Food

There’s always a BBQ favourite in the menu, and cedar-planked it is. Almost anything grilled on a plank offers exemplary smokiness and added depth. This combination of sweet, hot, and savoury coupled with juice is the perfect flavouring for salmon. In fact, it’s an amazing marinade on most anything—try it with chicken or vegetables grilled on wood.

Here’s a refreshing beverage suited to everyone in the family. And it’s full of healthy fermentation and fresh fruits. We’ve married some basics with vanilla ice cream and a mildly flavoured kombucha. But the sky’s the limit with this fizzy float; combine your favourite kombucha and ice cream with any type of fruit for a sparkling way to nurture gut health.

From tempeh to organic chicken, this flexible grill selection offers delicious flavours to satisfy all palates. Marinating tempeh and organic chicken are the best prep options for a flavourful, juicy dish. Serving options include layered on a bun, in a bowl with greens, or on a bed of rice. The additional flavourful punch comes from the pickled veggies.

Rich, nutrient-packed avocados not only give this smoothie a smooth taste boost, but they also boast a load of good-for-you potassium, B vitamins, and magnesium—all important for women as they enter their sixties. And the banana, a smoothie staple, ups the quotient even further. TIPS:

• If you find this smoothie a bit rich or heavy, sip some, then refrigerate the rest for later. When ready for more, give it a great shake and sip away.
• Mix up the banana with mango or pineapple or another favourite fruit. Add a good quality unflavoured protein powder, available under various labels.

This stunning cheesecake is super easy to make and assemble. The pretty blue pea swirl is utterly unique. Just remember to soak raw cashews before using in the filling to create this sublimely creamy dessert.

Grilling flatbread on the barbecue adds a delicious smoky flavour. In this flatbread, we’ve combined strawberries with tomatoes. Imagine! The sweetness of both, coupled with tart green apple, is spectacular!

This beautiful “new” Niçoise salad has it all—instant attraction with colour, flavour, and buttery smoked salmon. Serve it with “jammy” cooked organic eggs, pickled red onion, and a lively dressing. You’ll wow even the most finicky of eaters.

There are countless variations on this delightful recipe. It’s also excellent served as a main dish: try tucking some grilled salmon or halloumi alongside and scattering some crumbled goats’ cheese overtop. Plenty of yum for everyone to enjoy!

This vibrant soup is not only beautiful, but also chock full of alkalizing spring detox ingredients. Serve hot in pretty bowls with an assortment of fresh garnishes. Alternatively, experiment by freezing spring flowers in ice cubes and serving soup cold in small, clear glasses topped with the attractive ice cubes.

“Food is such a tangible way to connect,” says Jennifer Lloyd-Karr. “When Haidee is in the kitchen and talking about beets or fennel from the farm, and people are experiencing that freshness, they’re always like, ‘WOW!’” The Seven Seasons of Stowel Lake Farm: Stories and Recipes that Nourish Community (Page Two Books, 2018) is a beautiful depiction of the strength and commitment of these four unique women—to their families, to the farm, and to each other. From harvest dinners and Thursday work parties to caring for animals and working in the fields, each experience offers a meaningful celebration of people working and living together on the land. “Explore life on the farm while learning some of the tips, tricks, secrets, and recipes acquired from years of work. Seven Seasons shares emotional lessons from community living and prioritizing family, including the importance of sharing gratitude, walks, and the celebration of life together.”

These pretty, gluten-free muffins are a great on-the-go breakfast or midday snack. The spottier and browner the bananas, the better for this recipe. That’s because very ripe bananas have a stronger banana flavor, making for a tastier muffin.

Chip in

This salad is a great way to welcome spring. Cha soba are buckwheat noodles that have matcha green tea added to them. They can be easily sourced next to the regular soba noodles in the Asian section of some grocery stores. To make this into a more substantial meal, serve topped with some slices of tempeh or tofu.

Crunch time

This show-stopping, make-ahead, no-bake cake is a grown-up version of a childhood favorite: ice cream cake. Sweet, creamy and refreshing, this is one recipe you’ll find yourself repeating through the year.

Piece of cake!

