Description

Michael has been cooking professionally for over 20 years. An honours graduate of Culinary Institute of America in New York, his career has spanned the globe from stints in a Michelin three-star restaurant in London to South America, the Caribbean, North America and some of Manhattan’s finest kitchens. He is an award-winning cookbook author, newspaper columnist, roving Canadian cuisine ambassador and home cook. But Smith says his favorite role by far is Dad, at home on PEI with his partner Rachel and their son Gabriel.Episode 1 –  Pasta with Black Olive SauceFast food is on the menu – but not takeout – as Michael prepares pasta with tomato olive sauce, pesto salad and banana muffins with raspberry butter.Recipes from this episode:    * Italian Salad with Basil and Homemade Croutons    * Penne with Black Olive Sauce    * Michael Smith’s Raspberry Butter    * Spiced Banana MuffinsEpisode 2 –  Lasagna with Speedy Tomato SauceMichael turns a weekend treat into a simple weekday dinner with his speedy lasagna, Sicilian salad, herb butter bread, and strawberry banana turnovers with cinnamon-crusted ice cream.Recipes from this episode:    * Cinnamon Crusted Ice Cream    * Roast Garlic Oregano Butter    * Sicilan Salad with Orange, Olives, Red Onions and Mint    * Speedy Lasagna    * Strawberry Banana TurnoversEpisode 3 –  Pasta wth Red Pepper SauceMichael experiments with something new and the result is a bright red pasta sauce made without tomatoes. Roast red pepper sauce with pasta, tomato & olive salad, and crostini with a roast garlic spread complete the menu.Recipes from this episode:    * Bowtie Pasta with Roast Red Pepper Sauce and Baby Spinach    * Crostini with Roasted Garlic and Caraway    * Tomato Olive SaladEpisode 4 –  Spanish PaellaFor a special Sunday dinner, Michael makes a simple Spanish paella, grilled asparagus with parsley pesto, watermelon & basil salad, and raspberry lemon parfaits.Recipes from this episode:    * Grilled Asparagus with Parsley Pesto    * Raspberry Lemon Parfaits    * Spanish Paella with Shrimp, Chicken and Sausage    * Watermelon and Basil SaladEpisode 5 –  Chilli GazpachoA hot day calls for a picnic complete with mint gazpacho, chicken Caesar salad, and the world’s fastest chocolate mousse.Recipes from this episode:    * Chicken Caesar Salad    * The World’s Fastest Chocolate Mousse    * Mint GazpachoEpisode 6 –  Split Pea SoupMichael satisfies his craving for comfort food with a speedy split pea soup, Greek salad and French fries with spicy ketchup.Recipes from this episode:    * French Fries    * Greek Salad with Oregano Dressing and Pickled Onions    * Speedy Split Pea Soup with Bacon    * Spicy KetchupEpisode 7 –  French Onion SoupInspired by his favourite ingredient, the onion, Michael makes French Onion Soup, pan roasted chicken breasts with a speedy pan sauce, and spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette and candied walnuts.Recipes from this episode:    * Michael Smith’s French Onion Soup    * Michael Smith’s Homemade Chicken Broth    * Pan Roasted Chicken Breasts with Speedy Pan Sauce    * Spinach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette and Candied WalnutsEpisode 8 –  Chicken Noodle SoupMichael recreates some of his favourite childhood food memories for Gabe with chicken noodle soup, bumps on a log, carrot raisin salad, and homemade brown sugar ice cream.Recipes from this episode:    * Bumps on a Log    * Carrot Raisin Salad    * Chicken Noodle Soup    * Homemade Brown Sugar Ice CreamEpisode 9 –  Blue Cheese Crusted Filet MignonA dinner party is the best time to try out new ideas and Michael decides to go with blue cheese crusted filet mignon, horseradish mashed potatoes, roast tomatoes with baby spinach, and a special meringue dessert: pavlova with orange marmalade.Recipes from this episode:    * Blue Cheese-Crusted Filet Mignon    * Horseradish Smashed Potatoes    * Pavlova with Orange Marmalade and Orange Whipped Cream    * Roast Tomatoes with Baby SpinachEpisode 10 –  Beer StewIt’s