Kashi- The Seven Whole Grain Company

I was recently contacted by Kashi to try some of their new products and thank you Kashi for finding me!

We love Kashi and my tot loves to snack on the Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal which I have to admit, I like it alot too.
It has whole grains, fibre, iron and all natural ingredients.

In fact I've traded in chips for cereal, once again thanks to this fine line of food.  I can snack better, snack tastier and snack healthier.

I just wolfed down there Kashi Chewy Bars, I got the Dark Mocha Almond follwed my a cold glass of whole milk and for me I am always on the go or forget to feed myself as I try to stuff food into Charlie's picky mouth ( I think it's the teething) so this is nice a product to have handy in the cupboard.

"Naturally, you won’t find any partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial anything but what you will find in their chewy granola bars is just what you’d expect from Kashi—minimally processed, pure ingredients, and natural goodness you can see as well as taste."

Because of the samples they sent me, I am convinced I will try more Kashi products, in fact I just picked up their box of crackers.  Kashi all the way in our household, something I can feel good about and trust when I'm shopping at the grocers.

Quaker Journey Blog Tour

For the past month blogger, Lynn from www.walkingwithsissors.com has been documenting her families journey to healthy living, making better dietary choices and the challenges they've experience together as a family.
The Quaker Journey to Wellness is following Lynn and one of the best parts is there will be prizes for you along the way.

What would be my path to better health?  Well exercise is important and I am doing that through Fit Chicks, diet is extremely important as well.  I always buy organic foods for my family, I try to get in as much veggies as possible but the one change I'd like to see are our snacking choices as we don't often eat together as a family so I prepare breakfast/lunch/dinner for my toddler, hubby leaves for work and doesn't get home til late so he ends up eating leftovers and at a later time.  I always make sure he takes digestive enzymes when he's eating that late (11pm) and then heading to bed.  I snack on Miss.Vickies, the wonderful saltiness from a bag of her chips gets my cravings salivating and I have to give in.
Those are the changes I'd love to see change but with my husbands schedule it's not possible but I need to take care of myself and make better choices because it's so easy to make those choices for my son and husband. 

Check out Quaker Journey for yourself, what healthy choices have you made recently?  They are also on Facebook so you can share tips, get coupons and leave your comments on Lynns journey.

Disclosure - I am participating in the Quaker Journey to Wellness program by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Co. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Fancy Macaroni-Courtesy of Tasty Kitchen

I was in awe as I mixed in the cheese with the bechamel.....Holy Macoroni Batman this is a recipe and a half for good ol' Mac N' Cheese.
Do you know Ree yet? Pioneer Woman? Hello, what planet are you on. If you're a new mom, you're excused.
My sister introduced me to The Pioneer Woman and I had no idea that it was a blog.  That was 3 years ago. I only learned about blogging a year ago and after watching Julie & Julia.
I went baby blog first, then skin care and now food.

Okay, who cares about me here's the recipe:
* Now to be honest, I only used Fontina and OKA and it was sooooo cheesy and soooo yummy.  I also used Brown Rice macaroni.  I just throw stuff when I cook and estimate measurements, so I'd day a cup if each of the above mentioned cheeses.

The Goods

• 4 cups Macaroni
• 8 Tablespoons Butter (Salted Butter)
• 2 whole Medium Onions, Cut In Half And Sliced Thin
• 10 slices Regular Bacon
• 1 Tablespoon Bacon Grease (reserved From Bacon Slices)
• ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
• 2 cups Whole Or 2% Milk
• ½ cups Half-and-half
• 2 whole Egg Yolks, Beaten
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• ½ cups Grated Gruyere Cheese
• ½ cups Grated Fontina Cheese
• ½ cups Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
• 4 ounces, weight Chevre (soft Goat Cheese)

The Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook macaroni for half the time of the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Fry bacon until slightly, but not overly, crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Reserve grease.
Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet and then saute onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown and soft. Set aside.
In a pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter (and add 1 tablespoon of the reserved bacon grease for good measure!). Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat for 1 minute. Pour in milk and half & half, then cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thick. Reduce heat to low. Add salt & pepper to taste. (Do not undersalt!)
Beat egg yolks and drizzle 1/4 cup hot mixture into the yolks, stirring constantly. Stir to combine. Pour egg mixture into sauce and cook for another minute.
Add cheeses and stir until melted. Add onions and bacon and stir. Taste for seasonings and add more salt if needed. Add cooked macaroni and stir to coat.
Pour into a baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until sizzling and hot. Serve with red meat or a green salad.

