St. Mary's Nursery & Garden Centre Holiday 2015

HOLIDAY 2015

ST. MARY’S NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE

2901 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg

AVAILABLE AT

Available at St. Mary’s. While supplies last.

Contents

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The Chef Parsons Project:

Creating the perfect appetizers for your holiday cocktail party

Christmas Gifts We Love Create a Unique Christmas Holiday Palette Tips for Hosting a Cocktail Party The Chef Parsons Project Stay Energized During the Winter Months Decorating your Christmas Mantle Fabulous Fall & Winter Fashions Extraordinary Christmas Greens

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20 This publication may not be reproduced, all or in part, without written consent from the publisher and St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content in the publication, however, the publisher will not be held accountable for omissions or errors. Note that products may vary between retailers and regions, and supplies may be limited. Pricing is subject to change and is not valid with any other offer. Home & Garden Showplace is a registered trade mark for use by its members, of which the Garden Centre Group Co-Op is an alliance member. Photo credit to Proven Winners® for a selection of photos provided to this magazine.

4 • St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre - 2901 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg - 204-255-7353 - stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca

Owners FROM THE

Each theme sparkles the imagination. Browsing through departments from fresh cut trees and greens, to the tropical house which are artfully accented with colourful poinsettias.

Not just “gifts for the gardener,” St. Mary’s offers a selection of clothes and jewellery for the fashion conscience lady, as well as those with a unique taste in foods and décor.

Our decorated trees have been enjoyed annually by families for over 30 years as our growing displays extend from the exterior to the interior of our buildings. We invite you to our special events over the holidays. Mark your calendars for our sleigh rides, visits with Santa and our famous Ladies Night.

Ken and I welcome you to our relaxing atmosphere of our greenhouse. Sip on a sampling of hot apple cidar, and enjoy your time with us.

‘Tis the season for family and fun.

M

oving into winter St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre transitions to a tranquil setting of festive displays.

Our greenhouses express holiday celebration with the ambience of décor.

A collection of more than 25 decorated trees take you on a journey through themes, colours, and styles coordinating in fashion from elegance to bold, classical to whimsy.

Ken Land

Carla Hrycyna

HOLIDAY 2015 • 5

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Events CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 11TH, 2015

DECEMBER 6TH, 2015 Family Day at St. Mary’s Nursery. Bring the family to our holiday event. From 12:30 – 3:30 pm: you may enjoy a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus (with a $10 donation you may have your photo taken with Santa & Mrs. Claus).

Stroll outdoors after your photo, sit by the bonfire while until our team of Clydsdale horses pull up for another sleigh ride through our acreages (free sleigh rides).

Remembrance Day - With respect for the holiday, St. Mary’s Nursery will be closed.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2015

Christmas Open House - Welcome to the launch of our holiday season. St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre’s display of 25+ themed trees dressed beautifully in a garden setting.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2015

Family Day at St. Mary’s Nursery. Bring the family to our holiday event. From 12:30 – 3:30 pm: you may enjoy a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus (with a $10 donation you may have your photo taken with Santa & Mrs. Claus).

Stroll outdoors after your photo, sit by the bonfire while until our team of Clydsdale horses pull up for another sleigh ride through our acreages (free sleigh rides).

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2015

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH

Ladies Night - Holiday Style. Don’t miss our famous Ladies Night event. It is our NO PST/NO GST event of the season. Learn what’s happening in holiday style.

An evening of fun with friends.

Family Day at St. Mary’s Nursery. Bring the family to our holiday event. From 12:30 – 3:30 pm: you may enjoy a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus (with a $10 donation you may have your photo taken with Santa & Mrs. Claus).

Stroll outdoors after your photo, sit by the bonfire while until our team of Clydsdale horses pull up for another sleigh ride through our acreages (free sleigh rides).

Classes FESTIVE CONTAINERS

Outdoor Winter Arrangements - Bring in your favourite container to dress up with boughs, berries, branches and accessories. Beautiful to accent your home for the holidays. Registration $25.00 to reserve your spot and is to be used as a credit to product purchases.

Class dates: November, 24th, 28th, December 1st & 2nd.

FESTIVE WREATHS

Join a class to learn the technique to creating a fresh festive wreath for the holiday season that you may hang indoors or out. Registration $25.00 to reserve your spot and is to be used as a credit to product purchases.

Class dates: November 30th & December 5th.

CALL FOR TIMES: 204-255-7353 6 • St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre - 2901 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg - 204-255-7353 - stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca

Entertaining Foods

AT ST. MARY’S NURSERY

N

ovember through the New Year brings festivities to a crescendo. Family and friends come together to celebrate the year past well into the oncoming new one. In celebrations small and large food is in the midst of these revelries, enjoyed by all the ages. Sweet to savory, foods have a comforting charm. Traditionally, offerings from

Maggie and Mary’s Maggie and Mary’s soups began in their mother’s and grandmother’s home. For 20 years their easy and convenient gourmet recipes have been enjoyed. Commitment to great taste is revealed in their motto “Everything is life should be this good, and this easy.”

Family size soup blends from Creamy Wild Rice to Roasted Garlic Potato; you will want soup every night.

Chef Marla – Shit Spices Please excuse the name until you understand the meaning behind these culinary spices. We too, were taken aback when first presented with this product. Popularity of this spice for its complimentary aspect OR the comical name “No shit, Chicken shit, Bull shit etc…..” it possess.

What is “Super Shit-arein”?

Why such a “dirty” word to describe this delicious spice?

