Spruce Glen Bakery & Cafe: A New Place in Town

For my birthday today, my husband and some friends planned a surprise party for me at the Spruce Glen Bakery and Cafe in Wikwemikong, Ontario.

If you haven't stopped in yet, you should!  Spruce Glen serves up fabulous gourmet coffees and specialty teas at very reasonable prices! They also serve freshly baked treats like apple strudels, flat breads, cherry-filled treats, etc.  I am a fan of their Soy Chai Latte and my husband really likes their Wiky Wake Up (also known as the Red Eye)! It's a great coffee with a shot of Espresso!

Though the shop is not open on weekends, Spruce Glen (at the urging of my party-planning friends) opened to host this small event. Some of my favourite people on the planet were there. It was a lovely gathering and just makes me even more aware of how fortunate I am to have some very special people in my life. I actually almost didn't even attend my own party. My friend, ArtsyTeacherMom told me we were going to the Santa Claus Parade in Wiky and I said I didn't feel like going and that I had laundry to do! Not taking no for an answer, she told me to get into the vehicle! Good thing, because a surprise gathering was being cooked up...along with the most decadent cake. Thank you to Ultimately Chocolate for my mint chocolate birthday cake. We've tried pretty much all of Ultimately Chocolate's cakes and love them all!

What a wonderful day.  Thanks to everyone for making my birthday a very special one.

Spruce Glen Bakery Cafe is open on Mondays to Fridays from 6AM to 5PM.

#EqualCanada and #CBias - The Hunt Continues!

With the rush of the busy holiday season and shopping for special presents for our loved ones, a break from the hustle and bustle is always a welcomed treat.  After spending the day going from store to store, my friend, toddler, and I decided to stop in at Tim Horton's. It's the perfect reprieve from a busy day! The holiday season is my favourite time of the year, but I have to admit, it can get a little crazy, chaotic, and overstimulating.

I have a confession.  One of my guilty pleasures when out and about is a half French Vanilla/Half Hot Chocolate at Tim Horton's.  I know, it sounds like a really odd request.  If you try it, you'll know why I always order it!

I asked Little One what she wanted.  I thought she was going to ask for a chocolate milk for her treat.

She went straight for the glass display case and picked out a chocolate chunk cookie. Funny, since she doesn't normally like cookies!

My friend ordered a coffee. She doesn't take any sugar in her coffee.  Curious, I asked if the manager if they had any sugar substitutes. He flashed a big, bright smile and said, "Of course!"

When he passed us the sweetener, I asked if that was the only one they offered.  He replied, "Yes. This is the only one we have to offer our customers."  I then asked why and he quickly responded with, "That's the brand we get from our supplier. It's the only one we have."

I asked if they would consider carrying Equal Low Calories Sweetener in the future and he said, "Well, I think it's a HQ thing. We only serve what we are given. All our products are ordered through our supplier, and this is what they carry." He also said that no one has ever asked him about getting in alternatives before. He said he doesn't know why they carry one brand and not the other, but that the only reason he could think of was because that is what the suppliers have chosen.

Fair enough. He was so patient and very good at answering all my questions. I even filled out a comment card, asking about the possibility for including Equal  as another option for customers.

Two thumbs up for the Tim Horton's on Notre Dame St. in Sudbury, Ontario!  The one minor thing that I would suggest would be to have a few different options for sugar substitutes available for customers. Other than that, it was a perfect little break from a very busy day!

This is actually the second time I've participated in an #EqualCanada #CBias opportunity, and this is the second time I have been unsuccessful in finding a location/venue that offers Equal. I find myself on the constant lookout whenever I'm out now. I keep checking to see whether coffee shops or restaurants carry different options. I am determined to find a spot that offers Equal. I've even got my husband and friends in on the challenge whenever they're out for coffee!

For more information on Equal, check out their website and join in the conversation on Twitter @EqualCanada and Equal Canada on Facebook!

Disclosure - This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. I have also been compensated for participating in this #CBias #EqualCanada opportunity.

Posterjack.ca for Your Special Christmas Photo Gift Ideas

Now that we have a little one, photo gifts have been one of our favourite gift items.  We give framed photos, photobooks, and personalized photo calendars to loved ones for special occasions.  With the holidays mere weeks away, why not take a look at Posterjack.ca's website for some great gift ideas?

For those of you who haven't heard about Posterjack.ca, it is an online company that transforms Canadians' digital photos into big, bold, vibrant artwork. Posterjack.ca has a wide variety of products from posters to
canvases, peel n' sticks and metal prints!

