adventures of a food & lifestyle blogger
adventures of a food & lifestyle blogger
Slurpee drinkers rejoice! 7-Eleven’s legendary Bring Your Own Cup event is back.
On Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19, 7-Eleven Canada is welcoming customers to be creative and bring in their own vessels to hold Slurpee.
Customers can fill up their own choice container for $2 as part of the fifth annual promotion. Limited flavours like Crush Jelly Bean, Pepsi Black Cherry and Crush Banana, will also be available this weekend.
Long before Harry met Meghan, before they had a Lifetime movie, and before floral flavours became the biggest food trend of 2018 (thanks to the announcement of the royal couples’ lemon elderflower wedding cake), there was the humble elderberry.
Elderberries are full of antioxidants, as well as vitamins A, B and C. They are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and have been used for thousands of years as folk medicine. In fact, when it comes to antioxidant power, elderberry is higher in flavonoids than blueberries, cranberries, goji berries and blackberries.
I’m all about immune boosting, especially living in Edmonton where the cold and flu season lasts about 10 months of the year. So, you can only imagine my excitement when I learned about Feel Good Syrup, elderberry syrup that is locally brewed. Their syrup is delicious, versatile, and I can’t quite imagine not having it in my fridge. You’ll see why.
When my uncle returned from a recent trip to Mexico, his only complaint was “there were no Caesars.” He also complained about the lack of a blow dryer in his room, but that is neither here nor there. The Caesar thing should not have come as a surprise for a few reasons:
1) Caesars are the beloved drink of many Canadians, but this enthusiasm stops at the US border. The Caesar stubbornly remains a Canadian phenomenon.
2) As a result of the first point, if you go looking for a Caesar south of the border, you’ll end up with a Bloody Mary, which is less than ideal.
3) My uncle has been to Mexico a dozen times and knew all of this.
It took roughly 14 years of struggle in the rap game before 2 Chainz finally became a household name, but once he hit the big time, he never looked back, embracing only the finer things in life. With that in mind, it only makes sense that the rapper from Atlanta would eventually partner with GQ for a show called “Most Expensive Shit”, a web series which follows 2 Chainz as he samples some of the most decadent, over-the top items money can buy.
Throughout the rapper’s career, 2 Chainz has often established himself as a rap game gourmand. I mean, with lyrics like “I got bunions on bunions, yellow ring look like a funyon, or somethin’”, how could you not be a good authority?
Make It: The Handmade Revolution is back in Edmonton and we are excited to team up with them for their upcoming spring market. The show is March 23 to 25 at the EXPO Centre and features over 175 artists, selling everything from clothing, accessories, art, home décor, gourmet goodies, and other unique items.
Louis Pasteur once said “a bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.” That’s because wine, while a seemingly simple beverage, becomes more complex the more you study it. Old world versus new world, tannins or no tannins, oaked or unoaked – it can be a little overwhelming. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert to appreciate wine, and for that reason, wine is wonderful.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Hawaiian cuisine? Poke or Spam? Roasted pig at a luau feast or steamed things in banana leaves? Tropical drinks served in a pineapple? Okay, the last one doesn’t really count, but they all showcase Hawaii’s diversity. The fact of the matter is Hawaiian food doesn’t fit into one category. It is a melting pot of flavors, drawing from Japan, Korea, Portugal, the Philippines, America, China and other Polynesian islands.
An old Italian proverb says: “Day-old bread, month-old oil, and year-old wine”. Although the speaker and context of the proverb are unknown, I am fairly certain they were eating bruschetta at the time. Bruschetta is a rustic dish, exuding the perfect balance of acidity, salinity, and herbaceousness.
From the verb “bruscare” (or “to toast”), bruschetta dates back to the Etruscan age, when farmers occupying the land between Rome and Tuscany began brushing bread with olive oil and garlic then baking it in the oven. The dish has since evolved with the addition of toppings such as meats, vegetables and all kinds of cheeses. Despite the endless variations, the basic concept of a bruschetta remains the same – simple, fresh, and flavorful ingredients.
The bruschetta recipe below was given to me by my friend Alyssa of Alyssa Cooks Catering. It is quick and easy, and when paired with a glass of wine, is the perfect way to start any evening.
It’s okay to admit that 2017 was a tough year for many reasons. At one point or another, most of us wanted nothing more than to crawl under a blanket with a pint of ice cream and tune out the world. And while we hope that 2018 will be a little less eventful, if it’s not, the 7-Eleven new delivery service can help get us through.
7-Eleven has teamed up with food delivery service Nomme to bring a unique range of convenient food, drinks, and everyday items straight to your door. Yes, it’s true – you can now order Slurpees, junk food, hot foods and other everyday essentials in a couple of clicks. Pints of ice cream, pizza, and other random items like Advil, Halls cough drops, and 5-hour Energy Shots are available too.
