Recipes

Grilled Zucchini Roll Ups

Appetizers

Zucchini is plentiful in BC and with so many ways to use it, we say the more the better! In the summer, grilling zucchini is a quick and easy way to bring out the flavours with a little olive oil and seasoning. To make a beautiful and delicious appetizer, just slice zucchini lengthwise and grill, then stuff with cheese and herb filling and roll into pinwheels. Voila!

Ingredients:  4 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise approximately ¼” thick Olive oil for brushing ...

Bruschetta with Roma Tomatoes

Appetizers

Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer perfect to serve at parties or to make any time for a simple and savoury snack. Fresh flavours of tomatoes, basil, garlic and balsamic vinegar make an ideal topping for lightly grilled slices of french bread. Delicious!

Ingredients:  1 loaf French bread, sliced diagonally into ¼ inch pieces 8 Roma tomatoes, diced 1 tabl...

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Appetizers

This meatless version of Buffalo wings is a delicious way to eat cauliflower that everyone will love! You may even be surprised to discover that you prefer them to chicken wings. It’s the perfect snack for watching a game (or movie), a crowd pleaser at potlucks, and a delicious comfort food all on its own. Serve it up with celery sticks and ranch dip.

Ingredients:  1 medium to large head cauliflower, cut into florets Olive oil to drizzle 2 teaspoons garlic p...

Pineapple Salsa

Appetizers

This fresh pineapple salsa recipe will be a big hit at your next party! It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and 100% delicious. It’s easy to make, too. Recipe yields 3 ½ cups; double it if you’re serving a crowd (1 extra-large pineapple should be just right).

Ingredients:  3 cups diced fresh pineapple (about 1 medium) 1 red bell pepper, chopped &fr...

Buffalo Cauliflower

Appetizers

This buffalo cauliflower recipe is completely irresistible! It strikes the perfect balance of crisp, tender and spicy. Recipe yields 4 generous side servings.

Ingredients:  1 large head of cauliflower (about 3 pounds) 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 teas...

Pear, Raspberry and Goat Cheese Crostini

Appetizers

grilled whole wheat crostini spread with goat cheese, topped with slices of pear and a couple of raspberries, and finished with a drizzle of honey, a sprinkling of black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. They are pretty perfect for this awkward time between summer and fall, and make for a quick snack or impressive appetizer.

Ingredients:  1 whole grain baguette, or slices of whole wheat bread Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing ...

Fresh Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Appetizers

These Vietnamese spring rolls are fresh, not fried! They’re the perfect party appetizer or light meal. The peanut sauce sends them over the top. Recipe yields 8 spring rolls.

Ingredients:  Spring Rolls   2 ounces rice vermicelli or maifun brown rice noodles*...

How to make a Cheese Board

Appetizers

Cheese Board Presentation Tips

1) Place large items first

Start by placing your cheese on the board. For best flavor, let the cheese warm to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

2) Slice your cheese to maximize texture

Slice your cheese in various ways to maximize texture. For example, you can use a fork to create large chunks of blue cheese and Parmesan. Slice semi-hard cheese, like cheddar, and fan them across a section of the board. For brie or soft round cheeses, cut several bite-sized slices or wedges, and leave cheese knives nearby for guests to slice as desired.

3) Fill up the space

Next, place any small bowls of tapenade, olives, honey, or jam on the board. Add color by filling large blank areas with sliced fruit, clusters or grapes or handfuls of clementine segments. Divvy your crackers across the board, and nuts, too. There’s no harm in repeating segments on the board to fill the space.

4) Add your finishing touches

Place small spoons or serving utensils in bowls, and position cheese knives near the relevant cheeses. Then, take a good look at your board. Do you see any bare spots that you could fill? Do you see any large, solid chunks that you could break up? For example, the wedge of brie on my board looked dull until I drizzled honey on top. Layers are always nice. Now, you’re ready to serve!

Ingredients:  Soft cheese: Goat cheese, Brie or Camembert Semi-hard cheese: Cheddar, Gouda or Havarti Hard che...

Epic Baba Ganoush

Appetizers

This baba ganoush recipe is the best! It’s easy to make, too (no food processor required). You’ll need eggplant, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and spices. Recipe yields about 1 ¾ cups (enough to serve 4 to 6 as an appetizer).

Ingredients:  2 pounds Italian eggplants (about 2 small-to-medium eggplants*) 2 medium clove...

Thai Style Lettuce Wraps

Appetizers

These vegetarian (and easily vegan) lettuce wraps are similar to the version served at Thai restaurants, but free of harmful additives like MSG. Crunchy pecans lend a hearty, almost meat-like texture to these wraps. Butter lettuce provides the perfect base for these appetizers, but if you can’t find any, try substituting cabbage leaves carefully pulled off the smallest green cabbage you can buy. Recipe yields about 6 modest wraps, so multiply as needed for a bigger crowd or party.

Ingredients:  Sauce 1⁄4 cup tamari 1 ½ to 3 tablespoons honey...