We made it downtown today for Market Saturday. It's officially summer but the weather has been feeling more like fall. We even had a frost warning last night... in June! WTF?!? This morning started a little cool but warmed up enough to get out for a walk. The chillier weather worked in our favour and allowed us to snag two Do-Si Donuts: our favourite Seabuckthorn Berry with White Chocolate and the elusive Saskatoon Berry. We also tried a couple of new (to us) vendors.
I recently tried kombucha for the first time. I bought a case of GT's Organic Raw Kombucha in Gingerade from Costco, which may have been a bit ambitious. I'm warming up to its zingy fizz and essence of apple cider vinegar but it is definitely an acquired taste. Despite my mediocre first impression, this morning I branched out and tried another brand from locals, Crave Kombucha. Theirs is not effervescent which makes it more like a tea than pop, and the flavours are delicious. The raspberry mint pairs the sweetness of raspberries with just a hint of mint. It's a new addition to their menu and is so refreshing. A must try. I also snagged a mango cranberry. They offer samples so you can stop by and try before you buy. But you will definitely buy. Crave is also available in select stores if you need to get your booch on mid-week. My second new purchase was a delicious Cilantro Sauce from Bina's Ethnic Foods of Nepal. The cilantro is fresh while the garlic gives it a punch. My friend uses it as a topping for eggs but I could put this on everything. And I started with my tacos this afternoon. This is definitely my new favourite condiment. Grab a jar and a bag of her Wo Mari (green onion cakes), too! Bina also encourages trying before buying, so pop by and sample her wares. Once you've got the cilantro sauce, you're going to want to make tacos, so allow me to introduce you to my taco seasoning. I love making my own spice blends so I can control what goes into them. Read the ingredient list on your favourite brand; if you're also wondering what ethoxyquin is, then try my recipe. You can omit the crushed chilis if your personal Scoville scale is low.
INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp (15ml) chili powder 1½ tsp (7.5ml) cumin 1 tsp (5ml) ground pepper ½ tsp (2.5ml) salt ¼ tsp (1ml) garlic powder ¼ tsp (1ml) onion powder ¼ tsp (1ml) crushed chilis flakes ¼ tsp (1ml) oregano
DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Brown your meat and drain off any fat. Add your taco seasoning and mix well. Add ⅓ cup of water and simmer until water is absorbed. Make ahead and store in an airtight container for up to six months. Yield: 1½ tbsp = 1 pkg store-bought
So many delicious options at our local market. Be sure to check these two out this summer!
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This past weekend was the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. It's one of my favourite events in the city and a great opportunity to shop some local vendors. We actually went twice this year: once in the morning and again in the afternoon with a friend. It is a nice walk from our house and we can always use the fresh air!
This was the third year for Rowyn and the bazillionth for me. It was our first without Daddio though, but we made a day of it, just us ladies. We shopped, we ate, we sipped lemonade. We walked all the way home for a nap Rowyn didn't think she needed but really could have used. And the weather was gorgeous, minus some wind gusts and a little rainy fake out.
It was actually quite bizarre. The rain came on and it seemed like a downpour was imminent. We had walked over, so this was especially bad news for us. As I was trying to find a covered area to take shelter, the sky cleared right up and it was instant summer. In the meantime, we had come across the Blue Sky Cultural Connections booth with all their percussion instruments to try. This was definitely Rowyn's favourite stop of the day.
I usually do a lot of looking and not a lot of buying, but this year I found so many great things. My favourite silk-screening shop, Salgado Fenwick, was there this year so it was t-shirts and tanks for everyone!
I am not a big wearer of jewelry but I am in love with bubble studs. I found some fun pairs at Acacia Accessories that I just had to take home. They had a great deal when you purchased three, so obviously I took advantage. Ice cream cones?!? How could I not?! Pop over to their site and grab 20% off when you shop online with the code RE20 until January 1, 2018!
