Pepper Maple Salmon and Sauce

Ross Mavis, chef and proprietor of Inn on the Cove and Day Spa and Tide's Table dining room in Saint John, N.B., says that this easy recipe is his customers' favourite: "The pepper and maple don't interfere with the flavour of Atlantic salmon and nicely provide a foil to the richness of its flesh."

Barbecue Poached Salmon with Basil Mayonnaise

This is not real poaching but rather more like steaming, leaving the salmon to taste as if it were simmered in aromatic liquid. It's magnificent hot and mighty tasty cold. Toss any leftovers the next night with pasta and dressing.

Tilapia With Olive Salsa and Spinach Orzo

The chunky Kalamata olive salsa adds a welcome touch of freshness to this tilapia dish. Use the same salsa recipe to top pan-fried chicken or spread on crusty bread as an appetizer on another night. Serve with lemon wedges.

Tilapia and Tomato Sauce

Browning the fillets first keeps them golden and crisp before adding them to the sauce. You can also fry them completely in the skillet for 8 minutes and serve with the sauce spooned over top.

Garlicky Parmesan Salmon & Asparagus

Crisp asparagus pairs beautifully with salmon in this one pan wonder, which is fitting for a weeknight dinner or an elegant gathering.

Steamed Lemon Salmon and Asparagus

Be it a multitiered bamboo, electric or metal basket, a large steamer is invaluable if you're trying to reduce fat content. (Our favourite and least expensive option is the bamboo version.) For 10 more diabetes-friendly recipes that will help you lower your intake of fat and high-glycemic carbohydrates, check out Mealtimes made easy in the June 2005 issue of Canadian Living.

Vietnamese Grilled Pork with Rice Noodles

Cool noodles contrast with hot, succulent grilled pork loin (or use boneless chicken). You can prepare the noodles and sauce a few hours before assembly.

Maple Salmon pesto pasta

Serve with the Late Harvest Riesling by Inniskillin; it reminds me of home and is a perfect compliment to this dish. I like to use a wide fresh pasta but penne also works. My inspiration for this came many years ago when I moved to Halifax fom Vancouver.(One sea side town to another!) All the ingredients can be purchased from the weekly farmer's market downtown. I use my grandmother's old Italian recipe for pesto and always keep a container for that in the freezer. I use the "happy poultry" carcasses from the butcher to make the stock. I store this in the freezer and cut chunks off for this recipe. The salmon can be purchased for 1/2 price if you buy the trimmings. For those who don't make their own pesto and stock, use your favorite brand in the specialty or grocery store. This is not an expensive recipe and can altered by including curry which gives it an extra zip. Easily my husband's favorite dish that I throw together for my 4 kids even after a full day of teaching math with gr 8 and 9s!

Spicy Korean Tofu Soup

This traditional Korean soup features easier-to-find ingredients without sacrificing any flavour. For example, instead of traditional dried anchovies or fermented shrimp paste, we've used umami-rich fish sauce. The one exception is the gochugaru, which gives the soup its authentic flavour; you can find it in major grocery stores as well as Asian markets.

Lemon Roasted Salmon with Creamy Dill Wine Sauce