Food

A whisper of cacao adds an enticing element to this Moroccan-inspired one-pan dinner. It’s a great dish when entertaining or simply feeding a hungry family. Try serving with whole-grain couscous or freekeh. If harissa paste is not available for the marinade, you can replace it with paprika.

Big bird

Who says fruit crisp has to bake in the oven and make enough to feed a crowd? Simply zap some classic crisp ingredients in the microwave and you have a “just for me” divine dessert in five minutes flat. A petit scoop of vanilla ice cream can only make it better. Or, top with a few dollops of yogurt and call it breakfast! You can also use a pear instead of apple and dried currants in lieu of cranberries.

Tip

As daylight hours diminish during the winter, you can better stay on top of your vitamin D stores by building a meal around these delightful fish cakes. Canned wild salmon, especially the sockeye variety, is an inexpensive and versatile source of immune-friendly vitamin D and omega-3 fats. The fetching beet sauce makes this easy, breezy recipe seem extra fanciful. Consider garnishing with a generous sprinkling of chopped chives.

Tip

It took me a while to warm up to collard greens. The recipe that turned me around was surprisingly simple: using raw or gently steamed collard leaves as an easy, nutritious wrap. In this version, collard leaves are stuffed with freekeh, lentils, currants and toasted pine nuts. The filling is spiked with za’atar, a vibrant Mediterranean spice blend of oregano, cumin, sumac and sesame. I like to serve them with a creamy pomegranate dressing. Note that the recipe calls for 10 collard leaves; you’ll only use eight of them, but it’s a good idea to prepare a couple of extra ones in case any split or fall apart during cooking or rolling.  

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

A hot bath of spiced red wine gently cooks seasonal pears into a tender, glimmering fruit dessert fit for any crowd. Baking tip: Testing for doneness

• In desserts using firm fruit, such as pears and apples, insert tip of paring knife into centre of fruit; it should easily yield with little force.
• In cakes and quick breads, a toothpick inserted in the centre should come out clean.
• In brownies and squares, a few damp crumbs clinging to the inserted toothpick is what you’re after.

Make the dressing first ... it’s a cooked one. Vary the recipe by adding arugula or other greens, but it definitely requires the sturdiness of kale to stand up. You can use thawed frozen peas or even chopped fresh snap peas, but if you use your own homegrown freshly shelled peas, look out—you might just perish from pleasure. Choose Cambozola or Roquefort or a “mild gorgonzola”—an oxymoron? If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, substitute goat cheese. Reprinted with permission from The Book of Kale & Friends: 14 Easy-to-Grow Superfoods, 130+ Recipes by Sharon Hanna and Carol Pope (Douglas & McIntyre).      

For many, nothing is more comforting than the smell of garlicky baked pasta. Cheese is replaced with high-protein tofu and fibre-rich white beans, working to keep those energy levels stable, without skimping out on that trademark “cheesy” taste.

Tart cranberries, spicy jalapenos, and whole kernels of corn make an intriguing combination in these hearty plant-based cornbread muffins. Find most of the ingredients in your cupboard or freezer, and bake up these showstoppers in just over half an hour. Their individual format is perfect for sharing at a family dinner.

We grow many things well on our farm, but sweet potatoes are not one of them—our growing season is too short. So instead, we rely on farmers in much warmer climates to do it for us. Nonetheless they are a nutritional powerhouse, and one of my favorite vegetables. Baking is my preferred way to cook them. We do grow lots of fragrant cilantro, and through life-cycle harvesting we enjoy its aromatic leaves, green coriander seeds, and lacy white flowers. The pesto brings together lots of citrusy cilantro leaves and bright balancing flavors in a tasty condiment ready to complete a deliciously baked sweet potato.

Kick up your lunch routine with these open-faced sandwiches that feature fetching stacked colour contrasts. More proof that basil and tomato are a dynamic duo. Eating toast was never so exciting.

Dry Matter

While the GAPS diet doesn’t recommend combining fruit with other foods, a cup of halved grapes (either raw or roasted with the cauliflower) adds a comfortingly sweet and juicy touch that goes a long way toward balancing the lemony vinaigrette. Use as much nose-tickling ginger and anti-inflammatory turmeric as you like.

