Lavender Jelly, Annapolis Royal Farmers Market, Nova Scotia

Every year, my family and I make a visit to Annapolis Royal. First thing on Saturday morning I head over to the Farmer’s Market. It’s an open air market that is bursting with the smells, sights and sounds of the Annapolis Valley. For a few locals it’s a weekly social gathering, for others it’s a plethora of local produce and fresh baked goods that can easily stir you to dizzying heights.

As I was walking past the local town crier who was handing out fliers for that evenings Kings Theatre performance, I glanced at a table of jellies and other preservatives. I never used to like jelly. Don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’m a messy eater and can imagine the inevitable.

As I handed over the cash, the nice lady standing behind the table must’ve sensed my trepidation when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a jar of lavender jelly.

“What?” I exclaimed, “Lavender jelly?” The lady told me that the recipe was her grandmothers and it’s one of her best sellers. Knowing this, I simply had to give it a try.

Monday morning when the toast popped up, I had the jar of lavender jelly and a knife ready to go. Suddenly, as I opened up the Mason jar a thought came to me. What if I hate it? What if the one thing I boasted about (before even tasting it) is something that will end up in the back of my fridge beside the expired prune yogurt and the baking soda box?

So I slathered it on my toast and took a huge bite. WOW! Thanks to lavender jelly for Annapolis Royal’s Farmers Market, I can enjoy summer from a jar on my toast and am now looking to experiment with other flavours.

By the way, I say I’m not a fan of marmalade either, but based on this experience anything could happen. =)

Tunes at Noon, Halifax, Nova Scotia

On Friday during our lunch hour, my friend Mike and I grabbed some take out at Extreme Pita, and headed over to Grand Parade square for a picnic.

Happily, Ruth Minnikin and her band of Americana/folk artists were on site to entertain us with there groovy melodies. This outdoor concert was one in a series of lunch-hour concerts put on by the Halifax Regional Municipality.

For more information on these free concerts, check out the Tunes at Noon Summer Concert Series schedule. These concerts will continue until September 5, 2008.

A 'Sweet' Nova Scotia Road Trip

I decided to play tourist for the day and check out some of the culinary offerings outside of the city. Our destination: Old town Lunenburg and Mahone Bay. The theme of this road-trip was definitely ‘sweet’.

Our first stop was for ice cream at Sweet Treasures in Lunenburg. Once inside, I was hit with the enticing smell of homemade fudge, compounded by that of freshly made waffle cones. The store offers eleven of their own house made flavors. It also sells the much-loved Scotsburn ice cream, but really, who would go for generic when you can get the real deal? We decided to keep it simple, trying pure chocolate, and upping the anti with mint chip. Both were full flavored, velvety and smooth, with the mint putting forth a blast of refreshment.

On our way back into Halifax, we made a visit to the Biscuit Eater in Mahone Bay to pick up a much-anticipated biscuit. I had it on good authority that these were some of the best in the province, and was not disappointed. I chose the blueberry, a mix of crumbly butter biscuit, packed with large sweet berries. I have to say that I’ve tasted no equal.

The eatery’s appeal is enhanced with comfortable seating and a relaxed ‘living-room’ feel. The café’s standout feature is the fact that it doubles as a used bookstore. With their mix of satisfying treats and literary treasures, the Biscuit Eater certainly does fuel the mind and the senses.

Also of note on this trip is Wild Elements. I stumbled onto the store, and much to my surprise and delight, found myself in one of the most diverse kitchenware Mecas this side of William Sonoma. If you’re planning a trip to Lunenburg and have a love of all things culinary, this shop definitely warrants a visit.

Sweet Treasures
Montague Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Wild Elements
55 Montague Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
www.wildelements.ca

The Biscuit Eater
16 Orchard Street, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
www.biscuiteater.ca

Halifax International Busker Festival, Nova Scotia (Part 3 of 3)

Steve and I checked out the Halifax International Busker Festival this week, and we had a blast. My favourite Halifax busker performance featured a high-flying trio of women called the Aerial Angels from Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States.

These incredible female artists are captured in these photos performing aerial silk feats. These certainly aren't tricks I'd try at home. My heart missed a beat every time these women suddenly fell six feet, with nothing to support them but silk.

The Aerial Angels routine was full of tons of other tricks, and lots of comedy. We laughed a lot during their performance.

Shand House, Windsor, Nova Scotia(Laura - Part 4 of 8)

While visiting Windsor in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Laura checked out this beautifully restored Victorian home.

The Shand House Museum is a late-style Victorian museum, featuring wood work and crafted furniture from the Windsor Furniture Factory. From the tower, you have a panoramic view of entire town of Windsor and the Avon River.

That Dutchman's Farm, Fundy Shore, Nova Scotia(Laura - Part 3 of 8)

My friend Laura checked out That Dutchman's Farm in Upper Economy on the Fundy Shore in Nova Scotia. While at this traditional Dutch-style farm, she ate some delicious Gouda cheese produced on site.

The photos feature that Dutchman's wooden shoes left outside the front door of the cheese factory. She could put her entire shoed foot inside one of these shoes, still leaving lots of space. She also captured mamma and baby highland cattle. Aren't they cute!

Amherst Shore Provincial Park, Northumberland Shore, Nova Scotia

On Monday, Steve and I went to visit our friend Glenn at his family's cottage near the Amherst Shore Provincial Park. Although the weather wasn't really cooperating with us, we did manage to take a lovely walk on the beach in the afternoon between showers.

To my delight, Glenn showed me how to find a myriad of sea creatures in the red mud that lines the shore. We spotted baby crabs, star fishes, and more. Since it was low tide, we were able to walk through and around the puddles, squishing our bare feet in the soft mud. What fun!

All day, Glenn's mom June spoiled us with yummy food, including the best shortbread cookies in the world. To top things off, we also played a merry round of 45s - a popular card game I grew up playing with my own family in the Annapolis Valley.

This was my first experience on the Northumberland Shore of Nova Scotia, but it certainly won't be my last.