delicious smoothie recipe

We randomly made this one day and found it worthy of writing down. I
now share it with you. In Ontario at some point in the summer, these
were localish ingredients, I think. Enjoy!

1 celery stalk
1 beet
1 ripe peach
1 ripe pear
1 kale stalk
unsweetened soy milk

Re: Fw: THE GREEN THING!!!!

Listen, anonymous author, the current generation doesn't lament anything.  It's hard to define the group, let alone claim they/we all think the same way about anything, same as "the old generation," which was hoodwinked by the real wasters the same as the old generation.  I agree with many of the points of this e-mail, but to conclude with a divisive tone isn't helpful in my opinion--I think all generations have more in common than this forward's author would imply, and this just suggests that older folks ought to resent younger folks, instead of uniting with them against the greedy machine that is and has been accelerating the ruin of the planet since before any now-living person was born.

On Sat, May 28, 2011 at 7:42 AM, ... wrote:

SO TRUE!!!!! > THE GREEN THING > In the line at the store, the young cashier told the older woman that she > should > bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the > environment. > The woman apologized to him and explained, > "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." > > The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. > The former generation did not care enough to save our environment." > > He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day. > Back then, they returned their milk bottles, > soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. > The store sent them back to the plant to be washed > and sterilized and refilled, > so it could use the same bottles over and over. > So they really were recycled. > > But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day. > > In her day, they walked up stairs, > because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. > They walked to the grocery store and > didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine > every time they had to go two blocks. > > But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day. > > Back then, they washed the baby's diapers > because they didn't have the throw-away kind. > They dried clothes on a line, > not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - > wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. > Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, > not always brand-new clothing. > > But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her > day. > > Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - > not a TV in every room. > And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, > not a screen the size of the state of Montana. > In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because > they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. > When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, > they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, > not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. > > Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline > just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. > They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club > to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. > > But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then. > > They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty > instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time > they had a drink of water. > They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, > and they replaced the razor blades in a razor > instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. > > But they didn't have the green thing back then. > > Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus > and kids rode their bikes to school or walked > instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. > They had one electrical outlet in a room, > not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. > And they didn't need a computerized gadget > to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space > in order to find the nearest pizza joint. > > But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks > were just because they didn't have the green thing back then? > WOW!!!!!!!!!!! >

Re: an open letter re: GMO foods[00048E9A-1031-00000000] file 924579

Hello Julie,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. If you could copy your
supervisor on your reply, I'd appreciate that. It feels to me as if I
received a form letter response, which did very little to address my
concerns, and other parts of the content seem to have ignored things
that I already acknowledged.

If Loblaw Companies has such a responsibility as you mention, then why
did the Globe and Mail report in 2001 that Nature's Path Foods, Inc.
had it demanded of them to remove their GMO/GE labeling or risk losing
its suppliership with Loblaw Companies? This voluntary standard your
company helped develop and publish in 2004 is just that: voluntary.
So your company can be completely in compliance with said standard (by
not labeling) and still pressure companies not to label, like in 2001.
Is this correct?

If Loblaw Companies is so interested in providing choices, then why is
this voluntary standard never voluntarily followed? The *only* way I
can tell if something happens to have GE'd food in it or not is if
it's certified organic. For those who can't afford certified organic
but want to be part of the segment of the market that's non-GE but not
completely certified, what choice have you left them? You might argue
that this has been done in the interest of a level playing field, but
instead it has polarized it into rich and poor.

What of people who care enough to learn about what they're eating, and
are not okay with some GE food but fine with others? Without
mentioning which ingredients are GE, they are unable to purchase these
things at your stores. Since your stores make up the vast majority of
the Canadian market, I'd say that the power that that brings also
brings the responsibility to let people decide. You might say,
everyone can choose to be your customer or not. Well, sort of. If
you're rich enough, you can have your food brought to you from
wherever you want. Otherwise, you may be stuck with the nearest
supermarket, which is almost always one of yours. This maybe doesn't
feel as super as it once did, when the previous generation decided to
spend their dollars at supermarkets instead of local stores until the
local stores went out of business.

