www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, February 3, 2010 · 14 Arts Briefs Best of the West kicks off Several Oakville bands are facing off in the first round of Metroland's Best of the West battle of the bands contest. Geek, Aspektz, The Issue and Illuminate the Sky need your votes to help one of them advance to the final round. The bands' submitted singles are available at their YouTube links. Online voting will start Feb. 8. The Oakville winner will advance to the final round, going up against the winning bands from Burlington and Milton. Once again, the public's votes will determine who gets crowned the champ in March. The top band will perform at this year's Burlington Sound of Music Festival, which takes place June 17-20. To vote in the Metroland's Best of the West contest, go to the Beaver's website at www.oakvillebeaver.com after Feb. 8 and click on the Metroland's Best of the West link in the Features section. Singing valentines The Entertainers barbershop chorus has several quartets who are preparing for their annual delivery of singing valentines throughout Halton and Peel regions. For $60, a quartet will serenade your loved one with two love songs, chocolates, a personalized Valentine card and digital photo of the event. Delivery dates are Feb. 12-14 at the place of your choosing. To order, call 905-847-8220 or e-mail byager3@cogeco.ca. You may also visit www.singingvalentines.com. Cultural grants announced Approvals for the much anticipated Cultural Grants Program saw the Town of Oakville write cheques for 22 groups slated to receive $98,000 in support for the local arts sector. This year, there were 27 different groups requesting funds totaling $239,982. In 2009, there were 19 groups seeking $207,000 in funding. This represents a 15 per cent increase in dollar amounts requested, and slightly more than a 40 per cent increase in the number of groups seeking support. The funding assists groups to program events, classes, exhibits and other activities that are a catalyst for economic growth and the stimulus for a vibrant community. The program, funded by the Town of Oakville and administered by the Oakville Arts Council through its Cultural Grants Review Committee, has provided operating and project grants to 36 different qualified not-for-profit cultural organizations over the past 20 years. The 2010 Cultural Grants recipients are as follows: ArtWorks Oakville Association (NEW) $1,500 The Bronte Historical Society $1,500 Carousel of Nations Multicultural Association $2,800 Community Arts Space (NEW) $2,500 Halton Youth Symphony $9,000 High Rendition Jazz $5,000 Intrada Brass of Oakville $5,000 Masterworks of Oakville Chorus & Orchestra $5,000 Oakville Camera Club $3,000 Oakville Chamber Ensemble $4,300 Oakville Chamber Orchestra $5,000 Oakville Children's Choir $12,500 Oakville Choral Society $2,500 Oakville Handweavers and Spinners Guild $1,500 The Oakville Players (NEW) $2,000 Oakville Poetry Alliance $1,500 Oakville Symphony Orchestra $10,000 Oakville Wind Orchestra Inc. $9,000 Tempus Choral Society (NEW) $2,000 Trafalgar Township Historical Society $1,500 West End Studio Theatre $7,500 World of Threads $3,400 Slow Cooker Soups (NC)--There is nothing better than walking into your home after a long, wintry day, and being greeted by the tantalizing aromas of a slow cooker meal. Slow cooking has made a comeback in Canada in recent years, with about 10 per cent growth per year, especially since a variety of new slow cooker seasoning mixes have come to market. McCormick Canada has recently introduced a new line of slow cooker soup starters, making it even easier to prepare your favourite soups. "Slow Cooker soups are so easy," says Jennifer Dionne, group marketing manager for McCormick Canada. "You simply add the desired fresh ingredients and seasoning mix to the slow cooker appliance, set it on low for eight hours or high for four hours, and come home to delicious, homemade soup." She adds that the minestrone, chicken noodle and beef vegetable club house slow cooker soup seasoning mixes "contain no artificial flavours, colours or trans fat," as does the company's six other Club House slow cooker seasoning mixes. One tip Dionne recommends for busy families is to prepare the ingredients the night before, after dinner clean-up and during lunch bag preparation, so the meal components can be taken from the refrigerator, added to the seasoning mix and put into the slow cooker quickly in the morning before the family rushes off to work and school. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup Makes 8 servings All You Need: · 1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil · 1 1/2 lb (750 g) boneless, skinless chicken, cut into 1/2 inch cubes · 1 cup (250 mL) each chopped onion, celery and carrots · 5 cups (1.25 L) water · 1 cup (250 mL) uncooked medium egg noodles · 1 packet Club House Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup Seasoning All You Do: 1. In skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. 2. Brown cubed chicken 3. Transfer to slow cooker and add vegetables. 4. Combine Club House Slow Cooker Soup seasoning mix and water. Pour over chicken and vegetables. Stir together. 5. Cover. Cook 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High. 6. Stir in noodles. Cover. Cook 10 minutes longer on High or until noodles are tender. · Falafel · Souvlaki · Taboule · Shawarma · Seafood Mixed Grill Dorval OPEN: Mon.-Thurs. 11-11 Fri.-Sat. 11-11:30 905.338.1888 Lakeshore Rd. Kerr 134 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville @ AMC THEATRES, WINSTON CHURCHILL & QEW (905) 829-3233