Harvey’s Restaurants

Harvey’s

Back in November, I have received a gift card from Harvey’s.   Since our third son’s birthday was just coming around, we decided to go to Harvey’s to celebrate his birthday.   It was a first for the kids as we had never brought them there before.

What is special about this fast food chain is that you can build your burger the way you want it to be.    After each kids had picked their meal (as well as the adults), we instructed the Harvey’s employee on what each of us wanted in their burgers.     You can pick onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, hot peppers as well as various condiments.    Don’t like pickles in your burgers but adore them nevertheless?   Not a problem as you can ask them to put some on the side for you.  They will wrap them in an individual paper and put them in your tray. 

Personally, I am not a big fan of the regular hamburgers.  Somehow, I never liked them.   However, I am a huge fan of their grilled chicken one and I even try a new sauce – Spicy Mesquite.   It was delicious!   Below are all the selections you can add to your burger.

Though the younger kids tried the Kids Combos, my oldest chose to eat a Great Canadian Burger which he loved..  My husband chose the Great Canadian Spicy Onion Bacon Burger and was a bit disappointed with it.     We had frings (a combination of fries and onion rings), fries and onion rings to eat with this as well a drinks.   With the Kids Combos,  the younger ones also have a toy.    If you compare the quality and the originality of the toys at Harvey’s with another fast food chain, it is a bit disappointing to see what they are offering.   When we went they only had cardboard built your own dinosaur or a plastic building toys that didn’t have enough pieces to build something interesting…   The dinosaur were broken within a day or two and the other toys quickly found its way in the recycling bin.    The kids were disappointed but quickly got over it.   

We had a great time at Harvey’s to celebrate our son’s birthday.   The place was quiet though.   Not many people were in the restaurant on Nov 21st.   We had picked one that we knew that not many people go there in the evening.   I think when we arrived there was only one person in the restaurant.  When we left two other families had arrived…  

Though the food is great and that you can find many Harvey’s throughout Canada, we find the prices a bit expensive.   For a family of six the total amount was slightly over 50$.   Not everyone can pay that much to take the family out to Harvey’s.   There are many other possibilities for take out/restaurant that is cheaper than this for a big family like ours.    We appreciate the fact that we had a gift card to enjoy our outing to Harvey’s but I would like to suggest the chain to consider putting cheaper meal options for big families or at least create a family meal option.

Disclaimer: This post was possible because I received a 50$ gift card from Harvey’s for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Aureeva–Soya fortified beverage

Recently I received an email from a company in my neighborhood which offer soymilk in a new innovative way. Since I discovered soymilk can be beneficial for menopause women (yes I have entered this phase in my life since over a year ago which is quite early for my case as I am in my 40s), I am always willing to taste new products on the market. So when I was offered to come and visit the place where the soymilk is made, I didn’t hesitate one second and decided to plan a field trip out of it.

On November 11th, the whole family drove at the other end of the city to visit Prosoya which is the plant where the Aureeva soymilk is made.

We were able to see the equipment used for the soymilk production as well as learned more about the process involved. The older kids were interested in it just because our family enjoys learning about how things are made. Once we saw the equipment, my contact proceeded to present the different flavours they currently have – original and vanilla. These two flavours are available at a grocery store near you. But we were also privilege to taste the new flavours that will go on the market hopefully in 2012 – orange and strawberry smoothies. Out of the flavours we tasted, the kids particularly liked the orange smoothie which they kept asking for more while we were there.

Soymilk is the perfect beverage for taste conscious/price conscious health conscious and lactose intolerant consumers in the Ottawa and Gatineau area. It is high in calcium, lactose free, low in fat and contains no trans fat. It is also an excellent source of Omega-3.

Contrary to other soy beverage companies, the Aureeva soymilk is not sold in cardboard containers but instead in bags like the regular milk (yes dear readers from around the world, our milk is sold in bags in Canada…). However, the bags for the Aureeva soymilk is non transparent and will help to extend the shelf life of the product.

As I mentioned above, my kids loves the orange smoothie. Unfortunately this specific product (as well as the strawberry one) is not available currently in store. However, the original flavour and vanilla flavour can easily be found at numerous stores in the Ottawa area. You can easily mixed you own chocolate syrup to add some taste to it. I personally like the vanilla flavour as it has a bit more sweetness than the original one. But different people would prefer the original flavour and that is perfect as well.

I was quite impressed with the quality of the product while we visited the place where the soymilk is made. Everyone in the family enjoyed tasting it and gave their comments on it. Generally speaking, the Aureeva soymilk has found a place of favor in our house. Interestingly enough, my daughter – who had to take soymilk while she was younger due to a reaction to the milk protein in regular formula – was not keen in drinking much of it. And as far as the strawberry smoothie is concerned my third son is the only one who loves it… The rest of the family will drink it but we all find that it taste a bit too close to the Neapolitan ice cream which we don’t particularly enjoy.

At this point in time, Aureeva is available at most of the YIGs and independent metro stores in Ottawa/Gatineau area. I have learned from my contact that Loblaws and possibly Sobeys will also carry the products sometime in early 2012 (around March).

Are you wondering about the price? Well be at peace because I also learned while visiting Prosoya that the price attached to the 4 liters of soymilk is quite reasonable. For a bag of 4 Liters, you will page 5.99$ which is very affordable when you think of the price that other soy beverage are sold in the size of 1.89 liters. The purchase of Aureeva soymilk is definitively economical in the long run for families looking for lactose-free products.

Now that I have discovered this product, I am pleased to learned that it is available at the YIG in my area. Looking forward to visit the store and find the Aureeva on the shelves!

Many thanks to Rashmi for giving us a tour and allowing us to taste the Aureeva products.

Jewish Holiday Cookbook

Jewish Holiday CookBook  - Festive meals for celebrating the year
From Jill Bloomfield and Janet Ozur Bass
Published at DK Canada

About the book

The traditions and recipes of Judaism are celebrated in this beautiful modern cookbook geared toward kids and their families. Eleven Jewish holidays are discussed and accompanied by recipes for the ancient and modern foods traditionally served. Kids can lead the charge on braiding their first challah or making their own kugel, while spending time learning about Jewish history and heritage.

