11 minute read
Reduction
Flatbread Pizza with Prosciutto and Olive Station Balsamic Reduction
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Recipe courtesy Grant Easterbrook, The Olive Station 225 Canada Avenue, Downtown Duncan
Makes 4 6-8” pizzas
Ingredients: For the Naan bread: For the toppings:
2 cups all purpose fl our 6-8 slices of prosciutto, cut into 1 tsp dry active yeast ribbons. 1/2 tsp table salt 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese pinch of white sugar 16 or so cherry tomatoes, cut into 3/4 cup warm water quarters 3 tablespoons Garlic Olive Oil, 1 avocado, cubed into bite sizes plus more for cooking. 1/2 cup Mission Fig Balsamic vinegar.
Method:
1. In a bowl combine fl our, salt and sugar. 2. In a separate small bowl or using a liquid measure cup, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water. Let stand for until the yeast is completely absorbed and bubbly. 3. Pour water/yeast and oil into fl our mixture. 4. If using a stand mixer, use the dough hook, and mix until you have an elastic dough. If you are mixing by hand, mix in the water and oil using a fork until the dough is chunky and starting to stick together, then using your hands bring the dough together until the sides of the bowl are clean. Knead the dough on a lightly fl oured surface until it is elastic. 5. Place in a bowl, cover with a slightly damp tea towel and let rise for 20 minutes. 6. Once risen, punch it down and divide into 4 even parts, roll each one out using either your hands or a rolling pin until they are ovalshaped and about 1/4” thick. 7. In a hot skillet or cast iron pan drizzle garlic olive oil, once the oil is hot place one of your breads into the pan to cook. It should form some good air bubbles! Flip once it is nice and golden, with darker spots where the bubbles are. Cook all remaining naan breads and set aside.
Prepare the pizzas:
1. Top the naan breads with sliced ribbons of prosciutto, cubes of avocado, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese. 2. Place pizzas onto a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until the tomatoes have started to shrivel. 3. While they are in the oven you can prepare your balsamic reduction. In a small saucepan heat 1/2 cup of Mission Fig Balsamic Vinegar at a low to medium temperature until it becomes thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Thats how you can tell it’s ready! Be careful not to over cook it as it will turn into delicious glue…If that does happen you can add a tiny bit of water to thin it out again. 4. Once your pizzas are out of the oven and your reduction is ready, top them with a generous handful of fresh baby arugula and drizzle them with your balsamic reduction. Enjoy your Fathers Day!
Social Connection - It Matters
Dr. Lyn Pascoe Viva Medical Aesthetics
With the recent upheaval to our world, I have been thinking a lot about the importance of social connection in our lives.
Dr Vivek Murthy, a recent Surgeon General of the USA, has just released a timely book called, Together:The Healing Power of Human Connection.
Dr. Murthy discusses the 3 levels of human connection: intimate (partner or spouse), relational (circle of friends), and collective (community). These connections are all important to maintain in order to avoid loneliness. Studies show that loneliness and lack of social connection have the negative health effects equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
COMMUNITY connections are vital. There is something deeply ingrained in us that wants to be part of a shared identity. This stems from our early ancestors where living together in a tribe was vital for survival. Sharing duties such as hunting for food, child care, and supporting the home environment proved to be much more efficient than a sole member trying to do it all alone on the tundra. Whether we live in a smaller community such as the Cowichan Valley or in a larger city, we all tend to value the connections we make with our local independent retail stores, baristas, hair stylists, and favourite restaurants.
Many of us are concerned that the physical distancing we are being asked to observe, combined with the fear that many people are experiencing right now, will deepen the separation amongst people in the future. That separation could contribute to a social recession that is just as important as the economic recession we will be facing. Social separation, however, doesn’t have to be the path we follow. I believe this is the time to take stock of how we want our lives to look. Let’s look at how can we deepen the relationships that are important to our well-being.
I strongly believe we have to look to our local community for social connection. We need to support the local businesses and local institutions that give our community depth, vitality and personality. By supporting local and continuing to enjoy those relationships, we will indeed be supporting our own, and our neighbour’s health.
Many of our small local businesses have worked hard in the last 2 months to change the way they operate in order to give us more choices. The strength of the human spirit to overcome challenges never ceases to amaze me! I think we can use this opportunity to choose a different way forward, to build a peoplecentered life and society. In a people-centered life, we prioritize our relationships and choose where we put our time, attention, and energy.
So, let’s choose local. Let’s help our businesses flourish. It will be good for all of us!
Viva Medical Aesthetics #4-177 Fourth Street Downtown Duncan 250 746-6512
I’ve been struggling with getting my sleep more than ever lately; with difficulty drifting off even though I am tired, as well as waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep. While searching for a solution to curb my sleeplessness, I was surprised to learn that I have actually been suffering from insomnia. You see, insomnia isn’t just the inability to fall asleep, it actually encompasses sleep disturbances of many kinds. These include:
-Inability to fall asleep even if tired -Frequently waking up throughout the night -Difficulty falling back asleep after stirring -Waking too early -Feeling fatigued and drowsy during the day -Difficulty concentrating or focusing due to lack of proper sleep
As we all have been navigating these uncertain times, we may also have been experiencing an increase in stress induced insomnia for reasons such as:
-Health concerns -Uncertain future -Financial instability -Social challenges -Heightened emotions
One of the main reasons stress has such an impact
Tackling Stress-Related Insomnia
on our sleep is its effect on our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing, all of which under strain can have a negative influence on our ability to get a good night’s rest. Heightened stress can also stack up and become challenging to rectify.
