Holiday Contest!

Hey all you pickles lovers! Holiday contest for everyone: Post your favorite recipe (using a pickled something) and the winner will be the proud owner of a holiday gift basket!

Recipes

Here are some recipes I came across on allrecipies.com (canada)! Give them a try and let us know how they worked out!

Springtime Asparagus and Parmesan Sandwich

Ingredients

1 bunch asparagus spears, trimmed and cut in half
1/3 cup water
12 slices French bread
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
12 Bibb lettuce leaves
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions

Place the asparagus and 1/3 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave on High 1 minute, or just until tender. Rinse under cold water, and blot dry with paper towels.
Spread 1 side of 6 bread slices with 1/4 teaspoon butter and about 1 tablespoon mayonnaise each. Layer with asparagus, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Place lettuce over the asparagus, season with pepper, and top with remaining 6 bread slices to form 6 sandwiches. Slice on a diagonal; this is a sandwich that exudes spring !

Fabulous Fried Pickled Beans!

Batter:
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1/4 cup beer
3 dashes Tabasco sauce
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp black pepper

Dip pickled beans in batter and fry in oil until the pickle slices float to the top.

Crispy Prosciutto Wrapped Pickled Asparagus

Wrap one slice of prosciutto around each asparagus spear, starting at the bottom, and spiraling up to the tip. Place the wrapped spears on the prepared baking sheet. (Adding cream cheese before wrapping the spear adds extra flavour!
*Bake for 5 minutes in the preheated oven (450) on olive oil lined sheet. Shake baking sheet and return to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until asparagus is tender, and prosciutto is crisp. Serve immediately.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Have you ever gone to the grocery store, gotten out of your car, grabbed your wallet, gone to the back seat to grab your reusable grocery bags, and you look, and it is as if they have disappeared into thin air. Then you remember that while in a hurry to find your grocery list, you kept reminding yourself to grab the bags, and you ended up forgetting them at home as you rushed out the door.

Now as your attempt to try and be environmentally friendly is ruined, you now have to decide if you are both going to buy plastic, and still have to pay five cents a bag, or fork out an extra dollar per bag to replace the reusable ones that you forgot. It puts you in a tough spot, do you buy those terrible for the environment plastic bags, and try to remember your reusable ones next time, or do you replace them now.....and have a closet full when you get home?

Now because this situation has happened to me more times than not, I wanted to find a different alternative to those reusable bags from the grocery store, or any other type of self proclaimed “reusable” grocery bag that is just like all the others, and will just end up being left behind when I make another trip to the grocery store. I was introduced to the solution, which will stop the above scenario from happening again.

The solution, EZ Grocery Bag! Its website describes it as a new generation of grocery bag made from a high quality recycled PET fabric, which is made from 80% recycled plastic bottles. The EZ Grocery Bag is the only grocery bag that can roll up and seal with Velcro, and get this.... fit in your purse!! So are the days of forgetting your grocery bags at home, the EZ grocery bag will fold up into a neat, compact, and easy to fit into your purse pouch, so now once you finish unloading the groceries, you fold the bag up, and put it back in your purse for your next shopping trip.

Check out their website for all the other perks of EZ Grocery Bags. (http://www.ezgrocerybag.com/)

~ Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! Do you have an EZ Grocery Bag...does it live up to the hype?

``What is that!”

I`m sure at some point or another everyone has bought a product, or had one given to them to try at a family reunion, and you might have saw something funny looking on the product and thought `What is that! There is no way I am eating that!"

While handling some emails here at Sunshine Farms I did come across someone who had, had that exact reaction to some grey flecks in our pickled asparagus. Although they do seem to cause great concern, and in some cases disgust to some of our un-expectant customers who happen to come across these flecks, they actually cause no harm and can hold some benefits.

Those grey flecks are a protein build up called Rutin. More specifically Rutin is a citrus flavonoid glycoside. It is made up of two chemicals; quercetin and rutinose. Rutin is created within Pickled Asparagus when Asparagus is heated with an acid, such as Vinegar; like in the pickling process, and through this process Rutin, which is a bioflavinoid, is drawn out of the Asparagus plant. It then becomes insoluble in the vinegar and crystallizes on the Asparagus.

The Rutin that is produced is actually the opposite of what most people think when they see those flecks in their food; it can have some really great benefits. Rutin is a strong antioxidant which can be effective against inflammation, cell damage and blood circulation problems. As well Rutin works well together with Vitamin C to fend against easy bruising, thin skin and unsightly veins.

So next time you see a grey fleck in your Pickled Asparagus, not to worry, it won`t be a hinder, it might actually be a help.

~Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! Let Us know what you think!

Additives, Preservatives and Fillers

In our society over the last few years it seems that there has been some sort of a Health Food Craze, and for good reason. With all the diseases that seem to be appearing, and with everyone knowing at least one person who has cancer, it seems there are more discoveries of these cancers being linked to chemicals that have been added to the foods that we eat.

