I had asked Lyndsay last week if she had any ideas for this week’s newsletter. I have been pretty busy traveling for work and am a tiny bit brain dead. She suggested I address being Vegan at Halloween, Having been extremely allergic to many strains of bacteria in milk her entire life, Lyndsay knows the struggles children and adults face today walking in the isles of the groceries stores and all those yummy chocolates and candies staring at your in every aisle, the impulse purchase racks at the cashier! Now as an adult, this is no real biggie, we don't have to go to school on November 1st and share our loot with our friends. As a child that goes to school the day after Halloween trick or treating, it would be pretty sad if you had no loot to speak of.
If I was a parent today, I would love to think that I could allow my child to do the ritual begging door to door for sugary loot. I have fond memories as a child visiting the older ladies from our Parish, who back then made candy and caramel apples or assorted bags of kisses and sweet tarts. We knew the homes we visited and back then. It was pretty safe living in a small town with the populations of nine thousand with neighbourhood watch just something everyone took part in. In this day and age, I am surprised anyone lets their children go anywhere other than trick or treatin’ to family friends and neighbours they know and know well!
As vegetarians and vegans, I guess the trick is how to handle the candy after the fact. There are dentists and natural practitioners who offer to buy back candy. This leads me to finding vegan treats that you can buy for home.
Little Duck Organics have great little gummy treats. I first sampled this product last year at the Canadian Health and Food Show in Toronto. Liked it enough to go as far as discussing distribution for this company in the Ottawa region: www.littleduckorganics.com
Barkleys All Natural confectionery has truffle bars, all natural mints and kayer bars sweetened with organic coconut palm sugar. This company puts out Halloween mini chocolate squares: www.barkleys.ca
Surf Sweets has yummy gummies that are vegan, kosher, non gmo, GF and made in a facility that does not process the 8 major allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish, or shellfish/crustaceans). Offer gummies, sours and jelly beans as well as a Halloween Spooky Spiders: www.surfsweets.com
Justin’s nut butters make a fantastic peanut butter cup. As children, Lyndsay and I grew up in Smiths Falls, ON where a Hershey Plant produced a good percentage of the Reese Peanut Butter Cups and it was always one of my favourite treats so this one was a great find from Massena NY. Have not seen it here on the Canadian side, but I am sure that will change soon: www.justinsnutbutter.com
Camino is an organic fair trade company that is hits a little closer to home for Lyndsay and me. This company is a Canadian success story and began in Ottawa-Gatineau region of Canada in the Province of Quebec. A Coop business model was developed by three young entrepreneurs just over 10 years ago and is winning awards on both sides of the border for their business model and their dedication to social responsibility. Not only do they make great chocolate, but their baking cocoa and their drinking chocolate mixes are second to none: http://www.lasiembra.com/camino
As I am not a sweet lover, I don’t go looking nor is these types of products on regular shopping trips, but I do love gummies and chocolate so it is nice to know these products are out there. If you have a product that you think our subscribers and newsletter recipients should know about, send the information along.
Last thought, as a vegetarian or vegan are you handing out whatever is on the shelf for standard candies or are you reading to make sure there is no gelatin and other animal products added? I know in our household, we don't give out gummies or gym for the sake of gelatin & aspartame... what are you giving out this year?
Happy cooking!
Laurie
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