Simple tomato salad

What you need: 2 sliced ripe tomatoes mozzarella cheese slices olive oil and balsamic vinegar fresh basil What you do: Arrange the tomatoes and cheese on a plate. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with basil. Submitted by Margaret Sutherland • Photo: Unsplash/Marcus Spiske

Sun tea

Sun tea is tea that is brewed using heat from the sun. What you need: 4 black tea bags 8 cups of water a large glass jar with a lid What to do: Fill the large glass jar with the water. Add tea bags to the jar. Cover with lid. Place the jar in a…

B.C. food from the sea

B.C. farms and sells many types of food from the sea. Have you tried any of this food? Geoduck clams The geoduck clam is the world’s largest burrowing clam. It can weigh over two pounds. Geoduck clams are salty and sweet. They are expensive. They can cost as much as $30 per pound! Sea cucumber…

Swedish butter ball cookies

These cookies are tasty and easy to make. They are great for all year round.   What you need: 1 cup soft butter ½ cup icing sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 ¼ cups white flour 1 cup chopped pecans ¼ cup icing sugar What you do: Heat the oven to 400 degree F. Cream the…

Keep children safe on Halloween

Halloween is on October 31. Children will be going out in costumes at night for candy. B.C. Children’s Hospital has these tips to keep children safe: Safe costumes Use face paint, not masks so children can see better. Costumes should not drag or trip. Stick together An adult should always be with children. Hold hands…

Easy popsicle recipe

In 1905, Frank Epperson invented a sweet, frozen treat on a stick. He was 11 years old. In 1923, his children named the treat “pop’s ‘sicle.” Today, two billion popsicles are sold every year. What you need: 1 cup of fruit juice 2 cups of fruit (mango, mixed berries, kiwi or your favourite fruit) ice…

Farmers’ markets

Farmers’ markets in B.C. are opening up for the season. They offer a wide variety of things to buy, including fresh fruits, vegetables, jewelry, music and much more. What is a farmers’ market? For hundreds of years, farmers sold their food at open markets.  Before towns had grocery stores, these markets were the only way to…

Prevent kitchen fires

Many people like to cook during the holidays. Fires in the kitchen often start when people leave the kitchen while cooking. Lorraine Carli, vice-president of outreach and advocacy at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says, “We know cooking fires can be prevented.” Here is how to stay safe in the kitchen: Stay in the…

Regrow vegetables from scraps

When summer ends you can still grow food. Many vegetables can easily be regrown indoors. Common regrown vegetables are green onions, celery and greens like bok choy. The easiest vegetables to regrow are green onions. Here is what you do: 1. Buy some green onions with roots. 2. Cut off the green tops of the…

Egg and vegetable scramble

Start your day with a healthy breakfast. A balanced breakfast includes items from the main food groups. This egg and veggie scramble is quick and tasty. It can make four servings. What you need:  6 eggs ¼ cup skim milk (optional) ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon oil 1 ½ cups chopped mixed vegetables…

How to use a nutrition facts table

Nutrition facts tables show the calories and important nutrients in foods. This information can help you compare foods.   Adapted from Canada.ca • Photo: Jade Chan

Mulled cider

Many people like to drink mulled cider in the winter. What you need: pot stove 2 litres apple cider 1 orange, sliced 10 whole cloves 10 whole allspice berries 3 cinnamon sticks What you do: Add orange slices, cloves, allspice berries and cinnamon sticks to the pot. Pour the apple cider into the pot. Mix…

Pita pizza

What you need: pita bread shredded cheese 2-3 tablespoons pasta sauce pepperoni red pepper onion mushrooms What you do: Submitted by Ho Mei Cha • Photos: Felisha Chuter

Nutrition Month 2021

Nutrition Month 2021 March is Nutrition Month. Healthy eating is different for everyone. Everyone has their own culture and traditions. Everyone has their own preferences and nutritional needs. There is no “one-size-fits-all” for healthy eating. This year’s theme is “Good for you! Dieticians help you find your healthy.”   7 tips to plan meals on…

Parmesan orzo

Erika and Victor’s comfort food is parmesan orzo. It can be a side dish to meat dishes. It is delicious as leftovers. What you need:  3 tablespoons butter 1 ½ cups orzo 3 cups chicken broth ½ cup grated parmesan cheese 1/3 cup fresh chopped basil What you do:  Melt the butter in a pot….

How to make compost at home

What is compost? Compost is made when small organisms called microbes break down household and garden waste. Waste can include things like food scraps, grass clippings, leaves and plants. Waste will break down, or decompose, over time. Composting speeds up the process. It gives the microbes a chance to break down the waste faster. Why…

Nunavut’s new greenhouse

Nunavut is a large territory in northern Canada. It is very cold and dark. The weather makes it hard for fruit and vegetables to grow. So, groceries are expensive. A greenhouse was built The Arctic Research Foundation wanted to help people in Nunavut. It made a greenhouse near Gjoa Haven from shipping containers called “sea…

Plant a herb garden

Do you like to use fresh herbs in your cooking? Plant a herb garden in a container. You can put it in a sunny window. Or, you can put it on your deck or patio. Enjoy fresh herbs all summer! What you need: pot with holes in the bottom potting soil herbs trowel water What…

Recipe for French toast

LEVEL 1 This recipe feeds four people. Visit the links: How to make French Toast Recipe reprinted from The Westcoast Reader newspaper, September/October 2016  

A bouquet you can eat

Adapted from WE Vancouver by Nancy Carson Level 2 We often visit friends or family for a meal. Sometimes we take flowers as a gift for the host. Flowers are nice but they last about a week. Sometimes we take chocolates. However, some people do not want to eat candy. They don’t want their children to…

