Its Thursday Time to Bake and Grow

 Now, it is the third day of that most spectacular soap opera and reality show, Canada/USA relations. There are far more things to worry about as we grow to be more self-sufficient as a people. Being now amongst the senior citizens on the edge of the timeline, I can assure you with Geritol, this soon shall pass. The pain will be real and visible, but I know that we as Canadians can rise above the Corporate Greed and Bull Shit and survive. 

Thursday is bread and cookie baking day at the Bakers, and as I type, I am diligently watching my dough rise for four loaves of white bread and two loaves of molasses raisin bread. There were no preservatives, and it did not cost me two arms and two legs to buy at the store.  

It's time to get out the garden seeds and start growing plants like tomatoes, cabbage, and squashes, which need extra growing time. Spring is here, and gardening is not rocket science. 

We recommend planting vegetables with a long storage life, such as beets and turnips, which are rich in vitamins and minerals. This will minimize your trips to the grocery store during the winter months. Additionally, learning how to pickle and preserve can significantly reduce your grocery expenses. 

For those who have a small space, we grow stuff in pails year-round. Your salad vegetables, like lettuce, radishes, onions, and cherry tomatoes, can grow in containers year-round. So don't throw out those ice cream pails; put them to good use. 

Gardening need not be an expensive venture. Dollar stores are usually full of seeds and starting equipment you might need to grow things. Yes, those seeds will grow! Here are two seed companies I love, are totally Canadian, and hope you patronise. 

 

• Vessy Seeds www.vessys.com  from Prince Edward Island. Vessys has been in the business since 1939 and are totally knowledgeable of any climate across the country and if needed will help you choose the best seeds for your area. 

 

 

• Heirloom Seeds, located in Montreal, has been operating for over 50 years. They offer a wide variety of garden seeds, including vegetable varieties that have not been traditionally planted for many years. More information can be found on their website www.heirloom-seeds.ca. 

 

Since I've already given you two great Canadian businesses to shop at, I should share a recipe with you instead. 

 

Molasses Cookies 

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2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 

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2 teaspoons ground ginger 

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1 teaspoon cinnamon 

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1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 

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1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

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1 teaspoon baking soda 

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1/4 teaspoon salt 

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3/4 cups unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 

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1 cup packed brown sugar 

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1 large egg 

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2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

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1/3 cup molasses  

 

Combine and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes YUMMY!