very much wanted to make a delicious dessert for our dinner last night, but I had a hard time parting with the last of my frozen strawberries. We still have some jam but the berries are gone and I confess, I am little sad about it.
I love strawberries, I used to keep a giant bag of strawberries in the freezer, bought at Costco shipped from Peru for smoothies in the morning. I don't feel the same about those Peru berries anymore, especially after delighting in real and fresh strawberries. No doubt I am being petulant, but I don't want peru berries, I want my berries and it's too late.
The strawberries bring a new question to my thinking- there is no local substitute for sugar, so I buy sugar, but there are local strawberries, I just didn't pick enough. Should I go without? I feel as if I should go without- I feel like doing without is part of the lesson of eating local. Having any food I want, whenever I want, is what makes industrial food production possible.
I am not purist by any stretch of the imagination, my rule has been if there is a local option, then I should take it. I feel as though I should follow the seasonal availability of local food, that's part of the adventure right? Maybe the reason I believe that I don't like peaches is because I never had to give them a fair shot, I'd just buy the strawberries. Next year, I will pick more and freeze more- maybe even grow my own!
As for the Strawberry Crisp, it was delicious. I modified the Strawberry - Rhubarb Crisp recipe from Moosewood Cookbook:
Here's my version:
4 cups of the finest local strawberries
1/3 cup of white sugar
1 cup rolled oats*
1 cup flour- loon song
3 Tbs honey- buzzy bee
cinnamon- be generous
1/2 cup melted Farquar's butter
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Slice strawberries in pan and sprinkle with sugar. Let sit.
3. Mix remaining ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Spread over the strawberry
4. Bake uncovered for 35min.
*the rolled oats were in the cupboard from before we started, Quaker Oats from Peterborough, but who knows where the oats were grown.
Eat and enjoy!
I have a tendency to hoard things. I very much wanted to make a delicious dessert for our dinner last night, but I had a hard time parting with the last of my frozen strawberries. We still have some jam but the berries are gone and I confess, I am little sad about it.
I love strawberries, I used to keep a giant bag of strawberries in the freezer, bought at Costco shipped from Peru for smoothies in the morning. I don't feel the same about those Peru berries anymore, especially after delighting in real and fresh strawberries. No doubt I am being petulant, but I don't want peru berries, I want my berries and it's too late.
The strawberries bring a new question to my thinking- there is no local substitute for sugar, so I buy sugar, but there are local strawberries, I just didn't pick enough. Should I go without? I feel as if I should go without- I feel like doing without is part of the lesson of eating local. Having any food I want, whenever I want, is what makes industrial food production possible.
I am not purist by any stretch of the imagination, my rule has been if there is a local option, then I should take it. I feel as though I should follow the seasonal availability of local food, that's part of the adventure right? Maybe the reason I believe that I don't like peaches is because I never had to give them a fair shot, I'd just buy the strawberries. Next year, I will pick more and freeze more- maybe even grow my own!
As for the Strawberry Crisp, it was delicious. I modified the Strawberry - Rhubarb Crisp recipe from Moosewood Cookbook:
(ignore the date stamp- I really need to learn how to fix that)
Here's my version:
4 cups of the finest local strawberries
1/3 cup of white sugar
1 cup rolled oats*
1 cup flour- loon song
3 Tbs honey- buzzy bee
cinnamon- be generous
1/2 cup melted Farquar's butter
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Slice strawberries in pan and sprinkle with sugar. Let sit.
3. Mix remaining ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Spread over the strawberry
4. Bake uncovered for 35min.
*the rolled oats were in the cupboard from before we started, Quaker Oats from Peterborough, but who knows where the oats were grown.
Celebration Dinner
Shannon D. and her peeps were over last night to celebrate the positive feedback we received from our interview but it also became a bit of a celebration of the kids. The grown ups in this project have had to do the brunt of the work this summer, but the little ones have had their share as well. Not only do they help out in the garden, and in choosing the vegetables at the Farmer's Market and at the CSA pick up, but they've had to accept change, and that's a big job for a child. Kids can be finicky and often texture and appearance are as big a factor as the taste when they decide if they like something. As a lunch supervisor in a Kindergarten class this past year, I can't tell you how many sandwich crusts and speckled bananas were thrown in the garbage! Some of the foods, especially the vegetables we've been eating are crispier and crunchier than what they've been used to. We've also had to outlaw many of the foods they were happy eating...chicken nuggets, fish sticks, rice and mac n' cheese. Thankfully, I haven't really heard any complaints from my kids but I'm sure they miss them...I know I do. Shannon D. and I have been joking about hot dogs right from the start of this summer, she finally found them at Creative Meats, so last night we treated ourselves!
In the spirit of the project, I also made the buns. I substituted honey for the sugar, so everything but the yeast was local. The rising time was significantly longer, but bread always tastes better when it's had long rising time. I was very happy with the lightness and texture of the buns. They were beautiful!
So, we gathered round the table and ate our local hot dogs, sliders hamburgers that Shannon D. brought over, my celebration broccoli salad (I actually liked the dressing better with honey than sugar...permanent change will be made to my recipe!!), and fresh corn from Dalew's. The kids ate their fill and then we topped them up with the Shannon D.'s strawberry cobbler from The Moosewood Cookbook (hopefully she will share that recipe on her next post!). We were STUFFED! The meal was so great and once again I am incredibly proud of how we turned what could have been a very unhealthy fast-food meal, in to something worth talking about!
Yesterday was definitely a day to be proud of in so many ways.
Shannon A.
In the spirit of the project, I also made the buns. I substituted honey for the sugar, so everything but the yeast was local. The rising time was significantly longer, but bread always tastes better when it's had long rising time. I was very happy with the lightness and texture of the buns. They were beautiful!
So, we gathered round the table and ate our local hot dogs, sliders hamburgers that Shannon D. brought over, my celebration broccoli salad (I actually liked the dressing better with honey than sugar...permanent change will be made to my recipe!!), and fresh corn from Dalew's. The kids ate their fill and then we topped them up with the Shannon D.'s strawberry cobbler from The Moosewood Cookbook (hopefully she will share that recipe on her next post!). We were STUFFED! The meal was so great and once again I am incredibly proud of how we turned what could have been a very unhealthy fast-food meal, in to something worth talking about!
Yesterday was definitely a day to be proud of in so many ways.
Shannon A.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Interview
Here it is.
Shannon and I have decided it is worth celebrating, so she is coming over for dinner tonight with her kids and we are going to eat our local hot dogs, broccoli salad and what ever other goodie we find in our CSA bin!!
Shannon A.
Shannon and I have decided it is worth celebrating, so she is coming over for dinner tonight with her kids and we are going to eat our local hot dogs, broccoli salad and what ever other goodie we find in our CSA bin!!
Shannon A.
Family Reunion Flavours
This past weekend we hosted our annual family reunion. Terry is one of seven siblings and every year as many as can assemble to enjoy each others company. We all bring our own food, and some to share and I was very pleased that my contributions were largely locally produced.
We BBQ-ed Bison burgers, Burt Smokies and Creative Meats Hot dogs. I made two salads- a cole slaw and an Asian Peanut Noodle Salad from a recipe I borrowed from my cousin. There is no pleasure quite like watching loved ones enjoy the food you've made for them. Truly.
