Need Help with Your Hydro Bill?

Having moved to Ontario from Calgary less than a year ago, I was stunned by the high hydro bills here. Electricity cost (or outages) were never an issue in Calgary and monthly bills were around 60+ for two people in a two bed, two bath apartment. I cooked almost everyday and baked or roasted something at least once a week. The tv was usually on and we used the in-suite clothes dryer several times a week. Fast forward to my first month in Ontario. I'd moved in in the middle of August. The weather was amazing, the apartment disgustingly filthy. I was too exhausted after scrubbing and washing and mopping to cook and it was too nice to stay indoors all day so I simply got takeaway everyday (cooked food is cheap were I live). I didn't even have a tv yet. As such, I was relaxed about the hydro bill as I thought it couldn't be more than 60. Big mistake. It came up to nearly $100 for 20 days. For one person. I freaked out. Since then, I've been just charging the prerequisite computer and mobile and each time there's only one light on. But as the weather gets colder, especially with the poor insulation apartments have here, I find myself wondering whether to turn on the heating. It sucks. I miss the heating in Calgary that worked with hot water pipes running through the walls. The place was never cold and it was not a drain cost-wise like the hydro powered central heating many apartments here use.

But I'm lucky in comparison to many others in Ontario. A few days ago I came across a news story about a family in Kingston who were living in darkness as they were unable to afford the spiraling hydro rates. Their bills had increased from $140 to nearly $400 in a span of six years whilst her salary had not seen the same increase. The single mother was forced to make a choice between groceries and hydro. Groceries won and Kingston Hydro efficiently disconnected their power. Ever wondered why utility companies seem efficient only when increasing costs and disconnecting services? It's mind boggling, isn't it?

If you're on a low income and struggling with hydro bills, have a look at the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP). If you're a single or family on a low income, you may qualify for a reduction of around $30-50 a month on your hydro bill. More information can be found by clicking on the link above.

Imitation Pho: Rice Noodles with Cabbage and Pork

I think one of the worst feelings in the world (on a mundane day to day basis) is coming home late and still having to cook. Thankfully, I now have the freedom to cook whatever I want without anyone whinging about it. I believe a weekday meal has to meet several requirements:

Fast? Check. Tasty? Check. Vegetables, meat and carbs? Check.

This light and speedy rice noodles meal ticks all the boxes necessary to qualify for a weekday meal. Minimal clean up or cooking and preparation time so you can spend your evening unwinding instead of slaving over the stove or sink.

Ingredients:

1 packet instant rice noodles

2 cups chopped cabbage

1 cup sliced pork (substitute with beef or chicken if desired)

Preparation:

1. Chop cabbage in pieces or strips.

2. Slice pork into thin slices.

3. Place pork and cabbage into a pot and cover with water. Bring to boil before reducing heat.

4. Add seasoning and simmer till cabbage is soft and cooked.

5. Pour into bowls and serve warm. 

How to Deal with That I-Ate-So-Much-I-Feel-Like-The-Stuffed-Turkey Feeling

Urgh, I’m never going to eat so much again! Till next time that is.

Why does it feel so bad when you overeat? It’s because your small intestines, stomach and abdominal muscles get stretched by the food, liquid, swallowed air, and gas. This stretching is what causes the discomfort.

Unfortunately, when the temptation to overeat gets too much or you’ve already passed that point, here are some ways to ease the pain.

1. Loosen your pants or change into a looser , more comfortable pair.

The less restricted you are, the less uncomfortable you’ll feel which will in turn reduce the stress on your digestive system.

2. Peppermint tea or coffee to the rescue!

Sipping on peppermint tea can help by relaxing the digestive track which allows you to burp any trapped air in your stomach, so that you don’t feel as bloated. Burping and passing gas stimulates your digestion by causing movements in the food in your stomach.

Coffee may help you, erm, move your bowels (poop). However, coffee can make tummy troubles even worse in people who are sensitive to it.

