5 Family-Friendly Restaurants in Vancouver
If you haven’t been across the Columbia to Vancouver, aka the Couve, lately, you’re in for a sweet family-friendly surprise. Vancouver has so much to offer from ooey-gooey waffles, local fish and chips to a NY-style vegan slice and pinball. These family food spots pair perfectly with summer fun.
Quick and Tasty Dinners Made With Trader Joe’s Products
Weeknight dinner ideas that save time and taste delicious
In our house, a new season always means testing out new Trader Joe’s recipes to add to our dinner rotation. Recently, Trader Joe’s launched sous vide products, which are perfect for quick and easy weeknight meals. (These factor into two of the recipes below.) Inspired by some new tastes and some old favorites, here are some recipe ideas to inspire you for the new year.
Read the full article at Parentmap. Reach out to Kate for more about these original recipes and photos.
The Best Halloween Goodies at Costco
Halloween house kits, hot cocoa bombs, costumes and more
There’s a slight chill in the air, and the scent of pumpkin spice is wafting through stores and cafés. Fall is here, and Costco has some fun seasonal finds you'll want to snap up soon.
Eye-popping hot cocoa bombs
These hot cocoa bombs are watching you! The white chocolate globes are filled with white cocoa and marshmallow and decorated to look like spooky eyes. These terrifying treats (sold in packs of eight) are the perfect evening warmer for your trick-or-treaters.
Exciting New Trader Joe’s Items to Try This Fall
Gum Drop grapes, apple cider doughnuts, charcuterie pinwheels and more
September is peak harvesttime, and Trader Joe’s is a great place to stock up on seasonal delights. There are many new and exciting products coming to Trader Joe's this fall, including new grape varieties, a hot and spicy condiment, apple cider doughnuts and more.
Mashed
Writings from Mashed:
About Mashed
About Mashed Mashed is the ultimate destination for all things food. Whether you're looking for the latest foodie news, the dirt on your favorite celebrity chefs, or inspiration for tonight's dinner, we've got you covered. Mashed has all the tips and tricks you'll ever need to be a chef... Or at least enough hacks to help you fake it til you make it. We've got your back at every step, from grocery shopping smarts to serving a perfectly prepared dish. Would you rather eat out than whip it up yourself? Mashed has all the info you'll need for that, too — from the best and worst foods to order at your favorite restaurants (and which restaurants to avoid entirely), to what today's most popular chefs really have up their sleeves. No matter what kind of foodie you are, Mashed has your recipe for success. Read More: https://www.mashed.com/about/?utm_campaign=clip
Sweeten the Pot: The Search for Greener Cookware
Why going green will make your next purchase a long-lasting one
BY KATE HAGAN, 09 NOVEMBER, 2020
Like many moms, I am always seeking balance. When it comes to cookware, I try to balance health and safety, impact on the planet, and the overall ease of making a meal. Choosing greener cookware is more than simply avoiding Teflon pans: it’s a choice about avoiding toxins and reducing your footprint while still getting your hands on reliable and usable products. In a market inundated by so many options, not all of them high quality, how do you choose the right cookware for the job that’s also long-lasting, durable, and easier on the planet?
Sweeten the Pot: A Guide to Greener Cookware
Eating the right food is great for our health, but the benefit becomes less if we are exposing ourselves to toxic chemicals from our cookware. Consider cooking organic carrots in a Teflon pan — kinda cancels out the benefit. This article seeks to explore not only the cookware that is good for us, but also that which is good for the environment. Appearing originally in EcoParent in summer of 2020, this cookware guide has been republished with permission at Realize a Healthy California.
Review: A2 Milk
*Affiliate disclosure - currently all of my paid work is shared via offsite links. I do not at this time receive compensation for posts on my own website. I do, however, get the opportunity to sample some products for free or discounted pricing. I am not paid to write a review.
I stopped drinking regular milk probably 20 years ago. Cereal has never been the same since. That’s not to say I’m unhappy - I really enjoy Blueberry Lavender Almond Milk from Trader Joe’s in my coffee and coconut milk or oat milk with just about anything. I even still use real, hormone-free milk in cooking sometimes, but am careful not to over-consume because I get both stomach and sinus issues.
In addition my aversion to standard milk, I was intrigued by a2 Milk’s New Zealand roots. As a Kiwi-American myself this immediately got my attention.
An alternative to lactose-free milk
People always suggest lactose-free milk to those with dairy issues (who aren’t vegan) but I’ve never found it made a difference to anything beyond my budget. While lactose is the issue for some complaints on dairy, for others it seems to be protein-based. In my the case of a2 Milk, they take the protein issue seriously being made with only A2 beta-casein protein.
Why is this important? A1 beta-casein seems to be linked to many different digestive and health issues. On the minor end is discomfort, but on the major end, this protein has been linked to childhood (Type 1) diabetes and heart disease in adults (via Healthline).
All I know is that both my family and myself saw an immediate difference when we started drinking it. In addition, a2 Milk cows are not treated with the growth hormone rBST*, follow a plant-based diet, and focus on sustainability in their farming — all concerns to me as an eco-focused parent. The product is non-GMO, just focuses on a specific kind of cow.
Is a2 Milk good?
My child and husband are the best taste-testers when it comes to milk — and both of them loved it. Neither guy noticed a discernable difference in taste or texture when compared to regular milk, but everyone felt better when switching to this brand. I tried it in cooking and found that it worked well too. We tried regular milk, chocolate, and coffee creamer. Honestly, we loved them all.
My only complaint is that the chocolate milk and coffee creamer are nowhere to be found in my neighborhood. Fortunately, I can find a half-gallon of the regular 2% for about $4 at my local Target and Safeway. In fact, it’s in my fridge right now!
Dye-Free, Naturally Green St. Patrick's Day Food Ideas
One of my biggest food pet peeves is artificial food dyes. It’s not just because I’m allergic to them (I am) or that I can get rashes in funny colours as a result (I do) -- but there seems little good reason to eat artificial food colours at all. In my head, it just isn’t food.
And I’m not alone in this thought.
The Best Place to Get Breakfast in Seattle Before You Cruise
A cruise is a fantastic way to see the sights of Puget Sound or extend a vacation on the water to more distant locales. This city known for its morning coffee also offers many diverse and delicious breakfast options near the waterfront. Check out some of these favorites before you set sail.
A cruise is a fantastic way to see the sights of Puget Sound or extend a vacation on the water to more distant locales. While you’ve packed your luggage and are awaiting those famous cruise ship buffets, you’ll still need time to grab breakfast before you go. Fortunately, this city known for its morning coffee also offers many diverse and delicious breakfast options near the waterfront. Check out some of these favorites before you set sail.
Originally published on Porthole Cruise magazine.