Lifesavers Nov

Lifesavers

Green Box to Go

If you don’t have the means, desire or winter space to keep a compost pile in your backyard, you can still do your part by having your food or yard waste picked up. Local business, Samborski Garden Supplies, will pick up the waste on your schedule and bring it back to its centre to compost and produce rich soil for the gardening season. Savvy local businesses like the MTS Centre have long been on board with the service which helps to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and puts nutrients back into soil.

Downtown condominiums have also been signing up and Len from Samborski Garden Supplies hopes the residential side of the business will continue to expand. If you want to do more than recycle, this could be the next step in helping give back to the environment. Call 895-9291 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Keeping Cosy

Conscientious coffee consumers who can’t help but stop at Starbucks for that daily fix can now cut down on their overuse of paper product and gain a cute new accessory in the process. Instead of using a paper sleeve to keep from toasting your fingertips on a burning hot coffee cup, pick up a coffee cosy. Coffee cosies are a reusable coffee sleeve designed to go over to-go cups. They range in styles, material and designs to suit all tastes. Not only will you earn smiles from your barista, you’ll probably have others asking where they can pick up their very own. Hint: they also make cute gifts. We love the handmade creations found on etsy.com, or check out local Osborne Village shop, Sew Dandee, for pre-made or custom designed coffee cosies. Coffee cosies, $8 to $15, Sew Dandee 105 Osborne St, 453-5110.

Coffee cosy photo by chronic creative.

TASTING NOTES - OUR LATEST CULINARY DISCOVERIES

The deliciously sweet vintage-feel decor of the new Sweet Impressions Bakery in Norwood Grove had us swooning. Even more intoxicating than the aroma of fresh baked cupcakes that greeted us, was the selection of products in the gift shop section of the bakery. Retro-style aprons, recipe folders and even gift-wrapping sets were all perfectly on theme. The cupcakes were delicious, too!
268 Tache Ave, 237-0743.

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A recent discovery at Stephen & Andrews Food & Wine Shoppe on Academy Rd, had us hooked at first bite. Dale & Thomas Popcorn’s Sweet Georgia Pecan popcorn tastes as delicious as a homemade pecan pie, but with a satisfying crunch. We should’ve known the snack would be good, since a little research proved it was recommended by Oprah. A bag of this sweet stuff and a good holiday movie—now that’s a gift we can curl up to!

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Terry and Sue Gereta of Mise Restaurant have taken over the former Gluttons space on Corydon. Although the menu is different, the delectable fare remains Manitoban-focused. They’ve also kept a specialty foods section—so you can pick up some excellent gourmet goodies on your way out. 842 Corydon Ave, 284-7916.

Green Gourmet

Since most non-stick cooking coatings have been vetoed for health and environmental reasons, we haven’t been able to flip that perfect, fluffy omelette. That is until we happened upon Earth Chef. This earth-friendly line of kitchen products wowed us from the start with reasonably priced oven-safe, induction ready cookware (a mid-sized skillet is about $29.99) wrapped in recycled packaging. Though already awed by the environmental actions of this company we had to see how the product really stacked up. Not only did the ceramic-coated pan do an amazing job in the non-stick department, but its tough surface was metal utensil friendly (naturally six times stronger than traditional non-stick coatings, we’re told). In a further environmental gesture, the company plants a tree for every Tree Canada skillet sold. Where have these been all our lives? Available at the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters or check out www.earthchef.ca for more info. Photo by chronic creative

The Joy of Not Baking

We love the tradition of baking holiday treats with family and friends, but, let’s face it, with our hectic schedules many of us don’t have time to think about holiday baking, never mind get it done. The good news is that scrumptious, you’d-swear-it-was-homemade baking is available for ordering from local bakeries. With some notice your sweet tray can be whipped up for you leaving you with one less thing to worry about. Here are a few of our favourite places to pick up our clandestine cookies:

High Tea Bakery, 2103 Portage Ave, 775-0264
While their pastry case is filled year-round with a delicious array of unique shortbreads, sugar cookies and cupcakes, it’s during the holiday season that they really shine.

Lilac Bakery, 920 Grosvenor Ave, 992-8000
This all-natural newcomer has already captivated us with their delicious traditional treats. We love the dream slice (a retro favourite) with its fluffy pink icing and coconut filling.

Amma’s Tearoom, 94 First Ave, Gimli, 642-7232
Noted for their ode to Martha Stewart a couple of Christmases ago by baking 12,000 cookies from her recipes, this quaint tearoom offers delicious baking. Bring the family and consider the trip a holiday outing.

DOWNSIZE SHOPPING STRESS
By Lindsay Stewart Glor

The economy is in crisis. You don’t know whether to put your money into mutual funds or hide it inside your mattress. In the end, all you really want is to curl up with a glass of wine and wait for December to pass. But no, you have shopping to do. To help get you out the door—reusable bag in hand—we’ve compiled our favourite tips to reduce your stress level, and your Visa balance, this holiday season.

Write out two very detailed shopping lists. On one, include all of the events you will be hosting over the holidays, from brunches to cocktail parties, and make note of what you need to purchase for each (alcohol, decorations, groceries). On the second list, write down who you are buying presents for, along with any gift ideas you have. Then cross-reference the lists to see which stores you can buy multiple items at. You’ll save gas, and more importantly, time, by making fewer trips to the same stores.

