New flour sizes

A few of you who have dropped by the markets booths lately will have noticed that our bag sizes have changed for the flour products. This wasn't exactly planned, but our bag supplier has been unreliable with the 1.6kg sized bags and we were just unable to get them last week. This prompted us to downsize the flour to 1kg size bags. 

Actually, it is probably turning out for the better for right now. These mid-size bags of flour save us some money in label costs because the smaller labels come 10 to a sheet. For the same price, we get 400 extra labels. Another benefit has been that our customers have a little easier time carrying around flour with them at market. During the summer months when baking is less intensive, the smaller sizes have proven to be quite popular. 

For our hard-core bakers, don't despair. We are currently looking for larger bags. We hope to offer flour in both 1kg size and something around 3 or 4 kg sizes. This fall, when baking season is in high gear, we'll have you covered all ways possible!

This Saturday we will, once again, be at City Market Downtown, Old Strathcona Market (my favorite) and St. Albert Farmers Market

Kathy Freston on how essential Fibre is to your health

http://www.sharecare.com/question/why-high-fiber-foods-health This is a great little overview of fibre and its immense benefits to human health. A post is coming soon from Cindy that quotes new studies as saying that Scientists have "grossly underestimated" the antioxidant properties of whole grains!

Oatey Flaxy Cookies

Here's a new recipe from Tesia for her Gold Forest Grains version of the classic Oatmeal Cookie!

Gold Forest Grains Oatmeal-Flax Cookies

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients

• 1 cup GFG whole grain flour (I used Spelt, but Soft White would also work well)
• 1 ½ cups GFG Traditional Rolled Oats
• 2 Tbsp GFG Golden Flax
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

• ½ cup honey (I used local honey from Hanneman Honey)
• ¼ cup healthy oil (canola, olive)
• ¼ cup applesauce
• 1 Tbsp molasses
• 1 egg (beat with 1 Tbsp water)
• 1 tsp vanilla

Yummy Additions

• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup pecans (walnuts or almonds would work well, too)
• 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips (because, you know…)

Preparation:

1.  In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.

2.  In a medium, bowl, mix all the wet ingredients together. 

3.  Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.  Add the raisins, nuts, and other

     additions you like.  If the mixture is too wet, add a bit more flour (I wound up adding

     an extra 2 Tbsp of flour).  If it’s not binding well, you may want to add an egg white.

4.  COOL the mixture for 20 minutes in the fridge.

5.  Preheat the oven to 335 degrees Fahrenheit.

6.  Drop the mixture by teaspoonfuls onto your baking sheet (try lining the sheet with

     parchment paper for easy clean up).  Press down with a fork to ensure even baking.

7.  Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom of the cookie (mine

     were baked nicely at 15 minutes).

8.  These freeze well, too!

Makes ~2 ½ dozen cookies

a wonderful new blog to follow!

This is Jacquie's blog...Garneau Home Kitchen. She's a local food enthusiast from central Edmonton and has some great, upbeat writing. A fresh style of reading that makes you think you're hearing from a close friend. Lover her style. http://garneauhomekitchen.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/awesome-product-alert-gold-forest-grains-sturgeon-river-cereal/

2012 Farmers Markets

For this summer we are now in Edmonton's three biggest farmers markets! This is a lot of extra work, but we really want to get the word out to as many people as possible the benefits of local, stone-milled, heritage grain products. Every Saturday for the rest of the summer you will find us at Old Strathcona Farmers Market, City Market and the St. Albert Farmers Market. On top of that, we also attend a tremendous food market on Wednesday night in Terwillegar...the Southwest Edmonton Farmers Market. 

With so many markets to choose from these days, we have spent a great deal of time researching markets around Edmonton. We have even attended a few! In the end, we have chosen the markets that most reflect the intended purpose of Alberta Approved Farmers Markets. We have chosen markets where farmers are actually the main focus, and food is king. It is too bad when good markets choose to become flea markets, but in the end, the customers will decide. Perhaps Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, who approves the markets, will one day pay attention to their own title and approve only markets where farmers actually form the majority of the vendors. It frustrates me to have the Sunny Girl logo on flea markets where it is difficult, if not impossible, to actually find a farmer. 

So, do yourself a favour and take a little trip to one of these great markets this summer. It is a great way to spend a morning and you can actually make grocery shopping a form of recreation!

Gold Forest Products on the coast!

This past weekend was the launch of Gold Forest Grains products in Powell River, BC. Stella, the owner of Kelly's Specialty Shop in Powell River got hold of us through my Aunt Sonja who works at the store. Together, they placed an order for many of our products to be carried in their store. Additionally, they attended Powell River's farmers market last weekend and featured our grain products! Sales are going well there and on our next visit to BC's glorious coast, we will feel right at home after we stop in at Kelly's!