If you are experiencing stress-related insomnia, you are not alone. Luckily there are resources on ways we can turn our sleeplessness around. With some forethought and dedication, we can decrease anxiety and stress-induced insomnia. Sleep these days is more precious than ever, providing respite, rest and healing, when we need it most. We can start simply by preparing ourselves for a good night of sleep throughout the day. Think of your ideal slumber as something that you begin getting ready for from the moment you make your bed in the morning. We have the power through many small decisions to positively influence our quality of sleep.
Here are some useful techniques to help alleviate stress and ensure a better slumber:
1. Perfect your bedroom environment. Noise, temperature and light affect our ability to fall asleep and our quality of slumber once we do. It’s essential to keep these three elements in mind when creating your relaxing bedroom space. A quiet, cool, completely dark room nurtures high-quality, rejuvenating sleep.
2. Form a bedtime ritual by indulging in calming activities an hour or two before bed to help you unwind and relieve your mind of the day’s worries. Switch off the screens and try running a hot bath, reading a book, listening to an audiobook or podcast, or writing in a journal.
3. Keeping a journal to write down our thoughts and worries from the day is an effective outlet to express and release them. If there are stressful thoughts holding you back from sleep, write them down, and let go of them for the night. You can always revisit things in the morning after a healing snooze.
4. Sharing and communicating our woes with loved ones will remind us that we are not alone. This can be a powerful opportunity to discover surprising sources of support and solutions. These days this can be done both in person or virtually.
5. Try guided relaxation techniques. They can help to ground us and release the stress that builds up during the day. Meditation before bed can also be advantageous. Try this practice instead of late night TV watching or scrolling through our devices.
6. Utilizing herbal remedies can help us to decompress and soothe us into
relaxation. Chamomile and Passionflower can be used in both tincture or tea form, and have all been widely recognized to calm nerves and initiate sleep. Lion’s Mane and Wild Mushroom tinctures are natural sleep regulators and have been known to support our brains’ performance while asleep.
7. Stick to a lights out schedule. Timetables may be very loose right now, but it is good to remember to stick to a regular bedtime routine. This helps to balance our circadian rhythm sleep cycle, making it much more likely to have consistent, higher quality sleep.
8. Lean into your spiritual practices. These can bring a level of stability that is often not found in secular approaches. If you have a spiritual path, follow its teachings and readings. They can keep you in a positive frame of mind with a broader perspective and calming messages of hope.
Dealing with stress is a part of life. At times, it can be overwhelming and feel like it will never go away. Knowing what tools work for you and how to use them to your advantage can give you an upper hand in clearing stress induced insomnia before it sets in. You have the power to transform these challenging emotional states and ensure they don’t hijack your precious sleep.
Resthouse Sleep Solutions 126 Station St, Downtown Duncan 250-597-7378
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Chantel and Dawn enjoy collaborating on blogs that help people sleep better.
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Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs 251 Craig St., Downtown Duncan imaginethatartisans.com I 250-748-6776
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Imagine That Artisans Designs Offers Finely Crafted Father’s Day Gifts
Imagine That Artisans Designs has re-opened and we are looking forward to seeing our customers. Please drop by and see what we’ve been up to. Looking for a Father’s Day gift? Here are a few one-of-a-kind Father’s Day suggestions. All are made by local artisans.
Made With Wood:
All of our wood products are crafted from local trees. The end result is an affordable selection of silky smooth boxes, chopping boards, bowls and spoons, sculptures, and mirror frames. Wood workers include: Ken Broadland, Robert Andrews, Antho Santarossa, Ralph Erikson and Tod MacAneeley.
Coffee Mugs:
How about a large, manly coffee mug? Sandi Madsen is known for her exquisite blue glazes while Hilary Huntley captures the deep greens and browns of the forest. Both are expert potters.
Bird Houses:
While Dad sips his coffee he can watch the birds in their new bird house courtesy of Bonnie Hayward. Bonnie’s birdhouses combine her carpentry skills and knowledge of birds with humour and panache.
Paintings:
Michael Dean and Lynn Bisette’s paintings capture island life intimately and uniquely. Michael’s subject matter includes detailed images of working marine vessels, logging trucks, and sea side vistas. Lynn’s vibrant paintings capture local bays, boat houses and colourful tugs and sailboats.
Rugs:
Katie Daniel’s rag rugs are a favourite gift choice. Attractive and washable, they suit just about any decor including a man cave.
Something Small:
For the man who enjoys reading, consider an enamel on copper book mark by Margot Page. Or, perhaps a decorative bird or frog by metal artist Renae Lehmann. Since hand washing is a must, how about a bar of handmade soap by Sarah Burdet (think ocean and forests). We also have a wide range of original art cards on hand, perfect for a Happy Father’s Day greeting.
Imagine That! Artisans’ Designs Cooperative, 251 Craig St, Duncan 250 748-6776
Submitted by Veronica Scott
