Food

Asparagus and beans are a classic salad combo. We’ve kicked it up a notch with a zesty lemon dressing and served it with seared scallops dusted with smoked paprika for an added robust flavour. And for extra crunch? Scatter some crisped onions or shallots overtop, if you wish; these are easy to make, but also available in various local food stores.

This recipe is inspired from my love of Pajo’s Fish & Chips at the Rocky Point Marina in Port Moody, BC. This is such a special treat for our family, and it just feels good. However, rather than deep frying, I bake these and add lots of hemp seeds for the crust to make them extra rich in protein, fibre, and healthy fats. The trick to getting them crispy: brush the top layer with avocado oil. This allows the crust to bake crispy golden.

Your family won’t believe you prepared and served this all in the same pot. There are honestly no rules with paellas and you could easily sub in so many different vegetables or protein choices. Serve alongside a green tossed salad for a nourishing weeknight dinner.

These cookies are the heartiest, most complete, yet delicious cookies you will ever eat, no matter the name. It’s a cookie you can feel good about feeding your family (or snacking on yourself). I love cookies with lots of nuts and seeds, as they feel so satisfying. These cookies also freeze very well, so you might want to consider doubling your batch.

Elevate your mood this autumn and winter and dose up on Mother Nature’s prescription, using roots as medicine. Push your coffee to the side and enjoy this medicinal concoction instead. Sip yourself into a harmonious state of being.

Ease into the season with a comforting and healing dish that will awaken all senses. The sweet and savoury dressing featuring ashwagandha perfectly complements the exceptionally irresistible flavours of the roasted root vegetables, creating a robust, nutrient-dense explosion of taste that’s sure to satisfy most palates.

This hybrid of two classic comfort dishes—chili and mac ’n’ cheese—is sure to make you feel all cozy inside and turn any frowns upside down. And it’s all made in one pot to streamline prep and clean-up. You can swap out the ground beef for ground chicken or turkey. For a meat-free dish, try crumbled tempeh. And feel free to finish everything off with a dollop or two of sour cream.

This large-format dreamboat of a cookie (crispy on the edges, chewy in the middle) stars plenty of gooey dark chocolate, which can legitimately bring on feelings of calmness and perk up your mood. Cut this Zen-like pie into wedges and feel good about serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If needed, an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend can replace the spelt flour.

Grumpy and out of sorts? Reel in this fanciful meal. Research suggests that people who eat more fish are less at risk of suffering from major depressive disorder. It’s likely that the mega-healthy omega-3 fats as well as nutrients like vitamin D in swimmers such as salmon work to hardwire our brains for happiness. What’s more, eating quality carbs like quinoa can raise the production of “I rock” serotonin in your brain.

When it starts getting depressingly cold and dark outside, warm up to this next-level main dish salad that offers up a bounty of nutritional bell-ringers.

The flavours, the texture, the deliciously worth-it mess—simply put, few foods can put you in a better mood than tacos. In this Mediterranean-inspired twist on taco night, tortillas bring creamy hummus, juicy chicken meat, fresh tomato salsa, and a lively tahini-pepper sauce into a delicious embrace.

Here’s a classic Spanish recipe that lends itself well to ground bison or water buffalo. Bison is especially lean, so adding it to a sauce (such as in this recipe) gives it some extra moisture while providing a robust heartiness to the traditional picadillo.  

This delicious fall supper is a meal in a dish. It’s a spin-off from the traditional Italian osso buco version, but we’ve scaled it up using farm-fresh lamb shanks. Served with long-simmering diced veggies and some lovely Puy lentils, it’s an instant crowd pleaser. Bonus: as a cut of meat, lamb shanks are less expensive and boast oodles of healthy collagen. Cooked low and slow, the meat literally falls away from the bone in tender chunks.

(pictured with Noodle-less Pad Thai) This tasty peanut butter leaves a little tingle on the tongue thanks to a sprinkling of cayenne. While it makes an addictive PB&J, try adding it to a smoothie for a zippy kick or thin with a little hot water and use as a dip for vegetables.

(pictured with Cranberry and Pumpkin Seed Bars) Apple slices have a brand-new best friend in this earthy nut and seed butter. Feel free to substitute another nut, such as Brazil nuts or pecans, in place of almonds.

Tip

(pictured with Sweet Potato and Spinach Curry) This sunny-hued nut-free butter is one you’ll want to have on hand. It’s divine spread on vegetables or crackers and really adds something special when stirred into soups or stews. Try stirring in some add-ins such as chia seeds, hemp hearts, or flax meal for a crunchy nutritional boost to this nut-free butter.

Tip

The elegance of this appetizer lies in its simplicity. Sweet, salty, spicy, and slightly smoky, it’s everything you want to have while sipping a cocktail this holiday season.

This bright and zesty cocktail is the perfect accompaniment to the edamame appetizer. If you can’t find shiso leaves, a good substitute would be a combination of mint and basil. Tip: Shiso is part of the mint family of plants and can come in either purple-red or green colours. Shiso is described as having a citrusy and herbaceous flavour with hints of mint, basil, anise, and cinnamon. Pair with Edamame with Ginger Chili Dipping Sauce!  

These colourful and hearty bites are one of those great nibbles you’ll find yourself whipping up again and again. The beans and sweet potato both contain a great amount of fibre that helps you feel full and keep hunger at bay. Don’t be surprised if these disappear first at your next gathering. Pair with Yuzo Basil Ricky!

This refreshing cocktail is the perfect accompaniment to appetizers, as it wakes up and cleanses your palate after a couple of bites. Tip: Yuzu is a very fragrant citrus fruit from Japan with a flavour similar to a cross between a lime, grapefruit, and mandarin. You can find bottles of the juice in better grocery stores or specialty shops. A little bit of the intensely aromatic juice goes a long way, and leftover juice can be used anywhere a hit of acid is needed. Pair with Vegetable Caviar Sweet Potato Bites!

This not-too-sweet sparkling mocktail has a great herbaceous kick, thanks to the combination of rosemary and juniper. With this recipe, you’ll likely be left with more simple syrup than you’ll need. Any leftovers can be kept refrigerated for several weeks and are lovely stirred into a warming cup of cranberry tea. Tip: Should you have some guests who’d like an extra kick to their cocktail, a splash of vodka or white rum would also be nice here. Pair with Lemon and Olive Oil Baked Feta!

With just a few ingredients and a blast of heat, a standard block of feta cheese is transformed into an unexpectedly luscious and creamy spread for pita wedges and vegetables. Tip: As this appetizer sits at room temperature, it will eventually firm up again. A quick return to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes should soften it up once more. Pair with Rosemary and Clementine Sparkler!

This not-too-sweet cocktail or mocktail will be the toast of your holiday gathering. If you like your cocktail a little sweeter, consider rimming half the serving glass with a mixture of coconut sugar and cinnamon. Tip: For an equally delicious take on this mocktail, replace pears with apples. Pair with Salmon Salad Boats!

This recipe captures all the bright and fresh appeal of a salad in a pretty, portable bite. If you’d like to keep this appetizer vegetarian, simply forgo the salmon and stir in 1 1/2 cups (350 mL) cooked chickpeas or white beans. Pair with Pear and Thyme Fizz!