Good morning! It's October and we are just days away from celebrating Thanksgiving. And if you're like many of us right now, you might be finding it more difficult than usual to find things in your life or this world to be thankful for. This pandemic is causing so many people to go broke, to get sick, to lose loved ones and perhaps even to die themselves. The political climate around the world is chaotic. And the physical climate and the environment is not much better. There seems to be so much division amongst us as human beings. So if you need a reminder about what's important right now and about what you have to be thankful for The Canadian Red Cross has a chart called We Are The Lucky Ones that you've likely seen before but it bears repeating again.
We Are The Lucky Ones
- You can read… … so you are luckier than over one billion people who cannot read at all.
- If you woke up this morning with more health than illness … … then you are luckier than the million who will not survive this week… … and even luckier because you have a provincial healthcare card that guarantees you will have healthcare in case of illness.
- If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... … then you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
- If you can attend any meeting you want—political, religious, social… … then you are luckier than 3 billion people in the world.
- If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep… … then you are richer than 75 per cent of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace… … then you are among the top eight per cent of the world’s wealthy.
Of course, there are literally countless things to be thankful for, things that don't appear on this list. Think about a few of them as you go about your day. Sometimes all it takes to feel grateful (and to feel better) is to shift your focus just a little bit. If you stop and really think about it, you'll realize that you have so much to give thanks for in your life! Let's all try to remember everything that makes us so much more fortunate than most, not just at this time of year, but every single day.
Alright so there are a lot of new items to mention this week so pitter-patter, let's get at 'er! The first one is really unique and hand-made right here in Victoria, BC, by a local artist with a business called Stacie Designs! Stacie makes really nice Mask Chains, which are designed to allow your PPE mask to hang around your neck! And who better to endorse this fashionable jewelery than our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry?! She loves her new mask chain and so will you! They sell for $25 but we have a limited quantity available so get yours before they're sold out! If you'd like to have a closer look, check out these profiles on social media:
Instagram: @staciec.designs
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stacie.diane.9
What goes hand in hand with face masks in the age of COVID-19? Yup, hand sanitizer! And we've got another local one that won't break the bank! Vanilla Blossom Hand Sanitizer is a WHO approved formula (70% alcohol) that comes in a hefty 500ml trigger bottle and retails here for only $9.99. If you'd like to check out the company website, visit www.vanillablossom.com.
Just in time for your Thanksgiving meal is Misty Mountain Dried Mushrooms! Our Produce Department has Loads of different varieties (cultivated and wild) for any conceivable meal: Shiitake, Lobster, Wild Mix, Portabella, Matsutake, Oyster, Morel, Porcini and Chanterelle! Misty Mountain is a leading global supplier of fine mushrooms and other specialty foods and is based out of Port Coquitlam, BC. For an in-depth explanation of the characteristics and uses of each of these delicious mushrooms, head on over to www.mistymt.com.
Mushrooms and pasta are a great combo! New Authentica World Cuisine Pasta Sauces are authentic Italian sauces and Pepper's has them in the following flavours:
Siciliana: SWEET AND EARTHY. Made with authentic Italian red plum and sun dried tomatoes, this bold tasting sauce is delicious on its own or as a base for your favourite pasta recipes.
Puttanesca: BOLD AND INTENSE. First served in a popular night spot in Ischia, Naples, there is absolutely no need to add anything to this hearty, flavourful sauce made with olives and capers!
Pomodoro & Ricotta: THICK AND SMOOTH: Made from a combination of fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil with added light and creamy ricotta cheese!
Thanksgiving isn't just about turkey. After all, this is the West Coast (and the best coast) and that means an abundance of fresh salmon! Why not change things up this year and serve a side of delicious sockeye or coho salmon flavoured with David's No Salt Famous Salmon Rub? Made in Toronto, ON, this rub is the perfect medley of lemon and dill without the sodium!
Coffee is the elixir of life. Tea drinkers will try tro tell you that tea actually is, that tea is the most popular tea in the world so it must be the best. But it's not. Coffee is and that's all there is to it (wink!). So the addition of new Califia Cold Brew Black Coffee should please the no-nonsense coffee drinkers out there! Who wants to wait for hot coffee to brew and then add cream and/or sugar? With Califia Cold Brew Blonde Roast and Califia Cold Brew Medium Roast you just pour and go. That's it. Made with 100% direct trade arabica coffee beans and full of high octane caffeine to get you jacked and ready for your day!
It's autumn and that means the plethora of pumpkin-flavoured goodies make their way onto store shelves everywhere. And we're no different! Our Deli Department has added Fromager d'Affinois Roasted Pumpkin Seed Double Cream Brie to it's already lethal arsenal of artisan cheeses from around the world! In this case, as you may have surmised from the name, this cheese comes from France. Ultra filtered milk is used to make this silky, creamy-smooth brie with a delicate flavour with the nuttiness of roasted pumkin seeds. Perfect for the Thanksgiving dinner table!
Another cheese not-cheese addition to our Dairy Department is the plant-based Applewood Vegan Cheese. This smoky flavoured and smooth and creamy textured cheese melts beautifully and is fre from dairy, soya, lactose and gluten.
Last but certainly not least is an item that hails from the uber popular Riviera company: Oat Milk Vegan Delight Yogurt! This oat-based yogurt has added vitamins A, D and B12, is a good source of calcium and has probiotics to help foster healthy intestinal and immune system health. It's so smooth and creamy that you'll likely mistake this gluten-free treat for traditional yogurt! Currently available in Plain and Peach flavours.
Well everyone, the next newsletter will fall on the Tuesday morning after the holiday so we'll take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy and a very safe Thanksgiving! From all of us at Pepper's Foods, please, take good care!