Here's the recipe, I've italicized the ingredients that are not local:
Cole Slaw-
Finely chopped carrots and cabbage- thank you Valley Veggies.
Dressing:
1 egg,
3 tbs cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
11/4 cups canola oil
1 tsp milk
salt and pepper to taste
1 - 2 tsp sugar (to taste)
Blend in a food processor. Keep separate from the cabbage and onion until you are ready to serve. My husband loved it and so did others. Cole Slaw is not my thing- I barely tasted it.
My cousin has served the Asian Peanut Noodle Salad at a few family functions in the past and I love, love, love it! It's got a great kick to it! I made a few changes to the dressing, but here's the link to the original: Asian Peanut Noodle Salad.
I used the ontario peanut butter from ELS, which is not smooth, but provided all the right flavour. I had local honey, garlic, one green pepper, carrots, and but the soy sauce, ginger, pepper flakes, pasta and vinegar were not local, however they have been in the cupboard long enough to be considered family.
This was the first time I made the asian salad, and had I not had local peanut butter I may have skipped it. Which got me to thinking about some of the other ingredients- like ginger- is there a local source of ginger? Can we grow ginger? How does ginger grow? Surely it would be worth a try.
If you have any ginger growing information- please leave a comment or link.
Shannon D.
If you have any ginger growing information- please leave a comment or link.
Shannon D.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Broccoli Salad Celebration or Consolation?
Dinner Recap:
Tonight was left over night, so I don't have much to say about that. Monday night we had a beautiful pork roast from Dalew Farms, which Keith encrusted in rosemary from our backyard, and intended to BBQ, until the propane ran out and I didn't answer his phone call to pick up more, because I forgot to turn the ringer back on my cell phone after our CBC interview. Oops! He roasted it in the oven instead and it still turned out succulent. We also had boiled potatoes (have to admit I'm starting to get sick of eating those), a delicious salad made of veggies from our CSA bin, the backyard and a local farmer (buttercrunch lettuce, freshly shelled peas, sunflower sprouts, carrots, green onions) with Thornloe feta and the last of my blueberry basil vinaigrette mixed in, and sauteed zucchini on the side. My Aunt and Cousin were here visiting, so we explained the project and they had so many questions to ask. I think they were genuinely impressed...especially since she isn't a veggie eater at all!! Another very successful dinner.
Tonight was left over night, so I don't have much to say about that. Monday night we had a beautiful pork roast from Dalew Farms, which Keith encrusted in rosemary from our backyard, and intended to BBQ, until the propane ran out and I didn't answer his phone call to pick up more, because I forgot to turn the ringer back on my cell phone after our CBC interview. Oops! He roasted it in the oven instead and it still turned out succulent. We also had boiled potatoes (have to admit I'm starting to get sick of eating those), a delicious salad made of veggies from our CSA bin, the backyard and a local farmer (buttercrunch lettuce, freshly shelled peas, sunflower sprouts, carrots, green onions) with Thornloe feta and the last of my blueberry basil vinaigrette mixed in, and sauteed zucchini on the side. My Aunt and Cousin were here visiting, so we explained the project and they had so many questions to ask. I think they were genuinely impressed...especially since she isn't a veggie eater at all!! Another very successful dinner.
My recipe calls for Miracle Whip, white vinegar, and sugar....one no-no, one Ok, and one so-so on our eating list. I switched to mayonnaise a few years ago and have even been making my own from scratch this summer, and I think it's a good replacement. It isn't the same flavour, but I'm still ok with it. Vinegar, well there is no way around that...that still comes from the grocery store and if we ever intend to put anything up for the winter, vinegar has to be included. Sugar however, is in a grey area. We haven't out-lawed it, although many Locavores do. We decided to not be as hard core as that, so we've been using it in sparingly when there is no alternative. I've used it a couple times, but honey and maple syrup usually do the trick. In this case, I'm thinking honey should work. So, tomorrow night we are going to give it a try with our dinner.
Here is the proposed recipe. An adaptation from my Mother In Law's recipe:
- 1 bunch of broccoli cut in to spears
- 1/2 pound of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 1 cup of homemade mayo (see below)
- 1/4 cup honey (or to taste)
- 1 tbsp vinegar
Mix last three ingredients to make dressing. Add to first 4 and toss to coat.
As for the mayo, I tried it earlier this summer using Dalew's eggs and a nice cold-pressed canola oil I bought at ELS. Unfortunately, the oil was of such high quality that it over whelmed the mayo and just tasted thick and oily. It was gross! I was so sad to have wasted the oil (and the money). I tried it again recently with grocery store "product of Canada" canola oil and it turned out so much nicer. My recipe calls for lemon juice but I'm going to give it a try with vinegar tomorrow.
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp prepared mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp of lemon juice
- 1 cup neutral oil like canola or sunflower
Combine the first 3 ingredients in a food processor for 30 seconds. Add the vinegar and process for 30 seconds more. Add the lemon juice and process for 30 seconds more. With motor running, slowly spoon 1/2 tsp of the oil and process for 30 seconds. Repeat. The mixture should be emulsified. A spoonful at a time, slowly add about half of the remaining oil and process for for another 30 seconds. Drizzle in the remaining oil until the mayo becomes this and creamy. Refrigerate covered up to 4 days.
This recipe works really well with some basil blended in to it....makes the best BLT's!! (Another meal we'll be eating this week.)
I hope my conversion to almost completely local ingredients works. I'll keep you posted!!
Shannon A.
Monday, August 16, 2010
I think I Billy Bobbed
What a morning.
We were asked a few weeks ago if we could come in to the CBC Radio studio to be interviewed about our project, and today was the day. I spent a couple hours last night taking notes about what I wanted to say. The ideas behind this movement are so complex and include political, environmental and health issues, as well as so many others, so how can it all be summed up in a few intelligent words? We got in to the studio and the little red light came on and I felt like my brain shut off! I know why I'm doing this, I know why eating local is important, but I'm not sure I got out what I really wanted to say.
It's amazing what a little red light can do to a person.
But, what's done is done, and I can just hope that people will come read our blog after the interview airs, to see in more detail what it is that we are doing.
On a positive note, I came across a really neat blog today that made me feel quite at home and gave me a new way of thinking of myself. I'm no longer "Old School"...I'm a Punk Domestic!
Shannon A.
We were asked a few weeks ago if we could come in to the CBC Radio studio to be interviewed about our project, and today was the day. I spent a couple hours last night taking notes about what I wanted to say. The ideas behind this movement are so complex and include political, environmental and health issues, as well as so many others, so how can it all be summed up in a few intelligent words? We got in to the studio and the little red light came on and I felt like my brain shut off! I know why I'm doing this, I know why eating local is important, but I'm not sure I got out what I really wanted to say.
It's amazing what a little red light can do to a person.
But, what's done is done, and I can just hope that people will come read our blog after the interview airs, to see in more detail what it is that we are doing.
On a positive note, I came across a really neat blog today that made me feel quite at home and gave me a new way of thinking of myself. I'm no longer "Old School"...I'm a Punk Domestic!