 Here are but a few Personalized Holiday Gift ideas from Posterjack.ca:

• What Mom and Dad wouldn't love a Gallery Framed Family Portrait?


•How about a blow up a picture of your favourite vacation spot on Canvas for your partner?
•Impress your teen or college kid with a cool Metal or Acrylic Print for their pad
•Stuff your kids’ stockings with fun Peel N’ Stick Posters featuring your favourite family photo memories
•Got a shutterbug in your family? A Posterjack.ca gift certificate will help them show off
their art in style!




The ideas are endless!

*To ensure you receive your holiday order in time, Posterjack.ca recommends placing your order by
December 14th.

We wish you all a happy and memorable holiday season.  

Some Great CANADIAN Holiday Gift Ideas!

We love supporting Canadian businesses and we try to buy Canadian whenever we can. For the special people on your list this season, we've found some fabulous gift ideas.


Today I Ate A Rainbow is the perfect tool for getting kids to eat a rainbow every day. A fun, interactive chart keeps them excited about adding some colour to their meals! It's a great present for kids and parents alike!

Simply on Board has great toy straps that are great for preventing your tiny tots favourite toys, teething items, or even sippy cup from falling on the ground. The straps attach with velcro and are machine washable. There's nothing that grosses me out more than Little One's belongings falling on the floor in busy malls or restaurants. Okay, I'm only slightly paranoid about where people's feet/shoes have been!

KIOKKO Bebe Couture is easily recognizable amidst all the other baby/toddler/kid blankets, bibs, etc. Each piece is made with lots of attention and care. I've been known to give KIOKKO Bebe Couture blankets, washcloths, and bibs to expectant mothers or for welcoming home a new baby. I absolutely love the mitten clips and have not only gotten some for Little One, but for some of her friends too!

Mabel's Labels is perfect for all your labeling needs! We use Mabel's Labels on all of Little One's favourite items. They're great in case we leave her things behind at play group or elsewhere or  just so friends don't accidentally take them home with them! I'm known here as the Mabel's Labels giver! I've given labels to all my nieces and nephews and to Little One's friends for their birthdays or at Christmas.

 

Jet Baby has a fantastic variety of cool clothes for cool kids. Little One had her first John Deere outfit from Jet Baby and has since gotten a Poison onesie and Bob Marley onesie. There are so many adorable outfits and tees to choose from. Not your run of the mill, boring, generic, cookie cutter clothing. Jet Baby also sells books, CDs, DVDs...and toys from when I was a kid! I'd love to get Little One the Snoopy Sno Cone maker or Fisher Price phone that I had when I was a kid. Jet Baby is definitely a must if you're looking for the perfect gift!

 

Wean Green has an assortment of glass containers for your child's needs. We have the Wean Cubes and have stored all of Little One's snacks in them. They're the perfect size to just pop into your diaper bag or purse and pull out for your wee one to snack from.

GlassesUSA.com - Great Glasses Without Breaking the Bank!

When I was in high school, I got my first pair of glasses. I thought I'd beat the odds of ever having to wear glasses, even if my family members wore glasses. Back then (as a teenager), glasses just were not cool.

I actually had two pairs of glasses. I think the optometrist's office had a 2 for 1 sale on, because I had a red pair and a blue pair. They were not the most flattering things either. Big, heavy frames and Coke bottle-like lenses. They were awful...and expensive.

Because I didn't like them, I rarely wore them. The optometrist said they were only for distance (blackboard, TV, computer, and driving), so I only used them for that.

Thankfully, GlassesUSA.com has a wide variety of stylish prescription glasses that won't break the bank!
They've got everything from rimless frames, vintage styles, sunglasses, metal frames, Titanium frames, semi-rimless frames, and more!

GlassesUSA.com carries brands we know, love, and trust like Calvin Klein, Jones New York, and Diesel (just to name a few). If  you're going to wear prescription eyeglasses, you might as well look good in them and love them, right?

I now wear my glasses on a regular basis. I'm just glad to know that there are options out there for good quality, attractive, stylish, affordable glasses now.

With all the styles, colours, and designs available for eyeglasses now, it's easy to look good and still be able to see! I have some friends who really know how to change up their style with their glasses! Funky/fun one day, chic another. Casual, professional, sporty, classic...the options are endless!

It's truly amazing how a certain style of glasses can change your look entirely.

I'm actually quite partial to this for my next pair of glasses! Love, love, love!

