Green Bean Casserole

A Thanksgiving favourite with a plant-based twist. Green beans, savoury vegan Marsala mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions are baked together until bubbly and golden. Try pairing this Green Bean Casserole with Mission Hill Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Or Fern Walk Sauvignon Blanc.

Ingredients

Serves 6-8
1 lb (450 g) green beans, trimmed and halved
¼ cup (60 ml) plant-based butter or vegetable oil, plus more for greasing
½ cup (125 ml) thinly sliced leeks
½ orange bell pepper, sliced into 1½-in (4 cm) long strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp (2.5 ml) fresh thyme leaves
4 oz (110 g) oyster mushrooms, torn into ⅓-in (0.8 cm) thick strips
4 oz (110 g) cremini mushrooms, sliced into ⅓-in (0.8 cm) thick strips
½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp (30 ml) all-purpose flour
⅓ cup (80 ml) Carlo Pellegrino Marsala Fine
1 cup (250 ml) vegetable stock
¼ cup (60 ml) non-dairy whipping cream
1 cup (250 ml) homemade or store-bought crispy fried onions, divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
  2. Bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil, then add green beans and blanch until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes depending on size. Transfer beans to an ice water bath to cool.
  3. Lightly grease a 7 × 11 in (2 L) casserole dish.
  4. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt plant-based butter. Add leeks, pepper strips, garlic and thyme and sauté until softened. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and continue cooking, stirring often, until mushrooms start to soften. Sprinkle in flour, stir well and cook for another 30 seconds. Deglaze skillet with Marsala, stir until thickened, then slowly whisk in stock and cream. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add green beans and ½ cup (125 ml) crispy fried onions to mushroom sauce, stir until well coated and transfer to prepared casserole dish. Bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, mix well and top with remaining ½ cup (125 ml) crispy fried onions. Return to oven and bake, uncovered, until top is crispy and golden, about 10 minutes longer.
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Drink Pairings

Beer Pretzel Stuffing

If you are looking to give your Thanksgiving stuffing a fun and simple twist (Get it? A twist!!), look no further than this pretzel stuffing. If you have the time, let the torn pretzel pieces sit out overnight to begin drying out. This will cut down on your oven drying time, or you may not need to oven-dry at all. If no fresh herbs are available, feel free to substitute dried; just use half the amount of fresh. If serving a large crowd, this recipe easily doubles to make a 9 × 13-in (23 × 33 cm) pan. Enjoy the Beer Pretzel Stuffing with Slackwater Brewing Idleback Amber Ale.

Ingredients

Serves 6
8 soft pretzels or soft pretzel buns (about 12 cups/3 L once torn)
¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
2 mild Italian sausages, casings removed
1 medium onion, diced
1 large stalk celery, finely diced
1 large carrot, finely diced
¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh parsley leaves and tender stems
1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh sage leaves
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh thyme leaves
½ tsp (2.5 ml) freshly ground black pepper
½ cup (125 ml) fresh cranberries
1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
1 cup (250 ml) Slackwater Idleback Amber Ale
½ cup (125 ml) low-sodium chicken stock, plus more as needed
1 large egg
3 tbsp (45 ml) finely grated pecorino

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250 F (120 C).
  2. Slice or tear pretzels into bite-sized pieces. Arrange in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake, tossing occasionally, until dry like croutons, 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on pretzels. Remove pretzels from oven and place in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
  3. Increase oven temperature to 375 F (190 C).
  4. Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Crumble in sausages and cook, stirring and breaking up chunks with a wooden spoon, until browned and mostly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in onions, celery and carrots and sauté until onions are translucent but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add sausage mixture to pretzel pieces along with parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, pepper and cranberries. Stir until mixture is well combined.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk mustard, beer, stock and egg. Pour over pretzel mixture and stir well to combine. Set pretzel mixture aside for 20 minutes to allow pretzels to absorb liquid. If pretzel pieces are still quite firm after sitting, add another ¼ cup (60 ml) stock and stir to mix in. Pretzel pieces should be hydrated but not falling apart.
  6. Butter an 8-in (20 cm) square casserole dish. Add pretzel mixture in an even layer. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, rotate casserole dish 180 degrees in oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 F (175 C). Bake until deep golden brown and crisp on top, about another 20 minutes. If stuffing seems dry, pour another ¼ cup (60 ml) stock overtop and bake for another 5 to 8 minutes. Let rest on a rack for 10 minutes, sprinkle with pecorino and serve.
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Drink Pairings

