This decadent dessert is impressive and easy to make.

Recipe courtesy of Oster.

Soy beverages in Tetra Pak cartons are a great alternative to buttermilk and it is full of vitamins and minerals.

Courtesy of Motts Clamato . 

Courtesy of Mott's Clamato .

Hot chili and chocolate make a surprisingly good combination. Sweet, smooth chocolate flavour melts on your tongue and satisfies your taste buds, then finishes with a kick of heat.

This Chocolate Ice Cream recipe has only 6 ingredients, requires no cooking, and with the right equipment is ready in 30 minutes.

Although this recipe calls for liqueur, whisky, rum or any other spirit would work as well.

This recipe is adapted from Tom Jaine's and Nicholas Campion's book, Cosmic Cuisine - The Astrological Cookbook (Windward).

Courtesy of Mott's Clamato .

Recipe adapted from Cosmic Cuisine - The Astrological Cookbook by Tom Jaine and Nicholas Campion.

Courtesy of Mott's Clamato .

The 3 - 2 - 1 ratio of flour, buter and water is the secret to making the ultimate flakey pie crust.

This is Del Rollo’s spin on the always-popular Tequila Sunrise.

Adapted from a recipe by Oster.

Recipe courtesy of Lotus Vodka .

Tired of bacon that's too salty or watery? Try making it yourself at home. It may take a while, but the effort is certainly worth it. This is a really basic recipe for a rubbed dry cure bacon.

This recipe has been adapted from the Robin Hood Flour recipe collection.

The weather has been a little erratic this winter. But we’re still skiing up a storm — no pun intended. In this version of a traditional Mayan chocolate drink, you get a little spike of heat from the chili. If you need a bigger spike, throw a little Irish Cream into the mix.

Here’s another great make-ahead cocktail for a larger party. Increase the quantities proportionately for the number of guests and combine in a pitcher without ice.  Cover and chill. Add ice and stir well just before serving.

Wendy McGuinness, the bar manager at Chambar in Vancouver, created this luxurious maple-based drink. Midtown’s Chambar is prized for its bar, its beers and its Belgian-like frits. The Bliss maple syrup, available in Tahitian Vanilla and Bourbon flavours, is available at the Dirty Apron Cook Shop.

Wendy McGuinness, the bar manager at Chambar in Vancouver, created this luxurious maple-based drink. Midtown’s Chambar is prized for its bar, its beers and its Belgian-like frits. The Bliss maple syrup, available in Tahitian Vanilla and Bourbon flavours, is available at the Dirty Apron Cook Shop.

Wendy McGuinness, the bar manager at Chambar in Vancouver, created this luxurious maple-based drink. Midtown’s Chambar is prized for its bar, its beers and its Belgian-like frits. The Bliss maple syrup, available in Tahitian Vanilla and Bourbon flavours, is available at the Dirty Apron Cook Shop.

Read Kitchen Essentials -- Meringue for tips and tricks on how to prepare this simple, gourmet dessert.

Henny Smith submitted this maple syrup-based recipe for the Tidings' Maple Syrup Recipe Contest.

Henny's recipe for maple pie is made with her own dark syrup. It is a variation on a maple tart recipe from Harrowsmith Country Life.

To make this mocha even more decadent, add a splash of amaretto liqueur.

This is a delicious treat adapted from The KitchenAid Cookbook. Easy to put together, it makes a wonderful anytime snack, or dare I say, breakfast.

Recipe courtesy of John Besh’s My New Orleans – The Cookbook. Serve over any kind of bird, venison or pork.

Recipe courtesy of Lotus Vodka .

Recipe courtesy of Lotus Vodka .

Recipe courtesy of Lotus Vodka .

Adding simple syrup to drinks is a great way to ensure that sugar granules don't sink undissolved to the bottom of the glass.

If you don’t want to impress your friends, by all means break out the pre-mixed store-bought syrup. If you love ’em, however, try this recipe, which pays homage to hot cocoa’s roots by using cinnamon, vanilla and chili to add depth and a bit of heat. Adding cream makes it extra rich. The calorie count is not quite as high as a venti frappucino with whipped cream, but I promise you, it’s close. Add more chilli if you really want your chocolate hot.

Recipe courtesy of Lotus Vodka .

Mary Knickle submitted this maple syrup-based recipe for Tidings' Maple Syrup Recipe Contest.

She suggests that if you like your chocolate sauce a little runnier on ice-cream add just a little water (a few tablespoons) and adjust flavours accordingly.  You can add any of the above ingredients over again.  Just whisk until smooth under a low heat. Above all enjoy, and savour the comments: "This is the best chocolate sauce I have ever had!"

Recipe courtesy of Lotus Vodka .

A strata is a sandwich that is baked in a very light custard -- actually, a lot like dressed up French toast. This one's perfect for breakfast, brunch or lunch.

Looking for something different? Try this specialty adapted from Sarma Melngailis of One Lucky Duck consisting of raw cacao mole, marinated portobellos and green tomato salsa.