From foraging to shopping at farmers' markets: Easy ways to take advantage of fresh summer produce

'The best restaurants in the world (Nordic, NOMA, Geranium, etc.) have made foraging a big part of their cooking in getting back to their roots': head chef

Summer is here, so you have a multitude of produce options to add flavour to your meals as well as the opportunity to preserve and enjoy even when the foods are not in-season.

Start off by heading to a local farmers' market to see what's available in your area right now. It's an opportunity to pick up food straight from the field, at peak freshness.

So what should you be looking for?

Berries are picked fresh, so seize this time to make short cakes, crumbles, fruit salads and preserves.

Melons of different kinds can be part of a salad, used to make summery drinks or served wrapped in prosciutto.

All sorts of peppers – along with cucumbers, beans, peas, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, eggplant and celery – as well as fresh garlic to season your dishes will be found at local markets, some even in to September.

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“The best restaurants in the world (Nordic, NOMA, Geranium, etc.) have made foraging a big part of their cooking in getting back to their roots."
— Skyler Milner

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Preserving food

Buying local and in-season will save you money year-round if you take the time to preserve both fruits and vegetables to be used in the fall, winter and spring, when store prices are considerably higher for these items and they are unlikely to be locally grown. Your family and guests will surely appreciate the taste of frozen-fresh strawberries in the middle of January!

Getty Stewart, a Prairie-based professional home economist has a website that shows five ways to preserve summer produce.

Here are some of her tips:

• Fruit is easily frozen – simply wash and dry it before putting it in an air-tight freezer bag. If you will want individual pieces of fruit to use later, perhaps as a cheesecake topping, first freeze the fruit separated on a cookie sheet before transferring it to a Ziploc bag.
• Vegetables can also be frozen, but you have to add a blanching step first. Blanching means putting the vegetables, such as carrots, in a pot of boiling water before freezing. Vegetables of different types will require different blanching times before transferring them to the freezer.
• Fresh herbs, mushrooms, peppers and even apple rings can be dried, or dehydrated.
• Canning, a method used since 1795, remains an excellent way to preserve produce. An online search will provide methods for both pressure and hot water bath canning.
• Making a variety of jams and jellies will bring freshness to your breakfast table and pickling gives some extra flavour for dinner times.

Try foraging

Skyler Milner, who was born and grew up in the Maritimes, is now the head chef at Bro restaurant in Norway. He suggests that people take be aware of an under-used resource – foraging.

“My team and I at Bro pick 40-plus different types of wild growing plants and use them to flavour our dishes," Milner says.

"Some species of note include fiddleheads (uniquely Maritime), pineapple weed, cattails, chickweed, chicory and mustard.”

Check out online resource lists for wild edible plants and in what provinces they can be found before getting started, he recommends.

“The best restaurants in the world (Nordic, NOMA, Geranium, etc.) have made foraging a big part of their cooking in getting back to their roots, and there’s no reason why a person couldn’t harness the skills needed, simply knowing what is safe and what isn’t, and end up with a plethora of wild-growing free food," Milner adds.

— Julia Zolotova photo/Unsplash

 

New ways to enjoy fresh fruit

Chef Brian Dugas of Le Bistro By Liz in Halifax, N.S., offers a “fun and interesting recipe that is easily made at home – a fresh fruit panna cotta.”

Take your favourite seasonal fruit and cut it into bite-size pieces (avoid high acid fruit such as pineapple and kiwi).

Fill muffin tin cups with the chopped fruit

In a pot, put 1.89 liters of Welch’s grape fruit juice

Sprinkle over the top of the juice five tablespoons of Knox gelatin and wait until the powder is absorbed into the juice over medium heat.

Warm juice until gelatin dissolves completely

Let cool to room temperature, pour over the fruit and let stand in the frig overnight

The next day, fill your kitchen sink about three to four inches deep with hot water, gently place the muffin tin into the water. This will release the gelatin from the sides of the tin in about 60 seconds.

Turn muffin tin upside down on baking sheet to release each petit panna cotta (they should release with ease)

This dish is great for dinner parties, kid’s birthdays or as a light snack on a hot summer day, he says. An added bonus? you can also freeze them for use later.

“This dessert is restaurant-style and is gluten and dairy free. It can be vegan by using agar agar powder," Dugas says.

Health perks

Utilizing seasonal produce also comes with less obvious health perks.

A study published in the Journal of Food Science found that in packaged spinach, only 53 per cent of folate was retained after eight days.

Folate (also known as vitamin B9) is essential for healthy cell growth and function as well as in the formation of red blood cells. This example alone shows how consuming fresh produce can be more beneficial for maintaining good health.

