Chile Rellenos

A bit time-consuming, but worth the effort, these cheese-stuffed and fried peppers are a Mexican staple. Fresh poblano peppers are mildly hot and darker green with more tapered tips than sweet green peppers. If they are unavailable or if you want a milder version, use small sweet red or yellow peppers.

Salmon Pasta Salad for Four

This speedy dish is ready in the time it takes to cook the pasta.

Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

This salad is simple to assemble for a quick family meal.

Stilton Cheescake with Walnut Crust

Rumpot

This mix of fruit preserved in rum is a fabulous way to enjoy summer fruits right through the winter spooned over ice cream or pancakes. Begin preparing the mixture when strawberries are in season and add seasonal fruit right into fall. Each addition should be about 1 lb (500 g) of prepared fruit. To have the Rumtopf ready by December, make the last addition by the first week of October.

Strawberry Rhubarb Tart

When you're 131 years old, there has to be a pretty special dish to match the celebration. Here it is — fresh strawberries fanned over a tangy rhubarb sauce in a buttery shortbread pat-in pastry. Extra maple leaves set off Canada's favourite summer combo of rhubarb and berries. Better than a birthday cake any day!

Dot's Lobster Dip

Melted butter and lemon are classic with lobster, but cooked sauce has its fans. Dot Toombs of Kensington makes this fine, sweet one.

Cappuccino Martini

Serve this creamy martini after dinner as an alternative to the usual coffee and cake. If available, Starbucks Coffee Liqueur is the choice of the Test Kitchen.

Smoked Cheese Risotto

This comforting cheese risotto is a thoughtful way to accommodate vegetarians at the dinner table. This version includes 27 per cent of your recommended daily intake of calcium!

Grilled Chicken and Caramelized Vegetable Strudels

Diane Ward of Calgary likes to garnish with both a sprinkle and sprig of fresh thyme. A spinach salad is her preferred side dish.