Good Grilling

In our July issue, we shared a quick tip to make you look like the master of the grill with a simple recipe for homemade BBQ sauce. Since we're at the peak of summer grilling season, we'd like to share an amazing recipe for grilling tomatoes like a pro.

Grilled Tomato "Lollipops"

This is such a great recipe that has much versatility. You can use these grilled tomatoes as an appetizer, as a side dish, in salads or just on a toasted piece of artisan bread with cream cheese.

You'll need a few dozen of your favourite brand of cherry tomatoes, some wood skewers, about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper.

Toss the tomatoes with the olive oil and seasoning. Leave the stems on the tomatoes if they have them. Put 5 - 6 tomatoes on each skewer leaving a little bit of space between each.

Grill over high heat, turning occasionally, until the tomatoes are charred and blistered, which should take about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool. Bon appetit!

Sunscreen: Dos & Don'ts

For many Canadian families the summer months mean a lot of time outside.
Here we've collected 8 sunscreen dos and don'ts.

Do use an SPF 15 - 30+ daily if you're spending any length of time outside.

Don't waste your money on sunscreens claiming an SPF higher than 50+. According to the FDA, there's no evidence such products provide better protection against harmful rays

Do use other forms of sun protection (especially with children) such as wide brim hats, and spending more time in the shade than in the direct sun when possible.

Don't just rely on spray on sunscreens, as they just don't provide the same kind of protection as with lotions that you apply by hand.

Do use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides protection from both UVA & UVB rays.

Don't apply sunscreen to your infant without first talking to your pediatrician. Also, don't just lather them without first testing a small amount on their wrist to see if they have any adverse reaction.

Do avoid sunscreen with Vitamin A additives. Some companies add a form of Vitamin A to their sunscreens called retinyl palmitate. It's supposed to combat skin aging but studies have found that it can also trigger the growth of tumors and lesions on the skin when used in sunlight.

And finally, Do remind the men in your life to use sunscreen because according to one study by the Environment Working Group, only 34% of men use sunscreen.

Overall it's a good rule of thumb to be mindful of the time you spend in the direct sunlight and take simple steps to protect yourself while make the most of your time outdoors.

From all of us at Capital Direct, we hope you're having a great summer.