This is a one-dish meal that is elegant but simple. Bison is a low fat choice for meats and does not have a game-y taste.
When I was around 20 years old I thought, "I have never made lasagna. I think I will try it and see how it turns out." Initially I followed the recipe on the box and took out a few things they suggested and added my own. Over time, I have just come up with my own recipe, and even last year I tweaked it again. All of my friends and family just rave about how good my lasagna is for some reason, so I guess they must like it. They usually ask me to make it at family get-togethers and I made it recently for my uncle who had never tried it before and he loves it. So I guess now it has just become a family staple. I usually serve it with some kind of salad, usually Caesar.
Kids will get a kick out of turning classic broccoli with cheese sauce into pancakes. Adding ham makes this breakfast-for-dinner a protein-rich meal. If you don't have fresh broccoli on hand, use frozen, cooking it according to package directions.
Baked macaroni is one of our Sunday dishes that we serve with stewed chicken or beef, rice, stewed red beans and potato salad. This will stick to your bones and you won't be hungry too quickly thereafter. Baked macaroni is definitely a tasty comfort food that all ages will love. Best served hot and leftovers are just as good. For those who are lactose intolerant, omit the can of evaporated milk and substitute with 1/2 cup of chicken broth. You must also increase the amount of breadcrumbs by 1/4 cup. Don't use too much broth as the mixture will not bind together. Any Canadian marbled cheese and parmesan cheese can be used.
Plump pork sausages, crispy Yorkshire pud and a rich onion gravy come together to make this family favourite.
An everlasting favourite of children, this dish is known and loved by most British people as sausages (the toad) cooked in Yorkshire pudding batter (the hole). But it wasn’t always so. In 1861, Mrs. Beeton described a version that used steak and kidney instead of sausages, while other early recipes called for cheap offcuts or leftovers of any kind of meat . The Art of Cookery (1747) even includes a recipe for “pigeon in a hole.” Sausages became integral to toad in the hole during World War I – perhaps as a way to
stop them exploding in the pan when frying – and the dish rapidly became a national hit.
Oven roast cuts of beef, such as sirloin tip and inside and outside round, are less expensive than premium cuts and can make fine roasts. However, because they are less marbled with fat, they need help to keep them succulent. Here we use a tasty garlic-and-herb-infused butter to do just that.
We love reinventing a classic, and these adorable mini tarts topped with chocolate buttons up the ante on beloved salted caramel. Think traditional buttery flavour but with a twist of strawberry and the essence of smoky black pepper. This recipe makes enough caramel to have extra for drizzling over fresh berries or ice cream.
Pure Canadian maple syrup, pure fancy molasses and sweet mustard blend with the flavour of the two-pepper rub on pork tenderloin for an "mmm..." sweet and spicy finish. Casual entertaining proves far more enjoyable if preparation is fairly simple, allowing the cook an opportunity to benefit along with the guests. Pork tenderloin, properly skinned and cleaned, makes the perfect surface for a dry rub. Rubbed with a simple mixture of freshly ground pepper, cayenne and a dash of salt, the tenderloin can be prepared as far ahead as the night before or just before guests arrive. Initially grilled on high for 10 minutes, it is then brushed with a prepared glaze and finished grilling. Once done, it is removed from the heat and tented with foil for approximately 5-10 minutes. To serve, slice pork and fan around a platter. Drizzle remaining glaze over the meat. Serve with garlic mashed potatoes, steamed honey dill carrots and a fresh garden salad on the side. Alternately, plate individually (pictured).
These Gnocchi alla Romana are infused with rosemary, garlic and sage while the butternut squash is caramelizing and roasting in the oven. The squash is then added to the polenta like dough while cooking on the stove top. It was a winner and a technique I will use over and over again.
I like to prepare dishes for guests that allow me to enjoy their company. In order to do this, I select dishes that can be prepared before the guests arrive and are already cooking while we are enjoying their company. My "Sure to Please" Chicken Cacciatore is a prime example of this. Over time I have made several adjustments to enhance the flavour while at the same time using healthy alternatives (eg. skinless chicken thighs and breasts; I saute ingredients in extra virgin olive oil instead of butter). Because this dish has an Italian flare, so do all the other dishes that I serve before, during and after this meal. I serve an antipasta tray as an appetizer, and toasted garlic bread, a tossed green salad with an oil and vinaigrette dressing, whole wheat spaghetti, and the same wine that is in the cacciatore. For dessert I serve Tiramisu (also made ahead). As a result, most of my work is complete before company arrives. I have shared this recipe with women who say they do not cook and I have received rave reviews from all of them - their guests loved it so much that one man ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I like to make this dish in the summer, when I can use fresh produce from my vegetable garden or from the local farmer's market. My inspiration for this recipe is that I love to cook and entertain. This recipe is full of flavour, easy to prepare and tastes like you were in the kitchen all day (what a bonus!).