Who are Jill Bloomfield and Janet Ozur Bass?

Jill Bloomfield is DK’s resident kid’s cooking expert. She is also the creator of a kids cooking consulting company, Picky Eaters. Originally a microbusiness that provided hands-on kids’ cooking parties in clients' homes, Picky Eaters evolved as the “kids in the kitchen” trend caught fire (though, thankfully, her clients' kitchens did not). In addition to her work in the world of kids cooking, Jill also teaches English, public speaking and Jewish culture classes in Rockville, MD.

Rabbi Janet Ozur-Bass is a rabbi, mother, teacher, and self-proclaimed foodie. She lives with her three children and her husband, a cantor, in Rockville, Maryland.

My thoughts

My son, Alexandre, had a special assignment to do to complete his gold level for a section in his Awana book.   He had to make a Jewish recipe for a holiday they celebrated.   Knowing that DK Canada had a special cookbook on Jewish Holidays, I requested it.    But Alexandre needed to do this and the book was delayed.   After looking on the internet I saw that one recipe was posted in the Look at It link on Amazon.com.    I printed the said recipe and he did it all by himself!

Before I go ahead and let you know which recipe he made, I want to tell you more about this cookbook.  The Jewish Holidays cookbook contains festive meals for celebrating the year.   As homeschoolers and Christians, I find it important that my kids understand the history of Christianity and the fact that Jewish meals were important during Bible time.    We also have a special curriculum explaining the various Jewish holidays which I intend to use with this special cookbook!  Each holiday presented in this cookbook has between three to six recipes.  In a way you could plan a whole meal for a specific holiday based on the Jewish calendar.   

The holidays covered in this book are Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Pesach, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Lag B’Omer and Shavuot.  What I particularly like about this book is that it gives a little introduction on the holiday covered with the recipes.    It is unique and very creative I find.   Having included a Rabbi as well as a co-author was a marvelous idea.

So the recipe that my son Alexandre made for his Awana group was the challah.  Here’s the information included about this recipe.

Challah is traditionally served at the beginning of Shabbat dinner.  A prayer is said over the freshly baked bread before dinner begins.  This prayer is called the motzi.

This recipe makes two loaves and should serve 24.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1/2 cup honey
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt
8 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons sesame seeds.

Directions

1. Pour water into bottom of large mixing bowl.  Add yeast, and allow to sit for 1 minute.

2. Add honey, oil, eggs, sugar, and salt to yeast mixture.  Stir to combine.

3. Scoop spoonfuls of flour into the wet mixture, combining well each time.   As you continue adding flour, the mixture will thicken.  You can use your hands to mix in the flour.

4. After all of the flour is mixed in, knead the dough in the bowl until it is smooth.   Add up to 1/2 cup of additional flour if your dough is sticky.  Allow dough to rise for 1 hour in a warm place.  The dough should double in size.

5. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface like a cutting board.   Deflate risen dough by punching it.   Divide dough into 2 equal pieces and knead each piece for 3 minutes.  If dough is sticky, add a little bit of flour as you knead.

6. Grease 2 large baking sheets with margarine, and set them aside.   Preheat the oven to 375 F.

7. Divide each loaf into 3 equal pieces.  Roll each piece into a long rope about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) in diameter.  These will be the 3 strands of your braid.  Bring the ends of the strands together and begin braiding.  After it is fully braided, tuck the beginning and end of your braid under the loaf.  Repeat for the other load, and place each on a prepared baking sheet.  Cover each loaf with a slightly damp towel and allow the loaves to rise once more, for 45 minutes.

8. After the loaves have risen,  use a pastry brush to spread beaten egg over each one.  Sprinkle the tops of the loaves with sesame seeds.

10. Bake on a low rack for about 35 to 45 minutes.  The fully baked bread should be a deep golden color and should sound hollow when tapped.

Here’s a picture of Alexandre with his challah bread.

Once it was cooked and cooled off, we placed it in a place and wrapped it in Saran Wrap.   When my husband came in the house after a day of work at a contract, his first reaction was…”Where are you bringing this?”  We told him that it was for an assignment Alexandre wanted to do for one of his Awana gold.    He was disappointed a bit but was happy to learn that we had another challah bread in the kitchen.    My husband kept saying that it was impressive that he did this from scratch.   “Another recipe we can make for guests…”

Oh and the day Alexandre made his bread, I had to bring my other son Dominic to see our family doctor who is Jewish.  I asked him how to pronounce the name of the bread and he graciously told me.    He was impressed that Alexandre had made one from scratch as he buys his challah bread at Loblaws… 

We adore our experience in making a challah and plan to make more Jewish recipes with this cookbook in the future.  

Oh and by the way, DK Canada has a note at the bottom of the book’s page.    Apparently there is an error on page 94… The Frog Meringues should bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until meringues are fully dry.  They apologize for any inconvenience.

I highly recommend this cookbook to any family homeschooling their kids and teaching them about Jewish traditions and the Bible.   It is an experience that you won’t regret and it will open your family to try new recipes every once in a while.  

The Jewish Holidays Cookbook is available at your favorite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Illustrated Step-by-Step Baking

Illustrated Step-by-Step Baking – easy-to-follow recipes with more than 1,500 photographs
By Caroline Bretherton
Published at DK Canada

About the book

Packed with clear instructions and essential information on ingredients, special equipment, and storage, Illustrated Step-by-Step Baking contains everything you need to bake with confidence.

Every area of baking is covered in Illustrated Step-by-Step Baking, with 350 recipes covering a huge range of sweet and savory classics including quiches, pies, breads, and cookies. Classic recipes such as quiche lorraine and New York cheesecake are demystified and presented in a clear and accessible step-by-step format.

