Food

The flavour is in the dice. The smaller the dice, the more exacting the flavour. In this tasty concoction, the gentle sautéing of the finely diced vegetables, also known as soffritto, coupled with a splash of white wine and fresh herbs is just the base needed to carry this lovely vegan dish to flavourful heights.

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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!

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Full of holiday cheer, this Trifle Smoothie Bowl brings all the flavour of a decadent holiday trifle to your breakfast table. A superb source of vitamin C, cranberries are a powerful antioxidant-rich food that may help block some damage caused by free radicals in the body.

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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!

Pretty tough to beat this delicious vegan steak. Cauliflower lends itself to so many flavours. We’ve paired our vegan cauliflower steak with a South American twist—chimichurri sauce. The combination of flavours coupled with the beautiful green sauce is perfect for the season.

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Not just for sandwiches, microgreens can also instantly punch up the flavour of tacos. For a horseradish-like kick, opt for mustard greens, or for a splash of cheery colour, scatter on mini-sized red daikon radish. This hand-held meal serves up a festival of great textures and comes together so quickly it’s a definite candidate for the most harried of weeknights. For more authentic taco flavour, seek out Mexican-style tortillas made with no more than masa (corn flour), lime, and salt.

Desserts don’t need to be complicated. Especially when made with sweet pineapple, and the riper the better. There’s something inherently good for everyone in this juicy fruit, including its support for brain health. Among its healthy components, pineapple contains potassium and folate, which is linked to increasing blood flow to the brain.

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Juicy berries and rhubarb pair with toasty oats and almonds for a beauty-giving beginning to your day, with skin-loving vitamins C and E, as well as detoxifying fibre. A one-dish solution to busy mornings, it’s fruit and granola in a single delicious bake. To serve, a scoop of your favourite yogurt or splash of kefir would take this to the next level.

When it comes to tofu, people fall into two camps: “more please” or “meh.” Maple syrup is a surprising way to transform a tofu basher into a tofu lover. Tofu is a good source of low-fat protein, while spinach adds a splash of colour and plenty of vitamin K.

For as long as I can remember, cheesecake has been my most favorite dessert ever. So, when I decided to go vegan, one of the first things I wanted to experiment with was a dairy-free cheesecake. I’ve tried using tofu, plant-based cream cheese, and other interesting ingredients . . . but a cashew base is just perfectly rich and creamy. These squares are filled with delicious nostalgia and could definitely compete with your traditional cheesecake.

Something happens when you grill lettuce: it gets deliciously smoky and earthy. Little gems are a miniature variety of romaine, and because of their small size, they’re perfect for this dish. If you can’t find them, don’t hesitate to use romaine hearts. The Spanish-inspired dressing flavours of sherry vinegar and sweet paprika enhance the smokiness provided by the grilled lettuce. Finish it off with a bright splash of orange zest and crunchy walnuts.

Use a food processor for speedy prep. Puréeing the onions and tomatoes with spices helps the flavours blend faster, which means cooking time is slashed.      

There’s no need to rely on store-bought—making your own cracked grain warm cereal is a cinch. This version will start your day off with plenty of fibre to keep you feeling satisfied all morning long. As they rehydrate, the apple chips infuse the porridge with natural sweetness. You can also top the cooked cereal with a drizzle of maple syrup or add a few splashes of warm milk.

Raise a toast

Lightly sweetened velvety Greek yogurt is studded with a crunchy topping reminiscent of trail mix and then frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). Crisp, creamy, and barely sweet, this colourful and whimsical snack (or healthy dessert) is perfect for kids and adults alike and sure to become a summer staple. For the creamiest bark possible, with fewer ice crystals, avoid using fat-free yogurt. Acting as a blank canvas, this yogurt bark can take on any flavour profiles you fancy. Choose to use whatever nuts and dried fruit you please. Sun-splashed fresh berries also work as a topping, and you can swap out the honey for maple syrup.

Adding a subtle fresh-from-the-sea flavour, think of kombu as slaw’s secret weapon. British researchers showed that alginate—a unique fibre present in forms of sea kelp such as kombu—may reduce fat absorption in the body. Quinoa provides quality carbs, sweet-tart apples add a counterpoint to earthy veggies, and the orange dressing is here for a splash of brightness.

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Rosy red for heart health—is there anything more visual and heart friendly than beets? They’re stunningly beautiful on a plate all by themselves, and they add amazing colour to a beverage. In this spread, they’re a rosy, healthy topper. Coupled with almond butter, they’re creamy and delicious with a splash of maple syrup. Use Sweet Beet Butter Spread in appetizers, desserts, and even for breakfast.

Wine pairing

Like other nuts and seeds, sesame seeds are known for containing phytosterols, which are known to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. If you want to try something extra special, drizzle these squares with some melted vegan dark chocolate.

Rich in cream and refined sugars, eggnog is a devilish seasonal treat if there ever was one. Take a pass on the additive-laden store-bought cartons in favour of this healthier version that proves eggnog with no eggs can still leave you in a festive mood. Blended cashews and toasted coconut give the drink its oh-so-good creaminess, while dates infuse the sweetness that good eggnog commands. Serve with a dusting of nutmeg.

Tips

• For a finer drink, strain mixture through a cheesecloth-lined sieve or use a nut milk bag.
• The drink can also be warmed on the stovetop and a different seasonal flavour can be had by omitting vanilla in favour of 1/2 tsp (2 mL) peppermint extract. Or turn it into a grown-up drink with a splash of whisky.

Adding a subtle fresh-from-the-sea flavor, think of kombu as slaw’s secret weapon. British researchers have found that alginate—a unique fiber present in forms of sea kelp like kombu—may reduce fat absorption in the body. (FYI: This slaw will also work with wakame.) Quinoa provides quality carbs while sweet-tart apples add a counterpoint to earthy veggies, and the orange dressing is here for a splash of brightness. For added sweetness, you can include golden raisins or dried cherries. You know we’re easy like that.

Blade runner

Fruit buckles are a quintessential old-fashioned favourite. We’ve produced a more rustic version of the old classic using oats and oat flour but with all the familiar flavours. Cut the buckle into squares and top with a generous scoop of your favourite vanilla ice cream or alternative.

This dish feels fancy but is a cinch to put together. A sweet sauce of frozen cherries with a splash of heart-healthy red wine brings a touch of luxury to a simply cooked lean pork tenderloin. Cherries, packed with vitamin C and polyphenols, have been shown to have effects on heart health, including reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and blood pressure levels.

Tasting like everyone’s favourite schoolyard sandwich, this hearty porridge will surely find a very special place in your daybreak food-hungry heart. It’s full of blood sugar-regulating soluble fibre, oats, raspberries, and chia seeds that work together to make sure this morning glory hits the nutritional jackpot. Made by grinding up defatted peanuts, peanut butter powder is a great way to infuse oatmeal (and baked goods!) with lower calorie nutty flavour. Reheat leftovers with a couple splashes of additional milk in a small saucepan. The new instant oats  You can settle for soggy instant oatmeal, or you can turn to more satisfying and nutritious steel-cut oats as the backbone for your most important meal of the day. Sounds great, but what about their long cooking time? Soaking your oats overnight is a time-saving hack for yielding porridge with perfect chewy texture in mere moments.  

Sweet and savoury at once, these bundles of fruity energy raise the bar on exercise fuel. You can also take the mixture and roll it into balls.

Frozen asset

Top these versatile, polenta-inspired bites with your child’s favourite ingredients, such as tomato sauce, hummus, sliced cucumbers, or cheese.

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