Chipotle-Glazed Beef Short Ribs

 Look for cans of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in your grocery store's Mexican food aisle. If you can't find it, replace chipotle peppers with 2 jalapeño peppers, roasted and seeded, and 1 tbsp (15 mL) hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco).

Moussaka

Tofu & Walnut Tomato Sauce

This rich, textured sauce tastes delicious on pasta or in lasagna.

Grilled Bacon-Stuffed Pork Chops

Get a double dose of pork with these ultraflavourful stuffed chops. For best results, use day-old bread cut into 1/2-inch (1 cm) cubes. Serve with mixed greens or grilled vegetables.

Pepperoni Pizza Lasagna

This tasty reinvention of takeout pizza is a huge hit with Amber. Gail loves it because it bakes up in two pans — one to enjoy right away, the other to freeze and enjoy on another busy night.

Slow Cooker Italian-Style Pork Belly

Turkey Meat Loaf Florentine

Wilted baby spinach and sauteed leek add a touch of elegance to this moist, lean version of meat loaf. If you can't find Fontina cheese, any mild-tasting, creamy cheese will do, such as Havarti or mozzarella.

Grilled Asparagus Pizza

If pizza is a family favourite in your house, this summery grilled version will be a hit. Take the dough out of the fridge about 15 minutes before using so it's easier to shape.

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

This crowd-pleaser makes a great taco filling. Or, serve it over rice with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh herbs. Well-marbled beef will have white lines of fat throughout; as the marbling melts during cooking, it keeps the meat moist and tender and infuses the beef with flavour.

Tempeh and Rice Stuffed Peppers

Partially freezing tempeh makes grating it a cinch. Nutritional yeast adds a savoury cheese-like dimension to the filling ­ look for it in health food stores. Use medium-size green, red, yellow or orange peppers with flat bottoms.