Happy Canada Day - Time for an Canadian Foods Recipe Roundup!
So I’ve been procrastinating on writing the text part of this entry for a while, as I haven’t known what to say.
Canada Day used to be so easy for me. It was a favourite day of the year - celebrating the country I love, with amazing music and food. Even when I was living in the USA, we marked the day every year.
This year, I’m having some incredibly complicated feelings on the matter.
On one hand:
We’ll be marking 2 years since I dragged my husband home from Minneapolis. Not only has the move been amazing in its own right - we LOVE our new city, Hamilton! - it’s also been sobering to watch everything that we left. The problems that we saw - and suffered under - in Minneapolis are finally coming to a head and being dealt with. (Remember, the final straw for us - accelerating our timeline for getting out - was the huge uptick in Nazi activity in 2016!).
We’re watching, horrified, as friends left behind tell us not only about what’s going on with all of that, but also of the COVID situation. Between the coverage, the response, and even the financial help from the government? There’s no comparison between how it’s been handled, and how much better off we are, here.
Parallel to all of this, I am currently recovering from surgery. This is surgery that saved my life, that I never even would have known I needed, had we not moved home. Due to the nature of our insurance, they never would have found this until it was too late. I’m out a grand total of $36 for the whole thing, btw - 2 CT scans, an MRI, several specialist visits, surgery, 5 days in the hospital, prescriptions, a walker rental, and 6 in-home physiotherapy sessions. Thirty-six dollars.
I don’t want to get into it too much, but “Moving home to Canada has now literally saved my life” definitely weighs into my complicated feelings on it.
For those reasons - and many others - I am extremely thankful to be home in Canada.
There’s a lot to love about this country. The land, the people (for the most part, anyway), the talent, the food, and more. Multiculturalism 100% is what makes this country great, from my point of view.. And it’s something that flavours almost every aspect of all of the things to love about Canada.
As a food blogger... I love going grocery shopping and hearing upwards of 6 different languages spoken as I wander the aisles. I love the HUGE variety of both ingredients and prepared foods available, as a result of the cultural diversity. I love that the music playing over the loudspeakers at grocery stores sometimes involves different languages, and that even the CanCon playing tends to reflect various cultural backgrounds of the singers. The diversity of it all really brings a richness to life that I missed when I was living away.
By now, I’m sure you can feel that there’s a big “BUUUUUT” coming. You’re right.
The thing is, I’ve been noticing more and more that Canadians are resting on “better than” when it comes to matters of civil rights. We point the fingers south and thank our lucky stars that we’re not “them”. For a lot of people, it feels like pride in being Canadian is fairly well centered on what we’re “not”, rather than what we are.
And you know, for a lot of things -healthcare, for instance - that’s ok.
The thing is, it’s a problem now, for where we are in the world. We may not be facing the frequent lynchings that are happening in the USA. We may not have experienced the near daily mass shootings that they had before the pandemic... but “better than” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” or even “good enough”, especially when we’re talking about such a low bar.
News coming out of our very own country has been horrific lately. Multiple people - usually BIPOC - being murdered by our own police. The courts finding that intoxication is an acceptable defense against sexual assault charges. STILL with the First Nations communities without clean water - this is all barbaric.
How much “better” are we, really?
I want to be proud. I want to celebrate Canada, and really just revel in this country that saved my life and has given us a much better life, peace, freedom, etc... but it really feels wrong to do so, when knowing that is NOT the reality that other Canadians are living. The very same government that is shielding us from absolute personal financial collapse from the pandemic... hasn’t done anything about the water situation for others.
I can celebrate MY love for the cultural diversity all day long, but then ... Jagmeet Singh got booted from the House for pointing out the racism of another member.
How much “better” are we, when our government centers the feelings of racists, over those negatively impacted by their racism? Why is pointing out racism more “unparliamentary” than actually engaging in racism? I don’t even care what your politics are, what party you normally vote for, or even what your personal feelings are on him specifically... that he was kicked out over that is a moment of such deep shame for Canadian politics, I hope it makes the history books. I am SO disgusted.
As privileged as I feel, I'm not unaware of the fact that I'm only arms length from some major problems, myself. My grandmother was a victim of the residential school system. I'm an autistic with a lot of "pass privilege" (most of the time, anyway)... yet I see my fellow autistics - right here in Canada - targeted by unfair politics, policies, and policing. I am VERY aware of the fact that I'm also potentially just one bad/overwhelmed day / meltdown away from a life altering - or ending - experience.
