Jun. 28, 2021
Cooking In Season
Salad Meals to Beat the Heat
In this recipe round up, I have gathered my best and most delicious summer salad meal recipes in one post, for days when it’s too hot to cook!

If I wanted to, I could sum up this post in three words: New Crop Nuts. Or in seven: never eat another rancid supermarket nut again.
Rancho Vignola, the company that is sponsoring this week’s giveaway, is hands-down the best company for super-fresh nuts and dried fruit, shipped directly after the harvest. And I’m not saying this because RV is sponsoring a giveaway. Regular blog readers will know that I have been a fan of Rancho for a long time, starting well before I even had a blog. Their products are simply fantastic.
Every fall of the last nine years, I have been ordering a direct shipment of new crop nuts and dried fruits from Rancho Vignola. I do this for many reasons. Because their products are fantastic. Because I love the taste of truly fresh almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, and of stellar dates and dried cherries. Because it makes me happy to fill my children’s growing bellies with the healthiest high-protein snack around. Because I love to support sustainable farming practices, local companies, and direct trade marketing.
Some of you already know all about RV and have tried their amazing products. The rest of you will get a chance to sample their products in person at one of their many Harvest Events around BC and Alberta. And for the first time ever, there will be a Harvest Event on Vancouver Island!!! I’m excited! I’ll be there, doing three cooking demos, giving out samples, and eating a ton of nuts while I am at it.
Now for the even more exciting part! For the third year in a row, Rancho Vignola is sponsoring a giveaway on my blog. One of my lucky readers will win a gift basket of Rancho products, valued at $100. The contest is posted a few weeks earlier than usual this year, to match up with the South Island Harvest Event. The winner has the option of picking up the basket during the Harvest Event on November 28 or 29, or having the basket shipped to them.
The $100 Basket Contest Rules:
To qualify for delivery, you must have a Canadian shipping address. Enter the draw in one of three ways:
(1) comment on this post
(2) post to my facebook fanpage
(3) tweet with the hashtag #RVgiveaway to @chefheidifink
Giveaway ends by midnight, Monday, November 25th, and a winner will be announced Wednesday, November 27th. That’s less than one week, folks!
(Non-winners will be very happy to note that Rancho Vignola’s December online Harvest Event is coming soon. No minimum order required! So, if this has piqued your interest, and you can’t make it to any of the Harvest Event locations, you can order some to try.)
Jun. 28, 2021
In this recipe round up, I have gathered my best and most delicious summer salad meal recipes in one post, for days when it’s too hot to cook!
Oct. 25, 2020
Quince have a wonderful flavour, but an almost impossibly hard texture. Read on for a quick kitchen tip that makes quince easy to peel and cut!
Sep. 27, 2020
Pumpkin spices scones are a perfect fall treat; not-too-sweet, fragrant with spices, with a full complement of rich pumpkin flavour.
I have not yet experienced Rancho Vignola products but have been following your blog for a long time and will love to be able to buy their products. Sidney is where I shop and live close to…nice not to have to drive to Victoria. Looking forward to the Harvest Event.
I look forward to these delicious nuts.
I was thrilled to learn that RV will be on the island!!! Their nuts and fruits are fabulous. See you there! And, please enroll me in the giveaway contest. Thank you!!
I love this time of year! Maybe this time I will win one of these amazing baskets.
Thank you Heidi! You are a super star for sharing all of your many years of experience with us!!
Dried fruit & nuts are a tasty addition to my diet. Look forward to checking out this event.
Fantastic that RV is coming to the Island – they truly do have a superior product!
This is becomming a Christmas tradition, thanks for the contest Heidi.
I wouldn’t know about this great company and product if it weren’t for you–thanks, Heidi, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that I win this draw!
I’ve never tried their products before and would be interested to see how they are better. Nice to see that they are coming to Sidney; I will pop out on the weekend. Thanks for having the contest.
I tasted fresh hazelnuts a few years ago from a farm on the Penisula and could not believe his different they tasted from anything in the store…bring in the fresh nuts!!!
Many years ago I had tried some Macadamia nuts a friend got from Rancho Vignola and they were fantastic! I’d love to to enter this draw.