Food

This beautiful dish is delicious as a standalone meal, but it also doubles as an impressive side. The deep red beet sauce is supremely good for heart health. And making matters easier is the fact that, if scrubbed well, you don’t need to peel the beetroots. Roasting softens the skin, which is then whirled into creamy perfection. There are loads of options for toppings, ranging from any variety of cheese (or none at all) to a wide assortment of toasted nuts.

Tip

Look for the chocolate mint variety of fresh mint at your local garden centre, or use any variety of fresh mint you can find. Chocolate mint has a built-in chocolate flavour, making it fantastic for desserts featuring this classic, refreshing combo. TIP: Elevate this chocolate mint fudge by serving a square on a dessert plate; garnish with fresh berries and a sprig of mint.

Easy to carry. Simple to pop and savour while on a rugged path. And quick to assemble in bulk. Make ahead and refrigerate for a week, or store in the freezer for up to a month.

Did you know?

Look for the chocolate mint variety of fresh mint at your local garden center, or use any variety of fresh mint you can find. Chocolate mint has a built-in chocolate flavor, making it fantastic for desserts featuring this classic combo.

Tip: Mint to be

Who says it’s a requirement that oatmeal is sweet? With spinach, mushrooms, and olives, this veg-heavy oatmeal is a definite flavour twist and offers visions of enjoying breakfast while overlooking an alluring Mediterranean coastline. Plus, all this fibre will help crush morning cravings.

Reminiscent of the stuffed cabbage of yore, the flavour profile of these stuffed chard smacks of cozy fall. It looks all fancy, but everything comes together surprisingly quickly. If desired, you can use turkey or pork sausage and brown rice. 

Moist, chewy, and quite irresistible, these sweet blondies can be indulged in with impunity. The surprising inclusion of white beans adds protein and heart-healthy fibre, and it makes these squares the perfect guilt-free snack. If you’re not an apricot lover, don’t fret. You can use many jam and dried fruit substitutions to make these scrumptious blondies, such as

• strawberry jam and dried strawberries
• blackcurrant jam and dried blackcurrants
• cherry jam and dried sweet cherries (not the sour variety)

The filling options for these sweet crepes are endless, from sliced fruit to melted chocolate to sweetened chestnuts and beyond. Keep things kid-friendly with a simple drizzle of maple syrup. Or marinate a handful of fresh or frozen berries in 1/4 cup (60 mL) rum or sweet local liqueur for at least 30 minutes before serving. For a luxurious French variation, flambé a pan of folded, buttered crepes with a splash of cognac—the liqueur of choice for traditional Crepes Suzette. If using eggs, use just 1 1/4 cups (310 mL) milk. If using ground chia or flaxseed, use full 1 1/2 cups (350 mL). Batch cooking Double the recipe and freeze leftovers between layers of parchment paper for the next time you feel like crepes but don’t feel like making them from scratch. Skillet skill The pan needs to be hot enough and the batter thin enough to create air bubbles on impact or crepes won’t cook through properly. There’s no need to regrease the skillet after each crepe, unless crepes are sticking to the pan.  

Breaking up a whole frittata into individual parts slashes cooking time, allows the egg cakes to be easily movable from the kitchen, and makes for an undeniably cute presentation. These can be served warm or at room temperature.

Hot stuff

Is there such a thing as a crispy heart-healthy cake wedge? We think so. In this chew-worthy snack, we’ve combined oats with coconut, a little flaxseed, and some nutty hemp hearts. Together they make a perfect treat that your heart will love.

Tip

In Italian parlance, the word minestrone means “big soup.” This recipe certainly fits the bill with a hearty spring vegetable-and-bean soup that delivers big-time flavour and nutrition. If available, fiddleheads can be used instead of asparagus.

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.

Chewy spelt holds up wonderfully in salads, and this one is sure to become your new go-to picnic or potluck option. Mackerel contains a boatload of heart-healthy, brain-nourishing omega-3 fats. Take the extra step of parboiling the potatoes to shorten their roasting time considerably. This ensures that the outsides don’t become crispy well before the interiors are cooked through. If making this salad ahead of time, it’s best to toss the greens in just before serving so they don’t become soggy. To expedite the process of preparing large, slow-cooking grains such as spelt and Kamut, try soaking them overnight. This will slash the simmering time by about 25 percent.

