As we begin our foodie trip together, I think it’s only appropriate that we begin in Canada – square one – as it’s the beautiful place I call home.
So what sort of food comes to mind when you think of Canada? Beer and beef? Diddo. It’s hard to describe Canadian cuisine; as a relatively young country, we just don’t have the deep, rich cultural roots that so many other places have to influence our local grub. What we do have, however, is a gorgeous combination of cultures that influence said grub.
I, for example, am half Polish and half Eastern Canadian. My mother grew up on perogies, pickle soup, and borscht – and my dad grew up on salt cod, mussels, and potatoes! I grew up on all of those (minus the mussels – yuck!), and more. Much of our “Canadian” food is somewhat based on another culture.
There are a few locally produced dishes, however, and though some may be influenced by other peoples, we’re proud to call them our own. A few examples:
Nanaimo Bars: a lush, layered, chocolatey delight that hails from (where else?) Nanaimo, British Columbia. Check out the recipe below!
Fricot: an Acadian version of Clam Chowder, often covered in dumplings or a “blanket” (essentially a large dumpling that covers the top of the pot). In the Maritimes, the chicken is replaced with clams, mussels, and often scallops. Sometimes there’s some chopped bacon thrown in as well. Don’t be surprised if you find sand in the bottom in the pot from the fresh clams!
Poutine: if you’ve ever been to Canada, you’ve probably heard of this cheesy, gooey treat. It started in Quebec, and now the dish can be found almost anywhere in the country. What is it? French fries, covered in cheese curds, covered in gravy. No recipe required!
Fries With The Works: as if poutine wasn’t enough, Prince Edward Island does a similar dish, but there’s a vegetable in it – so some may argue it’s a meal in itself. It consists of french fries covered with ground beef, canned peas, and gravy.
Now, if you want some tasty recipes from the area I hail from, western Alberta, check out this gem of a cookbook: A Taste of the Canadian Rockies. It’s a Touchwood Editions publication (Oh, Canada!), and it has a ton of great recipes from the best restaurants in the Rockies.
Now for the good stuff…
Nanaimo Bars
Layer One (base)
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup white, granulated sugar
6 tbsp cocoa powder
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
1/2 cup walnut crumbs
Mix first three ingredients together in a medium saucepan. Heat until butter is melted, then add egg, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly. Add vanilla, stir, and add the remainder of ingredients. Stir well, then press into the bottom of an 8 inch glass dish. Refrigerate.
Layer 2 (the creamy goodness)
1/2 cup butter (I know!! There’s more butter to come!)
3 1/2 tbsp heavy cream
2 tbsp custard powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups icing sugar.
Beat ingredients with electric mixer on low, until mixed. Beat on high for about 2 minutes, until creamy. Spread evenly over base layer, refrigerate.
Top Layer (the good stuff)
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 tbsp butter (that’s the last of it, I promise!)
Melt chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Cool slightly, then pour over the middle layer and chill until set. Cut into bars and enjoy!
Next up, a special recipe from somewhere in Canada… stay tuned! Want to find out more about Canadian Cuisine? Leave a question or comment! Have a suggestion for our next stop (the United States)? Let me know!