Shannon A.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Green Cake and a Sunday Night Update
Another Sunday night already? Seems like this week flew by in a blur of cake, sugar and buttercream icing. I like to decorate cakes as a hobby, so I'm occasionally asked by friends to make something for them for a special occasion. I took on two this week. Thinking back now, I realize that since all of our Birthday's are in the winter, I have very little experience making them in the heat and humidity of the summer. To say that they were a struggle is an understatement, but I so enjoy doing them, that it was worth while. In the end, they did turn out quite nicely, and I think my customers were happy, and that's what counts.
However, the conditions were not the only things I struggled with. Before this summer, when it came time to making a cake, I would go to the grocery store, buy cheap eggs, vegetable shortening, icing sugar and what ever butter and cake mix was on sale. I walked in to the grocery store this week and didn't know what to do. Most of the people who were going to eat this cake didn't know or likely care where the ingredients came from, but I would....and so would Shannon D. since one of the cakes was going to her house!! I know we've only taken on this project for dinners, but I've done enough reading and research now to fully understand the ramifications of buying processed food and factory farmed animals and their products and I don't want to rely on them anymore. However, baking from scratch and with local ingredients was just out of the question this week...I didn't want to be experimenting with so much to get accomplished! And besides, sugar isn't grown here and I need a lot of sugar for cake! So, I decided to compromise. I bought the best quality cake mixes I could find, which was from an Organic line that listed only ingredients I could pronounce, free-range organic eggs (though I still couldn't bear to use the good ones from Dalew's. I bought them from the grocery store) and local milk.
I was really proud of myself for thinking this through and sticking to my values. Yes, I still used a ton of refined sugar and the food-miles were hefty, but they could have been a lot worse. I also sent a message to the grocery store chain saying "Hey! Look, I'm voting for Organic not Duncan Heinz". I'm really curious now to see if I can find a way to do even better....can I figure out a way to make a truly Green Cake?
Oh, almost forgot...our meals since I last posted....
Thursday was ridiculously hot and my kitchen was a mess, so the kids and I ordered from our favourite local pizza joint and had a picnic in the shade of our backyard. We were incredibly thankful for this really good pizza which is made just a short walk from our house.
Friday, we introduced Keith's Mom to our project and tried out some sausage we were recently given, along side Dalew's corn on the cob, and green beans.
Saturday we brought her to ELS to pick up our groceries. She is now addicted to Nana's Kettle corn (AKA: Crack) just like the rest of us!! We ate onion and pepper burgers we found at ELS with some broccoli on the side for dinner.
Today Keith took his Dad and Brother on a chartered fishing boat on Lake Huron to catch salmon and trout. They came home with a feast of fish for dinner, which we ate very simply with perfectly steamed green beans. My daughter Sydney is out of town for the week, and she was so completely jealous when her brother told her we had fresh salmon for dinner, that I had to promise her there was more in the freezer for another day!
I know I've said this before, but I really marvel every day how simple this has all become. So little cooking is involved anymore, the kids are eating anything and everything I put in front of them and my food shopping time is less than half an hour a week! I'm still hearing "Yeah, squeaky beans!" (what we call green beans) even though we've had them just about every night this week. And most amazingly of all...they still ate their broccoli even though they couldn't have Cheez Whiz on them! I felt bad for asking them to do this, because even I love that crap on my green trees, but they understood why we couldn't and took one for the team. I love my kids and I love this project!!!
Looking forward to another great week of eating local!
Shannon A.
I was really proud of myself for thinking this through and sticking to my values. Yes, I still used a ton of refined sugar and the food-miles were hefty, but they could have been a lot worse. I also sent a message to the grocery store chain saying "Hey! Look, I'm voting for Organic not Duncan Heinz". I'm really curious now to see if I can find a way to do even better....can I figure out a way to make a truly Green Cake?
Oh, almost forgot...our meals since I last posted....
Thursday was ridiculously hot and my kitchen was a mess, so the kids and I ordered from our favourite local pizza joint and had a picnic in the shade of our backyard. We were incredibly thankful for this really good pizza which is made just a short walk from our house.
Friday, we introduced Keith's Mom to our project and tried out some sausage we were recently given, along side Dalew's corn on the cob, and green beans.
Saturday we brought her to ELS to pick up our groceries. She is now addicted to Nana's Kettle corn (AKA: Crack) just like the rest of us!! We ate onion and pepper burgers we found at ELS with some broccoli on the side for dinner.
Today Keith took his Dad and Brother on a chartered fishing boat on Lake Huron to catch salmon and trout. They came home with a feast of fish for dinner, which we ate very simply with perfectly steamed green beans. My daughter Sydney is out of town for the week, and she was so completely jealous when her brother told her we had fresh salmon for dinner, that I had to promise her there was more in the freezer for another day!
I know I've said this before, but I really marvel every day how simple this has all become. So little cooking is involved anymore, the kids are eating anything and everything I put in front of them and my food shopping time is less than half an hour a week! I'm still hearing "Yeah, squeaky beans!" (what we call green beans) even though we've had them just about every night this week. And most amazingly of all...they still ate their broccoli even though they couldn't have Cheez Whiz on them! I felt bad for asking them to do this, because even I love that crap on my green trees, but they understood why we couldn't and took one for the team. I love my kids and I love this project!!!
Looking forward to another great week of eating local!
Shannon A.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Soil Bandit!
It's true that I have been somewhat sheepish about this project. I am not advertising the changes in my kitchen for many reasons. Firstly, people are sensitive about food, it's nearly impossible to talk about eating local without making people uncomfortable, as if their food isn't as good as the food I've chosen. Secondly, my kitchen is the heart of my home, and I don't bear my heart to just anyone. Lastly, this is an experiment, I am exploring and I didn't want to be hindered by blustering and unfounded criticisms.
I "outed" my local eating inadvertently during a conversation with a friend yesterday. A friend with whom I rarely discuss matters of personal politics, as he is the greatest nay-sayer of all time. It happened sort of like this:
Him: "You can pick it up when you are at Costco this week getting stuff for the family reunion"
Me: "I won't be at Costco, I'm not buying much there anymore"
Him: "Oh come on!"
Me: "Yeah, I've been trying to eat local this summer"
Him: "I hope you're not eating the food from around here? All the pollution from the old smelters, the soil is contaminated...
I expected the criticism, the dismissal, even the scoffing. But he surprised me, I have never, not once, even considered that the soil on my property or the adjacent farms could be contaminated. I had really never considered the argument that some places would be too polluted to grow edible food. But then I realized if I wanted to know more about my soil I could find out- another bonus of eating local.
If I am curious about my soil, I walk into the back yard, get a sample and send it away for testing, for the greater area I consult the Sudbury Soil Study or ask the farmer who grew the food about how he/she maintains his/her soil. Hell, if I thought the farmer was trying to deceive me, I could sneak over to their yard like a soil bandit, steal a sample and have it tested myself- not that I would, but I could.
Who can I ask about the soil in South Africa, California or even Niagara Falls? I think I'll take my chances on local soil.
Here's my first tomato of the season grown in beautiful Blezard Valley soil.
Shannon D.
I "outed" my local eating inadvertently during a conversation with a friend yesterday. A friend with whom I rarely discuss matters of personal politics, as he is the greatest nay-sayer of all time. It happened sort of like this:
Him: "You can pick it up when you are at Costco this week getting stuff for the family reunion"
Me: "I won't be at Costco, I'm not buying much there anymore"
Him: "Oh come on!"
