Merry Christmas! However you choose to celebrate, it is a magical time of year.
As I write this, there is a blanket of white on the ground, making the season even better. We will disregard the chaos that all that white stuff causes, though.
And speaking of chaos, the market is a perfect antidote to the madness. Who needs a crowded mall or grocery store? All your last-minute gifts and groceries are available, sold to you by people who are passionate about what they do and happy to be there. So in the spirit of making things easier, here is my market guide to the best of the best.
MEALS
Start with appies and cocktails. An easy appetizer is sliced baguette from Bread Affair topped with Neufchatel cheese from Golden Ears and a dollop of Chili, Lime and Rosemary Marmalade from yours truly.
That same baguette will hold smoked salmon cream cheese from Georels really well, too.
Both of these pair with cocktails created from Dragon Mist Distillery’s line of premium spirits.
Moody Ales will be with us too, serving up their amazing beer.
Is a turkey too big? How about a roasting chicken from Rockwelds?
Tired of poultry? Redl’s Beef can set you up with a grass-fed roast.
Don’t forget seafood as an option. Wild West Coast Seafoods have spot prawns and halibut.
Forstbauer Farms, Beds to Bowls and Nutrigreens take care of the veggies. Gesundheit Bakery and Bread Affair have the stuffing covered, as well as the dinner buns and even some sweet treats too.
And speaking of sweet treats, Gabi and Jules have the pie, Hello Friends Baking will slay you with the chocolate beet cake, Kizzy’s Macarons are perfect on a dessert platter beside fruitcake from Sweet Thea and baklava from Samaya Delights.
And end the meal with a perfect cup of tea from Culinary Blossom. Joanne has blended special holiday teas brimming with fruits and spices. Some of them are even made especially for spirits and make lovely little gifts too.
After all that cooking, if you are just done and ready to rest, Real Meals will be on hand with their ready-to-heat soups and meals.
GIFTS
Food gifts are always appreciated and any of the above vendors can help you out there. But we also have Jam’n Music with her award-winning jam and her music CDs. Trish is an accomplished musician whose music will delight any music fan.
Jam Shack Preservery makes a wicked good caramelized onion and garlic jam that gets plenty of use in my house. Bobali Foods is back with her spectacular assortment of tapenades, dips and hummus. Gary’s Kettle Corn fits perfectly in a stocking.
Got an outdoor enthusiast on your list? James Lewis Foods make tasty, hearty granola bars that are perfect. He has added spiced nuts and artisan granola to his holiday lineup this year.
Amazing Foods and Saltspring Fleur de Sel have lovely little packages of magic to add something special to your cooking.
If you have little people on your list, Designed 4 Kids and Kirina’s Krafts have delightful children’s accessories, all handmade with love.
Big people on your list? There are jewellers at the market, all of whom have fabulous, handmade one-of-a-kind pieces for men and women. Ildiko Jewellery, The Magpies Nest and Kimi Designs are so different from each other but so similar in their attention to quality and craftsmanship.
And speaking of craftsmanship, one veteran vendor and one new vendor offer wood products that will be sure to please. Quality Oak Accents will have cutting boards that will become heirlooms for the recipient. Urban Planters are new to us and they have innovative wood planters, just right for small scale gardening.
Three other perfect gift vendors are Nasty Free Naturals, Sisters Making Scents and Scentimental Creations. From room sprays to bath bombs to candles and everything in between, these three will make your shopping easy.
If scent isn’t your thing, try a gift from Fresh-n Home. They offer practical odour neutralizers for a variety of uses. And last but not least, tie your parcels up with a big bow and a cards from Art Cards by Valerie — the perfect finish.
From my home to yours, may your holiday be filled with love blessings, little stress and a lot of joy.
Karen Curtis is the Lemonade Lady (www.kicslemonade.ca and kicslemonade.blogspot.ca) at the Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam farmers markets. Her column runs monthly.
BECAUSE YOU NEED AN EASY XMAS BREKKIE
I will leave you with my secret for a stress-free Christmas morning. I have eaten this every Christmas breakfast for 36 years (thanks to the Best of Bridge for the recipe). You prepare it the night before and pop it in the oven while you’re opening presents.
CHRISTMAS breakfast CASSEROLE
16 slices white bread, crusts removed
16 slices Canadian back bacon or ham
16 slices sharp cheddar cheese
6 eggs
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2-1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper ( I leave this out!)
1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 cups milk
dash Tabasco
1/2 cup butter
Panko
Set 8 pieces of bread into a 9x13 buttered, glass baking dish.
Cover bread with slices of back bacon. Lay slices of cheddar cheese on top of bacon and then cover with remaining slices of bread to make it like a sandwich.
In a bowl, beat eggs and pepper. To the egg mixture, add dry mustard, onion, green pepper, Worcestershire sauce, milk and Tabasco. Pour over the sandwiches, cover and let stand in fridge overnight.
In the morning, melt butter, pour over top. Cover with panko. Bake, uncovered, 1 hour at 350 F (180 C). Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
@TriCityNews