If you want to produce the perfect tart, bake a cake fit for a king, or serve up a souffle that won't sink, Illustrated Step-by-Step Baking will guide you through every single stage with clear, illustrated, step-by-step instructions that have proved so popular with DK's readers.

Who is Caroline Bretherton?

Caroline Bretherton has worked in the food industry for the last 15 years. A love of cooking led her to start her own catering company, which soon led to the establishment of an eatery in the heart of London’s Notting Hill – Manna Café.

Over the years, she has worked consistently in television, presenting a wide range of food programs, and in print media, contributing to, among others, The Times of London as their family food writer. Her first book, The Kitchen Garden Cookbook, has recently been published by Dk Publishing.

She is married with two children (and a large kitchen garden!) and lives in London.

Our Thoughts

If I tell you that my kids got really excited when they saw that book would you believe me? Well the two oldest anyway. All my kids have attended cooking classes at a local grocery store and are involved in many aspects of the cooking in our house. Alexandre and Dominic didn’t wait long to dig into this book and select the recipes they wanted to do…

Even my husband sat down that day and looked into it, pleased to see so many pictures and step-by-step instructions for many recipes. Almost all recipes are accompanied with a picture of the end product. Some of them have the step-by-step pictures helping you to go through the whole recipe without missing anything.

So for our first recipe, we selected the Rosemary Focaccia. Alexandre wanted to do it all by himself without any help…

Here’s the recipe that he did for supper the other day.

Rosemary Focaccia

A good-tempered dough that can be left in the refrigerator to rise overnight. Bring back to room temperature to bake.

Serves 6-8

Preparation about 30-35 minutes Cooking time 15-20 minutes

Rising and proofing time 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours

Ingredients

3 tsp dried yeast
2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
2 tsp salt
leaves from 5-7 rosemary sprigs
1/3 cups extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing
1/4 tsp freshly grounded black pepper
sea salt flakes

Steps

1. Sprinkle the yeast over 4 tablespoons of warm water. Leave for 5 minutes, stirring once.

2. In a large bowl, mix the flour with the salt and make a well in the center.

3. Add chopped rosemary, 4 tablespoons oil, yeast, pepper, and 1 cup of lukewarm water. NOTE: Try to omit the rosemary and black pepper and replace by adding 3-5 sage sprigs, chopped.

4. Gradually draw in the flour and work it into the other ingredients to form a smooth dough.

5. The dough should be soft and sticky. Do no be tempted to add more flour to dry it out.

6. Sprinkle the dough with flour and knead for 5-7 minutes on a floured work surface.

7. When ready, the dough will be very smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl.

8. Cover with a damp kitchen towel. Leave to rise in a warm place for 1-1 1/2 hours, until doubled.

9. Put the dough on a floured work surface and knock out the air.

10. Cover with a dry kitchen towel and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Brush the pan with oil.

11. Transfer the dough to the pan. With your hands, flatten the dough to fill the pan evenly. (okay I will admit this is the part that Alexandre needed some help… So I chipped in for the flattening part.)

12. Cover with a kitchen towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 35-45 minutes, until puffed.

13. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Scatter the reserved rosemary leaves on top.

14. With your fingertips, poke the dough all over to make deep dimples.

15. Pour spoonful of the remaining oil all over the dough and sprinkle with the salt flakes. (do be honest I would leave the salt flakes out… too salty!)

16. Bake on the top shelf for 15-20 minutes, until browned. Transfer to a wire rack.

The bread looked good and it smelled all through the house when my husband came back home that evening. He was impressed that Alexandre did all by himself (with a Broccoli Salad as well).

The rosemary focaccia was a success for almost everyone in the family – my third son didn’t like it as much as the others. But see how yummy it is… And yes Alexandre put a bit too much of salt on the top. We have all decided that the salt is not necessary and from now on won’t be adding it on top of the focaccias we will do in the future.

Our next recipe planned is the Quiche Lorraine which is a French classic of eggs and bacon. My husband is looking forward to have this after he comes back from a day at a contract…

This book is an absolute gem to try out new recipes or to have your child explore cooking for the whole family. As an homeschooler, I am proud of him to take the initiative and decide to do a meal for us. After all, isn’t this part of Home Ec? My son will definitively be a good prospect for a young lady in the future. She will be blessed to have him cook and help around the house!

The Illustrated Step-by-Step Baking is available at your favourite bookstore.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Almond Fresh

Almond Fresh
From Earth’s Own Food Company

About the product

Since the first century BC, when travelers on the silk road brought them from Asia to the Mediterranean, almonds have been prized as one of nature’s most nutritious foods. They quickly became a staple of the Mediterranean diet and almond groves flourished throughout the region.

When early Spanish settlers arrived in California in the mid-1700’s, they brought with them their cherished almond trees. Within 100 years, thriving almond groves had spread through much of California’s great Central Valley.

Today this Mediterranean staple is a suggested part of a healthy diet and is increasingly renowned as a nutrient dense whole food with rich taste and versatility.

Almond Fresh is high in calcium and also fortified with vitamins. See the benefits of Almond fresh by yourself!

• Low in calories and one serve provides 45% of your daily recommended dose of vitamin D, 25% of Riboflavin, and 50% of B12

• Dairy-free and does not contain lactose or casein

• Fortified with calcium, vitamin A and vitamin D and contains naturally occurring vitamin E, riboflavin, vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc

• Almond Fresh Vanilla and Original have about half the calories per serving of 2% milk and is comparable in fat.

• The Unsweetened flavour contains only 30 calories per serving- that's less than half of the calories found in skim milk

• Almond Fresh products are wheat and gluten free

• Certified kosher

• The brand is owned by Earth's Own

Find out more at http://www.almond-fresh.com/.

