BC is blessed with a bounty of good food grown right on our doorstep. We get to enjoy what our farmers grow and producers make throughout the year. Many of these ingredients we recognize right away but others may cause us to pause, look at carefully and do a little research to find out what they are and how can we enjoy eating them.
Roasting yams or sweet potatoes like fries is a yummy way of eating these healthy orange and yellow tuber vegetables. They are delicious on their own, but feel free to serve them up alongside a herby dip. Whatever you do, make enough to share, because the scent of these fries cooking will bring everyone to the kitchen!
Yield: 4 Servings
Preparation Time: About 15 Minutes
Cooking Time: 35 Times
With signs of Spring popping out around us, making bread nests with eggs tucked inside is a perfect family activity for the long weekend. We like to use colourful shelled eggs from Vancouver Farmers’ Markets but any eggs will do. Did you know that the colour of the shell tells you the type of hen that laid the egg? Hen eggs with different coloured shells have the same nutrition inside. This recipe originally came from teacher Laura Clancy who made the nests with her kindergarten class. We have cooked up these nests with other classes and the precious results were taken home as gifts for family members.
Yield: 6 egg bread nests
Preparation Time: About 4 hours in total (25 minutes for dough preparation, 2 one hour periods for dough to rise, 30 minutes to shape dough)
Cooking Time: About 20 minutes
A favourite food-related book that speaks to the importance of friendship is Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and illustrated by Tara Calahan King (2000, Chronicle Books). This picture book tells the story of a boy who had a new neighbour on his enemy list. Hoping that a secret recipe that his dad offers to make will help him get rid of his enemy, he discovers Enemy Pie helps him make a new friend.
Who loves chocolate cake? Most of us do! This recipe of Chef Barb’s Mom is a delicious, spongy and moist chocolate cake that is easy to bake. We hope it becomes a family go-to-recipe for delicious and quick desserts at home.
Yield: 1x 20cm (8”) square cake
Preparation time: About 25 minutes
Baking Time: About 35 – 40 minutes @ 175 C (350 F)
Learning at home can provide so many opportunities to learn about cooking and food. You can explore what is interesting to you and can even involve your family in what you are doing. Cooking at home can give the chance to slow down and think about what you’re eating, to be curious about food, and examine what’s in your fridge or garden with new questioning eyes. Best of all, when you are learning about food, the results are delicious. What’s stopping you? Get learning and eating!
Gnocchi, though actually a little dumpling, is used like pasta and originates from Northern Italy. Commonly made with mashed potatoes and flour, these fluffy little pillows can be paired with a variety of sauces. Traditionally served with butter or olive oil and fresh sage, we served ours with a tomato sauce. Try pairing your homemade Potato Gnocchi with Project CHEF Tuscan-Style Tomato Sauce.
Yield: 4 – 6 servings
Preparation Time: Cook potatoes: about 30 minutes
Make gnocchi: about 25 minutes
Cook gnocchi: about 2 minutes
Roast chicken & turkey can sometimes remind people of special occasion dinners. Times of getting together with friends and family to share laughs and traditions. If you have one of these memories, think back to those moments…who cooked the roast? Are you ready to rise up to the challenge, WOW your guests and create memories? Here’s how to cook a delicious Roast Chicken with Herbs. Let’s get cooking, chefs!
Yield: 4 – 5 servings
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: About 1 hour and 35 minutes
This Quinoa Salad recipe is amongst the Project CHEF team’s favourite lunch recipes – it’s delicious, nutritious & fun to make! Quinoa is a super-grain that has been cultivated for over 5000 years. Why “super” grain? Quinoa is a complete protein, an ideal substitute for animal protein and is high in fibre. Quinoa is a tough wholegrain that can thrive even through a drought.
Yield: Serves 6 – 7
Preparation Time: About 30 minutes
The smell of cookies baking in the oven is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. Fill your ‘nest’ with chocolate or berry flavours, or maybe both! The whole process from preparing to eating cookies is a joyful time and one that should be experienced by families together at home.
Yield: About 27 cookies
Preparation Time: About 30 minutes
Baking Time: About 15 – 20 minutes
Whether you are already a seafood lover or still not quite sure, this recipe is sure to satisfy. This combination of sweet & salty really complements the salmon. You will be quick to give it a two thumbs up!
Yield: 4 servings
Preparation Time: About 15 minutes
Cooking Time: About 3 – 4 minutes per side
Let’s get growing! You do not need a yard or a balcony for this garden project. These little bites pack a punch — more flavour and more nutrition than the average salad green. Adding home-grown microgreens will definitely make salad a new favourite. Food tastes so good when you grow it yourself.
Let’s get started with two varieties that are sweet tasting and nearly failsafe growing. Easy peasy!
Do you have a sweet tooth? This guide will walk you through making our finger-licking-good Maple Sticky Buns. Are you ready to fill your house with the sweet cinnamon aroma?
Yield: 8 sticky buns
Preparation Time: About 3.5 hours (including rising time)
Baking Time: About 35 minutes
Smoothies are a versatile, healthy and delicious drink that can be made with fresh or frozen ingredients. Give it a try! Remember it is important to ask an adult helper to be with you and make sure you share some of that smoothie with them.
Yield: 1-2
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Our Veggie & Brown Rice Maki Rolls recipe is a classroom-certified crowd favourite. Rolling sushi is a fun activity for kids! You can make this recipe your own by choosing ingredients that you like to roll up inside. This is a great opportunity to try new vegetables, increase your vegetable intake and include some more wholegrains in your diet.
Yield: 6 maki rolls
Preparation Time: About 1 hour 40 minutes, including cooking the rice
Miso Soup is a staple in Japan – it is enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and many people have it every day! The ingredients can differ by region as well as family traditions & preferences.
Yield: 4 – 5 servings
Preparation Time: About 20 minutes
Cooking Time: About 15 minutes
Delicious Salmon Yakitori Skewers! A popular street food in Japan, yakitori is traditionally skewered chicken grilled over special charcoal. In this recipe, we are using BC’s finest sockeye salmon. When purchasing salmon, look for the Ocean Wise symbol next to the fish. This symbol ensures that the salmon was sustainably caught and the best choice for the health of our oceans. Sustainable seafood means that the seafood was caught or farmed in a way that ensures the long-term health of that species and the ocean it lives in. If you are not sure the seafood was sustainably caught, ask your fishmonger. Let your fishmonger know that sustainable seafood is important to you and our oceans.
Yield: 4 servings
Preparation Time: About 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 6 – 10 minutes
Our Fresh Flavourful Frittata is easy & versatile. You can create frittatas using many different ingredients – it’s a great recipe to use up any vegetables left in your fridge. This recipe can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack! Eaten hot or cold, this is a recipe the whole family can enjoy.
Yield: 4 – 5 servings
Preparation Time: about 20 minutes
Cooking Time: About 15 minutes
Today, we begin with a favourite book with themes of kindness, caring and connecting to others, important values for us to think about at this time.
Cornbread, warm from the oven, is a tasty treat. Serve alongside chili, soup or a glass of milk. If you don’t have buttermilk, no worries. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to milk, stir and let sit for 15 minutes.
Yield: One 20cm (8″) square pan or cast iron skillet
Preparation time: About 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 – 25 minutes