Artisan Market Vendors - December 9th, 2013

We are excited to invite local artisans to bring their amazing items to you in the month of December. Please join us and invite your friends to come and do some not entirely last minute shopping!

Monday December 9th from 3:30 to 7pm!


We are in Hilliard Hall at the First United Church, Waterloo. 
The Street Address in 16 William Street West in Waterloo, but our entrance is off Caroline, opposite Alexandra Ave. 
Please park in the UpTown Waterloo Parking Lot behind the LCBO and enter by the glass doors.

Ruby Two Spoons - Re-purposed Vintage Glassware and Gifts

Looking for a unique gift or accent to your home?  How about something locally handmade, vintage, and good for the environment!  At Ruby Two Spoons we create one of a kind candles using vintage glassware.  Cream and sugar set, teacups with saucers, candy dishes and crystal tumblers are transformed into eco-friendly candles by using 100% pure soy wax and lead free wicks.
http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/RubyTwoSpoons

AlliSewsIt - Hand sewn items

My items are handmade items mostly for little one and ladies.
https://www.facebook.com/AlliSewsIt

Cocosnucifera - We offer an alternative route to modern day cosmetics

All of our products are Handmade with only Natural and when possible, Organic ingredients. The ingredients have been researched for their effective and potent properties. Nature has provided us all the necessary materials for a healthy lifestyle, and we carry that maxim through our entire production process. Our goal is to nourish your skin while sustaining the Earth.
www.cocosnucifera.ca

Old Thread Designs - Handmade sustainable, accessories and clothing

Old Thread Design, takes unused items and upcycles them into a new treasure. Come find an upcycled treasure where old ties become necklaces, a t-shirts becomes a new owl hat or necklace.  https://www.facebook.com/OldThreadDesigns

Fabulous Felties - Needle Felted Creations and Local Typographic Maps.

Want a modern and fun way to display your love of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph or Canada!? Louise's colourful typographic maps add a touch of whimsy and an “I love my neighbourhood/country” to any space. She also makes beautiful needle felted ornaments and pin cushions, along with needle felting kits so you can learn this fun craft too!
http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FabulousFelties

Krista Harrington - Preserves and felt critters

Krista raises sheep and make cute critters from their wool
www.FromTheseRoots.ca 

Loopeeeee - Fibre Arts

Maryrose has been making gifts for many years and now has decided to spread her wings and sell these great items. She specializes in fibres - both knit and sewn. You can find many reusable items, snack bags, produce bags, Reversible baby bonnets and knitted hats.
https://www.facebook.com/Loopeeeee

Janet McLaughlin and Jamie LeClair - Jewelry and Cards

My name is Tammy Delaney and I am an artist with a strong interest in photography, collage and collecting beach treasures. At this year’s sale, I will be featuring a selection of hand-made Christmas and holiday cards (each one individually created from cut paper and drawings), as well as photo cards that can be used for any occasion. Through photography I capture many of life's joyful moments and create ever-lasting memories! I hope you enjoy these images and the feelings they invoke, and that in giving one of these cards, you can spread the joy and wonder of life onto your loved ones. https://plus.google.com/photos/114384126245515099508/albums/5941393067444129665

Bad Cat Craftworks: Hand-Crafted Jewellery by Jamie LeClair Late 19th- to early 20th-Century glass--primarily from broken bottles--is recovered, cleaned, and cut for reclamation. No molds are used, so each piece is unique; a culmination of century-old glass and the high temperatures of my kiln. The resulting cabochons are used alone, or matched with copper, brass, nickel, or stainless steel to create wearable works of art.

Pumpkin Sweet Potato Swirl Bread

Dough:

• 1 cup sweet potato puree
• 1 cup pumpkin or winter squash puree
• 2-6 Tbs. butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups whole grain flour
• 1 ½ - 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. instant yeast*
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. nutmeg
• ½ tsp. allspice
• ½ tsp. ground cloves

Swirl:

• ¼ - ½ cup sugar
• 2-4 Tbs. cinnamon
• Raisins or dried cranberries (optional) – OR – cranberry sauce, about ½ cup

This makes great use of leftover pureed squash and sweet potatoes, but if you don’t have those you need to cook them.  It’s easy to microwave one sweet potato, which should be sufficient for this recipe.  Poke holes all over the sweet potato with a fork, microwave for 4 minutes, check for softness, cook longer if needed, cool, and scoop out the insides with a spoon and mash with a fork.  For the pumpkin or squash, chop in half, scoop out seeds and strings, flip each side over on an oiled baking sheet, bake at 400 until soft, about 45 minutes (this varies quite a bit depending on your choice of squash/pumpkin.  Allow to cool, scoop out flesh with a spoon, and mash with a fork. 