About Earth’s Own Food

Earth’s Own Food Company is a pioneering healthy food & beverage company dedicated to nutritional innovation and sustainability in order to actively improve people’s lives and wellbeing. With a product line-up that includes leading non-dairy beverage brands So Good, So Nice, Almond Fresh and ryza, Earth’s Own Food Company is devoted to developing great tasting wholesome products that are good for their consumers, their families, the community and the planet.

http://www.earthsown.com/

My Thoughts

Did you know that almonds have many benefits for your health? No wonder I prefer this kind of nut… Almonds are low in fat and cholesterol free. They are an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D as well as a source of vitamin E. And the best of all, almonds are also known to be a source of antioxidants which protects cells from oxidation by removing free radicals which contribute to aging.

I love almonds – either plain in a thai recipe, salty or robbed with chocolate (my favorite!).

So when I got offered the opportunity to review the Almond fresh beverage, I was curious. Can this really taste as good as milk?

So when I got my vouchers, I drove to the store and checked out the Almond fresh products. Imagine my delight when I saw that they had a DARK CHOCOLATE product. Should I mentioned that it found its way in my cart? LOL They also have an unsweetened version, the original version, and the vanilla version. From past experience with non-dairy products, my family and I tend to prefer the kind that is flavoured.

Just like a chocolate covered almond, Almond Fresh Chocolate brings together the delectable taste of milk chocolate and the powerful benefits of nutrient dense, real California almonds. This new & delicious flavour is a nutritious option for families looking for healthy beverage alternatives.

Once at home, I didn’t wait more and decided to pour myself of glass of freshness. The taste was amazing and I just couldn’t have enough of it. The night at supper time, the rest of the family tasted it. The container was empty by the time supper ended. The kids kept asking for more. Even my husband tasted it and thought it was not bad (considering he doesn’t like chocolate I think it is pretty good!). He mentioned that he would like to try the vanilla flavour next time which I bought the next time I went to the store.

You can also find some recipes to make with Almond fresh directly from their website. We love Thai and while I was writing this post I realized that they had a recipe for Thai Chicken Curry. I will definitively try it next time I purchase Almond fresh. The container we have in our fridge right now is the Vanilla flavor which I guess I could use to do Pain Doré (french toast)…

But to give you an idea of the recipes included in the website, I thought you might like to see one.

Almond Fresh Thai Almond Chicken Curry

Almond Fresh’s sweet creamy taste complements the flavors of Thai cooking beautifully. (Makes 4 servings)

1 cup Almond Fresh Original
1 tbsp fish sauce
4 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp Thai curry paste, green or red
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 large red or orange pepper, sliced into strips
1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks, about 1/4 of a fresh pineapple
1 cup green beans
1/2 cup chopped coriander
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp lime juice
1/4 tsp salt

1. In a small bowl, whisk together Almond Fresh, fish sauce, cornstarch curry paste until smooth.
2. Heat oil in large fry-pan. Add chicken strips and stir fry until no longer pink. Add pepper strips, pineapple and green beans. Continue to stir fry until peppers are soft.
3. Add Almond Fresh mixture to chicken and stir continuously until mixture thickens.
4. Stir in coriander, cherry tomatoes, lime juice and salt to taste.
5. Serve with white or brown steamed rice.

I strongly encourage you to expand your taste buds and the ones of your family by purchase a different kind of drink full of calcium. Almond Fresh would be a great choice next time you go to the grocery store!

The Almond Fresh products are available at your favourite grocery store. Don’t forget to let your taste buds explore new flavours every once in a while!

Disclaimer: I received vouchers to get the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Preserve It!

Preserve It!
Published at DK Canada

About the book

Covering pickling, jam-making, freezing, bottling, canning, brewing, smoking, salting, drying, curing, sausage-making, and cheese-making, Preserve It! demystifies the processes and shows you how you can, with traditional techniques, preserve fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy without expensive equipment or training. From garden to table, every detail along the way is explained with clear, step-by-step instructions, guiding gardeners and cooks of all levels through the satisfying crafts of bottling jams, syrups, and chutneys, or even making sausage, cheese, butter, cider, and wine.

My Thoughts

Who doesn’t like preserves?

Well I like some and dislike some. But since last year, we have taken the habit of making our own diced tomatoes and salsa coming the Fall season.

This year the tomatoes were later than last year. But recently we embarked on a three day adventure with our kids. They chopped tomatoes, I did the onions (someone has to do it!), the little one was giving tomatoes/onions to the designed people and hubby dealt with the boiling part of the job.

We stuck with tomatoes this year. But my husband did look into the Preserve It! book to get information about how to can tomatoes. I honestly think that this was a first for him as he took his time to go through the whole book. Many recipes are mouthwatering and are interesting to do. One of these days I would love to try out new sweet jams.

There are quite a few pictures in the book that will make you want to try the recipes. However, not all recipes have pictures which I find sad. I like to see what it would look like before I attempt a new recipe.

The book is quite explicit as it will introduce you to the world of canning by presenting you the science of preserving, the natural preservatives, the equipment, the food safety tips, how to flavor your products, the natural storage ideas (which are fabulous if you have the space to do so…) and so much more. If I had a garden with veggies to store for the winter, I would definitively use some of their ideas. I particularly loved the tips on storing root crops in boxes. Ingenious and yet simple.

We went through four and a half bushels of tomatoes (field and roma). The result is numerous jars of diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and salsa! I will be honest and tell you I stopped counting at 140 jars. But I think we bought two or three more boxes in the end.

The experience of canning your own salsa is fun to do. I have heard of some people doing it all by themselves but I believe that the kids can be involved at various stages. My kids have participated to so many cooking classes that helping out in the kitchen it a given for them. Besides, being homeschoolers it is the best way we can do home economic every once in a while. *grin*

As for me – yes I cut some onions. Yes I cried. But I also too an idea from my oldest son when he cut onions once to do a meal… Yes I wore some swimming googles…!

Preserve It! is packed with interesting recipes to turn some produces in yummy sweet or pickled creations.

Preserve It! is available at your favourite bookstore.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Heinz Hot and Spicy Ketchup

Heinz Hot and Spicy Ketchup

About the product

Ketchup just got hotter!

