Archive for June, 2022

This recipe from Canadian Living would be a great side dish for your next barbecue. Grill corn and remove the kernels. Cook bacon until crisp. Combine the corn, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and green onions in a bowl and drizzle with a smoky maple vinaigrette. Cook’s note: If you don’t have a barbecue, cook the corn in boiling water or in the microwave.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use bacon preserved with celery salt instead of nitrites. I use President’s Choice Old-Fashioned Dijon mustard, Eden Organic wine vinegar and pure maple syrup. Make sure the paprika does not contain colour, artificial flavour or anti-caking agents.

Grilled corn BLT salad

Ingredients:

Smoked maple vinaigrette

¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

3 tbsp (45 ml) white wine vinegar

2 tsp (10 ml) maple syrup

1 tsp (5 ml) Dijon mustard

½ tsp (2.5 ml) smoked paprika

Salt and pepper

Salad

2 corncobs, husked

1 tsp (5 ml) vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

6 strips of bacon, sliced

6 cups (1.5 L) coarsely chopped romaine hearts

1 cup (250 ml) halved cherry tomatoes

2 green onions, chopped

Preparation:

Vinaigrette

Combine first five ingredients in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Salad

Preheat barbecue to medium-high heat; grease grill. Brush corncobs with oil; season with salt and pepper. Place corncobs on grill; close lid and cook, turning occasionally during grilling time, until corn is tender-crisp, about 15 minutes. Let cool enough to handle. Cut kernels from corncobs.

Meanwhile in skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, turning regularly, until browned and crispy, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towel-lined plate.

In large bowl combine lettuce, corn, bacon, tomatoes and green onions. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to coat. Serve 4.

From Canadian Living

This recipe adapted from Food and Drink is a lovely vegetarian summer salad. Make the citrus dressing and use it to both marinate the halloumi cheese and dress the salad. Plate greens and mint and top with cooked couscous, lentils, tomatoes and cucumber. Grill halloumi and place on top of the salad mixture. Cook’s note: The original recipe called for additions of beet chips and grilled watermelon, which I omitted.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use freshly squeezed citrus juice. I used Eden Organic red wine vinegar and President’s Choice Old-Fashioned Dijon mustard, which are additive-free. Check the halloumi to make sure it does not contain preservatives. Look for additive-free canned lentils or cook ½ cup (125 ml) dried lentils.

Add the vegetables to the quinoa and lentils and toss with dressing

Grill the halloumi

Quinoa-lentil salad with grilled halloumi

Ingredients:

Zesty citrus dressing

1 tbsp (15 ml) grated orange or lemon zest (from about 1 large fruit)

3 tbsp (45 ml) fresh orange or lemon juice

2 tbsp (30 ml) white wine vinegar

1 ½ tsp (7 ml) Dijon mustard

½ cup (125 ml) olive oil

1/8 tsp (0.5 ml) salt

Freshly ground pepper

Salad

¾ cup (175 ml) quinoa

1 ½ cups (375 ml) water or unsalted vegetable broth

Salt

Zesty citrus dressing

14 oz (395 g) halloumi or other grilling cheese

4 cups (1 L) mixed salad greens

¼ cup (60 ml) fresh mint leaves, torn

1 cup (250 ml) drained, rinsed canned lentils

1 cup (250 ml) grape tomatoes, halved

½ English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced

Freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

Zesty citrus dressing

Whisk zest, juice, vinegar and mustard in a measuring cup or bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use immediately or refrigerate in a jar for up to 1 week. Makes just under 1 cup (250 ml).

Salad

Toast quinoa in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes or until golden and fragrant. Stir in water and ½ tsp (2 ml) salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Transfer to a shallow dish, gently fluffing with a fork. Let cool completely.

Pour 2 tbsp (30 ml) zesty citrus dressing into a shallow dish to marinate halloumi. Pour 2 tbsp (30 ml) dressing over quinoa and toss gently to combine. Set remaining dressing aside.

Drain liquid from halloumi and pat dry. Cut into eight strips, each about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Add to marinade in dish and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day. (If marinating longer than 1 hour, cover quinoa and reserved dressing and refrigerate until just before serving.)

To serve, preheat barbecue grill or grill pan to medium-high.

Combine greens and mint with half of the reserved dressing in a large bowl and toss to coat. Divide among serving bowls or plates. In the same bowl, combine quinoa, lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers and remaining dressing. Toss gently to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon on top of greens. Set aside.

Remove halloumi from marinade and blot with paper towel. Place halloumi on oiled grates or grill pan and grill for about 1 minute per side, flipping carefully with a thin, metal spatula, or until grill-marked and cheese is slightly melted. Return to dish with marinade.

Arrange grilled halloumi on top of salads. Serves 4.