Well, it isn’t actually a dirty word in Yiddish. Chef Marla’s great grandmother cooked solely by the Yiddish “Shit-arein” method, which translated means, “to throw a little of this and a little of that” …. and it’s a method of cooking that she continues to use to this day.

cooked casseroles to desserts are passed from home to home.

Trending are entertaining foods with a uniqueness, perfect for creating an appetizing gift basket.

St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre’s kitchen and gourmet niches have choice selections from gourmet to gadgets. Enjoy creating your own gift baskets or ask us about custom orders.

Sweet Shop Truffles Gorgeously sweet, decadent and beautiful handmade truffles.

Summerland Sweets Nestled in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Summerland Sweet jams, jellies and syrups convey the true tastes of peach, cherry, apricot, blueberry. Fall through winter, their syrups and jams have the freshness of top quality tree and vine ripened fruit picked at the peak of maturity.

HOLIDAY 2015 • 7

YOUR LIFE | YOUR ST YLE

WALLS • PATIOS • DRIVEWAYS • WALKS

WWW.HARDSCAPES.CA 204-997-8663 Suite 213, 23-845 Dakota Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R2M 5M3

Available at Select Garden Centres

HOLIDAY 2015 • 9

Flickering Candles Canvas Print

Hanging a canvas on your wall that portrays Christmas will help get everyone in the holiday spirit! The candles hanging in this print add warmth to your home – you can blow them out to turn off!

Special Price $29.99

Christmas Gifts Jewellery & Watches

Jolly Snow Children Figurines These festive, jolly figurine children in the snow are cute, playful and make the perfect gift for anyone that loves to decorate.

Special Price $69.99 each. 50 cm high.

Love... we

Every woman loves to receive a little bling. Perfect for the holidays or any special occasion. Necklace & Earring Set $34.99, Bracelet $14.99, Watches $19.99 and up.

Holiday Lanterns

Lanterns are cozy, decorative, inviting and are available in many shapes, sizes and colours.

Try something new by putting your lanterns on your front porch, or setting them on your dining room table. A flameless timer candle will add the finishing touch to this great gift.

Available at select Garden Centres. *Styles may vary by store.

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Amaryllis in Santa Sack

Fantastic Christmas bulb that will grow into a beautiful red Amaryllis. This makes a fantastic hostess gift for the holidays.

Special Price $14.99, while supplies last.

Cranberry

LUV my Lug

Function, Fashion and Colour, Lug bags are designed for women, men & families on the go. Perfect gift for holiday travelers and day to day life.

Ocean

Sophisticated Indoor Christmas Planter An indoor planter with a poinsettia, decorative trim and a beautiful pot will accentuate the home during the holiday season.

Gift Cards The gift for someone who has everything!

Trend Setting Boot Socks

The ideal gift for the trendy fashion forward woman. Many styles and colours are available to choose from.

Welcome Planter Filled with Christmas Foliage Accenting your front porch will let your neighborhood know you’re serious about the holiday season. Add a bow, berries, and pinecones, and you’re ready to go!

Available at select Garden Centres. *Styles may vary by store.

HOLIDAY 2015 • 11

Create A

Unique

Christmas Holiday Palette

By Martha Vandepol

A

n emerging trend this holiday season is using colour palettes to decorate Christmas trees and rooms in your home. Break out of the traditional red and green colour scheme with some unique and original hues that will wow family and friends. It may seem daring to aim for brown instead of red, or blue instead of green, but experimenting with some of these colours can be very rewarding.

Choosing a colour palette for holiday decorating may seem a daunting task but it is actually quite simple. One method is to select the colours from some of your favourite décor items in your main living space – maybe a silver champagne bucket, a velvety blue throw, or an antique wine goblet from your grandmother. By combining the tones from various rooms, you will create a palette cohesive with your current décor. Take these items with you as you shop for holiday ribbon, ornaments, silk flowers and additional Christmas decorations so that you can match new with existing items.

Keep an eye out for colour combinations that catch your attention, whether it is in home décor, fashion clothing or holiday decorations. As you do your holiday shopping, there may be one particular Christmas tree that takes your breath away. Focusing on the colours of that particular display will give you a colour palette that you are instinctively drawn towards.

Maybe it is a romantic combination of rich red, deep burgundy, and shiny and glittering gold that creates the elegance and beauty of this grouping that you love. Use some artificial poinsettia stems, berry sprays and holly ornaments to emphasize the gorgeous heritage of this holiday scheme. You can coordinate your current holiday decorations to work with these hues, adding the additional colour elements with new items.

Ask for assistance at your favourite shop when creating a new colour scheme. Most Christmas stores will have qualified design staff that can assist you in transitioning your current palette to a new, refreshing arrangement. Let them know your overall décor colour and they can make suggestions on how to update it. For example, adding silver to an already gold décor will create a mixed metallic modern palette. Even adding some black tones, such as lanterns, or velvet black ribbon, will add to this subtle 12

but sophisticated look. When the lights and candles are lit, these colours will shine throughout the evening. Another emerging trend is a combination of layered green, birch white and browns such as those found in burlap, fresh holiday foliage, owls and all things natural. These earthy accents blend well with all wood and beige tones, and bring an organic, trendy, upscale look to seasonal décor. This vintage colour palette is warm, welcoming and lends nicely with existing country décor.

Don’t be afraid to search your favorite colours online or on Pinterest. By typing in your wall paint colour, you will probably see some complementary hues featured on any given website. Creating a Christmas Palette board on Pinterest will group all your favourite ideas together. Take a look at them to find the common colour theme, style or decorating idea that you love. Save these ideas on your phone or tablet and take them with you when doing your decoration or ornament shopping so you have a quick and easy reference when you need it.