As women enter their fifties, there’s an increased need for vitamin D as well as omega-3s and potassium. With vitamin-rich salmon that’s also packed with healthy omega-3 fats and a colourful salad that offers a healthy serving of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, this meal is a powerhouse of nutrition—and flavour. TIP: Shichimi togarashi is a Japanese blend of seven spices that often includes red chili flakes, dried orange peel, white and black sesame seeds, nori (seaweed) flakes, poppy seeds, and ginger. Ingredients may vary in some brands.

It is truly amazing what you can do with a couple of cans of beans. Their versatility was unveiled to me when I visited a friend who had just returned from a trip to Sardinia; she told me about a meal she had enjoyed in a simple taverna on the beach one summer’s evening. She wanted to recreate it in her kitchen back in London with me, so we did—and I have to thank her for this magic recipe. Flageolet beans are a member of the haricot bean family; they are picked before the beans are ripe and retain their green color, and they are even more flavorful than a regular cannellini or haricot bean. You can buy them pre-cooked in cans in most grocery stores, or you can substitute with butter beans or any other white bean you like.

You’ll be amazed at how much this nut “cheese” tastes just like a soft cheddar. Although it may seem like a bit of work to make the cheese, I have really come to appreciate the art of making nut cheeses, and I recommend giving it a go. Serve this dish for a dinner party starter or as a simple weekday lunch. This soup is suitable for simplicity or celebration.

Many women are leaning into motherhood in their thirties, when increased levels of folate are needed. In this recipe, dark leafy vegetables coupled with asparagus and artichokes add an über-healthy hit of folate. Not only is this bouquet lovely to look at, but it also offers a combination of flavours that virtually pop in your palate. DID YOU KNOW? Folate is a B vitamin naturally present in many foods and is essential for forming healthy DNA and other genetic materials. It’s especially important for pregnant women to facilitate the healthy division of cells. TIP: There are many foods naturally rich in folate that would be delicious with the Smoked Rosy Tahini Dressing. All dark leafy vegetables, Brussels sprouts, various nuts, black-eyed peas, and kidney beans are excellent sources of folate and would be a delicious substitute for the greens in the Asparagus Bouquet Salad.  

This may seem totally self-indulgent and just a reason to eat chocolate at breakfast, but to be honest, it’s the perfect time of the day for chocolate—or rather, its source, raw cacao. The caffeine in cacao gives you a natural high, and having caffeine at this time of day won’t disrupt your sleep patterns. It helps to boost your energy for the day ahead, so jump right into this porridge knowing your chocolate cravings will be satisfied and your circadian rhythm healthily maintained.

This is a tonic to your body and an awakening signal to your third-eye chakra. Enjoy this elixir before your breakfast.

Adolescent girls and young women have an increased need for iron-rich foods. And enhancing vitamin C consumption is essential for optimal iron absorption. Our iron-rich pasta dish is a simple and tasty dish that scores on all levels. With the combination of tomatoes, clams, and parsley, it’s the perfect marriage for an iron-clad, vitamin C meal.

When a meal is this colourful, easy to prepare, and eminently adaptable, how could it not be the best lunch ever? Women in their midlife and beyond need increased levels of vitamin B12. These delicious spreads build the foundations for colourful, nutritional toppings that fill your meal with vitamin B12 benefits. DID YOU KNOW? Many health professionals will advise taking a supplement to be sure vitamin B needs are met—particularly for vegetarians or vegans.

This lovely spread is perfect with cheese, figs, and olives. Spread on crisp crackers or toasted baguette. The surprise pairing is seafood: top that baguette slice with Maple Apple Pear Butter, a grilled prawn, and crumbled goat cheese, and it’s a winner of an appetizer!

Tip

Pesto is delicious and often paired with pasta. But there are many other tasty ideas. Drizzle pesto over oven-roasted vegetables, swirl in a soup, or spread over bread and layer with sandwich toppings. We’ve compiled this insanely delicious pesto and drizzled it over a salad, then topped it with a poached egg, halloumi, or tempeh. The secret to this great pesto is in the nutrient-rich kale stems.

Tip

This burger is the perfect antidote to a mega appetite. This is absolutely delicious shaped into 6 good-sized burgers or rolled into small balls, baked, and served on toasted buns, over rice, or as appetizers.

Tip