Last year we bought my daughter her first little dolly from Lucalou Crafts. We had selected the last little ginger they had and Rowyn still loves her. This year I let her pick out a new friend and she clearly has only eyes for red-heads because now she has another. This one was rocking matching pigtails.
I noticed this adorable romper hanging on the outside of Rinnie Apparel's booth. It was the only one and is sized to fit Rowyn next summer. I have a slight obsession with toddler clothing. Why is everything so darn cute!?!
Our last stop on the big loop was to say hi to my art teacher, Carla Lorence. She also makes and sells her ceramic wares at local festivals and I was lucky to scoop up this beautiful pot before the wind took out her tent. I wish I would have taken a picture of the inside before filling it, but it has bands of colour similar to the flower I chose to live in it.
What a great weekend! We were both exhausted at the end of the day but it was such a delightful time. I love that this is just another tradition that we get to enjoy together as a family. If you have never been, you must go next year; it is such a kid-friendly event. Plus, there are mini-donuts if you need one more reason!
We have a pretty vibrant city, especially after the snow melts. Since Rowyn was born, we've made attending the weekly Farmer's Market a family thing. It started as a way to get out of the house but now I use the market as a way to gather local ingredients for our menu for the week. This year, we've morphed our ritual into a Saturday lunch date. We get up and enjoy breakfast en route so we don't miss out on our favourite delights.
These scrumptious rings from Do-Si Donut are one of our top picks if we can get there early enough. These bad boys usually sell out early. I thought we were in good shape this morning, but we snapped up the last single - Seabuckthorn Berry & White Chocolate - just before 10am. Totally worth it. It's actually taking all of my willpower not to eat the last bite my toddler saved for after her nap.
Another vendor we frequent is Glow Juicery. I normally neglect to bring my own breakfast on market mornings, so grabbing a juice from Glow often hits the spot. And my daughter enjoys partaking in a freshly pressed beverage as well. This morning we shared a Citrus Glow. It has a delightful zip from the ginger that we dig.
Our final stop today was at our new BFF, Best Food Forward. We've enjoyed a variety of items off of their menu and today was no exception. Their offerings change from market to market, so we grab what suits our mood of the day and take it to enjoy at home. Today we went with their Roast Beef Beast with its tender beef piled on a parmesan pepper sourdough with mixed greens, white cheddar, yorkshire pudding, and pickled red onions, and then drizzled with an au jus reduction. Amaze.
These three vendors all happen to be new to the market this year. I highly recommend stopping by any one (or all) of these booths at the next market this Wednesday!
I finally had the opportunity to attend one of the handmade markets put on by The Wren this weekend. The sister-duo have been bringing together local artisans in their seasonal pop-ups for the past three years and I was so delighted by my first shopping experience. I have attended my fair share of craft/trade shows in the past and I always find they lack variety. This weekend's market was fresh with over 40 unique vendors showcasing their handmade goods.
I used to find it difficult when my husband was working away from home. Leaving the house with a baby was a life-altering event that took hours of preplanning and pep talks. In hindsight it seems silly, but I really had to force myself out of my comfort zone every time we went somewhere. Eventually it became our new normal and now I just pack her up and away we go. Being home alone with a toddler for weeks on end can be tough, so when my best lady friend asked if I wanted to meet at The Wren's Spring Handmade Market, I jumped at the chance. I brought Rowyn along, strapped to my back to keep her contained while we shopped.
My friend found a charming pair of earrings at Fern & Sparrow, and while I claimed to be "just looking", I also found a sweet new pair of studs courtesy of FourSquared Designs. Their eclectic pieces are designed and crafted by a foursome of friends. Most items are one-of-a-kind, which made it hard to choose only one pair. Just look at these whimsical rainclouds!
I love attending these events and love that I can take Rowyn along with me. She loves looking at all the beautiful creations as much as I do. I left feeling inspired to try making something of my own. There are so many new things I want to try and I know exactly where I am going to start. More details on that later!
Shout out to Michelle Austin Photography via The Wren, g.a.s. art, and FourSquared Designs for sharing their photos with me!
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