My ever so professinal pictures in my messy kitchen.  Who am I kidding?  I have a toddler and a small kitchen with dishes everywhere.  What I would do for a dishwasher. I have to wait 3 more years.  I think Charlie will be old enough, LOL.  Hopefully we'll be in a house by then and not in Toronto!

Mmmm......cheese

Now melted goodness into the bechamel sauce.....look at the oooey goodness!

Now mixing it all in!

Pop in the oven and enjoy the best comfort food!

Ryvita Snack Bread, snacky goodness!

I love, love, love Ryvita snack bread!
I came across this at Sobeys Market, with 6 slices equaling only 120 calories I thought why not.
Ryvita Snackbread is a light and crispy alternative bread, 3 g of fibre and 27g of whole grain.
Yum!
But what is one to do with such a delightful crispy toast?
Here's my new love.

Recipe du Jour


2 Ryvita Snackbread
1-2 Farm Fresh tomatoes (or just pick up Kumatoe's)
Monforte or your other favorite cream cheese product
Olive Oil  for drizzling
salt and pepper

Soooooooo yummy!

Farmers Market at Christie and St.Clair West

Saturdays 8:00 am to 1pm
Artscape Wychwood Barns
601 Christie St.
(St.Clair West & Christie)

Well, lets just say I was blown away and thank god they are open year round at the Art Scape Building.
Dammit that I work Saturdays! Well, I have to get up early and be there for 8am and get to work in time for 9:45am.
I'll have to bring groceries with me to work which is fine because we have a great kitchen and there's no way I can drag Papa Ash with me, especially if that means he has to wake up at 7am.
An awesome playground is there, performers and good food cooked for you as well, so grab a coffee, shop and play with your little ones when all the shopping is done.

 Why I love Farm Fresh!
Fresh, Fresh, Fresh ='s Good Food
I open the fridge door and I smell, fresh organic meat.  I look at my kitchen and I have fresh, tasty vegetables for my family to enjoy all grown in Ontario!  Properly picked and cared for.

I've interacted with farmers, I'm supporting them and that's just one of the reasons I treasure that I can go to Farmers Markets.  The food tastes sooooooo good, try for yourself and there is a difference when love is put into the Earth by these farmers.

If you haven't experienced shopping at Farmers Markets, what's stopping you?
It is not that expensive( $2.00 for potatoes, $5 for farm fresh, organic eggs, veggies and fruit cost anywhere from $2-$6 and the amount is not small)

I went with $100 cash (no interac at the Market) and came home with $35! 
I would say this is one of my favorites, I'm dying to go to Brickworks and this Wednesday I'm going to go to the one downtown in Nathan Phillips square.

So what did I buy?

I wish I had a camera to take pictures (hubby has it as he's in New York, lucky S.O.B) but anyways I bought the freshest, yummiest, organic heirloom tomatoes, beautiful organic potatoes from Everdale Farms ( I cooked with them twice today, I got a lot for $4!), fresh not frozen nitrate free side bacon and Charlies favorite Honey Garlic sausages from Green Gate Farms, I got farm fresh eggs and hormone free, organic chicken bones for stock from a Mennonite family farm called Schefter Family.  Delicious carrots that came in purple, yellow, reddish and orange...organic as well from Woolerdale Farm, St. Johns Bakery bread(my fave!), Baby Ash had a brioche for breakfast!
I bought colorful string beans, Monforte Cheese sheeps milk cream cheese and the best French Lavender oil from Earthly Paradise.
Now I am safe in the kitchen from burns and a couple of drops on the diffuser in Baby Ash's room and he's in sushy bye sleepsville!

What did I make pray tell? 

Well for breakfast I used the salt free/nitrate free bacon so my sweet boy could have a bite, I sauteed onion and spinach and used the farm fresh eggs that I bought and added some of the Monforte cream cheese and with some of the potatoes I bought well....home fries were in order!  Lightly boiled then fried gently in olive oil, sprinkled some paprika, salt and dried rosemary.  They were delish'!

