The birds are chirping, and we've had some beautiful weather this week. I think that's giving us a little more spring in our step, no?
We're not out of the woods yet and will likely see more of the wet, white stuff, but I'm not worried about that. Bulbs are popping up in my garden, I haven't worn socks since Saturday and life is pretty good.
To get you ready for spring, read on to learn all about the legend of Sheila's Brush, the hottest gardening trends, inspiration for your Easter dinner dessert, how you can level up your fry game and nurture your love of reading with a poetry book by a Nova Scotia author.
I hope you enjoy.
— Jill, SaltWire Audience Team
Weekend weather
Two intensifying weather systems are scheduled to track across the region over the next few days. The first one will bring rain, freezing rain and snow but I'm worried about the wind. The northeast wind will gust to 80 km/h on Saturday. The second system is also tightly wound and will produce very strong winds on Monday. Full details here.
I'll have fries with that
Our featured cookbook of the week, Hot for Food All Day by Lauren Toyota features more than 100 recipes to level up your vegan meals. Take her Tokyo Street Fries, for example, these are no ordinary fries. Tossed in her own Tokyo mix (which you can also use on popcorn, snack mixes and more) and then topped with a vegan Siracha mayo, finely chopped green onion and black sesame seeds. Warning - you may never eat plain fries again.
A forgotten delicacy
Never having travelled west past Ontario (one day I will), I'm not familiar with Flapper Pie. The vanilla custard pie topped with meringue sitting in a bed of Graham cracker crust was hugely popular in Western Canada last century and it's making a comeback. I think this will be my contribution to Easter dinner!
Who's Sheila?
Spring gardening trends
Gardening isn't just a hobby, it's a lifestyle. The lovely weather lately has many people itching to get outside and dig in the dirt. There's more to gardening than watching your hard work pay off, it's a wonderful form of therapy and you get the added bonus of growing your own veggies and flowers. Gardening can help lower blood pressure, increase attentiveness, improve your well-being and lower anxiety. Who out there doesn't need all of this right about now? The great gardening trend in 2020 doesn't look like it's going to slow down this year. Start prepping for your gardens now with these 2021 trends (think rare and unusual) and the best herbs to grow on a balcony.
Local reads
Abena Beloved Green calls her book, Ode to the Unpraised: Stories and Lessons from Women I Know “an experiment in representing the voices of others authentically with an artistic spin”. The Antigonish-raised poet, writer and dancer did this by blending poetry and interviews with thoughtful women in her life. The stories Green collects from friends, mothers, and community leaders range from reflections on life to practical advice for living. Each section of Ode to the Unpraised opens with the woman’s name, a biographical paragraph, and their answers to questions asked by Green. Each section closes with a poem or poems. You can order your copy locally through Nimbus Publishing.