Do also avoid excessive drinking or overly hot or cold liquids.

3. Stay on your feet instead of lying down.

Lying down can put pressure on the stomach, causing stomach acid to enter your esophagus, triggering heartburn.

4. Try Over-the- Counter Medication if in pain.

Try an antacid like Maalox or Mylanta to reduce the extra acid production caused by overeating or Pepto-Bismol or Zantac, which can settle the stomach and sooth irritation caused by overindulging. Or, try an anti-gas drug like Gas-X, which neutralizes gas bubbles in your digestive tract to reduce bloating.

Perhaps the best way to avoid all the discomfort in the first place is to pace yourself and avoid drinking too much liquid if you are planning on eating a lot.

Regardless, may this Christmas be full of joy and blessings and lots and lots of delicious food!

Asian Pear Tea

When the weather is cold and dark, there's nothing better than curling up with a warm cup of fruit tea and some cookies.

One of my favourites is the Asian pear tea.

Ingredients:

1 Asian pear

Honey

Preparation:

1. Peel and cut pear into bite sized pieces.

2. Place in pot and fill with water.

3. Boil till fruit is soft.

4. Add honey to taste.

5. Drink warm or cold if preferred.

Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup

Winter is the time for lots of clothing, wishing electricity wasn’t so expensive in Ontario so you could turn on the heating more and hot food. Lots of hot food. Preferably whilst smuggled up with a favourite pillow or stuffed friend on your Lazy Lounge Sofa.

What are some ways you keep warm in winter?

My favourite warm-me-up tactic is a huge bowl of savory or sweet dessert soup or a cup of tea. Or all three. Yum.

I try to use more ginger in my cooking when the weather is cold as the humble root helps to warm you up from inside out. It is also really good for you.

Ginger goes really well with sweet potato for a sweet end to a meal that’s healthy too.

Ingredients:

2 cups sweet potato cubes

Approximately 1 inch knob of ginger (add more if you like it spicier)

Honey or sugar to taste

Preparation:

1. Peel and cut sweet potato into cubes.

2. Peel ginger and slice into smaller pieces.

3. Put sweet potato and ginger into a pot. Cover with water and bring to boil. Lower heat and continue simmering till sweet potatoes are soft and cooked through.

4. Add sugar or honey to taste.

Too Tired to Cook?

There are days when it just takes too much effort to whip up a meal - no matter how simple it is.

Here are some budget friendly frozen meals that will tide you through those times:

Frozen Meals:

Try VH or Healthy Choice Steamers from Walmart for $2.97 and $2.94 respectively.

Throw these in the oven for a delicious snack or meal. I love the Alfredo and meatball flavours. Two boxes for $5 at Walmart (when on sale).

This brand of lasagna is really good. Throw the creamy chicken lasagna in the oven for a warm, indulgent meal. $4.99 at Walmart.

How to Cut Broccoli

Not for eating! Meet Broccolini, my TV buddy

Ever struggled with cutting broccoli and ended up with a kitchen counter that looks like the scene of a horror movie vegetable massacre?

Check out this video for a simple, fuss-free way to cut broccoli.

Also works for its buddy cauliflower.

Asian Pear and Goji Berry Tea

Herbal tea, fruit tea, liang te, chai, aromatica . . . These are all names for a brew of fruit and/ or herbs you can drink hot on a cold day and cold on a warm day.

There’s nothing more comforting than getting cosy on your Lazy Lounge Sofa with a book in one hand or a good movie and a cup of tea in the other.

One of my favourites is the Asian Pear and Goji Berry tea. It’s especially good when you have a cough or sore throat as it helps soothe your throat. An added bonus is that unlike cough mixtures or awful lozenges, this tastes yummy.

