May • 2022
globalheroes.com
FOOD HEROES & FEEL GOOD RECIPES ADVERTORIAL
WOW! Factor: A Sweet Canadian Story Life can be sweet when it has that WOW factor. For 39 years, WOW! Factor Desserts has been producing sweet treats right here in Canada, and their homemade and handmade recipes and desserts have only gotten tastier. FAMILY DRIVEN The secret ingredient to WOW’s range of delicious homemade treats is the love that goes into every creation. Since opening in 1982, WOW! has called Sherwood Park, Alberta home. With secondgeneration owner Debbie Gust at the helm, the family-run business has made a name for itself as the leading upscale frozen dessert supplier to restaurants, hotels, banquet halls, casinos, airlines, and cruise ships—and to this day, they make all of their cakes by hand. For 30 years, WOW! has placed a strong emphasis on community support, partnering with the Robin Hood Association, a non-profit, registered charitable organization dedicated to providing personcentred services and supports to children and adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, to provide meaningful job opportunities for people with disabilities. Their incredible team members hand-fold each and every box their desserts are packaged in. While this could easily become an automated and cost-effective process, providing employment for members of their communities means more than efficiency—it makes a difference in a way that matters and adds a personal touch to every dessert. In addition to being handfolded by their Robin Hood team, every WOW! box is made from 100 percent recyclable FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified Paper made from 100 percent recycled content. “Since 1992, WOW! Factor Desserts and The Robin Hood Association have collaborated to fulfill a need in the factory,” says Sharon Galloway of Robin Hood Association. “It has been a very rewarding experience for us as it has enriched the lives of many of our individuals that seek meaningful employment.” WOW! takes its community impact further by working
with local charities and nonprofits year-round to help make Canadian communities stronger. Among many local charities, WOW! is a Silver Sponsor for the Luce Initiative in support of Sunnybrook’s Family Navigation Project, and supports Hope Mission Edmonton, a not-forprofit Christian social care agency providing hot meals to those in need in Edmonton, Alberta. SCRATCH-MADE GOODNESS Homemade goes a long way at WOW! Their premium desserts are made from scratch using delicious icings, custards, glazes, and cream cheese icings made in-house with generations-old recipes that have only improved with time. With hundreds of desserts, including new biannual launches in the spring and the fall, WOW! is known for their innovation. In 2020, their Vegan Chocolate Decadence Cake placed in the top 10 in the SIAL International Innovation category, which rewards the best innovations in food. But what really brings these treats up a notch is
VEGAN CARROT CAKE © COURTESY OF WOW! FACTOR DESSERTS
the combination of high-quality ingredients and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. From 100 percent Farm Fresh Canadian Dairy from Lactalis Canada to Canadian-made sugar from Lantic/Rogers to Canadian Grade A frozen wild blueberries and apple filling sourced from Canadian farms, WOW! makes it a point to support Canadian farmers. WOW! is also proud to stand behind products and ingredients that participate in sustainability programs, like fine Belgian chocolate from Callebaut Chocolate, which supports sustainable cocoa cultivation, and Robin Hood flour from Ardent Mills, which partners with farmers to help grow crops.
WOW’s team of specially trained representatives works one-on-one with the chefs and owners of restaurants across Canada to give them the support needed to customize their dessert menus and increase sales. Their high-quality desserts and dedication to supporting restaurant customers are what sets them apart from all others. Without compromising on quality, WOW! produces products with WOW! Factor. Find delicious WOW! Factor gourmet pre-portioned cheesecakes, cakes, and so much more at your favourite chain restaurants, hotels, banquet halls, and airlines. wowfactordesserts.com
Add More Fermented Foods to Your Diet With This Flavourful Lunch In recent years, many of us have found new joy in the kitchen. For some, spending more time at home has meant experimenting with new cooking techniques and recipes. Whether misadventures with baking bread or take-out meals were more your style, one of the top eating trends has been naturally fermented food. That includes treats like kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha drinks, or even sourdough bread. The fermentation process to make these foods has been practiced around the world for generations. But what makes fermented foods so popular? According to registered dietitian Abbey Sharp, “Fermentation provides probiotics or ‘good’ bacteria, which are great for supporting our immune systems and for regulating digestion. Fermentation is also known to bring out rich and delicious flavours.” Aside from great flavours, eating fermented foods can boost the production of good bacteria, known as probiotics, in your gut.
Probiotics are microorganisms that health keep your body healthy, improve digestion, and can aid in immunity and weight loss. Yogurt, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, and tempeh are just a few of many fermented foods that naturally contain probiotics. However, even fermented foods without naturally occurring probiotics can ease the digestive process. A once rare bakery specialty turned popular quarantine DIY for curious bakers, sourdough is lower in sugar and higher in protein than a regular slice of white bread, as it is made with no sweeteners or oils. Instead of using a baker’s yeast, sourdough uses wild yeast produced in the starter, made from a combination of flour and water. Unlike other fermented foods, the probiotics in sourdough are burned off in the baking process. However, sourdough releases more fibre and creates lactic acid, making it easier to absorb and digest nutrients, ultimately making it the most gut-friendly option for your sandwiches.
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) chevre, softened • 1/4 cup (60 ml) cream cheese, softened • 2 red pears, thinly sliced • 12 thin slices prosciutto • Balsamic glaze, for serving Directions
© MAPLE CHUTNEY
CHEVRE, PEAR, & PROSCIUTTO SANDWICH Naturally fermented sourdough bread is a great source of flavour in this elevated lunch or brunch sandwich—paired with thirst-quenching kombucha, it’s perfect for your next gathering. PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES COOK TIME: APPROX. 1 HOUR SERVES: 6
Ingredients CARAMELIZED ONIONS:
• • • • •
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter, divided 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil 3 large onions, thinly sliced 2 tsp (10 ml) honey Salt and pepper
SANDWICHES:
• 1 loaf (12 slices) Stonemill Bakehouse Authentic Sourdough Rye Multigrain Bread
1 In a large skillet, heat the oil and butter over medium-low heat until melted. 2 Add the onions and cook until caramelized and golden, about 45-60 minutes. 3 Add the honey and a pinch each of salt and pepper and cook another 1-2 minutes. Set aside. 4 In a bowl, mix together the chevre and cream cheese. 5 For each sandwich, add 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto one slice of bread. Add 4 thin slices of pear, two slices of prosciutto, and top with a generous spoonful of caramelized onions. Drizzle with a tablespoon of balsamic glaze. 6 Serve with hibiscus and rosehip kombucha. —NC ADVERTORIAL
Since the very beginning, Zywiec beer has been brewed in only one place: the Archduke's Brewery in Zywiec. When it comes to beer, we are uncompromising, this is why Zywiec is brewed exclusively from three ingredients: malted barley, hops, and pure mountain water. Zywiec beer is available at LCBO, The Beer Store and selected supermarkets.
