Mobile Food Market Basket – Snack and Meal Ideas March 17-21

Snack Ideas:

Meal/Side Dish Ideas:

 Roasted Kabocha Squash Bites

A simple, nutritious snack that’s naturally sweet and caramelized.

Ingredients:

  • 1 small Kabocha squash, seeds removed and cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 1 tbsp oil (vegetable or olive)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Toss the Kabocha squash cubes with oil, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until soft and golden.
  4. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup if using and enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Passionfruit Yogurt Parfait

A refreshing and tropical snack packed with flavour.

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup yogurt (plain or vanilla)
  • 1 passionfruit
  • ¼ cup granola or crushed cereal (optional)
  • 1 tsp honey or sweetener (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Scoop the passionfruit pulp into a small bowl.
  2. Layer yogurt, granola, and passionfruit pulp in a glass or bowl.
  3. Drizzle with honey if desired.
  4. Enjoy as a quick and nutritious snack!

Leek & Yellow Potato Soup

A simple, comforting soup that’s budget-friendly and filling.

Ingredients:

  • 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced
  • 3 yellow potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 tbsp oil or butter
  • 3 cups broth (vegetable or chicken)
  • 1 cup milk (or plant-based alternative)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, heat oil or butter over medium heat.
  2. Add leeks and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15–20 minutes until potatoes are soft.
  4. Blend until smooth (or mash for a chunkier texture).
  5. Stir in milk, salt, and pepper. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
  6. Serve warm with bread or crackers.

Substitutions:

  • Use water instead of broth with extra seasoning.
  • Swap milk for coconut milk for a richer flavour.

Roasted Rainbow Carrots & Kabocha Squash

A colourful, flavorful side dish perfect for any meal.

Ingredients:

  • 3 rainbow carrots, sliced into sticks
  • ½ small Kabocha squash, cut into small wedges
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp garlic powder or dried herbs (thyme, rosemary, or oregano)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Toss carrots and Kabocha squash with oil, salt, and seasoning.
  3. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, stirring once, until tender and golden.
  4. Serve as a side dish or toss into salads or grain bowls.

Follow the steps above or you can substitute with what you have at home.

Click here and follow Health Canada’s food safety guidelines when following any suggested recipes, preserving canning, or dehydrating techniques.

Beet and Mushroom Pasta 

Beets and Mushrooms Mimic Ground Meat in This ‘Bolognese-Style’ Sauce 

Serves 4 

Ingredients: 

  • 3 Beets, washed and root end removed 
  • 3 Tbsp of Olive Oil, or Vegetable Oil 
  • 1 Yellow Onion, peeled and diced 
  • 2 Cloves of Garlic, peeled and smashed 
  • 8 oz Mushrooms 
  • 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste 
  • Pinch of Chili Flakes 
  • 2 Small Tomatoes, washed and diced 
  • Package of Dried Pasta 
  • Salt and Pepper to taste 
  • Parmesan Cheese and finely chopped Italian Parsley *Optional* 

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Wrap the beets in tinfoil with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, until fork tender, and remove to cool. 
  2. Add the oil to a heavy bottomed pot or large pan at medium-low heat. Once the oil is hot sauté the onion and garlic for 8-10 minutes, until soft. 
  3. Meanwhile, wash and thinly slice the mushrooms. Mince about half of them. Once the beets are cool enough to handle, small dice them. 
  4. Add the beets, mushrooms, tomato paste and chili flakes to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, until everything starts to brown. 
  5. Add the tomatoes to the pot, along with some salt and pepper, and cook until the tomatoes break down and everything comes together as a sauce. 
  6. Cook the pasta as per the box instructions until al dente, then drain and add to the pot of sauce. Cook for another minute or two, stirring everything together. 
  7. Plate the pasta, and top with parmesan and parsley, if using. Enjoy! 

Costco Kitchener: A 2024 Community Champion in the Fight Against Hunger and Food Waste

COSTCO Kitchener

Today, we are excited to shine the spotlight on one of our dedicated Retail Partners, Costco Kitchener.  A strong advocate in the fight against food insecurity and food waste, Costco Kitchener was selected as one of our 2024 Community Champions recipients, and for good reason! 

