Fragrant Rice and Loblaws Thanksgiving contest

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws and Zehrs. All opinions are 100% mine.

I plan to serve a fragrant rice dish during this year's Thanksgiving meal. This recipe is simple to make and will go well with all the dishes you plan to serve. It will also go well with the sweet and spicy pineapple side dish I plan to make. Although, we can prepare the rice on the stove top I like to use the rice cooker, as it will be ready within a few minutes while we prepare the rest of the meal. 

Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Side Dish and Loblaws Thanksgiving contest

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws and Zehrs. All opinions are 100% mine.

During this year's Thanksgiving meal, I plan to serve a sweet and spicy side dish made using fresh, golden pineapple. I like that during this time of the year, I can use fresh pineapples to make this side dish, which makes the holiday even more special. We enjoy the spicy and sweet flavours in this dish that compliment the meal. 

Recipe to Make Restaurant-Style Lamb Lollipops

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Companies Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

I regularly cook, bake, and grill lamb, as it is a high protein red meat that has a good source of vitamins and minerals. I find a well marinated lamb cut makes a delicious meal for lunch or dinner. Everyone in my family enjoyed having this lollipop style lamb.

Getting our Children's Sight Checked Before School Starts

With school starting soon, we have been focusing on getting back-to-school gear ready. This is also a good time to take children over 6-months of age for a yearly eye examination that is covered by OHIP. Success at school depends on how much children can comfortably see the blackboard and their books without squinting or rubbing their eyes. For some children, eyeglasses can mean the difference between thriving at school and falling behind. Since it is so easy to buy eyeglasses online here at low prices, getting your children’s eyes checked out shouldn’t be something you put off.

Enjoy Seasonal Ontario Peaches by Making this Crumble

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Companies Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

When Ontario peaches are in season, my family and I like to enjoy their fresh, sweet, and sometimes tangy taste. I like to use fruits mostly when they are in season for desserts and salads. Peaches are one of those delicious stone fruits I like to use when I make fruit crumbles. This warm, cold, sweet, tangy, and crunchy dessert goes well with ice cream.

Sockeye Salmon Fish Cakes

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Companies Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

My family and I enjoy a variety of seafood items because of their nutritional benefits and flavour. My usual sockeye salmon recipes involve baking it, making a curry with gravy, or incorporating it into short-eats. During our trip last year to Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, we enjoyed delicious fish cakes by the sea and I wanted to replicate making them at home. I used fresh, in-season salmon for this recipe. I like the firm texture and the sweet flavour of this fish. 

Mediterranean Asparagus Salad

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Companies Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

Asparagus is now in season and is available at a Loblaws grocery store for a limited time only. Purchase it soon and relish its unique flavour!

Canadian Cheese Awards Giveaway

I find when I shop at Loblaws I could find a variety of cheese that my family and friends enjoy. Loblaws stores feature 300 to 400 varieties of cheese in-store, including the best of Canadian and international Cheddar, brie, feta and more!

Eating Balanced Meals Can Help Maintain Good Health

A recent Shoppers Drug Mart Flu Poll found that 51% of Canadians believe the best way to protect our self from flu is by eating well. I believe having balanced meals helps us maintain immune function, and good health so I try to make a variety of healthier dishes for my family and I. I love to make our dishes colourful and especially make it a point to do this in the winter.

Eggstra Special Easter Finds and more

There are lots of cute eggstra special Easter decor and entertaining items available from PC Home at the Real Canadian Superstore and Loblaws.  

Check out the personalized cakes, treats, crackers, chocolates and more that would be wonderful to serve and entertain guests during the upcoming Easter holiday weekend. 

These pastel coloured cute baskets are only $1

 

Renowned Fitness and Nutrition Expert Harley Pasternak will be in store at Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws on March 19^th at 1pm to chat with fans to launch his new book, The Body Reset Diet. 

In The Body Reset Diet, Harley offers a program to help shed pounds without sacrificing health or convenience. The Harley Diet is a 3-phase program that focuses on the easiest, most effective way to slim down and get healthy in 15 days.  

Loblaws store at Maple Leaf Gardens Canteen

60 Carlton Street, Toronto

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T & T Asian-inspired products

In a fabulous place like Canada, we have a gift of exploring different cultures and traditions from the convenience of our home.  My family and I like exploring new and unique ethnic products, and we open mindedly try them if it is within our dietary restrictions.  

We can create our own Asian-inspired meals to our guests, by using pre-made T & T brand products.  These T & T brand products are conveniently available at Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs, Valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer and No Frills. 

• We can use T & T Korean Kalbi Marinade sauce to marinate meat for grilling or to make Asian-style stir fry.
• The refreshing drinks such as the Aloe Vera Drink and Jasmine Green have unique flavours that taste fabulous when served chilled.  These beverages will go well with the rest of Asian-themed food.

Check out the selection of T & T products here.

