Break your fast with Medjool Dates or Desert Palm Pitted Dates, delivered after sunset by your friends at Zum Zum! Best wishes for a Ramadan as bright as ever!
Recognized for its health, spiritual and psychological benefits, fasting for the month of Ramadan is considered by Muslims as a means to shift their focus away from life’s pleasures, and to empathize with others who are less fortunate.
Fasting teaches control and self-discipline over our immediate desires. When you learn how to say “no” to what’s generally permitted you control your impulses, and can resist what is forbidden.
Here’s a quick and funny video, that just goes to show as a new generation of young Muslims like soccer star Mohamed Salah break on to the world stage, they are introducing their traditions to a whole new audience (regardless of how superficially that new knowledge is shared!)
Now considering the famous Snickers candy ad campaign, “You’re not you when you’re hungry” – it’s safe to say that everyone can relate to the irritation or lethargy we feel from a lack of food and coffee. We’ll be extending our Muslim brothers and sisters a little extra empathy during their most sacred month!
Conventional wisdom is to have a light snack PRIOR to going to the grocery store to avoid those enticing, unplanned treats.
As we’re learning, you’re not safe from those impulse buys once you’ve left the grocery store either. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has linked unsatisfied hunger with a desire to buy non-food items.
The authors explain how your grumbling tummy may be rumbling the cash right out of your wallet, by triggering your brain into acquisition mode: “We conclude that a basic biologically based motivation can affect substantively unrelated behaviors that cannot satisfy the motivation.”
“This presumably occurs because hunger renders acquisition-related concepts and behaviors more accessible, which influences decisions in situations to which they can be applied.”
Norbert Shwarz, study author and a provost professor at the university of Southern California clarifies, “In the case of hunger its pretty straightforward. If hunger means ‘I want to get food’ then ‘getting stuff’ may be on your mind. When you then have the opportunity to ‘get stuff’ you may take a few things that are available that have nothing to do with satisfying your hunger.”
Researchers studied 379 volunteers over five behavioural experiments. Their results indicate that your hunger level has a direct impact on the number of items you buy, even when those items won’t satiate your need for food.
One of the experiments involved analyzing receipts of shoppers exiting a department store. Data from the receipts showed those who were shopping on an empty stomach not only bought more non-food items than those who were full, but that hungry shoppers also spent more money overall.
So if you want to stay within budget, EAT before shopping in person or online! Snacks such as sliced fruit, nuts, and granola bars that contain healthy carbs, fats, and protein will keep your hunger at bay!
Zum Zum has you covered with a great selection of granola bars on sale this week, always convenient when you’re on the go!
Toppings of choice…..basically whatever you have in the fridge!
Preparation:
Combine yeast, salt and 6 cups of flour in mixing bowl. Using dough hook, slowly add warm water and mix until well combined. If needed, stop mixer and scrape sides. Add remaining flour, half a cup at a time and mix until flour is absorbed. Dough will be ready when no longer sticky to the touch and it comes off sides of bowl easily. This may take more or less flour and takes about 20 minutes to knead.
When dough is ready, place it on counter and cut it into 4 portions (or 3 if using 3 large baking sheets) Form a ball and place each one in ziploc bag. Remove air and seal tightly. Let dough sit on counter for 2-3 hours. Dough will double in size and air will fill bag.
Grease pan generously and heat oven to 420° F.
Spread pizza dough starting from center and work outward slowly. Top with favourite toppings!
Tips: Leave cheese off and add for the last 3 minutes of baking. Be careful not to get too close to the sauce as if it gets on the pan it will burn and stick. I drizzle olive oil over the dough before or after adding sauce.
Bake pizza for 10 minutes, then drop oven temperature to 400° F. Remove pizza from the sheet and place directly on rack in your oven. Cook for another 3 minutes, browning and crisping the bottom. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Cook one pizza at a time to ensure even heat distribution.
In 2003, the Government of Canada declared April 9th to be “Vimy Ridge Day”, in honour of the Battle of Vimy Ridge that took place in 1917, during the First World War. For the first time, all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force were assembled to fight as a corps, and the battle was made into a symbol of Canadian achievement and sacrifice.
The Canadian divisions were joined by the British 5th Infantry Division artillery, engineer and labour units, and supported to the north of the Souchez River by the 24th British Division I Corps, and by advancing XVII Corps to the south. The Canadian Corps received three times the artillery normally assigned to a corps for regular operations.
