http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog Hot food trends, cooking tips and more in a recipe writer\'s diary Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:30:13 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en According to an Ipsos Reid and Dietitians of Canada survey, which polled 2201 Canadians, local food preferences vary across the country. British Columbia: fresh vegetables Alberta: beef Saskatchewan & Manitoba: corn Ontario: apples Quebec: cheese Atlantic Region: lobster Although I’m an Ontarian and do like apples, for me Niagara peaches are ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/19/local-food-faves/ While reading the comments on Monday’s post I was reminded of a rack of bracelets I saw at the Art Gallery of Ontario that were made from cutlery bent and embellished to become cuff bracelets. Wondering what else you could do with a fork or a spoon, I decided ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/18/cutlery-used-as-other-items/ While whoopie pies are not just trending up in the US but also glamming up, here in central Canada when I mention these sweet treats I’m more likely to get a blank stare or quizzical look than a request for cookies. Whoopie pies are not a big part of the Canadian ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/17/whoopie-pie-enlightenment/ Photo credit: Fort Collins Brewery Beer and chocolate is not a combination that naturally appeals to me. For instance, while I’ve craved other drinks while eating chocolate (milk, coffee, even tea) I’ve never hankered for a brewski when I was indulging my chocolate craving. Despite my own lack of imagination, others have ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/16/latest-flavour-match-stout-and-chocolate/ As more people use the internet, iphones and other electronics to source recipes and tips while they cook, kitchen designers are finding ways to integrate electronics into our homes in ways that make them easy and safe to use. I’m still in the dark ages when it comes to using electronics ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/15/kitchen-sync-electronics-infiltrate-the-kitchen/ I was surprised the other day when a couple of savvy journalists I know hadn’t heard of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Granted, their beat is design and not food, but I thought that CSAs were becoming rather well known in cities like Toronto. So, today, I give you some weekend homework: ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/12/homework-assignment/ I went for acupuncture once. I didn’t like it; the room was cold and I just wanted to put on a sweater but, since my back was peppered with needles, I had to lie there and shiver. I suppose it would be different if I were a cold-blooded fish… which ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/11/zombie-fish/ While the rhubarb in my garden won’t be ready to pick and cook until June, this case of fresh Ontario rhubarb arrived at the test kitchen a couple of weeks ago. How is it possible? Through the ingenuity of farmers who won’t let our climate keep them idle. I visited Lennox ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/10/jump-into-spring-rhubarb/ For years I’ve mooned and sighed as I leafed through my British food magazines eyeing the halloumi recipes, wishing I could get that heat resistant, yummy cheese here. Especially evocative were peppery arugla salads with lemon-laced dressings topped with golden slices of semi molten cheese – I salivate just typing ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/09/topline-trends-tuesday-grilling-cheese-heats-up/ Mmm…ham! I find a whole, bone-in glistening ham sitting on a platter gets guests rather excited about dinner. Although cooking a whole ham is time consuming, it’s relatively easy. In fact, when I have a big group to feed, a ham is my ‘go to it’ choice since I know that ... http://www.homemakers.com/blog/danasblog/2010/03/08/shiny-sticky-smoky/