Roasted Cauliflower with Red Wine & Onion Gravy

Finally, the vegetarians at the table don’t have to settle for side dishes and cranberry sauce. Move over, turkey, you’re sharing the spotlight this year. Pass the gravy! Pair this Roasted Cauliflower with Our Story Cabernet Merlot.

Ingredients

Serves 4
1 large head cauliflower (about 2 lbs/900 g)
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated garlic
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated garlic
2 tsp (10 ml) ground turmeric
1¼ tsp (6 ml) Spanish smoked paprika, divided
1 tsp (5 ml) dark soy sauce
¼ cup (60 ml) plant-based butter
1 tbsp (15 ml) coconut oil
1 tsp (5 ml) ras el hanout
½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt, plus more for blanching
Red Wine & Onion Gravy, to serve, make ahead, recipe follows
RED WINE & ONION GRAVY | Makes about 2 cups (500 ml)
3 tbsp (45 ml) plant-based butter
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1 tsp (5 ml) chopped fresh sage
½ tsp (2.5 ml) chopped fresh rosemary
2 tbsp (30 ml) all-purpose flour
⅓ cup (80 ml) Our Story Cabernet Merlot
2 cups (500 ml) mushroom or vegetable stock
1 dried bay leaf
½ tsp (2.5 ml) dark soy sauce
1 tsp (5 ml) red miso paste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Trim base of cauliflower and remove any discoloured leaves, making sure to leave florets intact.
  2. Fill a large saucepan with enough heavily salted water to cover cauliflower, but don’t add cauliflower yet. Bring water to a boil over high heat, then whisk in granulated garlic, turmeric, 1 tsp (5 ml) paprika and soy sauce. Add cauliflower and blanch for 2 minutes. Remove and air-dry at room temperature.
  3. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt plant-based butter and coconut oil. Remove from heat and stir in ras el hanout, remaining ¼ tsp (1 ml) paprika and the salt. Set aside.
  4. Place cauliflower on lined baking sheet and brush with half the butter mixture. Loosely tent cauliflower with foil, transfer to oven and cook for 30 minutes. Remove foil, baste with remaining butter mixture and return to oven. Continue to roast, uncovered, until lightly charred and tender when pierced with a wooden skewer, 30 to 45 minutes longer.
  5. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with Red Wine & Onion Gravy.
  6. RED WINE & ONION GRAVY
  7. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and sauté until lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, sage and rosemary and cook for another 30 seconds, then sprinkle with flour and stir well. Pour in red wine and stir until thickened, then slowly whisk in stock. Add bay leaf and soy sauce, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 15 minutes, until gravy coats back of a spoon.
  8. Remove bay leaf, add miso paste, purée until smooth and season with pepper. Gravy can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Drink Pairings

Crab Cakes

Sweet Dungeness crab is the star of the show in these crab cakes, they have just enough breadcrumbs to hold them together. Buy whole crab and cook and pick it yourself, or buy pre cooked crab meat from your fish monger.

Ingredients

Serves 4
1 lb (450 g) cooked Dungeness crabmeat, picked through to remove any shells and cartilage
2 eggs
1½ cups (375 ml) bread crumbs, divided
2 tbsp (30 ml) creole seasoning, divided
2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon zest, divided
3 tbsp (45 ml) finely chopped fresh dill leaves, divided
3 tbsp (45 ml) finely chopped fresh chives, divided
3 tbsp (45 ml) mayonnaise, divided
2 tsp (10 ml) salt, divided
2 pinches pepper, divided
1 tbsp (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter, plus more if needed
¼ cup (60 ml) crème fraîche or sour cream
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
greens, for garnish
1 lemon, cut into wedges, to serve