Personally I am willing to go out of my way to go to stores that
actually offer me more choice. I have to admit, when things get busy
in my life, that choice often is very difficult, or even impossible,
to make, depending on where I live and my access to transportation.
Nonetheless, until I see some actual responsibility being taken in
this regard by my local Loblaw-owned supermarket, I will increasingly
be trying my hardest to shop at other stores. I'm already making
trips there just to be able to find food actually or produced
relatively near by, namely produce and dairy products. The thing is,
the economic pressure you have put on your suppliers affects even what
I'm able to buy at stores that you don't own, because they supply to
them as well. What should your suppliers do, run two separate product
lines, one for Loblaws and one for everyone else? Sure, they could,
and then of course their costs and prices go up to cover this expense,
and their products are less competitive. So even if they try not to
let you bully them, you are still bullying them. Could you explain to
me how this lines up with your "shar[ing of my] concern about this
issue"?

Sincerely,
Kevin Field

On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 2:14 PM, customerservice@loblaws.ca
<customerservice@loblaws.ca> wrote:
> Dear Mr. Field,
>
> Thank you for taking the time to write to us.
>
> Loblaw Companies has the responsibility to deliver reliable and meaningful information to consumers.  We place great importance on the integrity of products sold in our stores.  Our responsibility is to guarantee freshness, quality, and accuracy of labeling of all products on our shelves.
>
> In 2004 the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) published the "Voluntary Labeling and Advertising of Foods that are and are not products of genetic engineering" standard.  This standard was developed as a joint initiative of CGSB and the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors of which Loblaw Companies is a member.   Accordingly, we ensure that all products on our shelves comply with this standard.
>
> We share your concern about this issue.  However, I am sure you can also appreciate that as a retailer, it is important to act responsibly according to well-defined government standards, and to offer consumers a variety of choices. Loblaw Companies recognizes the diverse needs and preferences of our customers and we strive to offer many choices to meet those needs. That's why we are proud to carry a wide variety of Organic products that are offered throughout all Loblaw Companies affiliated stores; and many stores have Natural Value departments dedicated to providing customers with both organic and naturally produced products.  As you may know, each organic product adheres strictly to Canadian and International organic production standards, which include a prohibition on using genetically engineered material.  Each organic product is also certified by independent third-parties to provide additional assurance that the organic standards are met.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Julie Dunham
> Sr. Coordinator, Communications I LCL Customer Relations
>
> 1 President's Choice Circle | Brampton | Ontario | L6Y 5S5
> (905) 459-2500 Ext. 613293 | F: (905) 861-2387| julie.dunham@loblaw.ca
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Field
> Sent: March 2, 2011 7:55 PM
> To: CR Email Agent 10
> Subject: an open letter re: GMO foods[00048E9A-1031-00077EE0]
>
> Dear Loblaws,
>
> I'm an old customer of your products, particularly in Zehrs and valu
> mart stores.  I heard that you have pressured your suppliers not to
> include claims of being GMO-free.  While I understand there's no
> Canadian government standard for labeling at this time, I do not agree
> with this strategy.  I want to know more about the food that I'm
> buying, and in my opinion, some labels are better than none at all.
> At least then independent researchers can investigate claims of being
> GMO-free, as they currently do with green products.  I find it
> irresponsible to blame the government for lack of a standard, while
> simultaneously stymieing your supplier's efforts.  It simply takes
> control, or the possibility of it, away from the public.
>
> Especially now that I have a small child in my care, and given that
> the long-term effects of GMOs are currently unknown, I have been
> lately buying, and will continue to buy, less and less PC and no name
> products while this issue continues.  I appreciate the emergence of PC
> Organics brands, but bullying your suppliers for advertising the fact
> that their products are GMO-free I feel reveals different intentions.
> So if you're only catering to the market, and not necessarily to the
> well-being of your customers, well, you're losing this individual's
> business, at least.
>
> I will voice to the government the opinion of the vast majority of
> Canadian consumers that we want GMO products to be labeled as such,
> but until then I'm also voicing it to you in the hopes that you start
> encouraging your suppliers to include such information, or better yet,
> discourage your suppliers from using GMO ingredients until more is
> known about the effects of their consumption, like similar chains in
> the US and EU have already done.  Don't keep Canada in the Dark Ages
> just because you have the power to do so.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Kevin Field
> Ontario resident
>
>
>
> This email message is confidential, may be legally privileged and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee. If you received this message in error or are not the intended recipient, you should destroy the email message and any attachments or copies, and you are prohibited from retaining, distributing, disclosing or using any information contained. Please inform us of the delivery error by return email. Thank you for your cooperation.
>
> Le présent message électronique est confidentiel et peut être couvert par le secret professionnel. Il est à l'usage exclusif du destinataire. Si vous recevez ce message par erreur ou si vous n'en êtes pas le destinataire prévu, vous devez détruire le message et toute pièce jointe ou copie et vous êtes tenu de ne pas conserver, distribuer, divulguer ni utiliser tout renseignement qu'il contient. Veuillez nous informer de toute erreur d'envoi en répondant à ce message. Merci de votre collaboration
>