Additives, Preservatives and Fillers, three forms of chemicals that are added to our foods for multiple purposes, that for the most part, we don’t even realize could be harmful to us.

Additives are added to foods to preserve flavour or improve its taste and appearance. As stated by Health Canada, any chemical substance that is added to food during preparation or storage and either becomes a part of the food or affects its characteristics, for the purpose of achieving a particular technical affect, is considered an additive.

``Preservatives can be natural or synthetic substances, chemicals that are added to food to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or by undesired chemical changes, as well, to avoid spoilage during transportation time.``(http://www.foodadditivesworld.com/preservatives.html)

``Fillers are additives that help bulk up the weight of food with less expensive ingredients which helps keep the price down. `` (http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-fillers-101.htm)

``Some of the immediate effects of chemicals and additives in your food may cause headaches or alter your energy level, or they may affect your mental concentration, behaviour, or immune response. Those with long-term effects could increase your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other degenerative conditions. Avoiding additives in your diet is an important step toward enhancing your health and lowering your risk of disease. `` Says Eve V. Allen, Ph.D., N.D.c in her article ``How Food Additives Affect our Health. ``

Some of the worst food additives include: Aspartame –which may cause brain damage in phenylketonurics; may cause central nervous system disturbances, menstrual difficulties; may affect brain development in an unborn fetus. As well as; Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils - associated with heart disease, breast and colon cancer, atherosclerosis, elevated cholesterol. (For a Full List check out: http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/food-labels.html)

As a student intern at Sunshine Farms I was surprised to learn that all their pickles are Additive, Preservative and Filler free! Who would have thought there could actually be food in existence with such credentials? The first time I tried the products, it felt nice knowing that I was eating a product that was good for me, and didn’t contain harmful chemicals. It was a product I felt safe giving to my family, if only there were more products like it.

~ Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! What are your thoughts on all the additives that are in our foods today? Have you found other products that are Additive, Preservative and Filler free?

“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.” ~ Jim Davis

Wouldn`t it be wonderful if just by eating a slice of carrot cake suddenly you were enriched with all the wonderful benefits of carrots; their antioxidants and rich display of vitamin A. Instead we get the sugar high and an extra five pounds. So it seems we need to drop the cake and eat the carrots bare.

This may be a totally depressing fact to some (I know it is to me) as a self proclaimed Dessert Connoisseur it hurts no one more then me to say bye to my favourite desserts and say hello to carrot sticks. But, what got me through my slump was a little research.

Since the beginning of my internship, I have been introduced to the world of farming here at Sunshine Farms, and am surrounded by yummy, delicious Asparagus; A family favourite in my house! So that got me thinking, what are some of the best foods that you can eat? And, what kind of benefits are they providing you?

What I discovered was that the Asparagus I eat so much of is full of absolutely wonderful benefits, like Vitamin K and Folate, Folate in particular is excellent for maintaining a Healthy Cardiovascular System. (Check out the rest of the benefits of Asparagus here: www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=12)

So not only did I discover the benefits of one of my favourite foods, I also
discovered a list of 51 other foods that are good for your health.

Another personal favourite produce item of mine; the pineapple, made the list as well. The Bromelain contained in pineapple can aid as an anti-inflammatory and digestive aid. As well, as the old saying goes “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” seems to not be a lie; apples contain cardio-protective fibers. (Find all 51 foods and their benefits here: http://www.diethealthclub.com/51-power-packed-foods-healthy-diet.html)

So with my new found knowledge, I walk away from my research a little less of a Dessert Queen and a newbie to the world of extraordinarily healthy food. So, hopefully next time I am tempted with raspberry cheesecake, I can just settle for the raspberries.

~Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! What are your favourite foods, and their benefits?

Why is my Garlic Blue?

If you’ve been in the kitchen this summer doing a little pickling of your own and happen to run across some blue garlic, there is no need to panic, it is not some new super species of garlic, and it won’t harm you if you eat it, it just may look a little funny.

You may have followed Gran’s Old Family Recipe to a tee and still come out with blue garlic; I want to reassure you that you are not a terrible cook. While trying to discover why this cooking mystery occurs I found hundreds of cooks just like you, trying out Gran’s Old Recipe and they too got some blue garlic.

So here is what I found from our friends in the kitchen, and what they told us about why the garlic turns blue and how to avoid it the next time. So the simple explanation to blue garlic is that there are pigments called Anthocyanins, which are water soluble and will turn a bluish-green colour in an acid solution (Such as Vinegar) This happens most often when the garlic is not mature enough, or has not been dried out completely.

