Emily Exon - GameChanger Cookbook

In keeping with my tradition of new year goal setting, I’m starting the week off with some kitchen science.

This season, I’m experimenting with vacuum-sealed fermentation. I’ll admit, it comes with a touch of anxiety (there’s nowhere for those inevitable gases to escape), but with a keen eye and a bit of patience, I’m trusting the process over the pressure…pun intended.

On the counter today:
• Plain lemons (nothing fancy here)
• Plain blood oranges (I’m excited to see how their earthy flavour evolves)
• Navel oranges with Timut pepper (hoping for a sweet orangey grapefruit vibe)
• Red oranges with Timut pepper (this one…)

Red oranges already carry a subtle grapefruit note, so pairing them with Timut—known for its bright, citrusy, grapefruit-like character—it felt like a natural extension of flavour rather than a contrast. An orange that hints at grapefruit, paired with a pepper that does the same….might be a winner…might be a loser. Only time will tell and we’ll find out in about 10 days.

Fermentation has a way of teaching us to slow down, observe, and let good things happen in their own time.

What a whirlwind the holidays can be! One minute you’re eagerly prepping stockings, wrapping gifts and fretting over holiday decorating and dinner menus; the next minute it’s all over and you’re left feeling alone, tired and stunned at how much got done and how fast the time slipped away.

As the New Year settles in, the silence offers an invitation — to reflect, to reset, and to reclaim both space and time. Today, I’m working through the familiar mix of emotions that follows the holidays: the sadness of closing a meaningful chapter, paired with inspiration found in simplicity, quiet mornings, and a slower rhythm at home.

2026 feels fresh and wide open. A perfect year, untouched and full of possibility. I stepped away from New Year’s resolutions a long time ago. Instead, I keep a list of goals I can return to — goals rooted in growth, skill-building, and presence rather than pressure.

This year, that means spending more intentional time on the GameChanger cookbook, learning new skills like fishing and deepening my understanding of fermentation, and choosing to stay present with the people who matter most — less screen time, more real moments around the table and outdoors.

Here’s to honoring the quiet season, setting thoughtful intentions, and letting the year unfold naturally — one meal, one skill, one meaningful moment at a time.

Spent some time in Kananaskis with the pup recently. We got a couple days of downtime together that allowed us to quietly explore autumn in the mountains. 🏔️