Photo: Nanaimo Bars / iVillage Made in Canada slideshow

Warning: This is not a healthy post, but I won’t take responsibility for that. Blame Canada. (Heh heh.)

No, I’m not in Canada this week. Truth be told, I haven’t even been bitten by Olympic fever. I’ve been too busy to watch and now, the last week of the games, I’m hanging in New Orleans, one of the most exciting places in this country for regional food. But, who knew—Canada has amazing regional food, too! And if there’s one thing that will finally cause me Olympic fever, it’s good eats.

I don’t much think about regional Canadian food. And I bet you don’t either. (Save for my Canadian readers, why would we?) But three fortuitously timed things happened since the start of the Olympics that have got me thinking about the foods of our friends up North.

First, the ChowPapa and I talked about making sure that we get to new Brooklyn foodie hot spot, Mile End, ASAP. Mile End is a “Montreal Jewish Delicatessen” that has brought Montreal-style cured brisket stateside. New York Magazine describes the meat as “more aggressively peppery than pastrami, and a little hotter thanks to the paprika in the dry rub.” I can’t remember where I read this, but I believe they are encouraging folks to call before showing up, to make sure that there’s still meat left to serve. Oh. Man.

Talking about our new local deli reminded the ChowPapa of a discovery he made several years ago of real canadian bacon called Canadian peameal bacon, an unsmoked, brined back bacon rolled in cornmeal. It was delicious and he was thinking that it’s about time to order some more. You know, for in between our visits to Mile End. Yes, please.

Then, I discovered this mouthwatering slideshow on iVillage of Canadian national treats in honor of the Olympics. I couldn’t believe how much amazingly yummy food I spied. Hello, poutine. Nice to meet ya!

So, while I sample local New Orleans specialties to recreate and share with you in the future, enjoy these Canadian treats. And, in honor of the Olympians and their kind, northern hosts, chime in: Ever tried any of these delicious foods? Have a regional Canadian recipe to share? Or how about a healthy take on one of these decadent foods? C’mon people. Game on.

• Inspired by Cathy Erway’s new book, The Art of Eating In, the Huffington Post challenges us to eat in for a whole week. Starts on Monday. Join in! (via Huffington Post)
• Jamie Oliver at TED: On a Mission to Feed Kids Better (via Civil Eats)
• Why Childhood Obesity is a Matter of National Security (via Living Liberally)
• Marion Nestle applauds Michelle Obama’s campaign against childhood obesity (via Food Politics)

Things I Crave

• I was recently offered (free) samples of Crofter’s Organics Superfruit Spreads. I gave my usual spiel about not promising to post about the product but, lo and behold, these are delish! The ChowPapa, ChowBaby and I liked all 4 flavors, made with nothing more than fruit, pectin & fair trade cane sugar. Packed with antioxidants from around the globe, each jam is named after the continent from where its antioxidant-rich fruit is indigenous. Find out more, including where to buy, here.
• I’m so getting this new book Free for All: Fixing School Food in America by sociologist Janet Poppendieck who “takes us through the deals, concessions and compromises that have bureaucratized the school food process while simultaneously dumbing down the food.” This is a must-read, people (via Civil Eats)
• I LOVE this gold Ritz cracker necklace!! Adorable! (via Happy Lady Eats)
• Beautifully hip, these melamine plates depicting the four seasons are on sale for $54 with 100% of all profits going to the Oxfam efforts in Haiti (via Oh Joy!)

Green Your Eats

• This is an old post, but I just came across it… and it’s super useful: multigrain pasta taste test (via Slashfood)

Tips, Tools & Techniques

• Thoughtful, useful and clear design—organize your kitchen using this (free) downloadable how-to guide from Hello Kitchen
• Bring out your inner Martha with these oh so lovely food craft and gift ideas from Design*Sponge

Weekly Roundtable

• I started the week warming things up with soup: Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
• I kept things rolling vegetarian with a hearty vegetable main entree: Quick Curried Cauliflower with Pistachio Couscous

Non-Resolution Update

• So, 5 weeks in and I’ve gone to the gym 3 times each week… except this week, which was ridiculously busy. So busy, in fact, that I haven’t even gone once. But maybe all of the running around counts?
• I did manage to eat fish once and a bunch of vegetarian meals, so all was not lost. (Right?!)
• I still haven’t managed to get a massage, but I’m close to finished with the wedding album (hallelujah!), got to eat two awesome meals out and am heading to New Orleans for a week on Sunday—I can’t complain!

