[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Friday Fix is a new weekly feature of all the things you need to know before heading into the weekend.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”dotted” border_width=”2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Business” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”slideInLeft”][vc_column_text]This year has been anything but predictable. COVID-19 has turned the world upside down and has had many negative effects. However, on the other side of that coin was the display of people’s resilience and creativity born out of the need for innovation. 

Given the sudden pause in the world during the early pandemic days—and sometimes out of necessity—many people explored entrepreneurship in ways like never before. In fact, entrepreneurship increased during the pandemic.

Logo maker and brand design platform, Looka, saw this effect first hand, as it noticed a 21% increase in year-over-year logo purchases.

Given the increased number of entrepreneurs in the world, setting a new company’s brand apart is more important than ever. Looka has both first-time entrepreneurs and seasoned veterans covered with the newly announced Brand Kit.

After designing a logo with Looka, the new all-in-one branding solution includes access to a marketing toolkit that includes 300+ designs. From social media assets and flyer to letterheads and email signatures, the AI-powered design platform puts together complementary designs based on the original logo.

“With unemployment numbers growing, people are starting to take their careers into their own hands,” said Dawson Whitfield, CEO and founder of Looka. “As a way to empower those entrepreneurs, our Brand Kit will provide them with the tools needed to launch their brand successfully.”

Since launching in 2016, Looka has helped over 9.5 million entrepreneurs on their branding journey. Now, for just $7.99/month, Looka Brand Kit users will have year-round access to the new design assets. [/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Fashion” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”slideInLeft”][vc_column_text]Doctors, nurses, paramedics and front line workers have been working non-stop during the pandemic. To celebrate all that they do, Canadian undergarment brand, Thigh Society, has launched a ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ promotion as a means to encourage Canadians to gift a pair of Thigh Society slip shorts to say ‘Thanks’ to an essential worker in their life.

The anti-chafing slip shorts are loved by healthcare workers for their moisture wicking properties and breathable fabric that can be worn under scrubs during long shifts.

RELATED: Read about how Thigh Society is changing the way women see their bodies

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Food” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”slideInLeft”][vc_column_text]We may be a Canadian-based company, but it would be foolish to think that the U.S. Presidential election on Nov. 3, 2020 will not have an effect on us. While our southern neighbours may seem to be at odds with each other at times, Capri Cafaro is breaking bread—literally—with her new cookbook.

We all know that food brings people together. Cafaro, a former Minority Leader of the Ohio State Senate and political commentator, brings this statement to life with her debut cookbook, United We Eat. 

The 128-page cookbook brings both sides of the political spectrum together with recipes that represent all 50 states. In addition to the recipes that Cafaro researched and created, United We Eat includes recipe submissions from political leaders including 2020 Democrat Presidential candidates Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AK). 

In a virtual preview, Cafaro shared her Apple Cheddar Pie with Saltine Cracker Crust recipe. She said pie in general is close to her heart, as it was something that she would bake to bring in a share when they were able to pass legislation while she was in the senate. 

The recipe is a node to New Hampshire’s agricultural production of apples—the state produces 24 million pounds annually—and uses cheddar and saltine crackers to give it the perfect combination of sweet and savoury.

Apple Cheddar Pie with Saltine Cracker Crust

• 2 cups saltine crackers (about 1 sleeve)
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 3⁄4 cup melted unsalted butter, divided
• 2 tablespoons tap water
• 2 pounds peeled apples, sliced into thin wedges
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 11/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 6 slices sharp Cheddar cheese

CRUST

1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2 Place saltines in a food processor and run until crackers are crumbled with an even consistency.

3 Add 1⁄4 cup sugar to crumbs and pulse to combine.

4 Pour melted butter and water one tablespoon at a time into the top of food processor while still running. Combine slowly in processor until crumb mixture has a dough texture (approximately 1⁄2 cup or 6 tablespoons melted butter) 5 Pour crust mixture into pie plate and press mixture into plate to create an even crust.

6 Prick the crust evenly with a fork.

7 Place pie plate with crust in the refrigerator to chill.

FILLING AND PIE
1  In a large bowl, combine apples, remaining 1⁄4 cup sugar, brown sugar, spices, and corn- starch, ensuring the dry ingredients evenly coat the apples.

2  Remove crust from refrigerator. 

3  Arrange apples in crust in a swirl or rose design if desired.

4  Brush apples with remaining melted butter (approximately 2 tablespoons).

5  Place pie in oven and bake for 45 minutes until browned and evenly cooked.

6  Let cool for approximately 45 minutes, then serve warm, topping each slice with a slice of sharp cheddar that should melt onto the filling for a finishing touch. 

The hardcover edition of United We Eat, ($39.99 CDN), and the Kindle version, ($20.29 CDN), are available on Amazon.ca. A flipbook preview of the book is available here.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Need to Know” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]Today is the last day of Black Business Week in Canada. To mark the occasion, the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce and Facebook Canada announced a new national grant program to assist Black-owned businesses that were affected by COVID-19. 

Facebook Canada has given $500,000 to the program which is open to all Black Canadian entrepreneurs. Find out more here.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”dotted” border_width=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row]