Photo of the Day...

Waterton Lake Nat'l Park, Canada. Photo by: Michele Voyer

Like what you see? Hit the "Follow" button and get on the Dirty Hippie Bus!

Photo of the Day...

Lowe Inlet Marine Park, Canada. Photo by: Misty Lawrence

Like what you see? Hit the "Follow" button and get on the Dirty Hippie Bus!

Dirty Little Secrets...

FOOD FIND

Poutine is a delicious indulgence that can be light on the wallet, but certainly not on the calories! It is in the category of foods that I refer to as "heart attack on a plate," but man, is it delicious! First made in Quebec, Canada between the 1950s and 70s, poutine has taken on many forms in many countries, and even has variations in its home of Quebec. Some argue over what type of sauce the original dish was made with but, most commonly, poutine is a bed of crispy french fries (chips) smothered with white cheddar cheese curds and a thick peppery chicken velouté sauce, creating one big sloppy mess of goodness. One man claiming to be the creator, uses a potato sauce, but variations range from barbeque sauce to marinara sauce, for "Poutine Italianne". New York and New Jersey, USA is one of many regions that have taken on their own version poutine. In the 1970s, late night disco crowds in New York City started ordering an off the menu item, which soon became known as "disco fries," and today, still off the menu and still hugely popular, "cheese fries and gravy" are the most popular match to poutine in that region. Poutine is hugely famous, but has been the source of embarrassment as well. French-Canadians are known for their excellent "high-cuisine," so many used to think of poutine as a dish for the lower classes, and would deny ever tasting, much less enjoying it! Poutine is rather hard to refuse, and I consider it budget-friendly because it's so heavy and filling that if you eat a full plate of it, chances are you won't want to eat anything else for a while! These days poutine can be found in both high and low end restaurants, made at home, and poutine sauce is even packaged and sold commercially in grocery stores throughout Canada. It can be made very easily, but keep in mind that it's the sauce and cheese curds that make the dish what it is. To get a taste of this diet-busting dish, follow the directions below. If you want to start from scratch, use the below recipe for poutine sauce!

POUTINE

Prepare approximately 2 cups of french fries, either from a frozen bag or make them yourself (recommended) using Idaho or Prince Edward Island potatoes. Place in a bowl. Drop 1/2 Cup of White Cheddar Cheese Curds (as fresh as possible) on top of fries, then ladle 1 Cup of sauce (of your choice) over the top, while hot. Let sit for 3-5 minutes so the sauce and cheese can work together.

If you'd like poutine sauce where you have a little more control over what comes out, here's a basic sauce which you can use as a base. While you could use it for a poutine sauce as described, you should at least add salt and pepper to taste.

1 quart stock: chicken or veal

2 ounces flour

2 ounces butter or oil

Bring the stock to a boil in a saucepan. Combine the fat and flour, cook over high heat, stirring until you have a pale roux (2-3 minutes). Whip the roux into the stock. Simmer (30-40 min), skimming the surface every 5-10 minutes. Strain the sauce through a chinois or strainer lined with cheesecloth. Salt and pepper to taste.

The above is the recipe for the Velouté sauce, which is the base for a poutine sauce. To make it into a poutine sauce, reduce it by a factor of 2-4 over medium heat. You can also try one of the following modifications:

-Add 2 Tsp of pepper to the roux before adding to the stock, for an extra-peppery sauce. Floor-sweeping pepper (the kind sold pre-ground, in bulk) is preferred by classicists.

-Add 2 Tsp of fresh ground green peppercorns to the stock while reducing.

-Prior to adding the stock, dice 1 small sweet onion into the saucepan, add 2 TBsps of balsamic vinegar, and reduce

*Photo from neatorama.cachefly.net

*Recipe from montrealpoutine.com

Destination of the Week...

Qamani’tuaq, better known as Baker Lake, is the geographical center of Canada. Surrounded by hundreds of kilometers of tundra, Baker Lake is a great destination for those wanting to experience nature and learn about life in the Arctic. Qamani’tuaq means, “where the river widens.” The name is fitting, since many rivers flow into Baker Lake, including the Thelon and Kazan, which have been designated Canadian Heritage Rivers. Canoeists from all over the world come here to experience the challenge of paddling through the beauty and vastness of the Arctic. Many people have never heard of Baker Lake, Canada, but it is home to the largest movement of land mammals in the world. The massive Thelon Game Sanctuary is home to species such as Beverly Caribou, Wolves, Snowy Owls, Wolverine, Moose, Golden Eagles, Tundra Swans, and Humpback Whitefish. The Sanctuary was created in 1927, allowing this diverse ecosystem to evolve without interference for over 70 years. The river valley also supports a remarkable diversity of plants, including some that are unique to the Arctic. Baker Lake is also a great place to come and learn about the Inuit people and their heritage. One can visit the Inuit Heritage Centre, and view locally made art in the independent galleries. If you plan your trip to Nunavut correctly, you may find yourself engulfed in local traditions, like dog team races, a fishing derby, and the Terry Fox Run. If you’re looking for some local education, head to the Community Igloo and join the Inuit elders while they teach traditional knowledge and skills to the youngsters. You may come away knowing how to prepare caribou hide, craft hunting tools from local materials, and simply encompassing a newfound respect and knowledge of the land. The spectacular scenery in the Baker Lake area includes not only the unique wildlife, but also impressive waterfalls and, if you turn upwards, the Aurora Borealis in the night skies.

Baker Lake is approximately 320 kilometers (199 miles) inland from the West coast of the Hudson Bay, and can only be reached by plane, which makes getting there pricey, but also part of the adventure. A flight from Montreal, Canada is usually six hours, whereas travel from Vancouver will likely take a total of 24 hours. A flexible attitude is necessary for a trip into the Nunavut territory, because severe weather conditions are sure to change anyone’s travel plans. Though, once you’ve landed in the wide-open tundra of the Arctic, it will all have been worth it!

Click here for information on Nunavut, including how to get to Baker Lake!

Click here for official Canada visitor information!

Photo of the Day..

Whistler, Canada. Photo by: Megan Kain

Do you have a great photo you want to share? If so let us know! We'll post some favorites for everyone to see!