Canada Day Party quick and easy

July 1st is Canada Day and you can celebrate it Big or Small.  I have a few tips to have a small get together on a dollar store budget.   A couple of years ago we blew the budget at work but this year was scaled way back and it still worked out.

First thing to do is scope out your local Dollar store and pick up anything you can find with Canadian Flags on it or Maple Leafs or even Beavers or Moose if you like.


Must have:

Plates- If you can find Canada Day plates great, but if not just get red and white or just red even.
Cups - I found Maple Leaf cups at Party City
Cutlery - Just get clear or white to keep it simple.
Tablecloth *optional - you can use a Canadian Flag or just use a white tablecloth and add a big paper Maple Leaf on it if you like.

Food and Drinks:  There are lots of options including these things:

• Coffee Crisp chocolates
• Maple Leaf Cookies
• Tim Horton's coffee and donuts
• Crush drink
• Caesar drinks are Canadian
• Canadian Flag Cake
• Ketchup Chips
• Butter Tarts
• Canadian Craft Beer
• Wine from the Niagara Region

Make a simple dessert in a snap with fresh local strawberries and whipped cream by layering them in little mason jars.  Who doesn't love strawberries in cream when the berries are at their peak at the end of June.  Recipe for the butter tarts is in a previous Canada Day blog post.

Props and Decor:

This is where the budget goes from small to big.  You can go nuts on props and decor and here are some ideas if you can't think of what to get.

• Canadian Flag,  large, small, medium, hand held
• Hats with Canadian flags, from caps to headbands
• Signs,  you can use a lightbox or a DIY bristol board sign that says Happy Canada Day
• Canadian symbols,  you can get things like statues or stuffed toys of Moose, beaver.
• Canadian pillows with whatever designs inspire a Canadian Vibe.  I have a Sorry Pillow from Colin and Justin designs
• Maple syrup bottles.

Games:

• Canadian Trivia - Music, Famous People, Geography
• Word Search games
• Jeopardy like questions, someone can be Alex Trebek who is Canadian.
• Justin Bieber or Drake Trivia, that could take a while.
• Basketball games because now that we are the Champions and the Basket was invented in Canada it's the perfect game.

Music:  Pick your vibe, 80's, country, current, chill etc.

• Shania Twain
• Justin Bieber
• Drake
• Michael Buble
• Sarah McLaughlin
• Tragically Hip
• Honeymoon Suite
• Loverboy
• Platinum Blonde
• Glass Tiger
• Jann Arden
• on an on .... you get the picture.

Whether you have a party or just get together with friends you can still celebrate Canada Day in little and big ways or however you choose to do it.

Here are some past Canada Day fun with friends.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

Great Canada Day Party ideas for Home or Office

I helped organize a Canada Day lunch event at my office this week to get everyone ready for the long weekend.  We brainstormed a host of ideas and then broke it down to things that were doable for an office environment.   I will break down some of these ideas and then give you suggestions for more things you can do at home for friends and family.

OFFICE CANADA DAY PARTY

1.  We sold Canadian Flags for our designated charity for a $2.
2.  We put together a Canada swag gift basket that we auctioned off, also for the charity.
3.  We had game stations with little yellow rubber ducks floating in water,  mini bowling set,  Canadian Food Trivia,  Canadian Trivia Pursuit, Word find of Canadian Provinces.  Winners would receive little Canadian dollar store prizes.
4.  We put up a huge laminated map of Canada and had people bring in photos of important Canadian destinations to them.   We will keep the map up in a designated location in the office.
5.  We posted the Flags of different provinces and asked people to think if they knew what they all were.