Me: "Yeah, I've been trying to eat local this summer"
Him: "I hope you're not eating the food from around here? All the pollution from the old smelters, the soil is contaminated...
I expected the criticism, the dismissal, even the scoffing. But he surprised me, I have never, not once, even considered that the soil on my property or the adjacent farms could be contaminated. I had really never considered the argument that some places would be too polluted to grow edible food. But then I realized if I wanted to know more about my soil I could find out- another bonus of eating local.
If I am curious about my soil, I walk into the back yard, get a sample and send it away for testing, for the greater area I consult the Sudbury Soil Study or ask the farmer who grew the food about how he/she maintains his/her soil. Hell, if I thought the farmer was trying to deceive me, I could sneak over to their yard like a soil bandit, steal a sample and have it tested myself- not that I would, but I could.
Who can I ask about the soil in South Africa, California or even Niagara Falls? I think I'll take my chances on local soil.
Here's my first tomato of the season grown in beautiful Blezard Valley soil.
Shannon D.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Eating Local In The North Is Easier Than You'd Think...Most Of The Time
I came across a great article today that speaks of several of the products Shannon D. and I have been buying this summer. If you want to get a visual of the panoramic mentioned in the first paragraph, click here. This is a picture I took of my kids on Radley Hill, two years ago. It is breathtaking!!
We are so lucky!
Part 2 - Added later today.
I'm miffed. I'm annoyed. I'm not sure what to do.
Let me start by saying I'm going to be vague about this a little bit because, should we ever end up with more than a couple readers, I don't want to get anyone in trouble.
I was at a store the other day and noticed small sizes of a staple in our house that has been a bit of a challenge to get my hands on. I've found a source for it, but it means a trip in to the city just to pick it up, and that's not always convenient or practical. I was thrilled when I saw it at this store so close to my house. I went back this morning to buy some and found two other products from the same producer. What a gold mine! I bought stuff I didn't need, just to send the message that these products are wanted! Unfortunately they only carried small servings of what I needed, and it's more economical/practical to buy in a bigger size, so I asked the manager if he could bring some in. I was shocked by his answer. He said he wasn't even allowed to carry what he did have on the shelf, that he was sneaking it in! The store chain allowed him only to carry the big labels, and that was it. I couldn't believe it. I thanked him for making the effort to carry it and told him that I was making special trips in to the city to buy it and that I was so happy to see it on his shelves. I left bewildered.
It never occurred to me that the absence of some of our finest local products on grocery store shelves had anything to do with politics. I just assumed there weren't enough people willing to shell out an extra dollar or two for a local product, so the store managers didn't bother ordering them. I always thought they had a fair amount of control over what they carried, but I see now that this was quite naive. So in many ways, we are being forced to buy what's in the store, not what we really want. It really makes me wonder what would be more readily available to everyone, not just those with money and wheels to get to ELS, if the managers could order what people asked for.
Shannon A.
We are so lucky!
Part 2 - Added later today.
I'm miffed. I'm annoyed. I'm not sure what to do.
Let me start by saying I'm going to be vague about this a little bit because, should we ever end up with more than a couple readers, I don't want to get anyone in trouble.
I was at a store the other day and noticed small sizes of a staple in our house that has been a bit of a challenge to get my hands on. I've found a source for it, but it means a trip in to the city just to pick it up, and that's not always convenient or practical. I was thrilled when I saw it at this store so close to my house. I went back this morning to buy some and found two other products from the same producer. What a gold mine! I bought stuff I didn't need, just to send the message that these products are wanted! Unfortunately they only carried small servings of what I needed, and it's more economical/practical to buy in a bigger size, so I asked the manager if he could bring some in. I was shocked by his answer. He said he wasn't even allowed to carry what he did have on the shelf, that he was sneaking it in! The store chain allowed him only to carry the big labels, and that was it. I couldn't believe it. I thanked him for making the effort to carry it and told him that I was making special trips in to the city to buy it and that I was so happy to see it on his shelves. I left bewildered.
It never occurred to me that the absence of some of our finest local products on grocery store shelves had anything to do with politics. I just assumed there weren't enough people willing to shell out an extra dollar or two for a local product, so the store managers didn't bother ordering them. I always thought they had a fair amount of control over what they carried, but I see now that this was quite naive. So in many ways, we are being forced to buy what's in the store, not what we really want. It really makes me wonder what would be more readily available to everyone, not just those with money and wheels to get to ELS, if the managers could order what people asked for.
Shannon A.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Hamburger from Heaven
We made our way home from camp on Sunday night with one pound each of thawed lean ground beef and pork. We'd meant to have hamburger's for Sunday dinner but after a triple birthday and so much lovely cake- we were all too full. This is part of the problem of summer cooking, as Shannon A. mentioned in her last post. We eat what we have and the summer days stroll on so casually that nearly every meal ends in a trip to the kitchen for raw or steamed veggies, a salad, potatoes, and something on the BBQ. Perfectly delicious, simple and effortless, the very essence of summer.
Nothing says summer like a hamburger and by fluke, I happened to make the greatest hamburgers of all time Monday night.
Here's the recipe:
1 pound lean ground pork
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
3 eggs
1Tbs chives
3 cloves grated garlic
4 squirts of Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs. Basil
I used chives and basil from the garden, bread crumbs blended from the crusts of 1000 crustless sandwiches made for my children (yes, I am that mother, but I trim crusts because I like to have flavourful bread crumbs, not just to spoil my children ). I used an extra egg this time, rather than 2 and the whole mixture held together beautifully.
Remove all jewellery, wash your hands and dig in. Mix all ingredients together, stopping to warm your hands under warm water when necessary. Once all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, shape hamburger patties to suit your family- sliders, whoppers, whatever- I ended up with 16 patties of varying size.
Usually I hate BBQ-ing hamburgers, because they break apart and slip through the grate and I get angry- the extra egg held the patties together perfectly. I also decided to give the meat some space. I am a frequent flipper and hoverer of the BBQ. I held myself back and let the patties cook for a full 15 minutes covered at medium heat. When I flipped them, not one cracked, not even one. I cooked them for 15 more minutes, and they were ready.
I topped some with cheddar and others with tomato and basil mild cheddar.
We used grocery store buns- still struggling with bread.
Garnishes included, onions from the garden, ketchup, mustard, relish.
We ate them with all on their own for dinner. And had them again tonight, equally good a day later.
On another note I picked the first ripe tomato from my garden today. I have dozens of green tomatoes, my most successful year yet. However, my squash are flowering but not producing, could I have messed up zucchini? Is it possible to plant zucchini and not have an abundant yield? Could all of my co-workers have cursed my garden because I am a zucchini pusher for the month of September?
Nothing says summer like a hamburger and by fluke, I happened to make the greatest hamburgers of all time Monday night.
Here's the recipe:
1 pound lean ground pork
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
3 eggs
1Tbs chives
3 cloves grated garlic
4 squirts of Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs. Basil
I used chives and basil from the garden, bread crumbs blended from the crusts of 1000 crustless sandwiches made for my children (yes, I am that mother, but I trim crusts because I like to have flavourful bread crumbs, not just to spoil my children ). I used an extra egg this time, rather than 2 and the whole mixture held together beautifully.
