May 1, 2008 Issue 1 Volume 9
Let's make Canada better!

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(( Newfie June )) • (( New Developments )) • (( Canadian Cooking Recipes )) • (( Special Feature )) • (( Important News Leads )) •   Special Feature Blue Energy International Blue Energy is commercializing the Davis Hydro Turbine, capable of converting tidal currents into firm, renewable electricity. Global climate change, peak oil and soaring energy prices have made it imperative to find viable, large-scale renewable energy generation technologies to meet rising energy demands and offset greenhouse gases. With its scalable and proven advanced aerospace technology, Blue Energy is a solution the world has been seeking. Join with us in advancing our remarkable non-polluting technology, endorsed by R.W. Beck Engineering, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Canadian National Research Council and others. "The ocean energy area – about which I’m highly enthusiastic – is where offshore oil and gas was about 50 years ago." - Matthew Simmons; Chairman, Simmons & Co., the world's largest energy investment banking company; founder, Ocean Energy Institute, Rockford, Maine. Visit this site for more information: http://www.bluenergy.com We want normal Farmer Saved Seeds! Help us ban the use of Terminator Seeds RightOnCanada.ca has been campaigning for most of this year to halt Canada's promotion of genetically engineered food and related technologies. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I wanted to let you know about two positive developments. As you may know, Canada is one of the largest producers of Genetically Modified crops in the world. Canada has been called part of the "Axis of Evil" for its past efforts, at meetings under the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, to overthrow the international moratorium on Terminator seed. Terminator seed is genetically engineered so as to become sterile after one harvest. It is part of a strategy by Monsanto and agribusiness to privatize the world's seed supply and require farmers to purchase GM seeds every year from agribusiness corporations. 1.4 billion people around the world depend on farmer-saved seeds, which are crucial for their food security and for the planet's biodiversity. Here are two recent positive breakthroughs in the fight for food security and biodiversity: 1) The EU's Environment Commissioner, Savros Dimas, wants to ban two types of GM corn because they pose "unacceptable" risks for the environment (see article below). Separate studies have suggested that the GM plants' insecticide harms butterflies and gets into streams, where it poisons aquatic life. "This could and should be the beginning of the end for GM crops in Europe," says Clare Oxborrow, GM campaigner for Friends of the Earth. 2) 80% of British Columbians want mandatory labelling of GM foods. NDP MLA, Gregor Robertson, has just introduced "Right to Know" legislation, which would make BC the first province in Canada to require GM food to be labelled. Phone or email Premier Gordon Campbell telling him you want the "Right to Know" legislation passed (phone: 250 387-1715; email:premier@gov.bc.ca). If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to urge Stephen Harper to adopt Bill C-448 to ban Terminator seeds in Canada.

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Newfie June

Still Waters Run Deep

I recently caught a re-run of the movie "A River Runs Through It" on television. I had forgotten what a nice movie it is and even though I had seen it before, I sat to watch it beginning to end.

I live in Alberta so the scenery struck me first…as it was filmed not far from Calgary. What I like most about it, though, are the beautiful scenes of one of the characters standing in a quiet pool of a river, fly-fishing. It brings back such wonderful memories of my father, as he dearly loved the sport of fly-fishing. I often went bait fishing with my Dad but he never did try to teach me the art of using the fly rod and reel. When you see someone who is skillful at it, gently swishing the line in and out, making the fly gracefully dance across the top of the water, you really appreciate the use of the word "art" to describe it. ...



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Canadian Cooking Recipes - Cooking Canada Style

If you have a cooking recipe you wish to share with everyone, send us an email to:



On to more culinary things: the power of silicone. Ever since silicone muffin and cake pans became available for use in the kitchen I’ve wanted one because I knew it would solve a problem with the squares—loosening the sticky ones from the pan. Well, it works. Below is the recipe for my Toffee Slices (page 117 in Take Potluck!). These had one fatal flaw—they were difficult to cut and remove from a glass pan without making a sticky mess. With a square silicone cake pan, you give it a twist and out they slide on to the counter to be sliced any way you wish (preferably bite-size, as they are rich and sweet).

On a diet? A bonus with the recipe described below is that I used less sugar by trying out Splenda’s brown sugar combo blend, and less fat by using the lighter, sweetened condensed milk. They tasted just as good.

Toffee Slices
Base: ½ cup brown sugar (or Splenda’s brown sugar)
½ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups all purpose flour

Topping:
1 (300 ml) can sweetened condensed milk (lighter version works well)
½ cup butter
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla
Chocolate drizzle (optional)
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces


Using mixer (or vigorously hand beating,) beat sugar and butter together until fluffy. Gradually beat in flour until well combined. Press mixture over base of 8-inch (2 litre) square baking pan (silicone, this time). Bake in 325 degree oven 20-30 minutes until golden brown.

While this is baking, mix condensed milk, butter, corn syrup together. Cook, stirring, over medium low heat five minutes or until bubbly. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Pour toffee over baked base. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden. (Optional chocolate: Melt chocolate until smooth. Drizzle over filling. Chill.)

Let the pan of squares cool. Give the pan a twist, maybe loosen with a silicon spatula, and pop the squares out right side up. Slice away.

by Jan Degrass For other recipes from her cookbook visit her website: PotluckCookbook.com

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