When I walked into a local grocery last week I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing a sign that said locally grown Heemans’ strawberries. Is Ontario becoming a second California where they produce two crops in one year?
No — I’ve been told we now have Spring strawberries, and this crop is summer strawberries, a completely new plant. There have been so many strange things happening in our weather this year I’m ready to believe anything.
The other surprise came when I read a book review in Maclean’s magazine, about a book titled What Women Want: The Global market Turns Female Friendly. Written by Paco Underhill, it is not what you might expect, this is no Hollywood version.
Retailers don’t “get it”. They have ignored the facts to have the risk of women customers walking out the door. So what do women really want? It is not as simple as a gift of a pink car —  this is insulting.
According to Underhill’s survey, more women are now bringing home the bacon, or at least making incomes on the level of men. They want security, consideration, safety, and as their jobs often take them on the road, clean hotel rooms. When a lone woman comes into a restaurant often they are taken to the most undesirable table, usually next to the kitchen or crammed into a corner.
In their own home they want a multi-focus kitchen, one they can putter around in and relax and enjoy - the equivalent to a man’s hobby spot in the garage or basement, full of fun tools to play around with.
I know what this woman wants — cool salad recipes for hot days, hope you do also.
Chicken Fruit Salad
This is packed with good nutrition!
3 cups cooked elbow macaroni
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups cubed peeled fresh peaches
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup halved strawberries
1 can (11 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained
1 can (8 oz.) sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup chopped apple
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground pepper
In large bowl combine first 11 ingredients. In small bowl combine mayonnaise, orange juice, sugar, ginger and pepper. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve on bed of shredded lettuce. Serves 12.
Chutney Chicken Salad
A quick simple recipe
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained well
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 cup diced seeded cucumber
1/2 cashew nuts
1/2 mayonnaise combine with 1/4 cup chutney
2 tbsp. chopped green onion
Crisp lettuce leaves
Combine all ingredients, except lettuce, in bowl and refrigerate for an hour to allow flavours to develop. Spoon over lettuce leaves in individual servings. Serves four.
Another quick summer salad:
1 rotisserie chicken, cleaned for at least 2 cups shredded chicken
1 ripe mango-substitute pineapple if preferred
1 red pepper
1/2 English cucumber
1 green onion
3 cups baby spinach
Dressing:
3 tbsp. each teriyaki sauce and vegetable oil
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
1 tbsp. grated fresh ginger
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Shred chicken. Peel mango peel away from stone and then slice and pepper into thin bite-size strips. Slice unpeeled cucumber in half lengthwise. Using spoon scrape out and discard any seeds. Thinly slice cucumber and onions.
Place chicken, mango, pepper, cucumber and onion in large bowl along with spinach. In small bowl whisk teriyaki with oil, vinegar, ginger and garlic. Just before serving pour over chicken salad, toss until fully combined.