Your new colour scheme for Christmas decorations should seamlessly fit your home décor colour scheme to create a complete and harmonious look. Don’t be afraid to pack away holiday decorations for a few years because they just don’t fit this year; when they re-emerge, they will look fresh and welcome once again. By using these tips to create a colour palette that is uniquely yours, you will be inspired to create stunning and beautiful holiday décor this Christmas season.

HOLIDAY 2015 • 13

Tips for Hosting a

C ocktail Party

By Donna Moss

T

he Christmas season is almost upon us! There are many people out there who love the opportunity to show their creative flair and host their own cocktail party for family and friends alike. We have compiled some helpful tips to help make your party the talk of the town – whether you are a veteran planner or you plan to test your hand for the first time this year.

A cocktail party during the festive season is always a great way to see family and friends. You can choose to invite your closest friends for a more intimate gathering, or keep the invitation open for visitors travelling into town this time of year. Extending the invitation to those visitors is a great way to meet new people. The more the merrier!

An elaborate and elegant table should be the focal point of your party. Decide if you want your guests to walk around the table or whether to push it against the wall to make it one sided. If you choose to centre the entire table, put down glass 14

tiles, add fresh garland down the middle and use candles to add ambience to the room. Adding holly and red berries to the garland will give your display a beautiful pop of colour.

For a more formal party, gold or silver accents will give a sophisticated look to your table. You can decorate with more height if a table is pushed against a wall, as the decorations will be placed at the back of the table. Using inexpensive glass blocks to elevate candlesticks, silver reindeer and other holiday dĂŠcor will certainly make your table extraordinary.

Choosing the right menu for any event can cause anyone some stress. A simple guideline for choosing the right menu for your party is that younger crowds love to eat, while older crowds love to nibble. If you choose to go with hors d’oeuvres, choose six or seven that are easy to prepare before hand or only require easy last minute heating, slicing or arranging.

Time your appetizers throughout the evening instead of preparing everything for the start of your event.

Presentation is everything, so jazz up your platters of food with a touch of holly, a Christmas ornament or some festive foliage. Change up those vegetables by placing them in glasses lined with dip to allow for smaller portion sizes. Another option would be to take small vases and use a separate one for each type of vegetable. Arrange the vases in a straight line with the dip in front of the vegetables for a presentation that is functional and beautiful all at the same time.

Napkins are a must at any party, but don’t go for plain, boring red. Find some with a Christmas scene that will match your décor. You can even bring some humour to your table with napkins with fun sayings on them to make your guests chuckle. Something like “It’s the holiday season, let the overeating begin!”

The drink station is a popular place at any party. You can create a signature drink to surprise your guests and make sure that your bar is stocked with a nice mix so your guests can choose their own. A nice treat for everyone is a pitcher of water with a mixture of fruit and mint leaves for those that prefer nonalcoholic beverages. This will also allow all your guests to stay hydrated during the party. Tie a different holiday decoration on

each glass or write names with a washable marker so guests can use the same glass throughout the evening.

Because everyone loves sweets, an elaborately decorated dessert bar is a great way to end the evening.

Small bite sized options including chocolates, fresh fruit and even vases filled with candies will make this a delectable area. Provide fresh coffee, hot apple cider or hot chocolate as a great finishing touch. Embellishing your tables with silver platters, votive and floating candles and fresh cedar will make this a destination station.

As your guests are getting ready to leave, make sure that you extend your personal holiday greetings as they depart. This allows you to ensure that they are safe to drive home, and gives you an opportunity to give them a parting Christmas gift.

A small ornament, scented pinecone or holiday scented candle will ensure that they remember your fantastic event!

Most of all, enjoy your evening. Everyone is there to have fun, socialize and spend time with each other. Using these tips will ensure that you’re remembered as the hostess with the mostest!

FA M I LY FA V O U R I T E

Holiday Wassail 1 gallon apple cider 1 cup brown sugar 6 oz. lemon juice 6 oz. frozen concentrated orange juice 1 tbsp ground nutmeg 1 tbsp whole cloves 1 tbsp whole allspice 4 to 6 cinnamon sticks 2 cups brandy 1 cup vodka 1 bottle sherry wine Combine all ingredients except the last three ingredients.

Bring to a hard simmer. Simmer for 1 hour.

Add the last three ingredients. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Scoop out the spices and serve in glass mugs with cinnamon sticks and fresh orange slices. This recipe can be refrigerated and served cold as well.

Little Quick Fire® HOLIDAY 2015 • 15

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HOLIDAY 2015 • 17

complicating it. I’ll buy chorizo sausage and just chop it into chunks, maybe some prosciutto, and my parfait. On a separate board I’ll do five different cheeses; on yet another board I’ll do a spread of different vegetables; I’ll also do some hot food. Something I’ve been serving lately is a sumac and panko crusted shrimp, which is really easy: take some sumac and panko in a bowl, add some herbs and toss some tiger shrimp in it.

Double bread them so they’ve got a nice crust on them, and then just throw them in the freezer. I’ll do that two days before my party and then when guests come over I’ll pop them into the deep fryer and, boom, you’re done! Now you’re offering your guests meat, seafood, vegetables, cheeses – it gives you a nice selection.

The Chef Parsons Project:

Creating the perfect appetizers for your holiday cocktail party

By Jeff Cleaver The holidays are here, that special time of year filled with friends, family, and of course, food - lots and lots of delicious food! The merriment isn’t complete without your annual holiday cocktail party and hosting it means asking those time-old questions: What appetizers do I serve?

