Lentil and Brown Rice Cakes With Baked Fries

This recipe turns powerhouse lentils into a healthy spin on burgers. Golden, crispy baked fries require very little oil but still don't stick to the parchment paper–lined pan—they are the tastiest good-for-you fries you'll ever enjoy. Thick Greek yogurt and fresh garlic on top of the patty give it a creamy kick, and a simple fresh salsa is the only condiment you'll need.

Sirloin Tip Oven Roast with Porcini Mushroom Jus

Though juicy and flavourful, this roast is best cooked to no more than medium.

Italian-Style Gnocchi Salad

Pork and Chorizo Burgers

These tender, super flavourful burgers use fresh chorizo sausages found in the meat department, not the dry cured chorizo from the deli section. Can't find manchego cheese? Use Pecorino-Romano instead.

Slow Cooker Black Bean Spareribs

My mother, Shu-Lai Fong, makes famous pressure-cooked black bean spareribs. They're the inspiration for this recipe, which is just as delicious but uses a slow cooker. You'll find bite-size bone-in pork spareribs at most Asian grocery stores, or you can order them at your butcher's counter.

Cheddar, Bacon & Kimchi Grilled Cheese

A little bit of kimchi goes a lot way to add a burst of freshness to heavy bacon and gooey cheese.

Kelp with Szechuan Peppercorns

Kelp is an edible Pacific Ocean seaweed that grows in long, wide ribbons. Dried kelp comes whole or shredded. You'll find it at any Chinese, Japanese or Korean food store, as well as in some health food aisles. Szechuan, or Sichuan, peppercorns are the dried reddish brown berries of prickly ash and are used extensively in Chinese cooking. They are sold mainly at Chinese grocers and herbalists.

Roasted Carrot Dip

A dip is a fun way of adding variety to the week of lunches. Pack about 1/2 cup (125 mL) of this dip, wedges of pita bread, carrot and celery sticks or your child's favourite vegetable in separate containers. Add a few rice chips or potato chips and your child will think it's a party.

Eggplant Walnut Dip With Za'atar Pita Chips

No party is complete without chips and dip. This dip has za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend, which can be found in most grocery stores. Check the expiration date on the walnuts you're buying to ensure they are fresh. Soaking them overnight gets rid of the astringency that some people don't like, so give this recipe a try – even if you think you don't like walnuts!

Lightened-Up Chicken Parmigiana With Garlicky Veggies

Ask your butcher to cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, or simply do it yourself: With the knife blade parallel to the cutting board and your opposite hand on top of chicken, slice horizontally completely through the breast, keeping your knife parallel to the board to ensure an even cut.