Flick photo by RBerteig

Hey, everyone!

We're excited to announce a new home for the Yahoo! Canada Answers blog, effective immediately. Please update your links, favourites and bookmarks to:

http://www.yanswersblogcanada.com

Our new blog has lots of cool bells and whistles, including a search box, links to blogs we like, recent readers, an add to del.icio.us function and much more. But you'll still find product updates, announcements, community guideline info and timely, anecdotal and (we hope) informative posts highlighting the topics we find in our meanderings through the Yahoo! Canada Answers community.

Join us at the new Yahoo! Canada Answers blog now!

Yahoo! Canada Answers Team

Flickr photo by MyLifeStory

It might not look like spring across the country, but May flowers should start popping up everywhere soon. One thing that gets my blood pumping is seeing patios open and barbeques wheeled out of the garage and dusted off for another season. There are some things that just taste better when eaten outside.

Whenever anyone thinks barbeque, I am sure the first things that pop to mind are hamburgers, steaks and other meat on the grill. But don't limit yourself this summer -- try grilling some eggplant or even tofu. Your options are really only limited by your imagination!

I know my favourite patio food has to be nachos. It seems like the best thing for a group of friends in the sun. Other faves are chicken wings and some bruschetta. It's all about food you can eat with your hands. (It's because I've been in mittens for too long! The only thing I want cold until October is my drinks.)

Although, if you are planning a picnic, that would be another place for some cold dishes. The idea of having a picnic seems like a crazy idea unless you have small children or are living in some beautiful romantic movie, but why let them have all the fun? It may be too cold to swim, but the shorelines are clear and the view is still pretty, so sit outside for lunch.

The sun is up early now, so join it and take part in a brunch menu. I am amazed at the number of restaurants that do brunch near me. I'm sure you'll agree that fruity drinks with umbrellas seem like the perfect way to start the day.

Some might say I am jumping the gun on this post and it's still too early to have these big dreams, but I think those are the same people who haven't put away their winter coats yet.

What's your favourite spring dish?

Stephanie

return to Yahoo! Canada Answers

Here at Answers HQ, our development teams are always hard at work building something new for the site. Every now and then, they put all these enhancements live for you, the Answers community, to enjoy. Today's one of those days.

If you think the question page looks a little different, then congrats, it is: it just got wider. The category links remain on the right-hand side leaving even more room for the detailed answers you continue to amaze us with.

We're always listening to the needs and wants of you, the Answers community, so we hope you enjoy this page. We look forward to unveiling future developments across all areas of Answers, including enhancements to the Ask/Answer and Reporting process.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts on the new question page, so feel free to add your comments here.

Yahoo! Canada Answers Team

return to Yahoo! Canada Answers

Flickr photo by Kessiye

If you are sick of hearing about "organic products" and "going green" and "eating locally" and the other fancy buzz words for "all-natural" flying around, I am sure you are not alone. Everywhere I turn, it seems there is something more "natural" that I need to buy or do that will save the earth by a higher percentage.

Those of us who are trying to do our part by recycling, buying natural soaps and taking the bus are getting exhausted. I think one of the biggest problems facing us on Earth Day is all the people who think, "What can I do? I'm just one person, what difference do I really make?" I can understand their frustration -- the Earth is a big place. So, instead of participating, they keep their lights on during Earth Hour and don't mind driving to the corner store if it's raining. They figure those of us with bus passes and bikes will make up for their slip-ups.

Well, it is high time everyone took responsibility for their own actions, and educated themselves about helping the environment. It doesn't cost that much more to switch to energy-saving bulbs or remember to unplug things. It's about saving extra energy.

Eating locally may sound like a crazy fad diet, but once you taste vegetables fresh from a farm you will not go back. Farm-fresh berries, tomatoes and corn are much better on a summer's day than anything the grocery store can offer, and can actually save you money.

Recycling and composting are so easy nowadays, there is no excuse not to do either. Most houses and public buildings have recycling systems and bins of all colours for waste. It only takes a few extra seconds to separate your plastics from your cardboard.

Instead of using Earth Day to pick up a few pieces of trash from the sidewalk, this year I think we should resolve to change our lives every day. You'd be surprised at what a big difference a little extra effort can make.

Yahoo! Canada Answers is celebrating Earth Day by hosting questions from different authors on a variety of topics related to the environment. Bridget Stutchbury asks how safe is imported food, for us and the environment while David Bach wants to know how you have prospered by going green. Stay tuned for one more question, on Earth Day itself, but be sure to tell Bridget and Tim what you think!

What are you doing for Earth Day this year?

Stephanie