Buying locally in-season foods also has a positive impact on your carbon footprint by reducing the distance food has to travel before reaching your plate, as well as giving you the chance to know your farmer and meet new people in the community.

 

Property, Vehicle and Medical Insurance

What You Need to Know Before Going on Vacation 

            Before you pack your luggage and leave for vacation, it is worth the time to ensure you have the proper insurance for both your property and yourself. In addition, there are ways to mitigate potential insurance claims that could ruin your relaxation time.

            Whether you are leaving your property for a weekend or an extended vacation, you do not want to advertise to burglars or vandals that your home is vacant. Halifax Regional Police Cst. John MacLeod from the Public Information Office offers these tips:

·         Inform a trusted neighbour, friend or family member that you will be away and ask that they keep an eye on your property.

·         Leave your destination and contact information with your trusted person so you can be reached in the case of an emergency.

·         Don’t announce your travel plans on your social networking sites or anywhere else online.

·         Sending updates while you’re away informs everyone that you’re not home. An unoccupied residence is much more vulnerable to break-ins.

·         Try to make it appear as though your home is still occupied while you are away. For example, use a light timer and ask a neighbour to collect your mail and/or newspapers and flyers.

After Easter in 1994, I returned from visiting family for the long weekend to discover my home had been broken into and many items were stolen. This was a sobering experience. Knowing someone was in my home, looking in all the cupboards and drawers, stealing jewelry, electronics and, liquor left me feeling violated. Although I had property insurance that included replacement cost, it was little comfort. My friend stayed with me for two nights until I could have a hard-wired security system installed that was monitored 24 hours a day. It was the only way I felt comfortable in my own home again.

            There are several home security devices on the market and finding one to fit your needs and budget is money well spent. This site can get you started on what to look for.

            If a rental car is in your plans, one of the most important things to consider is insurance. Your own car insurance may cover third party losses and damage to the rental vehicle, but you need to confirm this with your agent. An endorsement Endorsement #27 is required, which will cover the rental vehicle with the same coverage you have on your existing insurance. You can also review your credit cards to determine if rental car insurance coverage is included as a benefit.

            Rental car agencies offer a variety of optional insurance coverages. Linda from Enterprise (Rent A Car) Holdings Customer Service offers these choices that are standard in Canada:

·         Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) which covers damage to the rental vehicle. This is not considered insurance, but an optional waiver.

·         Personal Accident and Personal Effects Insurance will protect you from medical costs and will provide coverage for some medical expenses and includes an accidental death benefit. It will also cover personal property that is stolen from the rental vehicle. Please note: If you have Accidents Benefits on your existing vehicle insurance, this will cover you in the rental vehicle. Additionally, your personal property is covered by your own property insurance. Deductibles may apply.

·         Roadside Assistance Plus (RSP): This coverage includes expenses such as fuel outage, lockouts and lost keys. Please note: If you have CAA, your plan could cover you no matter what vehicle is affected by the loss.

·         Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI): In the event of a third party loss, this coverage increases the liability insurance already available on your own policy or in addition to the basic car rental liability insurance.

Rental car companies may also offer other coverage. For example, if you are

travelling to the United States or internationally, you should review the available coverages carefully and always take the time to read the fine print!

            It is vitally important that you ensure you have adequate medical coverage if you are leaving your home province. In the 2023 Blue Cross Travel Study, it showed that travel insurance has become an increasingly important part of the planning process, as 58% of Canadians agree they would never consider leaving their province without it. However, it is imperative to review your existing supplemental travel insurance, such as what is covered in a group plan or a private policy such as CAA (Canadian Automobile Association).

            Medavie Blue Cross advises, “When travelling between provinces, travelers should consider travel insurance to cover costs associated with non-elective emergency care received in the event of an unexpected health issue or emergency. Travel insurance can cover costs not covered by the provincial health plans like ambulance services. Each individual and group policy is unique so it is important to talk to your provider about what your policy covers.”

            Tim Bishop, Managing Director, Blue Cross of Canada offers, “Travel should be about the fun and excitement of a trip, not worrying about what could go wrong. With heightened travel risk due to the pandemic, Canadians are taking extra precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones to make the most of their trips.”

            It can be a daunting task when you have to deal with various insurance policies and coverages when you are planning your vacation and ensuring your property is safe while you are away from home. As reviewing your existing coverage and deciding what additional insurance you need to purchase involves a lot of reading and phone calls, a good suggestion is to use a double pocket folder to organize your insurance needs.  On one side, put all the wordings of your existing policies and on the other keep a detailed list of the phone calls you need to make or emails you need to send.

