Motherhood, kindergarten & cheesecake

Cake and Loaf strawberry rhubarb cheesecake

This past week I finally registered my youngest for junior kindergarten!  As an over thinker extraordinaire I have been contemplating whether or not my 3yr old (he will be 4 in October) is truly ready to embark on this next chapter of his life.  In many areas he is very independent and helpful but others... not so much.

Recently I spoke with my daughter's educators about the impact not attending JK may or may not have on any one child and the idea of part time vs every day.  *Big picture for me:  I send an ill equipped youngster in to a packed class room, he isn't prepared and it sets a miserable tone for school years to come*  They were so helpful and encouraging, I left feeling confident that enrolling him now and sending him part time will be the best thing for him long term.

... that doesn't mean it didn't get me right in the heart though ;) ...I left the school with tears in my eyes after I registered him...  And I just might have eaten my feelings.  All be it in a fantastic way - the mini cheese cake was devine, but I ate them all the same.

Driving away I thought back to my daughter's school introduction... At that time it was the bus that made me nervous.  I knew she was ready for school otherwise but sending such a tiny human on this giant vehicle with a stranger behind the wheel with oodles of other children and trusting that she would be safe - that thought was terrifying...  I am positive I also ate a bag of cookies or something similar to comfort myself after checking the "bus" portion of her registration form.  I love me a sugary hug.  Judge if you will but we all have our weaknesses.

Thinking back led me to reflect briefly on motherhood in general... it isn't all snuggles and giggles as I naively thought it would be... thanks for nothing Full House, talk about misrepresenting reality ;) .  In fact much of my experience thus far has been - it is hard, motherhood is really really hard!  There is so much good along the way, it is full laughter and joy but there is also a bazillion bittersweet moments mixed in...  Signing my name to the registration sheet of my littlest was one of them.

Some people transition smoothly through milestones like the start of school and face motherhood challenges so gracefully, I am not one of these people.  I question things that probably don't need to be questioned far too often all while crossing everything that each decision I have made is the absolute best I could make... and I am an emotional mess at best as I watch my children age right before me eyes.  I cried when I sent my daughter off on her first day of JK and I most definitely will cry when I send my son off...  Than I will hop in to my truck, go get all the foods, stuff my face and likely cry some more.

Motherhood is tough.  Kindergarten is an emotional life promotion... But at least there is cheesecake.


Cheers!

Cannon Coffee Co.

 Ahhh the Cannon!  I really do love this place <3 .  Typically I pop in for a latte and a treat (the muffins and cookies are delicious) before a walk at Gage Park with the dog.  The vanilla and maple lattes are wonderfully warm, smooth and just sweet enough!  I am also a huge fan of the cold beverage options year round.  Sometimes a latte on ice is just what I need on a mild winter day.

Latte love

We headed to Cannon Coffee Co. this morning for a brunch treat at my daughters request to celebrate her sixth birthday.  After all, who am I to argue with a feisty kindergartener?!  So off we went mid morning in hopes we would find a table.  If ever you have been there you will know it is always hopping and finding a seat can be a challenge.  As luck would have it, there was indeed a spot for us, it was a birthday miracle ;) .

The California Sandwich

As always the food was delicious!  We had the California Sandwich, Black Forest Sandwich and the little humans shared a Classic Waffle with chocolate sauce.  The kids received theirs first which is always a bonus since they lack patience like most children their age do and ours came soon after.  Zero complaints, it was all fabulous.

There is such a pleasant vibe in the shop.  It's easy to feel through the friendly service, lovely music in the background and the hum of chatter from the other patrons.  And the smell of coffee and waffles - so good!  Another plus is quality ingredients - they truly care about using carefully sourced products so you can feel good about what you are eating or sipping on.

The Cannon Coffee Co. is a small business I am so happy to have found!  I very much look forward to seeing what the future holds for this darling little place and the wonderful women who own it!

Happy waffle eating! ;)

Check out the menu! 