Enjoy authentic Heinz Ketchup with an extra ‘kick’ of flavour for adventurous adult taste buds! That’s not all, the upside-down bottle design ensures that your ketchup is always ready when you are, and the stay-clean cap with control valve gives you total control over where your ketchup goes. Go ahead... turn up the heat!

Our Experience

I was walking down the aisle of a grocery store this week when something caught my eyes… Standing there in the middle of many varieties of Ketchup was something new… something different that I knew would be a delight in my family.

There on the shelf was the Heinz Hot and Spicy Ketchup. Could it be? Finally here in Canada? WoW!

So even though I found the price a bit expensive, I decided to bring one home. That day I made fries for supper and the kids and I taste the Hot and Spicy Ketchup.

Well let me tell you it is tangy and it will give you a kick of flavour in your mouth. Wow! It is very tasty and probably not everyone will like it. But the three kids that were with me at that time liked it (one was on his daddy day with his dad). Let me be honest that the youngest mixed the regular Ketchup with the Hot and Spicy one… but she hate it anyway.

It was fun to discover a ketchup that will bring some flavours in your summer meal like hamburgers and such.

Here’s some recipes for this Hot and Spicy Ketchup.

Now, I am wondering when and if the Hot and Spicy Relish will cross the border too…

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I thought my readers would love to discover a new Ketchup. All thoughts are my own.

Chapman’s Frozen Yogurt

Recently I had the opportunity to try a new Frozen yogurt from Chapman’s Canada.  I originally asked to try new products but they send me a 5$ coupon so I could get an ice cream in exchange.

There were a few flavors that I wanted to try but when the containers are 4.99$ at the grocery store, a person can only get one of those with a free 5$ coupon.

So I decided to pick one that I knew my husband could eat – nothing with chocolate in it since he dislikes it.    I picked the Cranberry Trail Mix which contains cranberry flavoured frozen yogurt, almonds, pralined pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.   

The yogurt was crunchy and very delicious.  Here and there you could find some cranberry pieces and having pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds is not distasteful whatsoever.

My whole family enjoyed tasting it and my husband even said that it was the best flavour he tasted since the beginning of the summer.

We are definitively recommending it to anyone wanting to try something out-of-the-ordinary.   

The other flavours I would like to try are Cheeky Monkey, Nanaimo Bar, as well as the Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bars. 

yummy!

Disclaimer:  I received a 5$ coupon from Chapman’s.   I was not in any obligation to post something for their frozen yogurt but I thought that my readers would like to discover a new flavour in the Chapman’s products.

Home Herbal

Home Herbal – the ultimate guide to cooking, brewing, and blending your own herbs
Published at DK Canada

About the book

Recommending herbs for both well-being and minor ailments, featuring an A-Z directory of 100 key herbs, and with information on how to grow, harvest, prepare, and use them, Home Herbal offers a wealth of practical advice on the medicinal, cleaning, and consumptive uses of herbs, with the emphasis on what anyone can achieve in their garden and kitchen.

My Thoughts

This is book definitively very interesting if you have a garden and you grow herbs. I was interested in the fact that I could prepare some medicinal products out of herbs when I requested this book. But let me tell you that I got more than I would have expected from it.

The book is divided in three main sections; A-Z of Herbs where you get all the information you need to know about specific herbs like garlic, celery seeds, fennel, hyssop to name a few, Use Herbs which contains recipes to heal you from the inside and other ones to heal you from the outside, and Source Herbs which contains information on how to grow your own herb garden.

In the first section you get specific information on herbs used in recipes. Take the Lavender for example. You will get a picture of the plant, it’s growth habit, the main constituents as well as it’s actions. Lavender is widely recognized for it’s relaxant ability but did you know it can be used for antispasmodic, a tonic for the nervous system, circulatory stimulant, antibacterial, analgesic, carminative, cholagogue, anti-depressant and anti-emetic? In this page of information, you will also discover how to use the plant with infusion, tincture, massage oil, hair rinse and essential oil. And you will learn on how to growth it, forage it as well as harvest it.

In the Use Herbs section, you can go through a recipe chooser depending of your…. Healthy skin and hair, digestion, circulation, women’s health, men’s health, coughs and colds, first aid, muscles and joints, mind and emotion, as well as pregnancy and childbirth, . Some recipes are accompanied with stunning pictures and a clear step-by-step method. Other recipes only contains the how to make instructions. Each recipe also has icons indicating what it will help in your body. For example, the Sour Cherry and Raw Cocoa Smoothie indicates that it will help you regulate your sleep. Before giving the recipe a little text indicates the benefits of it for you. The Sour Cherry and Raw Cocoa Smoothie is apparently ideal for before or after exercising and for long-distance runners, as the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries aid quicker muscle recovery and pain relief. Sour cherries are also a source of natural melatonin, a potent antioxidant with immune system-modulating properties. If eaten regularly, they may even help to regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns.

The recipes you will find in this book can be for juices, smoothies, teas, cordials, syrups, tinctures, soups, salads, and bars. You can also find instructions to bake face and body creams, body scrubs, body oils, body spritzes, body powders, soaps, cleansers, toners, face masks, balms, bath bombs, bath infusions, as well as hair and scalp treatments. I am wondering where I could find some of the ingredients. I suspect that I could easily find them in a health store. My only problem now is that I don’t have a garden at this moment. Eventually I would love to have one but the play structure that I designed and that my father-in-law built with the help of my oldest son and my husband is taking much of the area in the backyard.

I know that many would find this book interesting. If you are into making your own bath products or simply want to get healthier using herbs, Home Herbal is for you!

Home Herbal is available at your favourite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

So Good Beverages

Recently I was contacted to see if I would be interested in reviewing the So Good Soy Milk Beverages. I agreed even though we don’t have anyone in our family who has milk intolerance at this point in time. When my daughter was younger she had some intolerance to regular formula and milk at one point. We had to buy some soy beverage for her. I figure that exploring new taste and discovering new products would help us to expand our taste buds.

