Crispy herb-flecked skin? Check. Tender juicy meat? Check. Rich full-bodied gravy? It's got that, too. Our foolproof take on the classic Sunday supper is so good — and so easy — you might be tempted to make it on weeknights.
Hearty beef stew is a cold-weather favourite. Use a well-marbled pot roast for the best flavour; the fat will melt while the beef cooks, which will help tenderize the meat.
Linda Meinhardt's kitchen is modelled after a philosophy of passion in cooking, using quality fresh ingredients for bold and innovative tastes. These qualities have made Meinhardt Fine Foods a gourmet — foodstuffs and takeout — counter destination of choice in the Vancouver area. Here is an example of the innovative and well-tuned flavours that characterize Meinhardt's kitchen. Lamb or beef, whichever you prefer, is treated to a fusion of Eastern and Western ingredients. If you want to freeze the curry for up to two weeks, omit the potatoes and add boiled potatoes to the curry when reheating.
Cooking the shallots until caramelized creates the flavour base, and their subtle sweetness naturally balances out the sharp blue cheese. If you're not a fan of blue, try extra-old Cheddar instead.
In our family, we prepare rice for all occasions, so this is a definite must-have for Chinese New Year. My mother combines long-grain and glutinous rice, which makes the dish less sticky. If you can get fresh water chestnuts, use 3/4 cup (175 mL) diced.
From Jennifer McLagan's wonderfully innovative cookbook Bones: Recipes, History and Lore (HarperCollins, 2005), comes this aromatic dish that celebrates succulent oxtails. It's delicious with rice and a vibrant green vegetable.
This spicy Chinese classic, called ma po doufu, is named after the pock-marked (ma) grandmother (po) who served this dish in her restaurant. Stir-fried green onions, ginger, black bean garlic sauce and ground pork provide the flavour, with tofu adding textural contrast. Sprinkle traditional ground toasted Szechuan pepper or toasted hot pepper flakes on top. Serve with rice and snow peas.
Common pantry ingredients such as olives, anchovies and capers give classic Italian puttanesca sauce loads of savoury flavour. Buttery polenta is perfect for soaking up all of the sauce's full-bodied goodness.
