G! Whiz (October 2010)

Costume Trauma

By Heidi Brander

Lately, my Facebook newsfeed has been blowin’ up with various friends’ worries about their wedding plans.  I can’t turn a corner at work without being grilled by a colleague for my thoughts on ballroom bustles versus a sweep train (um, what?).  As someone who has never planned a wedding (except for my beloved childhood teddy bear, Mr. T, and his betrothed, Beary), I can’t relate to any of this wedding planning stress.  All I can say is that if you think you’re stressed out and under all this pressure, try being Heidi Brander on Halloween!

For me, the pressure to come up with the perfect idea for a Halloween costume and execute it with precision is infinitely more daunting than planning a silly old wedding.  Old standbys like “Sexy Cat” just won’t cut it nowadays; one-upmanship has become the name of the Halloween costume game.  And if you can’t bring it come October 31, you might as well stay home.  These days, a costume has to be on the money in terms of pop-cultural relevancy, and even if you wear a seemingly topical costume like Snooki or a Lady Gaga meat dress, you’ll be met with five other partygoers wearing the exact same thing.

If you understand this Halloween pressure to find the perfect get-up, you’ll appreciate my list of topical and creative costume ideas!

The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo

WHY:  The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was an international best-selling novel, but it’s time to remind people that mystical creatures also appreciate a little ink.

INGREDIENTS:  Green scales, snout, temporary lady tattoo, ability to emit flames from one’s mouth.

Zom-Bea Arthur

WHY:  Still mourning the death of Bea Arthur?  Wish you could bring your favourite Golden Girl back from the dead?  Now’s your chance!

INGREDIENTS:  Old lady wig, shoulder pads, caftan, red contacts, fake blood.

*Bonus points:  Grab three more pals and go as the “Golden Ghouls” (i.e. Blanche Death-a-Row, Deady White, and EstHELL Getty.)

Salt (n’ Pepa)

WHY:  All year long, our senses been inundated by movie posters posing the question “Who is Salt?”  Prove you know the answer by stepping out with a friend as the rogue CIA operative and the other half of 90s girl group “Salt n’ Pepa!” (Spinderella optional)

INGREDIENTS:  (On Salt:) Black trench coat, witchy black wig; (On Pepa): Acid-wash jeans, chunky gold bling, neon crop-top.

Ironic Man

WHY:  While your friends all dress up like Iron Man (the world’s most indestructible superhero), you can dress up like Ironic Man – the world’s most sarcastic superhero!

INGREDIENTS:  Jeans, T-shirt, ability to roll your eyes at everybody’s costumes and make ironic comments like “Oh, you’re a devil? That’s original” and “No, those bunny ears don’t look cheap at all.”

For random updates on wigs, stand-up comedy and cheesy puns, follow Heidi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/heidibrander.

Costume Trauma By Heidi Brander Lately, my Facebook newsfeed has been blowin’ up with various friends’ worries about their wedding plans.  I can’t turn a corner at work without being grilled by a colleague for my thoughts on ballroom bustles versus a sweep train (um, what?).  As someone who has never planned a wedding (except [...]

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G! Eats (October 2010)

Craving that Homegrown Taste

By Ellen Egan

For some reason, we all fear the end of summer.  We hear it the second there’s a chill in the air.  You know, that one day when every Islander comments to every other Islander that “summer is officially over.”

Fear not.

Fall is actually one of my favourite seasons.  Whether it’s the cooler temperatures or the rich colours – there’s just something about it.  It even feels like we have more time (although there’s never really enough time).  Perhaps it’s because we’re not as focused on cramming in every possible activity or soaking up every ounce of sunshine before the summer’s end.

So, this month, I figured why not take G! Eats to a new level?  As much as I love having someone else prepare, serve, and clean up my meal, doing it yourself can be that much more satisfying.  It’s tasty for your palate.  It’s even better for your conscience.  And it can be really fun.

Eating local is where it’s at.  And, lucky for us, we’re “at” one of the most bountiful places in the world and in one of the best seasons for fresh, local products.  Prince Edward Island’s iron-rich soil and pristine surrounding waters make it the ideal place to eat right from the source.

Whether you want to go directly to the farm or browse various vendors in one place, PEI is home to countless Farmers’ Markets to buy fresh, local agriculture, fish, and food artisan products (did I mention delicious cheese?).  You’ll find the largest markets in Summerside and Charlottetown.  But travel east or venture west and you’ll find smaller markets or farm gates along the way – many just off the beaten path.

For this season’s freshest products, check out a local “farm fresh” directory.  Items such as apples, carrots, cranberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and our good ol’ potatoes are in their prime this time of the year.

