Poached Pickerel

My mother told me that we cook the fish whole because it brings togetherness and abundance for the new year. So to this day, I always serve this with the head intact. The cheeks of the fish are most prized for their sweet succulence.

Grilled Red Snapper with Mint and Mango Salsa

Try this fancy fish dish from Canadian Living's June issue "Patio Party" menu. Slightly greasing the grill (rather than oiling the fish) helps keep the fish intact. You can also use a grilling basket for easy turning.

Curried Cauliflower With Chickpeas

This savoury dish has a little heat and a touch of sweetness from the raisins and caramelized onions. You'll find garam masala, an Indian spice blend, in the spice section of the supermarket. Serve over basmati rice.

Grilled Jerk Chicken Wings

We've toned down the intense heat of Jamaican jerk seasoning by using jalapeño pepper in place of the spicier Scotch bonnet that's traditionally used. Roast the wings the night before and pop them on the grill when guests arrive.

Spice Sugar Cookies

Stir-Fried Thai Chicken with Cashews and Basil

Serve with: Rice and an oriental green vegetable, such as Chinese broccoli, snow peas or bok choy In Thailand many kinds of meat and seafood are stir-fried simply with chilies and aromatic Thai basil, but Italian basil makes a fine substitute. In Thailand this dish is usually fiery hot with chilies; we have tamed it here, but you can adjust it to your own taste. If raw cashews are unavailable, use roasted cashews and omit the skillet-toasting; add to pan 1 minute before sugar and lime juice.

Beef Ramen Soup

Fresh grilled steak tossed with veggies, ramen, beef stock and a splash of teriyaki make this savoury soup a quick comfort classic. 

Seasoned Schmaltz

Schmaltz means “fat” in Yiddish and German. In cooking, it specifically refers to chicken fat in the Jewish tradition, and pork, goose or duck fat in German. Goose fat is the finest and is usually obtained from roast goose drippings. Duck, pork and chicken fat is most often rendered from raw fat that you purchase from the butcher. Call in advance and your butcher can collect it for you. Another way of getting enough fat to render is to freeze fat trimmed off chicken or ducks that you cook (the semifrozen fat is easy to chop). Whichever fat you choose, you will be rewarded with one that is just right for cooking Perfectly Crisp Roast Potatoes.

Broiled Tofu With No-Cook Peanut Sauce

Broiling tofu gives it a crispy texture without the hassle of deep-frying. The peanut sauce is so versatile that it can double as a veggie dip or be tossed with cold pasta and chicken for lunch. Picky eaters may prefer red peppers, carrot or sugar snap peas instead of broccoli, so just substitute your favourite vegetable.

Shaved Beet and Celery Root Salad With Miso Dressing

For this stunning salad, use the thinnest setting on your mandoline to shave crisp root vegetables into delicate medallions. Miso paste is generally used to flavour soups, but here it acts as a savoury base for the simple Japanese-inspired dressing.