< PreviousMELONS Enjoying spring but wish summer was already here? Why not bring the flavors of summer to a traditional pasta dish with our Oronai™ Sweet Charentais Melons. The fragrance of the basil releases into the dish and pairs with the sweet flavor of Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Tomatoes and succulent Oronai™ Sweet Charentais Melons. They are a match made for one another. HERBS & SPICES • Thyme • Rosemary • Honey • Chili Flakes • Mint MELON AND TOMATO SAUCE PASTA SEE RECIPE 10 FRESH HERBS PAIRINGHERBS & SPICES • Garlic • Vinegar • Parsley • Basil • Sesame Seeds PEPPERS PARSLEY The pairing of Sweet Bell Peppers and parsley creates a combination that enhances both the flavor and visual appeal of any dish. Our Sweet Bell Peppers, whether red, yellow, or orange, contribute a sweet and rich taste, along with a crisp and juicy texture. On the other hand, parsley adds a fresh, herbaceous flavor with a hint of earthiness. A match made in heaven. Create something cozy on those rainy spring days like this Braised Oxtail Stew featuring our Sweet Bell Peppers. Parsley is perfect to garnish this savory beef dish and add a pop of freshness to create the perfect bite. You can pair your favourite peppers with these fresh herbs to release the rich flavor of the stew. THYME An aromatic herb with such warm and earthy flavors, fresh thyme is another perfect addition to Sweet Bell Peppers. The creations are endless when you have the freshest greenhouse grown peppers that you want to highlight in each dish. Using thyme in this Bell Pepper & Red Potato Hash adds depth to the sweetness of Bell Peppers making them the true start of the show. OREGANO For more of a Mediterranean and Italian flavor, our Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers work great with oregano. The earthy, slightly peppery notes of oregano enhance the natural sweetness of the peppers, elevating their flavor profile and adding depth to dishes. Together, they work well in pasta sauces, roasted vegetable medleys, grilled kebabs, and stuffed peppers. The sweetness in the Aurora Bites is complemented by the savory qualities of oregano, creating a perfect blend of flavors that can elevate the taste of your culinary creations. BRAISED OXTAIL AND CREAMY TOMATO STEW SEE RECIPE Whether they’re big or small, long or short, Pure Flavor® Peppers are sure to provide natural sweetness no matter the preparation style. They easily pair with fresh herbs to create a vibrant meal. 11 BELL PEPPER AND RED POTATO HASH SEE RECIPE 12 CUCUMBERS CHIVES If you are looking for another herb to plant in your garden that is going to be useful for a variety of dishes, chives are a great call! Chives offer a mild onion flavor that enhances the overall taste of dishes without overpowering them. They are great in salads or as a garnish. However, there are plenty of great herbs that are available to grow yourself. All you need are the basics: soil, sun, and water. Try it out this season and be able to smell the freshness right from your backyard. Your kitchen will have the freshest ingredients especially using Pure Flavor® greenhouse grown produce. HERBS & SPICES • Mint • Oregano • Sea Salt • Vinegar • Cilantro BASIL Cucumbers also pair well with basil which is clearly shown in this recipe for fresh Greek Cucumber Boats. When planning your garden, you’ll want to make sure you plant enough basil because it is a very versatile herb which goes well with almost all cuisines! These handheld snacks or appetizers offer the perfect crunch and incorporate cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers - what more can you ask for? CUCUMBER WATERMELON FETA SKEWERS GREEK CUCUMBER BOATS SEE RECIPE SEE RECIPE MINT Cucumbers are the most refreshing and delicious snack just on their own but incorporating them in your culinary creations with fresh herbs adds an extra punch of flavor to them. Mint can elevate fruits & vegetables to a new level making it a great ingredient to use in all kinds of dishes. Whether it’s a Long English Cucumber or Mini Cucumbers, mint has a revitalizing flavor profile that perfectly complements the hydrating cucumbers. Try these Cucumber Watermelon Feta Skewers for your next gathering or as a fun, bright addition to lunchboxes! They have a creamy yet crunchy freshness coming from flavors of feta, watermelon, cucumber, and fresh mint. BASIL & MINT Can’t get enough green? Dazzle your eyes and tastebuds with this Strawberry Basil Tart. Let the fragrant basil, refreshing mint, and our flavorful, fresh Sweet Blooms® Strawberries bring the taste of spring to life. Make this treat the star of any garden party or savory it all yourself. SEE RECIPE FRESH HERBS PAIRING STRAWBERRIES STRAWBERRY BASIL TART HERBS & SPICES • Oregano • Rosemary • Basil • Cardamon • Cinnamon 1314 Have you ever set yourself a goal, worked towards that goal for a few weeks or months, then slowly fell off track and never got back to it? That’s okay! It’s only natural as human beings to not always be motivated. However, the real question is how exactly can we combat the feelings of no drive, motivation, or inspiration? Just because you fall off the wagon for a few days doesn’t mean all your hard work has gone to waste. The hardest part about sticking to your goals is learning that consistency is the biggest factor to success and change. You don’t have to be perfect. Just be more consistent. Many times, my best work is done when I least want to do it! FIRST QUARTER GOAL CHECK IN As we are a few months into the New Year you may be taking some time to analyze your goals, desires and wishes you had made for the New Year. If one of your goals are to improve your health, fitness, and wellness, then this is for you! FAITH MONACO @impacthealthandfitnesscentreHere are some of my top tips to help you stay motivated and want to stay on track: Invest in a Personal Trainer Personal Trainers are a great way to be held accountable. You will learn new exercises, skills, build confidence in and out of the gym, improve your health and so much more. Plus, as soon as you know that you have an appointment to attend, the more likely you will be to not cancel and show up. Many times, if we try to exercise at home, we will become distracted with laundry, making dinner, running arrands and push aside the workouts which usually never end up happening. If you are scared to do it alone, invite a friend to join you! This helps make it even more enjoyable. Personal training can be in the form of one-on-one sessions or even attending a group fitness class. Fitness classes are high energy, motivating, super fun while you get in a great workout and the support and encouragement you may have long been searching for. Meal Preparation Meal prep has been and can be a life saver! Sit down and plan out healthy, well-balanced meals that you want to consume for 1 week. Then, choose one day of the week to prep your meals. The biggest tip I have that has worked wonders for my family, is that as soon as you come home from the grocery store, clean and wash all your veggies and fruits very well, then cut them up and store them in containers so they are ready grab for the week! We love having Pure Flavor®’ Uno Bites™ Nano Cucumbers in our fridge for a quick on-the-go snack. These cucumbers are so small, they don’t even need to be prepared - just rinse and eat! You can eat them as is or pair these fresh and delicious cucumbers with your favorite hummus, dips, fruit, or other veggies and you have the perfect, light mid-morning or afternoon healthy snack. They are my go-to! Change your Mindset Many people have it so wrong! Taking care of your health, fitness and wellness isn’t a temporary, short-term goal to achieve and then be done with. Changing your mindset on how you look during this health and fitness journey will help you to stick to your goals. Remember daily that you GET to exercise versus you HAVE to. Change your mindset - you have the ABILITY to exercise! Learn to embrace this and be appreciative that you are capable and have the opportunity to exercise, eat good food, and take care of your body. It should never be looked at like a chore. If you look at it as a chore, you won’t enjoy yourself. Find things that you enjoy doing. Maybe hitting a gym isn’t your go to for a fun way of exercise; maybe you would prefer to swim or go for a bike ride instead. That’s perfect too! Mix in the activities you enjoy so you can look forward to your time to exercise. Create a Vision Board This is my favorite one! Growing up, my mom always encouraged my sister and I to create a yearly vision board and we still do this years later. Grab a piece of poster board or paper, go online, flip through magazines, and cut out or print pictures, motivational words, ideas and goals that you want to achieve in 2024. It’s not too late! Only a few months in, it’s a great time to re-evaluate. Glue or tape them on to your board and find a spot in your room or home where you will constantly be reminded of your goals. Make it as big or small as you want and create a nice collage of all the things you desire to achieve or accomplish this year. You Are What You Consume! Have you heard the saying “You are what you eat?” This is true! However, it’s not just the kinds of foods you eat. In order to feel your best and be the healthiest version of yourself, it’s important to take time to review all the things you consume. What types of music or podcasts do you listen to? What kinds of conversations and groups of people do you surround yourself with? What