Remove all jewellery, wash your hands and dig in. Mix all ingredients together, stopping to warm your hands under warm water when necessary. Once all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, shape hamburger patties to suit your family- sliders, whoppers, whatever- I ended up with 16 patties of varying size.
Usually I hate BBQ-ing hamburgers, because they break apart and slip through the grate and I get angry- the extra egg held the patties together perfectly. I also decided to give the meat some space. I am a frequent flipper and hoverer of the BBQ. I held myself back and let the patties cook for a full 15 minutes covered at medium heat. When I flipped them, not one cracked, not even one. I cooked them for 15 more minutes, and they were ready.
I topped some with cheddar and others with tomato and basil mild cheddar.
We used grocery store buns- still struggling with bread.
Garnishes included, onions from the garden, ketchup, mustard, relish.
We ate them with all on their own for dinner. And had them again tonight, equally good a day later.
On another note I picked the first ripe tomato from my garden today. I have dozens of green tomatoes, my most successful year yet. However, my squash are flowering but not producing, could I have messed up zucchini? Is it possible to plant zucchini and not have an abundant yield? Could all of my co-workers have cursed my garden because I am a zucchini pusher for the month of September?
It's All HER Fault!
When we decided we were going to document our summer of local eating by keeping a blog, we had a few things in mind. First we thought it would be the perfect way to stay accountable to ourselves and to each other . We aren't the kind of people who take things so seriously that we would feel the need to lie to each other if we cheated (we are more the type that would poke fun at each other if we did) but coming clean and putting it "out there" would certainly shame ourselves in to stepping back in line. Doing it is one thing...seeing it in writing is another. I don't know about Shannon D, but keeping our blog has certainly helped in that department for me.
Secondly, my brain is like swiss cheese and I can't count on memory for anything. Recoding our project would make life so much easier for next summer. With just a few clicks we'd be able to find the awesome recipe for Kohlrabi we made last year at the end of July, or where we found that great cheese on a road trip.
Thirdly we planned to post meal plans, shopping lists and share recipes on here too. We live about 5 minutes apart, but life is busy, telephone time isn't easy with little kids around and our husbands at work, so if we finally had time to sit down at midnight or 6 am, then we could do so without waking the other. I was thinking about that today and realized we really haven't done this. There's been a few things here and there, but not much. This must make this a bit dull for the readers we do have. I got to wondering how that happened and had a "Aha! Moment". There really just hasn't been any of it to post, because that's not how it works when you are Eating Local!
Eating Local means Mother Nature decides for you. You can't sit down on Sunday night and decide your menu for the week, chose your recipes and then go out shopping for those ingredients. I find out on Monday what is likely to be in my CSA box on Wednesday night, I can order some meat, flour, honey, etc and then that's about as far as my planning gets. I may know ahead of time I'm getting tomatoes, but I don't know if it's enough to make spaghetti sauce, BLT's or just enough to add to a salad. Shannon D. is even more at Mother Nature's mercy because she has to wait and see what's at the Farmer's Market or the road side stand. We never know what ELS will have either. You may plan on having T-bones, but it doesn't mean you'll get them. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It makes perfect sense to eat what's available. It opens you up to trying new vegetables or cuts of meat, you might not have bothered with...and after all, a cow is made of more than T-bones anyways!
The other thing I'm noticing is that I have done very little cooking from recipes this summer, so there hasn't been many to share. It also turns out that I don't like kohlrabi, so that's why you won't find one of those. When food is this fresh and this good, each deserves to be appreciated all on it's own. There just hasn't been a need to mix our goodies together, making stir-frys, casseroles, stews, or soups and spicing them up with exotic flavours. Dalew pork is so good, masking it with BBQ sauce would be a crime! Same goes with veggies...a little steam and some butter....I'm drooling! I'll save the recipes for the winter when we have to make due with frozen veggies past their prime and need some help to be palatable.
So unfortunately, our readers will have to settle for our food porn and the after the fact descriptions of our meals. Sorry...but I can't mess with Mother Nature!!
Shannon A.
Secondly, my brain is like swiss cheese and I can't count on memory for anything. Recoding our project would make life so much easier for next summer. With just a few clicks we'd be able to find the awesome recipe for Kohlrabi we made last year at the end of July, or where we found that great cheese on a road trip.
Thirdly we planned to post meal plans, shopping lists and share recipes on here too. We live about 5 minutes apart, but life is busy, telephone time isn't easy with little kids around and our husbands at work, so if we finally had time to sit down at midnight or 6 am, then we could do so without waking the other. I was thinking about that today and realized we really haven't done this. There's been a few things here and there, but not much. This must make this a bit dull for the readers we do have. I got to wondering how that happened and had a "Aha! Moment". There really just hasn't been any of it to post, because that's not how it works when you are Eating Local!
Eating Local means Mother Nature decides for you. You can't sit down on Sunday night and decide your menu for the week, chose your recipes and then go out shopping for those ingredients. I find out on Monday what is likely to be in my CSA box on Wednesday night, I can order some meat, flour, honey, etc and then that's about as far as my planning gets. I may know ahead of time I'm getting tomatoes, but I don't know if it's enough to make spaghetti sauce, BLT's or just enough to add to a salad. Shannon D. is even more at Mother Nature's mercy because she has to wait and see what's at the Farmer's Market or the road side stand. We never know what ELS will have either. You may plan on having T-bones, but it doesn't mean you'll get them. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It makes perfect sense to eat what's available. It opens you up to trying new vegetables or cuts of meat, you might not have bothered with...and after all, a cow is made of more than T-bones anyways!
The other thing I'm noticing is that I have done very little cooking from recipes this summer, so there hasn't been many to share. It also turns out that I don't like kohlrabi, so that's why you won't find one of those. When food is this fresh and this good, each deserves to be appreciated all on it's own. There just hasn't been a need to mix our goodies together, making stir-frys, casseroles, stews, or soups and spicing them up with exotic flavours. Dalew pork is so good, masking it with BBQ sauce would be a crime! Same goes with veggies...a little steam and some butter....I'm drooling! I'll save the recipes for the winter when we have to make due with frozen veggies past their prime and need some help to be palatable.
So unfortunately, our readers will have to settle for our food porn and the after the fact descriptions of our meals. Sorry...but I can't mess with Mother Nature!!
Shannon A.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Stabbed in the Back with a Cheese Knife
I sent the husband out to get some milk yesterday- we were three days away from Friday and completely out, thus a trip to the grocery store was required. I was very grateful because he took the kids and that allowed me to putter about in the kitchen without interference, a rare and exquisite luxury. When he returned he came in with a bag of oranges- which he announced were from South Africa, a block of brand name cheese, bananas and a bag of milk. Seriously.
Part of Terry's wind down from work routine includes picking up a few things at the grocer's on the way home. He loves to find deals in the reduced to clear bread and produce racks. It thrills him to get a bag of avocados, a loaf of onion sour dough or Naan for rock bottom prices. This summer he has had that part of his routine taken from him. Since, I still haven't found my way to baking my own bread- I appreciate that he gets the bread and feel alright about it since he's saving it from being thrown out.
I could even partially understand the bananas and oranges- no such thing as a local banana or orange and he shopped with the kids, who love both. To his credit he did pay attention to where they came from, it just didn't stop him from buying.
It's the cheese that completely vexed me because we have two kinds of cheese in the fridge and they sell Thornloe where he went. But, the brand name cheese was on sale, and that proved too much temptation for the old man.