Follow the Cannon Coffee Co.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cannoncoffeeco/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/cannoncoffee/

Local Bounty Box - The Mustard Seed

Today I picked up a beautiful full bounty box from the Mustard Seed Co op.  I have purchased these in the past and have always been satisfied but this one I found to be especially wonderful and wanted to share it's contents!

The large box this week contained the following most of which is organic:

This weeks Local Bounty Box

-spinach
-collard greens
-swiss chard
-kale
-leaf lettuce
-cucumber
-3lbs apples
-2lbs potatoes
-2lbs lemons
-portabello mushroom caps
-beets
-grape tomatoes

All of this wonderful produce was $34.99!

I am a huge fan of produce boxes/bags but this one I especially love as you do not have to commit long term to buying them, you just pay as you go!  There are weekly or bi-weekly subscription options as well if you are really enjoying the program.  Wednesdays and Fridays are pick up days with Monday night at midnight being the online order cut off.  There is also a regular size box option at a lesser cost, the larger just suits us better at this point in life!

While picking up our bounty box I picked up some other staples - milk, cheese and cereal making it a one stop shop this week!  There are many things to find at the co op aside from the boxes.  They have everything from dairy, meats, breads, produce, confections, vegan and vegetarian items etc.

The Mustard Seed Co-op is committed to supporting local and organic as much as possible in it's offering.  Much of the store and behind the scenes is run by volunteers and it is supported in part by members (you can read more of this in the link I will share below) making The Mustard Seed a true community grocery store.  It is all inclusive and you do not need to be a member to shop in store or buy the bounty boxes so if you are not a member don't fret!

The local bounty box is definitely worth a try if you are looking for excellent quality produce for an affordable price.  While you are there you can check out all the other local awesomeness The Mustard Seed has to offer!

Happy shopping!

Read more about The Mustard Seed and local bounty boxes here:
https://mustardseed.coop

Plan B Organic Farms

As a mother to 2 small children, one of whom is still at home full time, I am always on the lookout for ways to save time and reduce excessive spending.  Grocery store shopping is exhausting and often results in extra purchases like non- essential treats or other miscellaneous add-ons that usually go to waste.  Long lines, hurried patrons, too many choices, too many labels – it’s overwhelming and the local options are very limited though some stores are making it more of a priority now. 

One of our recent large shares + extra fruit and lunch box items

I discovered Plan B Organic Farms when they were a little newer and their delivery area wasn’t as large as it is today.  We weren’t able to receive a delivery and the depots near us were out of the way but I continued to keep them in the back of my mind.

Last winter I looked in to Plan B’s CSA share again and to my surprise there were several changes.  They deliver to our area now which is awesome!  They also have a little more flexibility with the box contents, now if there is something you never want in your box like turnip you can say – no turnip ever! 

The Plan B Organic Farms CSA also differs as you can easily pause your subscription for holidays or take a month break if needed.  If for some reason it doesn’t work out you can easily cancel by sending an email request.  Most CSAs are paid up front as well, which for us is too hard to do but Plan B offers flexibility.  We pay weekly for our box with an email transfer - though other payment schedules and methods are available.  

Some of the fruit from this week

There are 2 share sizes small (10 items or so each week) and large (12-14items each week).  Local only is an option or local and imported.  During the growing season local is the focus for both shares and many items are grown by Plan B themselves.  We choose local and imported so in the winter months we have a better variety of fruits and vegetables the kids will eat.

Another great feature is the extras that can be added such as extra fruit and lunch box items.  We opt for both of these things to ensure we have enough to keep the kids happy.  Eggs, spelt wraps, sauerkraut and other goodies can also be added as desired. 

This past week our large local and imported large share was as follows:

Potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, baby salad mix, daikon radish, broccoli, mini-cauliflower, beets, red pepper, apples, limes, bok choi, cherry tomatoes, extra potatoes 

Extra fruit:  Pears, cantaloupe, grapefruit

Lunch box:  kiwi, avocado, cucumber

This typically feeds our house of 3 adults and 2 children for most of the week though I am still participating in the Matchbox Garden CSA which rounds out our weekly needs.