To take things a step further with your conscious eating habits and give you a little “food for thought” (literally), many farms on the Island have gone organic.  “Certified organic” is a term given to products produced according to national organic standards.  It also means that farmers must pass a yearly inspection and maintain an audit trail of their crop inputs.

Yes, sir.

So, get excited – I promise you won’t have to fight a tourist for the last bag of carrots.

Happy eating (and cooking)!

What’s that growling noise?  That would be your stomach.  You can thank Ellen Egan for that.  When she’s not noshing and writing, Ellen splits her creative juices as a Communications Officer between Versatile Management Group and the QEH Foundation.

Fresh organic produce from Hughes Hill Farms Organic Produce, available at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market.

Craving that Homegrown Taste By Ellen Egan For some reason, we all fear the end of summer.  We hear it the second there’s a chill in the air.  You know, that one day when every Islander comments to every other Islander that “summer is officially over.” Fear not. Fall is actually one of my favourite [...]

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G! Gets Zesty (October 2010)

Let’s Talk Food Style!

By Cory Gallant (aka Zestycook)

Whether you’re kicking up the presentation with a nice garnish, ensuring the colours in the dish stand out, experimenting with different ingredients, or finishing the dish with that very special ingredient, there are lots of fun ways to add style to your food.  When you’re in the kitchen, remember – it’s all about having fun!

To kick things off, give this delicious soup recipe a try.  It may look simple, but the flavours are anything but.  The combination of carrot and ginger on a fall day will bring any seasonal illness to its knees.  Carrot and ginger coupled with the nutty flavour of the cashews make this soup rich and creamy. This soup partners well with a nice piece of crusty bread or alongside your favourite sandwich.  Feel free to add some of you favourite flavours and spices as substitutions.

Carrot & Ginger Soup

Ingredients

* 2 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
* 4 cups water
* 1 Tablespoon olive oil
* 1-1/2 cups chopped onion
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 Tablespoons freshly grated ginger
* 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cumin
* 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon allspice
* 3-4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* 3/4 cup toasted cashews

Method

1. Place the carrots in a medium saucepan and add the water.
2. Bring to a boil, cover and cook until the carrots are very tender (10-15 minutes)
3. Heat the olive oil in a small fry pan. Add onion and cook over medium heat until translucent.
4. Add ginger, garlic, salt, and spices.
5. Lower the heat and continue to saute for another 8-10 minutes, until the onions are soft.
6. Stir in lemon juice.
7. Combine the spice-onion mixture with the carrots and the cashews.
8. Use a blender to puree the mixture until smooth.
9. Once smooth, pour back into the saucepan and prepare to serve.
10. Top with a dollop of sour cream.
11. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: The soup will thicken up a bit in the fridge, but just a little water before you microwave it at work and it will be just as good as when you first made it.

Portabella Pizza Perfection

Pizza and pizza dough kind of go hand in hand, right?  Whether it be a bread-like dough, pita or even a bagel; no matter the type of bread, the foundation of a traditional pizza usually contains flour.  Why not try something completely different?  Load your favourite pizza toppings onto a portabella  mushroom and you’ve got a main course to remember.  I gave this a try, and I have it on good authority that the Zesty crowd loved it.

Simple and not complicated at all, because simple and easy is how I roll in the kitchen.  The rich meaty texture of the portabella makes a super pizza base and acts like a sponge for the toppings.  This is a must try!

The Brownie That Will Change Your Life

Can we really have a stylized dinner without dessert?  I suppose you could if you were watching your waistline or counting calories, but really?  Can’t we just start that diet on Monday?

I have been pushing these brownies ever since I made them last year.  This brownie recipe has been one of the most popular posts on the Zesty Cook blog and once you try them, you’ll know why.  A chocolate cake bottom topped with chocolate morsels, caramel and finished off with some more clumps of chocolate then a generous helping of your favourite frozen ice cream treat.  Can you say brownies with style?

For more information including these stylish recipes, be sure to come over and check out www.zestycook.com.

Thanks so much for reading.

Take care,
Zesty

Zestycook.com is a blog authored by Islander Cory Gallant, focusing on quick and healthy recipes for the everyday person. Known in the food blog world as “Zest” or “Zesty,” Cory’s been featured in magazines, and was a guest speaker at the Healthy Living Conference in Boston, MA.   Cory lives in Marshfield with the lovely Mrs. Zesty and their two junior Zesties.

Let’s Talk Food Style! By Cory Gallant (aka Zestycook) Whether you’re kicking up the presentation with a nice garnish, ensuring the colours in the dish stand out, experimenting with different ingredients, or finishing the dish with that very special ingredient, there are lots of fun ways to add style to your food.  When you’re in [...]

Read more »

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