The attack began at 5:30am on Easter Monday, April 9th 1917, when every piece of artillery at the disposal of the Canadian Corps began firing in a synchronized barrage. Light field guns advanced in predetermined increments, 100 yards every three minutes in a non-stop bombardment, while medium and heavy howitzers established a series of standing barrages against known defensive systems further ahead. Before the night fell on April 12th 1917, the Corps was in firm control of the ridge.
The Canadian Corps suffered 10,602 casualties: 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded. The defeated German Sixth Army suffered an unknown number of casualties, with approximately 4,000 Germans becoming Prisoners of War. The Germans did not attempt to recapture the ridge, including during the Spring Offensive, and it remained under British control until the end of the war.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial resides on land granted to Canada in northern France. It is inscribed with the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who were listed as missing or presumed dead in France. It stands as a tribute to all who served their country in battle and gave their lives in the war. Veteran Affairs Canada maintains the memorial, see Veterans Affairs Canada for more information.
“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.” — Sitting Bull
Got a lot of eggs? Why not put all of your eggs in one basket; a boiled egg in the morning is hard to BEAT. Here’s some egg-spiration that’ll make you want to take dip-dying eggs with the kids up a notch. Learn the Ukrainian technique for creating those gorgeous, intricate patterns from Naztazia on YouTube: here. Click on an image to view full size, Happy Easter!
Spray 6 cup muffin tin with non-stick spray and set aside. Quarter apples, slice thinly with peel on. Coat slices with 2 TBSP sugar, avoid breaking delicate pieces by gently shaking through rather than stirring in.
Microwave on high for 90 seconds (or sauté on low heat 3-4 min until softened). Let sit for 10 minutes. Transfer to a strainer and drain over bowl for another 10 minutes, reserving apple juice in bowl.
Remove puff pastry from refrigerator and place on lightly floured work surface. Roll into a 12″ x 9″ rectangle and cut into six 2″ x 9″ strips. Sprinkle with remaining 3 TBSP sugar and cinnamon, combined.
Place slices along top edge of one strip, slightly overlapping, and ensuring skin side of apple sticks out over edge of dough.
Fold up bottom half of dough over apples. Roll up pastry and smoosh dough together with your fingers at ends to seal edge. Place into muffin tin and repeat for remaining five strips.
Refrigerate pastry in muffin tin 15-20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375˚F. (Remember puff pastry prefers polar temps to puff properly, or put simply PPPPTTPP :p)
Bake 40 mins until light golden brown. Tent with foil after 25 mins if apples start browning too much.
Meanwhile, add 1 tsp maple syrup to the reserved apple juice in bowl, microwave 90 seconds and set aside.
Remove from oven and brush tops with syrup mixture. Return to oven 5-10 minutes, until golden. I hope you enjoy!
One of those “deals that aren’t really deals” are generic cotton swabs. I’ve bought store brand on sale, ignorant to the existence of one of the worst product designs I can think of: Plastic Applicator Cotton Swabs.
Too bendy, too wasteful, who came up with them anyway? I won’t dignify that scourge on humanity with a google search. I’ll just learn my lesson, and eventually use up these plastic applicators in craft projects, rather than as single-use disposables.
Looking for sales on Q-Tips to coincide with my PC Optimum bonus offers used to be a regular activity. Zum Zum has crossed that task off my list with access to Costco Business Centre’s incredible everyday savings of 20% on brand name Q-Tips.
So, it only took me 32 years to learn the apparent common knowledge that bocconcini is NOT its own separate type of cheese. Translated from Italian, bocconcini means “morsels” or “small mouthful”, and Wikipedia describes “small mozzarella cheese balls the size of an egg.”
I just read Maclean’s local feature on fresh mozzarella. They visited the International Cheese Co. factory outlet in Toronto, where cheese marketed under the brand name Santa Lucia is made. The article from 2011 mentions their bocconcini’s win for “best mozzarella” at the seventh Canadian Cheese Grand Prix.
I have been hesitant to purchase Costco’s 1.5kg bulk tub of Santa Lucia Bocconcini Soft Cheese in fear of letting it go to waste. They’ve found my weakness though; I can’t pass up a 20% sale on fresh cheese. So I looked for a fewresources that explain the best ways to freeze fresh mozzarella for use in sauces, melted on sandwiches or on pizza, etc. (Click to grab Santa Lucia Bocconcini 50g Balls or 10g Minis, on sale for $1.14/100g – compared to the grocery store at $2.19/100g, that’s 48% savings until Apr 11th!)