Words were had. If I understood him right, Terry felt that the sale price justified the purchase. He also seemed to think we were out of cheese or that we didn't have enough cheese. I, on the other hand, felt very differently. Cheese is one of the simplest ways to eat local- very little effort required. Thornloe is sold at all of our regular grocers, it is delicious but never goes on sale. To buy the sale cheese, in my opinion was careless. We can afford the cheese, and we need to support local sources of food in order to ensure they aren't swallowed whole by sale priced cheese sellers.
The grocery store is very bewitching with all the red tags and reduced prices and amazing availability. I understand the urge to scoop up a good deal, or how the curved lines of yellow bananas can seduce you. Oh, I get it. I feel the same about coffee, chocolate, hot dogs, english muffins and chips. Here's my bent- if a local choice is available, then we should make every effort to buy it local.
But I am not ready to give up on some non local items- yeast, olive oil, or sugar. Which causes me to worry- is my desire to have what I want shaping my politics? Is what I am doing, really making a difference? I am sincerely concerned about the impact industrial food has on the environment and people- I want to make socially responsible choices. I am not about to give up on the progress made, but I am going to have to do some more thinking about bananas and oranges.
Shannon D.
Part of Terry's wind down from work routine includes picking up a few things at the grocer's on the way home. He loves to find deals in the reduced to clear bread and produce racks. It thrills him to get a bag of avocados, a loaf of onion sour dough or Naan for rock bottom prices. This summer he has had that part of his routine taken from him. Since, I still haven't found my way to baking my own bread- I appreciate that he gets the bread and feel alright about it since he's saving it from being thrown out.
I could even partially understand the bananas and oranges- no such thing as a local banana or orange and he shopped with the kids, who love both. To his credit he did pay attention to where they came from, it just didn't stop him from buying.
It's the cheese that completely vexed me because we have two kinds of cheese in the fridge and they sell Thornloe where he went. But, the brand name cheese was on sale, and that proved too much temptation for the old man.
Words were had. If I understood him right, Terry felt that the sale price justified the purchase. He also seemed to think we were out of cheese or that we didn't have enough cheese. I, on the other hand, felt very differently. Cheese is one of the simplest ways to eat local- very little effort required. Thornloe is sold at all of our regular grocers, it is delicious but never goes on sale. To buy the sale cheese, in my opinion was careless. We can afford the cheese, and we need to support local sources of food in order to ensure they aren't swallowed whole by sale priced cheese sellers.
The grocery store is very bewitching with all the red tags and reduced prices and amazing availability. I understand the urge to scoop up a good deal, or how the curved lines of yellow bananas can seduce you. Oh, I get it. I feel the same about coffee, chocolate, hot dogs, english muffins and chips. Here's my bent- if a local choice is available, then we should make every effort to buy it local.
But I am not ready to give up on some non local items- yeast, olive oil, or sugar. Which causes me to worry- is my desire to have what I want shaping my politics? Is what I am doing, really making a difference? I am sincerely concerned about the impact industrial food has on the environment and people- I want to make socially responsible choices. I am not about to give up on the progress made, but I am going to have to do some more thinking about bananas and oranges.
Shannon D.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Summer On A Plate
Corn on the cob in the CSA box. Need I say more? :-)
We got home from pickup tonight and pounced on our box. I scrubbed potatoes, and put water on to boil. Keith fired up the BBQ and shucked the corn while the kids hit the garden to pick green beans. Within an hour we were at the table eating what Sydney called "The Best Meal EVER!". She's easy to please, and I've heard it several times before, but even I thought this meals was definitely in my Top 10. We finally tried the Cheddar Smokies that Shannon D. has been raving about and were not disappointed. They were incredible! Alongside the corn on the cob, BBQ'd potatoes and onions, and "squeaky" green and yellow beans, this meal was summer at it's finest. Summer on a plate.
As Shannon D. mentioned on her post today, the mid-point of our project has arrived and it's a good time to reflect on where we are and where we will take it from here. Like her, we've been incorporating local eating in to all of our meals now, and likely this will be a permanent change for us. I know it won't be possible or practical to eat this way all year (yet...someday maybe!) but I feel that incorporating as much local fare as we can, and buying more from our small local producers and vendors, rather than hitting the grocery store all the time, will continue to make a big difference. I know some of the purists would disagree with me...it isn't really considered local if the ingredients aren't local...but I'm at peace and still think I'm making a difference by ordering a pizza from the little pizza joint behind my house or a lasagna from one of the Italian stores, rather than buying something McCain's or Stouffers froze and put on a shelf at the YIG.
And more importantly, just as Shannon D. also pointed out (she's such a smart, smart lady!) it's the example that we are setting for our kids that in the end is going to make the biggest difference. When Sydney threw her arms up in the air and cheered "it's local!!" last night, when an employee at The Cold Stone Creamery told her they use cream from the Parmalat down the road to make their ice cream on site, my heart swelled with pride.
The seed has been planted!
Shannon A.
Halfway through Summer- Some Reflections
I cannot believe that it is August already- we've been working on this project for approximately six weeks. Long enough for it to no longer feel like a project, what was once "how am I going to do this?", is now "this is how we do this." Real and significant change has taken hold in this house and I am really very proud of all that we have accomplished- and feel ready to push even harder in the coming months.
My focus has shifted away from dinner to include all meals in my house. Which is not to say everything is local, but rather that all meals have locally produced foods, after all that's what is in the fridge. So I think I'll add more recipes from other meals- lunch and breakfast and snacks too. I find I am always in the kitchen, snacks for the kids, breakfast, lunch and dinner etc.
My thinking is- if I can get it local, I will. Truly, its not that hard, the remarkable people who work and volunteer at the Eat Local Sudbury shop are so helpful and informative. Replacing dairy and meat is effortless- and I see no reason not to continue this way through winter.
Veggies and fruit present their own problems. As I had planned I am blanching and freezing veggies for the winter months ahead. Whatever vegetable we have for dinner- say green beans, I'll make one for us to eat and some to freeze. On cool days I'll blanch and freeze just to build up my stock. I have no illusions that I have enough, so I need to seek out a local source of canned and frozen veggies for the winter. I had frozen some strawberries but all the blueberries I had made it into the jam. Need to get picking again. I haven't had much luck canning in the past, I never feel sure that the seal is tight, I prefer to freeze.
Looking ahead- this year, I am planning to keep a tally of the vegetables we eat in order to plan my garden more effectively. It is my tentative goal to grow significantly more of my own food, and I am considering chickens..... You'll help, right Shannon?
As for right now, I have consistently failed where breads are concerned. I need to figure out the most responsible way to buy bread or make my own. And pasta, I need pasta help too. Shannon A. assures me that I will enjoy making it but... well, we'll see.
In all, I feel like this way of buying food fits my family and has brought us closer to our food and each other. The discussions we have about food have rekindled a desire to farm in both my husband and I. The kids are part of the adventure- going to the market, playing in the garden, picking berries and watering- they are champion waterers. I am so proud to see them tend a plant or jump up and down when they've discovered a tomato baby! It's fairly easy to impress a 3 and 5 year old, but I hope that they'll grow up knowing that food comes from earth, not just the grocer.
Shannon D.
