Braised Pork Shoulder and White Beans

The humble pork shoulder roast becomes meltingly tender when braised. A bone-in pork picnic roast or boneless pork butt roast can be used interchangeably in this recipe, depending on what is available (but if using a shoulder picnic roast, leave its fat cap on for extra flavour). The Garlic Vinegar Sauce adds a hit of acidity to cut through the richness of the meal. Pass it around so that each person can add it according to taste.

Grilled Rack of Lamb with Blueberry Shiraz Reduction Sauce

I am very excited about entering my recipe in the 2009 Canadian Living Cook of the Year Contest. I am an avid home-cook and love creating new and exciting home recipes to make for my family and friends. I am a firm believer in seasonal cooking, using the freshest ingredients available, and making use of local ingredients whenever possible. Consequently, I was delighted to see that this year's contest was to feature Canadian ingredients. I wanted to take things a step further and include some local Newfoundland ingredients. Newfoundland and Labrador has some wonderful producers for fresh, often organic, produce, seafood and meat products...and of course the island is well known for it's abundance of wild berries. Berry picking is a provincial past-time in late summer and early fall and many families, including my own, can be found on the hillsides or barrens, bent over and collecting gallons of sweet, juicy berries to be used fresh, or to be frozen for use during the long winter months. I knew as soon as I read about this year's contest that I wanted to feature these berries, along with our wonderful, locally-raised lamb and artfully crafted local wines, in my recipe. I hope you enjoy a taste of Newfoundland!

Curried Beef Patties

The pressures of making dinner after a busy workday and long commute leave little time in the evenings for Gail and Amber to spend together. These patties freeze well, so making them together on the weekend is a great way to share quality time and free up weeknights. To complete the meal, add a green salad and yogurt with fruit for dessert.

Grilled Mushroom-Stuffed Pork Loin

Pair up these two Ontario products for a spectacular rolled and barbecued roast. Buy a few of each mushroom - button, cremini, shiitake (use caps only) and oyster - for the stuffing. Wrapping the roast in bacon imparts smoky flavour and keeps the meat moist. It would be hard to deny that bacon makes everything taste better.

Roast Bison or Venison with Red Wine and Onion Jus

Game meat is always leaner than domestic meat, so special care must be taken when roasting to prevent it from drying out. Larding it with bacon or pork fat is a traditional method, and it's important to never cook it past medium.

Braised Chicken Pie with Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms and Chestnuts

Instead of a traditional tourtiere, this year I'm serving a puff pastry-topped pie that's especially festive with tiny onions and chestnuts. For variety you can replace the chicken with pork or veal. To use canned chestnuts instead of the fresh, add these already-cooked nuts when adding the mushroom mixture.

Brined Turkey With Potato & Parmesan Stuffing

Freeze-Ahead Tourtière

This classic is usually made with ground pork, often with the addition of potatoes for thickening. Mushrooms are unconventional, but tourtière fans will be happy with the extra flavour.

Corned Beef Cabbage Rolls With Cider Dijon Sauce

Think of this as a traditional boiled cabbage dinner wrapped in neat little parcels and bathed in a tangy, sweet sauce. To save prep time, pick up a chunk of corned beef at the deli.

The Ultimate Poutine

The best part about this classic poutine? The gravy is made using store-bought broth, so you don't have to make your own. With a few added aromatics, it has all the intense, meaty flavour of homemade. If you're really pressed for time, use frozen fries and be done in about 30 minutes.