Psssst! GlassesUSA.com is having an
Early Holiday Sale!
Take 20% off any frame in their iSee Eyewear collection and get free shipping within the US. Code: iSee20FS (you can find the collection here: http://www.glassesusa.com/isee-eyewear)
Take 10% off any order of prescription glasses. Code: Blog10
Order glasses!
Of course, before you order, make sure you understand what your prescription needs. Check out the helpful info for understanding eyeglasses and lenses on the GlassesUSA.com website.

Join in on the GlassesUSA.com conversation on Twitter and on Facebook!






Disclosure - This is a sponsored post. I am being compensated by GlassesUSA.com for writing this piece. All the opinions on this blog are honest and my own.

Celebrating the Holidays with Hallmark

  The Holiday Season is my favourite time of the year. It's the one time in the year that I get to spend with my family and friends that live out of town. It's always been such a special time to celebrate and share with loved ones. Now, with a child of my own, the Holidays have even greater importance to me. 


Knowing how busy and chaotic the Holidays can often be with preparations for big family dinners, decorating, and planning gatherings, Hallmark Canada wants to remind and encourage people to "Press Pause" and take some time to enjoy and appreciate all the special moments this year.

 

I'm excited to say that as a member of the Hallmark Canada #PressPausePanel, I was given the opportunity to share some exciting Holiday products with my readers!

 The Make-A-Wish Products 
The Make-A-Wish bear is Little One's favourite item. The bear is soft and cuddly, and you can record a special message for a special loved one. I sang a snippet of Robert Munsch's "Love You Forever" for Little One and recorded it. This way, if she ever misses me (if she's at her grandparents' house or if she's not with me), she can just press the button and hear my voice.

The best part about the Make-A-Wish products is that by giving them as gifts to friends and family, you give back and spread the joy.  By purchasing Make-A-Wish selected products, Hallmark will donate 25% of sales to help make children's wishes come true all year round.

Recordable Storybooks
A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my all time favourite stories. Each year at Christmas, I watch the cartoon. It's a Holiday ritual I have and hope to continue with my Little One. Now, I can start a new tradition by reading the book to her. The recordable storybook is fantastic for making memories last.

Titles include: Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and more! I am thinking of getting one for my parents to read and record for my nephew and twin nieces in Kingston. They live 10 hours from us, and we spend every other Christmas with them. Hearing Lola and Grampy's voices will help bridge the distance since we can't be together every year.

Christmas Ornaments
Hallmark has lots of great tree ornaments as well. I think Hubby will love this Wayne Gretzky ornament. He doesn't know yet, but this is going in his Christmas stocking!

 Rockin' Talkin' Santa or Elf Hats & the Merry-Okee Christmas Karaoke Microphone
Growing up, Christmas was a time of festivity in our family. Our aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, grandparents would get together and sing, laugh, eat, give, and be merry. Singing Christmas carols by the piano, partaking in some karaoke fun, and just being goofy has been a tradition in our family.

This is why the Hallmark Rockin' Santa hat and the Merry-Okee Christmas karaoke microphone are perfect for some festive fun! It changes your voice while you're singing. Haven't you always wanted to know what you'd sound like with an elf's voice?

Interactive Storybooks and Cuddle Buddies

Cuddle Buddies are also a cute gift for children. Jingle the Husky Pup barks, whimpers and sings when he hears the magic words read from the storybook that accompanies him. My three year old loves the interactive storybooks and Cuddle Buddies.

Of course, what are the Holidays without special greeting cards for your loved ones?

Hallmark has built its reputation on years of offering customers high quality products for all occasions. People seem to gravitate towards the Hallmark cards when they're at the store looking for the perfect card. Birthday, Easter, Graduation, Wedding, New Baby, Anniversary, Get Well, Sympathy, Christmas, Hanukkah, and every other occasion, Hallmark has you covered.

Take the time to "Press Pause" and enjoy some special time with your loved ones this Holiday season! Check out the Hallmark website here. Join in on the fun by checking them out on Facebook and Twitter too!

Disclosure - As a Hallmark Canada #PressPausePanel member, I received the above products to write about.

Recipe to Riches: Creamy Kulfi!

By now, many of you must know how addicted I am to FoodNetwork Canada and to the new reality TV cooking show, Recipe to Riches. What I enjoy about the show is that they've brought food that many people might not be familiar with and introduced it to the general public in the form of President's Choice products. Even for those recipes that did not win, the whole nation has been introduced to them on the show. Bannock Hazelnut Pie, Pouding au Chomeur, Salt Fish & Ackee Pie, Stuffed Olives, Mini Tourtieres all illustrate what a culturally diverse country we live in.

