Food

In today’s wonderful world of cuisine, salt has evolved from being just another staple in our pantries to a myriad of choices with considerations based on texture, flavour, and health aspects.
From sea salt to exotic salt such as “fleur de sel,” or Himalayan pink salt, salt is playing a much larger role in our culinary choices.

TORONTO — Wine drinkers looking for a light and crisp Riesling or a full-bodied and smooth Shiraz will now be able to zero in on one that suits their taste with a system of sweetness descriptors being launched in Ontario liquor stores.

Grilling season is much, much more than cooking up hot dogs, hamburgers and steaks.
For Rob Rainford it’s all about taking outdoor cooking to another level, by pushing the envelope and exploiting international flavours.

Even a poorly executed milkshake still is probably pretty good. But to elevate the classic cool treat to a higher level of indulgence, tips from a milkshake master can help.

If you’re planning to host a barbecue, here are some recipes to prepare for family and guests.
A delicious way to enjoy vegetables is to grill them, which adds so much to the flavour. With fresh local asparagus coming onto the market, this easy side dish topped with a citrusy vinaigrette is sure to be a hit.

With wedding season on the horizon, these savoury cheesecakes would be stylish hors d’oeuvres to serve at gatherings surrounding the celebrations.
Top with your favourite ingredients to provide guests with a variety of tastes and colours. Some suggestions are given below.
Savoury Cheesecakes
Crust
250 ml (1 cup) graham cracker crumbs
50 ml (1/4 cup) butter, melted

Everybody loves meat loaf; it is one of our all-time favourite comfort foods. A bonus with this one is that its rich flavours come with lentils, a hidden nutritional powerhouse.
Lentil Meat Loaf
2 eggs
1 can (156 ml/5.5 oz) tomato paste
1 kg (2 lb) medium ground beef
1 large onion, finely chopped
250 ml (1 cup) oatmeal flakes
250 ml (1 cup) cooked lentils

These family-sized beef-and-vegetable empanadas make for an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love. Serve with a green salad topped with cucumber slices and tomato wedges.
Giant Empanadas
500 g (1 lb) extra-lean ground beef
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
500 g (1 lb) local asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-cm (1/2-inch) pieces
2 greenhouse tomatoes

French toast, a perennial favourite, is a wonderful treat for children to prepare on Mother’s Day.
Offering a delectable combination of sweet and savoury, this Apple Cheddar Stuffed French Toast is a decadent dish that can be cooked up by the kids — under adult supervision — just for Mom’s enjoyment.

Cookbook authors Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat spend a lot of time in the kitchen creating and testing recipes, but they also like to be pampered by their families and say a Mother’s Day brunch is just the ticket.