6.  We set up a Canadian Food Station and a Canadian Treat station.
     We had the following:

• Iced Tea
• Montreal Bagels with cream cheese, peanut butter and maple butter
• Ketchup Chips
• Maple bacon popcorn
• All dressed chips
• Nanaimo bars
• Maple Leaf cookies
• Butter tarts
• Maple marshmallows
• Maple leaf cake
• Blueberries
• Apples

7.  We also had everyone dress in either Red or White or Canadian inspired outfits.
8.  We had a Canadian Flag cake and had our Boss cut the cake and afterward we took a group photo with everyone in their Canadian gear.
9.  Even though it might not be the right thing to do we decided to have all of the attendees sign a large Canadian Flag which we will also keep in the office as a commemoration of the Canada 150 celebration.  I found out later that it is defacing the flag but we didn't mean any harm we wanted something as a time capsule item.  We wrote the year and 150 on the Maple Leaf.
10.  We also created a slideshow presentation of images either submitted or from each Province from coast to coast to play on the screen during the event.

HOME PARTY for friends and family ideas:

1.  You can do all or any of the above ideas and more.
2.  Set up some Muskoka chairs in the backyard and toast some of the Maple Marshmallows and Make Maple S'mores.
3.  Set up an Oyster bar with Oysters from coast to coast.
4.  Set up a Caesar station with all kinds of things to top the Caesar
5.  Set up a Poutine Bar
6.  Make some Peameal on a bun sandwiches
7.  Make a Cheese platter with all Canadian local cheeses.
8.  Make Maple candy with crushed ice and hot maple syrup
9.  Get Tim Horton's and Tim bits for everyone.
10. Create a Montreal Bagel bar and other foods from different provinces

I could probably keep going with ideas but you can pick and choose which ones work for you.

We also set up an umbrella and a Dock space in our office for a relaxing scene.  We had Canadian Flag plates, napkins and table cloth.  I tried to inject as much red and white into the accessories and serving platters and containers as possible.   Just stick to a red and white theme and you can add on some other things like a red and black lumberjack theme or a Canadian tuxedo (denim).

Since Canada Day falls on a Saturday this year there are lot's of things to do in Toronto.  I am told that even Rabba foods will be open for all your last minute BBQ Party needs and a few other select grocery stores mostly downtown.

You might want to grab some friends and check out the Big Redpath Waterfront Festival where you can see the World's largest Rubber Duck in the Lake.

There are all kinds of Firework displays around Toronto or you can take a drive to our Nation's capital, Ottawa for a huge celebration but I heard security will be very tight so you will be doing a lot of walking around because of many street closures.

So if you want to stay close to home and just hang out with friends at home or even at a cottage you can still use some of these ideas for a great Canada Day experience.

For our work party I made mini butter tarts.  I modified a recipe to make them a bit more Canadian.

THE BEST MINI BUTTER TARTS

 Adapted from a Marion Kane recipe. 

Pastry

·         750 ml (3 cups) all-purpose flour

·         1 tsp salt

·         100 ml (1/2 cup) cold butter, cubed

·         100 ml (1/2 cup) cold lard or vegetable shortening, cubed

·         2 large egg yolk

·         10 ml (2 tsp) white vinegar

·         100 ml (1/2 cup) ice-cold water

·         1 tbsp sugar

Filling

·         125 ml (1/2 cup) packed dark brown sugar

·         125 ml (1/2 cup) maple syrup or golden corn syrup

·         2 large egg

·         5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla

·         5 ml (1 tsp) maple syrup

·         10 ml (2 tsp) white vinegar or lemon juice

·         60 ml (4 tbsp) softened butter

·         1 tsp 

·         100 ml (1/4 to 1/2 cup) raisins or coarsely chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

Preheat oven to 190 C (375 F).

Pastry: In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Using wire pastry cutter or a food processor cut in or pulse butter and lard until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Using fork, stir in yolk, vinegar and water until dough holds together.

Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Filling: In a medium bowl, vigorously whisk together all ingredients except raisins until combined. (This can be done in food processor.)

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, being careful that it is not too thin.

Using a  (2-inch) round cookie cutter, cut into 24 rounds to fit a mini muffin tin.

Divide raisins among each pastry shell; spoon filling over raisins.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until pastry is golden brown.

