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With dreams of spring on our minds, we’ve been playing with grow kits, Alberta-made products and zero-waste items. Growing herbs and mushrooms indoors has kept us busy. Once they are ready, we like to sauté them and serve with steamed dumplings drizzled with chili oil. Toss any odd bits into your new compost bin completing the zero-waste cycle. Purchase any of these products through their individual websites or browse each site to find a list of local retailers.

Krickets self-watering herb jars

By WANDA BAKER

Liz and Lottie compost bin

NO TRASH TALKING HERE

Composting has become a part of our everyday lives here in Calgary, and one we take seriously to help eliminate food and yard waste. Portable, kitchen-sized bins make it easy to toss kitchen scraps in, and we much prefer a pretty compost bin we can leave on our counter. We were excited to find these lovely compost bins from Liz and Lottie, a lifestyle and curated gift boutique in the East Village. Owners Heidi Blanchette and Nikki Maas were inspired to name the boutique after their Oma Liz and Grandma Lottie, offering a selection of products that are cute, practical, affordable and fun. The bins are vintage-inspired and include one odor-absorbing, charcoal-activated filter that typically lasts three months. The stainless-steel handle makes it easy to carry outside and the bins are Canadian made, designed by a company in Vancouver. Purchase online or contact them directly to find out if they have re-opened for business. Liz and Lottie | $36.00 | lizandlottie.ca

THERE’S DUMPLING YOU SHOULD KNOW

Honest Dumplings is an Edmonton-based company producing gourmet Chinese-style dumplings with wholesome ingredients and bold flavours. Creators Ray Ma and Chris Lerohl were disappointed with the selection of dumplings available in stores, so they decided to try selling Ma’s homemade dumplings in the local market. The venture was so successful, it inspired them to move forward with pop-ups and grocery-store deals. The packaging is eye-catching, the dumpling colours bright (dough is infused with vegetable juice, herbs, and spices) and the flavour combinations unique. A fan favourite is the Truffle Oil Mushroom Madness, inspired by Ma and Lerohl’s favourite pizza: funghi misti. It combines oyster, enoki, shiitake and white button mushrooms mixed with caramelized onions and drizzled with white truffle oil. Find the full line-up online including plantbased dumplings, meat varieties like, May Contain Traces of Sincerity – Ginger Beef Bites, and even limited edition flavours. We adore their dumplings and love the fact they take the leftover dumpling dough and create zero-waste noodles also available for purchase. Honest Dumplings $15.00 | honestdumplings.ca

ROOTS GROW DEEP

A store with its roots deep in the community, Kricket’s originally existed in Mission and has since relocated Garrison Gate in Marda Loop. When you drop in, you will note a large variety of items inspired by travels around the world, plus an assortment of curated local items. Browse and discover lifestyle products, home décor, jewelry, accessories and these really cool self-watering herb jars made by Modern Sprout. I’m a confessed fresh herb fanatic, but sadly also a fresh herb killer, so these herb jars are exactly what I need support my indoor growing obsession. Choose from cilantro, parsley, basil, pansy, oregano and mint plus you get the vintage-inspired mason jar outfitted with a passive hydroponic system, and non-GMO seeds to get you started. All you need to grow your Red Fox Funghi herb jars is water and a sunny window. Kricket’s | $28.95 thecardroom.ca

GROW YOUR OWN

Red Fox Fungi is a mushroom farm geared towards sustainable, chemical-free and responsible farming practices. Family owned and operated; Red Fox says it grows the highest quality gourmet mushrooms in southern Alberta and are currently offering mushroom kits through the spring. The mushroom grow-kits are perfect for those looking to channel their inner green thumb and have some fun…ghi. Kits are available in: lion’s mane, phoenix oyster, blue oyster, and pearl oyster. Once you’ve started growing your ’shroom kit, you can continue on in your garden, patio container, or even along your pathway all summer long. In addition to the grow kits, Red Fox Fungi is offering dehydrated-mushroom seasoning blends crafted with at least half a pound of dried mushrooms in each jar. This spring they are adding a new product to the mix; original sweet and spicy mushroom jerky. Plan to visit the farm in August during Alberta Open Farm Days. Red Fox Fungi | $25.00 | redfoxfungi.ca

CONDIMENTS ON FIRE

In case you haven’t noticed, chili oil is all the rage these days, despite a long history in Italian (olio di pepperoncino) and Asian (sichuan garlic oil) cuisines. We’ve been sampling some of the oils made locally and are smitten with Oil Jefe Co. products. Currently taking up residence in our refrigerator is the Jalapeno Cherry Bomb chili oil. It’s smoky, sultry and loaded with flavour from the chili flakes, garlic and shallots. It’s the mildest of three oils and perfect for our taste buds, though we may graduate to the Roasted Habanero chili oil next. Admittedly we are too chicken to try Ghost Life. Founder Shaun Albert spent seven years testing before coming up with a recipe he loved. Most of the ingredients are local, with the exception of the peppers sourced south of the border. Drizzle these oils on stir-fries, soups, egg dishes, pasta dishes, roast vegetables, rolls and dumplings. Oil Jefe Co. | $9.99 - $12.50 | oiljefe.com Moments Marketing Photography

Red Fox Fungi mushroom kit Oil Jefe chili oils

GooseTempura Panang

PREP TIME 16H

(INCLUDES MARINATING)

COOK TIME 25M

TOTAL TIME 16.5–20H

SERVINGS 6

kCal/SERVING 620

CANADA GOOSE

Energy (kCal) 133 Protein (g) 24.31 Fat (g) 4.02 Cholesterol (mg) 80

Are you a curry lover? If you haven’t tried panang yet, it’s time to make this Thai favourite. It’s very much a chef’s personal dish, so you won’t get the same panang at two restaurants. To make a just-as-impressive wild game version at home, we use a variation on Hank Shaw’s Tempura Shad recipe, which lends itself perfectly to a curry bowl. The extra ingredients and effort are worth it!

Ingredients: Tempura:

• 4–6 goose breasts, sliced lengthwise (about 12 strips) • 2 cups buttermilk • 2 quarts frying oil (peanut, canola or vegetable oil) • ¼ cup cornstarch • 1 ¼ cups ice cold apple cider or soda water • 1 egg • 1/8 tsp baking soda • ½ cup coconut flour • ¼ cup all-purpose flour • ½ tsp kosher salt

Curry:

• 1 large red onion • 4 bell peppers (assorted colours) • 1 cup sugar snap peas • 2 tbsp peanut butter • 1 tbsp sesame oil • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1–2 tsp green curry paste • 1 litre coconut milk • 2 cups jasmine or basmati rice