Chatelaine Spring 2024

THE LITTLE GIRL holding a hand-painted sign asking us to “save [her] future” at the top right of this page is my nine-year-old daughter, Lucy, at last September’s March To End Fossil Fuels in Toronto. Climate anxiety can affect anyone, parent or not. But my worry about the world Lucy and my 12-year-old son, Jasper, will inherit is my biggest motivation for pushing for a greener future. In our fourth Green Issue, we aim to do just that, serving up healthy doses of inspiration and doable actions to help the planet. Our hope is that after you’ve read it, you’ll feel fired up. So often, the environmental message we get is personal: make lifestyle changes to save the earth. And while personal efforts are important (and we have lots of…

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT PANTRY PICKS Since it’s often sold in paste form, harissa is best bought in smaller amounts to ensure it stays fresh and the flavours remain bright and peppery. Tubes of harissa paste stay fresher longer; if you have large amounts of paste remaining in a jar, either cover with a thin layer of olive oil before storing in the refrigerator or freeze into blocks in an ice-cube tray. THE BUDGET PICK PC Black Label Harissa Spice Blend, $5, presidentschoice.ca Try it with: Popcorn THE REAL DEAL Le Phare Du Cap Bon, $9, amazon.ca Best for: Soups, stews THE SPLURGE Belazu Rose Harissa Paste, $10, well.ca Best for: Dips, roasts Harissa Baked Beans PREP 15 MIN; TOTAL 45 MIN SERVES 4 Everyone…

ESCAPE CAN BE FOUND IN many forms, but my favourite by far comes courtesy of a book. Stories do it all: They offer comfort, humour, validation and magic. They make people feel seen and help us understand one another more deeply. This is why books are powerful enough to be deemed dangerous by those who fear change—and it’s why authors need our support. These 15 books include stories about marginalized people, rich historical fantasy (a rapidly growing sub-genre), classic fast-paced thrillers, lush literary debuts and tales of desire, friendship and connection. Come & Get It by Kiley Reid Millie Cousins, a Black senior resident assistant at a college in Arkansas, becomes entangled with an alluring visiting professor. Reid’s follow-up to Such a Fun Age explores academia, privilege and how desire…

1. BEST ANYTHING-GOES TIN These tiny Danish saltwater clams are a favourite of Luke Champion, proprietor of Toronto shop Good Cheese. “They’re sweet and salty with a firm, meaty texture,” he says. “Mild without being boring and neutral enough to go with virtually anything.” Limfjord Cockles in Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Oil, $14, goodcheese.ca 2. BEST BITE The tangy tomato sauce that enrobes these tender little scallops makes them a perfect appetizer topper for potato chips, crackers or tiny toasts. Conservas de Cambados Scallops in Galician Sauce, $13, well.ca 3. BEST STAND-ALONE Anyone who formed their opinion about anchovies based on those sad, parched little pellets you sometimes find on pizza should give these tasty little fish a second chance. California-based Siesta Co. sources some of the best from northern Spain, where…

The #1 question to ask your doctor “We want to make sure you’ve had that conversation with your health-care provider: ‘Am I at risk for heart disease?’” says Dr. Beth Abramson, a preventive cardiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “You’re never too old or too young to make a change, but I take midlife or menopause as an opportunity.” Getting to the bottom of that question may include checking blood pressure, blood sugar and waist circumference. Abramson also measures cholesterol, as well as the molecule lipoprotein(a), which is checked only once in a lifetime but is strongly linked with risk for future heart disease if elevated. During her menopause consultations, Dr. Shafeena Premji—a Menopause Society–certified family doctor and a member of Calgary’s Libin Cardiovascular Institute—assesses symptoms and future health…

It would be hard to miss the latest running-shoe trend, which has been spotted on everyone from Gwyneth to Gisele, tech bros to TikTokers, and newbie runners to record holders. Today’s most popular sneakers have soles so thick they seem like a parody of a cushioned shoe. But the style is no joke: It’s driving sneaker sales up and marathon times down. Maximalist soles mark a change from the styles that have dominated the sport’s history. As the running boom hit in the ’70s, a new company called Nike released its first sneaker, the Cortez, which had a sole that was only a couple of centimetres thick but was considered advanced cushioning at the time. Things changed in 2016, when Nike launched a campaign to support the first sub-two-hour marathon.…