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

National CSA sign up day

Stam Farms market share treasures

 Today is the PERFECT day to sign up for a season of local bounty at a local farm!

What is a CSA?  Community supported agriculture, which is a partnership between you the consumer and the farmer as the grower.  A typical CSA share is paid for in advance, and in return throughout the growing season you will receive a basket of gorgeous produce weekly, bi weekly etc. 

Will I get to choose what is in my CSA share?  Each farm runs their program differently.  Some do offer flexibility and choice with items in the share allowing you to select your preferred greens, roots etc according to what is available.  Other farms put together the same shares for everyone. 

How much produce is in each share?  This varies farm to farm!  Most have at least 2 size options to suit each person or family’s needs.

Why do we have to pay up front?  Paying for the CSA ahead of time allows the grower to cover up front costs of purchasing seed, growing seedlings and planting while securing the farmers income for season regardless of environmental or natural factors.  Drought last year saw many farmers abandoning lesser than crops in order to save others.  Not all farms require up front payment, some may take a payment plan or accept monthly installments.  None the less the CSAs were full of what fared well for each farmer, I know ours certainly were! 

Gorgeous Matchbox Garden share

Farming grueling work – think of how hot it was last summer here in Southern Ontario and imagine working the fields harvesting in that heat!  Seriously, thank a farmer today if you can and better yet support them with a CSA commitment this year! 

Cheers!

Here are some of the beautiful farms I follow that offer CSAs in and around the greater Hamilton area.  If I have missed you let me know and I will happily add your farm to the list. 

Honest Field Farms – Hamilton

http://www.honestfieldfarms.ca

Manorun Organic Farm – Lynden

http://www.manorun.com/shares

Matchbox Garden - Caledonia

http://www.matchboxgarden.ca/services

 Plan B Organics - Branchton

http://planborganicfarms.ca

Stam Farms – Hagersville – CSA (Market share) is now FULL for 2017 but will have farm gate produce and other goodies for sale

https://www.facebook.com/stamfarms/

Tree and Twig – Wellandport – CSA is now FULL for 2017 but produce may be available, call and ask.  http://treeandtwig.ca

Little Brown Cow

Lucky <3

I have followed this lovely little farm on Facebook for ages, watching all the farm updates and dreaming of the day I would venture out to the shop in Brantford.  This past week I decided to send a message to the farm requesting 2kg of cheese curds – the bulk price is fantastic AND they are freezable!  I packed the littles and the dog up when I received the message they were ready and off we went to pick them up!

Lovely noticeable signage

The farm is super easy to find, you can’t miss the big sign!  Jenny, the co-owner, greeted us inside.  She was so friendly, easy to talk to and very informative.  Before we left, Jenny put our things in our car and took us over to see a new calf named Lucky!  My kiddos were thrilled and talked about it the rest of the day. 

Jersey is the breed they raise and after some research I can see why!  Though they are small in comparison to other dairy breeds they have a high butterfat milk content and are a calm, docile but curious breed.  There are many other reasons why one might choose Jersey cattle, these are just the ones that stood out to me – a curious consumer.

Our goodies 

Though Little Brown cow is well known for their amazing cheese curds that are available fresh every Friday afternoon, they offer so much more.  Artisan cheese varieties, cream cheese and both white and chocolate milk (in this house we really love chocolate milk ;) ) all of which are processed entirely on site.  Quiche and cheesecake varieties and other meals are also made in the shop.  Frozen beef is always available and often fresh on Fridays!  There are many other offerings at Little Brown Cow, these are just some of the ones that stood out to me.

One of the things I always love about the small business owners I meet is how passionate they are about their work.  It just radiates off of them and leaves you feeling inspired.  That is definitely how I felt after I left Little Brown Cow.  

Overall our experience was a wonderful one and we will definitely be adding Little Brown Cow to our permanent list of farms we love.  I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this wonderful farm and the checking out the new location when it opens this spring!


Thanks for reading!

Follow Little Brown Cow on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/littlebrowncows/

Norton Farms

Norton Farms retail shop

It has been quite a while since my last post!  Hectic holidays followed by post holiday sickness kept me pretty busy!  My hope is that 2017 has started well for all of you and may it continue to bring you and yours love, luck and prosperity.

I am often asked how it is possible to feed my family meats from local farms on a single income vs grocery store.  I feel like many of us are under the impression that meats in a conventional grocery store are less expensive.  Sure at times they may be with varying sales, but many farmers with retail shops do their best to offer options for families to save – Norton Farms is one of those shops!

