Shavone Doherty

There are a few basic necessities required to survive in this world: food, water, shelter, fire and a good outlook on life. Arguably, learning how to cook is one of the most essential skills that you can spend your life perfecting. As a parent this is an invaluable gift that you give your child. These skills will last a lifetime.

After two months of summer vacation it can be difficult to think about the reality of going back to school. There is so much to do: selecting classes, choosing a career direction, the thought of an overwhelming amount of homework, balancing a job and extra curricular activities, finding a new look and buying new stationary. It comes as no surprise that meal planning is often forgotten or put by the wayside of priorities. 

This summer leafy greens can be found in abundance! They are a wonderful source of vitamin K, A, C, calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, fibre and folate (great for expecting moms). When picked young they taste great raw, especially in salads. As they mature they make can be added to smoothies, soups and be stored for future use.

June 19^th is Father's Day. This year spoil your dad with a healthy twist on a father favourite —

The mighty burger and fries! 

The following recipe is vegetarian but a worthy contender to any burger, period. It’s meaty, flavourful and high in protein. Halloumi is a Cypriot semi-hard, unripened brined cheese made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk, and sometimes cow milk. 

Permaculture design is an eco-conscious landscape that mimics the patterns and relationships found in nature, while also yielding an abundance of food. It is a low maintenance and sustainable form of agriculture that promotes greater environmental bio-diversity. It is built on a foundation that we care for our planet, care for our people, and care to share.

This year we celebrate mothers everywhere in Canada on Sunday May 8th.  Plan ahead and surprise a mom with something special and show your appreciation.

We owe a lot to our mothers. They provide us with incubation, nourishment, care, and protection. They are profound role models in our lives. When considering the time they spend with us as children, it seems only appropriate that we in turn make simple gestures of gratitude.

This year think of a way you can make a mom feel special.

Very soon, locally grown and harvested spring vegetables will be available for purchase. Two of my favourite vegetables are asparagus and garlic scapes. They are delicious, extremely nutritious and can star in any dish in a variety of ways. Begin by rinsing and chopping off the woody ends then sautéing in a hot skillet with butter and seasoning with a pinch of salt and pepper. For a quick snack, garnish with toasted almonds or incorporate them into a more elaborate dish. 

Rhubarb is an edible herbaceous perennial plant. Although it is considered a vegetable it is often prepared like fruit. It produces large leaves that appear triangular with long fleshy stalks, often very easy to spot in the yard or garden. Be warned! The ingestion of rhubarb leaves can cause oxalic acid poisoning.

Rhubarb is one of the first crops to harvest during the growing season. Its tart-like qualities make it very versatile to cook with and often stars in both sweet and savory dishes. Below are two recipes to satisfy both! Enjoy some of the first tastes of spring! 

Weeds can have a negative connotation in nature, considered to be invasive, over-run and under valued. Despite the quantity of wild weeds that can be cultivated each year, it is not commonly practiced.

There is a social stigma associated with them and in recent years the basic understanding of their benefits, uses, and applications have been lost. Even for those who recognize the importance of them often purchase them as bulk dried herbs not realizing they can be found in their back yard!

Herbs come by the hundreds and are extremely versatile for their culinary and medicinal application. Today I will highlight five of my favourite culinary herbs that you absolutely must start using this winter if you haven't already!

Vitamin D is a bit of a misnomer because it is actually a hormone. Our bodies produce it when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light. We can also get it from certain food. If you live in the northern hemisphere, you are probably familiar with the long dark winter months. As the days get shorter, vitamin D deficiencies are more common. Understanding that vitamin D is a hormone and not a vitamin can bridge the connection between deficiencies and mental health issues and depression.