Food

Lentils are so versatile that they can play a starring role in a wide variety of dishes. With this recipe, they can be considered a main course, since the recipe contains a delicious combination of ingredients that fills all the requirements for a balanced dish. Tip: We chose red Russian garlic for this recipe because it has big, juicy cloves. But any fresh garlic will do. Every region has their specialty cultivars.

Apple cider vinegar is easy to buy for a small price. But making your own is even easier. If you buy organic fruits, the skins are perfectly safe to eat. We’ve got a few ideas for using up your fruit peelings, which might just help neutralize your global footprint, but we’ll start with healthy and fermented vinegar. We can sip apple cider vinegar diluted with water to start every day, but there are hundreds of other wonderful ways it can be used.

Cauliflower has been having a moment lately, and this salad proves exactly why. Tender caramelized cauliflower is crowned in a glorious sweet and savoury crumble that will ensure it a place on your table all month long. Of all tree nuts, pecans have the highest concentration of flavonoids, which offer beneficial anti-inflammatory effects, and they also protect your cells from oxidative damage.

For many of us, turkey is a comfort food that recalls happy memories. This stew is one that is comforting both to make and to eat. Simmered slowly over a few hours, turkey drumsticks deliver rich flavour as well as a huge punch of protein. Tarragon gives it a fresh, bright pop of flavour that balances the earthy richness of the stew.

These mildly spiced salmon tacos served with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds will bring a party together. Make a small quantity of salmon go further when you pair it with a fresh red cabbage slaw featuring citrus and cilantro. Drizzled with some bright lime yogurt, the flavours come together perfectly.

This moist plant-based cake, featuring flavours of orange and thyme, is punctuated by tart cranberries. Cranberries have long been known as a superfood with many health benefits, but in recent research cranberries have demonstrated an association with lower blood pressure, better cholesterol profiles, and with the management of other cardiovascular risk factors such as a high body mass index (BMI).

Try something new with roasted lemons and garlic. With whole lemons (you can eat the peel and the fruit in its entirety) and garlic, a high-temperature roast mellows out any harshness, so don’t fear the amount. You’ll be making this sophisticated, winterized take on Caesar salad every week thanks to its ease of preparation and clean-up.

Roasting technique

Packed with crunchy energy, trail mix has long been a favourite fuel source among those who like to get fit in the great outdoors. These downsized muffins have all the cherished flavours of trail mix without any of the loose parts. Also great for everyday snacking and road trips. Go ahead and sneak some mini chocolate chips into the batter mix if you’re among the masses that fancy a little chocolate goodness in their trail mix.

Ahead of the game

Buttery fettuccine noodles, dubbed “alfredo,” laced with Parmesan and butter have been a fixture in Italian cuisine since 1914. Over the years, it became popular in America and increasingly richer with the addition of cream and eggs. Today, there’s a reversal stirring as people search for plant alternatives to rich, creamy dishes without compromising flavour. Enter a truly vegan pasta chock full of creamy garlicky flavour. The silky smooth tofu sauce coupled with garlic and cashew cheese is a delicious vegan alternative with the rich essence of traditional alfredo pasta.

Tip

Once you see the vibrant colour and taste the sweetness that beet powder lends to vinaigrette, you’ll be left wondering why you haven’t been adding it to your dressings all along. The sweet, tangy vinaigrette marries well with all the creamy, meaty, and crunchy elements of this fanciful salad. Keep the crisp  No one likes finding a slimy mess in the crisper. The best way to prolong the life and crispiness of your delicate salad greens is by storing them in a container (not a plastic bag) lined with damp—not dripping wet—paper towels. Top greens with another damp paper towel, which will soak up the excess moisture that leads to spoilage, and seal shut. Storing the container in the crisper will protect your greens from being exposed to too much air.    

Just as lavender grows alongside thyme and rosemary, it is often included with these herbs in the French dried herb mix called herbes de Provence, a classic seasoning for lamb. This recipe gets a double dose of lavender by using it first in a similarly inspired fresh herb rub to season lamb prior to cooking and then with the addition of a blueberry jus amped up with fragrant lavender. Dried lavender works best in this recipe; find it in your local specialty grocery and make sure to look for products marked “culinary grade.”

“One of my favourite stir-fry meals is broccoli beef, so when I found myself with several hundred pounds of Yukon Mountain caribou this past fall, I figured a ’bou backstrap [see] would be an excellent game replacement,” says Cosco. “Paired with a side of rice, this quick game meal is ready to go.” Note to those afraid of cranking the heat: “The pan needs to be ripping hot to give an immediate sear,” says Cosco. Take a deep breath, and go for it. 

Toast for dinner? Certainly, when it’s the base for a dish reminiscent of comforting chicken pot pie that comes with an umami-laced gravy of your dreams. Miso’s concentrated umami flavour (and versatility) means you just need a little bit to boost sauces, salad dressings, and soup broths. The gravy is also wonderful strewn over roasted potatoes.

Sweet mango and zippy mint add an extra punch of flavour to this guacamole-inspired dip. Avocados, which are the backbone of guacamole, contain a good amount of healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which help boost metabolism and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

This delicious twist on classic banana bread, packed with whole-food goodness―and gluten free to boot—is sure to become a lunchbox staple. The use of buckwheat flour adds a subtly earthy flavour that perfectly complements the natural sweetness provided by the ripe bananas.

Serves 4

The steaks of the vegetable world known as portobello mushrooms add meaty bite to this rice bowl, while the sweetness of the maple syrup and the creaminess of the ricotta are wonderful counterpoints to the wild rice and other earthy ingredients.

This bread (which has an unexpected sweetness thanks to the grapes) is a delicious combination of sweet grapes and savoury rosemary. Feel free to substitute any toppings you like, such as green and black olives, mixed herbs, or just a sprinkle of sea salt.

Quinoa is not only high in protein, but also a complete protein that includes all nine essential amino acids. The pomegranate arils are a powerhouse source of antioxidants, fibre, and vitamins C and K.

The ginger in this juice helps put a little pep in your step! Ginger is high in antioxidants and has been shown to be more potent than vitamin E. It helps fight cancer and is also a remedy for nausea. The garlic is also a potent ingredient, but you may want to reduce the amount used. Even half a clove will help boost immunity.

This creamy green drink packed with antioxidants only tastes like dessert.

Here’s proof that hummus can take on many personalities, and this unexpected dessert version is a tasty filling for stuffed dates, resulting in sweet and creamy portable rocket fuel. Extra hummus is a great dip for fresh fruit.

Watch the clock