How do I serve them? And how do I ensure that my guests enjoy themselves while ensuring I still get to enjoy their company?

I chatted with renowned chef and TV personality, Jason Parsons, to find out what the professionals are serving for their holiday cocktail appetizers, and I’ve got good news: you can feed your guests like the pros while still having a great time! Chef Parsons is here to tell you how.

Q: People don’t want to be stuck in a chair at holiday cocktail parties while they eat. What’s an appetizer that can keep up with the party?

Chef Parsons: I like the idea of picking at finger foods, so I always do boards and things like that. I’ve had a signature chicken liver parfait that I’ve done at [Peller Estates Winery Restaurant] for 10 years now and in the last couple of years I make it every time that I have a party at home.

It’s a really flavourful, impactful dish that’s also familiar and not too intimidating. I can put out all different types of food and everyone always gathers around that parfait. If I have time, I’ll make myself a little relish or chutney to go along with it, or I’ll just hit up one of the specialty stores to pick up a preserve; for my last party I picked up a sort of merlot-shallot jam that went really well with it. We do an ice wine reduction in there but people at home don’t have to do that.

Q: How many different appetizers are needed to please most guests?

Chef Parsons: You always wonder “How am I going to get a balanced meal out of it?” I’ll do charcuterie boards, again without over

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It also depends on the size of the group: if it’s a larger group I’ll do that kind of stuff, but if it’s a smaller group I’ve done some fun last minute things too. I’ve been experimenting with pizzas all winter and had some friends over. I had all of these [pizza] toppings prepped, so while my guests were there we’d roll out some pizza dough and I’d be like “Ok! What do we want on this one?” We’d put on a bit of this and a bit of that and cut them into small pieces for everyone to pick at. When there’s a chance to customize what you’re eating people get really excited about the food.

Q: What kind of ingredients do you gravitate towards during the holidays?

Chef Parsons: I tend to get into lots of brussels sprouts and things like that. I’ve gotten away from putting things on a cracker – the old standard canapés – because it’s just so boring.

I make a “Bubble & Squeak”: It’s literally just bacon, chopped brussels sprouts, and some potatoes and you just fry it and chop it up pretty fine. Then cut some baguette on a really aggressive angle, rub it with some garlic and truffle oil, and put [the baguette] in a panini press to create these warm, sort of crustads. You simply put some of that [Bubble & Squeak] on the baguette and you’re done.

Q: Sorry…did you just say “Bubble & Squeak”?

Interesting name.

Chef Parsons: Yeah, well it’s a bit of a refined version of it, but in

England, where I grew up, there’s a traditional dish called Bubble & Squeak. Everyone eats roasts in England – that’s pretty much all we ever do! So it’s the leftover roast, leftover vegetables, and leftover potatoes chopped up and then you fry it up and it is really great!

Q: What are your favourite time-saving techniques for Christmas cocktail appetizers?

Chef Parsons: When doing a dinner party I want to be doing two –

maybe three, maximum – things on the night of. Something that I find always works well [for saving time] is mini-pulled pork. You can get those mini buns and you either make your pulled pork or buy it, put it on the stove – it’s done. When someone’s ready to eat you put some of the pulled pork on the bun with a bit of mustard and serve them.

That way if you’ve got 40 people coming but only five arrive at first you’re not worried about things getting cold; whatever you can do in advance, the better.

Q: What is a fairly safe wine pairing to serve before dinner if you’re serving multiple appetizers?

Chef Parsons: I would serve our Peller Estates Ice Cuvee. It’s a sparkling wine, so it truly pairs with almost any type of food.

Q: Everyone has a favourite holiday dessert. What’s yours and why?

Chef Parsons: Well, I’m a junk food guy – I really am! But I’ve always loved the traditional trifle and holiday squares – equivalent to [Canada’s] Millionaire’s Shortbread Bars – that my mum used to make, which is why I’ve put them in my cook book.

If I was doing a party, miniature-trifles are always fun. I make them in little dishes so everyone has their own to eat and you can put oranges in there - all of that feels very Christmassy to me.

Q: You’re a renowned chef at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s premier dining destination (Peller Estates Winery Restaurant), a longtime TV icon on City TV’s CityLine, and co-author of 3 Chefs: The Kitchen Men. What can fans expect to see next from Chef Jason Parsons?

Chef Parsons: Well, it never stops down here, I can tell you that! We

have the fine dining experience at the Peller Estates Winery Restaurant, which is focused on farm-to-table tasting menus and local ingredients, but this year we opened The Barrel House Grill, which is my project right now.

We partnered with Alfresco Grills and Natural Landscapes Design and built this beautiful outdoor restaurant - it’s off the charts! It has a prototype custom pizza oven and massive barbecue. We’re doing thin crust Italian-style pizzas, my signature burgers, playing around with poutine - and I’m making my own sausages too, which were inspired by a NYC restaurant called DBGB Kitchen & Bar by Chef Daniel Boulud. What I love about that restaurant is that it holds that gourmet, fine detail approach, but applied to comfort bar foods. He has a sausage menu there and I was like “oh man, I’ve got to do this!”

So, at Barrel House Grill we have a balsamic lamb and mint sausage, we have an apple chardonnay pork sausage, we have a wild boar and cabernet sausage, and we make all of those in-house. They’re for sharing around the table and I just love that.

I’ve discovered that I can share what I do at home: things that aren’t too hoity-toity, finicky or overwhelming for people. In a way, it feels like I’m bringing CityLine to the winery! When you come here you can sit down in the [Winery Restaurant] and have a 7-course tasting menu, sampling the best-of-the-best, or you can sit outside at The Barrel House Grill, have a glass of wine, some sausages, and poutine!

