Canadian Living January 2014

2014 A YEAR of FIRSTS ...Pass it on! The first time my feet hit the ball-hockey rink, I felt truly alive—more alive than in years. It was the spring of 2011, and after miscarrying for the eighth time, I was feeling very angry with my body. I knew I had to give myself some love. So I did something really scary: I joined an outdoor women’s ball hockey league. I’d played field hockey, but never ball hockey or ice hockey. Before joining, I watched a game and noted how skilled many of the women were and how much running was involved. This just terrified me further. On game day, I hoped for rain. No such luck—it was a breezy, beautiful spring evening. When my first shift came, I just went for…

OUR TESTED-TILL-PERFECT GUARANTEE means we’ve tested every recipe, using the same grocery store ingredients and household appliances as you do, until we’re sure you’ll get perfect results at home. “In our excitement about the ‘Bread for Beginners’ story, we neglected to consider one thing—just how many loaves of bread we’d pump out of The Test Kitchen. From development through photography, I’d guess about 120 loaves of bread were baked. Needless to say, we all gained a few pounds and we’re still enjoying the bread (toasted) from the freezer!”—RHEANNA KISH “The Creamed Corn Potatoes started off as a mashed version. Although it tasted just as great, it looked terrible on a plate. Leaving the potatoes in cubes was not only more appealing, it turned out to be less work.”—AMANDA BARNIER “The goal for this…

Here’s What You Said… THANKS FROM BERMUDA Dear Ms. Reynolds: One of my best friends, who lives in Ottawa with her husband, sent me your column (“Simple Joys,” December 2013) about your time spent in Bermuda over the Christmas holidays. I met my friend when we were both studying at the University of Western Ontario in London (between 2002 and 2006); however, I am born-and-raised Bermudian, and a practising attorney on the island. Your article was fantastic and I was so happy to read it; thank you for sharing. You captured the essence of our island and warmed my heart. —Kimberley METRIC VS. IMPERIAL I have been reading your magazine since 1980, when you introduced metric as part of the Canadian lifestyle. I have noticed that, in the last year, you have cut back on…

RICK MERCER WANTS OUR LEADERS TO QUIT TURNING POLITICS INTO HOCKEY TALK. With it being January, one’s thoughts turn to resolutions and wishes for the new year. Looking at the blank slate of 2014 is exciting. I feel like a Leafs fan on the first day of the season—hope and optimism burn eternal. I’ve never had much luck with personal resolutions, so my mind turns to politics. How can we improve the political climate in our nation’s capital? What should I wish for? As with personal resolutions, one must remain practical. Sure, we would all love to see civility in the House of Commons, a transparent and accountable government and an end to Canada’s Economic Action Plan commercials, but we know none of those things will happen in our lifetime. If politics were…

IN 2014, LET’S SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE PLAGUING OUR COUNTRY. WE’VE GOT THREE IDEAS FOR HOW YOU CAN HELP MAKE CANADA STRONGER THAN EVER. 1 THE ARCTIC IS MELTING In Northern Canada, climate change is taking its toll. When Arctic ice reached its peak last winter, it was the fifth lowest peak in 35 years. That followed summer 2012’s shocking sea ice dip, the lowest minimum ever. Many scientists are predicting ice-free summers in just a couple of decades. And in 2013, a team from the University of Hawaii at Manoa analyzed piles of climate data and concluded that, by 2047, the world will have warmed so much that temperatures will no longer fall within a normal range. THE RESOLUTION: Carbon and the burning of fossil fuels is a major cause of…

TIP FROM THE TEST KITCHEN To make the twists for this sparkler, use a channel cutter to cut a 2-to 3-inch (5 to 7.5 cm) length of orange zest for each glass. To make a pretty citrus wedge garnish, cut two slices from a clementine. Quarter each slice; cut a slit in each wedge. Slide one wedge over the rim of each glass. CITRUS SPRITZ Hands-on time: 5 minutes Total time: 5 minutes Makes: 8 servings There is nothing quite like a classic Champagne cocktail for ringing in the new year with sophistication and pizzazz. Try this festive, wintry twist on it at your big bash. Aperol makes for a slightly sweeter result than Campari. 4 oz orange-flavoured liqueur, such as triple sec (½ cup) 4 oz Aperol or Campari (½ cup) 8 orange twists 1 bottle (750 mL) dry sparkling…