Dinner....

Yummy farm fresh Honey Garlic sausages and again more potatoes!  Only this time I mashed 'em.

Here's my recipe for mashed potatoes.


Mama Ash's Mash

8-10 medium sized potatoes, peeled and chopped
salt and pepper
a decent splash of organic 18% cream 
a dollup of butter
and a few tablespoons of cream cheese

Oh, that's some serious goodness!

Here's a list of Ontario Farmers Market.
I hope you go and when you taste the difference compared to the produce at the super store chains you will become a foodie snob like me and you'll understand.

Green Barn Market

Saturday will be on the cooler side and I am looking forward to a morning stroll with babe in tow to the Green Barn Market, located at St.Clair and Wychwood in the ArtScape building.

My dear and favorite regular client of mine who writes her own amazing food blog called Roasted Duck and a Big Gooey Cake tells me I should go so I am as I am not working this Saturday!

A little bit about this Farmers Market:

"The Green Barn Market supports Ontario agriculture by encouraging our farmers to grow as sustainably as possible, and some of our farms are Certified Organic, though not all of them.  All of our non farm vendors shop for their ingredients from the market. What you will find year round at our market is fair, real food that reflects the cost of bringing it to you so that everyone involved in it's production makes a living wage, and that causes as little damage to the environment as possible.
There's music and chefs making taste bites of what's in season each week. Ali Harris of Fish Shak is our chef at the market and he's making all his usual delicious fish sandwiches and veggie rotis as well as French Toast with a Caribbean flair and omelets that are delicious anywhere in the world. We open at 8am every Saturday morning, year round, and we stay open until noon." The Stop

I just know by the amount of vendors they have, I am going to go nuts, here's the list.

photo courtesy of NOW Magazine

I'll keep ya posted with what we get and if you're in Toronto, have you been here?

Food & Wine, pg 136: Russian Style Chicken Cutlets

Russian Style Chicken Cutlets
My toddler loved this as well, served the chicken with apple sauce and it's a hit for the little ones.


The Goods

2 slices good quality white bread, crusts removed
1/4 cup of half & half
1pd ground chicken
1 egg
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp dried dill
5 tbsp of butter, 3 of them at room temp (ahhh, butter)
1 cup dry bread crumbs
2 tbsp of cooking oil


Organic cream poured over some fresh white bread goodness!

Mix in butter, egg, dill, s&p and chicken

Remove from freezer and form patties, I let mine sit there for 20 min

Fry them up in some buttery goodness

Served with Mama Ash's Mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms

The Deed

Break the bread into pieces.  In a large bowl, soak the bread in the half & half until the liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes.  Mix in the chicken, egg, salt, pepper, dill, and the 3 tbsp of room temp. butter.
Put in freezer for 10 min to firm up (don't forget it, LOL!)

Remove the chicken from the freezer; it will still be very soft. Form the mixture into four oval cutlets and coat with bread crumbs.

In a large, non stick frying pan, heat the remaining 2tbsp of butter and oil over moderate heat.  Cook the cutlets until golden brown and just done.  4-5 min per side

Serve with sauteed mushrooms, beets, glazed carrots(we will) or mashed potato.

Food & Wine, Quick from Scratch Chicken Cook Book, pg 24: Chicken Stew with Cider & Parsnips

Cook book of the week
Food & Wine 
quick from scratch chicken cookbook


Fry up some chicken and brown 'em:

Remove the bird thighs( I used all thighs....I truly cannot stand drumsticks.  I don't know why)

Whisk in the flour:

Add the cider and the stock, then add the finely sliced onion, chopped parsnips and carrots, thyme & salt.  There was a picture but it wasn't that great, but here are the veg (old banana's in the background for banana bread)

Pour it all in, bake in the oven for 20 min

Voila, c'est finis.  I thickened it up with flour and adjust the seasoning to your prefrence.  My toddler loved this.  I served it up over some egg noodles.

The Recipe

It's not a chilly fall evening but I was in the mood for something this!

