Bright-green tender-crisp beans are the perfect companion to classic roast chicken. Salty feta cheese and a touch of lemon take this dish over the top.
I don't eat beef, but I love shepherd's pie, so I decided to make up my own. Instead of potatoes, I use sweet potatoes because they add a bit of sweetness to the pie, and the colour is gorgeous on a crisp white plate! The addition of the cheese on top balances the sweetness of the potatoes and provides a delicious gooey treat! I mean, hey, isn't everything better with cheese?
This recipe was my dads recipe. He made it at every special occasion and everyone loved it. A year and a half ago I finally learned it and made it for him. He approved and said it was my turn now. We lost him May 2008 to Cancer. Now everytime I make this recipe I think of how proud he would be. This is very simple but oh so delicious. If you've never had rabbit before, this is the recipe to start with. Anyone can make it and it tastes a lot like chicken.
When serving guests who follow various diets, sauces such as jerk (available at supermarkets) work well with meat and vegetarian options, such as chicken and tofu. Tofu sponges up this spicy paste and tastes best when marinated overnight. Serve with steamed rice and sautéed cabbage.
This warm appetizer blends sweet, smoky and spicy Mediterranean flavours. Use any kind of unpitted green and black olives, which are available at deli counters and supermarkets. Serve with cocktail picks.
I really like fish of any kind. Since white fish is plentiful in Alberta, I decided to dress it up using colorful ingredients. Our farmer markets in Edmonton give us fresh supplies of vegetables at this time of the year. Spring is here and color is happening, therefore, I thought that a salsa of different peppers would be ideal at this time of the year.
This recipe was passed down from my mother, and I remember when she used to make it on Sundays, usually in the fall or winter. The aroma will fill the house and our appetites and anticipation would only grow stronger. My mother would serve this dish with a fresh loaf of Italian bread.
Lovers of hummus will really appreciate this mildly spiced sesame-flavoured soup.
This is an elegant, health-wise version of a Canadian favourite that shows you don't have to sacrifice big taste for health. Bison is a red meat alternative that is becoming increasingly popular due to it's lower fat content and because it is naturally raised, hormone-free, nutrient-dense and tastes wonderfully flavourful. Alberta raises some of the best bison on earth, providing Canadians with a local source of this amazing food. Last year, I made a commitment to myself to live healthier and lose weight. So far, I have lost nearly 80 lbs, and attribute much of my success to being creative and finding healthy alternatives to higher-calorie favourites. In many cases, like with these bison burgers and oven fries, I find that the healthy version tastes even better than the original! I use Yukon Gold potatoes as they give the best result for oven fries, but they are also an inherently Canadian ingredient, being "invented" at the University of Guelph and produced locally all over Canada, including a farm not 5km from my residence here in BC. I love being able to buy local produce, and am often inspired by our delicious, full-flavoured local produce.The salad that accompanies this meal is a low-fat version of the traditional Caesar that is a fraction of the calories and offers a fresh, clean taste.
This entire meal is 598 calories, 20g fat, 43g protein, 71g carbs. Compare this to a conservative estimate of a typical restaurant-style 1/4 lb cheeseburger, fries with herbed mayo, and ceasar salad at 1200 calories and 77g of fat, and you can see that it's a pretty amazing reduction! As well, this meal tastes fresher, more flavourful and delicious than any from a restaurant...it's a win win!
