Most of our dietary intake is made up of common North American cuisine – vegetables, pasta, Hot Pockets – the list goes on and on. But some of the things on our menu are distinctly Canadian. Great Canadian Foods is a new weekly feature on SmartCanucks exploring the tastier side of Canadian living.

From Tim Horton’s to maple-flavored… well… everything, Canadians have a well-documented sweet tooth that’s seemingly impossible to satisfy. Case in point: Nanaimo Bars.

This no-bake dessert starts out with a graham wafer bottom, a midsection made of custard, and a top made out of chocolate. There seem to be infinite variations, ranging from mint to Grand Marnier, but that doesn’t make the original any less delicious.

As you can probably guess from the name, the Nanaimo Bar was popularized just outside of Nanaimo, British Columbia — but was it actually born there? The origins of this delicious chocolaty treat are a subject of great debate amongst dessert loving food historians.

The first time a recipe for Nanaimo Bars showed up in print was in the 1952 “The Woman’s Auxiliary to the Nanaimo Hospital Cookbook.” At that time, the treat was referred to as “Chocolate Slices.” Two years later the term “Nanaimo Bars” began showing up in print — a term that some suggest was popularized by US tourists who would indulge in the tasty treat when vacationing in the region. But where did this recipe actually come from?

One claim suggests that the treat originated in New Brunswick. Another suggests it was a New York recipe from the 30’s. Some even think the treats may have originated in England in the late 1800’s, with the bars being shipped by relatives to coal workers in Nanaimo (though considering the lack of adequate refrigeration back then, this seems to be an unlikely scenario at best.)

The most compelling evidence suggests that these date back to the early 1930’s in Alberta, where “smog bars” were relatively common, and shared a virtually identical recipe.

Regardless of it’s origins, few Canadian treats are as sweet or as tasty as a Nanaimo Bar. Why not try to make your own? Try this recipe from Joyce Harscastle — it was declared the ultimate Nanaimo Bar recipe by the City of Nanaimo back in 1986!

It’s one of the most anticipated sales of the year here on SC and couponlady has posted the QC flyer for us!  Items and prices may be slightly different than they are in the QC flyer but for the most part they are usually really similar.  For those of you where the WalMart flyer starts on Fridays, this sale will probably start on the 17th and run til the 23rd.

There are some good deals to be had again this year and some fantastic deals when you combine the sale price with the new P&G coupons.

Thanks again to couponlady for the sneak peak.  Click here to check out the flyer.

LouLou magazine has a printable coupon that will give you a 20% discount on all regular priced merchandise at Suzy Shier stores across Canada.  It says it can’t be combined with other coupons or discounts, so I’m not sure if you still get the Prestige Card discount or not but it doesn’t hurt to try.  This would be a great coupon to use with the Buy a Blazer Get a Free Bottom sale too!

Thanks to FallenPixels for posting this coupon for us.

Click here to print your coupon.

Pretty sweet I opened my email this morning to a 40% off coupon for the Gap valid on any regular priced items This offer is valid September 14th and 15th.  Also time the sale is also valid online, just enter your one time use code at checkout. I would post the coupon but it is one time use only.  Didn’t get the coupon? Sign up at Gap for their newsletters.

I happen to have ONE extra code, if you need it pm me on the forum. First come first serve.

Halo Reach comes out in less then 24 hours!  I know some of you gamers are excited, and I’ll pretend to be excited too. 😛  Tomorrow select Best Buys will stay open late so you can grab your copy as early as 12:01 am. (Maybe take a sick day?)

To celebrate they are also offering free t-shirts to the first 120 midnight customers.  All other Best Buys will have 50 free shirts for people purchasing Halo Reach during regular business hours.  Also up for grabs to the first 100 customers at the midnight openings is a free inflatable energy sword. (That ones interesting lol)  Also if you pre ordered the game you will get a free hat as well.

Click here for the “midnight” store locations.  Note worthy is the fact that these stores are only staying open from 12am to 1 am.

Let me know how the game is!  All I ever hear my oldest talk about is that he wants me to buy him HALO haha!

While I was just on my Facebook researching the Gucci offer I noticed Old Navy Canada is having a bogo active wear event from September 13-19th in-store only!  This is a fab chance to grab some awesome pants.  I love Old Navy’s active pants they are the ultimate in comfort.  I wear them for pilates and just bumming around the house.

Click here for further details.

Remember to grab up your Barker’s Bones coupon before you shop.

Another Facebook freebie. Gucci is offering a free sample of “Guilty” perfume when you request a sample.  Basically when I went on their page went to click to activate scrolled down to discover it and then it took me to request a sample. Remember you may have to leave a space when you insert your postal code.  Click here to grab up this offer.

Thanks Gypsies for using the Suggest A Deal Feature!

You know the drill, weekly I post the MAC Cometics free shipping code. This week the code is “CHANTEL” valid until September 19th 2010.  Click here to visit MAC

On a side note if anyone finds a COACH coupon valid for this week hit up the suggest a deal feature. Much appreciated.