The freezer will change the texture from soft to crumbly – defrosted bocconcini will not be suitable in salads, but I’m partial to gooey melted cheese anyway. Slice before freezing, lay flat either on a tray or with pieces of wax paper between each slice. Defrost in the fridge 24 hours in advance, and pat dry with paper towel before melting on pizza to avoid a soggy crust. Skip defrosting and use directly from the freezer if excess moisture won’t ruin your dish.
I hope I don’t discredit myself in any connoisseur’s eyes by suggesting that you store your tomatoes in the fridge to extend their shelf life.
I know it’s not a subject typically open to debate – the fridge destroys the flavour of the tomato, turning it into a pointless ball of water, right?
Well… From my days as a grocery cashier I’ve learned that grocers store their excess tomatoes in a produce cooler. My fridge would be a few degrees colder than that, so I wondered what effect storing at a lower temperature would have.
Daniel Gritzer at Serious Eats has done an amazing deep dive into the subject, running blind taste tests on an impressive range of tomatoes, stored in different ways. He analyzes studies that consider how storage temperatures affect a tomato’s texture and its volatile aromatics.
Turns out, the flavour isn’t permanently neutralized by the cold environment! You simply want your tomatoes to fully ripen at room temperature on the counter first, allowing their flavour and aroma to develop. Then drastically extend your perfectly ripe tomatoes shelf life by storing them in the fridge!
Most of the flavour and aroma will return when the tomatoes once again reach room temperature. You’ll need to take them out about 30 minutes before you’re ready to eat, in order to enjoy a great deal more flavour than if you had eaten the tomatoes straight out of the fridge.
That’s a win-win: save money on a bulk buy, knowing you can extend the shelf life of your tomatoes AND enjoy the taste!
Rosedale Livery introduces Zum Zum Grocery Delivery: commercial-sized savings “chauffeured” from Costco Business Centre to the residential doorstep, with no membership required.
TORONTO, March 16, 2021 – Rosedale Livery Ltd. pivots into the GTA grocery delivery battleground with their latest venture – Zum Zum, in order to fill an under-served niche in the delivery market: wholesale savings. Since March 2020, as travel essentially ceased due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rosedale has seen a crushing 98% decrease in activity. As travel resumes, they are looking forward to regrowing their chauffeured services, meanwhile adapting their software systems to service the GTA’s growing demand for grocery delivery.
“We set up an online storefront, and launched Zum Zum on June 6, 2020,” said Craig McCutcheon, CEO of Rosedale Livery, and founder/CEO of Zum Zum. “Our customers have shared their appreciation for our careful handling of their groceries throughout the pandemic, trusting our forty years of ‘white glove’ service standards.”
Zum Zum delivers throughout the GTA – from Oshawa to Newmarket, to Burlington and everywhere between. Craig explained, “We have secured a fulfillment centre, where each order is sorted into pantry, ‘Refrigerate’ and ‘Freeze’ upon arrival in our environmentally friendly, recycled paper bags. More of our chauffeurs have stayed on the road, professionally delivering the orders and providing their touch of class.”
Zum Zum’s team recognized the unique value and inventory control of the Costco Business Centre in Scarborough over other suppliers that were considered, as 70% of the Business Centre’s products cannot be found any where else. The plan was to deliver the savings that a bulk shop offers – and save the labours of completing the trip that consumers would prefer to avoid, especially during Covid-19 challenges. Zum Zum’s AI dispatching system generates the routes, while ensuring each truck reaches its maximum efficiency and clients receive their orders at their selected time.
Craig explains how Rosedale’s previous investments in technology provided the ability to adapt in the pandemic landscape. “In 2013 we developed our proprietary AI dispatching platform ‘Boomerang’, and reduced our overhead by 40%. It was a true game changer, our AI eliminated the need for manual calculations in dispatching our fleet.”
Written by Douglas McCutcheon, founder of Rosedale Livery
I write this blog with the purpose of introducing you to the history of Rosedale Livery from its inception in May of 1981, to the present day. And to introduce you to ZUM ZUM.
The start of Rosedale Livery’s fleet, 1981
At the time I had two businesses. One was based in Toronto; Great Lakes Helicopters; and one was based in Los Angeles; Image Transform. These resulted in my travelling to various destinations throughout the USA and Ontario on a regular basis; and occasionally in Europe; spending at least half of the calendar year away from home.
On a day in the Spring of 1980, I found myself needing to have a meeting with my attorney before I was to catch a flight. I called and asked if we could meet tomorrow, and the answer was “I am fully booked”. I asked when he normally arrived at the office and he told me usually at 7:00 am. I offered to pick him up at his home, by limousine, and we could meet in the car on the way to his office. He accepted.