These are the things weighing on my mind, as I’ve been trying to write up holiday themed text to go with my Canada Day blog post.
I’m just not feeling it this year, Canada.
The thing is, we COULD be so much better.
We could see past our own egos, our own fragility, and take a good hard look at what we are. We could stop being defensive and pointing fingers elsewhere. We could stop resting on “better than” and aim for GOOD. We could aim for actual equality.
As many of us are using these weird times to better ourselves personally - whether in skills, health, or just cleaning up, building gardens, etc... why shouldn’t we devote the same introspection to improving our country, and life for ALL?
We could look at the positive strides that the US is making, and see what could apply here. Especially with regards to shuffling police power with regards to mental health calls - even just changing that ONE area would be huge.
Yes, this is all the stuff that comes to mind when I think “Canada Day”, this year. Have a maple buttertart recipe, it comes with a free rant.
Truth be told, I wasn’t even sure I should post anything, but as with most things... I tend to think of silence as being complicit. None of what’s going on is acceptable and more people need to acknowledge and address that.
I don’t want to shame anyone away from celebrating Canada, whether for Canada Day or any other day. I’m just asking that - moving forward - such observations aren’t done without a bit of introspection.
For many of us, Canada is a great country that treats us well... but until ALL of us can say the same, is it really “great”, in its own right?
I don’t have all of the answers, I just think that acknowledgment is a really good first start - especially considering how rare and taboo that acknowledgment seems to be, especially of late.
I’m a person who has a hard time enjoying what I have, when I know others are suffering.
Since moving home, I feel incredibly guilty to enjoy things such as our healthcare system, as the friends we left behind are in such a terrible situation. My $36 bill for the entire medical drama is a relief to us, but then I see friends who can’t afford to see a Dr at all, or the thousands of dollars a month for life saving prescriptions.
Celebrating, now, feels a bit like hosting a lavish feast, while starving people watch from within arms reach. I certainly wouldn’t be able to enjoy such a situation, and would be inviting them to the table.
Can this be the Canada Day that we finally invite ALL Canadians to our (metaphorical) table?
Anyway. Things to keep in mind, as we plan for Canada Day!
... so here are some great Canada Day recipes 🙂
Condiments and Beverages
Homemade “Beep” Juice Drink
A very accurate replica recipe for a beloved Canadian favourite.
Check out this recipe
Maple Butter Tart Liqueur
This Canadian themed liqueur is easy to make at home, and really does taste like butter tarts!
Check out this recipe
Honey Garlic Sauce - Canadian Style, VH Copycat Recipe
This cooking sauce is super popular in Canada, and very versatile - It's great for wings, stir fry, meatballs, marinating, grilling, and more!
Check out this recipe
Honey Dill Dipping Sauce Recipe [Winnipeg Style]
This Winnipeg favourite is ubiquitous there - you'll find it on most restaurant menus and in grocery stores. While it's usually used for chicken fingers, it’s also great on roasted potato chunks, steamed carrots, salmon, egg rolls, perogies, for crudite plates … and as a french fry dip!
Check out this recipe
Gluten Free Cretons
Cretons is a traditional Quebecois meat pate, commonly served on toast for breakfast. This is my recipe for a homemade, gluten free version.
Check out this recipe
Partridgeberry Wine
Homemade Partridgeberry Wine (AKA: Lingonberry Wine) is fantastic, and worth the bit of effort to make it. Here’s how!
Check out this recipe
Snacks and Main Dishes
Halifax Meat Paste Egg Rolls
Egg roll styles are HIGHLY regional in Canada. These “Meat Paste” Egg rolls are a Halifax specialty!
Check out this recipe
Creamy Dill Pickle Dip [Philly Dip Copycat Recipe]
A very accurate replica of the Canadian Philly Pickle Dip!
Check out this recipe
Vegan Donair "Meat"
This vegan donair "meat" tastes - and feels - so much like the real thing, it has fooled even the most dedicated of carnivores!
Check out this recipe
How to Make Peameal Bacon and Back Bacon
Peameal and Back Bacon are ubiquitous in Canada, but hard to come by elsewhere. Luckily, they're both easy to make, here's how!
