Your Local Food Bank Needs YOU!

The local Food Bank left a paper bag on our door step the other day. The idea is that we go through our pantry and fill it with cans of protein food like beans, tuna or salmon, boxes of pasta, or whatever we can spare. In a week or so, we leave the full bag on our doorstep – and someone will be by to pick it up.

Great program with great volunteers! But even if that´s not happening where you live, it’s still a great idea to start stocking food for others as we think of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Actually, it’s just a great idea. I did a little research on our local Food Bank, and I learned some pretty key facts:

• Each month, about 14,000 people receive hampers from the Food Bank or one of its affiliate organizations
• More than 1,000 events are coordinated annually to raise foods, funds and awareness about the Food Bank and its programs
• About 40% of the Food Bank’s clients are children under the age of 18

That last statistic kind of hit me pretty hard. 

I’m really fortunate. I know that. I never have to worry about where my food comes from. My family makes sure the fridge is full of nutritious, healthy foods. And, my Grandparents are canola producers, so they’ve always helped us understand the value of food. 

But not everyone is as lucky.

I’m too young to work at the Food Bank Warehouse, but there are some ways I can help create awareness:

1. Encourage my parents to fill that paper bag.
2. Encourage my school to participate in activities like ´fill the bus´ or to have a food drive as part of some other school event. 
3. Take a look around my school and pay attention if there are students whose families might benefit from some extra food options. Take my bottle money and donate it to the Food Bank each month. (I don’t really need that extra comic book. Or maybe I can miss the movies once a month.)
4. Ask Mom to shop for a little extra each month and donate to the hampers in the grocery stores. Take advantage of 2 for 1 deals and donate the second one!

Sometimes, I forget that not everyone is as lucky as me. The Food Bank and families in our communities need us – not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but throughout the year.

Gotta Jet! 

- Chase Superman Duffy

Falling slowly into fall

There’s no question I LOVE summer, and this heat wave Alberta has been experiencing in the past week or two is FANTASTIC. But, I’m also a big fan of Autumn. The changing colour of the leaves, the fresh crisp of the air on my morning runs, pumpkin everything, and of course…Halloween.

But there’s one sure-fire way for me to know that fall is right around the corner – the GREAT DUFFY SALMON BBQ.

I don’t know if I’ve written about it before, but every year, my aunt and uncle from BC bring a fresh salmon over for a BBQ made with Dad’s special marinade. 

It’s usually the last BBQ of the season – but maybe if we’re lucky and this weather stays we can stretch summer out just a little bit longer…

Dad says I can share his recipe, so you may want to bookmark this blog page. It’s delicious! (And so easy, you could probably make the marinade yourself…)

SALMON MARINADE 

What you need

1 cup    orange juice       250 mL

1 Tbsp   honey               15 mL

¼ cup   light soy sauce   60 mL

2 Tbsp   canola oil           30 mL

pepper

1 ½ lb   salmon              680 g

What you do

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large, sealable plastic bag and mix well. Add the salmon, making sure that the marinade covers all of the sides.
2. Refrigerate the salmon, in the marinade for 15-60 minutes.
3. Remove salmon from the marinade.
4. Broil or grill the salmon about 4 minutes on each side.

Easy, right?

Gotta Jet! Have a great weekend.

- Chase Superman Duffy

P.S. - If you're the type that likes to help out in the kitchen, you'll want to get your hands on TASTING MY STORY. Part mystery, part cookbook, TASTING MY STORY is pure fun! (Not to mention has some delicious recipes...) Go to www.learncanola.com to order your copy today!

An Oompa Loompa kind of day

“The waterfall is the most important. Mixes the chocolate. Churns it up, makes it light and frothy. By the way, no other factory in the world mixes its chocolate by waterfall, my dear children. And you can take that to the bank.” – Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

It’s Roald Dahl Day!

Have YOU read any of his books? Of course you have – probably Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I’ve read that one about a dozen times, and seen both versions of the movie. The one with Johnny Depp is the best. He really gets into the quirky character that Willy Wonka is.

I’ve read almost everything by Roald Dahl because when it comes to filling my imagination with all kinds of awesomeness, he’s the best. Like chocolate waterfalls. Singing Oompa Loompas. Giant peaches and great glass elevators.

My teacher says that if I want to be a great writer, I have to first be a great reader. Believe me, I do ALL kinds of reading. Last week, I re-read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, another of my favourite books (and movies, actually.)

But in honour of Roald Dahl day, I’m going to binge read a few of my faves – especially Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Which Roald Dahl will you read? Do they have Roald Dahl at your school library?  Check it out!

Gotta jet! Have an Oompa Loompa day. <grin>

- Chase Superman Duffy

School goals - the 2013 edition

I don’t know about you, but I really like a good challenge.

Every year, I challenge myself to set some school goals. It started out as a request from my Mom – her way of making sure I stay focused on my class work, I guess. But when I started seeing my grades improve a couple of years ago, it’s kind of become a tradition.

So..with the new school year upon me, here’s some things I want to try:

1. Use the school library more. My school is lucky to still have a full library WITH a librarian in it. This year, I’m going to spend more time checking out books and asking for recommendations from Mrs. Kratky.
2. Eat breakfast everyday. I’m terrible at this. But ever since I started cooking with Grandma, I’ve gained more confidence in the kitchen. Toast and fruit is easy, but this year, I’m going to try adding protein – like eggs and yogurt.
3. Remember my lock combination. Yeah, I have a bad habit of forgetting it. Maybe I need to write it down somewhere…
4. Use my school agenda. Sometimes I forget homework assignments. Not very often, but when I do, it’s USUALLY because I forgot to write the assignment down in my agenda. This year, I’m going to try and use it – every day. Maybe, even treat it like a bit of a diary.
5. Focus more on Math. I’m pretty good at Social Studies and Language Arts, and even Science. But Math is kind of a tough subject for me. Maybe I just need to spend more time with my textbook, or ask more questions of my teacher... Mom says she can ask my teacher about getting a tutor if I need it.

Five goals. I think I can do them. How about you? Any things you want to pay attention to this school year?

Gotta jet!

- Chase Superman Duffy