Food

Cooking the salmon and vegetables en papillote (French parlance for something cooked and served in a paper wrapper) traps steam to add moisture and guarantees you’ll be relishing perfectly tender veggies and melt-in-your-mouth fish. Finishing it off with a sweet-savoury blackberry sauce adds a surprise element to the dish that makes it oh-so-summery.

Nutrition boost

The unique mix of sweet-fiery berry sauce, meaty chicken, oozy brie, and peppery arugula makes this a grilled cheese worthy of grown-up tastes. Make it the star of lunch, or pair with a salad for a quick summer dinner.

Nutrition boost

A quick trip through the blender serves to mingle a riot of fresh flavours, which is why the cold soup known as gazpacho is always a delicious way to beat the heat. This riff on the Spanish soup includes raspberries for a touch of sweetness, while the chunky topping adds contrasting texture.

Tip

Blueberries add an unexpected jolt of fresh berry flavour to cornbread, making each bite that much more satisfying. By breaking out the muffin pan, you’ve got a bounty of preportioned cornbreads to make mealtime that much more of a breeze. Don’t forget to keep the soft butter handy. The cornbreads are best served warm—reheat them in the oven or microwave. If following a gluten-free diet, you can replace the whole wheat flour with an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend.

Nutrition boost

Not just vegetables, but berries can also be pickled, which gives this salsa a sweet, vinegary tang. When paired with easy-to-grill pork tenderloin and avocado crema you’ve got a taco night that is worthy of gathering a foodie crowd. If using larger strawberries as part of your berry mix, slice them in half before adding them to the pickling brine.

No pork? No problem

Citrusy and bursting with sunshine appeal, this nonalcoholic, kombucha cocktail based on a famous Italian spritz will please pretty much everyone. Make sure ingredients are fridge-cold before beginning.

Tip

Kebab is a general term that can apply to various types of Middle Eastern grilled meats. In America, we’re most familiar with shish kebab: small pieces of meat that are skewered and grilled. But beef and lamb come with a high eco-footprint (especially when the animals eat grass, resulting in higher methane emissions). This smoky kebab recipe uses easy homemade seitan instead, to cut down on emissions. Topped with peanut sauce and served with fresh lime and herbs, it’s a deliciously smoky and more sustainable way to enjoy this tasty dish.

Jerk is a style of Jamaican cooking that involves a super-hot spice mixture and (usually) meat. But what’s a guy or gal to do if you want that same fiery flavor without the environmental problems that often accompany meat production? Well, bring on the jackfruits! This fruit, when marinated and shredded, mimics the taste and texture of pulled pork. So this recipe offers a real culinary mash-up of ingredients—tropical fruit with Caribbean meat spices in a Mexican tortilla. You’ll never think of fruit the same way again!      

“Falagers” is the nickname we gave to falafels made from legumes soaked in lager beer before cooking. Making them from scratch is a bit of a give-and-take game. Too wet, add flour. Too dry, add more water or oil. It’s all about a feeling and making sure the mixture holds together while still staying moist. Want a heartier serving? Shape the falager mixture into burger-sized patties and, once baked, tuck each patty into a toasted bun, pita bread or lettuce wrap with avocado slices, creamy hummus and Smoky Tomato Sauce. As for any leftover Smoky Tomato Sauce, it’s delicious with pasta!

This light and dreamy dessert is a tasty alternative to authentic Italian tiramisu. Not too sweet and made with cashew cream, it’s a contemporary version of an old favorite. This version does not include the espresso commonly found in tiramisu. Instead, it’s made with a coffee- and chocolate-flavored stout. Um, YES. It also gives the option of biscotti instead of ladyfingers, but if you’d prefer to stick more closely to tradition, there are plenty of vegan ladyfinger recipes online! Soaking cashews in water draws out their phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors. This makes for creamier results and makes nuts easier to digest. Be sure to discard the cashew soaking liquid.

Here’s a quick party idea that won’t have you busy entertaining all day—breakfast pizza. Basically, it’s a healthy pancake with a nutrient-rich array of colour. Invite kids for a morning breakfast or brunch event, and they can personalize their own socca with fruit arranged in funny faces or rainbows.

Tip

What kid doesn’t love Mexican food—especially tacos? They’re fun; they’re colourful; and kids can choose from an assortment of tasty ingredients to make them unique to themselves. While some kids might just stick with sauce and cheese, others may be more adventurous and opt for all the colours.

Tip

These individual muffin cup pizzas fill all the holes, pardon the pun. All that’s needed are 12 little baked cups that kids can fill with healthy ingredients. From creamy hummus to guacamole and simple marinara, the real fun is in squeezing the ingredients from a collection of squeeze tubes. No fuss, no muss … though no guarantees.

Tip

Barbecued pizzas have a flavourful authenticity. They’re a perfect base for any toppings, especially when made even more flavourful with this delicious, freshly made pizza sauce and a cashew parmesan.

Tips

• If barbecuing a gluten-free crust, it’s best grilled in a pizza pan on the grill rather than directly on the burner. Its lack of gluten makes for a crispier base when baked or barbecued.
• Barbecued pizza crust is equally delicious rolled into a large rectangle and spread with pesto and a smattering of cashew cheese. Bake and cut into fingers.

When cooking with kids, simple is best. And nothing is simpler than letting a food processor do the work. Buzz up pizza dough in seconds and set aside to rise. Then roll and pre-bake. Let the little ones choose and apply their toppings, and then pop their little pizzas back into the oven to heat. Easy-peasy.

The best thing about scooping your pancake batter into a muffin tin instead of a skillet is that these little gems will be ready to go for harried mornings—and you don’t have to man the stove to flip your flapjacks. Plus, they’re completely portable. The duo of sweet potato and blueberries provides plenty of natural sweetness. Eat them on the go or reheat and serve topped with a drizzle of maple syrup or a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Tip

Mac and cheese will always be a kid favourite, but it’s often a nutritional dud. These individual-sized portions of creamy, cheesy pasta goodness are the perfect solution to satiate the cravings of all generations of a household. Tuna adds some hunger-quelling protein while the vegetables up the nutritional ante. And the crispy topping makes them a guaranteed hit. These can be enjoyed warm with a fork and knife or at room temperature as hand-to-mouth, on-the-go nourishment.

Who says you need a bowl and spoon to eat chili? These adorable chili muffins are sure to please all taste buds in a family. Beyond hectic weeknight dinners, they’re also perfect for lunchboxes, potlucks, and to energize any after-school event. Each can be served with a dollop of sour cream.  

Meatloaf is a perennial favourite among younger generations at the table. And the best thing about baking up a batch of individual meatloaves is that they cook in half the time they would take if prepared in a larger loaf pan. These are deliciously moist and easily frozen for quick dinners later on. Look for a barbecue sauce without sugar as a primary ingredient. If desired, ground turkey or chicken can replace the beef.

Tip

Breaking up a whole frittata into individual parts slashes cooking time, allows the egg cakes to be easily movable from the kitchen, and makes for an undeniably cute presentation. These can be served warm or at room temperature.

Hot stuff

These homemade power snacks that require neither a laundry list of ingredients nor an oven can be whipped up in a flash. This flavor combo of coconut, coffee, chocolate and banana makes the everyday snack feel a bit more grown up.

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Bright, inviting citrus punctuates creamy dairy-free coconut yogurt imbued with vanilla. It’s a sophisticated treat that can be dialed up in presentation or kept rustic, retaining its homespun vibe.

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