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08 March 2010
Posted in
KitchenMama
I love this time of year with its promise of warm weather. It really doesn't matter what Mother Nature throws at us now -- blizzards or freezing rain -- we know that spring is just around the corner.
I just have one problem, though. This is a really hard time of year to find local, fresh produce. Here in Ontario, at least, the majority of fruits and vegetables come from Chile, South Africa and other points far away. Really, who knows when the produce was picked? By the time we get it, the fruit may look ripe, but taste bland (and have little in the way of nutrients). My biggest issue, though, is that I don't completely trust the growing methods used in some parts of the world. What chemicals are sprayed onto them? Are the farmers treated fairly for their efforts? The short answer to this problem might be to restrict my choices to organic and fair trade products. But, have you seen the cost of that stuff lately? Unfortunately, reality dictates that most of my groceries have to come from standard sources.
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01 March 2010
Posted in
KitchenMama
Steak, corn, potatoes... While digging in a traditional shepherd's pie, have you ever noticed that these three ingredients recall the different cultures which forged the first eating habits in Québec?
I recently heard about this exhibit mounted at The Château Ramezay Museum in Montréal. The curator explores the varied influences on the cuisine of Quebec. For instance, corn can be attributed to the First Nations, and beef, to the French colonists, while potatoes remind us of the British presence. The exhibition is called Let's Eat! and runs until September 2010.