When this happens there is nothing to worry about, it will not change the flavour of the garlic, and it won’t cause you any harm. As well, it is possible that if you cleaned the garlic with water that you might as well get that bluish-green colour, for garlic contains a sulphur compound that reacts with copper sulphate (A blue-green compound) which can be found in water.

So the easiest steps that were proposed start with selecting mature garlic, washing it carefully; or buying already prepared garlic. Lastly is to heat the garlic before adding it with the acid compound, this should release the pigment from the garlic stopping the bluish-green colour from occurring when you start pickling.
~ Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! Have you ever gotten some blue garlic? What other tricks did you use to get rid of it?

(Resources: whatscookingamerica.net – chineseop.com and aces.edu)

Environmental Kitchen

Eco is all-the craze these days, with global warming and landfills piling higher and higher, it is time to do our part to conserve. Now I know that I haven’t always followed the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Moto, but after doing a little research I discovered you don’t have to sacrifice quality or style to be environmentally friendly.
Now it isn’t possible to become environmental over night, it will take some time to convert. However, I know I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and with so much in a day surrounding food, the Kitchen seems to be the appropriate place to start.
I found some excellent eco-friendly kitchen products at; http://www.greenandmore.com/kitchen.html , and I am going to give you my top five, so that like me you can consider starting to become more eco-friendly.

1.Garbage:
a.Bio Bags:
i. For garbage and compost
ii. Made Primarily out of Corn Starch and breaks down in weeks
iii.Case of 144 Bags is $72.99
2.Cleaners
a. Dragonfly Organix Products
i.Cleaners for all needs: Stain Remover, Surface Cleaner, Floor Cleaners etc.
ii.Packs of 3 - $14.95
3.Kitchen Accessories
a. Teak Edge Grain Cutting Boards
i.Plantation grown teak, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
ii.$17.99 +
b. Organic Cotton Ginko Leaf Print Kitchen Towel
i.Grown and woven without the use of chemicals
ii.Known for its ability to breathe and wear well
iii. Made under fair labour practices and earth friendly dyes
iv.3 for $26.99
4.Dinnerware:
a.Recycled Glass Dinner Plates, available in 7 colours
i.$34.99
5.Bakeware:
a. Sun Oven
i.Solar energy oven to cook your food
ii.Reduces levels of deforestation
iii.$269.99

So for a few extra dollars, we can help our environment, and still cook in style.

~ Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! Have you found any great environmentally friendly household products?

What does it mean to be Organic?

I’m sure like myself; many of you have walked into the grocery store, and as you were browsing for fresh vegetables, a new cereal, or even some pasta for dinner you have stumbled upon a product with a label, or a sticker that says “Organic”, and for just a few dollars more you pick up that product thinking you are getting something all natural, healthy, and more pure for you and your family. But what did you actually buy for those few extra dollars?
How do you know those “Organic Bananas” that you bought and paid an extra 2 dollars for than the regular bananas are actually organic? How do you know the grower didn’t just say “Organic” and gains the profit without the work!
In Canada the Canadian Government has set forth specific guidelines that producers have to meet when certifying their products as Organic. To name a few; Their land has to be pesticide free for a period of time, additives to products must be Organic, if they are raising organic animals the food they feed them must be organic as well. If you wish too view the entire Act with details about these requirements check out: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-e.html
Before working for Sunshine Farms, who has a line of Organic pickled products, I had never given a second thought to the idea that some of the “Organic” products I had been buying may not be putting in the hard work that is required to become certified as Sunshine Farms has.
So I just propose to you that if you have been buying a certain brand of Organic product, and wish to know if they are a Certified Organic Product, just look at the label next time. Somewhere on the packaging there should be an indication that the product has been verified organic. As well, usually on the label where you find the ingredients it should be labelled who they are certified by, if they are in fact certified.
It’s better to be safe than sorry, and if you are anything like me, you want to know that you are getting what you pay for.
~ Pickle Blogger
Sound off! Let us know if you have been buying a product you thought was organic, but isn’t!
(Just as a side note for all those wondering Sunshine Farms Organic products are Verified Organic and certified by the OCCP -http://www.pro-cert.org/ - check out their website, learn about their certification process, and discover the symbol you should be looking for on your Organic Products in Ontario)

