(NC)—Tired of the same old summer salads? Treat your guests with a little flair from Prince Edward Island. Marinated Mussel Salad is one of the tasty recipes in the new PEI cookbook, released this summer. Great as a salad for four friends, or as an appetizer to serve eight.

The Ingredients:

½ cup (125 mL) sliced white onion

¼ cup (60 mL) minced garlic

2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil

½ cup (125 mL) dry white wine

5 lb. (2.2 kg) PEI mussels (cleaned)

½ cup (125 mL) thinly sliced fennel

½ cup (125 mL) thinly sliced carrots

½ cup (125 mL) thinly sliced red bell pepper

½ cup (125 mL) thinly sliced green bell pepper

½ cup (125 mL) thinly sliced yellow bell pepper

¼ cup (60 mL) thinly sliced green onions

¼ cup (60 mL) chopped fresh basil

¼ cup (60 mL) chopped fresh parsley

2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh tarragon

1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon zest

¾ cup (150 mL) citrus vinaigrette

Salt and pepper

Start by sautéing the white onion and garlic in the olive oil for three minutes. Add the white wine and mussels, cover and cook on high until the shells open (about 5-7 minutes). Remove the mussels from the pot, allow them to cool and remove the shells. Reduce the juice that is left in the pot by half. Cool and reserve. Toss the mussel meat, vegetables, herbs and lemon zest with one cup of the cooled cooking liquid. Add the citrus vinaigrette and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

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DHA is an important nutrient in promoting good health; nerve cells in the brain and eyes need it to function normally. DHA is particularly important during the first two years of life and early childhood because during this time, the human brain increases approximately 3.5 times in mass.

You must get DHA through foods since your body cannot make enough of it on its own. Here’s what else you need to know:

Why do we need DHA?

DHA is important to both adults and children for healthy nerve cells in the brain and eyes. In adults, DHA can protect against the development of a number of chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In infants and children, DHA is essential for visual and cognitive development.

How much DHA do we need?

Many experts recommend that adults should get a minimum of between 160 to 300 mg of DHA each day. But adults typically fall short, getting less than 100 mg of DHA each day. Children also fall short and on average only get 40 to 50 mg per day.

Why are we not getting enough?

While the number of fortified foods available with DHA is increasing, it is sparse in our food supply. Children are especially at risk of a shortfall because when they are weaned from DHA-rich breast milk or infant formula, the foods and beverages that replace breast milk and formula are low in DHA, if they contain any at all. The main dietary source of DHA, fish, is not a staple of most kids’ diets, and concerns about contaminants, as well as the rise in food allergies, have reduced children’s fish intake even more.

What are good sources of DHA?

Good sources of DHA are cold-water fatty fish like salmon and tuna. If you’re not a fish lover, there are now foods fortified with a vegetarian form of DHA made from algae called life’sDHA. Products featuring life’sDHA now available include: So Good Omega DHA soy beverage, Li’L Ones Yogurt from Dairyland, Cool Ones Yogurt, Dempster’s Smart 100% Whole Wheat Bread, and Nanomega-3 Drink Mix. A listing of more products can be found online at lifesdha.com.

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As cities expand across Canada, open green spaces for both pets and people to enjoy are often hard to come by. Lack of green spaces mean less unplanned explorations in the park with dogs and owners, less butterfly watching for cats, and more serious consequences for people and the environment. Not only does green space influence health and quality of life in our communities, it improves air quality, reduces stormwater runoff and modifies temperatures.

Thankfully, more and more Canadians are changing the way they live, work and play to protect the environment for future generations. Reducing your pet’s environmental “paw-print” can include small changes that make a difference. This summer, as you dust off your dog’s leash or cat’s harness, consider how you can preserve the environment that you and your pet love so much.

Purina’s Paws for the Planet initiative shares green tips with pet lovers to reduce their impact on the environment at www.PawsForThePlanet.ca, and supports Evergreen, a national charity dedicated to making cities more livable by enhancing and restoring dynamic outdoor spaces.

“Purina is proud to be contributing over $50,000 to support Evergreen’s Common Grounds program. As part of the Paws for the Planet initiative, pet-owners are also encouraged to declare their earth-friendly commitments online,” explains Anil Rege of Nestlé Purina PetCare. “Every YES on our pet-related green pledges at the Paws For The Planet website triggers an additional donation from us to Evergreen.”

Here are pet friendly green tips from Purina’s Paws for the Planet, to inspire pet lovers to make their own pledges for the environment.

