Ras el hanout offers great bang for your buck in the flavour department. Just a bit of this North African spice blend adds depth to everything from meats to grains to sauces. It can be purchased premixed from Middle Eastern grocery stores or in specialty spice shops. If you can't find it, you can easily make your own using spices you already have on hand.
This easy no-knead bread has great texture and a simple, pleasing flavour. Enjoy slices warm with butter or transform them into a grilled cheese, a hearty sandwich or French toast. The best part: The loaves freeze beautifully, so make extra to enjoy later.
The atmosphere at The Economy Shoe Shop on Argyle Street in Halifax is über-fun and laid-back. They serve these home-style cakes as an appetizer, but they're substantial enough for a main course, especially when accompanied by a green salad and a fantastic local beer such as Propeller Bitter Ale.
Kids seem to especially love noodle salads with their crunchy vegetables and appealing sauces, particularly peanut sauce. If your children don't like spicy food, just omit or reduce the hot chili paste. You can also leave out the coriander or replace the egg with shredded cooked chicken.
This broth fondue makes for an easy entertaining evening. Guests first spear paper-thin slices of beef and a variety of vegetables and mushrooms and simmer them in broth, then, when everyone has almost reached the point of satisfaction, they can add noodles to the broth and enjoy a delicious soup. You can save some preparation time if your butcher or supermarket sells presliced beef especially for this kind of Asian fondue and stocks bottled ponzu sauce.
Pies aren't usually among the gluten-free goodies in grocery stores. This all-purpose crust solves that problem. The pastry is delicate, so roll it out between sheets of parchment paper to keep it from crumbling. That will also make transferring it to the pie plate a cinch. Dust the paper lightly with tapioca flour between rolls if you find the pastry is sticking to it.
The bold flavours of Japanese togarashi, ginger and miso add a trendy twist to the beloved burger.
It is hard to believe that this entire meal for 6 can be prepared in under an hour. The ingredients in this main course and side dishes are completely Canadian (including the Canola oil), but just like our country's unique cultural mosaic -- they have been flavoured with exotic spices and other wonderful additions which highlight Canada's tolerance and respect for people of other lands. The lamb was reared in Ontario and the eggplant can be grown in almost any Canadian garden. I sometimes serve the lamb with chick pea fries and chuckle when I remind my Indian in-laws that Canada and Australia are now growing garbanzo beans, too.
