Festive Favourites

We all know that this year looks a little different than the rest.

That is why this holiday season we wanted to share how each of our @MyCanadianBeef advocates are celebrating with their loved ones. Learn how they are adapting their favourite recipes for those smaller celebrations.

Johnson Family Sage Watson Andrea Buckett James and Elaine Synowicki Stacey and Chris Iraelson Christine Lee-McNaughton Jason Eaton Andrea Villneff Jill Harvie Andy Hay

Johnson Family

#MyCanadianBeef is quality time spent with family. With this year being a different looking holiday season, we are focusing on creating fun memories outdoors with our family. We are taking advantage of heading outside on winter days that are mild enough to enjoy great food and fresh air.

Our oldest daughter was married this past summer and is settling in with her new husband just a mile down the road from us. We work together and are enjoying creating memories with our new son in law. Malcolm is from New Zealand and is still learning all about what Canadian winters are like.

There’s something so dreamy about skating on a wide open lake that brings out the child in all of us. One of the best parts about winter activities is coming back to a big fire with hot chocolate, fresh homemade sourdough, and a hearty beef chili. We love the Big Batch Chili recipe from the Canada Beef Roundup App. Malcolm often tells us about the delicious meat pies that they enjoy in New Zealand. Over the holiday season, we look forward to making the Traditional Beef Tourtiere recipe from the app. Small groups or large family get togethers, beef is always on the menu.

Recipes

All Family Big Batch Beef ChiliAdapted from a recipe by Chef Jean-Francois Fortin of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, this chili makes a big pot – perfect for when you have the gang over or want to stock your freezer with speedy weeknight dinners. The seasoning is quite mild so if you want to spice it up, serve with some hot sauce or add ½ tsp chili pepper flakes while sautéing the seasonings.

Minestrone with Mucho MeatballsThis hearty minestrone comes with a multitude of meatballs! To avoid toughening meatballs, use your hands for mixing meatball ingredients and SHAPE GENTLY when forming the meatballs.

Sage Watson

#MyCanadianBeef is spending quality time eating around the dinner table with my family. A holiday tradition that my family likes to do is hot rock cooking and we like to cook steak on there along with veggies, chicken and lobster. It’s fun because it takes over an hour to sit around the table and cook all the food so we get to spend quality time together.

Image Christmas 2019

Recipes

Raclette-Style Beef in Herbed ButterIf you don't own a raclette, you can always use an electric fry pan to cook this beef recipe at the table or sauté in a non-stick pan on the stove-top. Make Ahead Tip: The herbed butter can be made ahead and frozen. Use any extra for later meals, stirring into mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables. Accompanying vegetables can all be assembled a few hours ahead of time.

Asian Beef Hot PotFor a fun party, or family dinner, try this lighter recipe of beef fondue.

Korean Beef Lettuce CupsThis Asian-inspired ground beef recipe lets you entertain with style and within budget. It works for family meals too — easy to prepare and casual to eat.

Andrea Buckett

#MyCanadianBeef is about new traditions, embracing the great Canadian Winters with paired down but just as joyous celebrations. Filling our time with homemade and DIY endeavours instead of shopping and gift giving. Appreciating being together, and having our health.

We will bundle up and be outdoors when we can, embracing the Canadian winter. We will stay connected by hosting an outdoor bonfire with apple cider and mulled wine. Our closest family can join us for a cup of cheer.

We are big fans of beef, especially during the holidays. Normally we would cook a prime rib roast but I think this year we will make my pan seared beef tenderloin steaks with the grainy mustard pan sauce

Recipes

Pan-seared Tenderloin Steaks with Pan-Sauce 3 WaysPan searing is a simple way to create restaurant-style steaks at home. Once you know how, you will be surprised how easy it is to do. The best cuts of beef to use for this recipe are ones labelled ‘grilling steaks’ such as centre cut tenderloin, top sirloin or rib-eye. Serve the pan-seared steak with one of these simple pan sauces. The robust flavour will add extra zip to the steaks. The image is the Ginger-Miso Pan-sauce version.

Beef WellingtonBeef Wellington is a show-stopper. You can’t beat the dinner-drama of bringing a Wellington to the table.

Zimmy’s Nook

🎼 Tis the season to be jolly 🎶🎵

Holiday traditions are made of family, friends and delicious food!

