Local Produce and Edibles at Island Natural 

On Friday August 19, we opened the front garage door, put up some tents and hosted some of our local growers for an afternoon of good conversation and delicious food. A special thank you to our Produce Manager Alyson, Bruce for the entertainment, Creekmore's Coffee, Dudink's Garden, Elgie Road Farms, Frank, Island Hothouse, Jacobs Farm, Shaw Bio Farms, and Vancouver Island Grain & Milling. And of course THANK YOU to our great customers who shopped! It's truly a wonderful gift to be able to enjoy the local bounty of produce, coffee and even grains that are grown and produced with sustainability in mind.  Even though Farm Day has passed, we still have an abundance of local produce for you to enjoy. Check out our New Product List down below for more information. 

Congratulations to Pauline of Nanaimo who won our local gift basket worth over $ 70! 

Demos for WOW Wednesday

Moneca Litton, Bach Flower Practioner, will be back for another in-store session. Moneca specializes in the wellbeing of humans and animals through the use of Dr. Bach's Flower Essences to treat emotional imbalance before it materializes into illness. Stop by between 11am and 3pm to learn more.    

Camino Organic Fruit Juices; From 9am to 1pm, try these refreshing fair trade cane sugar sweetened drinks.  

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care; Carrie will be in store from 11am to 2pm to discuss what makes this line unique and share samples of their products.  

Enjoy Life Soft and Chewy Snack Bars; Gluten-free, vegan, allergen-free and delicious. Sample while you shop.  

Natural Factors Vegan Protein Powder; Liana will have samples of this delicious soy-free protein powder from 1 to 4pm.  

Prairie Naturals; Joan will be here from 10am to 1pm making some delicious smoothies!   

Sequel Naturals; A regular WOWer, Kathleen returns to showcase Sequel's Vega formulas and products.   

Summer Sizzle Contest Ends September 30!    

Check out our Nature's Way and Enzymatic Therapy Product Display and enter to win a Grand Prize Trip to Cancun! Secondary prizes include a XBOX with KINECT or an IPOD Shuffle. See in-store for details. Contest ends September 30, 2011.  

New Products at the Market     

Check out our New Products Document by clicking the link below:  

CLICK HERE  

Staff Picks  

Herb of the Month: Alfalfa (Medivago Sativa)     

Alfalfa has a long history of dietary and medicinal uses in both humans and animals. Featuring a high vitamin and mineral content including vitamins A, B, C, K, calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium. Also a source of chlorophyll and carotene. Some of the benefits of alfalfa include the promotion of healthy bones and teeth, improved digestion, tissue repair, appetite stimulation and  cholesterol lowering effects.  

Preparation: For a herbal tea, infuse 1-2 tablespoons of alfalfa leaf in one cup of boiling water and steep for 15 minutes. Drink 1-4 cups daily. Can be paired with mint to improve the flavour.  

We also carry Alfalfa capsules or loose leaves. Stop by Island Natural's bulk herb section for more information.   

Recipe of the Month: Zabaglione with Fresh Berries    

5 egg yolks (Try our new Rabbit River Farms Eggs)  

1/3 cup organic cane sugar  

1/3 cup dry or sweet Marsala wine (you can substitute sherry, Madeira, Grand Marnier, sparkling wine or dessert wine)

1 cup heavy cream or whipping cream, whipped until stiff

5 1/4 cup fresh berries

Set up a double boiler or use a medium size stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water. Make sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water or else the eggs may scramble.

Beat the egg yolks and sugar together approximately 3 minutes or until pale yellow. Slowly whisk in the wine and set the bowl over the barely simmering water.

Continue to beat constantly, approximately 10 to 15 minutes, until the eggs triple in volume and thicken. As the cook, they will stiffen, but still hold air. Make sure to continuously whip around the bowl to cook the eggs evenly. If the eggs begin to curdle, pull away from the water a few seconds to cool while continuously whisking.

Remove from heat and cool the mixture completely in the refrigerator. When the mixture is cool, gently fold in the whipped cream.

To serve, dollop some zabaglione into a glass. Add fresh berries, add another dollop of the mixture and top with a few berries and a mint sprig. Zabaglione on its own can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Miscellaneous Items   

-Mina Shoda, our in-store Shiatsu Practitioner returns on Friday September 9 from 1-3 pm for mini sessions. She can also be reached anytime at 250.751.0505 to book an appointment.   

-Our Prairie Naturals Active Lifestyle Flyer expires August 31, 2011. Great prices on many of their most popular products!