Well. I’m starving now!

Chef Parsons: Good! We’re open! Come on down!

About Chef Jason Parsons Executive Chef, TV Personality, Author

In a word, Parsons describes his career as “blessed”. Since his apprenticeship under Chef Nigel Didcock at the age of 14, Parsons has used his resume to hone his craft and satiate his curiosity for cuisines by working in some of the industry’s most illustrious kitchens: Chewton Glen, Cliveden Hotel in Britain, Waterloo House in Bermuda, Hillebrand Winery Restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as Executive sous Chef at Biff’s in Toronto and was integral in the opening of Langdon Hall in 1989, which is now considered one of Canada’s top restaurants.

As a sage to his students, Chef Parsons relays that which has served him well: “If there are chefs that you’re interested in, go and work for them. Go and learn different styles of food by working with different chefs. If you were in university and you wanted to learn history, you’d take a history course; if it’s economics, you’d take an economics course and so it is with cooking. I wanted to learn French cuisine so I went…to England!

But I sought out a French chef that I wanted to work for and I learned

Signature Icewine Chicken Parfait Ingredients: 300 grams chicken livers 240 ml Vidal Icewine ½ cup shallots 1 clove garlic – peeled 2 sprigs thyme 3 whole eggs 300 grams unsalted butter Method: Place shallots, garlic and Icewine in a pot and reduce until dry. Meanwhile bring the livers, eggs and butter up to room temperature. Now puree in a high speed blender and season.

Pass through a medium strainer and pour into ceramic terrine moulds. Cook in a water bath at 275 ºF. Cook until the mixture starts to tighten up (approx 45 minutes to an hour). Just like crème brulee. Allow to cool and then chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours to firm up. Serve once chilled.

Recipe by Jason Parsons Executive Chef / Peller Estates Winery Restaurant

about his food; when I wanted to discover North American cuisine I went to Chicago and worked with Chef Charlie Trotter; when I wanted to learn about the ocean and all of the beautiful fish, I worked and lived in Bermuda for a year and a half.”

Chef Parsons keeps his palette excited through travel on a more leisurely basis now. After many years of traveling the world’s cuisines, Chef Parsons says it was time to come home: “Even though I wasn’t born here, Canada is my home. I’m a true Canadian. I’ve found paradise: the Niagara region, which is so well known for its grape-growing climate is equally amazing at growing incredible produce. My restaurant is all about taking advantage of the region – we literally write our tasting menus everyday from what’s coming in the backfields of local farmers.”

“It’s a good life. It’s a busy one, but it’s a good life.”

- Chef Jason Parsons.

Chef Jason Parsons is Executive Chef at Peller Estates Winery Restaurant, TV personality on CityLine, and co-author of 3 Chefs: The Kitchen Men.

HOLIDAY 2015 • 19

StayENERGIZED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS

s a nutritionist, one of the biggest complaints I hear from my clients throughout the winter is that as summer fades away, so does their energy. All of a sudden, their carb cravings hit in full force, and they’re lucky if they make it to the gym once a week.

A

This year, that doesn’t have to be the case for you. Here are five tips to keep you energized during the winter months:

1) Get Your Vitamin D

With Canadian temperatures dipping so low in the winter, it can be easy to want to stay bundled up inside. The problem with this is that not getting outside prevents you from getting any vitamin D. In addition, depending on where you live, it may not be sunny during the winter months, so even if you are outside, you may be lacking adequate amounts of the sunshine vitamin. Vitamin D is closely linked with mood, and those with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to experience depression, a disorder that can result in low energy.

Grassroots Health recommends 8,000 iU/day of vitamin D for an adult, and the liquid form of vitamin D3 is best.

2) Move Your Body

You probably already know that exercise is good for a whole host of conditions like weight loss, heart disease and sleep, but it will also boost your energy.

Researchers at the University of Georgia found that sedentary, healthy people who engaged in as little as twenty minutes of exercise, three days a week over a six week period, experienced a boost in energy and reported less fatigue compared to those who stayed sedentary.

3) Eat Enough Protein

In order to keep your cravings down and your energy up, make sure you’re eating enough protein. By starting the day off with a protein smoothie, or eggs, you will naturally avoid dips in your energy. For lunch, rather than opting for pasta or a sandwich, try having a green salad with roasted root vegetables, avocado and a small baked chicken breast. According to Chinese medicine, the roasted root vegetables have a warming effect on the body, which is important in the cooler months. Also, the lack of bread will help you avoid the dreaded afternoon slump.

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4) Go Easy On The Coffee

This one might sound counterintuitive, as caffeine boosts your energy, right? Well, caffeine boosts your energy in the very short term; but in large quantities, and combined with stress, it can actually tax your adrenal glands, resulting in sluggish energy all day long and disrupted sleep, particularly in the 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. timeframe. Slowly reduce your coffee intake and replace your coffee with green tea, a drink that still has some caffeine to boost your energy, but that also has a calming effect at the same time.

5) Do Something You Enjoy

Last, but certainly not least, don’t underestimate the energizing effect that doing something you really love can have. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and life in general. Aim to take 30 minutes out of your day every single day to do something you love, whether that’s reading a book, going for a walk or calling a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.

I hope these five tips help you stay energized over the winter.

For more health tips like these and a free energy boosting meal plan, visit my website at www.healthyeatingandliving.ca.

Mandy King, CNP, is a Holistic Nutritionist and the founder of HEAL (www.healthyeatingandliving.ca), the popular blog dedicated to having you looking and feeling amazing with food.

