My family is Scottish, and we started every day with a bowl of oatmeal porridge. Chances are that, regardless of your heritage, you did too! But thanks to the ingenuity of Quebec-based Oatbox, enjoying high-fibre oats is a whole new experience. Oatbox has set out to redefine the classic breakfast go-to with oatmeal, granola, oat bars and more inspired by foodies, artists, entrepreneurs, early birds and busy people. How about Orange and Dark Chocolate Overnight Oats? Addictive Salted Caramel Granola? Chewy Blueberry Oat Bar?
Oatbox also sells two kinds of oat milk, one to use as you would dairy milk, the other formulated specifically for frothing, developed after consulting with local coffee roasters and baristas, so it’s ideal in making lattes or cappuccinos.
Available at select grocery and health food stores across Canada and at oatbox.com.
Ottolenghi Comfort: A Cookbook
Food lovers at Indigo are patiently waiting for the October release of Yotam Ottolenghi’s latest, which they predict will be the top-selling cookbook of 2024.
The celebrated Israeli chef, noted for cooking with vegetables, focuses on easy-to-prepare comfort foods in his new book, which features more than 100 recipes from around the world. A simple bowl of pasta becomes Caramelized Onion Orecchiette with Hazelnuts & Crispy Sage, a soothing soup is Cheesy Bread Soup with Savoy Cabbage & Cavolo Nero, and often-ignored spuds are transformed into smooth and silky Garlicky Aligot Potato with Leeks & Thyme. Available at indigo.ca.
Meater Plus smart meat thermometer
Parents and grandparents have been gifting kitchen must-haves to kids on their way to university for eons, with the standards being a set of pots and pans, sharp set of knives, measuring cups, mixing bowls, a blender and a toaster.
The latest kitchen essential worthy of tying with a pretty bow is the Meater Plus. This wireless smart meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of indoor and outdoor cooking:
- Bluetooth-enabled
- Dual temperature sensors can monitor internal meat temperature (max: 100°C) and ambient temperature (max: 275°C)
- Guided cook system walks you through every step of the cooking process
- Advanced estimator algorithm estimates how long to cook and rest your food to help plan your meal and manage your time
Available online at store-ca.meater.com and amazon.ca.
Almond Cow Milk Maker
If your household is living dairy-free, the Milk Maker by Almond Cow transforms nutritious nuts, grains and seeds into eco-friendly plant-based milk you can pour in a cereal bowl or swirl into a steaming mug of coffee.
Store-bought almond, soy and cashew milks are filled with “extra ingredients” like stabilizers, oils and other additives. Just pour your ingredients into the Milk Maker, press the button, and enjoy DIY wholesome nut milks in under 60 seconds! And the Milk Maker separates the pulp from the milk so you don’t have to.
The device is light and easy to store, approximately the size of a tea kettle. We suggest buying the Starter Set, which includes the Milk Maker as well as a glass jug, brush and bags of almonds, cashews, oats and coconut shreds. Available at amazon.ca.
Guacamole ProKeeper
Mexican food fans will love the Guacamole ProKeeper, a dishwasher-safe guacamole storage container that keeps guac and other dips fresh all week long. Its four-cup capacity fits about four to five avocados’ worth of guacamole. Just press down on the lid and the suctioned, air-tight seal ensures long-lasting freshness. Available online at amazon.ca.