This year, although holiday festivities will be reimagined, we are still going to enjoy a ‘merry & bright‘ holiday season. We may only see our family & friends virtually (or briefly during food drop-offs), but that’s not going to put a damper on embracing the season! We’ll be cooking a traditional feast, then packaging up portions and delivering meals to a few loved ones. Wishing everyone a very safe, healthy and happy holiday season!

Recipes

Beef WellingtonBeef Wellington is a show-stopper. You can’t beat the dinner-drama of bringing a Wellington to the table.

More at the Zimmy’s Nook blog…The Ultimate Roast Beef Sandwich – Reverse seared & Sichuan marinated!

Stacey and Chris Iraelson

Stacey and Chris Iraelson Holiday Favourites Canada Beef So this season we are keeping it pretty simple and trying to enjoy the small things. We are focusing on spending time with each other while following restrictions to protect the health of our family and community💞 We have been doing lots of sledding in our farm yard and plan to enjoy outdoor small gatherings with some extended family such as a wiener roast, hot chocolate and sledding! If the weather stays warm we hope to do some horse riding over the holidays as well! But definitely staying close to home!

Also on my list is holiday baking with the kiddos; I have those family recipes that I make every year that the kids and my hubby start asking for this time of year!

Festive season always makes me crave those comfort foods! We just got a new beef in the freezer and I am very excited to use Canada beefs recipes for flank such as Grilled Flank steak and puttanesca salad! The slow cooker marvelous mushroom pot roast is on my list as well!!

Recipes

Grilled Flank Steak and Puttanesca SaladAndrea Buckett Cooks created this delicious steak recipe which incorporates all the flavours we love about "puttanesca" into a summer fresh salad. The steak is grilled with only salt and pepper then gets a “reverse rub” after it comes off the grill. This means the flavours of the rub get to shine and aren’t dimmed by charring on the BBQ. The flank steak doesn’t need to be marinated to be tender. You simply have to cut it in thin slices against the grain. This is a brilliant recipe chocked-full of flavour and perfect to feed a crowd.

Marvellous Mushroom Pot RoastPot roasts make the most comforting one-pot meals. And bonus – they’re so simple to make: Just brown meat and flavourings, add a liquid for cooking, cover and slow-simmer – that's all there is to it!

Christine Lee-McNaughton

#MyCanadianBeef is creating family memories. This is our favourite time of the year. Christmas with my side of the family is a huge celebration, filled with lots of family, friends, creating memories, and sharing a feast together. This year will be a lot different, since we are in the midst of a global pandemic. Sadly, being on Manitoulin Island, we won’t be able to spend time with my family from Toronto, Kingston, and Montreal. We were hoping they could visit, but we’ll all be playing it safe this year. My youngest brother and his wife just had a baby boy, whom I haven’t met yet (thanks, COVID).

We usually celebrate with John’s side of the family and with my side of the family. John’s family Christmas celebrations include getting together for light snacks and opening Christmas presents. When we celebrate with my side, we have Noche Buena — an evening of LOTS of food, singing, games, going to church service, and did I mention lots of food?

In the spirit of giving and kindness, which the holidays are known for, we have been teaching Little One each year about giving and supporting others. We volunteer, donate, and raise funds for various charities that are close to our hearts. John always says, “If you take care of your community, your community will take care of you.”

Our Christmas dinners have become a mix of traditional and non-traditional dishes. Because I married into a beef farming family, we always have beef on the menu. Whether it’s a tourtiere or a roast, there are always a few beef dishes to be enjoyed.

Some of our family traditions include going for winter hikes and raclette night!

Recipes

Rouladen-style Roast BeefInspired by Emily Richards @ERiscooking, this stuffed rolled roast is an easy way to take a budget roast like Eye of Round and turn it into something you’d be proud to serve to company. It’s very lean so you may even consider wrapping it in bacon – who doesn’t like bacon after all? Other options for filling: add asiago or Parmesan to the mixture, use pesto instead of mustard.

Mushroom-Crusted Roast BeefAdd something new to your roast beef repertoire with this Mushroon-Crusted Roast Beef recipe. Made from dried mushrooms, the crust adds an intense mushroom flavour to both the sauce and the roast beef.

