Giving thanks...

It is difficult to think of a better place to be in the world on a Thanksgiving weekend than in Central Ontario. As I drove to the market yesterday, the sky's blue was in stark contrast with the burnt yellow leaves of maple trees lining the highway. Falling leaves found their place of rest and there was a sense of feeling very fortunate for the land in which I live.
The hustle and bustle of the market brought a smile to my face as people bought turkeys, potatoes, squash, beets, cranberries, yams, turnips and pies in preparation for their own family dinners... a time to celebrate and give thanks.
In 1578, Martin Forbisher held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for the long journey endured to find the northern passage to the Orient, marking an unofficial origin to the Thanksgiving tradition. But it was really the First Nations who began Thanksgiving by celebrating the harvest through ceremony and dance, giving thanks for the bountiful crops produced each fall. And so, for centuries, people have gathered with friends and family to mark the occasion of autumn harvest - and even if just for a moment, connecting the earth and everything it provides, to the core of what sustains human life.

On the drive home from the market, I tuned in to CBC's DNTO, where Sook-Yin Lee examined the meaning of giving thanks. One segment of the show featured Sook-Yin reading a 'Letter of Gratitude' on air to a friend who had impacted her life. It was one of those rare moments in radio that captured a profound sense of genuineness and realness that tugged strongly at the heart.
And although I'll refrain from gushing too much on a blog, I would like to express thanks to my family... mom, dad, Kristen, Ceanray, Alison, Bryan and Dylan. You have given me hope - an overwhelming desire to make a difference in this world. You have give me support - through letters, kind gestures and conversations. You have given me encouragement - particularly in times of need. You have given me a sense of self - various parts of you have combined to make me who I am. You have given me joy, laughter, and most importantly, love. I would give a lot today to sit down with Ceanray and my new nephew Dylan, and share mom's turkey, mashed potatoes, creamed corn and sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top with the people that I love the most.
Have an extra piece of pie for me...
Happy Thanksgiving!

Chilly evenings...

After spending 3 days down in Toronto, it's been good to come home and know that I'll be here all week to enjoy the wonderful food that I picked up at the farmer's market on Saturday. This morning for breakfast, simply toast and honey... the bread was made by Lil down in Orillia - her and her husband mill their own flour. Lunch was grilled cheese with tomato and dinner was a slow-roasted organic free range chicken with roasted yams in maple syrup - topped off with a refreshing Steam Whistle pilsner! So it's been a great start to the week...

I have a fond love for reading, but that love is also shared for movies.
And although I would be hard-pressed to call this a movie, I was shown this little 5 minute clip about a month ago - it's a little independent fringe film that is surprisingly well done! Talking about food can come in many forms... if you're a fan of Star Wars, you'll appreciate this quite a bit!
Enjoy...

Seasons changing...

Cell phones are ringing, coffee beans are being grinded and the newspaper stands outside are trying to appeal to Canadians interested in the sensational US vice presidential debates as well as the less exciting political race in our own country. I’m in Toronto on a beautiful fall morning – squirrels avoiding traffic and leaves just beginning to turn (pictured above is the lake I live on, where the colours have peaked and leaves are already falling). Over the last couple of weeks, my trips to the city have been numerous, as has my patronage to restaurants. I have struggled with consistency in eating locally and I am feeling somewhat disappointed. Work and school has created an environment that fills my waking hours – food, to an extent, has been put on the backburner. And my quest for knowledge of all things food has been temporarily replaced by just keeping my head above water, or so it feels.
There have been, however, some moments to smile about:
A delicious batch of butternut squash soup that has warmed me on these cool autumn days…
A reawakening of sorts about the spiritual side of food and the importance of giving thanks…
The appreciation I saw from a friend towards her dinner salad…
The genuine support from friends and family towards my local food adventure…

My sister and her husband just had a baby boy… Dylan is his name!
I wish them the best of luck in their new adventure.