Every day, Costco donates high-quality meal kits, meat, fresh produce and other essential groceries to the Cambridge Food Bank, helping to ensure that individuals and families facing food insecurity have access to nutritious food.  

For a store of Costco’s size, one might think it would be far easier to discard surplus food but instead, the Costco team works together across departments putting in a significant amount of time and energy to ensure perfectly good food is ready for the Cambridge Food Bank’s daily pick-ups.  

In 2024, Costco Kitchener provide the Cambridge Food Bank with an astounding 120, 623 lbs of food!  A true testament to Costco’s strong commitment to sustainability and community well-being. 

Together, Costco and the Cambridge Food Bank are creating a stronger, more sustainable food system while making a tangible difference in Cambridge and North Dumfries. 

Thank you, Costco Kitchener, for your incredible support, and congratulations on being selected as one of our 2024 Community Champions.  

Give 30

What is Give 30?

Founded in 2012 in Mississauga, Give 30 is a community-based initiative built upon the ideas and tenets of the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan. During this 30 day period, Muslims are not to consume any food or drink (even water!) during daylight hours. This is designed to bring people closer to the Creator, and also to give perspective on the fundamental gifts food and drink are to us. Through this time of fasting, people are encouraged to be more compassionate to their fellow man who may not have food or drink not by choice, but by circumstance. 

So if Ramadan is about food, hunger, compassion, social solidarity and sharing, Give 30 embodies that spirit. This grassroots movement encourages people of ALL walks of life to think about those in our community who are struggling and lend a helping hand. That’s right, you don’t have to be Muslim in order to participate in Give 30.

So what can you do? 

1. Donate to Partner Organizations (Like the Cambridge Food Bank)
While you don’t have to fast to participate in Give 30, you can start by committing to give up one thing for 30 days, whether it be coffee, having lunch out, or something like that. Then, you donate the money that you would’ve spent on that one thing to the Give 30 campaign through a partner organization. Give 30 does not profit directly from this initiative, all of the money and donations are handled through partner food banks in your local community. 

2. Run a food drive in your office
Encourage co-workers and friends to donate canned goods, fresh foods and grocery gift cards in an effort to make a difference in your community for 30 days. Check out our recent blog about how to run a food drive for more information. 

3. Put aside part of your food budget
If you’re able to, put aside part of your food budget this month towards either a donation or food for your local food bank. Check out our tips for cutting down on your food budget for help thinking about ideas or recipes.

We hope that through this next month you’ll be able to contribute to the Give 30 campaign and make a difference in your community. For more information about the Give 30 organization check out their website at give30.ca. Ramandan is from March 1 – March 29, 2025. Give 30 starts on February 20, 2025.

Cambridge Jazz Festival Fundraiser

Your day at the Festival…

Your day at the festival includes complete in/out privileges all day long so you can enjoy a meal at the many options provided in the Gaslight District including The Foundry Tavern, The French, or Pizza Motola.

Tapestry Hall is located in a wonderful neighbourhood close to old stone buildings and across the street from the Grand River. You can enjoy the Gaslight concourse or opt to stay in all day and soak up our four fantastic entertainment options while enjoying comfortable seating, casual fare and a well stocked bar.

This is a Galt Jazz non-profit community event, with the Cambridge Food Bank receiving a share of all proceeds.

 
Click here to learn more.

Hey Jazz Lovers!

You know Mike Farwell—host of The Mike Farwell Show on CityNews, covering everything from local stories to big ideas.

Well, Dave Ottenbrite recently had the pleasure of chatting with Mike about the Cambridge Jazz Festival—how it started, why it matters, and why so many people are excited about it.

🎧 Catch the Mike Farwell interview here

Cambridge Food Bank’s AGM

We are excited to invite you to the Cambridge Food Bank’s Annual General Meeting on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 7:00 pm, which will be held at Forward Church (55 Franklin Blvd, Cambridge, ON). 

Do you ever wonder how your efforts have touched the lives of those we serve? Are you curious about the challenges we’ve overcome or the new initiatives we’re planning? The AGM is an opportunity to see the impact of your support firsthand.  We’ll be sharing updates on our programs, their outcomes, our financials, and more.

RSVP to confirm your attendance
https://bit.ly/CambridgeFoodBankAGM