My focus has shifted away from dinner to include all meals in my house. Which is not to say everything is local, but rather that all meals have locally produced foods, after all that's what is in the fridge. So I think I'll add more recipes from other meals- lunch and breakfast and snacks too. I find I am always in the kitchen, snacks for the kids, breakfast, lunch and dinner etc.
My thinking is- if I can get it local, I will. Truly, its not that hard, the remarkable people who work and volunteer at the Eat Local Sudbury shop are so helpful and informative. Replacing dairy and meat is effortless- and I see no reason not to continue this way through winter.
Veggies and fruit present their own problems. As I had planned I am blanching and freezing veggies for the winter months ahead. Whatever vegetable we have for dinner- say green beans, I'll make one for us to eat and some to freeze. On cool days I'll blanch and freeze just to build up my stock. I have no illusions that I have enough, so I need to seek out a local source of canned and frozen veggies for the winter. I had frozen some strawberries but all the blueberries I had made it into the jam. Need to get picking again. I haven't had much luck canning in the past, I never feel sure that the seal is tight, I prefer to freeze.
Looking ahead- this year, I am planning to keep a tally of the vegetables we eat in order to plan my garden more effectively. It is my tentative goal to grow significantly more of my own food, and I am considering chickens..... You'll help, right Shannon?
As for right now, I have consistently failed where breads are concerned. I need to figure out the most responsible way to buy bread or make my own. And pasta, I need pasta help too. Shannon A. assures me that I will enjoy making it but... well, we'll see.
In all, I feel like this way of buying food fits my family and has brought us closer to our food and each other. The discussions we have about food have rekindled a desire to farm in both my husband and I. The kids are part of the adventure- going to the market, playing in the garden, picking berries and watering- they are champion waterers. I am so proud to see them tend a plant or jump up and down when they've discovered a tomato baby! It's fairly easy to impress a 3 and 5 year old, but I hope that they'll grow up knowing that food comes from earth, not just the grocer.
Shannon D.
Monday, August 2, 2010
A VERY Local Dinner
Our meal at my FILs (Father in Laws) was a great success last night. Not only did we feed 5 adults, 4 kids and a baby (with A LOT of leftovers) with local fare, but it was all done without a kitchen!! My FIL is currently renovating his and at the moment, it is completely gutted...the fridge (working), stove (not working) and the kitchen table are set up in the living room and all the other kitchen contents are in a spare bedroom. What a sight! Thankfully the light showers that came early in the afternoon continued on their merry way, and we were able to stay outside the rest of the day. FIL slow cooked a lamb roast from Dalew's and two small chickens....that had been walking around in the neighbour's yard just the day before! I brought a potato salad, and a blueberry salad and we feasted outside on a couple of picnic tables, using paper plates (it isn't easy washing dishes in the bathtub!). Both the lamb and the chickens were moist and tender and so flavour and the salads were a big hit with the grown ups. It was all we could do to get the kids to sit and eat. They were so busy running around, exploring and playing with all the animals next door that stop to eat was cutting in to their available time!
Shortly after dinner, I headed over to see what the kids were up to. My FIL's neighbours, (I'll just call them J & E) are I imagine, around the same age as Keith and I (early 30s) and have a beautiful 6 year old girl, H. They have turned their property into a small farm where they raise chickens, turkeys, ducks, goats and rabbits with a good sized veggie plot in the middle of it all. E also raises and races sled dogs. MY KIDS LOVE THIS PLACE! When I came along they were helping H catch the chickens to put them back in their coop for the night. Cameron took me over to the turkey house to have a peak inside the window, where we were then visited by the goats. J was painting the girls' faces so I watched the mischievous trio and their antics as as we chatted. The goats I imagine would be about the equivalent of having toddler aged triplet boys on the loose! J said they get in to everything, climb on anything they can and she can't leave the car door open to run groceries in to the house without them getting in! She has a bumper sticker that says "baaa" so who could blame them for thinking it was their car? LOL
At dark, after checking out the sled dogs, we went back to join the rest of the party around the campfire. Keith's Uncle and Aunt who also raise chickens on their property, had arrived while we were gone. We sat and chatted for quite some time about the veggies, the animals, the local abattoirs, our project and a host of other topics. FIL and his siblings grew up on a farm (he actually lost his right index finger as a result of a chicken/ax accident as a teenager), so no topic was deemed unsavoury for the company. It was quite an enlightening evening and it made my desire to buy a rural property where we can raise our own animals, all the more pressing.
For now I guess, I will have to work with Shannon D. to convince her to do it, so I can help out and learn how it's done!!
Shannon A.
Shortly after dinner, I headed over to see what the kids were up to. My FIL's neighbours, (I'll just call them J & E) are I imagine, around the same age as Keith and I (early 30s) and have a beautiful 6 year old girl, H. They have turned their property into a small farm where they raise chickens, turkeys, ducks, goats and rabbits with a good sized veggie plot in the middle of it all. E also raises and races sled dogs. MY KIDS LOVE THIS PLACE! When I came along they were helping H catch the chickens to put them back in their coop for the night. Cameron took me over to the turkey house to have a peak inside the window, where we were then visited by the goats. J was painting the girls' faces so I watched the mischievous trio and their antics as as we chatted. The goats I imagine would be about the equivalent of having toddler aged triplet boys on the loose! J said they get in to everything, climb on anything they can and she can't leave the car door open to run groceries in to the house without them getting in! She has a bumper sticker that says "baaa" so who could blame them for thinking it was their car? LOL
At dark, after checking out the sled dogs, we went back to join the rest of the party around the campfire. Keith's Uncle and Aunt who also raise chickens on their property, had arrived while we were gone. We sat and chatted for quite some time about the veggies, the animals, the local abattoirs, our project and a host of other topics. FIL and his siblings grew up on a farm (he actually lost his right index finger as a result of a chicken/ax accident as a teenager), so no topic was deemed unsavoury for the company. It was quite an enlightening evening and it made my desire to buy a rural property where we can raise our own animals, all the more pressing.
For now I guess, I will have to work with Shannon D. to convince her to do it, so I can help out and learn how it's done!!
Shannon A.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Met a Garden Mentor and Found a Local Hot Dog
This past weekend, the family and I traveled to my friend's cottage. I stuck by my regular routine, picking up my weekly groceries at the ELS before heading out of town. I stocked the cooler full of lunch meats from Dalew and Burt farms, Thornloe cheeses, and milk. I picked up lettuce, green beans, and garlic at Beaulieu's Farm down the road and off we went. I did make a stop at the grocery store for Cheezies, marshmallows and Kaisers.
On our way up to the cottage, I sheepishly shared my plan with Terry to keep a much larger garden- where I could grow our veggies for the year and maybe have some chickens. I sincerely want to try to keep a bigger garden and I suspect I could handle chickens, however I am intimidated by the amount of work required, and also seriously afraid of roosters, But ever since I met the farmer who keeps the veggie stand 3 km from my house, I can't shake the feeling that I could be growing so much more myself. On my usual bike route I pass four veggie stands. We have the property, the only thing holding me back is.... fear, I guess. Will I have enough time, who will teach me how to do this, can I still go away for the weekends?
