Unofficial Sponsor:
CALGARY CO-OP HOLIDAY HACKS
Home to 2,400 local products
HOLIDAY HACKS Your Kitchen..............................................................................4 Finger Food Faves: Cranberry Swedish Meatballs..................4 Christmas Chocolate Bark...................................................................6 Crème Brûlée Double Cream Brie....................................................7 Chocolate Cutout Cookies for Kids................................................7 Pucker Up: Christmas Sour...................................................................8 Rise and Shine: Cozy Coffee...............................................................9 Your Home.................................................................................10 Holiday Hacks for the Host with the Most....................................10 Vintage Charm: DIY Spiced Citrus Garland.................................11 Unofficial Sponsor: Gingerbread House Magic.......................12 Make Your Own Bay Leaf Wreath.....................................................13 Natural Health..........................................................................14 Five Natural Ways to Cure The Seasonal Blues.......................14 Simple Substitutions for Dietary Restrictions...........................15 Unofficial Sponsor: Holiday Time Savers....................................16 Opportunities to Save............................................................17
No matter what’s on the menu, Calgary Co-op has you covered with quality local ingredients. Looking for a little inspiration? Tasty (and easy) recipes ahead!
Unofficial Sponsor: Perfect Pairings FINGER FOOD FAVES:
CRANBERRY SWEDISH MEATBALLS These festive morsels of holiday goodness will be sure to go fast around your holiday table.
How to Make It Perfectly Prepared Meatballs 1. Preheat oven to 400° F. 2. In a large bowl combine all the ingredients. Now portion the meatballs using a 1 ½ oz cookie scoop or approximately 2 tbsp. Roll each portion into a ball and place on a parchment lined sheet pan. 3. Bake in oven for 18-20 minutes until meatballs develop colour and reach 155° F.
4 | Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op
Cranberry Swedish Sauce
Did You Know? We sell only Alberta beef, chicken, and lamb. Ask our butchers for custom cuts!
4. In a large pan on medium heat, melt the butter and add the flour. Stir together to make a roux. Continue to cook until golden and starts to smell like almonds, about 5 minutes. 5. Put in the beef stock and continue to stir until it thickens into a gravy. Now put on low and stir in the sour cream and jelly. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. 6. Add the meatballs and let cook on low for at least 5 minutes. Garnish with the parsley and enjoy!
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Shopping List Perfectly Prepared Meatballs • 1 lb Ground Beef • 1/2 lb Ground Pork • 2 Large Cal & Gary’s Eggs • 3/4 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs • 3/4 Tsp Kosher Salt • 1/4 Tsp Pepper
Cranberry Sauce • 3 Tbsp Cal & Gary’s Butter • 2 Cups Beef Stock • 1/4 Cup Sour Cream • 2 Tbsp Cranberry Jelly • 3 Tbsp Parsley • Salt & Pepper
• 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder • 1 Tsp Onion Powder
Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op | 5
CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE BARK A simple, six-ingredient chocolate bark so crave-worthy, you won’t want to share.
How to Make It 1. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. 2. Melt chopped dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water. 3. Melt until almost all the chunks are gone, take off heat and continue stirring until smooth. 4. Spread into a parchment lined square pan, allow to set for 2 minutes (not all the way) then add your toppings. 5. Allow to chill on the table for 10 minutes then place in the freezer for 10 minutes to fully set. 6. Slice with a sharp chef’s knife or break with your hands to create shards.
Shopping List • 400 Grams Dark Chocolate, Chopped • 2 Tbsp Pumpkin Seeds • 1/4 Cup Candied Ginger, Sliced • 1/4 Cup Roasted Hazelnuts, Chopped • 2 Tbsp Dried Cranberries • Zest of 1 Orange, Patted Dry With Paper Towel
6 | Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op
CRÈME BRÛLÉE
TRIPLE CREAM BRIE Need we say more? Serve with a crusty baguette, or your choice of cracker or crudité. Best enjoyed with friends and family.
Shopping List
SEE PAGE 17 FOR COUPON
• 1 Wheel Founders & Farmers Triple Cream Brie • 2 Tbsp. Maple Sugar Or 1/2 Brown Sugar & 1/2 White Sugar
CHOCOLATE CUTOUT
COOKIES FOR KIDS!