an open letter re: GMO foods

Dear Loblaws,

I'm an old customer of your products, particularly in Zehrs and valu
mart stores. I heard that you have pressured your suppliers not to
include claims of being GMO-free. While I understand there's no
Canadian government standard for labeling at this time, I do not agree
with this strategy. I want to know more about the food that I'm
buying, and in my opinion, some labels are better than none at all.
At least then independent researchers can investigate claims of being
GMO-free, as they currently do with green products. I find it
irresponsible to blame the government for lack of a standard, while
simultaneously stymieing your supplier's efforts. It simply takes
control, or the possibility of it, away from the public.

Especially now that I have a small child in my care, and given that
the long-term effects of GMOs are currently unknown, I have been
lately buying, and will continue to buy, less and less PC and no name
products while this issue continues. I appreciate the emergence of PC
Organics brands, but bullying your suppliers for advertising the fact
that their products are GMO-free I feel reveals different intentions.
So if you're only catering to the market, and not necessarily to the
well-being of your customers, well, you're losing this individual's
business, at least.

I will voice to the government the opinion of the vast majority of
Canadian consumers that we want GMO products to be labeled as such,
but until then I'm also voicing it to you in the hopes that you start
encouraging your suppliers to include such information, or better yet,
discourage your suppliers from using GMO ingredients until more is
known about the effects of their consumption, like similar chains in
the US and EU have already done. Don't keep Canada in the Dark Ages
just because you have the power to do so.

Sincerely,

Kevin Field
Ontario resident

sesame snaps

I stole this from somewhere in the hintersnet and paraphrased it.

2 c sesame seeds
.5 c brown sugar
.5 c honey
.5 tsp (or whatever) cinnamon, ginger powder, powdered nutmeg, and/or
clove powder

Get out about 1m of parchment paper and a rolling pin, a large mixing
bowl, a spatula, and a large frying pan on medium heat.

Put the seeds into the frying pan, then get the sugar+spice and honey
ready.  Then stir the seeds constantly so they don't burn.  Pretty
soon after you can smell them, they should be turning golden.  Empty
them into the mixing bowl (I'd use a spatula to get every last seed,
so they don't end up under your stove element) and leave the heat on.
Put the rest of the ingredients in the pan, mixing constantly.  Cook a
minute after it boils, then empty the pan into the mixing bowl and
quickly mix everything thoroughly and put it out onto half the
parchment, then fold the other half of the parchment paper over top
and use the rolling pin (hurry hard!  like curling...) to flatten it
as much as possible.

Let sit for 10-20 minutes, then the paper should just peel off and you
can break the snaps into pieces.  I would peel it off the bottom too
before breaking, that way you can do a second batch (of course you'll
want to do a second batch...), having hopefully not broken your
parchment paper.  :-)  Sugary remnants come off the pan much easier if
you soak it in water.  Alternatively, if you're doing many batches,
you could use two pans, one for seeds, one for sugary stuff.  The seed
one will barely need washing anyway, because nothing should stick.

If you have one of those silicon ice-cube trays (like we have one with
heart shapes) you can make these into special shape cookies instead of
bark-style pieces if you want.

I hear these keep a long time, but so far their deliciousness factor
has prevented me from confirming this first-hand.

Recap:

0. get parchment and rolling pin ready
1. toast seeds, set aside
2. boil everything else 1 minute
3. quickly mix all
4. quickly pour
5. quickly roll flat
6. let cool
7. break into pieces of awesome
7b. yay no plastic packaging!  look at you go!

Love,
Kev