Courtesy of Laura Green

RICOTTA & SPINACH TARTS

INGREDIENTS:

• Olive oil & cooking spray • 6 cup muffin tin

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed and cut into 6 squares • 1 cup ricotta cheese • 2 cups fresh spinach, blanched

• 1 yellow onion, finely diced • 1 clove garlic, minced • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese • 2 eggs (1 each for filling and egg wash)

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prep your tin by lightly greasing it with cooking spray. 2. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan. Sauté the onion and garlic until soft. Add the spinach and cook on low for 5 minutes until fully wilted.

3. Wrap the cooked spinach mixture in paper towel, squeeze out excess moisture. 4. For the filling whisk together the ricotta, one egg, parmesan, salt, pepper and parsley in a bowl. Fold in the dry spinach mixture until fully combined. 5. Season to taste with salt, pepper, parsley and red pepper flakes. 6. Press the 6 pastry squares gently into the muffin holes. Spoon the mixture evenly into the pastry. Brush the exposed pastry edges with the beaten egg wash for a golden finish. 7. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and crispy. Cool in tin for 5 minutes.

THE ORIGINAL SOCIAL NETWORK: BOARD GAMES

Board game nights are making a comeback as people actively hunt for low-cost, screen-free ways to unplug and connect with multiple people. When you’re gathering a small group, the right tabletop choice can effortlessly and quickly turn a casual gathering into an evening of laughter and friendly competition. Don’t forget the classic board games like Clue, Scrabble, Guess Who and Sorry for hours of fun during family board game nights. For maximum fun and effortless laughs, choose games with simple rules and quick learning curves. Titles like Codenames, Fluxx, Catan, Ticket to Ride, Azul and Carcassonne are easy to learn and keep players engaged. They’re also great for replayability so that the game can adjust to you and the other players. For players ready for a longer, more complex game, board games like Monopoly, Risk and Civilization are a good fit. Snack Tip: Choose finger foods that won’t leave greasy residue on cards and game pieces. Veggie trays, crackers and dip, mini quiches and savoury tarts are easy choices.

LANDSCAPING YOU CAN EAT

Edible landscaping combines ornamental plants with food-producing varieties, creating a yard that is both beautiful and productive. Instead of separating gardens from food crops, homeowners can weave fruit trees, berry bushes and edible ground covers into existing landscape designs. The result is a space that looks great while providing fresh, homegrown harvests throughout the growing season. Many edible plants thrive in Canadian gardens. Popular choices include haskap berries, saskatoons, blueberries, hardy apple trees, sour cherries, cold-hardy plums and Pacific crab apples. Local options such as wild strawberries can also add colour, texture and tasty rewards while helping pollinator populations thrive. One of the biggest benefits of edible landscaping is its year-round appeal. Spring brings fragrant blossoms and vibrant colour, followed by summer fruit and berries. In autumn, many varieties offer striking foliage before revealing attractive branch structures in winter. In many cases, the flowers are every bit as beautiful as the harvest that follows, making edible landscaping a practical and eye-catching addition to any Canadian yard.