As luck would have it, the unexpected highlight of the trip was meeting my friend's uncle Mark, who keeps a 1 acre garden and manages to grow nearly all of his own vegetables- FOR THE YEAR. His wife helps him with cleaning and canning, but he tends to his garden by himself. For over an hour we chatted about his garden. When I invited myself over to his garden to check things out, he didn't seem to mind. I can't wait to see his garden and begin researching the possibility of keeping a bigger garden. I told him about this project and he seemed genuinely interested in sharing his knowledge of gardening. He told me that for dinner that night he had potatoes, cucumbers, carrots and green beans from his garden and fish he'd caught on the lake himself. What I admired most was that none of this was political for him, he had no pretensions about him, no agenda- he was just living a way that made sense to him because he can.
Another highlight was a stop at Creative Meats- I asked the butcher if the meat was locally raised and he said that some was and other meats were from a federally inspected plant. He said the smokies, wieners and ground chuck was local. Yes that's right- tomorrow it's LOCAL hot dogs for supper.
On our way up to the cottage, I sheepishly shared my plan with Terry to keep a much larger garden- where I could grow our veggies for the year and maybe have some chickens. I sincerely want to try to keep a bigger garden and I suspect I could handle chickens, however I am intimidated by the amount of work required, and also seriously afraid of roosters, But ever since I met the farmer who keeps the veggie stand 3 km from my house, I can't shake the feeling that I could be growing so much more myself. On my usual bike route I pass four veggie stands. We have the property, the only thing holding me back is.... fear, I guess. Will I have enough time, who will teach me how to do this, can I still go away for the weekends?
As luck would have it, the unexpected highlight of the trip was meeting my friend's uncle Mark, who keeps a 1 acre garden and manages to grow nearly all of his own vegetables- FOR THE YEAR. His wife helps him with cleaning and canning, but he tends to his garden by himself. For over an hour we chatted about his garden. When I invited myself over to his garden to check things out, he didn't seem to mind. I can't wait to see his garden and begin researching the possibility of keeping a bigger garden. I told him about this project and he seemed genuinely interested in sharing his knowledge of gardening. He told me that for dinner that night he had potatoes, cucumbers, carrots and green beans from his garden and fish he'd caught on the lake himself. What I admired most was that none of this was political for him, he had no pretensions about him, no agenda- he was just living a way that made sense to him because he can.
Another highlight was a stop at Creative Meats- I asked the butcher if the meat was locally raised and he said that some was and other meats were from a federally inspected plant. He said the smokies, wieners and ground chuck was local. Yes that's right- tomorrow it's LOCAL hot dogs for supper.
Treasures At The Market
It's early Sunday morning, so I thought I'd take a moment to blog. Keith's at work, the kids are still sleeping, and it is so quiet outside. The sky was very red this morning, which probably means the BBQ we will be going to tonight, will be a wet one. That's okay though. My garden needs a good watering! I'm dreading our next water bill. It rained so much last summer that I only had to water with the hose three times. I've had to do that every week this summer!
The kids and I went in to the Farmer's Market yesterday morning for the first time this summer. We didn't go there looking for anything specific, other than the "Barbie Lady's booth" for Sydney. We always have the same routine when we go. We walk the row of the outdoor stands, then head over to buy a Barbie dress, then we walk inside to buy some baked treats. Yesterday we picked up another big head of broccoli for dinner tonight and a basket of pickling cukes. If I'd felt more devoted to cooking dinner last night, I also would have picked up the baby zucchinis to make the "Zucanoes" recipe from the Moosewood Cookbook. Next week perhaps.
Then of course we found The Barbie Lady...my daughter's dream seamstress. Kathy's table is set up with several carousels filled with intricately sewn gowns, capes, formal fitted dresses as well as skirts, pyjamas, tops and pants for Barbie as well as play and formal wear for Ken. For $6 a little girl can pick out her dress, and then Kathy will toss in a matching boa, beaded necklace, purse, crinoline and sometimes shoes! If you purchase a wedding dress, which I believe is $8, she will also add a bouquet of flowers and a garter! Sydney's Barbies have acquired a spectacular collection of Ms. Kathy's gowns over the past 3 or 4 years now.
Inside we bought a loaf of CJ's whole wheat bread, and a book for Cameron to store the special edition quarters he's been collecting, before leaving to hit ELS for milk before finishing off our morning with a latte and some playtime at Chapters. I knocked off another batch of jam in the afternoon...Peach Melba. The peaches are Ontario grown and the raspberries are from my neighbours backyard (with permission of course!!).
As far as our meals are going....
Friday I decided to order in pizza since the kids and I had both eaten completely local meals earlier in the day (kids lunch, me breakfast). As far as I know the pizzeria we order from isn't a chain, and is locally owned. It's right behind my house, and they make really good pizza....and on a Friday, that's handy! Last night Keith and I finished off the Shepard's Pie and the kids ate PB & J sandwiches...CJ's bread, peanut butter from ELS and homemade strawberry jam.
Tonight's dinner should be fun, if we aren't rained out. Keith's Dad invited us over and is looking forward to doing it local. He's going to BBQ some Dalew lamb and we are going to iron out the rest of our menu later this morning. Full report tomorrow!
Shannon A.
The kids and I went in to the Farmer's Market yesterday morning for the first time this summer. We didn't go there looking for anything specific, other than the "Barbie Lady's booth" for Sydney. We always have the same routine when we go. We walk the row of the outdoor stands, then head over to buy a Barbie dress, then we walk inside to buy some baked treats. Yesterday we picked up another big head of broccoli for dinner tonight and a basket of pickling cukes. If I'd felt more devoted to cooking dinner last night, I also would have picked up the baby zucchinis to make the "Zucanoes" recipe from the Moosewood Cookbook. Next week perhaps.
Then of course we found The Barbie Lady...my daughter's dream seamstress. Kathy's table is set up with several carousels filled with intricately sewn gowns, capes, formal fitted dresses as well as skirts, pyjamas, tops and pants for Barbie as well as play and formal wear for Ken. For $6 a little girl can pick out her dress, and then Kathy will toss in a matching boa, beaded necklace, purse, crinoline and sometimes shoes! If you purchase a wedding dress, which I believe is $8, she will also add a bouquet of flowers and a garter! Sydney's Barbies have acquired a spectacular collection of Ms. Kathy's gowns over the past 3 or 4 years now.
Inside we bought a loaf of CJ's whole wheat bread, and a book for Cameron to store the special edition quarters he's been collecting, before leaving to hit ELS for milk before finishing off our morning with a latte and some playtime at Chapters. I knocked off another batch of jam in the afternoon...Peach Melba. The peaches are Ontario grown and the raspberries are from my neighbours backyard (with permission of course!!).
As far as our meals are going....
Friday I decided to order in pizza since the kids and I had both eaten completely local meals earlier in the day (kids lunch, me breakfast). As far as I know the pizzeria we order from isn't a chain, and is locally owned. It's right behind my house, and they make really good pizza....and on a Friday, that's handy! Last night Keith and I finished off the Shepard's Pie and the kids ate PB & J sandwiches...CJ's bread, peanut butter from ELS and homemade strawberry jam.
Tonight's dinner should be fun, if we aren't rained out. Keith's Dad invited us over and is looking forward to doing it local. He's going to BBQ some Dalew lamb and we are going to iron out the rest of our menu later this morning. Full report tomorrow!
Shannon A.
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