Crab and Lobster Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis and Dill Cream

Lobster gives these an authentic Nova Scotian touch, and the two sauces — one a colourful roasted pepper and the other, a creamy dill — add a touch of Laceby indulgence. Serve as an appetizer or main course, depending on your appetite.

Tropical Fruit Trifle

Crispy Artichokes With Lemon Herb Dip

Vegetarians, rejoice! This meat-free, dairy-free handheld treat will be the hit of the party. Kosher panko makes an ultracrispy crust that soaks up any moisture from the artichokes. For guests who don't feel like dipping, serve the artichokes with wedges of lemon to squeeze over top.

Tri-Colour Quinoa Lasagna with Local Seasonal Vegetables

Roasted and stir-fried vegetables are layered between flavoured quinoa to create a healthy and colourful take on vegetarian lasagna. My middle daughter is the lone vegetarian in a household of meat lovers. I find lately I've been incorporating more and more vegetarian options into our meals. It's easier on the family budget, the environment and our collective waistlines! That being said, I do find it more difficult to find a vegetarian meal that is "company worthy". This recipe, created with local veggies, is substantial enough to satisfy meat eaters and impressive enough for a casual dinner with friends. While I love how nutritious quinoa is, I sometimes find it a bit bland. Mixing the quinoa layers with 3 different sauces adds a flavour boost. Use the vegetables listed or try ones that are in season in your local area. If you select items that are fresh and colourful you can't go wrong. While the ingredient list looks long don't be daunted, most of the work is building the lasagna layers and the preparation is not complicated. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a light green salad for a delicious, healthy and budget-friendly (under $40 including salad) dinner with friends.

Spinach and Pork Meatballs With Honey Ketchup and Roasted Corn

I love meatballs and so does my family. Let's be honest, who doesn't? So this challenge offered the ideal excuse to whip up some seriously delicious and moist veggie-dense meatballs. A few helping hands in the kitchen make quick work of forming the balls. A pan of oven-roasted potato wedges is the perfect side dish, and a great way to use more of the homemade ketchup. – Rheanna Kish, senior Food specialist

Grilled Salmon and Couscous Pouches

This all-in-one grilled meal has every component in a single pouch, so cleanup is minimal. Our trick to finishing the couscous, veggies and fish at the same time is to partially cook the couscous before steaming it in the pouch. Serve with lemon wedges.
 

Prep-Ahead Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Shells

Try preparing this delicious meal ahead of time so all you’ll need to do on a busy weeknight is warm up the food—minimal effort required—and the rest of the evening is yours to savour.

Roasted Strawberry Shortcakes

This dessert is a classic for a reason: Silky whipped cream enriches the subtly acidic strawberry's bright, bold flavour.

Steakhouse Rib Eye with Béarnaise Sauce

In The Test Kitchen, we cook rib eyes to medium-rare—just enough to render some of the fat but not enough to toughen the meat. This béarnaise recipe yields a full cup; leftovers don't keep well in the fridge, so if you're serving a smaller crowd that won't need all of the sauce, consider substituting with our Shallotand-Herb Compound Butter (see below).

Moussagna

I thought about making a healthier version of lasagna with vegetables instead of pasta and thought of using eggplant instead of the lasagna noodles to come up with "Moussagna" (Moussaka and Lasagna combined). I've eliminated the bechamel sauce to cut back on the fat and used the tomato based sauce from the lasagna recipe to make it low fat. I also used low fat cottage cheese instead of the full ricotta cheese.