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Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing

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Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing
Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing

Salads are one of those meals you can enjoy any time of the year. A versatile dish you can change up with the seasons featuring fresh produce or ingredients, proteins, beans, lentils, pasta, rice, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, fresh herbs – really whatever floats your boat for the most part can go into your salad as long as you create a balance.

For example add fresh sliced brussels sprouts and pears to your slaw like in this Winter Brussels Sprout Slaw with Pancetta and you have a winter salad. Fresh summer blueberries help create this Blueberry & Halloumi Quinoa Salad with Charred Corn giving you a delicious summer salad. Salads can be many things any time of the year as long as you have a little imagination and some great ingredients!

Working with Feel Good Elderberry Syrup this month, we wanted to create a salad dressing using the four main elements of a dressing: extra virgin olive oil (oil), white balsamic vinegar (acid), Elderberry Syrup (sweet) and salt + pepper (salt). While elderberry syrup is not that sweet, it definitely brings the sweet element and is as healthy as using maple syrup or honey.

Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing
Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing

A fifth element involved in making salad dressings, (aromatic) can include shallots, chives and herbs, however we were very happy with the taste of the dressing and left it as is. Our salad ingredients are a combination of Fall ingredients like squash and pomegranates, smokey gorgonzola cheese, slightly bitter escarole & arugula and salty prosciutto. Believe me when I tell you this all came together beautifully!

Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing
Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing

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Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing
Author: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups escarole
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 1 cup butternut squash, cut into small cubes and roasted
  • ⅓ cup toasted hazelnuts
  • ½ cup pomegranate seeds
  • 100 grams or a couple slices prosciutto (the good stuff)
  • 1 honey crisp apple, cored and sliced thin
  • 160 grams smoked gorgonzola, crumbled
  • Dressing
  • 2 tbsp Feel Good Syrup
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
  • sea salt & cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Tear up your escarole and add to bowl or platter with arugula. Scatter on squash, hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds, prosciutto, apple and gorgonzola.
  2. Whisk together feel good elderberry syrup, extra virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper until thick and creamy.
  3. Pour dressing over salad and serve.
Notes
To roast squash, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast on parchment lined baking sheet in 375 F degrees oven for 20-25 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. To roast prosciutto, put slices on parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in 350 F degrees heated oven. Remove, let cool and break up.

With colds and flu’s already circulating through schools, offices and our house (tis the season), we have been taking the syrup regularly to keep our immune systems healthy, boosted and ready for travel to Indonesia next month. Elderberries are a natural anti-inflammatory and high in flavonoids (plant-based antioxidants). It’s these flavonoids that help prevent damage to the body’s cells and boost the immune system. That’s why studies show elderberries are known to be effective in treating colds and flu!

Feel Good Syrup continues to expand their syrup offering throughout Western Canada making it easier to find and purchase the product. Just this month Feel Good Elderberry Syrup became available to purchase at Blush Lane Organic Market in Alberta. You can also find it at Amaranth Foods, and via Spud.ca. Be sure to follow the Feel Good Syrup website for updates on new retail locations as they come on board and company news, plus recipes!

Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing
Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing
Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing
Fall Harvest Salad with Elderberry Syrup Dressing

We are working in collaboration with Feel Good Syrup on this post. All opinions, views expressed and recipe development are, as always, my own.

Plum Elderberry Syrup Hand Pies

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Fall has always been my favourite time of the year. From the colours, to the crisp air, to the rustic baking and home cooked meals, it makes me have all the feels.

This is also the time of year the fresh local prune plums are available. We grew up with a prune plum tree or two in our yard and one of my fondest memory every Fall was the Plum Pierogi’s my mom would make. Sometimes I’d try to eat twenty of them in one serving (it’s true). Of course she made other pierogi’s too, but these were and remain my all time favourite.

If you can’t find prune plums, use whatever plums are in season in your local grocery store. Plums are an excellent stone fruit to have around. They are full of antioxidants giving them their colour, they become prunes aka dried plums and are heart healthy and low in calories!

Feel Good Elderberry Syrup
Feel Good Elderberry Syrup

We are in the kitchen working with Feel Good Syrup this month to create another delicious recipe using their Elderberry Syrup. Last month we made No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls just in time for back to school lunches.

You can bake and cook with the Feel Good Syrup or you can take it by the spoonful to help with colds and the flu. We always keep a bottle on hand for those moments well feel the sick coming on as a preventative maintenance!

Plum Hand Pie Preparation
Plum Hand Pie Preparation

I’ve had hand pies in my thoughts lately plus a basket of prune plums in the fridge meant for pierogi. Thinking about the plum flavours inspired me to create these plum hand pies. Our typical hand pie recipe calls for pie dough however these plum hand pies are made using puff pastry, an easier way to go.

Plum Hand Pies
Plum Hand Pies fresh out of the oven

Frozen puff pastry is a kitchen lifesaver and ingredient you can be thaw and use in many recipes making you look like a rock star. It’s buttery, flaky and crispy when baked and an easy solution when you do not want to make pie dough. There are two sheets of puff pastry in a package which will make a total of six decent sized hand pies.

Plum Hand Pies made using Elderberry Syrup
Plum Hand Pies made using Feel Good Elderberry Syrup

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Plum Elderberry Syrup Hand Pies
Author: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups prune plums, stone removed and diced
  • ¼ cup Feel Good Elderberry Syrup
  • 2 tbsp plum jam
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 package puff pastry thawed
  • 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
  1. In a bowl mix together plums, syrup, jam, cinnamon, sugar and salt. Once combined mix in cornstarch and set aside.
  2. Unwrap and unroll puff pastry. Lay flat. Cut each sheet into six relatively equal rectangles giving you a total of 12.
  3. Lay 6 puff pastry rectangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment. On each rectangle spoon a good serving of the plum filling. Do this with all six rectangles. Don't worry if the filling spills over the edge.
  4. Place the remaining pieces of puff pastry over each piece to cover. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal in all the filling. Don't worry if it oozes out. Chill the pies in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat your oven to 375 F.
  6. Remove hand pies from refrigerator and brush egg on each one. Make two slits on top to allow steam to escape.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Remove pies from oven and allow to cool in pan. Enjoy immediately or once cool wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for up to five days.

 

Plum Hand Pies
Plum Hand Pies
In Calgary watch for Feel Good Syrup to be launching at all Blush Lane Organic Market locations. If you are not in Alberta, you can buy it online through their website.

We are working in collaboration with Feel Good Syrup on this post. All opinions, views expressed and recipe development are, as always, my own.

City Cruising in the 2018 Ford Mustang Convertible

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As iconic as the mountains and plains of this great province, the Mustang embodies the epitome of open-road driving. Symbolized by a galloping horse, the freedom and excitement associated with the Mustang mirrors that of our western spirit.

Nothing quite screams summer like cruising around in a convertible. When opportunity knocked this summer to test drive the Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible, well, we did what any sane person would do and jumped at the chance.

Cruising through the neighbourhood in the Ford Mustang
There I am cruising through the neighbourhood in the Ford Mustang. Looks good on me, right?!

Having once owned a Jeep YJ, I was very familiar with a standard transmission but it had been awhile since I last drove one. Fortunately it was like riding a bike, it all came back instantly and I remember how enjoyable this style of transmission was to drive.

For several years Ford has offered the EcoBoost engine in its vehicles. For those that do not know, like me, an EcoBoost engine is a combination of turbocharging and direct fuel injection that improves fuel economy without sacrificing engine power.

The Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible comes in your base model with a 6-Speed Manual Transmission and a 2.3L EcoBoost Engine. The starting price tag is $31,994. With this you get a rear view camera, TrackApps™, LED Headlamps with LED Signature Lighting, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start (one of my favourite features), Dual Bright Exhaust with Rolled Tips, Enhanced Security Package, Wheel Locking Kit, SYNC®, Enhanced Voice Recognition Communications and Entertainment System with 6 speakers, and Active Anti Theft System.

Nice, right? Of course you can customize your package through the Ford Canada website – my husband didn’t waste any time pricing out the perfect Mustang for us.

Ford Mustang Interior
Ford Mustang Interior

The interior is elegant, with lots of well planned detail. There is plenty of legroom in the front and the kids were not squished while they rode in the back seats. The trunk storage is huge. It doesn’t fit the family dog, but I’d give up our miniature pony (rough collie) for the Mustang. Ha ha ha, just kidding kids!

Driving the Deerfoot with the top down
Driving the Deerfoot with the top down – I told her it would be windy

While parked, the convertible top goes down in a matter of seconds with a quick twist of a handle and push of a button. A far cry from the days of having to take the top off my jeep, myself!

This is not a car for the faint of heart. It might not be a GT, BULLITT or offer a large engine but it has power and speed to spare, and for this kid that was simply enough. The colour of our Convertible Mustang was Orange Fury. Kind of an ironic way to end the summer considering we started the summer driving an orange 2018 Ford EcoSport!

Boys being boys they had to look under the hood
Boys being boys they had to look under the hood

The one thing you notice when driving a car like this, is all the other Mustangs everywhere. You find out quickly you are in a brother or sisterhood of Mustang drivers. You pass one they wave at you, so you wave back feeling like you are now a part of a special and secret ‘hood.

Also important to note is why people with sports cars park far away from everyone else in parking lots – you do not want your car to get one ding or scratch on it. We obviously followed suit.

During our week with the Mustang we were treated to a trail ride adventure at Boundary Ranch, a working ranch in the Kananaskis Valley of the Canadian Rockies. Our ridge ride took us through lush forest, steep climbs and equally steep descents, offering what would normally be breath taking views of mountains and forest although some of our view was obstructed by the forest fire smoke.

Lush forest views during our Boundary Ranch Trail ride
Lush forest views during our Boundary Ranch Trail ride

Following our peaceful and serene ride through the mountains, we were served up a delicious cowboy steak lunch.

Boundary Ranch trail ride
Boundary Ranch trail ride

This authentic cowboy experience was full of Western hospitality. Other activities at the ranch include longer pack trips, barbecues, horse-drawn wagon rides, pony rides, white water rafting, and dog sled rides working in collaboration with Mad Dogs & Englishmen. What a treat it was to experience this ranch and the horses symbolizing the wild spirit of the Ford Mustang.

Taking the friends for a ride
Taking the friends for a ride

Through pricing out a mustang on the Ford Website, we discovered this car is affordable and one we could quite nicely see ourselves cruising around in once the kids have flown the coop. There are several colours to choose from including black, white, silver, magnetic, red, blue, green and of course orange. We loved all the colours but really enjoyed the uniqueness of the orange.

If you were buying a Mustang, what colour would you pick?!

Disclosure: Ford Canada gave us a 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible to test drive for a week and a complimentary trail ride at Boundary Ranch. As always, opinions are my own based on our experience.

No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

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It’s that time of the year where our summer days are becoming shorter and there is a cool crispness to the evening air you can’t deny. Winter is coming.

