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Happy new year! What a year 2020 was, hey? We had some serious lows and some shining lights. If you're in need of a little uplifting, check out this series on our Heroes of 2020, celebrating the beacons of light during an unforgettable year. Multiple stories made me well up, so be warned you might want some Kleenex nearby.
This week we're kicking off our Winter Living newsletter, and 2021, with budget-friendly recipes that will warm you up on our cold nights, a virtual music fest that's going strong after a decade, winter lights to brighten the darkness, your best bet for a 2021 diet change and a page-turning novel for you to enjoy curled up under a cozy blanket.
~ Jill, SaltWire Audience Team
Weekend weather
There’s something for everyone in this forecast — winter storm warnings, freezing rain warnings, snow and rain! Still not much sunshine I’m afraid. The weekend forecast could have some of us reaching for our sunglasses. — get the details in Cindy's latest forecast, here.
Love your lentils
Did you know Canada is the largest lentil producer in the world, with Saskatchewan producing 95 per cent of the country’s lentils? Given the rising costs of groceries and people turning to more plant-based meals, incorporating the legume into your diet is not only good for your wallet and the environment, but your health as well. Lentils are low in fat, high in fibre and protein and are nutrient-rich, with 8.5 grams of fibre and seven grams of protein in just half a cup of cooked lentils. They’re also an excellent source of folate and iron and a good source of selenium and zinc.
Here are just a few ways you can start cooking with lentils. A personal favourite recipe of mine is this cozy easy red lentil dahl from Pinch of Yum that you can have on the table in just 15 minutes. It's on regular rotation at our house!
Hearty and rustic
For another budget-friendly meal that's sure to warm you up on a cold winter's eve, check out this mouth-watering recipe for tomato and white bean soup with kale and sausage. This soup is hearty, rustic and packs a healthy punch — just the detox we need after polishing off multiple tins of holiday cookies (or was that just me?)
Open Waters Festival keeps flowing
Halifax's Open Waters Festival is going virtual for their annual event with daily musical performances from Jan. 6 to 16. The festival kicked off last night with Alan Syliboy & the Thundermakers but there's plenty more talent to take in including festival favs like vocalist Janice Isabel Jackson, the Upstream Quartet and the cross-cultural Open Borders collaboration. Click here for the full performance schedule and ticket information.
Bright lights for dark nights
To bring light to the darkness of winter during these challenging times, the City of Charlottetown, in conjunction with downtown partners, will be transitioning holiday lights to winter lights in an effort to add sparkle and pizazz to the city through the use of alternate colour schemes and placement, creating a more festive atmosphere in downtown Charlottetown’s nighttime sky this winter.
Plant-based diets trend in 2021
According to a panel of experts, the Mediterranean diet has been named the best diet for the fourth year in a row. While it's called a diet, it's really a lifestyle based on eating fresh, delicious foods and healthy fats, high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds and olive oil. This heart-healthy eating plan has also been shown to have a positive impact in areas of other chronic diseases including various cancers and cognitive issues like dementia and Alzheimer's. Here are some tips on how you can start eating the Mediterranean way.
Local reads
It’s not your standard horror novel fare but a new book from a British Columbia zoologist might make you look at sea ice in a whole new way.
“Upheaval” is the latest novel from Victoria, B.C.-based writer Susan J. Crockford examining what happens when a small earthquake hits Cape Breton during pack ice season. While the earthquake isn’t much, it unleashes a tsunami that moves under the ice amplifying it into a deadly, damaging force. The resulting ice floe is pushed onto the land and then basically destroys everything in its path.
Thanks for reading!