The goods
2 tbsp of cooking oil
4 chicken thighs
4 chicken drumsticks
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tbsp flour
1 cup apple cider
1 1/2 cup of low sodium chicken stock
1 onion, cut into thin slices (phew!)
1 pd parsnips, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 tsp dried thyme

The deed 
Heat the oven to 400F.  In a large pot or Dutch ovens, heat oil over moderately high heat.  Season the chicken thighs and drumsticks with 1/4 salt & pepper.
Cook chicken until browned, turning, about 8 minutes in all.  Remove.  Pour off all but 1 tbsp of the fat from the pot.
Reduce the heat to moderate and stir in flour.  Whisk in the cider(yum!) and the broth and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pot to dislodge any brown bits.  Add the onion, parsnips, carrots, thyme and salt.  Simmer, partially covered for 10 minutes.
Return chicken to the pot, bring stew back to a simmer, cover and put in preheated oven until the chicken is done and the veggies are tender, about 15 minutes.

Serve with boiled potatoes, egg noodles or rice.

Bet you didn't know this...Why to buy Farm Fresh eggs

 According Mother Earth News true organic free range eggs are more nutritious than commercial brands.  3 times more vitamin E and 7 times more beta-carotene.

Did you know a hens eggs shell is just as porous as our skin?
They are not impermeable as I once thought.
I was talking with my farmer where I buy my eggs from( I love visiting Farmers Markets)  and I asked him "how are your eggs washed?".
This whole topic also started with a co worker of mine as we were talking eggs and she mentioned an article she read about the chemicals used in commercial egg factories.
She also brings me farm fresh eggs when I can't make it to the market.
I also have a regular client of mine(who writes an awesome foody blog) that brings me farm fresh eggs and the eggs that she brings....wait folks; the farmer feeds her hens with Bee Propolis(she sells her own, royal jelly/beewax line) so I have super healthy fantastic eggs!
You can say I'm little eggstatic about farm fresh produce!
They taste so rich, they aren't thin and watery with a sad looking pale yolk.  There is a difference.
So back to my farmer, he was kinda surprised by my question because no one has ever asked him that he said just water with a little elbow grease.
However, you can't just submerge them and let them soak...bacteria will get into the egg itself, there is a method.
It works in the "same' way that when submerged in water the pores open and do you know what is used to clean commercial eggs?
Would you be surprised to know that chlorine is used and mineral oil?  Yep, mineral oil to give it that nice shine to make it more appealing to consumers.
I have been trying to find more information on this as it is quite hard!  However I found a great source from this website and please read it, it has valuable information and pretty much says what I would like to say.

Here is an excerpt from the site, Ukiah blog:

"Your Organic Eggs May Be Chlorinated or Rinsed in Lye
According to A Guide to On-Farm Processing for Organic Producers: Table Eggs, detergents and other chemicals used for “wet cleaning” eggs must either be non-synthetic or among the allowed synthetics on the National List of allowed non-agricultural substances (205.603 of the National Organic Standard).

These synthetics include:

• Chlorine (sodium hypochlorate)
• Potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide (lye)
• Sodium carbonate
• Ozone
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Peracetic acid (peroxyacetic acid) — a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide

These agents serve mostly as sanitizers, rather than washing agents"

Read his complete article here 

Definitely something to think about when you reach for that egg carton at the grocery store.  
What are your thoughts?  Have you ever thought of the chemicals used to wash the eggs you buy?

Beretta Farms supplies Chipotle!

I was just walking by Chipotle the other day and now that I know that one of my favorite farms is supplying the meat, well...enough said.  I have to go in!  I mean who else can say their food has integrity? Read more here

 

hormone/antibiotic free meats, healthy, fresh food!

Visit the new Toronto Chipotle at Yonge and Eglinton, I wish them all the best and much success come!  Canadians let's make this be successful, we NEED something like this.

Lets support them for their innovative, healthy approach to good food on the go!

Check out Steve Ells on Oprah speaking to Chipotle's mission of 'Food with Integrity'.

 

Another reason to visit:
Beretta Ranch is proud to be a 'farmer with integrity' and supply all Canadian Chipotle's with our Traditionally Raised Beef and Chicken.

Fresh Food Finder

Here's a great source for local food found in Ontario.
 Click here for the GreenBelt Resource and let enjoy fresh food!