Norton Farms is located in Hagersville – just on the edge of Hartford.  They offer a monthly special, for example they had 10lbs of bacon for $60 one month this past summer.  Burgers, pork chops and ground beef are all other specials I have seen, follow along on Facebook to see what the current special is!

A meat CSA that runs for 4mths at a time is also something that Norton offers.  The CSAs include pork, beef and chicken and offer some flexibility with cuts each month depending on the package you select. 

Bulk beef is also available – which is the best money saver when it comes to beef.  Summer’s draught was hard on farmers, their crops and animals definitely struggle.   Norton Farms offers two beef options, exclusively grassfed or the less expensive grassfed and grain finished beef.  This gives people the ability to choose what is best for their budget and dietary needs. 

Ground beef special, burgers, bacon and chicken breast

Norton Farms also offers 7 different Meat packages regularly available to order.   These offer excellent pricing and each package has different meat and cuts – for example there is a no pork box available for those who would rather do without.

You will find other offerings in the shop – honey, grassfed water buffalo cheese, eggs and maple syrup are all things you can pick up from this little farm shop!

Another fantastic thing about buying from a shop like Norton vs a box store is not only are you helping to support a small family run business BUT you are also buying from an organic and sustainable farming practice.  Sustainability is all about respecting the natural cycle of absolutely everything from the soil microbes right to the animal's natural habits.

It’s true it is a bit of a drive if you are from the city but it is a lovely scenic drive and I think sometimes in life that is just what we need -  a simple trek through the countryside, giving the mind a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.  Definitely a worthwhile trip if your budget is tighter and you want to eat well. 

Thanks for reading!

PS.

Keep in mind that these small businesses are not typically open every day or until later hours so it`s best to double check on their website to make sure they are open!

Norton Farm's website
http://www.nortonfarms.com/

and Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/nortonfarming/

Shop, eat and drink small and local this season

The holiday season is here and with it brings Christmas wish lists, stockings to fill, dinner parties, dining out, coffee catch ups and more!  This year instead of dashing off to a grocery store, hitting up that fast food drive thru or running to a box store to find that perfect gift – consider looking around this wonderful city at all the beautiful shops and restaurants to find what you are looking for.  

Harrington Lane Farms Christmas Breakfast Basket!  Photo Credit: Krista Harrington

For a festive meal this season why not check out the local food options here in the city!  Mattson and Co., Aberdeen Tavern, The Mule and Mezcal are just a handful of the delightfully delicious places to dine.  Skip the typical pizza place and try NaRoma or Bread Bar for their take on the tasty classic.

Rushing around this season you’re bound to feel hungry and most likely will be inclined for typical drive through foods.  That isn’t your only option though!  Several awesome places such as the Burnt Tongue, Mesa, Fsh and Chp and the new Mattson to Go offer delicious eats.  If you are craving a burger try switching it up and ordering from Delirious Burger or Hambrgr.  This type of takeout might be a little more work – you may have to call your order in but well worth it! 

Savoury and sweet trays are a must have for any host or hostess during the holidays!  There are great options to order offered by Harrington Lane Farms and Cake and Loaf bakery.  Bonus is Harrington Lane and Cake and Loaf have plenty of other wonderful gift options to grab while you are there!  

If you’re up for building your own trays or platters The Real Food Market, Locke St. Meat and Deli and The Mustard Seed Co-op are wonderful places to shop for your ingredients.  The Hamilton Farmer's Market also has everything you could need PLUS the Real Food Court where you can grab yourself a bite from Pokeh, Cake and Loaf Market or enjoy some Henry Brown’s Small Batch Ice Cream.

Cake and Loaf Bakery Seasonal Latte

Having your event catered can save a lot of stress and the businesses of Hamilton can cover that too!  Jonny Blonde, Picone Fine Foods and Taylor’s Tea Room are a handful of those who offer this service.

Meeting for coffee or tea to catch up throughout the holidays is always enjoyable!  Hamilton has so many lovely places to grab your favourite beverages!  Relay Coffee, Cannon Coffee Co., Finch on Locke, Vintage Coffee, Mulberry Coffee House and Parkermanns Fine Tea are a few of the great places to swing by with your friends or family!

As far as gifts are concerned there is something for everyone in the city!  Needlework, Handknit Yarn Studio, Quills and Mixed media all offer the creative gift giving solution and so much more. 

Citizen Kid and Barefoot Babies are two excellent places to search for special and quality items for the littlest humans you know!

Burlap and Twine and Simply Zen have plenty of awesome things for that person on your list who could use some relaxation.  Epic Books or J.H. Gordon Books might also have something to help one unwind.