The So Good products are produced by Earth’s Own Food Company. Earth's Own Food Company is a Canadian company who is the #1 non-dairy beverage company in the country. Our recipe for success is fostering wellbeing in everything we do and making healthy products that are good for consumers, their families, the community and the planet. Earth's Own Food Company has 205 employees who are passionate and committed to the company's vision and continued growth. Earth's Own Food Company's vision is to be a pioneering healthy food & beverage company, one that takes an ethical approach to championing nutritional innovation & high quality products and services in order to actively improve people's lives and well-being.

So Good is made from non-genetically modified soy protein by Identity Preservation. What this means is that a monitoring system has been put in place which controls each step of the manufacturing process -- from seed selection to planting and harvesting, transportation and processing -- to ensure no genetically modified soybeans enter the supply stream at any time.

So Good is 100% lactose free and a perfect alternative to milk. Lactose is the natural sugar found in dairy milk and lactase is the enzyme required to break down the lactose. Some people have little or no lactase in their body which means dairy milk and dairy milk products cannot be digested. The common symptoms of lactose intolerance are stomach pains, bloating, gas, diarrhea and nausea. So Good is also 100% free of cholesterol and low in saturated fat. Vegetable oil is added to Original and Flavour varieties of So Good to provide appropriate fat levels for satisfying mouth feel and beverage smoothness (100% cholesterol free polyunsaturated sunflower oil or Canola oil is used). The product is 100% free of animal products and suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets as well as 100% gluten-free and are suitable for people with Celiac Disease. So Good is a participant in Health CheckTM - a food information program developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. So Good has factories on both the east and west coast of Canada, reducing its distance to market (unlike Silk soymilk, which is shipped up from the US).

I have receive coupons that I could exchange for the full product at the grocery store. So far we tried the Strawberry and Chocolate flavours.

I have to admit that the So Good Strawberry didn’t win some fans in our household. I would have thought that my kids would have liked it. My daughter herself, age 3, has picked it because it was pink. But somehow the taste didn’t stick with them. Personally I thought I was drinking a milk made of chalk. You could taste a bit of strawberry in it but not enough to remove the taste of the soy behind it. I guess that with time the kids might get used to it… if needed be that is.

So I didn’t know how the So Good Chocolate would be received when I open the container.

Well surprisingly the kids and I LOVED it (my husband doesn’t drink or eat anything chocolate except if it would be white chocolate!). The taste of chocolate was rich and when you were done with it you just wanted more of it. We drank this one in a record time (compared to the strawberry flavor that is…). My sweet Jasmine kept asking for more even though there wasn’t any more as the container was…. empty!

I do have two other vouchers for So Good products. I am looking for a Vanilla (requested by my husband) and a Chocolate one. But somehow, the stores I went too didn’t have any in stock… I did three stores yesterday and none had them – Wal-Mart (almost empty shelves), Metro and Shoppers Drug Mart. Mmmm! I still have to go check at Loblaws as well as Independent but haven’t had the time yet. UPDATE: This morning I went to a Loblaws who had the Chocolate and Vanilla Omega version. These found their way to our house… Looking forward to discover the Vanilla flavour but I will wait until my husband is back from his Daddy day with our 5 years old son!

All So Good products are made of natural flavours, are an excellent source of nutrition, contain calcium, are low in saturated fat and are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals! And it is perfect for people who can’t drink milk because of issues like being lactose intolerant.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Around the World Cookbook

Around the World Cookbook
By Abigail Johnson Dodge
Published at DK Canada

About the book

With foods like hummus and Pad Thai becoming as common as meatloaf and apple pie, it’s no surprise that international foods are hotter than ever. Kids today are growing up in an increasingly multicultural world, and with Around the World: An International Cookbook for Children, they can eat like it, too!

While cooking these traditional cuisines, kids also learn about the countries they’re from: how a tandoor oven works, what smorgasbord really means, and how to make a croque monsieur into a croque madame. Together with DK’s fun and innovative visual style, the information and recipes in this unique cookbook tie in beautifully with school curriculum and make it an essential part of every young foodie’s library.

Who is Abigail Johnson Dodge?

Seasoned and successful cookbook author Abigail Johnson Dodge is a contributing editor at Fine Cooking, where she founded the magazine’s test kitchen. The author of five popular cookbooks, Dodge’s most recent publication, The Weekend Baker, (W.W. Norton, 2005) had the honor of being named one of the “Top Ten Cookbooks of the Year” by Food and Wine magazine as well as being named an IACP Cookbook Finalist. She was also a contributor to Savoring America (Oxmoor House, 2002), which was nominated for a James Beard Award and received the prestigious Ben Franklin Award. In addition to regular appearances on TV and radio, Dodge teaches classes and seminars at cooking schools around the country, belongs to several food associations including The International Association of Culinary Professionals and the American Institute of Wine and Food, and serves on the National Cutco Culinary Advisory Board.

My Thoughts

Geared for children ages 8 to 13 years old, this cookbook will transport them around the world without leaving your kitchen and dining room. You will find about 50 international recipes that you can do with your kids. I was particularly interested in this cookbook because I wanted to include some dishes in our menu that will come from countries we would study in the coming year.

I will admit to you that for the purpose of this review, I have done the recipe myself while the kids were playing. But I know that in the future, I can trust my oldest son – who is ten years old – in doing a recipe while following the instructions in the book. I know for a fact that he is quite interested in doing so as he often asked to do supper for us and he explore this cookbook numerous times. The cookbook contains the basics on how to get started but also recipes from Asia, India,Indonesia, Australasia, Middle East, Africa, Mediterranean, Russia, Northern Europe, South America, Mexico, The Caribbean, United States and Canada.

So it was time to try out a new recipe again in our household. And when I received this cookbook, I had already identified the recipe I wanted to do. Let’s go explore the South America, Mexico and the Carribeean. When you start a new section, you have a little introduction of the area with a photo, map and information about the places. For example, I have learned that 7000 islands made up the Caribbean Islands, that fish and shellfish are commonly used and cooked just after being pulled from the ocean, and that curries are made from recipes passed down through generations of ex-slaves brought over from Africa by European settlers. As you might have guessed the recipe we tried is coming from the Caribbean more specifically Jamaica.