Green Tips for your dog:

• Explore the neighbourhood with your dog on foot. By minimizing driving, you can reduce your carbon footprint.
• Always leash your dog in forests, wildlife areas and wetlands to minimize their impact on plantlife and wildlife.
• Use eco-friendly biodegradable dog waste bags since plastic bags can take decades to decompose.

Green Tips for your cat:

• Avoid using bleach when cleaning cat litter boxes. Give them a good scrub using hot water and vinegar.
• By placing a bell on your cat’s collar, birds and other wildlife will be alerted.
• Grow your own organic catnip. Your cat will thank you.

Green Tips for all pets:

• Resources are being stretched at animal shelters. Consider adopting a deserving pet.
• Use pet shampoo and grooming products that are phosphate-free to help keep our water clean.
• Buy non-toxic recyclable toys and accessories for your pet – they’re good for the environment and easy on your pet’s digestive system.

This summer, more pet friendly green tips can be found in the pet food aisle or at www.PawsForThePlanet.ca.

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With declining retail prices and the benefits of placing your TV on the wall (mounting a flat screen may improve its picture quality, and it’s safer than setting it on top of furniture where it can easily tip), there’s no reason not to invest in a mount.

New wall mounts are incredibly easy to install and use. Here are some trendy options that will help you enjoy the full potential of your TV.

Loco motion

For the most flexibility, full-motion mounts are the way to go. Offering an incredible range of motion, these mounts allow you to extend, retract, tilt and swivel your TV in all directions, so you always have the best view from any seat in the room. Sanus Systems manufactures a full-motion wall mount that fits 37- to 58-inch flat screens and extends nearly 28 inches from the wall. It also hides cables within the arm for a clean look.

Tilt-a-whirl

Lesser-priced tilting mounts are a great solution for positioning the TV down to your viewing angle, especially if you put it high on the wall and intend to watch from a recliner or the floor. Tilting mounts also help reduce glare on the screen from lights and windows.

Remote operated

Wish you could move your flat screen without getting up from the couch? Now you can, thanks to new motorized mounts that let you adjust the TV with a remote. Changing the viewing angle is as easy as changing the channel.

Bring the Louvre to your living room

Once your TV is perfectly mounted on the wall, turn it into a masterpiece you’ll really love by adding a custom framed piece of artwork. VisionArt prints, available at www.sanus.com, conceal your TV when it’s not in use with a motorized canvas that rolls up and down. Your guests will think they just walked into a museum.

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“There are many mortgage and line of credit options to help make moving or renovating easier,” says Farhaneh Haque, Regional Sales Manager, Mobile Mortgage Specialists, TD Canada Trust. “Speak with your local mortgage expert who can help you make an informed decision based on your life stage.”

There are pros and cons for moving or renovating:

Move to a new home

Pros

• Offers a fresh start and you will avoid the disruption of renovations
• Allows you to address the biggest issue you can’t change with renovations: location

Cons

• Additional costs such as real estate fees, legal fees, land transfer tax and moving expenses
• Green shag carpet may not be your taste – you may need to change the décor of the previous owner

Renovate your existing home

Pros

• Lets you keep what you like about your current home and change only what you don’t like
• Keeps your family from being uprooted (except during a major renovation where you may need to move out for a period of time)
• Adds value to your home

Cons

• Disruptive to everyday life for a period of time
• Costs can be higher than expected

TD Canada Trust offers more information on buying and renovating a home at www.tdcanadatrust.com.

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“The first step is to know what you can afford so that you can shop for your new home with confidence,” says Farhaneh Haque, Regional Sales Manager, Mobile Mortgage Specialists, TD Canada Trust. “There are many options available to repeat home buyers and a mortgage expert can help you choose the right one to help you save money so you can own your new home faster.”

2 tips for home owners looking to move:

• Take your mortgage with you when you move. Many banks will let you bring your mortgage with you. You can even increase your mortgage principal amount and blend your existing interest rate with the current market rate.
• Use your mortgage as a selling feature. If your mortgage interest rate is lower than current market rates, the purchaser may be able to take on your mortgage when you move.

TD Canada Trust offers more information on buying a home at www.tdcanadatrust.com.

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During our 34th ANNIVERSARY SALE, we would like to invite you to take part in the generous factory discounts which we received from our suppliers. We are pleased to pass those along to our valued customers during the sale.

See details inside –> (PDF, 916Kb)

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Mac Renovations 250-384-6091
825 Viewfield Rd. Victoria
macreno.com

#103-3296 Tennyson Ave. Victoria
Windowswest.ca