Asian pears are a source of potassium, fiber, vitamin C and K and copper. They are sweet and crisp and can be found in major supermarkets and Asian stores throughout Ontario. Asian pears generally come in three varieties. The ones on the right being the most common ones found in Canada. My favourite is the first one though as I think it has the best flavour and sweetness of all three. It is also the cutest as it has a pink tinge to it which looks like its blushing. Unfortunately, it tends to be really expensive in Canada. For cooking purposes, the one on the bottom right is probably the best as it’s easy to find in most stores and usually really affordable (around $1 – $1.50 per pound or less on average depending on where you get them).

Considered both a fruit and a herb, goji berries are also called wolfberries, which I think is a much cooler name for the little red fruit. Low in calories and high in fiber, they can be used for teas, soups (dessert and savoury) or eaten raw as a snack.

According to Toronto based health and nutrition expert Rosanna Lee, these little berries are an excellent source of antioxidants.

Goji berries are full of beta-carotene which helps promote healthy skin. They are high in vitamin C and can boost the immune system and aid in recovery from a cold.

Many Asians use the little berries in soups, desserts and teas as they are believed to be good for eye health.

However, goji berries may cause a negative reaction in people using blood thinners or taking diabetic medication. So, if you’re one of those people, please check with your doctor first.

Ingredients:

1 Asian Pear peeled and cut into cubes

1 tbsp Goji Berries

Honey or sugar

Makes around 3 – 4 cups

Preparation:

1. Peel and cut Asian Pear into cubes.

2. Place in pot with Goji Berries and around 5 cups water.

3. Boil till the fruit is soft and liquid is brown (maple syrup like) in colour.

4. Add honey or sugar to taste.

5. Enjoy warm with your book or movie or refrigerate for a cool, refreshing drink later.

Turkey, Carrot and Potato Stew

It's the happiest time of the year! Christmas is just around the corner and it looks like it's going to be a white, snow-covered one in Toronto this year.

One of my favourite things about Canada is how cheap turkey is here. Walmart, No Frills and many major supermarkets are having promotions for turkeys in the lead up to the festive season and the birds can be found for as low as 0.97 a pound.

Oh, you delicious bird

Turkey also happens to be high in protein which helps increase the feeling of satiety and make you feel fuller longer. It contains the mineral selenium, which may decrease the risk of colorectal, prostate, lung, bladder, skin, esophageal, and gastric cancers.

The main quibble I have about turkey is its size. I always end up with way too much turkey after roasting one. As awesome as it is, eating turkey for a few weeks on end is no fun.

I decided to chop up my bird into parts, use one, freeze the others and stew it instead. And you know what? Turkey tastes even better stewed. Roast turkey can be a trifle dry sometimes but stewed turkey is juicy, tender and oh-so-tasty!

The unused turkey can be left in the freezer till desired.

Ingredients:

A quarter small turkey (around 1.5 kg)

10 potatoes

3 carrots

Soy sauce to taste

3 tbsps Oyster sauce

1/2 inch piece of ginger

Preparation:

1. Chop (in my case, hack) turkey into four parts and place three in the freezer.

2. Wash and clean turkey being used for stew.

3. Peel carrots and potatoes and chop into large cubes/ pieces.

4. Peel ginger and slice.

5. Place ingredients in pot and add oyster sauce and 2 tablespoons soy sauce.

6. Fill pot till around 3/4 full with water.

7. Bring to boil then lower heat and simmer for 25 minutes.

8. Remove turkey and shred or chop into large pieces. Replace in pot.

9. Continue cooking for another 20 minutes or so till turkey and vegetables are cooked through and liquid is reduced. Add more soy sauce if needed.

10. Enjoy on its own or with rice/ bread/ pita.

It's Not Easy Being A Turkey at Christmas

Ever wonder how a turkey feels come Christmas time? Merry Christmas doesn't hold have quite the same ring to it when you're a turkey.

Watch the hilarious video below about an evil chicken bullying a soon-to-become Christmas dinner turkey!

Giant Panda Enjoying Snow at Toronto Zoo

Snow is back in Toronto and it's certainly making its presence felt, blanketing Toronto in a sheet of white.