Back to school shopping is in full swing for supplies, clothes, backpacks and of course school snacks. It’s amazing how much less my kids eat during summer holidays compared to when they are in school and needing fuel throughout the day. Baking snacks in advance, like these No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls, and freezing is one way we like to get ready for back to school before it arrives.

 

Cherry Hazelnut Elderberry Power Balls
Cherry Hazelnut Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

 

 

Elderberries are full of antioxidants, vitamins A, B and C plus are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and are the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world. When it comes to antioxidant power, elderberry is higher in flavonoids than blueberries, cranberries, goji berries and blackberries. Known as a treatment for cold and flu symptoms, Feel Good Elderberry Syrup can also be used when cooking or baking as a food flavouring.

Elderberry Plant
Elderberries

No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls are a protein packed recipe you can freeze and pull out for breakfasts, pop into lunches or enjoy while out hiking or camping. Using only 7 ingredients, they are loaded with nutritional foods like elderberry syrup, chia seeds, nut butter, hazelnuts (also called filberts) and dried cherries. This combination of super foods offer immune boosting antioxidants, protein, fiber and healthy fats.

Ingredients for the no bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls
Ingredients for the no bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

Teaching our kids to make healthy choices is easy when you have great ingredients to work with. For more inspiring healthy recipes or back to school snacks check out our Date Energy Balls, or Pepperoni Pizza Muffin recipes.

 

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No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls
Author: 
Serves: 16
 
Ingredients
  • 1¼ cup natural nut butter
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tsp Elderberry Syrup
  • 2 cups oats (combine large flake oats and quick oats)
  • ¼ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
  • ½ cup dried cherries
  • 2 tsp chia seeds
  • salt
Instructions
  1. In a whisk together nut butter, honey and Elderberry Syrup.
  2. Add oats, hazelnuts, dried cherries, chia seeds and a pinch of salt.
  3. Stir to combine. Let rest for 15 minutes.
  4. Pick up a small amount and start forming a ball in your hands. Roll into 1 inch balls. You should get close to 16 power balls.
  5. Keep refrigerated when not using due to the natural nut butter. Or freeze and pull out as needed.

 

No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls
No Bake Elderberry Syrup Power Balls

We are working in collaboration with Feel Good Syrup on this post. All opinions, views expressed and recipe development are, as always, my own.

Weekend Road Trip in the 2018 Ford EcoSport

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We essentially are a Ford family and may be becoming a Ford neighbourhood. Both my husband and I drive older Ford Explorers (2002 and 1992) and my brother just bought a 2004 Ford Explorer to go with his Ford Edge. My cousin here in Calgary works for Ford so of course drives Ford vehicles. Our neighbours to the North also drive Fords and I’m sure I’ve seen a few other Ford vehicles driving down our street. See what I mean?!

We teamed up with Ford Canada for a road trip to Edmonton for our son’s Provincial U12 Boys Fastpitch Tournament. They asked us to test out the Ford EcoSport and we jumped at the opportunity to test out another one of Ford’s vehicles.

We were on our way to a tournament so it was important we had reliable wheels to get us to the hotel and back to the ball diamond, a smaller vehicle big enough to haul our gear and one that could offer comfort after a long, potentially rainy or overly hot day of baseball.

Ford EcoSport Storage
Ford EcoSport Storage | Back of SUV has lots of storage

 

What we got was an Orange Ford EcoSport! Just so happens the boys Fastpitch team name: Orange Crush. Team jersey colour: orange. It was a match made in heaven. For this weekend the EcoSport affectionately became known as the Orange Crush Team Car.

Ford EcoSport

The Ford Ecosport is the newest compact SUV to enter the Canadian Market, although it’s not new to the North American Market as it’s been in the USA for close to ten years. When you are used to driving a beast around the city and on road trips, getting into a compact SUV sure has it’s perks. Especially when it comes to parking and gas mileage.

Here are some of the features we loved about the EcoSport.

Ford EcoSport
Ford EcoSport & Canola Fields

Ford EcoSport Perks

Technology at it’s best:

  • The Blind Spot Information System was way cool. It uses radar to identify a vehicle detected in your blind spot and alerts you with an indicator light in either of the two outside mirrors. Already thinking about how this could potentially deter some accidents.
Blind Spot Information System
Blind Spot Information System
  • We really preferred the 8 inch colour screen located on top of the dash versus inset allowing easier use. It has enhanced voice-recognition and is a touchscreen with swipe and zoom functionality.
  • Two USB ports, two 12-volt outlets and a 110V outlet allows for up to ten devices connected at once. Our busy family of four definitely needs something like this when travelling.
  • MyKey technology gives you several programing options however the one we enjoyed the most was the warning when the fuel tank got below 120 kilometers.

 

Ford EcoSport fuel low indicator
Ford EcoSport fuel low indicator

On the Go:

  • Auto Start-Stop Technology. We had this last year when we drove the Ford C-Max Electric Hybrid and it still blows my mind how the vehicle literally turns off to help reduce fuel consumption and emissions at stop lights and signs.
  • Automatic windshield wipers. This is Calgary. You have to be prepared for any weather at any time. It was a pleasant surprise to have the wipers come on by themselves when it started to rain.
Ford EcoSport Cargo Area
Ford EcoSport Cargo Area | Photo Credit Ford Canada
  • An adjustable cargo area featuring a rear cargo shelf we could move to store important stuff. This really is like a secret storage space you would never know was there!
  • Great gas mileage. Did I mention I drive a beast?!

We’ve hi-lighted a few of the features in the new Ford Ecosport that appealed to us but there are many more features in this compact SUV to suit everyone. We had the best time driving around Edmonton in the EcoSport as well as running errands and touring Calgary. It’s a great family vehicle and the Titanium model offers a lot of the features we as a family need for convenience. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to friends and even purchase one in the future.

Disclosure: Ford Canada gave us a 2018 Ford EcoSport Titanium Compact SUV to test drive on our trip to Edmonton for the ball tournament. As always, opinions are my own based on our experience.

Enjoy Modern Comfort at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Edmonton

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Edmonton is the northernmost North American city with a population of just over one million people. It is also home to North America’s largest mall, the West Edmonton Mall, spanning 48 city blocks. There is plenty to see and do in Edmonton besides the West Edmonton Mall including Fort Edmonton Park, Aga Khan Garden, Telus World of Science, Rogers Place plus more. We have visited a few times, however on this visit our main focus was a ball tournament.

Fairfield now and then

When you have kids and are traveling for sports or activities, it’s very important to have a comfortable stay since you are typically exhausted at the end of the day. Add any breakfast that beats a Tim Horton’s drive through and you are set. We found everything we needed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Edmonton when my son got picked up to play in a boys Fastpitch ball tournament earlier this month.

Fairfield Lobby
The Fairfield Lobby is so cozy

With about two years under their belt, this newer stylish hotel offers a modern feel with comfortable accommodations that allowed us to unwind after traveling and being on the ball diamonds all day, wake up refreshed and recharged, ready for a new day of adventure. Each room features plush beds, mini-refrigerators, ergonomic work stations and flat-panel TVs with world cinema streaming capability. The hotel is surrounded by some residential and cafes, stores and restaurants.

Queen Beds
Comfy plush Queen size beds
workstation
ergonomic work stations, got a little blogging done while the kids went swimming

To make traveling easier, the Marriott has a mobile app for check-in and check-out. Simply download the Marriott Mobile App on your device prior to arriving and you will be ready to go. Free high speed Wi-Fi is equally important when traveling with kids to allow everyone a few minutes to themselves to unwind without worrying about paying extra fees.

Another feature that really stood out is the doorbell on the outside of one of the rooms in our hallway that lit up in the room for the hearing impaired. I have so much respect for hotels that offer these kinds of options.

Door bell for the hearing impaired
Door bell for the hearing impaired

Fueling up to start the day

We jump started our mornings at the incredible complimentary breakfast buffet offered. There was a little bit of healthy and hearty options appealing to each member of our family. I was happy with hard boiled eggs, oatmeal and Greek yogurt or fruit. Husband enjoyed choosing between three varieties of eggs, bacon or sausage patties, cereal, toast and coffee. The kids of course were hooked on the waffle station. Since the breakfast buffet was always busy we were not able to get a good photo of all the items available, however we managed to get some photos of the delicious food on our plates!

continental breakfast
continental breakfast

While they do not offer an in hotel restaurant at this time, the Fairfield Inn & Suites have several restaurant or cafe options all within walking distance. Or for those looking for more, a short drive, uber or cab ride provide additional options including a Superstore and a movie theater down the road. The Corner Market in the hotel offers light snacks and refreshments at any hour of the day or night.

I discovered a Vietnamese Restaurant about a 2 minute walk across the parking lot and was able to enjoy a bowl of steaming pho while the kids and their dad enjoyed the pool.

Relax and Recharge

An important part of any hotel we stay at with kids is a pool. It’s almost like a rite of passage if we go to a hotel, there be a pool for the kids to burn of travel energy. Even if they only get one swim in during our stay, they are completely content. Here we found an indoor pool with a waterslide, a fitness centre and meeting room if needed.

waterslide and pool
waterslide and pool
part of the fitness area
part of the fitness area

Take time to unwind, our final thoughts

The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Edmonton offered a truly comfortable, leisurely experience with first-rate hospitality. The room was clean, spacious and well-equipped. The staff were wonderful and did their best to make our stay pleasant right from day one when we called to say we would be checking in late. If we called because we needed more towels or shampoo, we got it immediately without any wait or delay.

View from our room window
View from our room window

Whether you are on a business or leisure trip, late flight arrival or early departure, the Fairfield Inn & Suties by Marriott is the perfect place to stay, dine and relax in Edmonton. It’s quiet, has everything you need and is close to all amenities.

Website: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Address: 581 Griesbach Parade NW, Edmonton T5E 6W1 Canada

Thanks to the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott for hosting us during my son’s u12 Fastpitch tournament. We were responsible for any incidental charges incurred including food, drink and in room service. As always all opinions and comments on Bakersbeans regarding any services provided remain mine and I stand behind 100%

Pork Schnitzel with Israeli Salad & Halloumi

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Our final recipe for Pork Month in June in collaboration with Sunterra Market involves utilizing one of their pick up and cook at home meal options. I love to cook, but even I get tired of cooking and look for an easier way without giving in to take out.

In the meat department in Sunterra Market they have several ideas for those who do not wish to cook at all, aka take out, those who want to cook but very little time for prep, aka pick up and cook at home, or those who want to start from scratch like we did with the Pork Souvlaki with Cucumber Pineapple Salsa and Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi recipes.

Sunterra offers a large variety of take home options both on their website and in the store. Some of the pork options we spotted include marinated ribs, pork steaks, pork meatballs and meatloaf, sliders, ready made pork skewers and stir fry options, plus pork schnitzel all ready to go to be cooked at home.

Pork Schnitzel Ingredients
Pork Schnitzel with Israeli Salad & Halloumi Ingredients

One of the easiest meals to make is one where most of the work has been done for you. We decided on the Sunterra Farms Pork Sirloin Schnitzels for our quick meal to help combat busy baseball evenings.

