You don’t have to trek to the nearest bakery to enjoy a great bagel. Try this recipe and you may never want to purchase these delicious classics again!
This entree combines local food Arctic Char & blueberries with hearty vegetables that can withstand a plane trip to the north. This is best made with freshly caught fish and blueberries picked from the tundra, but can be made with frozen fish and blueberries, for a taste of fleeting Arctic summer anytime of the year.
This dish was inspired by a favorite appetizer of mine, bacon-wrapped dates. I love the sweet and salty combination, and thought it would go well with chicken and cheese sauce. I also like the idea of bringing together international flavors (dates, Swiss cheese, Italian cheese) but using as many home grown ingredients as possible. The chicken is best served with a vegetable such as roasted asparagus or steamed broccoli, and rice, both of which would blend nicely with the cheese sauce if desired.
This one-pot meal is loaded with juicy chicken, smoky bacon, hearty potatoes and tender-crisp veggies. We like to call it comfort in a bowl.
By Cindy Ball, Vancouver
Cook of The Year 2009 Winner, Vegetarian category
Cindy layers roasted and sautéed vegetables between three highly flavoured quinoa mixtures to create a colourful vegetarian “lasagna.” This dish was invented not only for her oldest daughter (the lone vegetarian in a household of meat lovers), but also so the whole family could enjoy more vegetarian meals.
The basis of great eggs Benedict is a perfect hollandaise sauce. When making it, keep the water at a bare simmer so that the egg yolks don't scramble.
We prefer steaming over boiling because it prevents fresh crab from becoming waterlogged—and adding ingredients such as herbs, garlic and citrus during cooking enhances the crustacean's natural sweetness.
I love brunch. This is my favourite meal by far, and I love the ease of having something like a quiche already prepared. The flavours are always richer and more enhanced after the quiche has had a chance to sit overnight as well, which is another benefit to advanced preparation. I thought about my favourite Canadian ingredients and it really has to include crab, chanterelles, and corn. There is just something about the sweetness of the crab, the burst in your mouth juiciness of corn, and the earthiness of sauteed chantrelles with garlic that is just plain perfect. The gouda I love is from Gort's Gouda in Salmon Arm B.C., where my mom lives. It's organic and is outstanding. While the crab and the chanterelles are definitely the bell ringers on this grocery bill, the other ingredients are low cost. I buy my crab and fresh B.C. chanterelles at my local Costco for under $25 combined, which makes it even more affordable. I made this with a potato crust as I can't eat gluten, but a pastry crust would work just as well. I'd pair this with a tangy raspberry hazelnut vinaigrette mixed with fresh, tender leafy greens to round out the meal.
To simplify dinner prep, bake and freeze these rolls in advance—if you can resist eating them fresh out of the oven. The secret to their divine texture is to use just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
Harissa, a paste made from crushed chilies, gives these North African-inspired lamb sausages their signature kick. Find boneless lamb shoulder and sausage casings at your butcher, and make sure the meat is chilled before you work with it. For easy prep, enlist a helper for filling the casings.