Adapted from Food and Drink

This recipe from Chatelaine is on the table is less than half an hour. Make the salad dressing and toss with the cucumber, radishes and arugula. Whisk marmalade and sriracha in a bowl and set aside. Cook pork medallions until cooked through and then toss with marmalade-sriracha mixture. Place the salad on serving plates and top with the pork medallions. Cook’s note: I used the greens I had on hand instead of arugula.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

I used Robertsons marmalade, Natural Value sriracha and President’s Choice Old-Fashioned Dijon mustard, which are additive-free. I used Acetaia La Bonissma balsamic vinegar, which has no added sulfites.

Toss vegetables with dressing

Toss cooked pork medallions with sauce

Saucy sriracha pork

Ingredients:

1/3 cup (82.5 ml) marmalade

2 tbsp (30 ml) sriracha

1 tsp (5 ml) salt, divided

¼ cup (60 ml) canola oil, divided

1 lb (454 g) pork tenderloin, sliced into ½ -in. (1.25-cm) rounds

2 tbsp (30 ml) white balsamic vinegar

2 tsp (10 ml) Dijon mustard

1 English cucumber, peeled into ribbons

8 oz (227 g) radishes, thinly sliced (2 cups/500 ml)

2 cups (500 ml) baby arugula

Preparation:

Whisk marmalade with sriracha and ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt in a medium bowl. Reserve 2 tbsp (30 ml) mixture in a large bowl and set aside.

Toss pork with remaining ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt in a medium bowl. Season with pepper. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high. Add 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil, then pork. Cook, adjusting heat as needed, until bottom is golden and cooked through, 1 to 2 min per side. Add to marmalade-sriracha mixture as they’re done. Toss to coat.

Whisk vinegar and Dijon into reserved 2 tbsp (30 ml) marmalade mixture in large bowl. Gradually add remaining 3 tbsp (45 ml) oil while whisking until combined. Toss cucumber, radishes and arugula with dressing, then season with pepper. Divide among plates, then top with pork. Serves 4.

From Chatelaine

This recipe, adapted from Food and Drink, is a great early summer meal. Make the peanut-lime sauce, use half of it to marinate the beef and combine the other half with more lime juice, vinegar and honey to make the salad dressing. Thread the beef onto skewers and grill. Toss kale, cabbage, carrot and snow peas with the dressing and serve with the cooked beef skewers on top. Cook’s note: I cubed the beef instead of cutting it into strips and cooked it in an air fryer instead of grilling. I used all cabbage instead of kale and red pepper and cauliflower instead of carrots and snow peas. The original recipe also calls for a sesame brittle topping, which I omitted.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use all-natural peanut butter. I used Nature Value sriracha and Marukan rice vinegar, which are additive-free.

Marinate beef in peanut-lime sauce

Serve skewers on salad

Ingredients:

1 lb (454 g) beef top sirloin steak or other grilling steak

Marinade and dressing

½ cup (125 ml) smooth peanut butter

1 tbsp (15 ml) grated lime zest

6 tbsp (90 ml) fresh lime juice, divided (about 3 limes)

1/3 cup (80 ml) vegetable oil

1 tsp (5 ml) sriracha or other hot pepper sauce (approx.)

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp (30 ml) rice vinegar

1 tbsp (15 ml) liquid honey

Salt

Salad

12 bamboo skewers, at least 8 inches (20 cm) long

4 cups (1 L) chopped trimmed kale

4 cups (1 L) coarsely shredded Napa or Savoy cabbage

1 large carrot, julienned

1 cup (250 ml) sliced trimmed snow peas

Preparation:

Cut beef across the grain into ½-inch– (1-cm) thick strips. Place in a shallow dish; set aside.

For the marinade and dressing, whisk together peanut butter, lime zest, 4 tbsp (60 ml) lime juice, oil and sriracha in a measuring cup or bowl. Add more sriracha to taste, if desired.

Pour ½ cup (125 ml) marinade over beef strips, add garlic and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate beef for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.

To make dressing, whisk remaining 2 tbsp (30 ml) lime juice, rice vinegar and honey into remaining peanut butter mixture. Season with salt to taste. Cover and set aside at room temperature (if marinating beef for longer than 2 hours, cover dressing and refrigerate, then warm to room temperature before serving).

Soak skewers in shallow dish filled with water for 30 to 40 minutes before using.

Combine kale and cabbage with reserved dressing in a large bowl, tossing to coat. Season to taste with salt. Set aside.

Preheat barbecue grill to medium-high.

Thread marinated beef onto soaked skewers, weaving onto skewers like a flat ribbon. Discard any excess marinade. Season beef with salt.

Grill beef skewers, turning twice, for about 5 minutes or until beef is browned and medium-rare or cooked to desired doneness. Transfer to a plate.

Toss kale mixture again to coat. Divide among serving plates or bowls. Scatter carrots and snow peas over top. Arrange beef skewers on salads. Serves 4.

From Food and Drink