Thinly slicing flank steak across the grain breaks apart and tenderizes the tough muscle fibres and ensures the steak cooks quickly. If you like, serve Cheddar cheese, avocado, tortilla chips and extra salsa on the side. Cost: $4.20 per serving
Cooking the tomatoes low and slow infuses them with smoky flavour and makes this simple appetizer anything but average. Cocktail tomatoes, which are about an inch wide, are the ideal size for this recipe. Use strongly flavoured wood chips, such as hickory, for the best taste.
This combination of flavours is a little out there, but trust us—you'll want this dish for both breakfast and dinner. The chili pepper plays superbly against the sweet coconut chips and the creamy peanut butter, giving you the ultimate sweet and savoury fix.
Cheddar originated in England, but Canadian Cheddar is now more famous worldwide. It's the preferred cheese of Canadians, who consume a total of 64,316 lb (29,174 kg) a year! Corn chips or tortillas make a great crunchy accompaniment to this fabulous soup.
You can substitute one of the following add-ins for the blueberries: raisins, dried cranberries, chocolate chips. Or make two kinds at once by dividing the batter between two bowls and adding 1/2 cup (125 mL) of different add-ins to each bowl.
Fruit Blondies With fruit and nuts in every bite, these squares from Elizabeth Baird, our food and nutrition editor, are so irresistible that you'll want to make them again and again. So vary them by using other nuts, slivered dried apricots or chocolate chips.
The complex, sour-sweet flavours of pomegranate molasses (available in Middle Eastern and fine food stores) give this dip a tangy edge. If you can't find it, use 3 tbsp (50 mL) lemon juice and 2 tbsp (25 mL) liquid honey instead. Serve with pita chips.
Who doesn't love tacos? Make the beef mixture the night before and pack in a heatproof container. Package the tortilla chips in a plastic bag and the lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and cucumber in separate small containers. At school, your child can microwave the beef mixture and toss all the elements together.
Brownies are hard to resist when they're dark, dense and packed with chocolate chips. They also make great party food and are an excellent offering for a bake sale. Try the master recipe, then discover how toasted nuts, toffee bits and dried fruit such as cherries give brownies a whole new meaning.
This tasty rice bowl is terrific with just about any kind of leftover cooked rice. Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper if you like heat , and top with more salsa for a hit of fresh flavour. For a decadent dinner, serve with tortilla chips – they make a crunchy, fun side.