I ordered a limo from Culliton Limousine. At the time it was the foremost limousine company in Toronto; a company that my father had used many times. After that trip was done, I asked the driver if he would stay with me while I completed some minor but necessary errands, and then drop me at the airport for my flight. “Yes”. That experience made my life so much simpler.
I kept in contact with the chauffeur. I used the service, and that driver, on a regular basis. We discussed the industry, and in particular his place within it. He was “Renting” his limousine and operating it within the platform of Culliton. I suggested the proposition that I buy a Stretch Limousine, and he operate it within the Culliton platform, with the caveat that with proper notice, he exclusively would drive me, in my limousine when needed in Toronto. He agreed.
And that my friends was when what would become Rosedale Livery, was conceived.
One Stretch Limousine. One Chauffeur.
At that time, stretched limousines were the order of the day. The standard price was $40 per hour with a two hour minimum charge – designed / justified to cover the drive time before and after the trip; therefore the cost of a short trip was $80, and the price of a two hour trip was also $80. Chauffeurs were dressed simply in jackets and ties; no caps.
My idea was to offer a prime service; with all chauffeurs dressed in matching uniforms; double breasted blue suits; a unique company tie; a chauffeurs cap; on time, (10 to 5 Minutes early) every time. As well, I concluded that a stretch limousine was (a) not necessary as the average load was 2 or 3 passengers, and (b) most customers would prefer to not be so ostentatious. And so the birth of the Lincoln sedan limousine. That vehicle was to become the vehicle of choice for all operators in Toronto, and for the vast majority of all operators North America wide. The rate would be $30 per hour, with a ½ hour ($15) minimum.
Aren’t we always looking for a twist on tuna? Well this is one so quick and easy you’ll look forward to lunch time! And here it is…..
Salad:
3/4 cup canned cooked or canned lentils, rinsed
1 small avocado, cubed
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1/2 bell pepper, sliced thinly
Dressing:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp cilantro or parsley, chopped finely
1 garlic glove, finely chopped
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp honey
Preparation:
Combine the salad ingredients in mixing bowl
Whisk vinaigrette ingredients in a bowl or put in airtight jar and shake vigorously. Pour over salad and mix and EAT!
If you wish to prepare it in a glass jar for use at a later time, just pour the dressing into bottom of a 1L Mason jar. I like to use a jar that is slightly bigger than my salad so I can mix it easily.
Great salad to take on the go, for picnic lunch or a quick snack!
Tip – If dressing is refrigerated, the oil will solidify. So before adding to your salad, leave it out on the counter a few minutes prior. You can also add leftover shredded cooked chicken to change it up a bit.
Rather than needing to consider a dollar amount to reach delivery minimums, Zum Zum asks that you select a variety of items you’ll need this week to unlock all delivery windows.
It’s a system guided by our duty to minimize our impact on the environment. By ensuring all vehicles depart at 90%+ capacity, we optimize our miles driven and reduce carbon emissions.
I tend to start building my next cart soon after I’ve placed an order, continually adding to it through the week as I see what I need for my next delivery.
Without needing to consider delivery minimums, I stay disciplined in my bargain hunting. Instead of searching for the cheapest way to reach a target dollar (usually overspending on a single size treat), on the occasion I may want to top up my cart to access same day/next day delivery, I’ll grab some useful non-perishables at everyday savings of over 50%.
56% savings on coffee filters, and 54% savings on organic sugar are a few of my favourite go-tos if an extra item is ever needed. Savings are on regular priced items compared to nofrills.ca, current as of April 4th 2021. Stay tuned for regular updates that will ZUM IN on more of those fantastic Costco Business Centre everyday-deals!
Shop with ZUM ZUM for your weekly staples and enjoy the convenience of receiving your groceries to your door, while SAVING money
We’re all feeling the pain of rising food prices, so buying everything you can in bulk is a great way to stretch your grocery budget. Canada’s Food Price Report is released together by Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph, and they are forecasting “an overall food price increase of 3 to 5% for 2021. The most significant increases are predicted for meat at 4.5 to 6.5%, bakery at 3.5 to 5.5%, and vegetables at 4.5 to 6.5%.”
Zum Zum’s prices ALWAYS MATCH costcobusinesscentre.ca – we update weekly to deliver every sale to you. Our 5% Pick & Pack fee & FREE delivery provides our customers an easy way to calculate exactly how we beat the competition. We want to make your weekly shops a no-brainer.