Let cool in pan for about 2 minutes. Run knife or small metal spatula around edge of each tart; transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 24 butter tarts.

Canada Day - Great Canadian Salad

CANADA  DAY is just a couple of weeks away.

Are you busy making plans for Canada Day and trying to figure out what you are going to eat?

Yes, I know you are.  Holidays always centre around food.

What's your must have dish for your Canada Day Celebration?  Do you include pulses in your famous salad? 

Tell us for a chance to win an Ipad mini or a $100 President's Choice gift card.  

Take the #PulsePledge this #CanadaDay

I took the #PulsePledge and created my own Great Warm Canadian B.L.T with Smoked Cheddar Salad (Bacon, Lentil, Tomato and Smoked Canadian Cheddar with a warm Maple vinaigrette on lettuce.  This really is a Canadian Salad that could be your Canada Day Lunch even.

It tastes great and is packed with things that make it a great addition to your BBQ fare.

Great Warm Canadian B.L.T. with Smoked Cheddar Salad

Here's my RECIPE:

1 small can of Lentils
2 whole lettuce leaves
1 garlic clove
1/2 pack of good smokey bacon.
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
6 cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. grainy mustard
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt or to taste depending on your bacon.
1 tbsp red onion diced
1 small bunch of parsley chopped
pepper or pepper flakes to taste *optional


DIRECTIONS:

Open a small can of lentils and drain and set aside.  I used Eden Organic green lentils.

I wanted to make bacon cups but they didn't turn out as planned because I was in a hurry but basically cut a pack of bacon in half and fry or bake the strips of bacon until they are crispy.  Whatever method you prefer.  Sometimes I bake off a whole pack in the oven and use for other things.  Less mess on the stove and you don't have to flip it.
If you are baking save some of the bacon fat and if you are frying leave about a tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan and drain off the rest.
In the frying pan with the bacon fat add a clove of garlic on medium heat and take it out when the garlic is golden brown and flavours the bacon fat and then add the drained lentils and add the chopped onions and the smoked paprika, salt,and pepper.  Stir to coat and mix the flavours.  Cook until the onions have softened about a minute or 2.  Add the vinegar, mustard, maple syrup and combine.  Add some the cherry tomatoes cut in half and toss until warmed and then add the parsley.

Place some lettuce on a plate.  I used Romaine but you could use iceberg or butter lettuce.  Add  the bacon strips or if you had more time than I did the bacon cups on top of the lettuce and then spoon the lentil mixture on top.  Sprinkle with more parsley and crumbled bacon and small diced smoked cheddar cheese.  I used St. Albert's Cheese from Ottawa, it's mild but has a great smokey flavour.

That's it... and eat.  You could also eat this salad cold if you reserve the lentil mixture separate from the lettuce and tomatoes.

NOW IT"S YOUR TURN!  Enter the Contest and show us your Great Canadian Salad - Take the #PulsePledge on Woodbox http://woobox.com/inhdq7  and and tag your photos on social media with the #CanadaDay hashtag so we can see them.  The contest closes July 4, 2016.

Don't forget to follow PulseCanada on Facebook

Great Canada Day BBQ tips

HAPPY CANADA DAY

You don't have to spend a fortune to have a great Canada Day BBQ with friends and family.

Here are my tips for a great BBQ.

I headed over to Walmart and picked up a few of Walmart's Our Finest BBQ staples and had a low cost BBQ with friends and their new baby.  Baby Kenzie was really excited to celebrate her first Canada Day BBQ and she was literally drooling over all of the food.