Photo: Ticings

Check out this week’s Food News, Things I Crave, Green Your Eats, Tips, Tools & Techniques, and Weekly Roundtable. Plus, for a little while, I’ll follow the Weekly Roundtable with a quick update on my non-resolutions to, you know, keep me honest.

Have a wonderful, love-fest of a Valentine’s Day this weekend. Feel the love. Spread the love. And don’t feel shy about saying I love you. (Like this: I love YOU! Thanks for reading!) And, of course, Happy New Year. Welcome Year of the Tiger!

Food News

• Program in my beloved Brooklyn brings kids to the butcher to learn about where food comes from (via NY Times)
• What the Michelle Obama childhood obesity initiative “Let’s Move” will—and will not—do (Washington Post via @meredithmo)
• Did Michelle Obama get the president to create a national Food Policy Council? (via Grist)
• Oye. Six Meaningless Claims on Food Labels (via NY Times—Well Blog)
• Fed Up with School Lunch: The Feds Join the Fray (via Lettuce Eat Kale)

Things I Crave

• Introducing, Ticings: lovely edible decals that give homemade cakes, cupcakes, cookies and brownies a pretty, professional look (via Springwise)
• These snout cups are creepy and beautiful at the same time. And the kids will think they’re funny, too! (via Bloesem Kids)
• LOVE this Tea Sub inspired by the Beatles Yellow Submarine. Need one! (via Black*Eiffel)
• What pretty cards! Many food themed ones (and look at the prints—more food there, too). I especially like the hot dog! (via Cool Hunting)

Green Your Eats

• Super cute (and chemical free!) stainless steel feeding gear from Life Without Plastic (via Inhabitots)
• Food Money Matters: A GREAT piece on why healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive (via Cheap Healthy Good)
• Free range? Organic? Cage free? Which eggs to buy?! (Quick cheat: pasture raised) (via Civil Eats)

Tips, Tools & Techniques

• Don’t know if you can tell, but I’m not into serving cutesy kid food. I know it has a place, but I’ve never once made a happy face on my ChowBaby’s plate. Somehow, Valentine’s Day seems different—like an occasion to do something sweet like this simple heart shaped toast (via Makes and Takes)
• This month Apartment Therapy is focusing on the smartest ways to get things done. They’ve launched Home Hacks 2010: Smart How To’s For Great Homes, which includes lots of useful kitchen tips like how to plan a menu, how to peel shallots, how to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich every time and MORE.
• The NY Times has put together a list of recipes for romance. Check it out for Valentine’s Day inspiration!
• V-Day isn’t the only holiday this weekend. Sunday marks the beginning of the year of the Tiger. Read about these yummy sweet treats to ring in a new year of good luck (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Weekly Roundtable

• The week started with an important read for anyone with small children interested in raising intrepid, healthy eaters: My 6 Questions for (renowned pediatrician) Dr. Alan Greene
• From Feeding Baby Green to eating green! This recipe is so good that I made it twice in one week: Pork Chili Verde
• In honor of Valentine’s Day, I reflected on becoming a mom for the second time. And on chocolate, of course: Orange Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies (made with yogurt!)

Non-Resolution Update

• I mentioned last week that I thought I’d only make it to the gym 2x’s. Well guess what, biotches?! I worked it OUT and fit in 3x’s after all! But this week, not so much. Think I’ll pull it out again at the last minute?
• This week started off with a vegetarian bang, but then petered out. Only one veg meal and one fish meal this week. Better next time.
• I didn’t exactly pamper myself this week, but I did make time to meet twice with a photographer who’s also a professional organizer to help put together my wedding album. Yes. You read right. Wedding. As in five years ago. I’m finally going to be able to cross “make wedding album” off my list after all these years! That’s most definitely a treat for me.

I recently had the honor of interviewing renowned “green” pediatrician Dr. Alan Green for Our365.  I was over the moon when asked to do the interview—I’ve been a fan of Dr. Greene for some time now. I first discovered him while researching advisors for my baby food venture, ChowBaby. Though we never got to the point of approaching him, I continued to follow Dr. Greene closely. Not only does he offer a comparable wealth of info on parenting and child rearing as Dr. Sears and the like (with a more modern twist, if you ask me), but he is also one of the only pediatricians dealing head on with issues related to non-toxic living. As part of that, he takes an unprecedented interest in how parents feed their children. So much so that he wrote a book about it, his latest, Feeding Baby Green.

Dr. Greene is widely recognized as a champion for organic eating (as much as you’re able and can afford), but I love him most for his progressive (and non-American) approach to healthy feeding. From his unconventional idea of when to start solids, to his emphasis on feeding even first time eaters whatever the rest of the family is eating, to his ahead-of-his-time attitude about food allergies, Dr. Greene encourages feeding our children in a way that excites the palate and lays the foundation for healthy eating habits for life.