I have always been meticulous in my price comparisons, thanks to my mom somehow making “price per 100g” interesting to an eight year old. Though I’ve noticed Costco Business Centre will not always beat a few of the discount grocery’s tight margin items like milk & eggs – when I calculate my overall savings on high ticket items such as cheese, nuts, meat etc,my Pick & Pack fee is paid for a few times over vs going to the store.
Your savings are impossible to ignore when shopping by “price per 100g”. It is truly worth the time invested in planning a grocery budget, if the extra upfront capital required to buy in bulk has made it intimidating to get started. That capital is recuperated next week when you’re taking your bread out of the freezer instead of running to the store!
3/4 cup frozen peas (can is fine if that’s what you have)
10 slices ham to line the bundt pan (regular pan is just fine)
Preparation:
Soak bread in water and squeeze out excess liquid. Combine all ingredients (except the ham) in a bowl. Lightly oil your pan and line it with ham slices. Add the meat mixture to your pan and press down lightly. Fold over the remaining slice of ham if there is any sticking out!
Bake at 375°F for 40-50 minutes or until the ground beef is fully cooked.
Let cool for 5 minutes in pan before flipping over onto a plate. Place the plate over the pan and flip it all together. Let it cool another 5 minutes before cutting.
One not too fancy meal that will look quite fancy when served – be sure to let us know how your meatloaf cake turned out!
This is Craig McCutcheon – lifelong Torontonian, forever entrepreneur, husband to Liz, Dad of three and avid cottager in his spare time.
He has spent his career since University climbing the ranks at the family business Rosedale Livery. From washing cars, administrative tasks, Chauffeur, dispatch, office manager, general manager to CEO upon his father Doug’s retirement over a decade ago.
During Craig’s tenure with Rosedale Livery he has taken the company worldwide through a vast affiliate program, automated the dispatch system, expanding with a technology division that has facilitated the creation of a variety of truly unique sub-companies.
Quality, service and sustainability are ALWAYS top priorities with every Rosedale Livery chauffeured trip and Zum Zum delivery. Results are what sets his group of companies apart from any competitor or similar business.
When Covid hit last year, Rosedale Livery was and remains all but shut down. With his quick “concept to roll-out” Craig and his team were able to launch Zum Zum within weeks.
As challenging as it is launching a new business in lightning speed, he has kept his infectious humour and optimism, keeping as many employees employed as possible with great hopes for the future!
Craig is really thankful for all the early adopters of Zum Zum.
Managing your Costco orders can take some time and effort depending on the items you’ve received.
I was recently surprised to receive a full crate of 12 English cucumbers when only expecting about 6!
We are a family of 5 that certainly do love a slice of cucumber on a sandwich, chopped in chicken salad or even a chunk for a quick healthy snack but 12????
With simple ingredients that tend to be staples…salt & pepper, onions, sugar, vinegar it took about 30 minutes to whip it up.
I now have a few extra jars on hand that I’ll use for burgers & dogs, as well as adding to chicken or potato salads for some extra crunch and a bit of zing!
Dry rubs can make boring wings really come to life in minutes. If you keep some basic spices in your pantry, they are super quick to whip up and keep in a jar, ready to go!
Rubs really lock in all the juice of the chicken/meat you’re using and prohibit flare ups from happening on the grill.
This recipe can be done on the grill or in the oven. Wings will take about 40 minutes to cook on low or medium low direct heat, so if it’s nice out…..take it outside!!!
Combine all the above to make your rub. Coat 1-2 pounds of wings with 2 tbsp of olive oil, covering wings well. Add the dry rub and work it in until it makes a sugary glaze on all surfaces of wings.
Clean and grease your grill with olive oil before grilling. Cook on medium low heat, being sure to turn wings often ~ about 40 minutes.
To bake in the oven, add parchment paper to baking pan. Add wings and bake at 370°F. Turn wings over at the halfway point and turn again, if desired, near end of cooking time.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with your fave dipping sauce if desired – these wings taste great without sauce as well.
Thank you for visiting the Zum Zum blog! We’ll be zuming in on useful price comparisons, recipes, meal plans, product information, reviews, and fun DIYs that reuse packaging to reduce waste. New posts to come every week with the goal of adding even more value to your Zum Zum orders!
We would like to express our deep gratitude for the support of our growing customer base over our first year of Costco Business Centre grocery delivery. We appreciate that you have recognized our commitment to safety during a worldwide pandemic, and we strive to ensure that you’ll continue to feel like you’re taken care of by family.
We thank those who have taken their time to leave us a review on Trustpilot, or a comment on Facebook & Instagram. Your invaluable feedback has been transformational in our expansion. Thank you for zuming with us into an exciting new spring!
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