               

The MENU

From Walmart:

Our Finest Cheddar Cheese and Applewood Smoked Bacon Beef Burger    $10.99

Our Finest Chipotle BBQ sauce                                                                               $1.78

Our Finest Strawberry Lemonade                                                                          $2,00

Our Finest Thick Cut Grilled Onion and Balsalmic vinegar chips                      $2.00

Our Finest Tzatziki Yoghurt Dressing                                                                     $2.00

Our Finest Lemon Herb Shrimp                                                                             $10.00

Coleslaw                                                                                                                     $1.47

Fresh Corn                                                                                                              5 @ .57each

Also on the Menu:

Roasted Beets with goat cheese

Taco layered dip with red and white nacho chips

Jerusalem artichoke salad

Fingerling potato salad

Cucumber and Cherry Tomato salad with the Tzatziki dressing

Dessert:

My friend made Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I picked up a Walmart brand Smore's kit

I also got a fresh pineapple from Walmart that I cut into slices and we grilled it with sugar cinnamon and topped it with vanilla ice cream and dulce de leche caramel sauce

I also got a little round watermelon that we cut up into slices and then cut out maple leafs with a cookie cutter.

My friend also picked up a Red Velvet Canadian Flag Cake.

To DRINK:

I brought over some Walter Caesar mix that I had and topped it off with celery and of course a Canadian Flag and a celery salt rim and ice.

And of course there was lot's of wine, perrier and water too along with the strawberry lemonade which tasted very refreshing.

I think we had as much dessert as we did dinner.

I spent just under $100 at Walmart and that fed 5 people and enough for 6.

We decked out the table family style so it wasn't fancy but very fun and festive.

Everything tasted fantastic and the weather was beautiful after 2 solid days of gloomy rain.  

We were really surprised on how much we enjoyed the Applewood Smoked Bacon and cheese Stuffed Burgers.  Because of the cheese inside they were moist and flavourful.  I would recommend them anytime.   I bought sliced cheese but skipped it because you could see the cheese oozing out so it really didn't need it.

We kind of had a Pot Luck style BBQ with some things I had made at home,  some things BBQ essentials that I picked up at Walmart and a few other things we either purchased or made.

You can really have a great BBQ on a Budget if you pick up a few great things like some great Burgers like the Our Finest ones we tried and get some great hamburger buns and some condiments.  We really liked the Our Finest Chipotle BBQ sauce.  Add some fresh coleslaw and some fresh corn on the cob and some cherry tomato and cucumber salad or you can even skewer them.  We also skewered some of the cherry tomatoes with some boconcini cheese that my friend had but we forgot about them until after we had everything.

Since you already have the BBQ going the grilled pineapple is also a great easy idea or just toast up some marshmallow after you finish grilling your meal.

We grilled the corn but you can also grill peppers, zucchini or even potatoes and asparagus.  These are some of my favourite things that grilling really enhances.

Get creative and find some great food and friends and spark up that grill whether you do it at home or on a campsite or at a local park.  It's always fun and the food is always better this way.

Don't forget the Canadian Flags, hats, and festive decorations.

Enjoy a safe and Happy Canada Day!

Disclaimer:  This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada, as part of the Our Finest program. In exchange this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Random act of Coolness

On a very Hot Canada Day I decided to mix my food world with my film world by having my friend Lisa roll my retro pink cooler out to Mel Lastman Square to hand out Free Freeze's to people going to the Square for Canada Day activities and events.  Even though it's a cooler it doesn't keep freeze's cool on a hot day for very long.  I came up with this idea as a Random Act of Coolness a 1 minute short film I decided to shoot for the Toronto Urban Film Festival.  It's a underground film festival that runs on subway screens during september and it shows 1 minute short silent films to commuters during their busy day.

Lisa's pinkness was so popular and Free Freeze's were so welcome on a hot day that we had to turn people away when we ran out of freeze's.   It's amazing how many people love a frozen treat on a hot day.   All freeze's are is flavoured frozen sugar and water but boy do they hit the spot on a hot summer day.

We had a great time cooling off some Toronto residents and visitors and I hope that you can see the people that sampled some of the freeze's on the screens of the Toronto Urban Film Festival this september.   Wish us luck getting it into the festival.  I am hoping Lisa's beautiful pink inspiration will help.

One thing I realized from this experience is that people love to get free food and treats.  It made them very happy.


Give some food away and make some people Happy.