Earlier this year we made a recipe out of Gail Simmon’s new cookbook that included a chicken schnitzel with an Israeli style salad. The combination of a cooked protein and salad as your meal is exactly how I like to cook, and this became my inspiration for making our Israeli Salad to accompany this schnitzel. When we grew up meals had to be a protein, carb and veggie.

An Israeli salad is a chopped salad of finely diced tomato, onion, cucumber, and bell or chili peppers. We went for a chunky salad and changed ours up a bit by adding grilled halloumi cheese and no peppers.

If you are shopping for a particular ingredient and can not find it, always find an employee or someone to talk to about the product. The pork schnitzel I was after wasn’t in the meat counter so the butcher happily prepared me a package in less than ten minutes. Do not be afraid to talk to the staff in the store to ensure you find what you are after. The Sunterra team has always been so helpful and easy to chat with every time I visit.

Sunterra Farms Pork Schnitzel
Sunterra Farms Pork Schnitzel

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Pork Schnitzel with Israeli Salad & Halloumi
Author: 
Recipe type: dinner
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 4 pork schnitzels, set aside
  • 1 pkg Halloumi cheese, sliced lengthwise into 4-5 slices
  • 2½ cups cucumber,
  • ½ cup red onion, sliced
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
  • 2 tbsp mint, chopped
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp lemon zest
  • juice from one lemon
  • cracked black pepper
  • sea salt
  • ½ cup toasted pistachios
Instructions
  1. Brush the cheese with olive oil and place onto a medium hot grill for 3 minutes on each side, or until grill marks appear. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Add cucumber, red onion, green onions, cherry tomatoes, parsley and mint to a bowl. In a separate cup whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon zest and juice. Pour over salad, add a good turn or pinch of freshly cracked black pepper and pinch of salt. Cut cheese slices into chunks and add to salad. Gently toss.
  3. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add cutlets to skillet; cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Remove cutlets to warm platter.
  4. With a slotted spoon add your salad to the platter. Sprinkle with pistachios and serve immediately.
Notes
To toast the pistachios: Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread the pistachios evenly on a rimmed cookie sheet. Place in the oven for about 5 to 8 minutes. When they become fragrant they are done. Remove from oven and let cool down on a cutting board. Once cool rough chop and they are ready to go.

 

 

Pork Schnitzel with Israeli Salad & Halloumi
That Israeli Salad with Halloumi

 

Expect simple flavours from the crispy Israeli salad with fresh herbs and grilled cheese. We served this meal family style on a platter with a sprinkle of chopped toasted pistachios adding a little extra crunch.

 

Sunterra Farm Facts:

  1. Sunterra Farms started in Acme in 1970 by Stan and Flo Price and their eldest son Dave.
  2. All three Sunterra companies are still owned and operated by the Price family.

Sunterra Market has seven locations in Calgary and two in Edmonton. Each location may offer a slightly different set up, but they all have the same great local products, good quality and awesome selection.

We are working in collaboration with Sunterra Market and they have provided the ingredients for this recipe. All opinions, views expressed and recipe development are, as always, my own.

Pork Souvlaki with Cucumber Pineapple Salsa

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Continuing on with our salute to Pork Month with Sunterra Market, we are moving on to a different cut of pork in this recipe, the pork shoulder. This tougher cut of meat is typically layered with fat that comes from the pig’s shoulder region. In other areas of the world it may also be known as a pork butt or Boston butt, but this is actually shoulder meat. Pork shoulder is available bone-in or boneless and for this recipe we are using boneless pork shoulder. Whether you choose to slow cook it, grind it to make these delicious Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi or cut into chunks and marinate it like the Greeks do to make pork souvlaki, there are many options for getting the best out this succulent cut of meat.

Pork souvlaki is a form of grilled meat on a stick that people can not get enough of. This almost caveman-esque way of eating comes in many variations like skewers, satay, souvlaki, even stick food as we’ve affectionately called it here: Sammy’s On A Stick and here: Beef Keftas. With a variety of pork cuts to choose from like pork shoulder, pork loin or pork tenderloin when skewering pork, it’s easy to find something that fits your family, budget and time.

We like to prepare the pork the night before we plan on cooking it. The marinade is quick to make, pour into a plastic bag with your pork, seal and leave in the fridge until ready to cook. The rest comes together quickly making this another great meal for a busy weekday night or a causal weekend get together. If you prefer less fat in your pork choose a loin or tenderloin. But really, there is flavour in the fat as it melts into the meat while cooking.

 

Ingredients for Pork Souvlaki
Ingredients for Pork Souvlaki

 

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Pork Souvlaki with Cucumber Pineapple Salsa
Author: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 1 orange zest + juice
  • 1 lemon zest + juice
  • 1 lime zest + juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, cut into a pieces
  • ½ cup fresh oregano
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil + 2 tsp
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 3lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes
  • wooden skewers, 8-10 inches long
  • 2 cups cucumber sliced
  • 2 cups fresh pineapple, sliced into tidbit size
  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 tbsp mint, chopped
  • sea salt
  • 1 red thai chili pepper, sliced thin
Instructions
  1. In a bowl, cup or food processor add zest and juice from orange, lemon and lime. Toss in garlic cloves, oregano, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Puree until smooth. Pour into large bowl or plastic bag. Close, cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
  2. Soak 8 wooden skewers in water for at least 1 hour.
  3. Make salsa: Combine cucumber, pineapple, red onion, lime juice, mint, extra virgin olive oil, a good pinch of sea salt and red chili if using. Set aside until ready to use.
  4. When ready to grill, preheat barbecue to medium-high.
  5. Place 5-8 pieces of meat on each skewer. Grill skewers approximately 3-4 minutes per side turning occasionally, for up to 12 minutes or until meat is done.
  6. Serve immediately with the pineapple and cucumber salsa, and a squeeze of fresh lime on a warm pita.

 

Pork Souvlaki on pita with cucumber pineapple salsa
Pork Souvlaki on pita with cucumber pineapple salsa

Sunterra Farms is a large conventional pork producer in Alberta, with its own processing plant, and retails through its own stores in Alberta. Sunterra also produces a small number of Berkshire pigs for export to Japan.

Sunterra Farm Facts:

  1. Their butchers do custom cuts, just ask! (They may have to place an order from Sunterra Meats, so call ahead if it’s a large cut or order)
  2. Sunterra’s pigs are fed grain and barley. This results in a different texture and whiter fat cap than corn fed pigs.

 

Pork Souvlaki from Sunterra Farms
Pork Souvlaki from Sunterra Farms

 

An easy marinade with citrus flavours and fresh oregano give this pork a tangy yet simple taste. Topped with a fresh salsa of cucumber, pineapple and hint of heat from the red thai chili makes it a satisfying meal that tastes just as good the next day.

Are you a stick food fan? Share your favourite stick food ideas below!

We are working in collaboration with Sunterra Market and they have provided the ingredients for this recipe. All opinions, views expressed and recipe development are, as always, my own.

Libman Spring Cleaning Prize Pack Giveaway

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Spring for us always blows in quickly like the Chinook winds we are so well known for, and goes just as fast as it arrived. Our kids both play Fastpitch, in two different leagues all over Calgary and beyond. Therefore cleaning doesn’t happen as often as it should when we are running 6 days a week. However we all have our breaking point and when the dust bunnies start jumping at you, my inner clean Queen responds.

Fastpitch winds down soon enough and when this happens more thorough cleaning happens. Until then Spring cleaning needs to be quick and easy for us to tame the dust bunnies that attach themselves to our pets. Floors are the worst for us as we have a rough collie (Lassie Dog with lots of hair) and two sister cats who shed constantly.

The Libman Company has been helping clean homes since 1896 and is now offering some of their floor cleaning products in Canada. Since they are now in the Canadian market we are partnering with them to showcase some of the items available to make your cleaning a little bit easier. And if that isn’t exciting enough, we are offering a giveaway!

They have provided us with a Spring cleaning package of their floor cleaning products to review. I must say my husband was over the moon with the multi-purpose push broom to use in his man cave AKA garage!

You can also win the same Libman Spring Cleaning Prize Package shown here (8 items, over $100 value)! This package will be shipped directly from The Libman Company to your door and includes:

Mops

Freedom Spray Mop: What I love about these products is you can machine wash them saving time and money from having to run to the store to buy replacements. You can add whatever cleaning solution you prefer (ie: water and vinegar) without having to buy a special cleaning product to fit. Great on wood floors, laminate, tile, marble, linoleum and stone.

Microfiber Wet & Dry Mop: reusable and machine washable microfiber cleaning pad with 360° swivel. This works exceptionally well on our hard wood floors getting into hard to reach spots and can be used wet or dry.

Libmans Floor Cleaning Prize Pack
Libmans Floor Cleaning Prize Pack

Brooms

Multi-Surface Push Broom: This is the broom my husband adores. He is out every night in his man cave and sweeping the floors! I guess it helps when you have the right cleaning tools for the job! The hanger tip allows for easy hanging storage.

Indoor/Outdoor Angle Broom: We love using this broom in our trailer. It’s the perfect size to pack along with us on camping trips to keep sand, dirt and dog hair out of every nook and corner and swept right out the door. Also good for indoor use or patios. The fibers on this broom are made from recycled PET bottles which we find uber cool.

Precision Angle Broom with Dustpan: We’ve been using this broom in our kitchen (which is always messy), bathrooms (so much hair) and on our hard wood stairs. It gets under cabinets and in stair corners so easily. The broom fibers are also made from recycled PET bottles, recycled soda and water bottles. We’ve tried it outside on the deck after a wind storm and it works like a charm. Great for indoor or outdoor use.

Libmans Floor Cleaning Prize Pack
Libmans Floor Cleaning Prize Pack

Additional Items

Big Dust Pan: We have a couple of brooms so we needed a dustpan. Works with any brooms and snaps onto any handle.

No Knees Floor Scrub: This floor scrub works great on our ceramic tiles in the bathrooms and kitchen. It gets into the grooves and gets them clean. And it pivots!

Utility Bucket: You can never go wrong with a utility bucket. Clothes, mops, sponges it’s a multi purpose bucket for all your cleaning needs. Even perfect for washing the cars this summer.

 

Libmans Floor Cleaning Prize Pack
Libmans Floor Cleaning Prize Pack

 

Five Spring Cleaning Hacks

If you haven’t had much time for spring cleaning like us and summer is quickly closing in, here are a few tips to get you started after a long winter to help make the most of your spring cleaning time and resources:

Hack #1 – Ceiling Fans

Use a damp cloth or wet pillowcase to wipe ceiling fans that have accumulated cobwebs and dust during the winter. If you’re unable to reach the blades this way, try using a Libman Microfiber Duster that has a seven foot extension pole for hard to reach places.

Hack #2 – Chandelier and Ceiling Fan Lights

Take the glass light bulb covers off ceiling fans and chandeliers and stick them in the dishwasher. They come out sparkling clean, and it’s less work for your tired hands.

