MEXICAN TOSTADAS                          

Serves 4

  • 4 Ontario tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 2 Ontario green onions, sliced
  • ½ cup chopped Ontario celery
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Ontario cilantro or parsley
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon each: ground cumin, crushed red pepper flakes and salt
  • 8 corn tortillas or tostada shells
  • 1 pound lean Ontario ground beef
  • 1 Ontario onion, chopped
  • 1 clove Ontario garlic, minced
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Pinch salt
  • Garnish: Ontario sour cream and/or shredded Ontario green onions (optional)
  1. In medium bowl, combine tomatoes, green onions, celery, cilantro, vinegar, cumin, red pepper flakes and salt. Cover and set aside.
  2. In small dry skillet over medium heat, toast tortillas (if using) until lightly browned and crisp on both sides. Set aside.
  3. In large non-stick skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, onion and garlic, stirring and breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in tomato sauce, chili powder and salt. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
  4. To serve, place tortillas on plates and spoon beef mixture evenly over each. Top with reserved tomato mixture, sour cream and green onions if using. Serve immediately.

 

BARBECUED QUESADILLAS                        

Serves 4

  • 1 cup cooked Ontario corn kernels
  • 1 medium Ontario Tomato, seeded, finely diced
  • Half of a small Ontario sweet red, green or yellow pepper, seeded, diced
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup diced cooked ham or smoked Turkey
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh coriander (cilantro, optional)
  • 1 tablespoons salsa
  • 8 flour tortillas (7 to 8-inch)
  1. Preheat barbecue to medium heat. In medium bowl, stir together corn, tomato, red pepper, both cheeses, ham, cilantro and salsa. Lay tortillas on baking sheet. Spoon about ½ cup filling on half of each; fold over to form a semicircle.
  2. Place on grill, pressing top slightly; barbecue for 30 to 60 seconds. With wide spatula, carefully turn over so as not to spill filling (don’t worry, a bit will probably spill out) Grill for 30 to 60 seconds or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately, whole or cut into wedges.

 

GRILLED CORN SALAD                       

Serves 6 to 8

  • 4 cobs Ontario sweet corn, husked
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ cups frozen shelled edamame
  • 2 tablespoons Ontario maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons each: cider vinegar and Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon each: salt and pepper
  • 1 cup Ontario grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
  • ½ cup chopped Ontario red onion
  • ½ cup chopped Ontario celery
  1. Brush each cob of corn with ¼ teaspoon of the oil. Place corn on grill over medium-high heat. Grill, covered, turning often, until tender and grill-marked, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool. Cut kernels from corn; measure out 4 cups.
  2. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan of boiling water, cook edamame until slightly tender, about 3 minutes; drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again.
  3. In large serving bowl, whisk together remaining oil, maple syrup, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in corn, edamame, tomatoes, onion and celery. Cover and chill for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

 

PEACH, BEET AND ARUGULA SALAD                           

Serves 4

  • 3 Ontario beets, about 2 inches in diameter
  • 1 teaspoon each: Dijon mustard and Ontario honey
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon dried tarragon leaves
  • Pinch each: salt and pepper
  • 2 Ontario shallots, sliced
  • 2 Ontario peaches
  • 1 bunch Ontario arugula
  • ½ cup crumbled Ontario Goat Feta Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons roasted hulled pumpkin seeds
  1. Trim beets, keeping 1-inch stem attached; place in small pot, cover with cold water and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until almost tender. Drain and rinse under cold water. Place in ice water until cold. Peel and slice into thin wedges.
  2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, whisk together mustard, honey, vinegar and lemon juice. Slowly whisk in oil. Season with tarragon, salt and pepper.
  3. In bowl, combine beets, shallots and 2 tablespoons of the dressing; let stand for 10 minutes or up to 1 hour.
  4. Peel peaches and slice into wedges.
  5. In large salad bowl, place arugula. Add beet mixture and peaches; toss gently, tasting and adding more dressing as desired. Sprinkle with feta and pumpkin seeds. Refrigerate leftover dressing.

 

BLUEBERRY PEACH UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE                          

Serves 10

Topping

  • ¼ cup butter, melted
  • ½ cup lightly packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon each: cinnamon and ground ginger
  • 2 Ontario peaches, peeled, pitted, cut into ½-inch wedges
  • ½ cup Ontario blueberries

Cake:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup butter at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup milk
  1. Butter a 9 ½-inch springform pan. Wrap outside of pan with foil to prevent any butter from leaking through.
  2. Topping: In small bowl, stir together butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger; spread over base of pan. Top with circles of peach wedges, leaving a little space between peaches. Sprinkle blueberries between peach slices.
  3. Cake: In small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt until well combined. In large bowl and using electric mixer, beat butter with sugar and lemon rind until light and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour, until well blended. Spoon batter over fruit in pan.
  4. Bake in centre of preheated 350 degree oven for 55 to 60 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool on rack for 15 minutes. Run knife around edge of cake then carefully invert onto platter. If any fruit has stuck to pan, place on cake. Spoon any juices on platter back onto cake.