leepee

Hey Mrsdv

Have you had a chance to go to the Calgary Farmer's Market yet....?

There is usually a pretty good fish stall there and you can get Alberta reared Bison...strongly recommended - almost like beef but no fat!

I also buy organic beef there and it is waaay cheaper than in the supermarkets...

Oh and there is a fantastic ice cream shop!!!
Lisa

MrsDV

Yes, I do like the farmers market and we have tried the bison too but I have to say when I've been the fish hasn't looked that great. Haven't tried the ice cream shop yet though, will try that next visit. Thanks

moondevil

steve - i know that you told us about suet, bout some but can i say its strange ....ok how do you make suet pastry from that, i know that it says that its pre-mixed, like a flour bag, but tried a few ways and all i get is pure fat...help

bandit

Hey

Now that I've kind of got used to some ingrediants (I'm certainly no cook / chef) and only have me to cook for so less appealing, I'm finding things just fine here.

In the UK, supermarkets were just massive, and here in Van, I live near an IGA which has great fresh fruit and veg, and also a great meat and fish counter. I buy steaks foro $2 (the thin fast fry ones), and all the meat looks great and is a great price. I'm not a massive fish eater but if I was I'd say there was lots to choose from.

I find it funny there are so many varieties of things like Milk and fizzy drinks etc.

There is Granville Island market here in Van, which is totally great. If someone can point out a cheaper market like it, I'd love to hear about it.

UK was more about fast foods, where as here, I am more inclined to cook fresh meat / chicken.

Bx

Steve_P

Sorry can't help, suet is not something that we would ever have in our house.

moondevil

Thanks steve, will go back and speak to the guy at safeway, he was a sweetie and helped me find the bags, but not like the suet im used to, so need to learn a new way with that one or get used to living with out steak puds

Happydayz

I found when we came to Canada 3 years ago, we found that we couldnt find all the food we had been used to buying in the UK...ready made this, pre packed that, from every corner of the world...we missed the choice (a bit, ) I missed the convenance (alot)BUT three years down the line...20 pounds lighter and no more need for Heartburn meds in the cupboard I think that its not just takeouts...but all that choice in the UK, isnt the best for your health.....I know it wasnt good for my waist line.......I have to be a bit more creative here , but I dont miss the UK Tescos shop anymore

fledermaus

Suet is pure fat. It's the fat that surrounds the kidneys. You can it shredded and coated with flour so it's easy to use, but its all fat.

fledermaus

I rarely bought the prepackaged stuff in the UK, apart from the odd Waitrose prawn cocktails
Nothing to do with being creative, it's called cooking.

My experience is different to yours. Since being here, I am several pounds heavier, heartburn, IBS out of control. It's hard to buy decent fruit and vegetables in Peterborough, the bread is full of sugar, milk is crammed with chemicals. ...

Dorothy

Field is hardly a bustling metropolis, so it's not a stretch to think that the choice would be limited there.
That's because it's Canada, not Europe.
You grate the suet and toss it with some flour/shake off the excess flour to use. Like someone else said, it's pure fat. I used to just use Crisco and things worked out fine.

It never fails to amaze me that people move 1/2 way across the world and think that they will find things exactly like they had "back home". I hear it all the time here in Australia too.

Happydayz

CREATIVE and COOKING go together ......In the UK I found I didnt have he Time to enjoy COOKING to busy trying to earn enough money to keep a roof over our heads i guess, still I rediscovered CREATIVE COOKING here in Canada...and as I say seems to have improved our heath....stay away from fast food over here may help with your many probs!!!!

Rich_007

Fast food is the cause of most dysfunctions. Erectile dysfunction, relationship problems, retardation, diabetes, blood pressure, piles, etc.

Take a pill with your burger. That'll fix it.

R.

Happydayz

.....what kinda pill

BristolUK

Not having a go at you, Dorothy, I'm just borrowing your phrase to highlight unfair criticisms posted elsewhere on these forums.

It never fails to amaze me that people move half way across the world and successfully adapt to new working practices, different climate, different pricing, different education systems, different attitudes, different governments, different legal systems, different driving practices etc etc and yet express a simple observation or regret about different products/something not available in shops and several posters suggest they should get used to differences in a different country as if they haven't done so already.


I think it was a perfectly legitimate question as to why such 'availability' differences exist between two countries of similar standing. And the answer was given.

Rich_007

A special Elvis pill.

R.