Taste of the Okanagan Specialty Foods Inc.

• Salsa
• Salad Dressing
• Sauces
• Tapenade
• Roasted Garlic & Onion Jam

• Chutney
• Pepper Or Wine Jellies
• Dry Herb Mixes
• Food Trends For The Millennium
• The "Dirty Dozen"

SALSA:
Fruit Salsa can be eaten the same way as "Normal Tomato Salsa" - the regular salsa made with tomatoes, i.e. with taco chips, or, it can be eaten on a baked potato, in a sandwich instead of mustard or mayo, or try it on cooked meats, i.e. cranberry salsa on cold turkey or chicken or in a wrap (tortilla with raw veggies and leftover steamed rice).

SALAD DRESSING:
Our salad dressings are 2 parts oil to 1 part vinegar, which puts them in the "tart" to the taste category. Not just for salads but great as a marinade on fish or chicken or as a sauce in leftover casseroles. When you're in a hurry to get dinner on the table, just pour us on. They make great additions to microwave leftovers that just need a "little" help!

SAUCES:
Peanut Hoisin, Garlic & Honey and Teriyaki all make great stir-fry sauces. Stir-fry your meat and veggies and the last few minutes in the wok just add the sauce and simmer to flavour. For a great one pot dinner, put your noodles on top and while the sauce simmers the noodles will cook. Enjoy! Peanut Hoisin is great on a Thai salad with bean sprouts and mixed greens or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or chicken satay. The Garlic & Honey Sauce makes a great glaze for ribs, chicken wings, or chicken pieces. Just baste the sauce on for the last few minutes to crisp up the surface of the meat and turn frequently so they don't burn. Teriyaki Sauce makes a great salmon, halibut or chicken dinner. Play with your food (I know Mother taught you not to but things have changed in the kitchen)!

TAPENADE:
The Mediterranean word for "a mixture of" - this olive mixture goes great on a cracker or add it to a breakfast omelet with feta cheese or a mock Greek Salad with slices of tomato and cucumber.

ROASTED GARLIC & ONION JAM:
Not your traditional jam but just as delicious on top of a cracker with cream cheese or as a condiment on a roast beef sandwich or sauce on a BBQ steak. Pass it around the table, it suits vegetarians and carnivores alike!

CHUTNEY:
Traditionally served with Indian Curry dishes, today it brings a grilled cheese sandwich to life or adds flavour to a grilled chicken or fish fillet. Put your favourite chutney on Brie Cheese and bake it slowly in a 300 degree oven until melted and serve with a crusty loaf of bread or baguette.

PEPPER OR WINE JELLIES:
Delicious served over cream cheese with a cracker - the star of the Happy Hour snack service. These jellies are great on a cold sandwich instead of mustard or mayonnaise but try them as a glaze on ham, a chicken breast or wings for a tasty treat.

DRY HERB MIXES:
Consider these as a substitute for your salt shaker. When you reach for your salt shaker, substitute a herb mix instead. (They are all SALT, SUGAR AND FLOUR FREE - so they are a healthy way to add flavour to the food you eat.) They all make a great dry rub for fish or chicken. As soon as you add them to any wet ingredient (yogurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream) they re-hydrate and release their wonderful flavours.

FOOD TRENDS FOR THE MILLENIUM:
We want food today at the speed of life - FAST. The leading industry in North America today is fast food restaurants - and you see them on every corner. They traditionally serve food that is high in fat, salt and sugar and loaded with chemicals and preservatives. You and your family can eat healthier by enjoying our products and the time it takes to prepare them is less than the line-up at your nearest deli or drive-through. We make REAL FOOD - no additives, no preservatives, no food colouring or flavour enhancers - food with TASTE because we buy from local growers who pick "in season" and "ripe" - at the height of taste and freshness. The difference is flavour - ENJOY some today.

THE "DIRTY DOZEN":
Organic purchases can be hard on your grocery budget. My personal bias is that they taste better and I can get my family to eat more fruits and veggies, especially when they come from the local market and are picked fresh. If you are trying to make the best purchases with your organic budget and would like to know which produce has the highest pesticide residue, the following might help.

I have discovered that even if I don't buy organic, I can get better taste and value from small local growers in my area who may not be certified organic but practice good sustainable farming methods. Check out your local Farmers' Market and stop by Farmgate operations if you are lucky enough to have some where you live.