foods do you eat? All these things you consume, affect you! It’s 2024 and we are no longer going to allow negativity to weigh us down. Make a change to the things you eat, watch, read and listen to daily and you will notice a big shift in your daily performance and how you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically! Reward Yourself Set short term and long-term goals and as soon as you hit your goal, reward yourself! Buy yourself a new pair of shoes, take yourself out to dinner, make more times for your friends, or have a sweet treat you’ve been craving in the bakery window. Rewarding yourself for your achievements is a way to treat yourself for your hard work, success, and it will make you even more excited for the next time you reach a goal! Why not make 2024 your year of personal growth? In our busy daily lives, we sometimes tend to put our own needs and wants on the back burner. To do good, you need to feel good! That starts with taking care of you and your roots. I hope you can utilize some of these tools to help make this new year the best year possible. Don’t forget your “why’s”. Why you started and why you set your goals. If you notice you’re lacking motivation or your drive, change up your routine and try something new. ~ Faith 151616 TREAT MOM DELICIOUS DAY! Hey Dads! Mother’s Day is right around the corner... which means it’s time to start thinking about how you and the kids are going to make her feel like an absolute queen! MOTHER'S DAY TO A17 The best way to make sure Mother’s Day is special and memorable is to involve the kids as much as you can! Treat her to a special menu that’s full of greenhouse grown produce - adding vibrant colors and delectable flavor! To help ensure you have all your bases covered, we’ve put together a list to help you plan out the day. PLAN A MENU TOGETHER Sit down with mom and plan a healthy and delicious menu together. Discuss her favorite foods and try to incorporate them into the meal. Choosing easy to create recipes that feature fresh produce ensures that the meal is both tasty and nutritious. Ensure the kids are part of the meal preparation by letting them help with the following: Washing & Prepping Veggies: This can include rinsing leafy greens, scrubbing potatoes, or cutting softer vegetables with a child- safe knife. It's a great way for them to learn about different vegetables and how to prepare them. Measure & Mix: Kids can help measure out ingredients for recipes. This teaches them about different measurements and enhances their math skills. They can also be involved in mixing ingredients in a bowl, especially in recipes that involve batters or simple sauces. Plating & Garnishing: Allow the kids to plate the food. They can arrange the cooked food in an on individual plates or let them add a final touch by garnishing dishes with herbs, grated cheese, or a sprinkle of spices. This helps enhance their creativity and presentation skills.18 GET CREATIVE PRESENTATION WITH SERVE A REFRESHING BEVERAGE Make the meal visually appealing by arranging the food in a creative way on the plate. Use fresh greenhouse grown fruits and vegetables to add vibrancy and flavor to the dishes. Maybe make a smiley face out of Sweet Blooms® Strawberries or use Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Tomatoes to create a heart on the plate. Enhance their creativity and presentation skills. Create a refreshing and healthy beverage to accompany the meal. It could be a homemade fruit smoothie, infused water, or an herbal tea – whatever is mom’s favorite! The most important thing this Mother’s Day is the thought and effort you put into making the day special for mom. Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the fact that you took the time to plan and prepare a healthy and delicious meal will surely make her Mother's Day memorable! DAY MOTHER'S19 Be sure to encourage the children and remember, practice makes perfect! Soon they’ll be a pro at setting the table all by themselves - it’s a gift that keeps giving! Here's an easy step-by-step guide for kids on how to set the table: Step 1: Gather What You Need Collect a plate, a fork, a knife, a spoon, a napkin, and a glass. Step 3: Add a Napkin Choose a nice spot for the napkin. It can go on the left side under the fork or you can place it in the middle of the plate. Step 4: Set the Glass Put the glass above and to the right of the plate, over the knife & spoon. Step 2: Everything In Its Place Put the plate on the table right in front of the chair. Put the fork on the left side of the plate and the knife & spoon on the right. SET A LOVELY TABLE Salad Fork Dinner Fork Dinner Plate Salad Plate Napkin Wine Glass Water Glass Dessert Spoon & Fork Bread Plate & Butter Knife Dinner Knife Dinner SpoonNext >