Food

4 - 4 oz (125 g) salmon filets, skinless and boneless

Try this delicious disease-fighting indulgence.

For these classic hors d’oeuvres, blend hardboiled egg yolks with the traditional ingredients of a romesco sauce: piquillo peppers, sherry vinegar, and hazelnuts. The result is a mild and creamy two-bite wonder with just a hint of smoky spice. They make a perfect brunch appetizer or light snack to keep Mom going. Make them pretty by piling the filling high and garnishing with piquillo pepper slices, hazelnuts, and capers. Deliver them to her while she reads her favourite book.

Prepping the night before makes this the perfect brunch recipe for Christmas morning. Immune-enhancing oregano may help ward off colds.

(pictured with Cookie Dough Hummus, right)

Seitan is perfect for vegetarian kebabs—it’s firm enough to withstand barbecuing or grilling and absorbs the flavours of this scrumptious marinade.

Pizza is ideal for the lunch box as you can use any combination of vegetables you know your kids will like in order to slip in some veggie servings. To add protein, try using veggie salami slices, or add pineapple tidbits for a little sweetness. For the healthiest pizza, buy in bulk and freeze whole grain pizza crusts, made from whole wheat or spelt flour. Freeze and use as required. Children are more likely to eat something they helped prepare, so share the pizza building at dinner the night before. The next day, use cookie cutters to cut cold pizza into shapes for the lunch box.

Delicious and filling, these no-fuss calzones have a gooey filling healthified with protein-rich tofu and nutrient-dense frozen spinach. They are transportable, so consider bringing them to the office for lunches. Purchased pizza dough simplifies the process, but you can also use your favourite homemade pizza dough recipe.

These mini cups are sure to bring a little whimsy to the appetizer spread. Chipotle peppers lend some smoky heat, with the sour cream providing cooling relief for anyone in need. You can also use chopped pickled jalapenos in lieu of the chipotles if desired. Cooked turkey can be a good alternative to chicken. And consider gathering up the extra tortilla bits, brushing them with oil, seasoning as you wish (try za’atar), and then toasting in the oven. They make a good sidekick to dips.

Forget the tin of cookies; this bark will truly bring holiday joy. Adding in the coffee serves to heighten the chocolate goodness. The bark can be made one week ahead of time if kept chilled.

Quinoa Burgers

This dessert packs a punch! Chickpeas replace flour, making this a gluten-free option. They’re also a flavour carrier—letting the peanut and coconut flavours shine through while keeping the bars moist.

This salad is as flexible as your taste in cheese and can be varied accordingly. However, goat cheese is richly flavourful, more easily digested than traditional dairy, and widely available.

A muffaletta is a sub-style sandwich stuffed into a round loaf. Typically it’s loaded with deli meat, but this version takes advantage of fresh summer tomatoes, sweet roasted peppers, marinated artichokes, and loads of kale. The secret to the sandwich is the olive spread: this is the main flavour base so it needs to pack big, bold flavour. For best results, use a mix of black and green olives with a hint of garlic.

Green pea flour is one of the latest options in the burgeoning gluten-free flour category. It can add an earthy element and a splash of colour to pancakes, cookies, and savoury muffins. If you can’t find the flour at a store near you, try making your own by blending dried split green peas into a very fine powder in a food processor, spice grinder, or high-powered blender. These muffins are best served warm with a wisp of butter.

Serves 10

This smoky hot sauce is perfect for friends and family members who like a little spice in their life and who are probably burnt out, so to speak, with the onslaught of holiday cookies and cakes. It’s excellent when stirred into yogurt or sour cream for use in tacos, on meats, or as a dip. Dried chili options include ancho, chipotle, morita, guajillo, or pasilla. Try to use at least two different ones to give the hot sauce plenty of flavour nuances. Ancho peppers tend to be the mildest of the bunch. The hot sauce will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Ginger Lover's Spice Bars

This recipe is for kids of all ages. You can replace the cilantro with a handful of spinach, arugula, or lettuce. To save time, you can buy unsalted, roasted sunflower seeds, but the flavour won’t be as fresh. Extra sunflower butter will keep for up to three months in the fridge.

This gluten-free pumpkin roll is so delicious, no one will suspect that it does not contain wheat flour.

When it comes to topping pizzas, do as the Italians do and keep it simple. Though adorned with nothing more than tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic, and fresh herbs, the enduring quality of this pizza resides in its perfect interplay of clean and simple flavours.

This gluten-free pumpkin roll is so delicious, no one will suspect that it does not contain wheat flour.

Loaded with seasonal vegetables, frittatas are one of those great comfort foods that can be enjoyed all day long as either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Once cooked, this frittata may be portioned and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days, ready to make a quick grab-and-go meal or after-school snack.

Makes 10 to 12 servings