Consumamatrix used the suggest a deal feature today to let us know about this great offer and tips on how to use it:

For Ottawa Moms and Dads:

If you spend $75 at Bayshore shopping centre, you get a free 1 hour of babysitting at the YMCA children’s play area in the mall.

Bring your receipts (food court receipts included) on SAME DAY you bought the merchandise to Customer Service to get your free coupon. (1 hour = $4). You get 1 coupon for every $75 spent.

Now here’s the REAL tip: the coupons for free childcare DO NOT EXPIRE.

This means you can start doing this when your child is a baby or a toddler and by the time they are 3 or 4 years old and ASK to be taken to the play area, you’ll have plenty of free play dates!

Other tip: If you don’t have kids, these coupons would make a (free) great gift to your friends who do.

Thanks for the awesome tips Consumatrix!  Click here more more details.

Now you can get a FREE coupon for one (1) Minute Maid® tetra juice pack inside specially marked boxes of Kellogg’s* products. Coupon is applicable towards a 10x200mL Minute Maid® 100% Juice, Punch, NESTEA® or Five Alive®. Coupon expires on February 28, 2011.

Participating Products
Rice Krispies Squares* Original cereal bars: 352 g (16 count)
Pop-Tarts* toaster pastries Frosted Strawberry: 800 g

Oh man! I love this promo but my hips don’t. Lol! I want that free juice coupon. Kelloggs is just on a roll with their promos. Bring on the promos, I say!

Thanks to SmackUTwice for posting this promo in the forum!

JYSK store across our great country are now involved in the SPC discount program!  With your SPC card you will save 10% on all regular and sale priced merchandise at JYSK stores.  I love JYSK, they have a pretty good selection and the prices are reasonable.  Now with an extra 10% off for all us SPC card holders there’s even more to love.!

For more information on the SPC card click here.

Thanks to SFARAZ for letting us know about this new deal!

Awesome stuff!  Check your latest editions of ELLE and LouLou(?) for a Town Shoes coupon for a free 15ml sample of Euphoria by Calvin Klein (when you try any pair of shoes on.)  You don’t have to buy anything, just try on a pair and show your coupon.  I went in last time when it was a hair sample and I was quite happy with how large it was and how nice they were when I didn’t buy anything lol!  This offer is while quantities last, or until September 19th.  Click here to locate your nearest Town Shoes.

 Thanks Vowtosave for posting this offer on the forum.

At Sobeys this week, they have Green Works Dish Soap on sale for 3 for $5.  There is a coupon available on the websaver website that will give you $5 off when you buy any 3 Green Works products, therefore, 3 free bottles of dish soap with 1 coupon!!  From reading some other posts in the thread that brought this greatness to my attention, I have also learned that at some stores there is a coupon book attached to some Green Works products that also has this coupon in it.  Keep you eyes peeled for that coupon book and click here to order you coupon from websaver.

The sale is definitely going on in Ontario.  If it’s going on in your neck of the woods let us know so we can spread the love around the country.

Thanks to narnad and tjthemanto for pointing out this great freebie for us!

From now until September 23 you can save up to 40% on clothes for your little one at Gap Factory Stores across Canada.  The sale includes sizes newborn to 5 years but excludes items already marked down to clearance.  I find the regular prices at the Gap to be a bit high (especially for newborn stuff that they wear for like a month) but at 40% off I say start the car.  The Gap clothes my son has are great.  They fit well, wash well and he looks adorable in them.

Thanks to AnnieP for letting us know about this sale.

Now you can SAVE up to $5 on select Kellogg’s* products when you buy any of the specially marked boxes of Special K* and All-Bran*cereals or Vector* Meal Replacement.

Five $1 off product coupons can be found on specially marked packages of Kellogg’s* products and consist of the following:
– $1 off any 132g/138g box of Special K* Bars or any 125g box of Special K* Fruit Crisps.
– $1 off any 180g box of Kellogg’s* Fibre Plus* Chewy Granola Bars.
– $1 off any 220g box of Vector* Energy Bars.
– $1 off any 175g/180g box of All-Bran* Bars or any 140g of All-Bran* Snack Bites.
– $1 off any 295g box of Nutri-Grain* cereal bars.

Coupons will expire on April 11th, 2011.

Participating Products
All-Bran Original* cereal: 525g
All-Bran* Bran Flakes cereal: 775 g
Special K* cereal: 475g
Special K* with Red Berries cereal: 350g
Vector* Meal Replacement: 400g
Special K* Vanilla Almond cereal: 400g
All-Bran* Strawberry Bites cereal: 465g
Special K* Fruit & Yogurt Flavour cereal: 360g
All-Bran* Strawberry Medley cereal: 375 g
Special K* Satisfaction* cereal: 410 g
Special K* Cinnamon Pecan cereal: 350 g
Special K* 5 Grains cereal: 535 g
Special K* Blueberry Flavour Cereal: 320 g

I love that Special K is included in this prmo because those are some great coupons. I can foresee a lot of SC’ers (including me) putting these coupons on their wishlists.

Thanks to calee for the heads up on this promo!