Check out this recipe
Savoury Alligator Pie
Revisiting an iconic childhood poem, one thing led to another, and I learned that “Alligator Pie” - in a literal sense - isn’t actually a thing. This savoury alligator pie recipe rights that wrong 🙂
Check out this recipe
French Canadian Pea Soup
This traditional Canadian soup is easy to work up, feeds a LOT of people - with very little expense - is tasty, filling, and a great way to use up leftover ham!
Check out this recipe
Authentic Canadian Poutine Recipe [With Homemade Fries]
Authentic Poutine is something that many people have strange ideas about, but it’s just a bed of fries topped with cheese curds, & gravy. Easy to make, and so trashy-good!
Check out this recipe
Gluten-Free Tourtiere
This Gluten-Free Tourtiere Recipe is full of all of the flavours and textures of the traditional pie, just without the gluten!
Check out this recipe
Chicken Mushroom Tourtiere
This Chicken Mushroom Tourtiere is a shockingly accurate version of the traditional pie. You’d never know there’s no beef or pork!
Check out this recipe
Cod Au Gratin
Cod au Gratin is a popular dish on the east coast of Canada, for good reason. This is my gluten-free version!
Check out this recipe
Sweet Treats
Sucre à la Crème [Traditional Quebec Fudge]
Sucre à la Crème is a traditional Quebecois fudge. This recipe is from my book, #MoreThanPoutine, and comes courtesy of my frend Karine Charlebois!
Check out this recipe
Gluten-Free Oatmeal Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
These cookies were designed to be a gluten-free replica of Canada's "Pirate" cookies, but apparently they are also very similar to "Do-Si-Do" Girl Scout cookies!
Check out this recipe
“Moon Mist” Ice Cream
Moon Mist Ice Cream is a pretty - and wildly flavoured - ice cream from the East Coast of Canada, especially Nova Scotia. Banana, Bubblegum, and Grape sound like a weird combination, but somehow... it just works!
Check out this recipe
Tiger Tail Ice Cream Recipe (AKA Tiger-Tiger Ice Cream Recipe)
As weird as it may sound to some, this is a beloved ice cream flavour in Canada... and has been for decades! You can make it at home, wherever you are!
Check out this recipe
Schmoo Torte
Schmoo – or “Shmoo”, depending on who’s writing it – is a soft, pecan-laced angel food cake that is torted and filled with sweetened whipped cream, before being served up with a buttery caramel sauce. This decadent cake is served at various bakeries and dessert restaurants around the city, and apparently it’s very common at Winnipeg Bar Mitzvahs- but you don’t really see it anywhere else.
Check out this recipe
Puffed Wheat Squares
Puffed Wheat Squares are a super popular bar back home in Winnipeg, and it seems to be mostly a Canadian Prairies thing.
Check out this recipe
Homemade Clodhoppers
Homemade Clodhoppers: Accurate replica recipe for a Canadian Favourite.
Check out this recipe
Homemade Crunchie Bars
Homemade Crunchie Bars! A fun way to have Crunchie Bars - one of my favs - on hand, wherever in the world you may live.
Check out this recipe
Pumpkin Spice Nanaimo Bars
These Pumpkin Spice Nanaimo Bars are a fun variation on tradition, and a great way to use leftover pumpkin puree!
Check out this recipe
Mocha Nanaimo Bars
Nanaimo Bars can be made in many different flavours, but this Mocha Nanaimo Bar is one of my all time favourites!
Check out this recipe
Maraschino Cherry Nanaimo Bars
Nanaimo Bars can be made in many different flavours, but this Maraschino Cherry Nanaimo Bar has always been one of my favourites!
Check out this recipe
Maple Butter Tarts
Butter Tarts are a uniquely Canadian favourite, and this is my recipe for them. FYI: I am decidedly PRO RAISIN! 🙂
Check out this recipe
Gluten-Free Butter Tarts
Gluten-Free Butter Tarts! Because everyone should be able to try this uniquely Canadian favourite, gluten allergy or not!
Check out this recipe
This recipe is one of many fantastic Canadian recipes in my cookbook, "More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from my Home and Native Land”. "More than Poutine" is a Canadian cookbook like no other - written by a Canadian living away, it includes both traditional home cooking recipes, as well as accurate homemade versions of many of the snacks, sauces, convenience foods, and other food items that are hard to come by outside of Canada! Order your copy here on this site, through Amazon, or through any major bookseller!
