Salmon Strudels

"What can we make ahead when we entertain?" is one of the most frequent questions we get. Here's the answer that satisfies every time: an elegant phyllo-wrapped salmon fillet gussied up with wild rice, mushrooms and spinach.

Salmon Mushroom Coulibiac

This French adaptation of a Russian classic features and easy-to-handle cream cheese pastry.

Squash, Spinach and Italian Cheese Cannelloni

Fresh oven-ready lasagna sheets vary in size and number in the package, so you may need two packages. Leftover sheets can be frozen.

Rice & Sausage-Stuffed Tomatoes

The last of summer's bounty, sun-ripened tomatoes are absolutely divine. With options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, this recipe is a surefire crowd-pleaser.

Janice Beaton Fine Cheese's Macaroni and Cheese

Janice Beaton loves good cheese, which led her to open Janice Beaton Fine Cheese just three years ago in Calgary. Besides the large selection of carefully chosen Canadian and European cheeses and other fine-food products, the store also widely promotes local products, such as organically grown heirloom-seed tomatoes. Recent and popular additions to the store are in-house prepared frozen foods, the most in-demand item being this macaroni and cheese, made with blends of cheese from the store. Beaton always likes to include a sharp and tangy cheese in the mix for extra flavour and combines at least two different cheeses, although she says using all old Cheddar or Gruyère will make a fine dish, too. She encourages you to experiment with favourite cheeses; just remember to use ones that melt well.

Lamb & Herb Pies

Sausage-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin With Creamy Mustard Sauce

Italian sausage and bread make a flavourful, moist stuffing. After rolling the pork, your hands will be dirty, so have the twine precut and ready to go.

Spinach, Mushroom and Cheese Phyllo Purses

The combination of crisp phyllo pastry and a colourful yellow pepper sauce makes this Severn Lodge dish a stylish vegetarian entr? Hubert Obermeier, the executive chef, drops small spoonfuls of tomato sauce into the yellow pepper sauce and gives them a dramatic swirl.

Olive Chicken Tagine With Dried Fruit Couscous

The fragrant spices of North African cuisine come to life in this Moroccan-style tagine, which features sweet-tasting cinnamon. You'll find jarred preserved lemons in specialty grocery stores and the international section of many supermarkets.

Popcorn Chicken Po'Boys

This recipe kicks chicken up a notch with a simple buttermilk marinade—it adds tangy flavour and keeps the meat tender and juicy. For a lighter version, skip the rolls and serve over leafy greens. It's great served with frosty mugs of beer.