Rhubarb is a much-loved Nova Scotia ingredient, and never has it had such elegant treatment as Chef Ray Bear gives it at Gio in Halifax.
Traditionally served with tea and often enjoyed for breakfast, buttery scones can be customized with your choice of fruit and dairy.
Tenderloin grilling steaks get the royal treatment in this recipe with cremini mushrooms and red wine.
The shimmering metallic accents on this cake go beautifully with any bride's colour scheme. Look for prepared gum paste and rolled fondant at any cake-decorating supply store. Gum paste mix is also widely available and can be mixed according to package directions for the same result. To give the flowers a curved shape, set them on a plastic artist's paint palette with round wells. Gum paste dries quickly, so by the time you've filled all of the wells, you can begin to remove the flowers to make room for more.
Decadent little chocolate cakes with rich molten cores are enough to make any meal special. The batter for this dessert can be prepared ahead, but the cakes are best eaten immediately after baking, so don't put them into the oven until your guests are ready for dessert. If you're making this on an occasion when you can eat dairy, try the Flourless Chocolate Lava Cakes variation.
This mousse can be made a few days ahead and popped into the freezer. Then unmould and garnish with fresh fruit for a pretty Mother's Day treat.
This sweet granola has a surprising yet gentle hint of ginger and is the perfect partner for the tangy rhubarb topping. Set out the yogurt, granola and compote with small bowls or pretty glasses so guests can make their own parfaits. When combined with plain yogurt, these parfaits may be a bit tangy for young palates, so have a little honey or maple syrup on hand for drizzling.