Jason Eaton

In Southern Ontario there is always the possibility of green Christmas. I will have the wood chips ready for the possibility of a Christmas smoker session this year. If the weather cooperates a reversed seared 2″ prime rib steak could be the star of my holiday meal (for two). If the weather turns this smoked steak could easily transition into prime rib roast. That’s the versatility of #MyCanadianBeef.

Recipes

Grilled Prime Rib Beef Roast for TwoA small prime rib beef roast can be grilled or roasted to perfection — even if cooked from frozen.

Barbecue Beef BrisketTechnically, you should use a pit or home smoker to smoke beef brisket (sometimes for up to 18 hours), but it can be smoked indirectly as in this recipe, using a covered charcoal or gas grill.

Andrea Villneff

#MyCanadianBeef is mixing new traditions with old. As someone with a large family, Christmas is going to feel a little different this year with COVID-19 limiting the size of get-togethers. Although Christmas will be a bit smaller, I’m going to take this opportunity to slow down a little bit and enjoy the true meaning of the holiday spirit by giving back to my local community.

Local food banks are in need more than ever due to high demand. This year as a new tradition I plan on donating 5 Shepherd’s’ Pies to local shelters/food banks for a hearty all in one family meal.

#MyCanadianBeef family tradition is serving up a delicious, beefy Shepherds’ Pie for Christmas Eve dinner. I want to share this warm and comforting tradition with families in need. This year is a good year to appreciate what you have in your life and help out where you can for those not doing as well. 2020 has been tough for everyone in different ways, but this is a good time to be thankful for what you have and help those in need.

Recipes

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s PieEnjoy this new style Shepherd's Pie -- a flavorful ground beef filling topped with a vitamin rich mashed sweet potato topping. YUM!

Roast Beef with Roasted RatatouilleThis recipe takes advantage of roasting both the vegetables and the beef at the same time. Plus with leftovers, try making a quick salad or sandwich like the Mediterranean Wraps. “What we all liked about the end product was the evenness of the medium doneness – throughout like a hotel roast. The roast was very moist and flavourful – not at all dry Outside Round!” —Reader Comment

Keep your kids busy over the holidays with Andrea, 24 videos to choose from!

Jill Harvie

After a busy summer and fall harvest the festive season is when our family takes a little time to recharge and enjoy the fresh air and mountain view of Lake Louise. We use this time to share special moments with our girls as the New Year is always busy with the arrival of lots of new calves. We enjoy cooking and filling our freezer with ready to cook or reheat meals.

Recipes

Oven Roast Beef Stuffed with Mushroom Barley RisottoWith beef tenderloin and a rich risotto made from barley and mixed mushrooms, this recipe is a showstopper. To simplify meal-planning, make the risotto ahead and store covered tightly in the fridge for up to 3 days. The recipe makes 5 cups of risotto which is plenty for stuffing the roast with 3 cups remaining that can be served as a meal unto itself or as a side along with the roast.

Beef Cheeseburger Mini Meat LoavesBring kids to the table with this recipe for Beef Cheeseburger Mini Meat Loaves. Kids love the fast food flavours. You love that they’re getting the goodness of lean Canadian beef. These cook much faster than regular meat loaf, bringing new meaning to the term fast food.

Andy Hay

This year the holidays are going to look a little bit different. 2020, you threw us for a loop! My wife and I are very lucky to be surrounded by our immediate family here on the East Coast. We live minutes away from all of our siblings and parents. Our holiday will be spent playing with our two little girls, Lucy & Violet, and trying to keep them amused!

We won’t be traveling far from home and will be sure to spend lots of time outside going for hikes, playing on the beach, and visiting playgrounds. My oldest daughter is 4 years old and is beyond excited for Santa Clause. My wife and I will be going above and beyond to make this a magical Christmas for her.

Our daughters are so important to us and they also offer a lovely distraction from the goings-on in the world. While I will miss the holiday parties and friends, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to spend his holiday at home with my Family. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Recipes

Egyptian Rice Beef BowlInspired by Koshari, a traditional street food in Egypt, this weeknight rice bowl features a hearty mixture of protein and fibre-rich whole grain, beans and ground beef, all topped with a zesty tomato salsa. This meal gets an iron boost with the synergy-effect of combining meat, beans, chard and whole grain.

Marinated Flank Steak Tacos with Spicy Carrot and Bean Sprout Slaw. View the recipe on Jason’s blog now!