Beyond Poutine
Mama Toad ·
Oct 10, 2011 at 7:09am
Dear Canadian Ricocheti -- I am working on a unit on Canada with my 3rd grade son. We are planning a Canadian meal, and wanted to make something other than just flapjacks with maple syrup. Can anyone suggest something for which I can find ingredients in my local supermarket (i.e., not poutine, which I am sure is just delightful, but fresh cheese curds may not be in the dairy section)?
While I'm at it, any Canadian book suggestions beyond Anne of Green Gables (which I personally have read more times than can be counted)?
Thanks in advance.
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Oct '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
Mama, good Canadian friends of ours were proudly telling us that the Bloody Ceasar (vodka, Clamato and worcestershire sauce), a variation on the Bloody Mary, is a Canuck invention. Not being a vodka drinker, I can't vouch for its wonderfulness, and it won't work for your project anyway, will it. Just sayin'.
Jan '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
How 'bout some back bacon with the flapjacks?
Jun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
I don't know if these might be available anywhere near you, and they are a tad pricey, but no life is complete without this Canadian treat. Callebaut gives meaning to the words pralines to die for. I use Callebaut white chocolate exclusively when baking my white chocolate cheese cake. If I can't get Callebaut chocolate I don't bake the cake.
Jul '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
Canadian bacon pizza
Jun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
I almost forgot Canadian Back bacon, absolutely primo with eggs any style. A splash of maple syrup only enhances the flavour (note the Canadian spelling).
Jun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
You're screwin' me up here Mama Toad, I have to head out to a dinner party and forgot to recommend books. This one is a must Canadian read: Who Has Seen the Wind, by W.O. Mitchell. If you even like, never mind love, baseball: Shoeless Joe, by W. P. Kinsella, and also by the same author, The Iowa Baseball Confederacy, smashing good read the both of them. Sorry I don't have the time to hunt links.
Jun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
This is nuts, while drying my hair I remembered The Cremation of Sam McGee and The Shooting of Dan McGrew both poems by Robert W. Service. Not only outstanding rhyme structures but loads of fun for kids of all ages. Let me know if you can't find copies of these, I have two illustrated books that contain only these two poems, and would consider lending them to you. The illustrations are done by Ted Harrison an eye-popping and very colorful northern (I mean Yukon Territories) artist.
From McGee:
There are strange things done in the Midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That will make your blood run cold
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see,
Was the night on the marge of Lake Labarge
I Cremated Sam McGee.
Edited on Oct 9, 2011 at 10:59pmJun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
Now I really have to be going!
Oct '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
French-Canadian pea soup can not be surpassed.
Sep '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
Oat cakes.
You can get commercial ones at any Tim Horton's in Prince Edward Island; you can get spectacular oat cakes at the Inn on Great George in Charlottetown, PEI; or you can make them yourself.
When you take them from the oven, use the back of a spoon to make an indentation in the middle--put a tablespoon of applesauce in the middle.
Serve to your children, and tell them that (assuming their ancestors came from the Maritimes) this is "soul food."
May '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
Feb '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
Cas Balicki -- Thank you for the suggestions. I had completely forgotten Sam McGee but should definitely share with my son. My friend's mom recited it one night at a bonfire on our beach in the Adirondacks, and it was chilling and funny, everything a ghost story should be.
I recalled during Mass this evening that I had neglected Canadian bacon -- thank you for reminding me!
I will try the oatcakes -- we love oatmeal, so that should be a good one. And one question -- if I am making the pea soup and don't have savory, can I substitute with some mint and some thyme? I know I can't get that chocolate from Hannaford's supermarket, though...
And I've ordered Who Has Seen the Wind from the library. So thank you all for taking the time to reply to my beg!
Feb '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
Southern Pessimist -- that recipe looks fantastic, but 8 lbs. each of ground pork and beef!! I think this one looks more doable. Thanks!
May '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
Good Canadian Ice Wine, from the Okanagan Valley, not the stuff out East.
I recently read a very good book called "Three Day Road" by Joesph Boyden. It is about two young Cree Indians who go overseas to fight for Canada in World War One. I very much enjoyed this book, it is dark and very graphic, but a different view of the Great War, which I enjoyed.
Domo
Jul '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
ANYTHING by Robertson Davies...who should have won a Nobel Prize for Literature, except that his work is too good and non- political.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_Davies
Taken with a can of Molson Beer, that'll occupy you while your kid does his own homework.
Jun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
Back from my dinner party. Mama Toad,don't dismiss The Shooting of Dan McGrew, there are, as in The Cremation Of Sam McGee, some brilliant North Country images in the poem. I, too, memorized both poems. They are great fun to recite. There are also Northern survival instructions (italicized below) written into Sam McGee.
And that very night as we lay packed tight in our robes beneath the snow,
And the dogs were fed and the stars overhead were dancing heel and toe.
__________
Edited on Oct 9, 2011 at 10:57pmJun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
To whet your apatite, here's The opening of The Shooting of Dan McGrew:
A bunch of the boys were whooping it up at the Malamute saloon;
The kid that handles the music box was hitting a jag-time tune;
Back of the bar, in a solo game, sat dangerous Dan McGrew,
And watching his luck was his light-o'-love, the lady that's known as Lou.
When out of the night, which was fifty below, and into the din and glare,
There stumbled a miner fresh from the creeks, dog-dirty and loaded for bear.
He looked like a man with a foot in the grave and scarcely the strength of a louse,
Yet, he tilted a poke of dust on the bar, and called for drinks for the house.
There was none could place that stranger's face, though we searched
ourselves for a clue;
But we drank his health, and the last to drink was Dangerous Dan McGrew.
This is great fun with rhyme, please share it with your son.
Jun '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
Rascalfair: ANYTHING by Robertson Davies...who should have won a Nobel Prize for Literature, except that his work is too good and non- political.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_Davies
Taken with a can of Molson Beer, that'll occupy you while your kid does his own homework. · Oct 9 at 9:42pm
I agree, but Mama Toad's son is only in grade three.
Mar '11
Re: Beyond Poutine
Walleye
Nov '10
Re: Beyond Poutine
All I can say is you must try tourtiere. It is a traditional French Canadian Christmas Eve dish. I love it along with the season. It is a tradition in our household even though we are merely English Canadians.
Edited on Oct 10, 2011 at 8:20am