A diagnosed celiac, Mandy focuses on improving digestion, boosting energy and gaining more balance in life, through mouth-watering gluten free and dairy free recipes.

DECO R AT I N G YO UR

Christmas Mantle

M

antles are the heart of any home - an area to show off your collection of photos, memorabilia from vacations, beautiful bouquets of flowers and flickering candles on ornate candlesticks. The holidays are the perfect time to show off your festive flair for decorating and to pull out all the stops to make your mantle a Christmas masterpiece.

By Ruth Van Belle

will best be showcased, based on preference. Place ornaments in vases randomly or in such a way that invokes memories of Christmas past.

If you are not sure about glitter, a traditional mantle may be the perfect solution. Place your garland down the centre of your mantle, add your micro lights, and place some of your most treasured figurines such as Santas or reindeer throughout.

Another option is pulling out your Santa photos from years gone by and placing them on the mantle. Intermingle garland throughout these pieces. You can also add medium size pinecones or red berries and tuck them into the garland. This creates a beautiful traditional mantle.

If you still are not sure what to do with your mantle, Pinterest and many holiday issues of magazines are a great place to gather some ideas. You may not see exactly what you want to create, but it may provide you with direction and inspiration.

Now that your mantle is done, finish off your fireplace. Beautiful poinsettias in large baskets set on each side of the hearth are a perfect finishing touch.

Candlescape mantles are beautifully romantic and set the mood for Christmas. To create this effect you need clear vases and floating candles. Use as many vases and as much or little variation in style as you like. The first step is dressing up your vases. Add gold or silver balls to the bottom of the vases, varying the amount to give dimension and different amounts of “glitter.” Fill your vases with water leaving approximately 2” from the rim. If Christmas balls are not your style, you can add food colouring to the water or leave as is. Once all vases are decorated to your liking, place the largest vase in the middle of the mantle and place the others surrounding the focal point.

Once your mantle is exactly how you like it, take your floating candle by the wick and gently place it into the water so as to not get the wick wet.

Last but not least, take the time to enjoy what you have created and the memories you will make this Christmas season. The first step is to turn the lights down, turn the Christmas lights on, put the music on low, grab your favourite beverage and let the Spirit of Christmas flow through you.

Another elegant mantle can be created using Christmas balls, ornaments or even beautiful vintage and heirloom pieces, along with glass pedestal vases. Place garland down the centre of your mantle and add Christmas lights. Battery operated micro lights with a timer are perfect for this. Once you have added your garland and lights, place your vases anywhere on your mantle. Some examples of vase placement are going from taller to smaller, or placing vases in such a way that your ornaments

HOLIDAY 2015 • 21

Fabulous FALL & WINTER FASHIONS

F

ashion is truly becoming seasonless. Women want to introduce lighter colours to their winter wardrobes, which is changing our perception of seasons and colours.

Lighter colours, transparency and cutouts are new for fall/winter 2015-16.

Summer pastels are now becoming staples in our winter wardrobe.

When discussing fall 2015 fashion trends, it becomes evident that designers are focusing everything around the 60s and 70s, and the cold weather! Most of the country experienced record breaking freezing temperatures last winter and we need to be kept warm and cozy, but still look stylish.

The 70s mod, and hippie inspiration, gives us a good dose of nostalgia, with the right touch of femininity with collared tops, flouncy skirts, ruffles on blouses and low stacked heels. The 70s vibe will remind some of us of disco, and Saturday Night Fever, as suede, flares and boho chic are everywhere this fall.

Groovy baby‌can you dig it?

This season, earthy neutrals are combined with bold patterns emphasizing burnt oranges, olive greens and browns. Marsala, a warm winey red-brown, was the pantone colour of the year for 2015. Flattering against many skin tones, marsala pairs well with neutrals, such as warmer taupes and grays.

Fringe has been refined this season, and really is quite a lovely, flirty trend. It adds a shimmy to each step and will be found on everything from dresses and tops to capes and ankle boots.

Important shapes and accents to keep in mind for fall – high necks (funnel and mock), collarless coats, velvet and embellishments, multi materials and metallic details.

22

Fashion Trend Alert #1: Have Fun with Tights

Fashion Trend Alert #4: Ribbed & Cable Knits

Tights covered the legs of models during fashion week.

Whether you pick simple black thick tights, fishnets, patterned or fleece lined, they are a great accessory to wear under a tunic, long chunky sweater or even a cocktail dress. Tights are a great way to keep your legs warm this winter!

Prepare to get cozy this fall/winter season with an amazing selection of ribbed, cable knit Fair Isle and jacquard sweaters.

The selection is endless. From round necks to turtlenecks, fringe detail, asymmetric hemlines, to cropped and oversized - you are sure to find many fabulous sweaters to keep you warm this season.

Fashion Trend Alert #2: Capes & Ponchos Fashionistas are not superheroes, but we sure love the capes and ponchos, and are rocking the look!

This season you will see dressy, and casual, styles to wear to work, run errands in or even to a fancy cocktail party. The style is not only functional, but also fashionable, and should be an outerwear staple in every girl’s closet.

Fashion Trend Alert #3: Mad for Plaid Super saturated colour palettes add vibrancy to the check and plaid patterns for fall. Antique green and true red will brighten up our mood this winter. Look for out-of-focus checks, tonal checks as well as the tartan in everything from shirts and dresses, to shoes, blanket scarves and capes.