Check out local stores that offer delivery services, like the Cupcakery, which delivers custom cupcakes in ready-to-give boxes—perfect for hostess or workplace gifts. Floral designers like HiWay Florists will design a holiday centrepiece, which can then be delivered on the day of the big event. The team at Concierge One, meanwhile, offers personal shoppers who will do everything from plan your holiday dinner party, to pick up (or even pick out) your presents.

Ask your loved ones to create a gift registry. This way you’ll know exactly what they want and where to get it. Stores like Hbc, Ten Thousand Villages, A Child’s Place and even Canadian Tire now have gift registries. As a bonus, registry items can often be ordered in Winnipeg, but picked up at
any store location, making it easier to send large or breakable gifts to friends and relatives in other cities.

Always take stores up on free gift wrapping, just make sure to note what is in each box. Another hassle-free option is to buy a large assortment of paper gift bags, tissue and ribbon in one solid colour to have on hand for all occasions. Never again will you wrestle with rolls of wrapping paper or make a last minute stop at the dollar store. Eventually, you will become known for your signature wrapping—your own version of the blue Birks box.

Many a gift giver gets caught up in finding “the perfect present.” Make things easier on yourself this year by shopping at fewer stores for great, if not perfect, prezzies. We like choosing one store, like McNally Robinson or Chapters, and spending an entire afternoon crossing off everyone on our list. Or choose to stay home all together and order everything online. If you leave yourself enough time for shipping you could easily shop at 30 different stores without ever putting the car in drive. To save time, we also like to browse online before heading out to shop. Retailers like Mountain Equipment Co-op, Hilary Druxman, Toys “R” Us, and many others, have a great deal of merchandise up on their websites. And then there are gift cards. Some will say that they are impersonal, but we think gift cards are great options for that tricky person who has everything or wants nothing. Try picking up class cards for Moksha Yoga or pre-paid iTunes cards. Gift cards from large shopping centres are also smart options because they can be used at so many different stores—what a great way to take in the Boxing Day sales!

Sources: www.thecupcakeryshop.com, www.conciergeone.com, www.apple.com/itunes, www.mokshayogawinnipeg.com, www.hiwayflorists.com, www.hbc.com, www.tenthousandvillages.ca, www.hilarydruxman.com, www.mec.ca, www.toysrus.ca, www.mcnallyrobinson.com, www.chapters.indigo.ca, www.achildsplace.biz, www.canadiantire.ca

Get Christmas Crafty

Want to put your own touch on your holiday stationery and decor, but don’t know where to start? The team at Pulp and Circumstance have several workshops planned, complete with all you need to get Christmas crafty. Classes range from $45 to $60 per person and $19 for kids’ classes. Get in the spirit and mix and mingle with your fellow students beforehand while snacking on cookies and cupcakes for a small additional fee. Check out the entire workshop calendar at www.greenvites.com.

• Create your own Christmas cards using vintage artwork, old greeting cards and vintage jewellery pieces on Nov. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m.

• Floral Designer Bonny Fraser of My Secret Garden reveals the techniques behind designing Christmas garlands and centrepieces on Dec. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m.

• Personalize your gift wrap and tags with photo stickers of your kids, the family pet—or even you—on Dec. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m.

• Kids aged 6 to 10 pen and decorate a letter for the big guy in red and leave with hand-iced cookies to leave him and Rudolph on Christmas Eve. Classes are on Saturdays from Nov. 29 to Dec. 13 from 10:30 to 12 noon.

The power of postage

If you’re looking to add a cute touch to your holiday cards or packages, utilize the power of personalized postage. That’s right, you can join the ranks of the Queen, Elvis and the Canadian flag by ordering personalized stamps with whatever picture you choose (permission to publish photos of others is required though). Try a holiday-themed family photo or have your family pet be the postal star, either way the process is as simple as uploading a digital photo at www.picturepostage.ca and ordering your stamps online. Sheets start at $24.95 and each stamp will always be worth the current value of a domestic stamp.

Say Cheese

Soon that steady stream of friends and relations will start pouring in (some announced, some not so much) ready to be fueled with holiday cheer. Wowing your guests can be a snap with a couple of star appetizer recipes up your sleeve. This Bothwell Cheese recipe is one of my favourites. I was first introduced to this recipe at a local food show a couple of years ago. While many booths boasted a few visitors, the Bothwell area was teeming with foodies. Upon investigation, a mammoth pot of bubbling, gooey cheese was discovered. The velvety fondue was so delicious I nearly required physical removal from the booth (it’s that good). If truffles aren’t your thing, you can replace the cheese with any favourite (Bothwell’s smoked cheddar or Madagascar green peppercorn would be great). While delicious year-round, there’s something so rich and indulgent about this recipe that it deserves a holiday appearance. We serve it with cubed, day old French bread, or blanched veggies.

— Lindsay Duke

Bothwell Black Truffle Cheese Fondue
by Chef Jason Wortzman

1 tbsp butter 1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tbsp shallots, finely chopped 1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup white wine 2 1/2 cups shredded Bothwell Black Truffle cheese

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over gentle heat. Cook shallots until soft. Add wine and reduce by half. Add whipping cream and simmer for five minutes. Reduce heat to low. Mix shredded cheese with cornstarch and add, stirring constantly until all of the cheese is melted. Hold over low heat in a double boiler/fondue pot. Be careful not to boil the fondue once the cheese is added.

Yield: 12 servings.