Hack #3 – Area Rugs

Take area rugs outside on a dry day and beat them with a broom to remove dirt, lint and debris. Spray the rugs outside with a carpet deodorizer to refresh them and let them air dry. After bringing them back inside, vacuum rugs thoroughly.

Hack #4 – Linens and Curtains

It’s a good idea to freshen up pillows, blankets, comforters and even curtains as they have likely accumulated dust and odors. For a quick refresh, gather and hang linens and curtains outside on a clothesline. Spray a fabric deodorizer and let the items air dry outside. For a deeper clean, you may want to throw them into the washing machine if the tag indicates it’s safe to do so.

Hack #5 – Walls

Spring cleaning is made easier if you fill your sink with 1 cup of ammonia to approximately one gallon of water. Dip in your very clean Libman Nitty Gritty Roller Mop, remove all excess solution, and then mop your walls. This removes cigarette smoke stain, natural gas film, and even propane stains with ease. No rinsing is required if you keep the mop dry enough.

This is a sponsored post in partnership with The Libman Company. All opinions remain my own.

Win a Libman Spring Cleaning Prize Pack

Follow the instructions below to enter to win a prize pack from The Libman Company.

Contest closes on Wednesday, June 27th, 11:59pm MST. Open to Canadian residents 18+. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond.

Prize is non-transferable and products exactly as shown (no substitutions or cash equivalent prizes permitted). The selected winner must correctly answer a mathematical question to be declared winner.

Bakersbeans is not responsible for prize fulfillment and for the delivery/shipment of the prize(s) outlined above. Prize Package shipped directly from The Libman Company.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi

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While most of the school year tends to be busy, we really gear up in May and June. The kids are already in activities and then baseball starts. Two different leagues and commitments tend to have us running 6 nights or days a week and all over Calgary and beyond for games and weekend tournaments. This is when organization and menu planning is key to ensure there are no greasy food stops along the way, but instead we keep pace with healthy, quick meals filling bellies and giving everyone tons of energy for the evenings adventures. We are big fans of the cook once, get two or three unique meals out of it to help with those crazy Spring nights.

For the next month we have partnered with local business Sunterra Market to help promote their own farm pork in celebration of pork month in June. We will be creating some quick family meals using pork and accompanying store products.

With quick and easy meals our theme, for this recipe we’ve created a Vietnamese Port Meatball Banh Mi. We initially had planned on a variation of a Pork Kofta recipe, (also an easy way to use pork for a quick meal) but changed our thoughts to meatballs, because who doesn’t love a good meatball?!

Ingredients
Pork Meatball Ingredients

This recipe can be started the night before by mixing the meatball ingredients, even making the meatballs and leaving in the refrigerator, covered and uncooked. Making the mayonnaise spread in advance also allows the flavours to enhance and hello flavour bomb.

For those on a low carb diet or keto, all the ingredients can be placed into a lettuce cup or on top of a salad using all the ingredients you have prepared for the Banh Mi’s. This recipe makes up to four dozen meatballs or 8 sandwiches. After feeding our family of four we had only about 8-10 meatballs left!

Pork Meatball size
Pork Meatball size before cooking

The traditional Banh Mi sandwich itself is actually a French-Vietnamese hybrid consisting of a baguette, pickled vegetables, cilantro, a spicy chili component, cooling cucumber, a spicy or garlicky sauce and a protein. These days any protein can go into one of these sandwiches creating something quite tasty. When we make ours, we confess we do not add the pickled vegetables since I am the only one who enjoys pickles of any sort, therefore we keep our vegetables crunchy and we keep everyone happy!

Cooked Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi
Cooked Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi

Did you know Sunterra Farms started over 40 years ago in Acme, Alberta. Since then they have been perfecting their pork. You can read more about Sunterra Farms and how they came to be through a conversation in Oxfordshire, England and the Pig Improvement Company (PIC) back in the 1960s by clicking on the link: Over Forty Years of Perfecting Pork

Sunterra Farms Facts:

  1. Sunterra Farms raises pigs in rural Alberta, producing top-quality pork that is processed at Sunterra Meats and available at Sunterra Market locations. The pork is traceable from farm to fork.
  2. All the pork sold in Sunterra Market comes from Sunterra Farms. Valbella processes their hams in Canmore then sends them to Sunterra Markets.

 

Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi
Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi

 

 

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Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi
Author: 
Recipe type: lunch, dinner
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Serves: 8
 
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground pork
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped fresh basil
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh mint
  • 2 finely chopped green onions
  • 2 stalks lemon grass, pale section, bruised & finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp finger minced ginger
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp cracked black pepper
  • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp lime zest
  • 1 tsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tsp chili garlic sauce
  • pinch sea salt
  • 2 carrots, julienned
  • 2 radishes, julienned
  • ½ cup cucumber shredded or thinly sliced lengthwise
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced thin
  • 1 red thai chili pepper, sliced thin
  • cilantro, fresh sprigs
  • 2 limes, sliced into wedges
  • 2 baguettes
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • Butter Lettuce
  • Cooked vermicelli noodles
Instructions
  1. For the pork meatballs: In a bowl mix together pork, basil, mint, green onions, lemongrass, fish sauce, 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce, sugar, ginger, salt and pepper. Once combined set back in fridge.
  2. For the spicy mayonnaise: Mix the mayonnaise, lime zest and juice, cilantro, 2 tsp chili garlic sauce and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Set back in refrigerator until ready to use.
  3. Prep work: In individual bowls add your carrots, radish, cucumber, jalapeno and red thai chili peppers, cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.
  4. Cut your baguettes lengthwise without cutting all the way through, and then into 4 equal pieces.
  5. Take your pork mixture and roll your meatballs into 1 inch balls or roughly the size of a walnut.
  6. Cooking the pork: Heat 1 tbsp of the sesame oil in a large cast iron or non stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook half the meatballs, turning often, for 5-9 minutes or until browned and cooked through. Set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you cook the second batch of meatballs in the remaining 1 tbsp of sesame oil.
  7. Once they are all cooked start preparing your Banh Mi.
  8. Make the sandwich: On each piece of baguette slather on some spicy mayonnaise. Add a few pieces of butter lettuce, 3-4 meatballs, a sprinkle of carrots, radish and cucumber. Top with cilantro, hot peppers and a squeeze of fresh lime.
  9. The lettuce cup: To eat as a lettuce cup, use medium size pieces of butter lettuce, add some vermicelli noodles, carrots, radish, cucumber, cilantro and hot peppers. You can add a small dollop of the mayonnaise if you wish and fresh lime juice.
  10. Put all the ingredients on the table allowing everyone to add more.

Bright, yet simple flavours are what make this Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi shine. We served the meatballs in a traditional Banh Mi style bun, in a lettuce cup, and the next day in a salad for lunch.

Do you enjoy Vietnamese food?! If so what are your favourite dishes?!

We are working in collaboration with Sunterra Market and they have provided the ingredients for this recipe. All opinions, views expressed and recipe development are, as always, my own.

Brita ME to WE Statement Bottle: Stand Up For Clean Water

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Change starts here. With us, with our kids, with the companies that initiate change. The choices we make impact our future and the future of others.

Stand Up For Clean Water launches today, #WorldWaterDay, with the new limited edition ME to WE Brita Statement Bottle. Every purchase of a Brita ME to WE reusable statement bottle or specially marked product during the month of March 2017, will provide a year’s supply of clean water to a person in Irkaat, Kenya. How cool is that?! EVEN BETTER is each bottle comes with a code so you can track where and how your bottle made an impact! Can you tell I’m excited about this?!

When I first heard about this campaign it moved me, like really moved me. And it moved my kids so much so they want to spend their own money (only $19.99) to buy one of these bottles to supply a year’s worth of clean water for one person. They understand the impact and importance of this campaign with very little explanation and being able to track their bottles makes this the real deal. Whether they use their own money or not we will be purchasing bottles for every member of our family.

Where to Buy:

You can purchase these bottles at: Wal-Mart, Real Canadian Superstore, Real Atlantic Superstore, Loblaws and Zehrs locations.

About the Bottle:

  • 700 ml portable bottle with replaceable water filter
  • BPA Free
  • Dishwasher safe
  • NSF certified to reduce Chlorine (taste and odour) and particulate (Class VI)
  • Just ONE Brita Bottle filter can replace up to 300 plastic water bottles
  • BPA free and dishwasher safe
  • Remember to change your filter every 151 litres or approximately every 2 months

Official Press Release:

Brita Canada is continuing their partnership with WE on a sustainable change initiative. WE is a movement that brings people together and gives them the tools to change the world. The campaign supports a borehole in Irkaat, Kenya that provides the community of more than 1,800 with access to clean water.

The program launched in September 2016 with Brita’s specially-marked filters and pitchers. This Spring, Brita will expand the limited edition packaging to include a statement bottle.

Every purchase of a Brita ME to WE statement bottle or specially marked product will provide a year’s supply of clean water to a person in Irkaat, Kenya. ME to WE creates socially conscious products and experiences that allow people to do good through their everyday choices.

As part of ME to WE’s transparent giving model, all ME to WE Brita products come with a Track Your Impact code for consumers to track exactly where and how their purchase has made an impact – consumers can go online and enter their unique code.

In addition to reducing contaminants that appear in tap water, Brita’s products save consumers more than $500 a year compared to buying bottle water, and help to reduce the volume of plastic bottles that end up in landfills or even worse, our oceans.

Take a stand, make a change in someone’s life, buy the bottle. When you do share on social media using these tags and hashtags! #BeTheDifference #WorldWaterDay

#worldwaterday
#Filterforgood
@wemovement
@BritaCA

I was compensated for this post. I fully support this initiative and campaign and all opinions remain my own.

Date Night Getaway at the Marriott Calgary Airport Hotel

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This year my husband Rob and I are celebrating 13 years of marriage. We’ve zoomed past the seven year itch without a hitch (see what I did there), and kept things interesting with two adorable children aged 9 and 11, sister cats, a dog resembling a small pony, and an International student who lives with us during the school year.

We are a busy family, so Rob and I are always on the lookout for ways to reconnect and spend time alone together. It’s important to make time for one another and reconnect without all the white noise, the kids and the pets fighting for your attention.

A favourite getaway to replenish the soul for us is simply a quiet dinner out, sometimes including the theatre or a movie, and staying over night in a local hotel, a date night stay-cation if you will.

We’ve had a long winter here in Calgary and were in need of some time away. Thanks to the newly opened Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel, and some good friends, we were able to sneak away for a night together.

The Hotel

Located between the International and domestic terminals, the Marriott has 318 guest rooms, a Fitness Centre, swimming pool with hot tub, concierge level with a lounge, and a full Business Centre with everything required to get some work done. The Marriott connects to the airport itself so you could even wander over and visit the Spaceport, a Museum of Space history in Calgary.

Mobile check in is available and they are a dog friendly hotel – an amazing perk for those of us who travel sometimes with our pups.