Fashion Trend Alert #5: Accessories Pearls are making a huge comeback, but they are not exactly the ones that our Grandmother wore. Chunky pearl necklaces, bracelets and cuff earrings are the new rage. Keep an eye out for faux fur and velvet on dresses, coats, even shoes and purses this season. Little luggage bags, with double handles in bright colours and patterns, are a great alternative for an evening clutch, and can brighten up that little black dress. Bling is back in style. Tassels will be found on earrings, necklaces, shoes and tops. Bling is back in the form of statement earrings and brooches.

When out shopping for your fall/winter wardrobe don’t forget to look for these hot trends.

Kim Burns, Fashion Buyer Art Knapp Port Coquitlam, BC

HOLIDAY 2015 • 23

I EXTRAORDINARY

christmas greens

Photo Credit Paul Zammit

Toronto Botanical Garden, TTGG 2016

ndependent Garden Centres offer a variety of holiday foliage that you simply don’t find anywhere else.

With competitive pricing and qualified staff to provide you with information about each type of product and decorating advice, you won’t have to make multiple stops to purchase all your winter urn needs.

Different types of foliage will take your pot from ordinary to extraordinary!

Specialty Greens

Magnolia

Seeded Eucalyptus

Dogwood

Large leaves with a glossy green front and velvety brown back

Beautiful grey-blue color, draped effect

Twigs finish off a holiday container beautifully by adding height and dimension

• Fantastic addition to any holiday containers, wreath or table arrangement • Great for all natural, winter container • Perfect size to “nest” pinecones, artificial fruit or shiny baubles

• Excellent for adding detail and class to a holiday arrangement • Available in dyed burgundy as well, and can easily be spray painted the colour of your choice

Oregonia

Noble Fir

Similar to boxwood but light green and cream variegated leaves

Staple green bough from West Coast

• Great filler for containers • Pairs beautifully with magnolia leaves • Will keep true colour all winter • Transitions a pot from “Christmas” to winter as it has a different texture than the traditional Christmas foliage 24

• Very versatile for use in arrangements, wreaths and swags • Excellent needle retention for long lasting creations • Stiff backing makes it perfect for door swags • Adds texture

• Bunched together they make a perfect focal point or bold statement • Red, green and yellow twigs available

Variegated and Green Holly Branches have either dark green or variegated leaves • Prickly leaves – great for floral arrangements, submerging in water, placing on food trays • A must have for the holidays

Silver Fir

Ilex Berry

Beautiful fan-shaped evergreen

Classic, rich red berry synonymous with holiday decorating

• Gorgeous dark green needles with silver backing • Excellent for making door swags

• Brightens up any outdoor arrangement, wreath or indoor table arrangement • Where climate does not allow for outdoor use, weather proof berries are a great alternative

Blue Berried Juniper

Incense Cedar

Stiff silvery green branches with clusters of blue berries

Beautiful draped effect for planters and wreaths alike

• Great vertical accent that fills open spaces • Perfect for wreaths, or indoor floral arrangements

• Prized for its bright golden buds • Wonderful aroma and lacy foliage

Basic Greens

White Pine

Cedar

Balsam

Excellent for structure and weeping effect

Great for filling containers with dense colour

Great container filler

• Provides great colour and texture in projects big and small • Limitless uses

• Excellent weeping habit gives holiday containers a high end look • Many varieties available, but most popular are Ontario and BC cedar

• Excellent colour contrast between greens and blue • Lovely citrus-like fragrance

HOLIDAY 2015 • 25

The morning arrives, and children rush down the stairs to see what Santa has brought them for Christmas. They open their gifts, ribbons in the air, wrapping paper flying: dolls and kitchen sets for the girls, trucks and balls for the boys all thanks to Santa!

But how could Santa do this all on his own?

Of course he has lots of help - from magical creatures called Elves. They take care of Santa’s sleigh, making sure it is shiny and ready to fly and they feed the reindeer. Elves can speak every language in the world, so they open Santa’s mail and update the ‘Naughty and Nice’ list. Elves are special because they keep Santa in line – they make sure Santa is on time so he can fly all around the world with time to spare on Christmas Eve. They are Santa’s forgotten helpers.

During the holidays, each morning children across North America jump out of bed in excitement to find where their Elf is sitting after his long journey to the North Pole the night before.

There have been elves found hanging from light fixtures, driving toy trucks and there is even evidence of mischievous elves who have gotten into the flour jar! Creativity and belief is what makes this holiday tradition full of joy, love and well-behaved young children.

Elves add magic to Christmas in many ways. They can add magic onto your tree just by being placed on the tree as a decoration, they can be incorporated into wreaths on front doors, and tucked in stockings to surprise little girls and boys.

They sprinkle magic as guests walk through the doors during the holidays. Sometimes we forget that Christmas is a season for family, laughter, and peace. Families who have adopted this tradition into their home are reminded every morning what the magic of Christmas is all about.

The

Forgotten Helper

“

by Erin Van Raay

The elves are their friends. They make Christmas more fun than it usually is, plus it gives Santa a hand. I think we all thought Santa did everything himself. Now we know he has help. – Carol Aebersold

C

”

hristmas time is almost here and our families are getting ready for the magical night that Santa comes down the chimney to leave toys for little girls and boys. We bustle around to ensure the tree is trimmed, ornaments are hung, and cookies are baked for Santa’s arrival, with a cup of milk by the fireplace. Eager boys and girls are tucked into bed, excited to wake up the next morning and find their surprises under the tree.