A healthy start to school

A healthy start to school Adapted from The Province by Nila Gopaul Illustrations by Nola Johnston Level one September 2014 Listen to “A healthy start to summer school” – Level 1 Reading by Nila Gopaul Kiera Thompson and Stephanie Hai are 10 years old. They joined a cooking class last summer. They learned to make healthy foods, such…

Food is not garbage

Food is not garbage Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Level 1 Listen to “Food is not garbage”– Level 1 Reading by Jessica Heafey Metro Vancouver* wants you to recycle your food scraps. Starting in January 2015, food scraps must go into a green bin. Then the city collects the scraps. The scraps make compost…

Shortbread cookies – easy recipe

Shortbread cookies are a treat at Christmas. Traditional shortbread has three ingredients:  sugar, butter and flour. 1/2 cup of softened butter (125 mL) Add 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (125 mL) Mix together. Add 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla (if you have it)  Add 1 cup of flour (125 mL) Blend. Scoop cookies on cookie sheet (see video). Flatten…

Christmas sugar cookies

A special thanks to Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC)

Easy holiday ham

Boil 2.5 L of water. Put the ham in the boiling water. Add all the ingredients. List of ingredients – 1kg fillet of ham (plain) and 2.5 L of water – 1 carrot, 1 leek, 1 stalk celery – 1 onion and 3/4 cloves garlic – 1 handful fresh parsley – 1 teaspoon red chili powder…

Don’t eat the marshmallow … yet!

Adapted from CBC News by Nancy Carson Level 3 (Video, recipe and slideshow on next page) In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Walter Mischel designed an experiment. Mischel is a psychology professor. He wanted to study self-control in young children. The children were ages four to six. Read the PDF. Don’t eat the marshmallow…yet

Vancouver chocolate bar wins gold medal

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nancy Carson Level 3 Marc Lieberman is a very happy man. He started a chocolate company in Vancouver. He opened Mink Chocolates eight years ago. Now he has two stores. The other one is in Surrey, B.C. Read the PDF: Vancouver’s chocolate bar wins gold medal” “Going nuts” A few…

Fall Festival of Chocolate

The story of chocolate   Level 3 Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nila Gopaul Chocolate comes from the beans of a cacao* fruit tree. The cacao bean is the seed of the fruit. (say: ka-kow) Cacao trees can grow 15 metres high. The trees grow in tropical rain forests.  

Beaver tails

I Speak Canadian is a new occasional feature. We will introduce words and phrases often used by Canadians. A beaver tail is the name of a Canadian pastry. It was first introduced in Ottawa. It is a flat, flaky, fried pastry. The dough is stretched into the shape of a beaver tail. Then, it is…

Chocolate chip cookies are a Canadian favourite

Adapted from wikiHow Level 2 Who invented the chocolate chip cookie? Ruth Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie in 1924. Ruth and her husband ran a tourist lodge. Ruth made very good desserts for her guests. One day she did not have powdered cocoa for her favourite cookie recipe. Instead, she found a chocolate bar. She…

How to make apple butter

Adapted from wikiHow Level 2 ELSA students at the Collège Éducacentre in Vancouver made apple butter. The students peeled, cut and boiled apples. They poured in honey. They added cinnamon and cardamom. They canned the apple butter. Each student got a jar of apple butter to take home. It was the most delicious English lesson of…

Don’t wash your chicken! Just unwrap, cut and cook

Adapted from The Province Level 3 In North America we eat a lot of chicken. Each North American eats about 80 pounds of chicken a year. Eating and handling chicken can cause you to get sick.  You must cook it well and handle it carefully. Read the PDF. Try the Exercise. Don’t wash your chicken!…

Fall is the time to eat apples

Level 1 Apples are good for you to eat. Apples taste good. Eat apples raw. Eat apples cooked. Go to the exercise. Learn how to bake an apple. Read the PDF.  Try the Exercise Fall is the time to eat apples-PDF Exercise: Make a baked apple Things you will need: One apple per person Raisins…

The story of chocolate

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 February 2011 Chocolate comes from the beans of a cacao* fruit tree. The cacao bean is the seed of the fruit. *(say: ka-kow) Cacao trees can grow 15 metres high. The trees grow in tropical rain forests. Read the PDF. The story of chocolate-PDF Visit the links:  Beanpod…

This summer, enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables!

  Check the vocabulary: produce = in this text, it means “fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains” to spoil = to go bad pricey = expensive discount = sale, reduced price Tips for buying and keeping produce fresh: Pick your own Some farms sell cheaper produce, if you go and pick it yourself. There are…

Tracing fish

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun Level 3 People want to know where their meat comes from. Some also want to know where chickens are raised. Now you can find out where your fish comes from. “This Fish” A small Canadian website called This Fish can help. Ecotrust Canada started a fish tracing tool in 2010….

A cooking program opens doors for First Nations

Adapted from The Vancouver Sun by Nancy Carson Level 2 Vancouver loves local food. But there is little First Nations food in the city. Chef Andrew George Jr. hopes to change this. In early November, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (slay-wa-tuth) in North Vancouver celebrated. The first class graduated from its own professional chef’s program. And local chef…

A Beanpod from Fernie goes to London

Adapted from The Vancouver Courier Level 3 Fernie is famous for skiing. The city calls itself a mountain town. In the winter there is plenty of snow. The Rocky Mountains are on all sides of Fernie. Fernie is in southeastern B.C. Beanpod Chocolate makes its home in Fernie. Maybe now, Fernie will be famous for…