The lobby, check in and Yakima
The lobby, check in and Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar

If you are traveling with kids, request a room with a City view and airport view. Watching the planes is mesmerizing, with so many things going on at all times. See the planes come in and dock,  restock, reload, de-ice if winter time, simple preparing to go again on it’s next adventure. Rob and I sat and watched for quite some time.

For a few extra dollars pay to stay on the concierge level and request a view of downtown. Included with your stay on the concierge level is access to the M Club Lounge. The lounge includes comfortable chairs, views to mesmerize, a TV, and an always stocked snack bar.

Hors d’oeuvres are available in the evening and breakfast in the morning. Our room was located down the hall from the M Club Lounge, making it a favourite stop every time we left our room.

M Club Lounge
M Club Lounge and the view

Our room was large with a sitting area and telescope by the floor to ceiling window allowing close up plane watching. Did you know becoming a Marriott Rewards Member will allow you lower rates and free Wifi? It’s true!

Dining

The Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar is located on the check-in level of the hotel and open 6am – 12am for fine dining, light snacks or even brunch. After checking in and getting settled in our room, Rob and I stopped into the M Club Lounge for a cocktail and more plane watching, then back to our room to freshen up for dinner at Yakima. This destination restaurant offers a menu with locally inspired ingredients influenced by Aboriginal, Asian and North American cuisine. As we arrived at the restaurant for dinner later in the evening, we were immediately captivated with how intimate it was with dimmed lights and candles on each table.

We started our meal with a couple of appetizers. Rob ordered the Sichaun Wings with chopped peanuts and green onion, and I the House Cured Salmon with pomelo and wasabi cream. I grew up eating salmon and loved the flavours this cured salmon had to offer. The wings were reminiscent of a peanut satay, and the flavour profile worked.

Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar Appetizers
Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar Sichaun Wings and House Cured Salmon

We both decided for our main entree to try the steak. We love steak, and were especially intrigued when we spotted Alberta Beef on the menu. Rob went with the Alberta Beef Fillet served with pickled red wine shallots, a truffled Yukon mousse line and squash. I thought I’d go smaller (smaller appetite) and ordered the Skirt Steak with a soy-maple broth, squash medley and potato stack. My meal ended up being quite large and Rob had to help me finish it all. Good thing he’s got a hollow leg.

Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar Entrees
Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar Alberta Beef Fillet and Skirt Steak

We finished our meal with dessert. Being a creme brulee fanatic I couldn’t pass up trying the tonka bean creme brulee. Since we were sharing, our second dessert was a chocolate explosion spectacularly served inside a fish bowl. There were chocolate pearls, chocolate dirt, small cubes of cake and the chocolate itself resembled a cooled ganache. Both were a spectacular end to our meal.

Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar Desserts
Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar Creme Brulee and the Chocolate dessert

We choose not to order coffee to go with our desserts as we were able to stop in the M Club Lounge and sit down to enjoy our coffee and the view. Kind of romantic right with all the glimmering lights of the City in view? Next stop was the hot tub and pool to work off some of the delicious calories we had just consumed.

Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar is a destination restaurant n the North East worth checking out. They offer a range of meals to suite all palates and when dining in you get four hours of free valet parking. Here’s a sneak peak of their brunch offering.

Granola, cereal, local flavoured honey, pastries, hot options, charcuterie, seafood, several buffet options lined the tables

Things to do

With comfortable and spacious seating all over the hotel, it is easy to curl up with a good book or your e-reader/tablet and get lost for awhile.

The M Club Lounge has cozy chairs with view and even a coffee and cappuccino machine. Plus other grab and go refreshments. A light breakfast is available in the morning including eggs, bacon, sausages and so much more plus Hors d’oeuvres at dinner time. It was so comfortable and homey we could have spent ours there.

An evening cocktail was in order and we wanted a peek at the Hors d’oeuvres. Hot chicken teriyaki and a tofu dish were available, charcuterie with fresh made chips, a candy station, several mini dessert options, cookies, crackers and so much more. Way more than what we expected and everything so fresh.

 

Fruit juices and pop were complimentary as were sparkling or regular filtered water plus a coffee from cappuccino station. Alcoholic beverages are also available in the evening for a small charge and billed back to your room.

In the morning breakfast was equally impressive featuring eggs, bacon and sausage for those wanting a heartier bite. Or fruit, pastries and cereal for those wanting a lighter meal. I adored the parfait station and fresh fruit. Rob was more interested in the eggs and bacon with toast. He is definitely the Ying to my Yang where food is involved.

The fitness centre has everything you need for a workout including a view. With both cardio equipment and free weights available, you are able to get that work out in while traveling or even doing a stay-cation. Included in the fitness centre is filtered water, disposable earbuds, cool towels and there was even a bowl of apples to give you a boost post workout!

A soak in the hot tub is exactly what we needed after a crazy week, long day and filling dinner at Yakima.

 

Our stay was short as we had kids to pick up the next day, and deliver to activities. But it was memorable. While it’s great to stay in a hotel in downtown Calgary, it’s also great to stay out of the city, away from the hustle and bustle, be able to enjoy a great meal, comfortable stay and of course, the view.

Key points that really caught our eye: quick and flawless check in, valet service that was right there when you needed them or your vehicle, a pleasant welcoming lobby with comfy chairs everywhere (I wanted to try them all), the view from our room, spacious and super clean rooms, access to the M Club Lounge a must, and most importantly the service by every staff member we came across, simply amazing.

The Marriott Airport Calgary Hotel is the place to stay when you are leaving on a flight early the next morning, you are in town to visit for for an event, like the very noisy Calgary Stampede, or want a stay-cation getaway for two or even with the family. Seriously what kid doesn’t love a pool?! For more information, visit the Marriott Calgary Airport Hotel (link above).

This is a sponsored post. Opinions expressed are mine and based on the experience had while staying in the hotel and eating at the restaurant.

Eat On Your Own Terms, a Food App by ClickDishes

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We live in a World of convenience. Everyone has a smart phone, tablet, computer or some device allowing them to be online. We are able to buy our groceries or shop online, pay our bills, order take out, banking, all with the touch of a button. Technology is advancing so quickly it’s sometimes hard to keep up. We are busy, our kids are busy, our pets are busy and we have a need to get things done quickly and seamlessly. Apps are becoming more mainstream and not only changing the way we think, but the way we go about our daily business. ClickDishes is one of those apps.

A Calgary and Vancouver mobile app and platform aiming to partner with local restaurants, ClickDishes goal is simple; enable customers to order in-app, streamlining to-go ordering, dine in eating, and payment services. The developers saw a void in the market and they wanted to do something about it. No more lineups during your lunch break when you want to get your food, or having to track down your server to come to your table to place an order or to get the bill. ClickDishes aims to streamline the ordering process, allowing restaurant staff to put more focus into delivering quality meals and experiences while ensuring tables come and go quickly allowing for faster turn over. Sounds cool right? Let’s explore how the app works.

ClickDishes Food App

We were invited for dinner to test out this new app at a local Calgary restaurant called Ke Charcoal Grill & Sushi. Our first assignment, download the app and create an account. It’s free and easy to acquire. Adding a clear profile photo allows the restaurant staff to identify you.

Next assign a member of your group to be the host. Your hosts needs to sign into the restaurant and invite guests (you) to their table.

Now the fun begins as you browse the menu and order what you want, on the app, and without speaking to a server. Each time you order an item it is added to your overall order and you can view the order under order summary. In fact you can view everyone’s order broken down by individual.

ClickDishes Food App

When your meal is done and you are ready to go you have options for payment. Let the host pay, share equally or pay for your own meal. Payment options are credit card or debit credit card. Select pay on the app and Bob’s your Uncle. Easy peasy.

Ke Charcoal Grill and Sushi

We were quite intrigued by the entire app process ordering a few bites to share and a few to have all to ourselves. Ke Charcoal Grill is after all, a sushi place. We shared a table of six and the conversation was joyous and light as we all eagerly placed our orders, watching what everyone else was doing, discovering new features, asking questions and waiting patiently for our order to come.

ClickDishes is a Food App revolutionizing the way we eat when we want to enjoy a meal out.

I was invited to participate in a focus group for dinner to explore and try the new ClickDishes Food App.  All opinions remain my own.

YYC Hot Chocolate Fest 2017

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Entering it’s 6th year, YYC Hot Chocolate Fest returns, featuring unique, traditional and creative hot chocolate beverages at locations all over Calgary. Throughout the month of February, participating cafes, restaurants, and chocolatiers are featuring signature hot chocolate drinks at their locations, and some are even offering both alcoholic and non alcoholic versions.

Calgarians are encouraged to go out and try as many hot chocolates as they like with partial proceeds of every hot chocolate sold going to Calgary Meals on Wheels. Customers are given a Hot Chocolate passport they can get stamped to potentially win prizes and it’s their online ratings that decide which business will win the coveted title of Calgary’s Best Hot Chocolate and Calgary’s Best Spirited Hot Chocolate. So make sure you rate every hot cocoa you try!

Given February is typically a cold month here in Calgary, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with someone you love or love to hang out with, and enjoy a cup of steaming hot chocolate for a good cause.

We’ve been out and about hunting for the best hot chocolate in Calgary and every one we’ve tried has been uniquely delicious.

round-2

YYC Hot Chocolate Fest

 

Have you tried any of the YYC Hot Chocolate Hot Chocolate? If not, what is your favourite kind of hot chocolate?

I was asked to be a Hot Chocolate Ambassador and given some hot chocolate coupons to try a few of the hot chocolates around Calgary during the month of February. Several of the hot cocoas I am featuring were purchased by myself. All opinions remain my own.

Wild Rose Brewery & Wild Tea Kombucha collaborate to debut Blushing Brew

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On Wednesday, February 8th, Wild Tea Kombucha and Wild Rose Brewery are launching their limited edition “Blushing Brew” just in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s a blend of hibiscus, rose petal and juniper berry kombucha combined with Wild Rose Brewery Cowbell sour, which makes a colourful, drinkable and unique brew. The result is a flavour that is a bit tart, has a nice earthy tone with a touch of sweetness.

I enjoy supporting local businesses, especially Alberta based ones, so I’ve partnered with Wild Rose Kombucha to help promote this delicious blend while it lasts.

The name Blushing Brew stems from the natural blush rose colour of the drink. A healthier alternative than regular beer, the kombucha adds probiotics and digestive enzymes that help maintain a healthy gut. While it has built a cult following among natural health circles, kombucha is fairly new to the public stage. In simple terms, kombucha is a naturally energizing, lightly effervescent fermented tea.

“We’re very excited for our customers to try out the unique flavor profile in this blend,” says former Canadian Olympic Team Member in Bobsled and Wild Tea Kombucha founder Emily Baadsvik. “It’s a nice light and zesty sipping beer that pairs easily with seafood and poultry dishes.”

Blushing Brew is only available in draft form in Calgary in limited quantities. For the full list of restaurants carrying Blushing Brew and to learn more about Wild Tea Kombucha and Wild Rose Brewery, please visit their websites at www.wildsparklingtea.com and www.wildrosebrewery.com.