Diet alterations

Root veggies are coming on strong at this time of year. And the brighter the colours, the richer the nutrients. No matter where you live, you’ll find local root vegetables that are perfect for this colourful medley. We’ve chosen roots available in our region, but any root will do. Our selection of roots can be prepared any which way—raw, cooked, or roasted. Can’t find fresh burrata? Burrata (Italian for “butter”) is a semi-soft Italian cheese. Its outer curd—mozzarella cheese formed into a pouch—encases soft, stringy curd and fresh cream that has a milky, buttery flavour. If burrata is not available, substitute crumbled goat cheese or feta.

I love this dish for its great flavour, but also for its visual impact on the table. It is a perfect example of the senses working in union. You can’t hide the wonderful visual effect of the dish and then the joy of eating the textural contrast between the pieces of beetroot and the smooth yogurt. The chili provides a background lift, while the toasted caraway provides a second tier of bready flavour over the beetroot’s earthy sweetness. Carrot and Lime Leaf Kebabs and Beetroot and Coconut Dip recipes were extracted from Cooking for the Senses: Vegan Neurogastronomy by Jennifer Peace Rhind and Gregor Law, published by Singing Dragon. Order your copy at singingdragon.com.

Fairly mild in flavour and sturdy enough to hold plenty of fillings, collard greens are a fresh alternative to flour-based wraps. Roll them up with this verdant hummus and protein-packed chicken and you’ve got a hand-held midday meal that will be the star of the office. If you have some microgreens on hand, go ahead and toss those into the fold. For a vegetarian dish, swap out the chicken for slices of smoked tofu.

Tip

“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!

Umami-rich black garlic is the darling of this savoury fall dish. If it’s your first time cooking with black garlic, you won’t be disappointed. Sweet yet earthy, the sticky properties of fermented garlic add depth and datelike sweetness to the lightly seasoned lentils.

Tips

• Substitute oven-roasted regular garlic cloves for black garlic, if you wish. It’s not quite the same effect, but roasted cloves will add a subtle sweetness to the dish.
• Black garlic’s datelike flavour and sticky texture is also unique combined with chocolate. Dip individual fermented black cloves into melted chocolate and set aside to harden. Savour like a delicious chocolate truffle.

The sweet-tart warm blueberry dressing is a wonderful counterpoint to the earthy elements of this simple yet satisfying salad. All the cooked elements of this salad—berry dressing, chicken, and farro—can be prepared ahead of time and then assembled for a quick weeknight meal. If farro is not available, other grains, including spelt berries, sorghum, or quinoa, can be used.

Licorice-flavoured fennel, tart apple, and a hint of pleasant bitterness from radicchio combines with a touch of sweet dressing for a refreshingly delicious salad. Fennel contains a number of vitamins and minerals known to be involved in digestion, including vitamin C, manganese, and niacin which helps transform the food you eat into energy. Apple adds sweet crunch and all-important fibre.

Make no mistake, meaty grilled tofu, sweet flame-licked salsa, and chunks of crispy sweet potato make for a meal prepared in the great outdoors that puts the yum in plant-based eating. 

This recipe is something of a classic; it’s so easy to make. But this version introduces a little extra zing for when the season revs up and all you want to do is curl up in front of the fire for a cozy eve. All it takes is one pot for cooking and a single bowl to toss with remaining ingredients. It doesn’t get much easier than that. The gremolata gives it that zesty, zingy punch.

The best aromatic flavours come from the freshest ingredients. When cooking Italian, look for fresh vine-ripened tomatoes and good quality olive oil.

Which beans are best?

With the stealth addition of legume-based noodles you can fret less about pasta night when it comes to blood sugar control. Even more so when you beef up the dish with tender-roasted broccoli. A drizzle of nutty-tasting brown butter makes the whole dish seem extra special. From penne to shells, nearly any shaped pasta works here. Wash cycle  For traditional wheat-based pasta varieties, drain well after cooking but do not rinse with water. The rules change with legume-based noodles, including chickpea, which require a post-drain rinse to remove excess starch and reduce clumping.  

Filling up on green foods is an excellent way to boost your immunity. In our soup that’s chock full of brilliant antioxidant-loaded vegetables and nutrients, a hit of fiery cayenne is just the ticket to warm you from the inside out. Super for flu season. Easy to sip if you’re feeling congested and under the weather. Plus, it’s easy to digest. Trouble finding coconut aminos or nectar?  Substitute with low-sodium tamari sauce or a hit of miso for that umami-enhanced flavour. Meal-in-a-bowl  If you’re longing to make this soup a meal in a bowl, add some diced firm tofu along with cooked rice or barley. Or stir in some cannellini beans for additional satisfaction.