Spiced Rack of Venison with Apple Ginger Chutney

Simple Indian spicing perks up a luscious rack of venison, which is accompanied by apple chutney. The chutney should have some heat, so adjust to taste from a very mild pinch of cayenne to a hot 1/2 tsp (2 mL). Since you will have more than enough chutney, serve the remainder with roast pork or turkey or with aged Cheddar cheese and crackers. Caribou or elk racks can also be made this way

Homemade Ricotta

The exquisite taste of homemade ricotta belies how stunningly simple it is to make. Whether you eat it fresh and warm topped with berries and honey or simply tossed with pasta, you will be impressed with this silky, creamy fresh cheese you made yourself. Use organic whole milk, not only for its rich flavour, but also because it's higher in fat than homogenized milk. You'll find it in the organic section of most large supermarkets.

Irish Soda Bread

A loaf of bread takes too long to make — and isn't it fattening, too? So why bother? Irish soda bread says phooey to both these ideas. With baking soda instead of yeast, you can bake a loaf in less than an hour. With buttermilk and whole wheat flour, this dense, moist bread fits very nicely into a healthy diet. Here's a master recipe with two variations — one with honey and fruit and one with cheese and onion.

Roasted Pickerel with Mixed Grain Risotto, Sautéed Root Vegetables, and Rosemary Honey

My inspiration for the recipe began with an amazing cheese course I had at a dinner party at my sister's house. Rosemary honey drizzled on sharp cheese on a gourmet cracker. Divine! I knew my recipe had to have a rosemary honey component (and lucky for me I had overwintered a rosemary plant from my garden.) Thyme honey, my alternate choice and made the same way, was also delicious. I also wanted to focus on local prairie ingredients...you can't find lemons or olive oil here so I didn't put any in my recipe! I love risotto and thought it a good way to bring the sharp cheese into the recipe. I don't like the constant stirring of the usually method so tried local grains baked instead. The oats are creamy and the barley still has slight bite so it is a great combination. A friend who was sampling my recipe stated, "the risotto was a real surprise, the star of the show." I choose pickerel because it is a local prairie fish, is quite mild, and blends nicely with the other flavours. Rainbow trout also works nicely. The carrots and parsnips were grown locally and the rosemary honey just brings out the flavours wonderfully. To serve: Scoop a generous portion of risotto onto plates. Place an array of vegetables to the side of risotto, then top with a half fillet of pickerel. Drizzle with remaining rosemary honey and garnish with sprig of parsley. Excellent with any British Columbia Meritage or Pinot Grigio Note: If you have any leftover risotto, it is delicious for breakfast with crispy bacon on the side!

Western Chicken with a Kick

In my house we eat a lot of chicken. It tastes great, versatile and everyone loves it! My husband loves salsa and we always have lots on hand so one day when I was experimenting in the kitchen I thought I would try and make some salsa to go over the chicken I was making for dinner. I figured if chicken and salsa went together in Mexican food it would work great and with a little cheese on top it was a hit! I serve mine with Spanish or Jambalaya rice and fresh steamed vegetables.

Spinach Salad with Crispy Feta and Frizzled Prosciutto

With spring comes a welcome stream of fragrant herbs and fresh vegetables, such as sweet peas and delicate baby spinach. Spinach stars in this salad with a simple mustard vinaigrette, feta cheese and crispy prosciutto. When cutting the feta into thin slices, don't worry if a few of the pieces break: it's naturally crumbly. If you want, you can omit breading and frying the feta. The salad is delicious with crumbled feta; just reduce the amount to 1/2 cup (125 mL).

Fresh Mint Jelly

Fresh mint and white wine vinegar create a sweet, tangy jelly that's much nicer than store-bought ones. Once you try it, you'll see it goes with more than just lamb. Try it on zippy cheese canapés, in vinaigrettes or tossed with fruit. You can use any mint for this jelly; spearmint is milder, while peppermint is stronger. Or try lemon mint, pineapple mint, even chocolate mint – or a blend. Just do a taste-test of a small batch of the infusion first.

Rustic Pan Haggerty

You can’t beat the comfort factor of thinly sliced potatoes and onions sizzled together with cheese in a pan.

Potatoes hold a special place in the nation’s heart, and every regional cuisine seems to offer its own humble way of cooking these earthy staples. Pan haggerty, cooked in one heavy pan, dates back to the Industrial Revolution, when it was a cheap and delicious way to fill the bellies of workers in the old pit towns of Northumberland. This rustic dish has been gentrified over time, and you’ll now find versions including bacon, ham or sausage.

English Shepherd’s Pie

Traditionally a way of using up leftover roast meat, this can be made with diced or minced lamb – either way, it’s a winner.
 

Mash hits

It was a piece of kitchen equipment that gave rise to the modern version of this meat and-mash dish. In the 1870s, the newfangled mincing machine made short work of processing offcuts of meat and a classic was born. It is widely believed that the dish came from the north of England and Scotland, where there are large numbers of sheep. Shepherd’s pie, as the name suggests, uses mutton or lamb, and is not to be confused with cottage pie, which contains minced beef. A regional variation is the Cumberland pie, which includes a layer of cheese and bread crumbs on top of the mashed potato.

Lake Brome Duck Breast with Cranberry and Kumquat Chutney

Menu:
Lake Brome Duck Breast with Cranberry and Kumquat Chutney
Oven Roasted Nova Scotia Organic Fingerling Potatoes
Organic Nova Scotia Carrots in Maple Syrup Glaze
Salad of Organic Nova Scotia Micro Greens and Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette and Honey Goat Cheese Puffs

Inspiration: The inspiration for this meal comes from the 100 mile challenge featured on Food Network. I am currently involved with a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm here in Nova Scotia and am quite passionate about eating Slow Food, which is locally grown. I want to reduce my carbon footprint by using as many ingredients as possible that come from the province where I live in rather than from afar. It is nice to know, not only where your food comes from, but who grew it as well. Our children are quite excited each week to see our food box arrive, and always wonder what our farmer has sent us. Part of what I like about this recipe is that although it appears complicated, it really is quite simple and requires nothing out of the ordinary for most kitchens these days, with the exception of the kumquats. I have also included the recipes for the side dishes I like to serve with this meal. Preparation time includes preparing and cooking the side dishes as well. There are substitutions for the vegetables, for example using new baby potatoes or baby carrots, and substituting a peppery arugula for the micro greens. Food doesn't have to be pretentious or difficult to taste good. This recipe calls for one duck breast for each person, which for some appetites may be alot. The recipe could be stretched to serve 8, if the breasts are on the larger side. Wine Pairing: Jost L'Acadie Blanc Chardonnay (The Flight of the Silver Dart Commemorative) or Domaine de Grand Pre L'Acadie Blanc

Presentation: When presenting this dish, place a spoonful of the chutney in the centre of a warmed plate. Slice the duck thinly crossways and fan half over either side of the chutney. I place the carrots at one end of the plate with a bit of the glaze and the potatoes at the other, and drizzle balsamic glaze on each plate.