I'm not personally a fan of snow or winter but the giant panda in the Toronto zoo seems to love playing in it! 😍

Life Hack: How to pour fizzy drinks without foam

Too much foam when pouring your fizzy drinks? Try this life hack for pouring them sans foam.

Perfect for the upcoming Christmas parties.

Fancy Being an Emoji Translator?

Love emojis? Apply for a job as an emoji translator!

Eat it, Drink it, It's Good for You: The Benefits of Ginger

Ginger. Where do I start? Use it in soups, stir fries, stews, teas . . . Ginger adds a zinge to your food and drink whilst being super good for you.

Check out some reasons why ginger should be your new go-to spice.

1. Ginger is full of Gingerol, a bioactive compound with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Its anti-inflammatory properties can help with common health problems such as Osteoarthritis, the degeneration of the joints in the body which causes joint pain and stiffness.

Gingerol can also lower the risk of infections and  inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria.

2. Feeling nauseous? Try some ginger.

Ginger can help ease sea sickness, chemotherapy-related and post-surgery nausea and morning sickness.

It is also good for women suffering from menstrual pain as a hot cup of ginger tea can aid in easing their discomfort.

3. Ginger has been shown to help reduce LDL which is the ‘bad’ cholesterol that is linked to  increased risk of heart disease.

4. The super root also contains something called 6-gingerol, which may have anti-cancer properties.

5. The antioxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger may inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.

Do You Uplift or Drag Others Down?

We all have the choice to inspire and support  or conversely, negatively hurt and demoralize others around us.

With Christmas fast approaching, share some kindness and positivity today! You never know whose life you might touch.

Beware of Energy Drinks

The latest in Food news is that energy drinks are bad for you.

                       
(see full article here at: http://dailycollegian.com/2011/02/15/energy-drinks-may-pose-potential-dangers/)

Perhaps that’s not really news for many of you – I turn into a jumpy, quivering version of the Energizer Bunny when I drink it – though the taste is enough to make me stop anyway. Definitely not a fan of energy drinks.


But for those of you who are, beware of excessive consumption.

Over consumption of energy drinks might destroy your liver. Seeing that the liver is a pretty essential organ, it’s not really one you’d want to kill off.

Exhibit 1:

A 50-year-old construction worker developed acute hepatitis after consuming four to five energy drinks every day over the course of three weeks. His symptoms disappeared after he stopped bingeing on energy drinks.

Exhibit 2:

An otherwise healthy 22-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute hepatitis in 2011 after indulging in ten cans of energy drinks a day for two weeks.

Energy drinks are full of dubious chemicals such as niacin and stimulants like caffeine. Niacin is a drug known to cause liver toxicity.

Definitely not something to drink too much of!

Instead of relying on energy drinks to keep you alert, why not try an apple tea instead? Apples are a natural stimulant and as the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away!

Potato Soup with Carrots, Chicken and Winter Melon

As the weather gets increasingly brrrr, the urge to hide under a blanket on my Lazy Lounge Sofa with a steaming hot bowl of soup is becoming more and more irresistible. I have to admit though, soup is one of my favourite things in the world. It can make you feel better when you’re sick, warm when you’re cold and happy when you’re sad. I love soup.

I also love potatoes. Soft, warm, mushy and adorable in toy-form (Mr. Potato Head!), potatoes are the comfort food to rule them all.

Isn’t he cute?

And the best part is . . . potatoes are so cheap right now in Ontario. 10 pounds for $1.50-$2, they’re practically giving it away.

This soup combines two of my favorites – potatoes and winter melon – for a slightly different potato soup experience.

Ingredients:

5-7 average sized potatoes

2 cups chopped winter melon

2 average sized carrots

1 chicken leg

Soya sauce or salt

Preparation:

1. Peel and chop potatoes, carrots and winter melon into cubes.

2. Put everything in pot with chicken and fill with water.

3.Bring to boil then simmer.