About Wild Tea Kombucha

Wild Tea Kombucha was founded in June 2015 by Emily Baadsvik after she transitioned into retirement following the Sochi Winter Olympics. While training on the Canadian National Bobsleigh team, Emily was introduced to kombucha which helped her improve performance during training. Wild Tea brews kombucha using small batch methods producing a product that is raw, unfiltered and unpasteurized and bottled without any added carbonation. Current distribution is throughout Alberta in more than 40 stores and growing.

About Wild Rose Brewery

Wild Rose Brewery is a small craft brewery established in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1996. The brewery prides itself on their beer using all natural, local, unpasteurized ingredients with no preservatives, and a “dash of Alberta attitude”. Wild Rose Beer is only available in Alberta.

Fresh and delicious I loved the taste of the Blushing Brew. It’s hard to believe it’s 5% alcohol content as you can not taste any beer.

Enter below to win a delicious basket of Wild Tea Kombucha and Wild Rose Brewery Cowbell Sours plus other goodies in time for Valentines Day! Contest limited to Calgary only.

 I was provided with samples of Wild Tea Kombucha and the Blushing Brew. All opinions remain my own.

A few teasers from the Valentine's Day Basket
A few teasers from the Valentine’s Day Basket

 

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Get to know Karen Marine Phytoplankton

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Get to know Karen Phytoplankton. What does that mean really. Right off the bat I have to tell you I have been cleared by my doctor for trying this new product. You too need to check in with your doctor before you try anything new.

In the past two years I have been given the sentence of hypothyroidism and bursitis in both hips. The pain and fatigue from both these diagnoses I have had to endure are less than desirable and anyone who knows me will know it’s been a bit of a challenge. Five years ago I went to my Grad Reunion, full of energy, fit  and motivated. Recently things have been a little different.

What is Karen Phytoplankton? If you are like me, the first thought that comes to mind is fish food. Well you are correct. But it’s more than just fish food. Marine Karen Phytoplankton is a single ingredient super food phenomenon similar to Quinoa. Tell me more right?

This microalgae is harvested in the ocean, and packed with omega fatty acids, vitamins, A, C, D and K, beta carotene, dietary fibre, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, selenium, iron and protein.  Approved by Health Canada, it’s known to be effective in treating everything from digestive issues, inflammation, fibromyalgia and migraines to chronic pain. Low energy and skin issues including psoriasis and eczema are also included, plus get this: anecdotally they are saying it helps Hypothyroidism. Looking forward to more research and well my findings on this.

Karen Phytoplankton
Karen Phytoplankton

What does it mean for us. Well first let me tell you when you have hypothyroidism you are tired. All the time. Motivation is hard to come by. Yes I’m on medication, but I’m still tired. Bursitis in the hips causes pains at night. When I’m trying to sleep. They say roll over and sleep on the other side, but the thing is it’s in both my hips and I’ve never been one to sleep well on my back or stomach. And there is no medication for bursitis. Only pain killers to help release the stress of the pain. And an extremely painful roller option and cold packs and and…..

Like any new product, when I heard about Karen Phytoplankton, I had to do the research before trying it. Thanks to google for making my life busier. Then I got the product and I had to do more research. Guess what? I’m writing this post and even more research. Because I really need to believe in what I’m putting into my body and what I share with my followers.

I know my body fairly well, although the past two years have turned things upside down. I’ve done the raspberry keytones, detoxes, all the things. I know what works for me, despite aging, and I know what doesn’t.

So here’s where I’m at. After getting clearance from my doctor, I’ve been taking Karen Phytoplankton for I want to say almost three weeks, the pill variation (there is also powder). The first five days I was taking one a day. You can safely take up to four. I wasn’t noticing much but remember, when you try something new like this, A) it takes time and B) you are suspiciously watching every meticulous move your body makes waiting for a reaction or response so you can tell everyone the good, the bad or the ugly.

It was about a week or so in, of taking 2-3 a day when I started to realize I was sleeping at night. I mean really sleeping. I guess I haven’t slept for so long it was a subtle change I missed. But could be anything right? Like hormones. About the same time I was noticing more energy mostly around lunch and in the afternoon. Now normally I’m yawning come 2:30pm and counting down the minutes until I pick up the kids from school. But the yawning had stopped AND (this is huge) I’m back on the treadmill (holy crap right). It’s a slow race for me as my hips sometimes tell me otherwise but I’m back baby.

I’ve been supplied with a trail run of Karen, and will continue to use it until my supply runs out. If I continue to feel good I’m going to keep buying it and using it. Most items you buy in a health food store, health and wellness or natural path practice are high, so the price doesn’t phase me, and as I’ve said it’s not my first experience experimenting with the unknown.

Our friends at Blugenics have a great offer available right now. All Karen phytoplankton products are 10% off when you order online at The Karen Project

Use Coupon code: KAREN4FRIENDS
Discount: 10% off cart total
Expires: December 31, 2017
Cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons
Unlimited usage per coupon and per person (in separate orders)

Allergen-free, Karen is available over-the-counter at pharmacies, health food stores, and health and wellness centres across Canada in pure powder or table form for $49.99.

Karen Phytoplankton
Karen Phytoplankton

As the research into human conditions with this product continues, I want to give my friends and followers the opportunity to give it a go. I have to admit I told my nurse friend (no names Emily) about it and she was like there is no way I am eating fish food. That’s ok right? I admit the tablet smells a bit like the ocean, but who cares really.

I have a free 30 day trial for Canada residents only (excluding Quebec) to give this product a try. If you’re interested in trying Bluegenics Karen Phytoplankton, to see how it may help you, please enter below. They are also offering Canadians from coast to coast a 30-day trail challenge with a full money back guarantee.

Samples of Karen Phytoplankton were provided, however all opinions remain my own.

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Get your Holiday Spirit on at Christmas in November

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For 27 years the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has been romancing guests with the magic of Christmas in November. This annual culinary event features Canadian Celebrity Chefs as well as known local Chefs who love to share their passion for cooking with attendees. With three packages to choose from, you pick the one that works best for you and sign up for sessions including food, cocktails and decor. Almost every Chef or Presenter you meet is gracious and approachable. You may even find yourself seated with some of them at your dining room table. Seriously a food lovers dream.

Beyond these sessions are decadent buffet style and plated meals, festive activities, delicious beverages, entertainment and even design sessions to help get you in the holiday spirit. I explore the Eat, Drink and be Merry side of Christmas in November on the Canada.com Website.

Chef Mark McEwen
Chef Mark McEwen with Merry and Me

Returning to Christmas in November this year was the Decor Whistler Cabin with Cory Christopher, a cabin decorated with festive flair to inspire creativity in your own home this holiday season. So much fun right?!

With so many men now attending the event, the organizers created The Man Cabin. I admit, I was a little excited about exploring this cabin that included Alberta Pork and a Spirits tasting with Charton Hobbs. Yes my friends, Ladies were Welcome. They even had cigars available for purchase if you were so inclined.

With so many great things happening during your stay, it’s hard not to get caught up in the Christmas spirit.

Vikram and Me
Vikram and Me

I was asked to cover the event as Gastropost [National Post] Ambassador again this year, and brought my friend Merry along to join me. While there I learned how to cook the shit out of Indian food with Vikram Vij, make Asian salmon tartare with Chef Jan Hansen, try melt in your mouth ricotta gnocchi with Chef Mark McEwan, make turkey confit canapes with Chef Liana Robberecht, whip up a Black Forest Roulade with Chefs Anna and Michael Olson, get my pork on at the Man Cabin with Michael Olson and Alberta Pork PLUS learn how to make memories at the cottage with Nik Manojlovich. These were just a few of my favourite things.

Chef Jan Hansen, Emily Richards and me
Chef Jan Hansen, Emily Richards and me

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has announced Chef Chuck Hughes as the 2017 headliner for Christmas in November and is already taking reservations for next year.

If you love food, cookbooks and the Food Network, definitely put this on your bucket list.

Ford Sustainability: A Glimpse into the Future with #FarmToCar

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Did you ever think it possible to eat a vehicle?! We recently had the chance to attend a Ford Sustainability Dinner at the Calgary Zoo and learn more about this exciting innovation.

For one night Ford and the Calgary Zoo teamed up to showcase some of the different food items Ford uses in the production of it’s vehicles. Sounds kinda cool right? I was admittedly very excited to attend this event as we own Ford trucks and secondly the Calgary Zoo itself is a leader in wildlife conservation trying inspire action to sustain wildlife and wild places. They boast a culinary garden on the Zoo grounds allowing them to utilize home grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and more (ie: bamboo). Several of these home grown items were incorporated into our meal.

Ford Sustainability Event
Ford Sustainability Event

A pioneer of our time, Henry Ford was always a step ahead of every one else. On August 13, 1941, he unveiled the first Ford “Soybean Car” at Dearborn Days in Dearborn, Michigan. He had already invested money in a soybean farm, a soy processing plant, and soy crop research. Ford had amazing foresight to know that one day, his customers would be looking to Ford to be the leader in sustainability in the world of car production. He even wore a soy made suit.

As the story goes, auto production was suspended during World War I, and Ford’s technology advancements became lost, as all energy was put into war recovery efforts. In 2000 Ford started to replace petroleum-based plastics with plant-based materials and the Sustainability process was reborn. Today, the automaker uses eight sustainable-based materials in its vehicles including soy foam, castor oil, wheat straw, kenaf fiber, cellulose, wood, coconut fiber and rice hulls.

#FordFarmToCar
#FordFarmToCar

After an initial margarita cocktail with cotton candy and a few light bites, Ford representatives gave us a presentation about their sustainability practices. Every meal presented by the Calgary Zoo included a sustainable material used in making ford vehicles (such as soybeans and coconut) and explained in detail by a Ford Scientist.

Table Setting at The Calgary Zoo Ford Event
Table Setting at The Calgary Zoo Ford Event

We were led into the Enmax Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo to begin our dinner. The Conservatory is a gorgeous place to hang out at anytime, but it was simply spectacular on this evening. The table for dinner was simply stunning and we were in awe while taking photos of the table before we took our seats. Our four Course Meal included a palate cleanser and each one was introduced by the Chefs as it was served to us. Following the introduction, the Ford Scientist explained the item on the plate that was being used in Ford automobiles.

One of their more recent partnerships and collaborations is with Jose Cuervo, a family-owned and operated business since 1795. They have teamed up to make car parts from Agave. The growth cycle of the agave plant is a minimum seven-year process. Once harvested, the heart of the plant is roasted, before grinding and extracting its juices for distillation. Jose Cuervo uses a portion of the remaining agave fibers as compost for its farms, and local artisans make crafts and agave paper from the remnants.

First & Third Course
First & Second Course

A few photos of our meal include our first course; Dandelion greens, apple wedges, roasted beets, mulled red wine and sugar cane gastrique, pumpkin seed brittle. Presented in bamboo grown on the grounds of the Calgary Zoo. Did you know sugar can be used to make pop bottles and other plastics?