JAMAICAN JERK CHICKEN was the recipe I have made for the whole family. I wasn’t sure how it will be received to be honest…

The first step is to mix the various spices and coat the chicken breast in it. The chicken will be cook in the oven at broil within 15 minutes or so.

The other part of the recipe was to make a Mango Salsa that will accompany the Jamaican jerk chicken. In this salsa, you will find mango, red pepper, French shallot, cilantro to name a few of the ingredients. I will admit that I didn’t have any jalapeno pepper so I skipped that one.

The final product was amazing in sight. Now what will it taste… I have one difficult child and surprisingly he loved the chicken. The cilantro in the salsa didn’t had the same reaction than the chicken. It was a new herb that the kids were tasting and it wasn’t a big favourite for all of them. But in the end, everyone in our family gave a high 10 for the recipe. As my husband said

This is definitively the best new recipe we made in a long time!

We also all agreed that this recipe should be made for people coming over to our house. So to my friends – don’t be surprised to try something new next time you come for a visit. And more than likely my oldest kids will be the ones who will make it!

The chicken was very tasty and the flavor stayed in your mouth for quite some time afterwards. I was impressed and look forward to discover other recipes in this cookbook.

Around the World Cookbook is perfect to have while you are studying geography. It is a creative way to incorporate the food from the countries and continents you are exploring so that you can taste their flavors yourself.

I almost wish that the pages would be made of plastic so I can wiped them out if they get dirty. Putting water on them will make them go wavy unfortunately. A solution to keep the pages dry and avoid spill on them would be to use a cookbook stand.

Around the World Cookbook is available everywhere.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

PhytoBerry and VegeGreens

About two months ago, a friend of mine posted on facebook that she was drinking her greens… Curious I asked her why she wasn’t eating them instead. She introduced me to the product she was using and told me one of the major benefit of doing so – boost of energy. We both felt that we needed to try this to see if it would work. We initially tried the product my friend was using but then after looking into a group sale deal for Popeye’s Supplements I discovered that there was other companies doing so. I have contacted one in particular to see if I could review their products and they agreed.

About the products

PhytoBerry

PhytoBerry is a highly concentrated berry based whole food supplement that is loaded with natural antioxidants. We keep hearing how antioxidants are good for you and prevent sickness like cancer via the various media around us.

Essentially the PhytoBerry has been designed to offer whole body antioxidant protection. It contains no artificial ingredients and a single serving has the equivalent nutrient of 6 to 8 servings of fresh fruit.

Benefits associated to the PhytoBerry are numerous like whole body antioxidant protection, slows the aging process, strengthens immune function, supports cardiovascular health, stimulates and enhances brain function, promotes mental clarity and improves memory, boosts energy levels, protects eye health, balances blood sugar, improves digestive tract, speeds wound healing, supports liver function, lowers cholesterol, helps alleviate allergies.

VegeGreens

VegeGreens is a comprehensive combination of over 60 land, sea and cruciferous vegetables, as well as super green foods, EFAs, pre and probiotics, enzymes and herbal extracts. It will supply your body with an amazing range of nutrients and each serving is equivalent to 6 to 8 servings of fresh vegetables.

The benefits linked to this products are the following: restores a healthy pH. detoxifies the body, cleanses the colon, increases energy and renews mental clarity, stimulates and enhances brain function, strengthens immune system, supports cardiovascular health, slows aging, balances blood sugar, boosts metabolism, protects eye health, lowers cholesterol, supports liver function, improves digestive tract, promotes a clearer complexion, acts as an anti-inflammatory, helps prevent osteoporosis, and relieves allergies.

Our Thoughts

Eating vegetables and fruits should be on everyone’s menu on a daily basis right? But with work, kids, managing a home and a business, reviewing products, it is easy to forget and not eat what we are suppose to eat… And eventually,health problems can arise, tiredness is your companion and you wonder why you don’t have the energy your kids have. When we first heart about “drinking your green” we were curious. So we decided to try it ou.

Both my husband and I have started to take our VegeGreens or PhytoBerry on a daily basis. We usually alternate 3-4 VegeGreens before taking a PhytoBerry but within a week we have seen a difference in our level of energy. While before we were tired in the afternoon and more likely to take a nap, now we have more energy and the nap is not needed. We were both impressed with the results.

But as I continue taking these, I realize other benefits for me. Stronger nails are one of them. I used to have nails that would easily breaks. There was no way I could ever think of getting my nails grow a bit and eventually get nail polish on them. Well no anymore… In two weeks, I will be going to a SPA treatment (thanks to my husband) and get a manicure in the package deal – my first ever believe it or not!

Another bonus for me would be my regularity. Okay I don’t want to go into details but I have seen a difference in my digestive system and how it functions now.

And to know that these products will boost my immune system at the same time, I am quite curious to see how my health will be next winter. Winter time is always hazardous with four kids. I usually get a few of bronchitis and so on. I am hoping that my propensity of getting sick often during the cold season will be reduce quite a bit.

Like I said before, we are very impressed with the results we have seen so far while we took the VegeGreens or PhytoBerry in the morning. We are already talking about it to family and friends. And I have recently discovered and another friend of mine uses these products. If you find you lack energy in your life and would see some changes I would like to suggest that you try the VegeGreens and PhytoBerry. Give it a try and see the difference it will make in your life!

For more details on what ingredients can be found in the PhytoBerry and the VegeGreens, click on the images below. You will be able to see where each ingredients target which body systems and organs. I have received these flyers from the store where we will purchase the VegeGreens and PhytoBerry – Popeye’s Supplements.

The PhytoBerry comes in 450 and 900 grams and is priced around 34.99 – 79.99 depending of the size you will choose. Also available is a product for kids – PhytoBerry for kids .