Instructions

  1. In a small mixing bowl, place crab, eggs, ½ cup (125 ml) bread crumbs, 1 tbsp (15 ml) creole seasoning, 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon zest, 2 tbsp (30 ml) dill, 2 tbsp (30 ml) chives, 1 tbsp (15 ml) mayonnaise, 1 tsp (5 ml) salt and 1 pinch pepper. Mix just until combined.
  2. Spread remaining 1 cup (250 ml) bread crumbs on a plate.
  3. Form crab mixture into 8 crab cakes. Roll in bread crumbs and set aside.
  4. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add oil and butter and heat until butter foams. Fry crab cakes for about 5 minutes per side, or until golden. Add more butter if pan is dry after crab cakes have been flipped.
  5. In a small bowl, mix crème fraîche, lemon juice and remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) creole seasoning, 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon zest, 1 tbsp (15 ml) dill, 1 tbsp (15 ml) chives, 2 tbsp (30 ml) mayonnaise, 1 tsp (5 ml) salt and 1 pinch pepper.
  6. Serve 2 crab cakes per person with herb sauce, greens and lemon wedges.
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Drink Pairings

Fish & Chips with Mushy Peas

Here's a classic fish and chips recipe for crispy battered fish and twice cooked chips. The mushy peas are made with frozen peas instead of the traditional dried which gives the dish a nice fresh flavour and bright colour. To make all 3 components so they’re ready to serve at the same time, start by making Double-Fried Chips through step 4. While chips are chilling in refrigerator, make Mushy Peas and keep warm until ready to serve, and prepare Fish recipe through step 3. Now do second fry of chips (step 5 of Double-Fried Chips recipe), then use same oil to fry fish (steps 4 and 5 of Fish recipe).

Ingredients

Serves 4
FISH
1½ lbs (680 g) halibut or cod
4 tsp (20 ml) salt, divided, plus more for seasoning
2 cups (500 ml) all-purpose flour, divided
2 tbsp (30 ml) cornstarch
1 tsp (5 ml) pepper, divided
1½ cups (375 ml) pale ale beer, cold
1 tsp (5 ml) paprika
1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder
vegetable oil, for deep-frying
1 lemon, cut into wedges, to serve
tartar sauce, to serve
DOUBLE-FRIED CHIPS
vegetable oil, for frying
2 lbs (900 g) yellow potatoes, peeled, cut into ½-in (1.25 cm) chips
salt, to taste
MUSHY PEAS
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 × 15 oz (425 g) can green peas, drained
½ cup (125 ml) frozen petite peas, blanched in hot water
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1 pinch pepper
1 tbsp (15 ml) water

Instructions

  1. To make the fish, cut fish into 8 equal pieces, about 3 oz (85 g) each. Season with 2 tsp (10 ml) salt and let sit for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove excess moisture with paper towel.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup (250 ml) flour, cornstarch, ½ tsp (2.5 ml) pepper and beer until no lumps remain.
  3. In a shallow dish, combine remaining 1 cup (250 ml) flour, ½ tsp (2.5 ml) pepper and 2 tsp (10 ml) salt with paprika and garlic powder, and mix well.
  4. Fill a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan one-quarter full with vegetable oil (or just use same pan and oil used to fry chips). Heat over medium-high heat to 375 F (190 C).
  5. When oil is hot, prepare fish. Working in batches, dredge fish in dry flour mixture, shake off excess flour, then coat in beer batter. Carefully place fish into oil, laying it down away from you. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from oil and drain on a rack. Season with salt while fish is still hot. Repeat with remaining fish.
  6. Serve with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, Double-Fried Chips and Mushy Peas.
  7. To make the chips, fill a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan halfway with oil. Heat over medium-high heat to 300 F (150 C).
  8. Meanwhile, rinse chips in cold water until water runs clear. Drain, then dry well with paper towel.
  9. Working in batches, fry chips in hot oil for about 10 minutes, or until soft, stirring occasionally so they don’t stick. They should be pale.
  10. Remove from oil and drain well. Cool chips to room temperature, then chill in refrigerator until cold.
  11. When ready to serve, heat same saucepan of oil over medium-high heat to 400 F (200 C). Fry chips in batches until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain and toss with salt. Repeat with remaining chips, bringing oil temperature back to 400 F (200 C) before frying next batch.
  12. To make the mushy peas, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add butter and green onions. Sweat until onions are soft. Add green and petite peas, salt, pepper and water. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, or until peas are heated through.
  13. Transfer to a food processor and pulse until chunky. Keep warm until ready to serve.
  14. To make all 3 components so they’re ready to serve at the same time, start by making Double-Fried Chips through step 4. While chips are chilling in refrigerator, make Mushy Peas and keep warm until ready to serve, and prepare Fish recipe through step 3. Now do second fry of chips (step 5 of Double-Fried Chips recipe), then use same oil to fry fish (steps 4 and 5 of Fish recipe).
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Drink Pairings

