Chicken Curry with Vegetables

Heat Rating: Medium The Chinese spice trio of star anise, cloves and cinnamon, along with Indian black mustard seeds and fragrant cardamom pods, spike this delicious curry. Serve it with lots of white rice to soak up the sauce. It is always nice to serve a spicy curry with sliced cucumber and refreshing, tart fruit, such as half-ripe mango (choose a firm one), starfruit or apple.

Meinhardt's Lamb Curry

Linda Meinhardt's kitchen is modelled after a philosophy of passion in cooking, using quality fresh ingredients for bold and innovative tastes. These qualities have made Meinhardt Fine Foods a gourmet — foodstuffs and takeout — counter destination of choice in the Vancouver area. Here is an example of the innovative and well-tuned flavours that characterize Meinhardt's kitchen. Lamb or beef, whichever you prefer, is treated to a fusion of Eastern and Western ingredients. If you want to freeze the curry for up to two weeks, omit the potatoes and add boiled potatoes to the curry when reheating.

Snowball Cake Pops

Serve these snowball sticks upright in a block of Styrofoam to add a touch of whimsy to your party. The nonalcoholic variation makes great holiday snacks for a kids' party. You'll need 36 candy sticks, available at bulk food or candy-making supply stores.

Carrot Pineapple Loaf

Freshly grated orange rind brightens the flavours of this loaf, and marzipan carrots lighten the look. Doubling the parchment paper keeps the outside from darkening too much.

Giant Meatballs in Tomato Fennel Sauce

Sure to be a big hit with kids, these great big meatballs have fabulous flavour and taste even better the next day. You might want to make a double batch and freeze half for later.

Tropical White Christmas Cake

Exotic dried fruit makes this even more colourful than a traditional fruitcake.

Buttermilk Waffles

These classic buttermilk waffles are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The best part? You can prepare the batter the night before and wake up to a tasty feast that's ready in minutes.

Double Chocolate Lamington Squares

Enjoy these Australian squares just as they are, or dip them in a mug of hot cocoa for the ultimate treat. While they're traditionally made with sponge cake, our version uses easy-to-make chocolate pound cake instead, making them a sinfully indulgent dessert for chocolate lovers. To retain their moistness, store the squares in the fridge.

Tom Yum Pork Stew

Chocolate Mousse Passover Cake

Picture this: a rich, brownie-like chocolate cake topped with chocolate mousse, whipped topping and garnished with even more chocolate. Sound divine? It is! Italian meringue gives the mousse a light, fluffy texture without the addition of gelatin. If you can include dairy in your dessert, substitute whipped cream for the nondairy whipped topping.