Last of the Summer Wine

I can’t believe it is the last week of August. We are almost at the end of summer. It has been a very busy few months. Kevin and I have done lots of gardening, exploring, checking produce and eating.

Wherever our adventures took us…I have chosen fish for my meal. I could not pick a favorite.

We explored different markets in NB……and I still prefer the one in Saint John. But then I just like Saint John.

Last week we visited Speerville……and checked out Speerville Mills. I am not sure what we were expecting….probably a larger facility. But it’s a nice little business located off the beaten track. You don’t have to be the biggest to be the best.

Yesterday I visited the Superstore ….and they now are carrying local blueberries from two companies. One from St.Stephen and one from Nova Scotia.

I am finding too many fruits from the United States. We have grapes, plums, and peaches from Ontario….apples from NB and NS…berries from NB, NS. The selections from the US are huge …and you don’t have trouble finding them. Too bad. It should be the other way around.

Sobeys have started to label their local produce from the Atlantic region. I hope both Sobeys and the Superstores continue to label local and Canadian produce. This should not be just a summer thing.

This past Saturday we revisited the local farmers market in Fredericton. Lots of local produce, but I was more interested in the fish. I was looking for shrimp. The regular fish supplier carried shrimp. The huge lovely looking ones were from Thailand…..I wonder how many people are buying this shrimp and assuming it is local. I ended up buying a few frozen tubs of shrimp from Newfoundland. I have yet to try them.

I was also interested in their haddock. I asked where the fish was caught. She didn’t know and went to ask another worker. After a bit of discussion…the answer?….” Not sure, but we buy it from Saint John”. Really…..this is not good service. If you are not going to inform your workers about the product they are selling….then use better labels.

Would you assume produce is local if the label says “fresh”? At first glance, I did. I saw a sign saying " Fresh Raspberries", but when I checked the product label...they were from the US. Hmmm....tricky. So then I looked around at a few more vegetable/fruit stalls…and I saw more “fresh” labels.

Very clever.

On Blueberry Hill

August is blueberry season in New Brunswick. So I searched online for a bit of information on blueberries. Hmmm…according to one site, BC is the blueberry capital of Canada. Well…that may be…but I am pretty sure Pennfield is the blueberry capital of New Brunswick.

Pennfield is a very small town between St. George and St. John. During WWII they had an air force base and landing field. The landing field is still there…or parts of it. (In high school, it was very exciting to be allowed to go to Pennfield and watch Drag races on this strip).

I usually buy my blueberries at the local market in Fredericton, or if I am in the area….right in Pennfield.

Unfortunately, Sobeys seems to only carry blueberries from Nova Scotia and the USA. As for the Superstores…well I only went once…and the blueberries were from the USA.

While searching for information on NB blueberry fields, I found information on NB wineries. There is one in Pennfield ( Tierney Point Winery).I have had blueberry wine …homemade by a friend, but have yet to try any from a winery.

Tierney Point Winery
Specializes in blueberry and cranberry fruit wines. Their newest creation is a strawberry-rhubarb wine.

I was unaware of how many wineries we have in New Brunswick. Perhaps a visit with some tasting is in order.

http://www.winesofcanada.com/nb.html

The Times are a changin.......

I visited the North Side Superstore this weekend. I had not been there for months so thought I would check their produce. Initially I rated this store the lowest.

Well….I was very pleased to see a huge display outside….and another inside of all Canadian produce. And what were on the display signs?

“Grown Close to Home” Product of Canada.

Finally.

Tomatolicious

I picked up the “East Coast Living" magazine the other day. I was interested in the article on tomatoes. It did not disappoint, plus, I found this very easy recipe. I have adapted it to what was in my garden, my fridge and a bit lower in fat. The original recipe is courtesy of Craig Flinn.

Tomato Puff Pastry Pizza
2 shallots minced
1 onion minced
Low sodium chicken broth (¼ to 1/3 cup)
1 tsp of dried basil
¼ cup of dry sherry
¾ cup shredded white old cheddar
¾ cup of softened light cream cheese
2 sheets of puff pastry
3 cups of sliced tomatoes
Dash of salt, pepper and sugar
1/3 cup of fresh basil

Sauté the shallots and onions in chicken broth until tender. Add basil and cook for another minute. Add sherry and reduce liquid. Add this mixture to the cheeses and mix until smooth. Spread mixture over the 2 sheets of puff pastry, leaving a small border. Cover the cheese mixture with the sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle salt , pepper and sugar over the tomatoes. Bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes, or until the bottom of the crust is brown. Remove and garnish with fresh basil

The Unexpected

http://www.hopeseed.com/index.htm

This is another amazing site. And another wonderful business that I would not have found if I had not chosen to eat a little differently this year. Maybe this is not about what I am eating this year…maybe it is about what I will be choosing, eating and growing in the coming years.

Right Under My Nose

I am probably the last person in New Brunswick to find Speerville Flour Mill Products. Speerville is a small New Brunswick town located about an hour way from Fredericton, towards Woodstock. The company was started in 1982….and I just found it this year.

They have an amazing website and a huge selection of products…..I have tried their popcorn, lentils, flour and oatmeal. All delicious.

It is nice to know that since I have been looking for Canadian and local products I have found some amazing new ones…..it was about time.

Aura, Sobeys and the Superstore carry Speerville Flour Mill Products in Fredericton.

http://www.speervilleflourmill.ca/