Tres Amigos

Combining the roundness of reposado tequila, the brightness of citrus and the warmth of cinnamon, this cocktail delivers a harmonious blend of flavours with a refreshing twist.

Ingredients

Serves 1
1 oz (30 ml) El Jimador Reposado Tequila
2 oz (60 ml) fresh orange juice*
¼ oz (7.5 ml) fresh lime juice*
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick, for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, orange juice, lime juice and pinch of ground cinnamon. Add cubed ice and shake vigorously. Pour the entire contents of the shaker into an old fashioned glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
  2. * Tip: Pre-strain the pulp from your fresh citrus juices for a more enjoyable cocktail experience.
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Featuring

Canadian Lemonade

Crafted with Canadian whisky, maple sweetness and zesty lemon, this cocktail delivers a refreshing combination of flavours, embodying the true northern spirit.

Ingredients

Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Forty Creek Barrel
Select Canadian Whisky
1 oz (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 oz (30 ml) maple syrup
3 oz (90 ml) water
1 lemon wheel, for garnish
1 sprig fresh thyme, for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine whisky, lemon juice, maple syrup and water. Add cubed ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain over cubed ice in Collins glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel and thyme sprig.
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Featuring

Margaux

Smooth white rum meets grapefruit’s tang, brought together by honey’s unique character in this refreshing cocktail, offering a perfect balance of flavours.

Ingredients

Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Bacardí Superior White Rum
¼ oz (7.5 ml) Honey Syrup*
1½ oz (45 ml) fresh pink grapefruit juice
grapefruit peel, for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine rum, Honey Syrup and grapefruit. Add cubed ice and shake vigorously. Fine stain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.
  2. * 3:1 ratio of honey dissolved in hot water. Allow to cool before using.
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Featuring

Thai Pork Laab

Laab is a spicy, sweet, and tangy dish packed full of umami and bright herbs. It comes together so quickly. Think of it as a meat salad or a quick stir-fry. Try it in rolls with the cabbage and rice, or take bites of it between bites of rice and vegetables. Pair this dish with Our Story Sauvignon Blanc or Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc beer.

Ingredients

Serves 4 to 6
2 tbsp (30 ml) raw jasmine rice
2 tsp (10 ml) red pepper chili flakes (or to taste)
1 lb (450 g) ground pork
2 tbsp (30 ml) water
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 stalk lemongrass, thinly sliced
3 tbsp (45 ml) fish sauce, plus more if needed
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated sugar
1 to 2 Thai (bird’s eye) chilies, thinly sliced (or to taste)
¼ cup (60 ml) roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
¼ cup (60 ml) roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3 tbsp (45 ml) fresh lime juice
1 small cucumber, sliced, to serve
1 small cabbage, cut into 4 to 6 wedges, to serve
cooked jasmine rice, to serve

Instructions

  1. In a small frying pan over medium-high heat, toast raw rice until golden brown. Transfer to a spice grinder or small food processor and grind into a powder. Set aside.
  2. In same frying pan over medium-high heat, toast chili flakes until golden brown. Set aside.
  3. In a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat, cook pork with water, stirring constantly to break it up. Cook until no pink remains, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off heat.
  4. Add green onions, shallots, lemongrass, fish sauce, sugar, Thai chilies and toasted chili flakes. Stir to combine, then let cool for 5 minutes.
  5. Add mint, cilantro, lime juice and toasted rice powder. Mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  6. Serve with cucumbers, cabbage and jasmine rice.
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Drink Pairings