Eating Local

Food is a human necessity, so when we walk through the grocery store, we usually purchase the foods that we need, that we like to eat, and the foods that we enjoy. We walk down the aisles grabbing all our favourite fruits and vegetables, our favourite canned items, and packaged products. But do we ever for one second stop and think; where were those products made? Where were they produced? I know I never had, I just grabbed the things that I needed, and hit the road with something better to do then spend my time in a grocery store aisle.
However, as a summer intern at Sunshine Farms I had my eyes opened to the idea that I could be buying Fresh Local Food, and supporting my local farmers rather than buying a product that was made in China or Peru.
Now needless to say this doesn’t mean that I am going to stop buying Bananas, I live in Canada for goodness sake, and I like Bananas; so I`m not suggesting that you stop eating the food you love just because the climate you live in will not foster the growth of those foods. All I am saying is that when I walk through the grocery store in my towns on season, and pick up a vegetable that was produced in China or Peru, which I know can be produced right in my town, I might think twice before putting it in my cart.
So all I am proposing is that instead of continually going to that same grocery store, and helping those farmers in China and Peru, I ask that you join me in doing a little research. Discover who your local farmers are, what they produce, if they sell fresh from their farm, or where you can buy their products. Find out if your town has a local farmers market where you can go on a weekly basis and buy from local producers; you will probably be surprised to learn you have more farmers in your town then you thought, and that they sell fresh delicious products only a short distance from home.
Like I said, I’m not suggesting that you need to limit your diet to only eating local foods, I’m just proposing that for the products you can buy local, buy local. Not only will it help your local economy, it will put you at ease knowing where the food you put on your table came from.

~ Pickle Blogger

Sound Off! Let us know if you have changed the way you shop, and have started looking Local!

Summer Sensation

As suburbanites dust off the old patio set, crack open the pool and plant their beds of fresh flowers, it is a sure-fire sign that the summer months of hot, hot heat are approaching quickly, and with a vengeance it seems. As mother- nature has tricked us already once this year, all of us are crossing our fingers and toes that we don’t get a freak snow storm! However, it seems she has made her peace with us and is granting us with this exhausting 90 degree weather.

However, as a child born in Canada, who was meant to be born in a tropical location with temperatures of this magnitude all year round, I openly accept Mother Nature’s gift, and grab the sun screen and start roasting. However, it does help to have a tasty refreshing beverage to quench my thirst!

As one of Reader’s Digest Canada’s “Spicy Summer Nightcaps” the Bloody Mary seems to be making a comeback. (Better known as the Bloody Caesar to all you Canadian Readers) Forever shadowed it seems by its more vibrant friend the Cosmopolitan, or its Old time rival the Cold Beer, the Bloody Mary is stepping out from behind the shadows this summer to show its a true contender for the prized title of “Summer Sensation”.
With a classic mix, with just a bit of kick, this drink is sure to make a splash this summer season! (Check out the full recipe at: http://www.readersdigest.ca/food/cms/xcms/spicy-summer-nightcaps_2838_a.html)

Included in this recipe is the long time staple the celery stick, however, I am proposing something new and risky, that will bring this Bloody Mary up another notch!

As a recent summer intern at Sunshine Farms, on my first day I was introduced to the Zesty Asparagus! Not only is it good on its own, it kicks the celery sticks butt at being the perfect garnish for a Bloody Mary. Not only does it give the drink a little extra zing, it’s a tasty treat once the drink has been finished!

So like I did, I hope you’ll join in on helping the Bloody Mary become 2010’s Summer Sensation, with Sunshine Farms Zesty Pickled Asparagus as its side kick, to add a little surprise to the ride.

~ Pickle Blogger
Sound Off! Let us know how you liked the switch up, and share your recipes if you’ve added your own twist to a classic cocktail!

Hello Fellow Bloggers

I just wanted to introduce myself to you, as for the next few months I will be your blogging liaison, bringing you gripping stories, tasty recipes, and all things in concern to you.

This Summer I am an Intern here at Sunshine Farms, and I am excited to chat with all you Pickle Lovers, and get your opinions on a wide range of topics.
If you have a concern or question feel free to write back. Here at Sunshine Farms we value all of our customers, and their questions and opinions, for without you what would we be!

Well that’s all for now, see you on the blog-side!
~ Pickle Blogger

This is Ben Jaques, I am one of the three sons that work at Sunshine Pickles.
You know what ? We have been making these pickled things for a long time now!! We started when I was just a kid. I have heard that some people who work with a certain product for so long learn to hate it or get sick of it. I on the other hand still LOVE our pickles. I just sat down and ate a half of a jar of our Zesty Pickled Asparagus with dinner. I just can't get enough. I eat at least a jar of our hot pickled Carrots a week for lunch..... Zesty asparagus with Ceasars on the weekends.... Beans or Asparagus with Dinner.... MMMM I may be a pickle freak. I love them. Anyway I hope you all love them as much as I do. Let us know what you think, or if you have any questions, suggestions or ideas for us to try, feel free to post them. Remember you can also join our Facebook group or follow us on Twitter. Really hope to hear from you soon.

Ben

Our new video!!

Hello Everyone.

We are still pretty new to some of this but be sure to look us up on twitter facebook and now on Youtube! We have posted our new video. It gives you a great look at our opperation and what we have to offer!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX8qUlVQPhs

If you have any questions about what we pickle or our prices let us know!
We ship all over Canada and the united states.

I hope you like the new video
You can also check us out at www.picklesplease.com

Talk to you soon
Sunshine