What We’re Lovin’ for July

What We're Lovin with Canola Eat Well | www.canolaeatwell.com

What Ellen’s Lovin

Vacuum Food Sealer

Our family loves to camp and I find it’s all in the preparation for a successful camping experience.  With having to keep all our perishable food in the cooler, using a vacuum food sealer ensures that there is no leakage (aka no cross contamination in the cooler) items stay frozen longer and it can be portion out.

What Jenn’s Lovin

Make and Take Frozen Marinated Meat Packs

Are you going camping, heading to the cabin or invited to a pot luck BBQ this summer? Here’s a quick make ahead solution that will have you wondering why you haven’t been doing this for years!

Pre-package your meat of choice (pork tenderloin, boneless skinless chicken thighs are my family favourites) in large resealable freezer bags into the portions needed or invest in a vacuum food sealer as loved above by Ellen. Before sealing your bags: Mix up your favourite canola oil based marinade, pour into the bags, seal and flatten. The flattened bag with thaw faster when you need it plus it stacks better. These easy to grab and go bags will have you spending more time on the beach and less time in the kitchen. 

Watch here to find out more and check out two of my favourite marinades below.

What Simone’s Lovin

Make-at-Home Aphid Spray

Aphids are usually 1-4 mm in size, yellow to green to black and colour, and they are found on a wide range of garden plants – roses, hibiscus, impatiens and vegetables to name a few.  When at their best, aphids will stunt the growth of the plant, distort or wilt the leaves, cause buds to drop, and can result in a poor flower and/or fruit yield. Aphids are plant suckers. They digest a plants sap to create a sweet residue called honeydew. This honeydew in turn attracts ants, who will then ‘farm’ the aphids in order to have them produce more honeydew. Ants will colonize the plants and will give the aphids protection and may, on occasion, pick up and carry the aphids all over the plant.

There are commercial products which will eliminate the aphids. But a bit of time, some garlic/chilies, canola oil and soap will do the deed, I am truly in love with this solution.

To make your own aphid spray:

100g of fresh garlic
100 g chilies (watch not to handle chilies and then rub your eyes)
30 mL (2 Tbsp) canola oil
30 mL (2 Tbsp) of liquid dish soap

Combine all ingredients and let sit for two days in the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter. Strain and pour into a labeled container. In a garden sprayer dilute the canola oil-soap solution with water in a ratio of 1 part oil to 50 parts water. For example: 5 mL  (1 tsp) solution to 250 mL (1 cup) water. Spray onto the affective plant(s).

Eat Well…Ellen, Jenn & Simone