Canada is a multicultural country and I'm so impressed that food from different cultures are represented on Recipe to Riches.

I  have been looking forward to the Frozen Treats episode. Always curious about what kind of intriguing recipes the judges will choose, I was really looking forward to the three recipes.

I am happy to see that Rosy Soobrattee's Kulfi Karma won in the Frozen Treats episode. I was even  happier because that was the recipe I got to make as a FoodNetwork TV's Recipe to Riches food blogger. I love, love, love, kulfi!

Two things worried me though. Remember last time when I had to go on a hazelnut hunt for Melaney Gleeson-Lyall's Bannock Hazelnut Pie? I went on a mad search for hazelnuts for that recipe, but I found them after driving two and a half hours to Sudbury and two and a  half hours back to the Island. Rosy's kulfi recipe called for rosewater and cardamom. I searched my pantry, and found the cardamom (which I use for making Chai tea). Rosewater? Where would I find that?

The funny thing is that I did have rosewater from another recipe I made a while ago. Funny. No hazelnuts in the pantry, but rosewater?

The second thing that worried me was that the last time I made kulfi, I ended up making kulfi soup! When a recipe calls for a certain amount of freezing time, abide by the recipe's instructions! Not enough freezing time will leave your kulfi (ice cream or whatever frozen treat you're making) a soupy mess! FOLLOW the instructions! Don't be impatient like I am. Last time, I thought I could take out the frozen treat earlier. It tasted really delicious, but it was not aesthetically pleasing.

The first thing I did when reproducing Rosy's winning kulfi recipe was assembled all my ingredients. Here are some of the ingredients:

 Evaporated milk, condensed milk, whipping cream, cardamom, rosewater, pistachios, and instant dissolving sugar. I had to run out and get more whipping cream. I didn't realize that the store only had the small carton.

I then lined a glass baking dish with plastic wrap.

 

I didn't have ground cardamom, so I had to grind the cardamom myself. Fun times. 

Then I pureed the evaporated milk, condensed milk, rosewater, instant dissolving sugar, whipping cream, and ground cardamom in the blender.

 I poured the mixture into the plastic lined baking dish and stuck it in the freezer for 6 hrs. I actually tried to be patient and I left it in the freezer overnight for even better results.

 I shelled and finely chopped the pistachios for garnish.

 Et voila! The finished product!

I was very curious as to what Rosy's Kulfi Karma would taste like. Growing up in multicultural Montreal and then spending my adult life in Toronto, I was surrounded by delicious dishes from all corners of the world. This said, rosewater-infused treats and anything with cardamom or even cloves seemed too strong for my liking. I was eager to see how this recipe fared.

Rosy's kulfi recipe was not as complicated as I thought it would be. The ingredients "rosewater" and "cardamom" kind of scared my husband, but when he sampled the finished product, he was in awe. He said that the contrast in flavours with the sweet, creamy ice cream type dessert and the hint of rosewater and cardamom, combined with the extra boost in flavour from the pistachios made this one of his new favourite frozen treats.

 I  have to agree. I love the delicate flavours and the texture of the dessert. The hint of rosewater and cardamom lend to the exotic feel of the treat. I  have to admit that though I love nuts (I love pistachios!), I am a purist when it comes to nuts in my desserts. Not a fan. However, the pistachios in this recipe are the perfect accoutrement. The crunch and the slightly salty nutty flavour go perfectly with the smooth, creamy frozen treat.

 It's so delicious that I could have kulfi every day of the week if I could. I won't though! If I could I would!

I even brought some over to share with others for after we watched the Frozen Treats episode of Recipe to Riches! That's how I con people into watching the show with me :) I make them watch it with me and then I reproduce the winning recipe!

I'm looking forward to buying Rosy's President's Choice kulfi at the supermarket this weekend! I'm interested in seeing how it compares to her original recipe!

Congratulations to Rosy Soobrattee for her winning recipe! For the complete recipe, please visit Recipe to Riches on Food Network Canada and click on Creamy Kulfi.

Next week on #RtoR is #Entrees! Then Canada it's time for you to vote! You choose who will win $250,000 - the largest prize in Canadian history! How exciting is that?!?

Recipe to Riches airs on Wednesdays at 9 pm on Food Network, and Saturdays at 8pm on Global TV. Find them on Facebook and on Twitter to join in on the fun!