Second Course above (and one of my favourites): Miso glazed sous vide ling cod, grapefruit segments, coconut yam puree, wilted frisee, accompanied by Ford soy custard with soy foam. The soy foam custard was inspired by soy Ford uses in its seat foam.

The evening was full of great food, company and lots of learning about Ford’s forward thinking. I left feeling inspired and confident the world I leave to my children might not be so bad after all with companies like Ford and Jose Cuervo.

I was invited to attend this Media Dinner as a guest, as always all comments about my experience remain my own.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Companyis a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visitwww.corporate.ford.com.

Touring some of Alberta’s Cool Little Towns

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One of the things we love to do is explore little towns. Whether it’s touring across Canada, the US or right here in Alberta we love to hop in the car and go somewhere new for the day. You learn so much about a community when you stop to discover what makes them unique and take the time to talk with the locals. Maybe it’s because we grew up in small little towns that we are drawn back to them so often.

We had the opportunity to experience some great little towns recently as we participated in a Cool Little Towns Tour originating in Calgary and less than an hour away. With four featured tours to choose from, Cool Little Towns encourages you to follow the routes as planned or use them as a guideline to plan your own adventure. With over 250 kilometres of Alberta’s most scenic driving routes to you should set aside the day to enjoy your drive, the beautiful views and great finds in each community. We decided on the Made in Alberta tour, a feast for your senses.

Eau Claire Distillery, Turner Valley
Eau Claire Distillery and the Turner Valley Movie Theatre turned Distillery

 

Cool-LT-v2

It was a Saturday morning with no commitments and we were looking forward to hitting the road. Our first stop was Turner Valley and the award winning Eau Claire Distillery. They offer tastings and a tour of their Artisanal Spirits offering a Farm to Glass experience as they produce their spirits from local Alberta grain. The distillery itself is housed in a circa-1929 Turner Valley Movie Theatre and Dance Hall and if you are hungry, there are light bites available.

Motoburrito Truck

After a few samples and purchase or two, we carried on our way and discovered MotoBurrito, an eclectic Mexican food truck featuring burritos, tacos, burgers, fries and more. Sitting on two acres of land next to Motorrad, this 14 foot food truck boasts a fun and colourful seating area with a variety of hot sauces to choose from and purchase. It was lunch time so we grabbed a seat and stayed to eat. While we enjoyed our fries, burgers and burritos we were able to watch a team roasting a pig for a pig roast they were having the next day.

Motoburrito Food Truck

On the road again and just a short drive down the highway, we sailed into Black Diamond. The Stop Coffee House and Gathering Place was on our list of places to visit for an after lunch coffee. This little coffee house boasts a spacious patio situated in front of a rustic outdoor bandstand. They feature Calgary’s Fratello coffee and homestyle café food. A rather large cookie accompanied our coffee, big enough to be shared by all four of us.

One Stop Coffee Shop and Black Diamond Bakery
One Stop Coffee Shop and Black Diamond Bakery

Our tour continued on by foot weaving our way through the town of Black Diamond. We browsed Cool Hand Luc’s Treasure Shop, bought some treats at Black Diamond Bakery & Coffee Shop and pulled up a stool at Marv’s Classic Soda Shop. All of the little stores along this side of the street were so much fun but Marv’s totally left a lasting impression! Here you can order burgers like Fonzie, Lana Turner, James Dean and more! The kids went crazy with glee as there was so much to look at including cool drinks and nostalgic candy. We shared a couple of sodas and vowed to return for a longer visit. Across the street we got lost in a unique boutique called Bohemia. This cool little store has the best prices and they carry fair-trade, local, cool items from fashion, knickknacks and jewelry.

Marv's Classic Soda Shop
Marv’s Classic Soda Shop

Watching our time we made a quick stop in Longview at the World famous Longview Jerky Shop. From Alberta Beef made jerky, pepperoni and sausages, to a butcher shop with custom orders, there are so many reasons to stop in an visit this cool little shop. Leaving with a few jerky road snacks we headed to our last stop of the day, the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.

Longview Jerky
Longview Jerky Shop

Bar U Ranch was established in 1882 and was one of the foremost ranching operations in Canada. Recognizing that the Bar U Ranch’s long history provided an excellent opportunity to commemorate Canada’s ranching heritage, Parks Canada acquired 148.43 hectares (367 acres), including the ranch’s headquarters area, in 1991. Artists, princes and outlaws have all called the Bar U Ranch home at various times in its colourful history. Famed western artist Charley Russell, H.R.H. Edward Prince of Wales, and Harry Longabaugh (better known as the Sundance Kid) were among the famous and infamous characters who graced the ranch’s vast expanse at various times.

There’s lots to do on the ranch like visiting with the ranch hands, learning to rope a steer, saddle a horse, make bannock, repair a bridle or boil up cowboy coffee on a fire. You can wander the trails and dirt roads, pop into the stables, the post office or even the cookhouse to learn about “home on the range”. Did you know if you carry a valid Canada National Parks Pass you can use it at Bar U Ranch and get in for free?!

Bar U Ranch
Bar U Ranch

Our day touring these cool little towns was a fun way to have an adventure and spend the day with the kids. We found many little gems and already planning our return visit to many of them.

#CoolLittleTowns encourages locals and travellers seeking a cool day trip or staycation to drive within one hour south of Calgary for amazing food, unique art, great boutiques, shop-local experiences, rural beauty and eclectic offerings. Visit Turner Valley, Black Diamond and Longview to enjoy a driving tour like mine.

I am an ambassador of Cool Little Towns and have received perks to participate. However all opinions shared here about what makes these Cool Little Towns so cool are my own.

Invivo Wines Night In

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Spending time in the outdoors is a reminder for us to focus on what’s important and shut off the phones for a little while. It’s a chance to spend one on one time with family & friends in a beautiful setting to experience life while enjoying delicious food and wine. I find cooking in the outdoors very inspiring and love to create new recipes!

This is exactly what we did when we went to Waterton Lakes National Park recently with a couple of friends and their families. It’s been 6-7 years since we last visited Waterton and we were very excited to share the experience together. These are a couple of friends I hang out with regularly during our Moms Who Needs Wine Evening Gatherings. There’s usually a dozen of us at any given time and we either get together at someone’s house, partake in wine tastings or visit a restaurant while getting caught up on each others busy lives. Our trip to Waterton included hiking, camping, fishing, good food & company, lots of fresh air and was exactly what we all needed. Plus it was the perfect setting to try a new wine, Invivo Wines Pinot Noir.

Originating in New Zealand, Invivo Wines was founded in 2007 by old school friends that liked New Zealand Wine so much they started a winery to make some. Now if that isn’t a story after my own heart, and one my friends and I have discussed many times! After the trails and tribulations of running a business, Invivo is proud to announce they are available in 17 countries worldwide and have one of Alberta’s fastest growing Sauvignon Blanc brands. The Pinot Noir is an easy drinking wine and one you don’t have to feel intimidated to try.

The Pinot Noir boasts aromas of cherries, black plum, blackberries and spicy herbal notes. A long finish and bright tannins round out this wine giving it a beautiful taste. We enjoyed our first sip with dinner, then the kids went off to play leaving us to sit around the fire and enjoy the rest of the bottle. We even discovered it pairs well with chocolate as we sampled an Epiphanie chocolate, and a dark chocolate with sea salt and spice.

Last year we discovered a wine called Bella by Invivo, a Sauvignon Blanc that left a lasting memory. I reached out to Invivo on Instagram about where to find it in Calgary and they responded right away with a few options. I haven’t looked for it in 2016, but sure hope the Bella is still available! So far my track record with Invivo wines has been fabulous.

As it’s a sweeter and fruity Pinot Noir we opted to pair it with marinated pork tenderloin for dinner. It would pair nicely with duck, salmon, tuna or chicken.

The nicest thing about this wine, was sharing it with friends!

Find Invivo Wines at these select Calgary locations:

4th Spot Kitchen & Bar
80th & Ivy
Calgary Coop Wines and Spirits
Catch Restaurant
Chateau Lake Louise
Cibo
Craft Cellars
Nixx Neighbourhood Pub
Olympia Liquor Store Group
Scopa Neighbourhood Italian
State & Main
Vintage Chophouse & Tavern
Willow Park Wines and Spirits

Samples of Invivo Wines Pinot Noir were provided for a Night In, however all opinions remain my own. 

 

 

Getting Organized with GLAD Products

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With a busy baseball season upon us, I’ve teamed up with GLAD to help get my refrigerator and meal planning in order. We have one child in softball Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and the second fastball Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. This has us running on all cylinders every night of the week including weekend ball tournaments so knowing what our meals will be and having food ready is key.

It’s also important for us to sit down together every night for a quick meal at the dinner table and catch up on each others day before heading off in separate directions. Even if it’s a sandwich or hearty soup and fruit, it’s a time for us to reconnect as a family. Knowing ahead of time what we are having and prepped food in the fridge ensures this happens.

Meal Planning
Meal Planning

Meal planning is essential to ensuring meals are quick and easy each night requiring little thought and preparation. Plan your meals two weeks in advance and create your grocery list from your plan.

GLAD agrees and shares the following guidelines for Organized Meal Preparation.

  • Take everything out of the grocery bags when you’re done shopping and invest 30-60 minutes in prep work. Wash, cut and store your veggies so they’re easier to throw into stir fries or salads. Cut up fruit and divvy into glad bags for quick snacking and meal preparation.

Wanda says: Get the kids involved in meal prep. They can wash and chop their own fruit or vegetables for their lunch snacks during the week. Give them each GLAD bags and a marker to label days and their names. Check bags for holes and wash bags and dry to reuse or recycle when they are done.

  • On Sunday, try to utilize all of your appliances at once to maximize your time. Make a big batch of sauce, soup, stew or braised meat in the slow cooker. Bake off a few pounds of chicken breasts. Saute up a bunch of vegetables or make a big batch of quinoa or rice on the stove top. Then divide all of the ingredients up either in plastic containers in the fridge if you plan to eat them within the next 2 days, or cool, and pack them into freezer bags that you can simply pull out, defrost and rewarm throughout the week.

Wanda says: Do your shopping early in the morning to avoid line ups. Poach several chicken breasts and shred for quick meals like sandwiches, salads, quesadillas, soups, soul bowls and more. Label your containers or freezer bags for reference later on.

  • With all of these things, you can combine them in different combinations to make everything from a bowl of chili with bread and a big salad, to pasta, stir fry with rice, to a healthy protein packed lunch salad with quinoa.

Wanda says: We love to cook up batches of quinoa, rice, bulgar wheat, lentils or couscous a day or two before we plan on using them. These items can be added to salads, quesadillas, wraps, veggie bowls and more. Take these precooked items camping with you packed up neatly in your GLAD storage containers.

  • Plan for unconventional leftovers by mixing and matching dinner and breakfast staples. Eggs for dinner cook in minutes, or include quinoa in breakfast staples in place of oats. Try mixing them with milk and berries for a high-protein healthy meal.