4. Remove chicken after about 15 minutes or when cooked through and shred. Put shredded meat back into pot.

5. Continue cooking till vegetables are soft.

6. Add soya sauce or salt to taste.

7. Sit back and enjoy a delicious, streaming bowl of soup!

Sweet Potato and Mung Bean Soup

As the weather gets increasingly colder and wetter (urgh), the ever enthusiastic flu bug is at its friendliest and most active.

It’s time to start defending ourselves by eating lots of immunity boosting foods. Take that, flu bug!

This is one of my favourite hot desserts that’s simple to make and really good for you. There’s something just so amazing about huddling on my Lazy Lounge Sofa with a steaming bowl of this on a cold day.

During the Sars outbreak in 2002 in Singapore, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners advised people to consume this to reduce their chances of catching the disease.

Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene which is converted into Vitamin A when eaten. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining a strong immune system and keeping the mucous membranes in our nose and throat healthy and functional.

Mung beans (aka green beans depending on where you hail from) are described by some as an ‘ancient superfood’ packed with enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Personally, I find them awesome for detoxing and erm, constipation (translation: it makes you poop).

Honey is able to fight infection as its loaded with polyphenols, hydrogen peroxide and a natural acidity, which all work together to actively target and destroy bacteria.

Ingredients:
1/2 to 1 cup mung beans (I like more beans so I usually use one cup but use 1/2 cup if you prefer it less dense)

1 to 2 cups sweet potato cubes (once again, add more or less depending on your preference)

Honey to taste

Water

Preparation:
1. Wash and soak beans. Mung beans tend to be smaller so soak them for at least two hours or overnight if possible but they do cook relatively quickly compared to other types of beans.

2. Peel and chop sweet potato into cubes.

3. Put mung beans in a pot and cover with water. Cook on high heat till water boils then reduce heat to simmer.

4. Add sweet potato cubes.

5. Cook till beans are soft. Add more water when cooking if needed.

6. Add honey to taste.

Pulled Pork and Vegetable Rice

I love cooking and can spend hours in the kitchen (except in summer when I turn into Oscar the Grouch and just want to stuff myself into the fridge and never leave). Moving to Ontario and narrowly missing having a heart attack from seeing my first electricity bill has necessitated some changes to my cooking style. A leg infection and being barely able to stand for two weeks also helped inspire some really simple and quick recipes that can be created whilst hopping around on one leg. It never fails to amaze me what pain can accomplish.

This recipe combines various instant and fresh ingredients. It makes two average sized servings and costs around $5 to make (depending on the costs of the items at the time of purchase). To reduce costs, I usually use whatever’s in season or on sale.

Ingredients:
1 pack Uncle Ben’s Fast and Fancy Fine Herb Rice

1 pack Hungry Man’s Pulled Pork

1 lb bok choy or other leafy vegetable

3 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp butter or margarine

Preparation:
1. Wash and chop the vegetables and garlic.

2. Heat a pan or pot and put butter or margarine in.

3. Add chopped garlic and fry till fragrant.

4. Add chopped vegetables.

5. Separate the pork from the rest of the pack. Save for a snack later.

6. Add pork.

7. Add rice and flavoring.

8. Add water as per directions on rice package.


9. Cook until rice is soft and water has dried up (around 15 minutes).

Try Cooking an Easy, Budget Friendly Meal Today!

I’ll be sharing some simple recipes you can enjoy. Quick (generally), oh-so-simple and low cost (for the Grinch in all of us), try one today.

Please feel free to adapt the amount of ingredients as you prefer. I usually don’t use a lot of meat so please add more if desired.

The cost of most recipes is around $5 – $10 for two servings. Costs vary depending on quantity of ingredients used and instore prices.

Moving from Western to Eastern Canada

Moving to Ontario was a headache to say the least. It started with how to get ourselves and our stuff there.