Tip: Top toast with your favourite style of egg. Try poached, scrambled, or sliced hard boiled eggs.

Finger sandwiches are a classic component of afternoon tea, and these ones bring plenty of herby flavour to the party. Chickpeas are lightly smashed and dressed in fresh, bright flavours of cilantro, mint, tangy yogurt, earthy turmeric, and spicy paprika, before being sandwiched with pumpkin seeds and sunflower sprouts. Don’t be fooled by their small size—these sandwiches pack a hearty boost of fibre and protein and a whopping amount of iron too.

This delicious twist on classic banana bread, packed with whole-food goodness―and gluten free to boot—is sure to become a lunchbox staple. The use of buckwheat flour adds a subtly earthy flavour that perfectly complements the natural sweetness provided by the ripe bananas.

Gravlax is a traditional Scandinavian preparation of fish, cured with seasonings and dill, resulting in deliciously velvety flesh. In this version, beets bring earthy, sweet flavour and bright, bold colour to cured Arctic char. The cured char should be used within five days. Substitute salmon or rainbow trout for the char if you like.

More ways with cured char

• Stir together cream cheese with chopped herbs and lemon zest, spread on rye crackers, and top with slices of cured fish.
• Fold into soft scrambled eggs or add finely chopped pieces to devilled eggs.
• Use in place of smoked mackerel in the Mackerel Potato Egg Salad recipe.
• Try it with cooked linguini.
• Smash avocado on toast and top with slices of cured char and microgreens.

Also known as walleye, pickerel is a freshwater fish that populates many fishing lakes across Canada. Most anglers love fishing for pickerel for the simple fact that it’s great to eat—moist, slightly sweet flesh with a nice flaky texture. It’s also relatively easy to clean and has a significant amount of meat for each fillet produced. As a nutritional bonus, pickerel is a good source of protein and also contains a range of vitamins and minerals. And this recipe makes use of the classic cooking technique of creating a pan sauce to put the finishing touches on a superb dish.

Other fish to try

This is the antithesis of typical soupy potato salads. Crispy spuds, the bitter edge of radicchio, buttery trout, and a tangy dressing create a palate-awakening salad that just begs for social media stardom. And all the flavours will speak to you even at room temperature, so this salad can also accompany you to the office, potlucks, and picnics. (However, it’s best to keep cooked fish chilled.) For a thicker dressing, you can replace 1/4 cup (60 mL) of the kefir with a good quality mayonnaise.

Frozen asset

These savoury scones, made with flaxseed powder to lend a nutty taste, are screaming for a smear of butter to be the perfect sidekick for a bowl of steamy soup or chili. Instead of thyme, you could substitute chopped fresh rosemary, while the gluten-free crowd can swap out wheat flour for an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. You can make these ahead, storing in an airtight container for up to five days or freeze for up to a month. The grind  The shells of flaxseeds are very hard, meaning that whole seeds, and their nutrients, will likely pass through your body undigested if you don’t grind them to “free” the nutrients before consumption. Once ground, any extra flax should be stashed in the fridge or freezer to slow the rate at which the unsaturated fats turn rancid. A coffee or spice grinder does a great job at rendering flaxseeds into a powder. If purchasing pre-ground, do so only if stored in dark containers or if the package is kept in a refrigerated section of the store.  

Forget “brinner” (breakfast for dinner) and get your egg on at lunchtime. Get double the protein power with eggs and tofu. While sweet potatoes rank higher on the glycemic index, pairing them with protein helps keep insulin levels from shooting through the roof.    

These vegan and gluten-free (and grain-free) slices are extra dense, getting their fudgy texture from pinto beans (you won’t taste them, though!). A dash of flaky sea salt makes these holiday appropriate, giving your cookie tray a bit of oomph this season.

Baking tip: Melted butter swap

This classic retro appetizer skips the shellfish, getting a vegan makeover with chickpeas instead. And the healthy, monounsaturated fats in the avocado not only taste rich and luxurious, but also work to promote cardiovascular health. Tip: Transform leftover chickpea salad into a grain-free taco by adding it to the centre of a romaine lettuce leaf. Or scoop on top of cucumber rounds for a quick snack or appetizer.