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Feasting with PC

President's Choice makes it easy for us to host holiday parties without spending long hours in the kitchen.  PC has created an array of products especially for the holidays from hors d'oeuvres to desserts and everything in-between.  Although I like making different types of food sometimes having these pre made food allows me to relax and spend time with family and friends.  

PC's black label collection has a variety of products that have unique flavours such as this non-alcoholic Sangria cocktail mixer, Vidal ice syrup made with Vidal grapes from the Niagara peninsula, Almond flatbread etc...

This Almond flatbread made in Spain looks festive so I served it with hummus, however we didn't enjoy it.  The flaky crackers has a combination of flavours from almonds, sugar, anise seeds and sesame seeds that tasted odd to our palate.

We like the Blue Menu products from PC such as the breaded butterfly shrimp, crispy lollipop shrimp and cupcakes, which are wonderful to serve for any occasion.  

PC has a variety of dips such as smoked salmon, spinach etc that taste good served in many combinations from pita to crackers.  They also have a variety of cheese including the party favourite Brie made with 100% Canadian milk.

Asian style snack mix

Treats to munch include nuts, popcorn, chips and snack mixes.  This Asian style snack mix has strong flavours with hints of wasabi coated peas, which would be suitable for adults.   

PC also has our beverages covered with cranberry ginger ale, spice apple, candy cane hot chocolate, candy cane eggnog and many more.  We enjoy the smell and delicious taste of this spice apple cocktail. 

They have unique treats such as the Candy Cane chocolate squares, the big box chocolate toffee collection, biscotti, chocolate fingers, banana crème Dulce de leche cookies etc... that would make lovely finger food and gifts to take to friends and family.

If you are looking to bake something yourself :) then check out their kits i.e. shortbread cookie mix, gingerbread kits, red velvet cakes and brownies.  

The PC insider's report that is online and in stores will give us ideas on what we can serve when we feast during the holidays.  PC products are available at Loblaws, Superstores, Independent, Fortinos, Zehrs markets, Valu-mart, Freshmart and Nofrills.  

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Making Ginger Ale from Artisan Soda Workshop book and PC products

The Artisan Soda workshop has 70 syrup recipes to make flavourful fizzy homemade sodas.  With this book, we can make our own combination of refreshing sodas at home and avoid canned carbonations.  The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow to make fruit, herb and spiced bubbly drinks.  

I like the bit of history given in the beginning of the book about carbonated drinks.  Carbonated drinks were originally produced because of medicinal benefits.  Coca cola made in 1886, derived from coca leaves and kola nuts.  Pepsi cola came 12 years after coca cola, which is made with pepsin and kola nuts.  The cans and bottles replaced the traditional soda fountains in the 1920s.

When making sodas at home we can cut down on the amount of sugar and use fresh fruit without artificial flavour.  We can also use sugar alternatives such as coconut palm sugar.  The suggested syrups can be used in pancakes, French toasts, oatmeal, ice cream, smoothie or in a salad dressing combined with oil and vinegar. I also used the syrup to make spicy hot tea.

The taste and flavours of the carbonated drinks made at home will not be the same as the ones sold in the store and it is a little bit more work than opening a can :) but it is worth it because mass produced store-bought soda has chemicals, high fructose and corn syrup.
The appendix in the end of the book has recipes separated by seasons, which is helpful to pick one and get started.

If you have a soda stream, you can use it to make carbonated water then add syrup and flavour to it.  We can also control the amount of carbon dioxide that we put with this type of machine.     
I used the carbonated natural spring water from PC to make this ginger ale.  I made half of the ginger syrup recipe from the book.

2 cups of water
6" of fresh ginger root thinly sliced
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp ground ginger

Bring the water, sliced or grated fresh ginger and sugar to a boil in high heat.  Add the ginger powder to the syrup and let it simmer in medium heat for about 10 minutes until the syrup is half the amount you started with.
Strain the syrup through a fine mesh and let it cool.  Add 3 tbsp or more syrup to taste into 1 cup of cold seltzer or carbonated water and serve.  The syrup can be kept in the fridge for unto 5 days in a container.

President Choice also has a few new products just in time for back to school.  We all need some pre-prepared options for the busy days.  Here is a highlight of some of the products.

• PC shelf stable milk packets are safe to send in the lunch bags or to take on the go.  It can also be stored in the cupboard instead of the fridge.
• Individual cheese portions made with 100% Canadian milk makes a healthy smart snack.
• Peanut free individually wrapped snacks such as carrot cakes, chocolate chip bars, brownies and decadent chocolate chip mini bar make delicious snacks for anytime of the day and to send for school snacks.  
• PC honey chipotle kettle cooked almonds is a lovely snack for those who like smoky flavour. 
• The sour jelly beans are chewy treats for everyone who enjoys sour fruit flavour.  
• PC also has pita crackers and flavoured chips that are delicious for snack time.

This picture goes to black and white event hosted at tomato blues.

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