We explored several options:

1. Renting a uhaul and loading it up and driving it to Ontario.
Nah. Too long a drive in the cold weather across unfamiliar territory. We were afraid of getting into an accident or getting eaten by a bear along the way (I'm actually serious here. The idea of driving cross country was a beary scary one). Also, the cost of renting the uhaul was too expensive.

2. Shipping it over via Greyhound.
They didn't do furniture.

3. Getting a mover.
That was the most feasible option to us at that point. Just pack everything up and leave it to the experts whilst we flew to Ontario.

So we begun our journey of finding movers and getting quotations and trying not to get a heart attack from the high prices or getting conned by the overly cheap (and dodgy) ones.

Most movers charge by weight so the heavier your stuff is, well, the more you pay. Thankfully, we didn't have much stuff that was really heavy. The blessing about rental housing in Canada is that they usually come with the larger kitchen and laundry appliances so no struggling with the washing machine or fridge necessary.

We did heaps of research about moving companies as there were too many scary stories out there and lousy ones that lost or damaged or stole your stuff. After many calls and emails, we found a decent and professional moving company that didn't charge an arm and leg. We paid 2000+ in total for our stuff to be picked up in Calgary and moved and dropped off in Ontario.

For anyone interested in a good, reasonably priced moving company, try Riteway Movers. Sam, the main contact person is Calgary, is awesome (calgary@ritewaymoving.com). They were really fast and strong and even carried our sofa down the stairs as it wouldn't fit in the lift without being dissembled. We were on the seventh floor.

The two guys who delivered our stuff in Ontario were really professional and friendly too I applaud their cheery attitudes and hard work.

You may think that coming here and moving our stuff here was the hard part. Nope, the hardest part was just beginning.

Finding a livable space that was reasonably priced and that they’d rent to you was about as easy as hunting a bear in downtown Toronto. The nastiest people I've ever met in Canada work as property managers in Ontario. The nicest thing I can say about them is that their level of meanness surpasses the quality of the housing they manage.

We also had a rather unpleasant experience with zolo and their insistence that we pay the entire year's rent upfront as we were new to Ontario and still job hunting so that was the only way we would ever find a place to live. Every zolo agent we spoke to seemed to sing the same tune.

Even with the nicer real estate agents, it was still difficult to convince them or the owner that you were a good tenant. People in Ontario are really paranoid about people and distrustful. An irony since many of them are actually breaking the law by asking for more than one month's rent upfront.

It was frustrating to say the least. The best thing about Calgary was how easy it was to rent a place. We only had to show the the bank statements to prove we had the funds. The apartments/ condos there are much nicer and better built than in Ontario too. It was always warm and quiet in my Calgary apartment compared to the constant draft and noise in my current place. I can hear the phone and alarm clock ringing for the apartment above mine! Honestly, I didn't particularly like Calgary as I prefer bigger, more developed cities but I really liked my apartment and the view of the river from my window.

Finally, I found a decent enough apartment with a listing agent and owner willing to rent it to me. 

But if you think that it’s all smooth sailing from there on, think again. When I got the keys and went into the apartment for the first time, I realized how dirty it was. It was disgustingly filthy. There were even maggots in the kitchen from the rotting food pieces and lots of garbage left the China student who'd lived there previously didn't bother to throw. Lots of stains everywhere and the stove and fan were dripping with oil. The fridge smelt awful. The edges of the bathtub were covered with dust. The carpet in the room was so dirty it had stiffened up. I'm guessing she wasn't a big fan of cleaning or cleanliness. It took two weeks, two bottles of Easy off, two bottles of Jif, two bottles of disinfectant, a bottle of carpet cleaner and a bottle of dishwashing liquid before the place was livable. Even so, some stains will never be erased.

I've lived in Singapore, Australia, South America and Calgary and the dirtiest places I have ever encountered were in Ontario.

But, I'm here and determined to make the best of it so wish me luck!