Discussion about Foods

This can be an area where we discuss our goals with respect to 100 Mile Manitoba, particulars about foods (information we have researched, thoughts on use of certain items ...), or any other discussion topics for 100 Mile Manitoba.

Please feel free to edit this page and make sure to sign your posts so we can continue the discussion when we meet face to face.

Food Ingredients

To start us off, there have been discussions regarding some integral food ingredients, namely salt, leavening agents (yeast, baking soda and powder), bacterial culture, and microbial enzymes.

Hard to find items

Bacterial Cultures: these are found in cheese and yogurt - there are producers in Quebec and Alberta that I know of (can be ordered from Glengarry Cheese Co or Danlac )-- DalilaS - 20 Mar 2007

Microbial Enzymes: these are also found in cheese and yogurt (rennet or lipase) -- DalilaS - 20 Mar 2007

Vinegar: I have been researching how to make vinegar. It doesn't look too difficult, as long as you have access to apple cider (which is available locally). Another option is to make vinegar from barley malt (essentially letting it ferment as though you are going to make beer, and then making vinegar out of it). I know that there is a large malting company in Winnipeg, and recently heard you can buy their malt at Grapes and Grain (a local brew supply store). I am going to try and confirm this. -- JasonHildebrand - 19 Apr 2007
I have been told that the large malting company mixes barley from Manitoba and other places and does not produce a malted Manitoba only barley mix. -- DalilaS - 29 Apr 2007

Pectin: ?

Others

Leavening agents

Yeast: no known sources of yeast in Manitoba (but if you do know, please add!)
"My opinion on this, for what it is worth is that if you take a jar, add some yeast water and a little honey the yeast will soon start multiplying and within a few days if you keep adding more honey you will have a jar full of your own home grown yeast which you can use with a clear conscience." David Dawson

Baking Soda and Baking Powder: also no known sources

Sourdough starter: available from TallGrass

Kefir: can be used instead of yeast. I have contacted a Winnipegger who has extra Kefir grains to give away. Does anyone else want some? If so, contact me sometime soon, as I will hopefully be getting some in the next week or two. jason@opensky.ca - 19 Apr 2007

Food Information to Share

If you have some interesting information that you have researched (e.g. where is the nearest salt mine) share it in this space.

Salt: See SaltSources

MilkInfo: I did some prying into the Manitoba Dairy Act and Regulations yesterday and found it appears that farmers can legally sell milk. Click MilkInfo to see some of the regulations regarding this. -- DalilaS - 20 Mar 2007

Nothing beats the crunch of fresh local lettuce in winter. For the past few months we've been experimenting HowToGrowFoodIndoors. -- JasonHildebrand and KatharinaNuss

Sprouts. Traditionally, "bean sprouts" are made from mung beans, but I don't know whether mung beans are available locally. Here is a list of other kinds of seeds that may be sprouted, several of which are available locally.

Food Preservation and Storage

Share your notes, ideas and experiences about canning, freezing and drying foods:

Canning and honey: I'm just beginning to learn about canning - I'll add that I've seen jam recipes using honey and no sugar...also, I think the use of pectin largely depends on the amount in the fruit naturally, and isn't always essential... -- CoralM - 21 Mar 2007 | I've added a page on canning with honey here: HoneyCanning. Feel free to edit! -- DalilaS - 21 Mar 2007
Rhubarb is a good substitute for lemon in canning recipes. -- DalilaS - 19 Jul 2007

Food Drying: Building and using a midwest solar food dryer
We have an excellent powerpoint from David Dawson with the step by step process of building a solar dryer; If someone can put it onto our site that would be great. Alternatively, I can burn a CD for those interested. - PaulChorney (email 100milemanitoba@gmail.com or 100milesourcing@gmail.com)