Halibut with Wild Blueberry Chutney and Roasted Vegetables

Fish is a staple in our home and I am always trying to create new accompaniments, while at the same time using local foods. I enjoy creating nutritious meals that are diabetic friendly (two of my children have Type 1 Diabetes), heart healthy, and always incorporating as many colours of the rainbow that I can. This dish can be made with any white fish as it looks so inviting with the reds and greens of the sides. Wild blueberries and Halibut - a perfect marriage as opposites do attract! I have (tried) roasted beets before but was always a bit disappointed when they dried out, so I tried this crusting method and it turns out a moist brightly colored beet with just a hint of horseradish! When plating this recipe, layering creates a presentation that is not only eye-appealing, but a superb blend of flavors. Using summers' bounty means delicious fresh menus for friends and family.

Tourtiere recipe and instructions

Tourtiere is the creme de la creme of pies. Lightly spiced and herbed, this pork pie is especially anticipated for Christmas Eve celebrations, but it's equally tasty throughout the holidays and winter months. Tourtiere is completely make-ahead, delicious when turkey or chicken take over for pork and perfectly complemented by a tangy relish such as chili sauce.

Partridge or Pheasant Pie

Partridge and pheasant both have delicate chickenlike meat with a distinct boost of flavour. This celebratory pie will be a hit.

Flaky Seafood Pie

One of the pleasures of the cooking traditions of the British Isles is seafood pie, with its bounty of northern seafood in a creamy sauce topped with flaky pastry. You can make the pie a day ahead and refrigerate it or freeze it. If you prefer, use pie pastry (one double-crust recipe) instead of puff pastry.

Boiled Fresh Lobsters

In Canada, we harvest the sweetest, most delicious lobster in the world. If you're short on time or fridge space, most grocery stores or fish markets will steam lobsters for you on request, but boiling them fresh at home is always preferable. Serve them with one (or all) of our signature butters or seasoned mayo.

Roasted Chicken Roulade with Herbed Goat Cheese and Asparagus

The inspiration for this dish was a simple seasonal meal with great flavour. I wanted to make a dish that was easy to prepare with at least some components that could be made ahead of time. A Saturday morning trip to the local farmer's market was what inspired the ingredients in this recipe; locally grown asparagus, fresh Ontario goat's cheese, organically raised local chicken breasts and I was on my way! They key to this recipe is simple and flavourful ingredients. Using ingredients that are in season makes a big difference since this is the time when they are at their flavour peak. I decided to serve the chicken with a fresh spring salad using some of the same ingredients from the chicken. It would also be nice with a crusty baguette and a warm bowl of soup. The simplicity of the flavours in this dish make it easy to pair with other foods. The result was a delicious springtime meal that was perfect for a casual night with friends. Buying local and seasonal ingredients allowed me to stay way under my $100 budget and the ease of preparing the meal allowed me to spend time with my guests - which is what entertaining is all about!

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Maple Beer Sauce

I first tasted bannock on a tenth grade hiking trip through the BC Lillooet Gold Rush trail. It was freshly cooked over a campfire and tasted wonderful on a cold and rainy evening. My version of stovetop bannock is jazzed up with some savoury add-ins. Served with Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, it is perfect for mopping up the delicious Maple Beer Sauce.

Exquisite Roasted Garlic and Vegetable Lasagna

My family absolutely loves this dish. It is one of those wonderful dishes that is best prepared the day ahead which leaves you plenty of time for entertaining when your friends are over. It came about as my son was dating a girl who was a vegetarian, I wanted to make a dish for supper that we could all enjoy with her. I looked at a variety of recipes and formulated this one, which we have come to love - I have shared the recipe with garlic loving friends who just can't get enough! All the ingredients can be grown in my backyard, although I usually buy the eggplant at the St. Jacobs Farmers market in Waterloo, about 15 minutes from my home. Serve this with a caesar salad and some crusty bread and voila! A meal your friends won't soon forget!

Vegetable Wellington

Veal and Ham Pie

Veal and Ham Pie belongs to that special category of meat pies we associate more with French pat?than with the British antecedents of our Canadian cuisine. This splendid pie takes some time to put together, but is worth every minute. In the true tradition of a Canadian picnic, the responsibility for making the dishes should be shared by the group. It\'s advisable that this dish be prepared by a picnicker with a free afternoon one or two days before the outing.