Combine the pumpkin and sweet potato with the wet ingredients, followed by the whole wheat flour.  Stir for 1 minute, making sure everything is well combined.  Add the yeast and add the all-purpose flour in small amounts until the dough becomes difficult to stir but is still sticky (you may not use all the flour).  Add the salt and spices and stir to incorporate.  Allow the dough to sit for 5 minutes.  Using wet hands knead the dough.  If it is still very sticky you can add more flour (but it’s okay to have a wet sticky dough because the moisture will help give the dough a better spring in the oven).  Allow the dough to sit for about 30 minutes, then, using wet hands, stretch the dough by grabbing under one side of the dough and pulling it up and over the dough.  This is called a “stretch and fold.”  Do this 4 times, once for each side of the dough, always folding it back over itself.  Wet your hands again and form the dough into a ball (as best as you can).  Cover, and allow to rise until roughly doubled in size, 1-2 hours (depending on house temperature and amount of yeast used).  If using raisins/cranberries, soak them in a cup of water so they don’t dry out when baked.

Lightly flour a counter and roll or stretch the dough out until it is about 6 inches wide and 12-18 inches long (longer stretch = more swirl).  Spread the cranberry sauce on the dough if you’re using it, and mix together the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle generously on top of the dough.  Add the wet raisins/cranberries if you’re using them.  Roll the dough tightly (I like to mist the dough with a spray bottle of water as I do this to help the cinnamon sugar stick to the dough).  Place the dough in a greased bread loaf pan (or cut it into two halves and place in two small bread pans).  Dust the top with more cinnamon sugar if you like.  Cover and allow to rise until doubled again in size, 1-2 hours.  Bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes (it will cook a little faster in smaller loaf pans).  If you’re unsure about when a bread is done you can check with a thermometer, which should read above 200 F when the bread is finished and should come out without any sticky dough stuck to it.  Allow the bread to cool fully before slicing.  Enjoy.

PS.  This bread makes amazing egg-in-the-whole as well as grilled cheese.  

*If using dry active yeast follow instructions given on package.  You can up the yeast to 2 tsp. for a faster rise.  I find that the smaller quantity of yeast allows for more flavour development but it also means a slower rise. 

 Guest Recipe Post by Jon Spee

The Local Kitchener

This recipe is a very loose adaptation of the 2:2:2 Bread.

Artisan Market Vendors - November 25th, 2013

Loopeeeee – Fibre Arts

Maryrose has been making gifts for many years and has decided to spread her wings and sell these great items. She specializes in fibres - both knit and sewn. You can find many reusable items, snack bags, produce bags, Reversible baby bonnets and knitting.hats.

www.facebook.com/Loopeeeee

 Savvy Green – Body Care

Savvy Green is a family company dedicated to making by hand, all natural, beautiful and safe soaps, and other products

http://www.shop.savvygreen.ca/

Green Garb – Fibre Arts

Charlotte makes handmade and repurposed accessories and decorative items with care using wool, lamb/sheepskin, leather and cloth.
Products available.
~Reusable and machine washable sandwich and snack bags
~Cloth tote bags
~Woolly boots.
~Felted wool leather sole slippers
www.facebook.com/greengarbkw

From These Roots – Wool Critters

Krista raises sheep and make cute critters from their wool along with her great jams and jellies

www.FromTheseRoots.ca 

Silver & Boots Craft Creamery

We are a small ice cream business in the Waterloo and Guelph area. We produce an incredibly different ice cream using local and organic ingredients, with seasonal flavours.

www.silverandboots.ca

BRFC – Screen Printing

As BRFC, Jon takes his designs and puts ink to paper, or fabric, or cork, or whatever medium will take it. What began as a project to customize his own handkerchiefs has become an outlet to create items for everyone to enjoy.

www.bearface.ca

Supplier Spotlight - Little City Farm

I am pretty sure Little City Farm has been supplying Loose Leaf Teas to Bailey's Local Foods since the days in Nina's carport.  I discovered Bailey's through a blog post Karin Wrote back in 2008. Karin, Greg and Maya are Little City Farm - an urban homesteading family trying to live simply and sustainably on a 1/3 acre city homestead in Kitchener.  

Little City Farm is an eco bed & breakfast and they also host workshops with a variety of topics in Organic/Urban Agriculture, Homesteading Skills, Slow Food, Eco Crafting, Herbal Health and Sustainable Living.  Here are their 2013 Fall Workshops. Karin is also the talent behind Homestead Herbals where you will fine simple, pure, organic, earth-Friendly herbal products & eco home decor for the eco-minded family. 

Little City Farms/Homestead Herbals teas are a mix of herbs they grow using sustainable methods, or that are either certified organic from a local source, ethically wild-harvested locally, and a few herbs included are certified organic but not local (e.g. cinnamon, vanilla bean, orange peel all used for flavour).

Here are the tea varieties we offer:

Women's Vitality Blend
A blend rich in iron, calcium & minerals to help tone the female system.  Can be used during nursing to boost milk production.
Ingredients: certified organic and/or sustainably grown peppermint, nettle, blessed thistle, oat straw, red clover, red raspberry leaf.  (note this tea is not gluten-free)


Sweet Dreams Tea
A sweet herbal blend that calms the mind, soothes the spirit, and promotes restfulness.