How to Make It 1. Remove the rind from the top of the triple cream brie. Make sure to leave the sides and the bottom for structure. 2. Sprinkle the exposed top of triple cream brie with the sugar. 3. Caramelize the sugar with a torch or under the broiler on high.
Shopping List
Did You Know? We carry 150 varieties of cheese, including plant-based options, at our in-store islands!
• 1.5 Cups Sugar • 3 Large Cal & Gary's Eggs (Room Temp) • 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract • 3 Cups Robin Hood All Purpose Flour • 2/3 Cup Cocoa • 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder • 1/4 Tsp Salt • **Cookie Cutters
Get the recipe
Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op | 7
Unofficial Sponsor: Your Perfect Signature Cocktail
PUCKER UP:
CHRISTMAS SOUR This sour cocktail is sure to have you puckering up, just keep your eye out for mistletoe!
How to Make It 1. Fill a shaker with ice. 2. Add in whisky, lemon juice and strawberry purée. 3. Shake well until the outside of the shaker is cold. 4. Strain over an ice filled rocks glass. 5. Pour your favourite Shiraz over the whisky mixture. 6. Garnish with a lemon twist. Strawberry Purée 1. Strain 1 tbsp strawberry jam through a sieve to remove seeds. 2. Add lemon zest and juice to taste. 3. Stir well. 4. Refrigerate for up to 14 days or freeze for up to 6 months. 8 | Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op
You’ll Need: • 2.5 oz. of your favourite shiraz • 1 oz. Rye Whisky • 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice • 1 oz. Strawberry Purée • Garnish • Lemon Twist
You’ll Need • 1 oz. of your favourite vodka • 1 oz. Coffee Liqueur
UNOFFICIAL SPONSOR:
COZY COFFEE
Get up on the right side of the bed with a cozy coffee. Slippers and robe not included.
How to Make It Cozy Coffee 1. Fill a shaker with ice. 2. Add all ingredients and shake well. 3. Strain over ice into a rocks glass. 4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and coconut whipped cream. Spiced Coconut Milk 5. Heat all ingredients to a simmer over medium heat. 6. Reduce to low and simmer for 30 mins. 7. Strain and cool prior to use. 8. Refrigerate for up to 7 days.
• 1 oz. Double Strength Coffee (Regular coffee brewed with double the beans/grounds) • 1 oz. Spiced Coconut Milk Garnish • Coconut Whipped Cream (Optional) • Cinnamon Stick Spiced Coconut Milk • 1 15 oz Can Coconut Milk • 4 Cinnamon Sticks • 2 Whole Star Anise • 4 Cloves • Allspice Berries (or a pinch Allspice Powder)
Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op | 9
Get into the holiday spirit with these simple crafts and innovative ideas. Read on for family-friendly festive fun!
HOLIDAY HACKS FOR THE
HOST WITH THE MOST! Need to get your space ready for company?
Make the perfect holiday music playlist
Family or friends visiting?
Essential oils are great for cleaning - our Calgary Co-op Natural Choice section has what you need to get the job done!
Bring your party to life by creating a custom playlist in advance with the help of your guests. Send a playlist link along with your invite, so when the night comes you’ll have the perfect mix for the occasion.
Level up your turndown service if you’re hosting guests. Visit Calgary Co-op to create a ‘Welcome Basket’ with your favourite travel-size body wash, shampoos, and lotions. Add a bottle of Cal & Gary’s sparkling water and Farmers & Founders treats to say “welcome and enjoy”.
• Tea Tree Oil for cleaning • Peppermint Oil for polishing • Orange Oil for cutting grease With dozens of locations you can always visit your neighbourhood Calgary Co-op to speak to a Natural Choice advisor about natural cleaning methods and products. 10 | Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op
SEE PAGE 17 FOR COUPON
You’ll Need: • Assorted Oranges & Grapefruit • Cinnamon • Upholstery Needle & Twine • Cookie Rack • Cookie Sheet
VINTAGE CHARM:
DIY SPICED CITRUS GARLAND How to Make It 1. Cut fruit into ¼ inch slices. 2. Pat the fruit dry - it’s important to get as much juice off of the oranges/grapefruit as possible. Place fruit on parchment paper on your baking sheet. 3. Preheat the oven to 200° F. Bake for about three hours on the middle rack, making sure to flip halfway through. Check the fruit every 30 minutes to ensure they aren’t browning. 4. Allow fruit to cool completely on a wire rack. 5. Once the fruit slices are cooled and dry, use a toothpick to make two small holes through your fruit. String/jute/twine through the oranges to create a garland strand. Alternate between fruit and beads or other decor to customize your design. 6. Hang your garland and enjoy!
Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op | 11
GINGERBREAD LOAF & WARM DULCE DE LECHE APPLES Transform store bought Gingerbread Loaf into a finished dish that will wow your family and impress every guest who comes through your front door.
Get the recipe
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Think beyond the house - challenge yourself to construct a gingerbread lodge, farm, igloo or trailer to really impress!
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Don’t have time to bake? Great substitutions for gingerbread include graham crackers, wafers, or store bought cookies.
Food colouring is an easy way to add wow to your design by creating different shades of frosting.
12 | Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op
UNOFFICIAL SPONSOR:
GINGERBREAD
HOUSE MAGIC
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For a fun family activity, create a scale model of your home out of gingerbread. Assign each family member a detail, and re-create your home.
Up your game with tasty trimmings. Pretzels make a great picket fence, shredded wheat style cereal can double as a roof, licorice strips can become bricks and cinnamon sticks can serve as log piles. Finish it off with powdered sugar to give your scene a fresh snow look.
HACKS FOR BUDGETING DURING THE HOLIDAYS Looking to stretch your dollar this holiday season? Look no further than the spice aisle to create stunning DIY crafts and decor. • Pick up some cinnamon sticks, allspice and cloves to create a sachet for mulled wine, cider or potpourri. • Make star ornaments from whole anise, or make your own bay leaf wreath. Simply arrange fresh or dried bay leaves in bunches around a wreath form. Their dark green colour has a wholesome look and you can add ribbon, sprigs of winter berries or cranberries to give it a pop of colour.
Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op | 13
5 NATURAL WAYS
TO CURE THE SEASONAL BLUES Colder weather getting you down? Our Natural Choice advisors have you covered.
1. Pamper and revitalize
your skin with an at-home facial using natural skincare products guaranteed to suit every skin type. Derma E carries a great lineup of vitamin-infused products, or try Organika to add a collagenrich regime to your routine.
2. Sick of feeling tired? Our
in-store Natural Choice advisors can help you shore up your immunity by addressing multiple factors such as gut health, diet, stress reduction, natural supplements and more.
14 | Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op
3. Treat yourself to fresh
flowers from our local producers. Colourful blooms can brighten any space and mood.
4. Take back your
sleep with a personal assessment and learn about melatonin and other natural supplements available.
5.
Shake up your routine with a protein infusion. Protein shakes can help you meet your fitness goals, serve as a great dietary substitution and pack a powerful punch of energy.
FAMILY OR FRIENDS VISITING WITH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?
Cook and Bake with these simple substitutions: If your guest can’t have:
Try this instead:
Eggs
Unsweetened applesauce or a mashed banana
Milk/ Dairy
Oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk
Gluten
Coconut flour, rice flour, or almond meal flour
Nuts
Chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, or pretzels
Refined Sugar
Honey, agave, or maple syrup Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op | 15
UNOFFICIAL SPONSOR: HOLIDAY TIME SAVERS
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Cut down on prep time with Cal & Gary’s Ready to Steam Veggies, or try a ready-made Cal & Gary’s salad for a fresh, instant side dish.
Let us help do the Christmas baking! Pick up our legendary Christmas cake and Founders & Farmers holiday shortbread.
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Save time & shop online! Take advantage of our grocery delivery and pick-up so you can get your to-do’s done.
SEE PAGE 17 FOR COUPON
OPPORTUNITIES
TO SAVE
SAVE $1 ON EACH ITEM Valid Dec 2 - Dec 24, 2021 No copies, rain checks or substitutions. No cash value. Offer must be surrendered at time of purchase. Online coupon code must be entered at checkout.
Founders & Farmers Double Cream Brie
Founders & Farmers Shortbread 12s - Cranberry, Finger, Ice Box, Salted Carmel, Snowman
Cal & Gary’s Pecan Clusters
Holiday Hacks from Calgary Co-op | 17
Be a host with the most.
@CALGARYCOOP #UnofficialSponsor
