Chinese five-spice powder (a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns) is available in the spice section of the supermarket. If you can't find it, use a pinch each of pepper, cinnamon and cloves instead.
The floral notes of lemon thyme pair beautifully with ripe strawberries. Enjoy this skillet dessert with ice cream or vanilla custard. Leftovers—if there are any—make for a decadent breakfast.
The savoury flavour of black bean sauce with the freshness of asparagus makes this an all-in-one addictive treat.
Using just one pot and one skillet pan, you can have a deconstructed shepherd's pie piping hot on your plate in less than 30 minutes. Economical ground beef makes this a winning family recipe for rushed weeknights, and leftovers make a great lunch to reheat the next day.
Shredded coconut in the crumble topping adds tropical flair to an otherwise classic recipe. Many people with celiac disease can still consume oats, but to be absolutely sure yours haven't been in contact with gluten from other products, look for bags labelled "pure uncontaminated oats." You'll find them in health food stores or the natural foods aisle of your supermarket.
These melt-in-your-mouth classics are always looked for on the Christmas cookie tray. Some Grandmas top each one with a halved glacé red cherry, or change the vanilla to almond extract and/or stir in 1/3 cup (75 mL) chopped slivered almonds.