Pasta Pronto!

My mother-in-law bought this and she gave it to me when she realised she wasn't going to ever get around to trying it so, of course, I just had to give it a try.

Just pour boiling water in, then set the timer, what could be easier?


Don't be fooled by this kitchen gadget, it would be much better as storage for dry spaghetti than to actually cook it.


Served over a smokey chili recipe I made up just to try out my new smoked paprika (Not the best use for it either).

Now go and check out this link, this is hilarious. Before the iPod: the Portable Stereo Cart

“Now, do you appreciate your iPod more? In the 50s you had to carry the CART with you, wherever you went.”

Why Should You Care About Bill C-51?

This bill has already passed second reading. It appears that our Government is trying to fast tract this bill before anyone has a chance to challenge it. Bills normally take months to pass not weeks.

WHAT IS BILL C-51? - Please read more about this bill at the Canadian Health Food Association website.

If you want to know the facts educate yourself, read the actual bill.
Bill C-51.

Backgrounder - Bill C-51 - click here to read more.

On Tuesday, April 8th, the Federal Government tabled Bill C-51, legislation to amend the Food & Drugs Act. This Bill regulates foods, drugs (which includes Natural Health Products), cosmetics and devices and thus is of interest to the CHFA and its members. The Federal Government tabled, as well, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, also referred to as Bill C-52.

Late on April 8th, the CHFA participated in a briefing on Bill C-51. Representatives at the briefing from Government included staff from the Health Products & Food Branch (HPFB) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). At this briefing, it was confirmed that the current regulations for Natural Health Products will require a “lighter” review to ensure it conforms to the amended Act following passage of the Bill.

Participants at this briefing were informed that a consultation process will be implemented with respect to the various regulations. No information was provided with respect to when the proposed amendments to the regulations will be released for review and comment. We were also informed that the Government has developed a communications strategy to ensure that small businesses in Canada are aware of the proposed changes.

Subsequent to this initial briefing the CHFA has had two meetings with government policy makers from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Food Directorate, the Natural Health Products Directorate, the Health Products & Food Branch Inspectorate, the Office of Consumer & Public Involvement, Policy, Planning and International Affairs Directorate and/or the Progressive Licensing Framework Project to discuss the intent and application of Bill C-51. The government is also planning to draft a side by side comparison of the current Food & Drugs Act with the changes proposed in Bill C-51 for stakeholder reference. We will post this document on our website as soon as it becomes available.

As of May 12, 2008 the Bill is still being debated in the House of Commons. The following link provides you with the current status of the bill http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E&Chamber=N&StartList=A&EndList=Z&Session=15&Type=0&Scope=I&query=5420&List=stat .

Further, if you are interested in how legislation moves through the House and Senate before becoming law please go to www.parl.gc.ca/followbill/prepare-e.asp.

Why Should You Care?

A separate category, as promised in the 1998 Standing Committee on Health's Report, is critical at this time
• We want our products to stay on store shelves; we need to work together
• Bill C-51 pushes natural health products closer to the pharmaceutical model
• Potential for limited product availability due to increased powers for inspectors to enforce the regulations and achieve compliance
• Increased penalties for non-compliance; monetary penalties are the same whether you are a small retail operation or a large multi-national

There are many potential negative issues around Bill C-51; we need a clear understanding of the implications to our industry.

Bill C-51 Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bill C-51?
• Bill C-51, tabled by the Conservative government, is a set of proposed amendments intended to modernize the existing Food & Drugs Act. The last significant revisions to the Food & Drugs Act occurred in 1953.

Who does Bill C-51 affect?
• Bill C-51 has implications for manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of foods, drugs, natural health products, veterinary drugs, cosmetics and medical devices in Canada.

What can you do?

1) Write to your federal representatives.

Find your Member of Parliament using your Postal Code. Click here.

Here are SIX sample letters.

2) Download and print copies of postcard. English | Francais

3) Mail sample letter to your Member of Parliament. English | Francais

Send your letters to: Stephen Harper, Jack Layton, Gilles Duceppe, Stéphane Dion, Tony Clement and your local MP.

How a Government Bill becomes Law - Canada

Link to Vitality magazine

Bill C-51 on Global News - Angeli Chitale - Naturopathic Doctor speaks

Alive magazine website has a link to the Canadian Health Food Association website with more information and links.

See what The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) has to say.

What does Bill C-51 do? What are the CAND’s Concerns?

It moves natural health products, medical devices, cells, tissues, organs and drugs under the heading “therapeutic products”. It does not differentiate between drugs and natural health products. At this point the bill does not impact the Natural Health Product Regulations.

It defines a practitioner in such a manner that NDs will be denied access to natural health products deemed prescription therapeutic products. It also includes definitions of “sell” and “controlled activity” that differ from provincial legislation.

It proposes sweeping new powers of enforcement with increased penalties including the ability to enter business establishments without a warrant.

The nationwide Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA) is engaging legal counsel regarding the impact of Bill C-51 on Herbal Practitioners. The results of this legal counsel will be posted on the CCHA website and the CHA of BC website as soon as it becomes available.

"Meatless like me"

The story is a hilarious must read for anyone who's vegetarian.

For those of you who happen to think us all to be a collective mass of tree-hugging hippie vegetarian Peta fanatics. Vegetarians like food as much as any meat-eating foodies.