Each week our share is delivered (for a minimal fee) in the evening and the kids love unpacking and putting everything away.  As a bonus there is an email that goes out with a list of what’s in the box – fantastic for when you have items you are unsure of!  Along with the details is an update on the farm and recipes that include items from the week’s shares. 

I really enjoy the random foods we receive each week and how it encourages creativity in the kitchen.  There are many foods I never would have tried - like bok choy - if I had never received them!  It is also great to support a hardworking and local business.

A handful of other share items

As an added bonus I started to follow Irene Matys on social media, if you don’t you should!  Irene creates beautiful and tasty dishes using Plan B Organics bounty and other delicious things.  I find her kitchen magic to be wonderfully inspiring!  Irene shares recipes along the way so when share day comes I am extra eager to open the box!

Shopping for produce is a breeze this way and I don’t have to deal with grocery store madness ;) .  It also helps keep our food budget in check.

 We love Plan B and what they have to offer!  

Detailed information can be found on Plan B Organics Website:

http://planborganicfarms.ca/

Plan B Organics Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/planbfarms/

Delightful recipes can be found on Irene Matys Website:

http://www.irenematys.com/

Irene's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thespicyolive1/

Stam Farms

The Market stand  Photo Credit:  Natalie Stam

In 2014, while perusing a Facebook page, I saw a post about eggs for sale at Stam Farms.  At this time I was really starting to take an interest in getting to know farmers in the area and what they might have to sell my family and I so I sent a message inquiring about what else they might have.  It was between seasons for the farm but I was told by Natalie (the lovely face behind the Facebook page) they would have chicken in early summer as well as a CSA program for produce.  I filed this in the back of my mind and eventually, if I am being honest, forgot! 

Fruit was brought in from another farm as an offering

When I received a message from Natalie about the start of their new season I was thrilled!  The simple fact that she had taken the time to write down what I was interested in and follow up months later was exceptional.  As a former retail worker I know how close to impossible that is with lots on the go. 

I made my first drive to Stam Farms in Hagersville to purchase 4 whole chickens and was greeted by a wonderful family with smiles and cheerful conversation.  Natalie made sure any questions I had were answered and I felt really great knowing our hard earned money was going to a family vs a big corporation.  Although the CSA program in 2015 didn’t work for us Natalie would often prepare me a large basket pack full of delicious organically grown produce as needed which was greatly appreciated.

I had a mini seedling crisis this past spring and Natalie came to my rescue with oodles of healthy seedlings for a fantastic price and even graciously donated some.  She also offered me continuous guidance and growing support through the growing season – if it wasn’t for her I would have ripped out my peppers that ended up thriving after a rough start!    

Beans in the field  Photo Credit: Natalie Stam

This year I was able to take part in Stam Farms market share program they ran as a customer friendly CSA.  This program was unique in that you would commit to spending $50 or $100 a month (more if desired) depending on your produce needs.  Each week 2 market dates were offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays and you could go and pick what you would like and have the total cost deducted from your tab.  Not only were vegetables a part of this but eggs, honey, meats when available and preserves were all part of this program. 

This model of CSA I really enjoyed since I didn’t have to commit to the drive every single week to pick up a share.  I was also able to stock up with bulk items for my freezer with the freedom to add more credit as I went along. 

There was a lot to choose from weekly depending on what was ripe at the time - cucumbers both pickling and slicing, peppers galore, herbs such as basil and dill, zucchini, garlic, potatoes, beans, many tomato varieties, kale, salad greens, the best cantaloupe I have ever eaten and so much more.   I often left with a huge heaped basket.

Market day!  Photo Credit:  Natalie Stam

The drought this season was extremely hard on all farmers, growers, livestock - pretty much all living things - but even through the loss of a huge corn crop Stam Farms carried on with a positive and thankful spirit.  It was so encouraging during a time that was otherwise very discouraging.