Citizen Kid goodies!

Hotti Biscotti would be a treat to anyone’s stocking which brings me to chocolate - everyone needs chocolate in their stocking!  Forrat’s Chocolates & Chocolate on James are just two of the outstanding places you can find treats for the stocking, to give as a hostess gift or to just eat yourself!

Yellow Dog Grooming can certainly pamper your pooch with a bath and groom!  While Beasley Pet Co has just the right gift for your canine or feline companion.     

I could go on for days rhyming off all of the wicked restaurants and shops in the greater Hamilton area – there are so many I haven’t mentioned but they are all equally fabulous.  The best part is they all offer much more than just what I mentioned them for – most have pre-wrapped gifts, gift certificates, subscriptions, classes, unique confections, specialty drinks, platters, catering it goes on and on – no one trick ponies to be found! 

It is really hard to stray from the boxed stores sometimes especially when your child ONLY wants a Hatchimal…. Which my daughter did and I found for a non-inflated price lucky for her.  But wherever I can this holiday season, I will be shopping, dining and sipping small and local!  I encourage everyone to do the same, the businesses you support will thank you <3

PSA:  Saturday November 26th is small business Saturday!  Skip the mall and head to the sweet shops the city has to offer!

FREE Parking makes shopping small easier!

Lights of Locke Street Festival!  Lots to do while you shop!

Presented by Cake & Loaf Bakery and Community Partners
Supporting a wonderful cause
http://cakeandloaf.ca/news/second-annual-dundurn-lights-festival-friday-dec-9th/

For those who love links like I do I added a link to each of the above listed businesses!  I hope it helps you find what you are looking for this season!  - Cheers!

Food and Drink Related Mentions:

Aberdeen Tavern
http://theaberdeen.ca/

Bread Bar
http://www.breadbar.ca/home

Cake and Loaf Bakery
http://cakeandloaf.ca/

Cake and Loaf Market
https://www.instagram.com/cakeandloafmarket/

Cannon Coffee Co.
https://www.facebook.com/cannoncoffee/

Chocolate on James
http://chocolatonjames.com/

Delirious Burger
https://www.facebook.com/DeliriousBurger/

Finch on Locke
https://www.instagram.com/finchonlocke/

Forrats Chocolates
http://www.forratschocolates.ca/

Fsh and Chp
http://fshandchp.ca/

Hambrgr
http://www.hambrgr.ca/

Harrington Lane Farms
https://www.facebook.com/harringtonlanefarmsvillageshop/?fref=ts

Henry Brown's Small Batch Ice Cream
https://www.facebook.com/smallbatchice/

Hotti Biscotti
http://www.hottibiscotti.com/

Jonny Blonde
http://www.jonnyblonde.com/

Locke St Meat and Deli
http://www.lockestmeats.ca/

Picone Fine Foods
http://www.piconefinefood.ca/

Mattson & Co.
http://mattsonandco.ca/

Mattson to Go
http://mattsontogo.ca/

Mesa
https://www.facebook.com/MesaHamilton/

Mezcal
http://www.mezcaltnt.com/

Mulberry Coffee House
http://www.mulberrycoffeehouse.com/

NaRoma Pizza Bar
http://naroma.ca/

Parkermanns Fine Tea
http://www.parkermannstea.com/

Pokeh
http://pokeh.ca/

Relay Coffee
http://www.relaycoffee.com/

Taylor's Tea Room
http://taylorstearoom.com/

The Burnt Tongue
http://www.theburnttongue.com/#good-food-cant-wait

The Hamilton Farmer's Market
http://hamiltonfarmersmarket.ca/

The Mule
http://themule.ca/

The Mustard Seed Co op
https://mustardseed.coop/

The Real Food Market
http://realfoodmkt.ca/

Vintage Coffee Roasters
http://www.vintagecoffeeroasters.ca/


Other mentions:

Barefoot Babies
http://barefootbabies.ca/

Beasley Pet Co
http://beasleypetco.ca/shop/

Burlap and Twine
https://www.facebook.com/Burlap-Twine-247599648720794/

Citizen Kid
http://citizenkid.ca/

Epic Books
http://epicbooks.ca/

Handknit Yarn Studio
http://handknityarnstudio.ca/

J.H. Gordon Books
http://www.jhgordonbooks.ca/

Mixed Media
https://www.instagram.com/mixedmedia154/

Needlework
http://www.iloveneedlework.com/

Quills
http://quills.ca/

Simply Zen
https://www.facebook.com/simplyzenhamilton/

Yellow Dog Grooming
http://www.yellowdoggrooming.com/