"Meatless like me" by Taylor Clark.
Some excerpts from the article:

"Every vegetarian remembers his first time. Not the unremarkable event of his first meal without meat, mind you. No, I mean the first time he casually lets slip that he's turned herbivore, prompting everyone in earshot to stare at him as if he just revealed plans to sail his carrot-powered plasma yacht to Neptune."

"All day, I'd succeeded at seeming a promising and responsible young man, until that fateful moment when someone asked why I hadn't taken any meat from the buffet. After I offered my reluctant explanation—and the guy announced it to the entire room—30 people went eerily quiet, undoubtedly expecting me to launch into a speech on the virtues of hemp. In the corner, an elderly, suited man glared at me as he slowly raised a slice of bologna and executed the most menacing bite of cold cut in recorded history. I didn't get the scholarship."

"Every vegetarian is used to slim pickings when dining out, so we're not asking for much—just for something you'd like to eat. I'll even offer a handy trick. Pretend you're trapped in a kitchen stocked with every ingredient imaginable, from asiago to zucchini, but with zero meat. With no flesh available, picture what you'd make for yourself; this is what we want, too."

The Perfect (Vegan) Eggs Benedict

Easy Hollandaise Sauce - this sauce is perfect for me because I have never enjoyed an egg-y taste and in fact have never had a REAL Eggs Benedict.

This is a recipe I made once with regular mayonnaise I just realized (after reading Tofu Mom's recent post) that I could easily veganize it.

3/4 cup Vegenaise
1/3 cup soymilk
1/4 tsp dry mustard powder
1/4 tsp salt
about 1/2 tsp turmeric (for colour)
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

In small saucepan whisk together Vegenaise, soymilk, dry mustard, turmeric and salt. Stir over low heat until hot; do not boil. Stir in lemon juice.

Delicious over Eggs Benedict.

Notes: for a Bernaise sauce; saute 1 tbsp minced shallots (or onions) with 1 tsp. tarragon leaves in 3 tbsp of margarine. Then follow the directions above.

To make the Eggs Benedict.

Easy ‘Eggs’ Benedict

4 English muffins, split or large biscuits, baked and split
8 Veggie Bacon slices
shredded cheddar flavoured vegan cheese
tofu, scrambled to your personal preference (see below for recipe)
1 recipe Bernaise or Hollandaise sauce

Place the English muffin halves on a large cookie sheet.
Sprinkle the English muffins with a light layer of shredded vegan cheese. Toast the biscuits or English muffins until the cheese melts (450 F).

Fry the veggie bacon lightly. Place a slice of veggie bacon on top of the cheese.

Scramble the tofu (you can serve them as an extra as a side dish) while the English muffins toast in the oven.

Place in a 225 F oven to keep warm, if neccessary.

Cover English muffins with scrambled tofu and Hollandaise (or Bernaise sauce).

Garnish with chopped fresh parsley (or cilantro) and sprinkle with paprika.

Notes: I've also made this with a veggie sausage patty in place of the veggie bacon.

We made this with Follow Your Heart nacho flavoured cheese, it didn’t really melt like the package says but it does warm up a bit (it’s already quite soft to start with).

The first time we tried FYH we tried to melt it on tortilla chips to make nachos but it didn’t melt at all. I think this turned out better because it was hidden in the middle, maybe that’s the key to using this product.

We also tried the FYH in a grilled cheese. We had to give up melting it completely because the bread was getting REALLY dark, but it did taste pretty good, though more like a cheese sauce than cheese, and the texture was still sort of odd.


Scrambled tofu

Margarine, for frying
1/2 onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, cut in half and sliced thinly
1 (350g) pkg. extra firm tofu, crumbled

Saute for 3-4 minutes in margarine, then add the following:

3-6 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Pinch or two of turmeric

Stir and cook for about 5-10 minutes more.

Top off with some fresh squeezed orange juice on the patio on a warm sunny day and enjoy!

Green For Life

Green For Life by Gillian Deacon (host of The Gill Deacon Show)

My mom just got me this great book when were at Chapters on the weekend. I just love it, everyone should have a copy of this book. (I think a copy of this book would make a great wedding or baby shower gift, birthday or Christmas present.)

It's a really great AND a handy reference guide with heaps of green tips and ideas. Every household should have one.

Birthdays at Swiss Chalet

This is the vegan birthday cake I made for a family birthday lunch at Swiss Chalet on the weekend. (My brother is lactose-intolerant so I always make a vegan cake OR cupcakes)

I made the VwaV layered Raspberry Blackout Cake - but with strawberry jam instead, the fudgey ganache frosting is really nice too. I also slightly changed the recipe by halving the frosting (as I always do with Isa's recipes), just spreading the jam on the first layer of cake without added chocolate frosting (I had to make the cake ahead and freeze it so this just made things easier). The recipe then suggests spreading jam on the top layer and frosting over that but I just didn't want that much in the way of sweetness so I just iced it plain.


All of these cake pictures remind me that I can't wait to try out those Margarita cupcakes again, I really loved them the first time I made them last summer. I also discovered I like Tequila.


My 'kitten' playing 'groceries', this is one of her favourite games, she comes running in to the kitchen when we bring in the groceries just to jump in all the bags like this. (We actually do have a canvas LCBO bag, but we forgot it at home on this particular day.)

I thought this one of her sniffing the wine bottle was just the cutest.

Would you eat "test-tube" meat?

Scientists say it's a question of "when", not "if" test-tube meat becomes a reality.

So, will you be lining up to buy it?
And, if you did, would you still consider yourself a vegetarian?

Click here to read more.