            Organizing and determining what insurance you already have and what you need to buy will lower your stress level while on vacation so you can have the holiday time you deserve.          

 

Wise Travel

Recommendations for a worry-free vacation 

             Summer vacation time is here again and whether your passport is getting another stamp or you are going to visit family or friends just a few hours away, these travel tips will help you enjoy a safe time away from home.

            Long before you pack a suitcase, when your vacation is in the planning stages, there are things you can to do to avoid complications while away from home.

            If you are leaving your home province or state, travel medical insurance is a must. First, check your group policy to see if travel insurance is included. Even if the insurance is part of your package, you should consult the maximum amounts for various services to see it they are adequate.  If not, you can compare prices and coverages online. It is important to remember when traveling outside Canada that you could be denied service, even in an emergency, if you cannot provide a guarantee of payment.

            When Norma Hicks of Saint John, New Brunswick was involved in an out-of-country traffic accident, an ambulance attendant called to confirm her son was covered by medical insurance while he was being transported to hospital. Thankfully, he had insurance but not having coverage could have affected what hospital he was taken to and even what procedures would be authorized.

            Get all of the recommended vaccinations for the area you are traveling to and note that some inoculations take time to become effective.

            Check for travel advisories before you leave home at a federal website. While researching a new destination, be sure to make yourself aware of local customs. For example, depending on what country you are traveling to, you may find there are dress codes which are strictly enforced. Remember, your passport cannot keep you from being arrested and will not get you out of jail. Also, if traveling abroad, you should register with your country’s embassy.

            In the days before you leave, you should also look on local news sites covering the specific area you will be visiting in order to find out what is happening such as a labor strike or protests. Knowing before you go will ensure you are aware of which places to avoid.

            For any destination, look up and keep with the phone number for emergencies and local police with you at all times. When traveling to another country, have the contact information for the Embassy.

            Constable John MacLeod, Public Information Officer for HRP (Halifax Regional Police) advises you, “to ensure your motor vehicle inspection and registration are completed on your vehicle and travel trailers prior to hitching up and driving .Use this opportunity to do an exterior check of your vehicle to rule out any issues.”

            Carry hard copies of important documents such as your insurance policy numbers and passport. Store duplicate information in your phone, on a laminated card (to protect it from moisture), in your wallet and, even on a thumb drive which you can leave in your hotel room or wherever you are staying. In addition, be sure to leave copies at home with someone you trust and include your travel itinerary.

            No matter where you go in the world, you can get scammed. There is never a shortage of people trying to separate you from your cash, credit cards and/or identification. Sites such as Expert Vagabond will tell you about the latest schemes and how to avoid them.

            For example, never give your wallet or passport to someone who shows you a badge and demands you hand them over. Tell them you will call the local police to confirm their identity and chances are they will walk away.

            Another common occurrence is when a ‘friendly local’ offers to take a photo of your travel group while at a busy attraction. While you are getting situated, they may disappear with your expensive camera.

            As your travel date arrives, following this advice can lead to a hassle-free vacation.

·         Carry your prescription medication in their original bottles and know their generic names in case you need to have them replaced. If you are bringing a drug that is restricted, have a letter from your doctor stating you are prescribed that medication and never bring more than the quantity you need for the duration of your trip.

·         Pack an extra pair of prescription glasses in case yours get lost or broken.

·         In case your luggage is delayed or lost, put required medication, a toothbrush and toothpaste in addition to some extra clothing in your carry-on.

·         Do not make yourself a target for thieves. This is a great time to wear costume jewelry while your valuable pieces stay safely at home.

·         Avoid posting travel updates on social media sites. Doing so is akin to advertising to potential burglars and/or vandals that you are not home.

·         Be sure you have roadside assistance if you are renting a vehicle, either on your own policy or one purchased from the car rental agency.

·         Don’t take risks when it comes to getting a photograph. While relaxing, we can tend to let our guard down. Always pay attention to posted warning signs and never trust animals, even if they appear friendly.

·         Keep your wallet in your front pocket and always stay tethered to any bags you are carrying. For example, while seated at an eating establishment, put the handle of your bag(s) around the chair leg and they will appear less attractive to thieves. At the very least, it will alert you to a possible theft giving you time to stop it.

·         Do not over-indulge at the bar. Staying alert at all times when on vacation is vital for your safety.

  Finally, it is great to be a tourist but not to act like one.  While enjoying the sights and sounds of your vacation destination, still make it look like you belong. Staring up at a skyscraper, being enthralled by a mountainous view or, lost in the sounds of an outdoor concert are parts of what a vacation is all about. However, never forget that you are a visitor and a natural target for thieves and scammers. In other words, always pay attention to your surroundings!