My conversation with Dr. Greene was beyond validating. I was, literally, quivering with excitement as he put into words more eloquent than mine a family food philosophy that I try to live by and share with you every week. Read the interview for more. And, if you’re interested, read his new book, Feeding Baby. I was not asked to promote the book here. I just read it and loved it. I think you might too, especially if you’re pregnant or a first time mom with a wee little one.

6 Questions for Dr. Alan Greene, by Stacie Billis (via Our365)

Follow Dr. Greene on Twitter (And, hey, while you’re at it, follow me, too, if you don’t already!)

Become a fan of Our365 on Facebook!

Photo: The Kitchn

Check out this week’s Food News, Things I Crave, Green Your Eats, Tips, Tools & Techniques, and Weekly Roundtable (a roundup of the most recent ChowMama posts). Plus, for a little while, I’ll follow the Weekly Roundtable with a quick update on my non-resolutions. Not that you should care (but maybe you do? I love me support from fellow ChowMamas and ChowPapas!), but it’s a way of keeping me honest.

Food News

• Did you know? Cascadian Farms was purchased by General Mills who changed the Purely O’s formulation. It now contains THREE TIMES the sugar as well as a list of fillers! Learn more, with commentary from Marion Nestle (via Food Politics)
• The first east coast affiliate of the Edible Schoolyard (a program started by restauranteur Alice Waters of Chez Panisse) is set to come to my hometown: BROOKLYN, baby!! (via: NY Times)
• So frustrating! The FDA on BPA: Our Hands Are Tied (via Civil Eats)
• I thought this was super interesting. What do you think? Did you search for one of these last year? The Top 10 Most Googled Recipes of 2009 (via Serious Eats)
• Michelle Obama vows to ‘move the ball’ on kids’ diets (via Grist)
• Has our snacking gotten out of control? When Did Grazing Take Over Our Children? (via NY Times)
• A reporter spends a week in a DC public school and tells us what kids actually eat there. Chews Wise calls this great six part series “cheese-filled.” Read the details here.
• A video for the Gourmet (magazine) nostalgic (via Grist)

Things I Crave

• Pretty tea towel! It’s a replica of an original 1940’s sign (via The Kitchn)
• Form meets function in this high style bakeware designed along side a pastry chef. Beautiful! (via The Kitchn)
• Not sure how I feel about this spice carousel. Honestly, I find it a bit ugly. But it’s cool that it dispenses 1/4 tsp amounts with the turn of a dial. What do you think? (via Serious Eats)

Green Your Eats

• A resource list for starting your own school garden! (via Civil Eats)
• All about whole grains, including a primer and recipes, from NPR (via Cheap Healthy Good)

Tips, Tools & Techniques

• Fish2Fork, a site that ‘names and shames’ restaurants—find out which restaurants are serving sustainable fish… and which aren’t (via Cooking Up a Story)
• A great post describing how to make a basic white sauce and veloute, along with variations including mornay sauce, bechamel and caper sauce (to name just a few) (via Pink of Perfection)
• These are a part of a larger “trim your budget” series on The Simple Dollar: trimming your food at home budget & trimming your eating out budget (via Cheap Healthy Good)
• Snack hack! Create single servings to teach portion control and increase independence (via Parent Hacks)

Weekly Roundtable

• This week was all about party planning! I started with a full menu plan & schedule, plus a one-step side dish that’s perfect for entertaining (or any weeknight): Corn Pudding
• I moved on to the main dish: ChowMama Baked Chicken Fingers
• And no party is complete without cupcakes: Chocolate Chip & Devil’s Food Cupcakes with Chocolate Chip Buttercream

Non-Resolutions 2010

• I’ve gone to the gym 3 times since last week. That was my goal. I achieved it. I hope to do the same next week… even though it hurts (literally).
• I’ve been eating lots of fish—2x’s this week—and making lots of vegetarian meals. (My latest: I’m working on a recipe for stuffed peppers for us. Check it out next week!)
• I’m running into a challenge with my vegetarian meals. Maybe you can help?! I’m trying to cut way down on carbs to help me lose weight, but it’s cutting into my vegetarian meal repertoire. IDEAS PLEASE!!
• I saved the worst for last. I did NOT find any time in the last TWO weeks to do anything nice for myself. No massage. No mani/pedi. A meeting for tomorrow was just cancelled. I’m going to keep the time for myself. I’ll let you know how it works out next week.