a peek inside the fishbowl

Do you:

a) live in Ottawa?

b) like food?

c) like good food?

d) like to eat good food and not break the bank?

e) like to discover new places to eat great food and not break the bank?

If any of the above apply, HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU.

The new edition of CheapEats Ottawa is out. Woot! And I gotta tell you, this edition totally smokes. (And I’m not just saying that because I was a contributor.) 

CheapEats Ottawa is the authoritative guide to great and inexpensive dining in Ottawa.  But perhaps you know that already. But what you might not know is there is a book launch and you all (*insert sweeping motion of arm here*) are invited. You will have an opportunity to eat, drink and be merry with the editor, the contributors, and other fans and foodies in the Ottawa area.

Here’s the official word:

Be one of the first to get your hands on this handy new edition to eating great food for less in Ottawa. Join us at the East African Restaurant on Wed. February 13th, 2008 and check out the new edition of CheapEats Ottawa, talk restaurants, food and Ottawa while you sample East African ‘s great appetizers and Beau’s Lug-Tread Lager with our contributors, celebrities, friends and restaurateurs. RSVP here. More details here.

You must RSVP because space is limited. Mark your calendars and come out and show your support. I hope to see you there!

I love Winterlude. We go every year. It happens at just the right time, don’t you think? The days are getting a little longer and a little brighter, the sun is a wee bit warmer, and most importantly, the arrival of Winterlude means that Spring (SPRING!) is finally within sight. (!)

I wrote about Winterlude in my latest piece for SavvyMom. BUT, I also did something a little different this time. I also included a recipe for maple syrup taffy. We tested it here last week. I gotta tell you, this one is a keeper. Hoo boy, was it good. Too good. And I didn’t realize it was So Easy.

To summarize: you boil the maple syrup, pour it on the snow, eat.

The girls were amazed at my culinary prowess. And they made a very important discovery: MUMMY CAN MAKE CANDY!

Emma eagerly packed snow in a big tray. Mark and I did the boiling because I was deathly afraid the kids would stick their fingers in the boiling syrup:

Here’s Mark, post-boiling, pouring the stuff on the snow (he poured it a little too thickly for my liking, but it still turned out ok) :

And here’s the aftermath. I told them this was the ONLY TIME they could eat yellowish snow:

Now if I could teach myself how to make a beaver tail…

I read somewhere that the reason more women haven’t bought into the whole natural/organic cleaning product thing is because (a) they are brand loyal and (b) they don’t think their natural counterparts actually work.

If you are (a) at all concerned about the harmful chemicals you’re bringing into your home or (b) have any niggling worries about pollution/water quality, I bet you are the kind of person who is ready to take the plunge and try one natural cleaning product.

Are you game?

Okay. This is the one you should try first:

Toilet bowl cleaner

I reflected on this as I squirted some Nature Clean All-Natural toilet bowl cleaner into the upstairs toilet yesterday.

It didn’t have an unnatural colour (it was clear!), it didn’t have a skull and crossbones printed on the label, nor was I concerned about any of it coming into contact with my skin… and you know what, it did what it was supposed to do: clean my toilet.

I flushed.

The regular stuff, the strong smelling bright blue or green gels that many people dump into their toilets is terrible, terrible stuff. You wouldn’t wash your face with it, or soak your fingers in it, so why use it? I used to use it regularly. I never let my kids come near the stuff because I was so afraid of it. The chemical smell alone was enough for me to banish my kids from the bathroom while I scrubbed. I was afraid for their brain cells.

So why wasn’t I afraid for mine?

Did you know that some products contain ingredients that are carcinogenic, and can mess with your reproductive system?

Did you know that manufacturers aren’t required to disclose the ingredients of their products?

Did you know there are some areas that don’t treat sewage wastewater before it is discharged into the ocean?

(FYI, here’s a good little article about green cleaning products, and it includes price comparisons.)

I am a woman on a mission. If I could convince ten people (10!) to exchange their regular Lysol/Clorox/2000Flushes for something more natural and less toxic, I would consider this a successful post. :) In return, your toilet bowl will be fresh and clean as your conscience, and your home won’t smell like a chemical factory.

What say you? Can you take this small step and add it to this week’s grocery list? Let me know in the comments below.