Oats are not just for breakfast. This recipe blends oats with ground flaxseed, another Canadian superfood. Ground flaxseed has been allowed by Health Canada to carry a health claim for lowering cholesterol.  | HealthyFlax.org photo

Oats: fibre-filled superfood

My dad starts every day with a bowl of oatmeal. I used to think it boring but now I have begrudgingly come to realize there is a lot of wisdom in his actions. Oats are a superfood because of the fibre content. As a whole grain, oats are high in both insoluble and soluble fibre […] Read more

Sopa Mexicana has a smoky flavour and a spicy finish. | Dorothy Sandercock photo

Soothing soups from around the globe

Soup warms and nurtures and making it gives me the feeling that I am really taking care of my family. Soup usually starts with a mirepoix, a French name for a combination of onions, carrots and celery that is sauteed and used to add flavour and aroma to stocks, sauces and soups. After that, it’s […] Read more

My kids love these burritos but they don’t know why. I do though. Lentils are flavour sponges and do a good job absorbing the flavours of the Southwest. | Dorothy Sandercock photo

Lentils: Canadian grown superfood

Canada grows some of the healthiest food in the world. If the top 10 health foods are Googled, the list is bound to include oatmeal, blueberries, flax, quinoa and other superfood grown or raised here. One of those superfoods is lentils. Why are lentils a superfood? Fibre: One-half cup (125 mL) of cooked lentils has […] Read more


Don’t fear the feast

Do you want to assume the fetal position at the thought of entertaining family and friends? By the time Christmas Day arrives, I sometimes just want to hibernate. Life can be so busy and our to-do list never seems to let up. Whether it is a large family gathering at Christmas, an intimate dinner party […] Read more

Bernice Topilklo is a whirling dervish in the kitchen. Her first step in this recipe was to make the bread using seven grain flour from New Life Organics. Emjay’s Prairie Berries supplied the saskatoon berries and squash.    |  Dorothy Sandercock photo

Celebrate local food – plan a local community food event

Producers who want to show the world their passions for the crops and livestock they raise should consider demonstrating it first-hand at local food events. Four years ago, I joined four women excited about farming and food to do just that. We came up with Harvest Feastival and this year, we held our fourth annual […] Read more


The flavours of Korea

Eun Jung left behind her family, culture and food for a new adventure in Canada when she married Alan, a Canadian who was teaching English in South Korea. It was a hard adjustment and cooking was difficult because there weren’t a lot of Korean ingredients available. But as Canada became more multicultural, Asian grocery stores […] Read more

Go fish

Selecting fish:


A successful day of fishing on one of Canada’s lakes with a fish fry for supper is a day well spent. The fish is at its freshest, the ingredients simple and you are surrounded by nature. But now that summer is winding down and your supply of fresh lake fish is drying up, what do […] Read more

Whether you cook for a dude or are a dude, these recipes are aimed at keeping your heart healthy without sacrificing flavour or too much protein. | Canolainfo.org photo

Food for dudes

There seem to be a few trains of thought on what is considered food for dudes or dude food. Some say it combines the passion of extreme sports and cooking to produce over-the-top, testosterone-fueled dishes. Many involve bacon wrapping, alcohol soaking, deep frying and artery clogging. Others describe dude food as a movement to educate […] Read more


Farro is a type of wheat common in Italian cooking. It has a nutty flavour with a slightly crunchy texture. Although it’s a distant cousin to the wheat berry, it cooks in a fraction of the time. Farro can be found in health food stores or substituted with wheat berries. | canolainfo.org photo

Summer salads with whole grains

I love salads full of lentils, beans, rice, nuts, dried fruit and whole grains. I am not sure if it is my age, but I no longer think of whole grain as healthy food I should eat, but rather delicious food I want to eat. Whole grains that work well in salads include wild rice, […] Read more