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Loving the Earth and You, Too

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Every year, on April 22, people all over the world celebrate Earth Day to acknowledge the importance of protecting our planet and supporting a healthy environment for all living things.

If we examine how we live our day-to-day lives, we can find ways to make a significant contribution to living sustainably by taking what may seem like small steps but, when added together, can make a significant difference.

Our kitchen appliances alone account for more than 14 percent of our home’s energy use. Add to that the cost of lighting, heating, and cooking in our kitchen while we prepare, eat, and clean up, and it makes sense to think about ways to be a little more eco-conscious in our meal planning and prep.

For this month’s recipe feature, we’re bringing you a unique, eco-friendly Earth Day menu. Becoming more eco-conscious in our day-to-day lives doesn’t need an all-or-nothing approach. Small steps lead the way toward the bigger goal.

These tasty small-step recipes are drawn from locally produced ingredients wherever possible and include vegan and vegetarian options perfect for an Earth Day meal.

Enjoy our Earth Day menu by serving it up on your finest china and using your best linen, with your favourite soy or beeswax candles lighting the way toward a memorable tradition that you’ll be keen to practise on more than just one day a year.

Be Earth Day-friendly every day

Every day can be as eco-friendly as befits Earth Day. But April 22 is the day the whole world shines the light on our environment to remind us to be friendly to our earth. When it comes to the food we buy, prepare, and eat, there are a few ways we can be particularly mindful—on Earth Day and every day.

Switch off the lights!

On Thursday April 22, 2021, switch off your lights and set the mood. Romanticize your Earth Day meal and eat by candlelight (soy or beeswax, of course).

Use eco-friendly dinnerware

Check to be sure your dinnerware and cutlery is environmentally friendly, safe for use, and also sustainable.

Shop local

Buy and support local food growers and merchants whenever possible.

Cut down on waste

Plan your meals to avoid overbuying, which often leads to waste.

Don’t toss—freeze!

Store vegetable scraps in your freezer and turn them into a big pot of soothing soup to enjoy on a rainy day.

Avoid disposable napkins

Bring back eco-friendly—and much more elegant—cloth napkins to your kitchen service.

The 3 Rs

Finally, always remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible.

01

Beluga Lentil Caviar on Buckwheat Blinis

Beluga Lentil Caviar on Buckwheat Blinis
Stacked Celery, Fennel, Baby Spinach, and Apple Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

You get the best of all worlds with this crispy fresh spring salad. Filled with goodness, containing crisp celery and fennel and fresh baby spinach, it’s chock full of healthy anticancer phytochemical compounds. Add a side of grilled salmon for a hit of beneficial omega-3s and protein.

Gingery Carrot and Wild Rice Soup

Fresh baby carrots are beginning to surface this month. They’re especially delicious eaten fresh from the garden. However, if you’re looking to sip a soothing bowl with healing spices, simmering young carrots in a lovely broth really delivers. We added nutty-tasting wild rice to up the protein quotient along with added fibre, potassium, and zinc.

Rustic Spring Asparagus, Leek, and Cherry Tomato Galette

Our tasty tart is the quintessential harbinger of spring with its new asparagus and spring leeks. All tucked into a flaky crust with tiny tomatoes and sprinkled with pine nuts, it’s a delicious meatless alternative for the vegetarian palate.

Puttanesca with Beans and Chard

Puttanesca is typically made with tomatoes, capers, and anchovies. But that’s not what “puttanesca” actually means. It roughly translates to “lady of the night.” We gave it a nutritional boost by adding in some miso, beans, and baby spring chard to add to the umami explosion of flavour. Perfect served with red wine and, of course, by candlelight.

Chocolate Coconut Ganache Cups with Ginger and Orange

Delicious little morsels of crunchy crusts with a creamy filling offer just enough sweetness to end a special meal. They’re easy to make ahead—and they’re vegan!

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