Celebrating St-Jean-Baptiste Day

Today is Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day—a holiday in the Canadian province of Quebec. The day of Saint John the Baptist or Midsummer is also celebrated as a religious feast day in several countries, like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Spain, Latvia, and Lithuania. To help celebrate the day we asked Epicure Global Director Sylvie Cousineau to share some recipe ideas to use today, and into the summer. Sylvie’s recipes below are all about the season—using what’s fresh like gorgeous, ripe strawberries—and, gathering with family and friends for a meal that comes together quickly and easily on those hot, summer days. Enjoy!

Pimped-up Quebec style Macaroni Salad

Featuring special ingredients curd cheese and smoked meat—for added taste and protein!

Big Burger Sauce—prepare according to recipe*

454g of macaroni elbows, cooked per directions

2 grated carrots

1 red pepper, diced

2 celery sticks, diced

3 green onions finally chopped

1 cup curd cheese

1 cup diced smoked meat

Prepare Big Burger Sauce in a big bowl. Once the pasta is cooked, use the Collapsible Strainer to drain it, and while still in the strainer, add two tablespoons of vegetable oil and mix well (this will prevent the pasta from sticking together). Cool the pasta before adding it to the prepared sauce. Once well mixed, add the remaining ingredients et voilà! Your salad is ready!

*Double the sauce recipe if you plan on eating burgers too, you’ll want some sauce to put in there too—so good!

Loaded Burgers

1 lb ground beef (for more flavour, don’t use lean) 2 tbps Sweet & Spicy Mustard 1 tbsp Montreal Steak 1 tbsp 3 Onion Dip Mix

½ cup of curds cheese (chop the bigger piece so it’s easier to mix with meat)

Mix all ingredients and form into patties.

Epic tip: freeze the patties before using, so they don’t fall apart while cooking. If they seem to stick to the grill when you want to flip them over, it’s because they aren’t cooked enough yet. Wait a few minutes and try again—they won’t stick when they’re ready to flip.

Plan burgers for the whole summer

Make a big quantity all at once. Once made into patties, place them on a Sheet Pan covered with the Sheet Pan Liner and freeze. Once they are frozen, transfer them into a freezer bag or container and make sure you also have burger buns in the freezer as well. You’ll always be ready to enjoy a great burger all summer long!

Quebec-Style French Fries

Russet Potatoes, as many as you need to feed your crowd Montreal Steak Rub, to taste

Vegetable oil, to coat

Cut the potatoes in quarters (keep skin) put in a large bowl, add oil to coat and then generously sprinkle Montreal Steak! Bake in the oven at 400F until lightly browned and crispy. Delicious served with a Roasted Garlic Aioli.

Strawberry Dessert

1 cup of sliced strawberries

1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar 1 tsp Summer Berry Sweet Dip Mix

Mix vinegar and summer berry fruits together then add the strawberries.

Absolutely delicious just like this. Even better served on vanilla ice cream or a slice of pound cake.

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