Wanda says: If you have a little extra time try our healthy Quinoa Porridge Breakfast idea anytime of the day and store extras in your GLAD containers. Or saute some cut veggies, mix in some scrambled eggs, add some cheese and toss everything into a wrap. Heat up to melt the cheese and dinner is served.

GLAD Products
GLAD Storage Products

 

With all these great tips from GLAD, it’s important to know how to store your food properly in the refrigerator for maximum freshness.

GLAD shares more great tips and tricks about proper food storage.

  • Keep onions and tomatoes in a cool dry place, not in your refrigerator where they will lose flavour
  • Pears, peaches, kiwis, mangoes, apricots, melons, avocados and bananas can be kept on the counter. Once they are ripe enough, move to the fridge.
  • Salad greens and fresh herbs can be sealed tightly in a glad freezer or storage bag with a tiny bit of air and a small piece of paper towel.
  • Citrus can be stored up to a week in a cool dark place away from sunlight or in a fridge for longer in a glad bag.
  • Celery should be wrapped in press n’ seal or cling wrap and sealed in a veggie crisper.
  • Avoid washing berries all at once, wash as you eat them because the water will cause mold growth.
  • Store your prepared fruits and vegetables in clear, plastic containers so you can see what you have. Research suggests that the food we can see and is right in front of us is most likely to be consumed first.

 

Wrap once with GLAD wrap and place in GLAD plastic freezer bag
Wrap once with GLAD wrap and place in GLAD plastic freezer bag (parmesan rinds)
Using-GLAD
Taco meat, poached chicken, tomato sauce, salad all prepped in advance and ready to go. Also in photo is blueberries and coconut milk.

 

With a little advance planning, meals can be ready to cook and on the table in no time at all giving you more time to breathe and relax a little before a busy evening adventure.

Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post, all opinions remain my own.

Cafe Blanca debuts Siphoned Finca La Primavera from Colombia

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Café Blanca is a cute little cafe tucked over in the North West corner of downtown Calgary close to Sien Lok Park. It’s the perfect spot to get your coffee fix, perhaps grab a light snack and stroll on over to the river front to enjoy the park and view.

Described by owner Derek Ho as a playground for creative professionals, harbouring creative talent, conceptual thinking and collaboration. It’s a cafe offering a stage for musical performances, piano encouraging musical creation, and they even showcase an area for exhibitions or private events. You will find several varieties of coffee, snacks and a full catering menu for your next special event. According to Ho, Cafe Blanca is the only place in Calgary that uses the vacuum method of brewing coffee.

Cafe Blanca Siphon Coffee
Cafe Blanca Siphon Coffee

Vacuum coffee also known as siphon coffee works on the principle of expansion and contraction of gases to brew a full infusion style of coffee and filter the grounds efficiently. What is left is a clear, beautiful tasting cup of joe. This process involves your senses; aromas, fragrance, motion, touch, action, tasting, cooling, tasting again, and then new flavour notes appear different from the first ones. It’s a fascinating and memorizing process to watch and experience. Ho recommends you take the time to sit and enjoy your siphon coffee from start to finish to really fully experience the different levels of taste as the coffee cools down.

Cafe Blanca Siphon Coffee
Cafe Blanca Siphon Coffee

For the next two months Cafe Blanca has partnered with Apex Coffee, a green bean importer, and is featuring an exclusive Nano Lot specialty coffee called Finca La Primavera. These beans come from a local Colombian farmer who grows only 130lbs of this special varietal of green bean coffee every year. This coffee is known as the Nano Lot and Cafe Blanca purchased all the beans from this farmer for their cafe this year. They are showcasing the coffee all of May and June, or until it runs out. You can enjoy Finca La Primavera in the cafe via two brewing methods; Drip coffee and Siphon coffee.

This coffee enthusiast dropped in one day to experience a demonstration of Siphon Coffee using the Finca La Primavera Colombian coffee and was pleasantly surprised by the clean, crisp taste of the coffee. One known to drink and enjoy coffee cold, I was further delighted to taste new flavour notes as the coffee cooled.

This coffee is only available for a limited time. For more information or to try this delicious coffee and method of drinking coffee, drop in and visit Cafe Blanca.

Photos Credit: Cafe Blanca
Photos Credit: Cafe Blanca

 

Bringing families together for Dinner With Canadian Beef

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Growing up in a Small Town [cue song from Paul Brandt Small Town & Big Dreams] in Northern British Columbia, we weren’t a busy family, but one who had more time to sit down and enjoy regular family meals together. We were a family of four and my father was a Canadian Beef lover so we often had beef roasts or steak on the weekends.

As a child I watched my dad grill the steaks and helped my mom cook the roast whenever I was allowed to help. It’s these memories and times spent together eating meals at the dinner table as a family that helped instill so many values in myself and remind me about the importance of taking the time to just “be” with each other at the table.

Today I have a family of my own, a family of four, and we call Calgary, Alberta our home. We take in International Homestay Students for 10 months out of the year and so we become a family of five. We enjoy introducing our students to new tastes and Canadian Beef is one of those they get introduced to early on.

When my husband and I got married in 2004 we contacted Alberta Beef about promotional items for our guests, and they sent us stickers to hand out at our wedding, that is how much we enjoy our beef.

I Love Alberta Beef Stickers from our Wedding
I Love Alberta Beef Stickers from our Wedding

On April 6th the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence hosted a Media Cook off and Canadian Beef Family Dinner Event. They brought in Country Music Star Paul Brandt to perform a few songs for us during dinner and judge the media burger cook off between 3 well known local competitors. While we dined on beef sliders, ribs, tacos and more prepared by Chef Marty Carpenter, Director Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence and his team, we listened to Paul sing. It was an epic moment as I’ve been a Paul Brandt fan since I moved to Calgary 16 years ago. There weren’t many at the event who knew his songs well (or as well as me) and I may or may not have been singing quite loudly along with him during dinner. Thank goodness Periscope videos disappear.

It was an exciting evening spent with several friends in the blogging and media world. We were fortunate to hear Canadian Beef announce Paul Brandt as the spokesperson for over 67,000 ranchers in Canada. What an honour to have someone like Paul representing Canadian Beef. To learn more about what Canadian Beef looks like click on the video below.

 

FAMILY

Even though there are four of us originals in the family at any given time, we are very busy with activities and events that I attend. We make it a habit whenever we can to sit down as a family and eat our meal together before rushing off somewhere, even if we only have 15 minutes and it’s sandwiches. A little advance meal planning and shopping helps make this happen.

I am also a big fan of cook once, eat two or three times. We eat Family Style, allowing the kids to serve themselves, try one bite of everything (house rule) and clean their plate before going in for second helpings. These rules have worked well and our kids are very good eaters. More often than not I am sending them to school with leftover beef wraps, beef in pitas or even beef on a bun. This makes me a very proud mom!

Family Dinner
Family Dinner – Grilled Steak Salad

We cook a lot of beef and every summer we are known for our Bakers Beef on a Bun. We host a barbecue for friends and/or family which involves about a 13 lb beef roast smoked and barbecued for several hours. It’s our way of giving back to the ones who matter most and bringing everyone together to enjoy a family style meal.

Bakers Beef on a Bun
Bakers Beef on a Bun

 

RECIPES

With beef being a staple in our family, we wanted to share a few of our favourite recipes and offer some inspiration for new family meals.

Get the family together at the table with a fondue. We’ve been fondueing as a couple for as long as we’ve been together (14 years) and have tried many variations over the years. We prefer to dip our meat into broth fondues and one of our favourite is Teriyaki Beef Fondue

We often make burgers but whenever we are camping we mix up some Pizza Burgers and freeze them individually (raw) a couple days before we go. We pack the burgers in our cooler with ice and usually cook them the first night or second when they have defrosted. The kids request these regularly.

Change up your burger routine and try these Alberta Burgers. We eat them with pitas and they are delicious.

Meat on a Stick is a family favourite here. Our Beef Keftas are popular and fun to eat!

Whip up this Taco Pasta in 30 minutes or less for those busy nights where you have to eat and run.

Family Style Fondue
Family Style Fondue with Friends

 

CANADIAN BEEF

Did you know Canada is the 8th largest exporter of beef in the world? Here’s a few more interesting facts about Canadian Beef:

  • Wide open spaces for cattle to graze: an environment that’s been conducive to grazing herds since time began
  • Cooler climates that are like a natural meat locker: much less stressful on cows than any hot-weather ranchland
  • A heritage of hardworking ranching and farming families that are part of the nation’s culture
  • Cattle are fed high energy grains which lowers the environmental footprint of finishing cattle
  • The average beef cow herd size in Canada is 63
  • Almost 25,000 Canadian farmers and ranchers are under the age of 35
  • Canadians enjoy around 930k tonnes of beef a year

Learn more about Canadian Beef by following them here: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and find them on Periscope @LoveCDNbeef

Disclosure – This post is part of the #makeitCDNbeef influencer program. All thoughts and opinions on this blog are my own. Beef facts provided by Canadian Beef.

Dulce de Leche Hot Chocolate

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Every year Calgary Meals on Wheels organizes a month long hot chocolate festival. There are some amazing entries and I find myself drinking more hot chocolate in one month then I have for the past 20 years. I’m not big on sweet, but more savory or I’ll take my coffee black please. The hot chocolate creations are so inspiring and I always want to make my own variation at home. This year I finally did using Cococo Chocolatiers [Bernard Callebaut] chocolate morsels and chocolate shavings. It ended up being one of the best hot chocolates I’ve ever attempted. If you can’t find this specific chocolate where you live you can order it on line.

In my pantry I had an older can of Dulce de Leche sweetened condensed milk. Have you ever tried this stuff? Goodness it’s hard not to sit there and eat it ALL with a spoon. I may or may not have tried. The kids had gone to the park with their dad and dog so I wanted to surprise them with a thicker and different hot chocolate when they returned home. Into the pot went the sweetened condensed milk (after I sampled it to make sure it was still good) and the rest of the ingredients followed. I love a bit of heat in hot chocolate or well anything, so I added cayenne pepper to the grown ups mugs, but not the kids.

Fresh whipped cream (or heck ya even the stuff you spray from a can) and chocolate shavings are a must. Take it camping, enjoy it after skiing, add something saucy to it like maybe ouzo or brandy and call it your own special creation.

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Dulce de Leche Hot Chocolate
Author: 
Recipe type: beverage
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 1 300ml can Dulce de Leche sweetened condensed milk
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 cups milk (I used 2%)
  • 1 tbsp chocolate morsels or chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • kosher salt
  • sprinkle of cayenne
  • whipped cream
  • chocolate shavings
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan over medium high heat add your sweetened condensed milk, cocoa, cinnamon, milk, vanilla and a small pinch of salt. Stir regularly until you see small bubbles appear - do not boil.
  2. Turn your heat down to medium and stir in your chocolate morsels/chips and cayenne pepper if using. Stir until chocolate has melted.
  3. Pour hot chocolate into mugs, top with whipping cream and chocolate shavings.