The VegeGreens comes in 265 and 510g or even in pill format. The price range is from 34.99 to 79.99. However, we have seen a sale at Popeye’s Supplements where we were able to get one for regular price and the second one for half price.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Progressive Nutritional for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Oreo Cookies

Every time we go to the US, I am amazed by the products you can get at the grocery store…

Take the OREO cookies for example…

We do have some in Canada – Regular, Double Stuff, Golden. And once in a while you will see the mint flavored.

But in the US…. wow! So many more choices. And I just love their packaging.

On the left – the Canadian packaging with could be a pain when the part to close the bag get unglued…

On the right – the American packaging open up and close with a self resealing process. Isn’t it amazing?

A few weeks ago, we were in the US and got the following flavors – Peanut butter (not my piece of cake but the kids like them!), Heads or Tails (with one chocolate cookie and one Golden one on each side) and the Summer one with the blue stuffing in it. Yummy!

Here’s an example of the packaging in the US. The bag is much smaller but contain numerous cookies. And opening it is so much easier that the Canadian version… To close it – simply bring back the section that opens back on the package and sealed it all around. Voilà! A two years old could do it…

And so much easier to stack in our cupboards… See the difference in the packages. Two of the American packages are equivalent to one from Canada.

It’s decided – when we go back in the US I will get more OREO cookies with their cool packaging and cool colors! And I will try to find other OREA products that we don’t have in Canada.

Mr. Christie, please do bring more fun OREO cookies to Canadians…

Disclaimer: I have not received any payment or products for this post. I just thought it was interesting that my American friends would have more products and cool packages compare to the ones we can find here in Canada.

The Illustrated Kitchen Bible

Illustrated Kitchen Bible – 1000 family recipes from around the world
Published at DK Canada

About the book

The Illustrated Kitchen Bible is all quality content—a tremendous resource of over 1,000 delicious, achievable, and international recipes, with sumptuous photography, precise text, and innovative ideas.
This book takes recipes and techniques and puts them under the microscope. How to get the best when shopping? What the preparation and cooking stages are? What to look for? What should it feel and smell like? How to save the day if something isn't right? What to serve with it? What to do with the leftovers (if there are any)? The result is home cooking at its most perfect.
Victoria Blashford-Snell trained at Le Cordon Bleu, runs a highly successful catering company in London, and is a regular cooking teacher and demonstrator in Italy, Somerset, and at London's Books for Cooks. She has co-authored DK’s Hors d’Oeuvres.
Austrialia chef Brigitte Hafner writes the weekly recipes for The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Living and Melbourne Age’s Epicure sections and with partner James Broadway, runs a popular wine bar and eatery in Melbourne’s Fitzroy called The Gertrude Street Enoteca

My Thoughts

I love recipe books – don’t ask me why though. Maybe it is because my mom would buy some while I was growing up. Problem is even though you buy recipe books because of the pictures in it, it is rare that you make more than one or two recipes from it.

Recently, my husband and I watched Julie and Julia which we loved (my in-laws started it when they babysat for our anniversary and couldn’t stand it… *grin* funny how a movie could be captivating for some and totally annoying for others!). It made us think about trying new recipes on a regular basis. This time, I’ve decided to try a recipe from The Illustrated Kitchen Bible.

This cookbook is packed with over one thousand family recipes and lots of pictures. Each and every recipe in this book has a picture showed the end result of the recipe.

I had decided to do the Honey Mustard Barbecued Chicken even though I didn’t had all the ingredients. I improvised a bit I will admit. The recipe is asking for balsamic vinegar to marinate the chicken but unfortunately my bottle was almost empty. So I compensated with cider vinegar. Both were vinegar, both were tangy and sweet at the same time. Perfect!

The chicken marinated for about 24 hours – give or take – in the fridge in a container that I regularly flipped to make sure that all the chicken thighs would be soaked in thoroughly.

On Father’s Day, my in-laws came over for supper and we cooked the chicken on the BBQ. During the afternoon, there has been lots of commotion on my street as a house was burning. About ten fire trucks came not counting the police cars and paramedics. Fortunately, nobody was hurt as the family and their pets were not present at the time.

But because of the events on our normally quiet neighborhood, I had forgotten that I needed a glaze for the recipe. OUPS!

Nevertheless, the chicken was delicious and very tasty. Everyone agreed that the recipe was a success. *grin*

The Illustrated Kitchen Bible will cover every type of recipes you can hope to find in a recipe book.

• Starters and Lights Bites
• Breads, Sandwiches, and Pizza
• Soups and Salads
• Eggs, Cheese, Pickles, and Chutneys
• Pasta, Legumes, Rice, and Grains
• Vegetables
• Fish and Shellfish
• Poultry and Feathered Game
• Meats
• Desserts and Ice Cream
• Cakes and Pastries
• Fruits and Jellies

Also at the various mains sections you will have a recipe choosers which present you various recipes in that section with mouth-watering pictures accompanied with the title of the recipe, the time needed to make it as well as the page where the recipe is located. If you are in a rush, these pages are life savers for you. If you are more like me, you will prefer to sit down and flip through the pages of this huge recipe book to find the recipe that will grab your heart.

The book also contains a section titled techniques in which you can learn various techniques in cooking. You can learn to poach an egg properly, how steam, chop, prepare fruits and vegetables and so much more.

My favourite part of the book is that I can find recipes from around the world and be able to do it for my family. Some recipes do have the information of the country included but not all of them. It is a little bit disappointing not to know where a recipe comes from. For example, the recipe I made over the week-end didn’t tell me where this recipe originated. I would have loved to know that. I also think that including the flag of the country next to the recipe would be a nice added touch to the cookbook seeing that it contains international recipes.

To be honest, I think this book is the perfect gift for a bride-to-be, a child leaving home for college/university or to teach your kids about cooking. It is a wonderful book to have in your own kitchen.

As for us, we will continue to explore our taste-buds and try new recipes using this cookbook as well as other ones we have at home. You won’t be disappointed with the quality and the quantities of recipes in this cookbook!

The Illustrated Kitchen Bible is available at your favourite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.