If you have ever gasped at the organic grocery store pricing consider a drive next season to Stam Farms!  The pricing is a fraction of the chain stores and everything is grown with love and care.  You do not have to be a member of the CSA share program to shop their stand and you have the comfort of transparency when you buy from a family run farm – knowing exactly how your food was grown.

My family and I have enjoyed the past few seasons shopping from Stam Farms market and are thankful for the many laughs, great advice and fantastic food!  We look forward to watching the farm grow and change in years to come!

Thanks for reading!

You can find Stam Farms on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/stamfarms/?fref=ts

and on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/stamfarms/?hl=en

Some Stam Farms bounty

Cake & Loaf Bakery

The patio of Cake & Loaf Dundurn on a sunny day

I discovered this AMAZING bakery winter of 2015 after a visit with my family to the Mustard Seed Co-op.  As we were about to check out I noticed this super cute chocolate bar stand and I’m a sucker

for chocolate so I had to try a chocolate Peanut Butter bar.  Waiting to eat it wasn’t an option; I opened it as soon as we got in to the car.   It was instant love – the BEST chocolate bar I had ever eaten.  I saved the tag so I could look up this wondrous place where these were created when we got home.

Jensen Cheddar, iced caramel latte and essential button ;)

After finding Cake & Loaf with the help of social media I knew I had to check out the shop on Dundurn in person – the upbeat vibe and beautiful pictures were more than enough to draw me in.  My first visit was wonderful!  The counter staff is phenomenal.  Helpful, patient and the barista skills outstanding!  My personal favourites are salted caramel lattes (iced or hot) and the Dundurn fog is perfection.

One of the things I love and appreciate most about this fantastic bakery is their commitment to the community through supporting local businesses as much as possible and fair trade when it’s not.  So many wonderful local treasures are used behind the scenes and are for sale on the shelves in store – places such as Teal’s meats, Parkermanns fine tea, Vintage and Detour coffees, From these Roots, and Jensen cheese.  There is nothing better than biting into a sweet treat or a satisfying savoury snack that you know was baked using the kindest ingredients, from scratch and with love!

Awesomely talented staff member Amanda

Another thing I think is wonderful is living wage for the employees!  That is so hard to find in the service industry and as a former customer service employee I know this all too well.  It’s uplifting to know that the employees are cared about and not just another number doing their time.

The new Cake and Loaf website is super user friendly and you can see what menu items are available each day making it easy to snag your favourite lunch or bread selection!  The new cake builder is also awesome and helpful for planning that special cake for celebrating anything and everything.  I have also had fantastic help via email with cupcakes and beverages for a party, ordering special cookies and placing same day holds over the phone.  

After being a regular of Cake and Loaf for over a year now I have tried many different things and not once have I been disappointed.  They are constantly creating new and exciting menu additions in both the sweet and savoury departments – Hello Mac and Cheese Pulled Pork pie which is nothing short of scrumptious and that Unicorn bar… SO good!  Our most purchased items are the take home soup jars in the fall and winter (nothing is more comforting than a big bowl of homemade soup), Jensen Cheddar bread (makes the best grilled cheese on the planet) and chocolate chip cookie packs!  My children LOVE the pizzas and cookies. 

Some of the market treats

I frequent the Dundurn shop but Cake and Loaf Market (located in the Hamilton Farmer's Market)– new this year!- is their sister shop and perfect companion with its own flavour!  Breakfast burritos are delicious and the waffles on a stick offered Friday’s and Saturday’s would steal anyone’s heart!

Every occasion in this house involves a little Cake and Loaf from birthdays, to holidays and teacher gifts they have something for everyone!  I am so happy to have discovered Cake and Loaf, I admire the drive of Josie and Nickey and enjoy interacting with the exceptional staff.  I look forward to watching the business grow in the years to come! 

Thanks for Reading!

PSA:  This Saturday September 17, 2016 Cake & Loaf is celebrating their 5th Anniversary!  Check out their facebook or Instagram for details :) 

Grab and go cakes & other sweets

Cake and Loaf Bakery's website: 

http://cakeandloaf.ca/

And facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/cakeandloaf/?fref=ts