26 • St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre - 2901 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg - 204-255-7353 - stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca

HOLIDAY 2015 • 27

HYACINTHS,

PAPERWHITES AMARYLLIS

& H

by Brian Minter

yacinths, ‘Paperwhite’ narcissus and amaryllis are winter delights to enjoy in our homes when the weather has changed our outdoor gardens into cold grey bleak winterscapes. All of these ‘indoor bulbs’ are specially prepared to bloom easily indoors. The trick, however, is to create the very best conditions for optimum flowering over the longest period of time.

Hyacinth

down into the water or a clear glass rose bowl with colourful rocks holding the bulbs up and in place while the roots feather down to the water below the rocks. However you choose to set them out, remember the display is half the artistic value.

‘Paperwhite’ narcissus are, perhaps, the most popular indoor bulbs simply because there’s just something about a narcissus blooming indoors that reminds us their cousins will be doing the same in our outdoor gardens come spring. The display you create with these bulbs is where the true fun begins. For one of the most beautiful presentations, I love to use tall cylindrical clear vases with colourful stones on the bottom nesting the bulbs, and water below. Shallow coloured glass containers work well too,

Amaryllis

red huckleberry twigs placed in the pot to accent and support the stems as they grow.

Some of the easiest bulbs to bring to bloom are fragrant ‘prepared’ hyacinths.

Coming in colours of red, white, pink, blue and purple, they are generally larger sized bulbs and produce the largest flowers. It works well to pot them up as singles or triples in 4” or 6” pots, especially if you use contemporary styled decorator pots. Most folks prefer to use either a hyacinth vase, which holds the bulbs on top allowing the roots to filter

Paperwhite

as long as you can see the lovely white roots developing. Another great way to display them is planted in tall thin clay pots with green moss over the soil and

The trick with hyacinths and Paperwhites’ is giving these bulbs a cool start (5°C or 40°F) to ensure the slow development of good roots and sturdy stems and leaves. You’ll destroy the beauty of these flowers if you let them ‘rocket’ out of the bulbs. Start them near a cool window, outside on the patio if temperatures are above freezing or even in your fridge until the roots have formed and the stems are just emerging with the flower head inside. With a cool start, they will be much more attractive, and as they grow, try to keep them as cool as you can for the longest enjoyment.

Amaryllis are the granddaddy of all indoor flower bulbs, and probably the most spectacular. It is important to start with

28 • St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre - 2901 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg - 204-255-7353 - stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca

larger bulbs, ones measuring about 28-29cm, to guarantee good flower stems. To double your enjoyment, select 30-34cm size bulbs, and you should expect two blossom stems. The colour range now available is quite remarkable, from reds, oranges, pinks and whites to bi-colours. If you want to try something a little different, quite a few species types, with unique colours (like green), flower sizes and forms, are now available. The new ‘Nymph’ series have fully double blossoms.

For the greatest success with amaryllis, plant the bulbs in a pot just large enough to accommodate the particular size that you have and no more. About 25-30% of the bulb should be above the soil. It’s always wise to use well drained soil to prevent root rot from over-watering. They require a well lighted, cool location and temperatures of 22-24°C, and no feeding is necessary at this point in their growing cycle. Again, it is best to bring them along slowly in order to develop compact, sturdy stems. Their leaves may or may not open easily, so don’t be concerned – what’s important is to have nice strong stems.

As they begin to flower, you can extend their bloom time by keeping them cool, around 12-18°C. Some growers even put them in floral coolers to hold them back. Keep them just moist.

When each stem finishes blooming, cut off the stem but let the leaves grow. Keep them in a cool window until they can go in the garden next spring. Start several bulbs in sequence to enjoy continuous blooms from Christmas until Valentine’s Day.

HOLIDAY 2015 • 29

MAKES CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AS EASY AS Ready, Set, GO! 1-2Glow Christmas Lights are a brilliant innovation from Lumineo that makes decorating the Christmas tree fast and easy. These Christmas tree lights are simple to install and they’ll save you precious time for what’s most important during the holidays. With the new 1-2Glow lights by Lumineo your Christmas Easy set up tree lights: tree will be lighted perfectly in 5 minutes and 2 easy steps: That’s it! You’re done and your family’s Christmas tree has never looked better. 1-2Glow is as easy as Ready, Set, GO!

HANG OVER TOP

The Last Set of Christmas Lights You’ll Ever Buy:

Save money – and the environment!

1-2Glow lights are so tough that you can walk on them! They’re virtually indestructible and rated to provide at least 50,000 hours (over 5 ½ years) of continuous light, which means your 1-2Glow lights will survive year after year.

1-2Glow lights are made with energy efficient LED bulbs that reduce energy consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional incandescent Christmas lights. Our 126 LED strand uses about 8 Watts of energy, making these lights environmentally considerate while saving you money on your energy bill.

Suited for indoor or outdoor use, 1-2Glow Christmas Lights come in a variety of options to achieve the ideal ambience for your home and yard: • 1-2Glow lights come in 73.8 ft. strands covering trees up to 7 ft • LEDs per string:

WRAP AROUND

Save time and money this Christmas with the easy to install 1-2Glow lights

by Lumineo. Available at Garden Centres near you this holiday season.

- Normal Density for a traditional look (7.5 cm between each Christmas light) or - Compact Density for 3 times as many lights per strand (2.5 cm between each Christmas light) • Colour and tone: - Cool White - Warm White • Effects:

Great for all your lit holiday decorating ideas.

So durable and long lasting, you can even walk on them!

- Twinkle Lights - with 8 different settings to choose from

Available at

30 • St. Mary’s Nursery & Garden Centre - 2901 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg - 204-255-7353 - stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca

Available at

A Growing Christmas Tradition ....just 2 km past the perimiter hwy.

2901 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba

204-255-7353

www.stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca