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Shop Local And Win a $100 PC Gift Card

As summer comes to an end, (how did that happen?) I'm doing everything I can to enjoy the last moments before we get back into the fall routine. There is so much left to enjoy, especially spending time outside, with family and friends—swimming, BBQ-ing, and just soaking up the sun as much as we can.

An important part of my day-to-day life is gathering my family together for meal times, and in the summer, we kick back, relax, and enjoy eating fresh foods with each meal, outside. (It's just so simple to eat health during the summer months, isn't it?)

I love that Loblaws provides a great variety of fresh, local ingredients, especially during summertime. In fact, 40% of produce sold in Loblaws stores is sourced by Canadian growers during this peak season, and Loblaws is also the largest purchaser of locally grown food in the country.

Loblaws recently teamed up the vegan YamChops butcher to create unique and tasty, seasonally inspired recipes perfect for summer dining and entertaining. I love finding new recipes I can make for my family, especially when they include local, fresh ingredients I'm already shopping for at my local Loblaws.

Smashed Fiesta Mini Potatoes and Corn and Miso Soup are two delicious options to make for dinner, with nothing but good-for-you ingredients.

How mouthwatering does the Smashed Fiesta Mini Potatoes dish look? It's delicious, and healthy, too.






















SMASHED” FIESTA MINI POTATOES

This vegan‐friendly play on a classic nacho is a great way to mix things up for the summer – or any time of year. Turn any fiesta into a smash hit with these mouth‐watering savoury bites.


Serves: 6 people (allow 2‐3 smashed potatoes per person) 

Prep time: 60 minutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Chef: Michael Abramson on behalf of Loblaws


Ingredients:


Potatoes

  •   16‐20 Mini New Potatoes
  •   2 tbsp PC® New World EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  •   1 tsp Sea salt
  •   1⁄4 cup green onions, thinly sliced
      Taco “Meat”
  •   1 cup Walnuts (toasted)
  •   1 1⁄2 tsp Mexican chili powder
  •   1⁄2 tsp Cumin
  •   1⁄4 tsp Sea salt
  •   1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper
  •   1 tbsp PC® New World EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
      Tomato Salsa
  •   1 1⁄4 cup PC® Flavour Burst Tomato of Yore Beefsteak Tomatoes
  •   1⁄4 cup Sweet onion
  •   1/3 cup Basil (or coriander)
  •   1 Small Jalapeño
  •   2 tbsp Lime juice
  •   1 tsp Sea salt
      Cashew Sour Cream
  •   2 cups Raw cashews
  •   1 tbsp Lemon Juice
  •   3⁄4 ‐ 1 cup Water
  •   1 1⁄2 tbsp Cider vinegar
  •   1⁄4 tsp Sea salt

Directions:

Wash potatoes well.

Potatoes

  1. Boil 10 cups (2500 ml) of water and add 1 tsp sea salt.
  2. Add mini potatoes and continue to boil until potatoes are easily pierced with a skewer –
    approx. 10‐12 minutes, but will vary depending on potato size.
  3. Drain potatoes and rinse well under cold water to halt the cooking process.
  4. Take one potato at a time and place between the folds of a double folded, clean kitchen
    towel. Press down firmly to “smash” potato to about 1‐1 1⁄2 cm thickness.
  5. Place “smashed” potato on a parchment‐ or silpat‐lined baking sheet and repeat with
    remaining potatoes.
  6. Preheat oven to broil. Brush "smashed" potatoes on both sides with olive oil and return
    to the baking sheet.
  7. Place in preheated oven and broil for approximately 4‐6 minutes until the edges just
    begin to crisp up.
Taco “Meat”
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and walnuts on a parchment‐ or silpat‐lined baking sheet. Place
    in oven for approximately 5‐7 minutes – shaking pan every couple of minutes. Look for them to darken a shade and smell "toasty". Be careful – toasting any nut can go from perfect to burnt in a matter of seconds.
  2. Place toasted walnuts and all other taco "meat" ingredients in a mini food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Keep a bit of texture.
Tomato Salsa
  1. Wash and seed tomatoes. Chop into fine dice and place in medium‐sized bowl.
  2. Finely chop onion. Add to bowl with tomatoes.
  3. Mince basil and jalapeno with seeds. Add to bowl.
  4. Add lime juice and sea salt and mix together gently; drain any excess liquid that has
    accumulated in the bowl prior to serving.
Cashew Sour Cream
  1. Add cashews to 4 Cups (1000 ml) boiling water and boil for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and
    let cashews sit in water for an additional 5 minutes.
  2. Drain and rinse cashews and add to high speed blender with remaining ingredients.
  3. Blend at high speed until you reach a "sour cream" consistency. Add additional water 1
    tablespoon at a time if required.
  4. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate if not using immediately.
Potato Assembly

1. On a serving plate, top smashed potatoes with 1‐2 tsp walnut taco "meat,” 1 tsp of fresh

salsa, 1 tsp of cashew sour cream and 1/2 tsp green onion.

TIP: “Smashed” potatoes and taco “meat” can be made up to 4 hours in advance. Fresh cut tomato salsa may be kept refrigerated for 2 days. Cashew sour cream may be kept for one week if covered and refrigerated.

For more recipe ideas, check out YamChops.com.

Shopping health, local food is important to me and my family, and I want to know why you think supporting local growers is important—tell me in the comments below and I'll pick a winner to win a $100 PC Gift Card on August 30th, 2016. 

Bonus entry: Follow me on Twitter and Instagram. (Leave a separate comment telling me you are!)

Good Luck—and enjoy the last few weeks of this wonderful season.


Disclaimer: I have been compensated for this post, and all views and opinions are my own. 

Comments

ivy pluchinsky said…
Supporting local growers is important so you know where your food is coming from! ( email - pluchinskyi@gmail.com)
ivy pluchinsky said…
I follow on Twitter as LuckyatWinning and Instagram as IvyMandias
Monique L.S. said…
It is important to support local growers as you are contributing to your own community and its members. Not to mention that the food is fresher as well.
tobyhir said…
Local businesses provide local jobs and reduces my carbon footprint!
tobyhir said…
I follow you on both Twitter & Instagram :)
Linnyeg said…
Supporting local growers is important for many reasons, first of all, their food tastes better because it was picked at its prime. It's also important because if we dont support our local growers they wont be able to sustain themselves and will quit growing. If all of our food needs to be imported it'll become even more expensive!
Linnyeg said…
I follow on twitter @linnyeg
Linnyeg said…
I follow on instagram @linnyeg
Jennifer said…
The food from local growers are the freshest and tastiest and we strengthen our community by investing our grocery dollars locally. https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.saarinen
Jennifer said…
Following on Instagram and Twitter
https://twitter.com/feffer2077
https://www.instagram.com/feffer2077/
Allison K-P said…
Supporting local farmers is so important because they are members of our community and withouth them, we wouldn't have access to fresh, local foods. So, thank you farmers! (I also follow you on Twitter and Instagram)
Christina f said…
Supporting local helps the small guys get somewhere, instead of feeding large co-operations helping a family is way more satisfying.. and plus usually the hard work and effort is way more evident. LOVE supporting!
Christina f said…
Following on Twitter :) @Christine_GARYF
Diana Corlett said…
I love fresh food from local producers. Not only is it more nutritious, but it is also tastier, and saves the various costs incurred by long distance transportation.
Diana Corlett said…
I am following you on Instagram and Twitter.
AlisonB said…
We buy a lot of fresh produce from local Mennonite farmers in my area. I like knowing where my food is coming from, and it's so much fresher than produce that's been shipped and stored for weeks (possibly months).
Joelle said…
I've always supported local growers, the food is fresher and I trust them more.
Joelle said…
Following on Instagram & Twitter as Jolie238
Annie1 said…
Buying local is so important! Its good for the family to eat local foods, its good for the economics of the area and its also a great social time to go to local farmers markets.
Annie1 said…
follow you via instagram https://www.instagram.com/greeeneyedwhwom/
Annie1 said…
follow on twitter @greeeneyedwhwom
Elizabeth R said…
I like to support local growers, they live in my community. Plus the produce is so fresh, picked in the morning and at our market by 10:00 a.m.
jemrah said…
i follow you on twitter! @jemrah1
jemrah said…
I prefer to shop local because I know the produce has been lovingly grown by farmers in my area; they taste fresher; are more juicy; and have maintained more of their nutrients. I prefer supporting local farmers because they are important to our Canadian economy and to assist the generations of farmers who have lived off the land for so many years; I hate to see farmers quit farming... thanks for the chance!
Margo b said…
I support local farmers because I know where the food is coming from and that it doesn't have to travel far to get to me. I also think its important to support local farmers because it helps them stay in business as well. thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win
Krista M said…
Supporting our local growers is important because we are helping the environment by reducing the amount of transportation pollution. The less the produce travels, the less hazards to the earth, & the fresher our food is.
Krista M said…
I follow on Twitter @MillerKrazy and Instagram @millerkrazy
LILLIAN BROWN said…
I think it is important to buy local because our money is staying in our area and our farmers need all the support they can get and the produce taste so much better when it is fresh.
LILLIAN BROWN said…
I follow on Twitter @LILLIANMB23
LILLIAN BROWN said…
I follow on IG at lillianmb23
Joni W said…
I think shopping local is extremely important, because it helps me keep on producing/growing it. And it's fresh, there's really a difference.
Joni W said…
following in twitter @fishflytogether
latanya t said…
Supporting local growers is important because it helps the community that you live in.

dlatany at gmail dot com
Flo said…
I like to shop local to get the freshest produce to put on the table for my family. The farmers in the area work hard to do that.
Florence C
Flo said…
I am following on Twitter @fossie55
Florence C
Flo said…
I am following on Instagram as fossie55
Florence C
pippirose said…
I think it's so important to support your local growers, as you can't get any fresher than that! Plus, it stays in the community, making it more self-sufficient.
pippirose said…
I follow via twitter (@pippirose77)
pippirose said…
I follow on Instagram (pippilongsox)
jenness m said…
I like that I can ask what the farmers use for pest control and that I support my community.
jenness m said…
Follow on twitter @jennmills instagram @ummills0
Josephine Evans said…
Followed on Instagram @josephinerose0
Josephine Evans said…
Followed on twitter @josephinerose__
Josephine Evans said…
Love our Canadian farmers & supporting local! I buy my vegetables fresh from my local market.
Bee W Bedard said…
I think it is important that we reduce our carbon foot print as much as possible and I like the idea of keeping our $$$ in the community
brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com
Lori's Place said…
I like shopping local growers as it supports our community and I love the products.
Lori's Place said…
I follow you on twitter @loriagalbraith
Lori's Place said…
I follow you on instragram https://www.instagram.com/loriagalbraith/
Victoria K said…
I think shopping local is very important on many different levels. I want to help the environment and have great food for my children.
Victoria K said…
I'm following on twitter @vkondovski
Victoria K said…
I'm following on Instagram @vickikondovski
Unknown said…
I follow on twitter @wizzydr1 and on instagram @wizzydr
Unknown said…
To get the freshest produce I shop local, the Farmer and their families work hard so that this can happen. Who wants a tomato that has travelled 3,000 miles to get to your grocery store
Josh S said…
It is important because it is the economical and responsible thing to do.
Josh S said…
I follow on Twitter: @daddysask
Josh S said…
I follow on Instagram: @daddysask
Glogirl said…
Supporting local growers is important as it helps to build the local economy.
Glogirl said…
I follow you on Twitter @glogirl3
Glogirl said…
I follow you on Instagram @glogirl31
Tainan Lu said…
Supporting local growers is important because we need to strengthen local economy.
Tainan Lu said…
twitter followed @demon1102
Jonnie (JB) said…
I think shopping local is important because it helps keep our economy thriving
Jonnie (JB) said…
I follow on instagram and twitter. My name is edmontonjb on both sites.
Anonymous said…
It is important becuase it helps support local economy as well as supporting the local armers and their family
pinksuzanne said…
I think it is important to shop locally as you are guaranteed the produce is fresh and it brings money to the local economy.
pinksuzanne said…
I follow on twitter @pinksuzanne and instagram @suzannegiroux
Andrea Amy said…
I think its important to shop local because it helps the local economy, and that helps the local people by creating local jobs. Plus, fresh is always so much better!
Andrea Amy said…
I follow on twitter (mommy2fiveboys)

forgot to include my email address in my other entry
andrea_hockeygirl at hotmail dot com
Andrea Amy said…
I follow on instagram andrea_hockeygirl
andrea_hockeygirl at hotmail dot com
Unknown said…
I follow on twitter & IG!
Stacy Monaghan said…
Supporting local growers is important so that your food is fresh, you know where it comes from and you help a local family make a living. Thanks for the chance!
ginette4 said…
Supporting our local farmers is very important to us because it helps support our local economy..keeps jobs in our area
ginette4 said…
I'm a follower on instagram as ginette4 and following on twitter as @ginette4
anger_family @yahoo dot com
kanatanewf said…
Fresher food, less transportation pollution and supporting local farmers and their families! All good!
kanatanewf said…
Been following on twitter for awhile! @kanatanewf
kanatanewf said…
Now following on Instagram! @kanatanewf
Unknown said…
I always support our local farmers and businesses. It's a great feeling when I purchase my eggs meat and produce that I know where it came from and the care it had preparing for the markets. Not only is it a great feeling purchasing local, it is also a great feeling knowing that we are supporting local jobs and helping our economy. Buying local, always feeling great!
lushka said…
It's important to support local growers as it keeps the money in the community. Also it is so much better for the environment. And lastly I do it for the superior tasting products.
lushka said…
I follow on Twitter @carollushka
Debbie S. said…
I love to shop locally as it immediately affect our local people and families. also am aware that shopping locally creates jobs in our community. If our community owned business's do well then they are able to give back to the community. This is a win win situation for our town for sure. Shopping locally saves my family money also by not having to fill up on a tank of gas to drive into the big city.
Debbie S. said…
following on twitter as @fifitter
Debbie S. said…
following on instagram @debfifi
Sunshine H said…
I support local because it helps keep jobs local, the flavours are freshest, and I love that at local markets I can be buying fruits or veggies that were picked that morning!
Sunshine H said…
I followed on twitter, @brighterdaysc
Meg A said…
Health is wealth. Local consume less resources therefore, greatly reducing pollution that can affect the quality of the soil that grows our food, which in turn affects the harvest. In the end, we eat the by-product as consumers. If quality is not enough reason, there's also community building, a healthier environment overall, value for money, creating jobs and giving back to the community. Not to mention a better customer service experience dealing with the food producers vs a subsidized industry farm.
Meg A said…
Health is wealth. Local consume less resources therefore, greatly reducing pollution that can affect the quality of the soil that grows our food, which in turn affects the harvest. In the end, we eat the by-product as consumers. If quality is not enough reason, there's also community building, a healthier environment overall, value for money, creating jobs and giving back to the community. Not to mention a better customer service experience dealing with the food producers vs a subsidized industry farm.
Meg A said…
I follow in Twitter as @MegenCiel and megenciel in Insta.
krystyl olson said…
Shopping & eating Local, to me, is important because I live in a farming community, so I know the people I meet at the farmers markets and buy from, are the people who nurtured the seedlings, watered the crops and picked the harvest... when I give them money for their wares, I know it's going to feed & support their families in the off season. - the new adage 'when you buy from a small business, you are helping someone pay for ballet lessons for their child, not buying a CEO a third vacation home' also applies to farmers and buying produce as well. this is not even to MENTION the environmental impact - no huge ships of truck pumping gas into the earth to get strawberries from mexio to canada (we already have strawberries here!!)
krystyl olson said…
I follow on Twitter - @darkkrystyl
krystyl olson said…
I follow on Insta - @darkkrystyl
pickgal said…
I'm following in Twitter @meliem
pickgal said…
Supporting local growers helps families in the community and the local economy. It is also better tasting food
Anne-Marie T said…
Supporting local growers is important to me because it ensures we get fresh and healthy food.
Anne-Marie T said…
Following on twitter as @amt946
Anne-Marie T said…
Following on instagram as @amt946
Wanda Tracey said…
https://www.instagram.com/cottagebunny/
I follow ontwitter .
Thanks for the great giveaway and chance to win!!
It's hard to be a small business and it helps them if we buy local.as well the food is fresher for not having to travel far.
Brenda Penton said…
Supporting local growers is important to me because it helps them make a living so they can continue to farm. It also helps with the local economy.

Brenda Penton said…
I follow on instagram as @newfiechic
Brenda Penton said…
I follow on twitter as @newfiechic
krisha44 said…
I support local growers because I trust where my fruit, veggies & meat are coming from. The taste of the food is absolutely amazing and it is great to know that I am helping and supporting farmers of our community
krisha44 said…
following on Twitter @krishabv
krisha44 said…
following on Instagram @krisha4444
Sylvia Reddom said…
we have retired and moved back to our home town area ( my hubby's and mine are next door to one another) -we live in one and shop in both areas. Our great grandparents and grandparents were farmers and our parents grew up at least parts of their lives on farms too...and we always had fresh food from our relatives' and friends' farms too. Now we shop locally to support our local growers, small businesses and farmers markets cause it is healthy and it is giving back to the community where we live.
Sylvia Reddom said…
Following you on Twitter and Instagram too thanks for the great info and contests too :-)
Rebby said…
I like to support local farmers for a few reasons. The economy in my province is not very good, so supporting any local business including farmers is helpful to our local economy. Also, if you buy locally farmed food, its fresher and tastes better!
rebthecatsitter at gmail dot com
Rebby said…
I follow on Instagram @rebthecatsitter
rebthecatsitter at gmail dot com
Rebby said…
I follow on Twitter @rebthecatsitter
rebthecatsitter at gmail dot com
Gail Butler said…
I love this time of year, easy to shop local with all the farmers markets and roadside stands selling local produce!
Gail Butler said…
I follow on Twitter. My Twitter name is @kanatamom
Quality and made in Canada. Keeping it local helps support your own community, fresh healthy food,
binabug said…
Our tiny town has a farmers market every week and I often go to it. I think next year I will plant a fruit tree (my neighbour has a plum tree, apple tree, crab apples as well as a cherry tree) I did buy some strawberry plants from PC and have some raspberry bushes.
binabug said…
I follow you on twitter as https://twitter.com/jackalJarrod
thanks and good luck everyone
binabug said…
https://www.instagram.com/ferret_binabug/ I am now also following you on instagram. Thanks for the chance, eat healthy!!
jenn erin said…
Supporting local growers is important to me because I like to give back and support my community, and buying local means that my produce didn't have to travel thousands of miles to get to me.
jenn erin said…
I follow on twitter @jennerinyvr
jenn erin said…
Also follow on IG: jennierinnn
blogginggal said…
I follow you on Twitter (@JustPlainSuzi)
Unknown said…
supporting local growers are important because you are supporting fresh and locally grown foods, helping your neighbours and know quality
Unknown said…
instagram: Sukki24
Jenny L said…
It's important to support local farmers because it helps strenthen your community, and I think produce grown locally just taste fresher and better overall!
Jenny L said…
Following on Twitter (@jnylala).
nancy2880 said…
I support local growers because I want to continue to eat nutritious fresh food.
nancy2880 said…
I follow on Twitter as @TheNancy2880.
nancy2880 said…
I follow on Instagram as thenancy2880.
Carey Hurst said…
It is very important to shop local to keep the local economy strong and sustainable facets going. It is also healthy to eat local and you know what is the soil used to grow and you can find out exactly how they grow it