Ingredients: certified organic and/or sustainably grown lavender blossoms, chamomile flowers and rose petals.

Winter Flu Fighter
A blend that strengthens the immune system to help ward off colds, coughs and flu.

Ingredients: certified organic and/or sustainably grown echinacea root, elder flower, marshmallow root, hyssop, hops, mullein, fennel, sage, lemon verbena, calendula, orange peel.

After Dinner Tea
A refreshing herbal blend that's perfect for any time of the day.

Ingredients: certified organic and/or sustainably grown spearmint, peppermint, yarrow, licorice root, lemon verbena, calendula, mullein, fennel seed, stevia

Immune Boosting Herbal Chai
A flavourful spiced tea filled with immune boosting herbs.

Ingredients: certified organic fair trade red rooibos & vanilla bean, certified organic and/or sustainably grown cinnamon, fennel, echinacea root, astragalus root, licorice root, hops, sage, elder flower, mullein, star anise, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom.

Maple-Glazed Root Vegetable Stir Fry with Fried Tofu

1-2 lbs of assorted root vegetables (Jerusalem Artichoke, carrot, golden beets, parsnips, etc.), peeled and chopped into ½-inch pieces

2-3 tbs. oil

Preheat the oven to 375.  Heat oil over medium heat in an oven-proof pan until shimmering and fry the root vegetables for 8-10 minutes (if using beets it’s a good idea to cook them separate unless you want everything to turn red!).  Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 25 minutes, or until they are golden and tender (not mushy).  

1 package firm tofu (or tempeh)

2-3 tbs. oil

Remove the tofu from package and press to remove excess water.  Heat oil over medium heat until shimmering.  Chop tofu into ½-inch pieces and fry, turning every 5 minutes until golden (about 20 minutes). 

¼ cup maple syrup

¼ cup soy sauce

2-3 green onions (scallions), finely diced

3 tbs. sesame seeds, toasted

Remove the roasted vegetables from the oven and return to the stove.  Add the tofu, maple syrup and soy sauce, and bring to a simmer over medium heat.  After 5-10 minutes the vegetables should be glazed.  Garnish with the green onions and sesame seeds and serve over rice, or other grain.  

Guest Recipe Post by Jon Spee

The Local Kitchener

(Adapted from this recipe)

Hardy Kiwi - Who Knew!?!

Photo Courtesy of kiwiberry.com

I tried a new fruit I have never tried before called the Hardy Kiwi.

It also goes by many other names - Actinidia arguta, kiwi berry, arctic kiwi, baby kiwi, dessert kiwi, grape kiwi, northern kiwi, or cocktail kiwi.

Photo Courtesy of seasonalontariofood

I have never heard of such a fruit.  I Googled the berry as I was listing it in on the offering list to get some sort of description. It wasn't until the fruit arrived Friday that I was sold.

It is a native Asian plan that is able to grow in in Niagara.  The vine is available in a couple of nurseries around here.  

Photo Courtesy of torontogardens

The outside of the berry is green and a purple spot.  I assume the purple is a sign of ripeness.  I made sure to choose a berry that was a bit on the softer side.

When I bit in I expected it to have an extremely sour taste. To my surprise it was sweet with a bit of tang at the end.

I am not sure if these will continue to be available.  If they are I recommend you trying something new.

Maryrose

For the love of Squash

I am a huge fan of Pumpkin seeds.  So much so that this evening I roasted my first squash of the year. It was a squash called "A Heart of Gold" grown at Lena and Ervin Horst's farm.  I was delicious roasted with some butter, maple syrup, salt and pepper.

Photo Courtesy of mnlocavore.com 

I saw the seeds and couldn't resist.  I rinsed them off and spread them on the baking sheet sprinkled some salt and was eating roasted squash seeds with in 20 mins.  

Kingwood farms has three new organic squash harvested this week:

Kakai Hulless Pumpkin

Photo Courtesy of: highmowingseeds.com

Hulless seeds for snacking! Endearing Japanese pumpkin with orange and green striped markings and large raised ribs. Creates a beautiful display, but is most valued for hull-less seeds which make a scrumptious snack. Kakai seeds are highly nutritious and yield a valuable oil that is used to promote prostate health in men.

Long Pie Pumpkin

Photo Courtesy of: highmowingseeds.com

If you are looking for a standard round pumpkin, then Long Pie is not for you. But if you want the best pie pumpkin for cooking, then put down your food mill and get ready to scoop out virtually stringless, smooth and brilliant orange meat! Long Pie averages 5-8 lbs. In storage it will ripen further and turn completely orange outside and get even better inside. Great keeper. Also known as Nantucket Pie

Pink Heritage Pie Pumpkin
Unfortunately the true name of this pumpkin is unknown.  

Here is the note Debbie gave us:

This seed was given to me several years ago from a friend who only used this variety of pumpkin for her pies.  We have been enjoying it since, lots of meat in the pumpkin, unfortunately I don’t know the correct name, maybe someone recognizes it and would let me know.

I can't wait to try some of these.  I hope you do too.

Maryrose