movie night with friends, and for the menu Michael simmers a beef stew made with beer, cheddar biscuits, butterscotch popcorn and hot cocoa laced with liqueurs.Recipes from this episode:    * Beer Beef Stew    * Butterscotch Popcorn    * Cheddar Biscuits    * Hot Cocoa with RumEpisode 11 –  Hearty ChiliMichael is hosting poker night and the culinary stakes are high. Spicy chili, cheddar cornbread and “Buffalo” chicken wing salad with blue cheese dressing, and Michael’s own Hard Lemonade completes his hand.Recipes from this episode:    * ‘Buffalo’ Chicken Wing Salad with Blue Cheese    * Cheddar Cornbread    * Homemade Chili Powder    * Michael’s Hard Lemonade    * Spicy ChiliEpisode 12 –  Southwestern Steak SaladMichael finds inspiration everywhere and ends up with a southwestern steak salad, spicy sweet potato soup with crispy tortillas, and green rice with cilantro.Recipes from this episode:    * Green Rice with Cilantro    * Southwestern Steak Salad    * Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Crispy TortillasEpisode 13 –  Salsa ChickenGabe has a few friends over, so Michael whips up a simple, healthy meal of salsa chicken, BLT salad, corn fritters with maple butter, and jello shooters.Recipes from this episode:    * BLT Salad    * Corn Fritters    * Jello Berry Shooters    * Maple Butter    * Salsa Cheddar ChickenEpisode 14 –  Risotto and Prosciutto Pesto ChickenMichael makes a few of his all time favourites, pesto stuffed chicken wrapped in proscuitto, parmesan, parsley & pea risotto, and meringue tarts with kumquat marmalade and strawberries.Recipes from this episode:    * Meringue Tarts with Marmalade and Strawberries    * Parmesan, Parsley and Pea Risotto    * Pesto Stuffed Chicken Wrapped in ProsciuttoEpisode 15 –  Cornflake Crusted chickenIt’s ‘restaurant night’ at the Smith’s and Rachel and Gabe have placed their orders. Cornflake crusted chicken with curry sauce, white beans with bacon and spinach, beet and goat cheese salad, and an upside-down apple pie are on the menu.Recipes from this episode:    * Beet and Goat Cheese Salad    * Cornflake Crusted Chicken    * Upside-Down Apple Pie    * White Beans with Bacon and SpinachEpisode 16 –  Asian Chicken SaladMichael shows how to take leftovers and make them into something new with Asian chicken salad wrapped in rice paper, potato pancakes with smoked salmon & herb sour cream dressing, baked tomatoes ‘Provencal’, and flambéed bananas served with ice cream.Recipes from this episode:    * Asian Chicken Salad Wrapped in Rice Paper    * Baked Tomatoes ‘Provencal’    * Flaming Bananas    * Potato Pancake with Smoked Salmon and Herbed Sour Cream DressingEpisode 17 –  Turkey TacosThe everyday flavours of Mexico are the inspiration for tonight’s menu of turkey tacos, cheesy quesadillas, avocado and corn salsa, apple pie burritos, and margaritas.Recipes from this episode:    * Apple Pie Burrito    * Avocado and Corn Salsa    * Cheesy Quesadillas    * Margaritas    * Turkey TacosEpisode 18 –  Rum Raisin PorkMolten chocolate cakes with coffee whipped cream headline this dinner of allspice-rubbed pork tenderloin with rum raisin sauce, pear salad with garlic oat crunch & blue cheese dressing, and sautéed spinach with nutmeg.Recipes from this episode:    * Allspice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Rum Raisin Sauce    * Chocolate Molten Cakes with Coffee Cream    * Pear Salad with Garlic Oat Crunch and Blue Cheese Dressing    * Sautéed Spinach with NutmegEpisode 19 -Potato Crusted SalmonMichael tries something new with a family favourite, fish. Potato & horseradish crusted salmon with pickle sauce, roasted licorice carrots, sautéed mushrooms with sherry & spinach and mango & strawberry cobbler make up this reinvigorating menu.Recipes from this episode:    * Horseradish Potato Crusted Salmon with Pickle Sauce    * Mango and Strawberry Cobbler    * Roasted Licorice Carrots    * Sautéed Mushrooms with Sherry and SpinachEpisode 20 -Tomato Vodka SalmonMichael makes a romantic dinner for two with an emphasis on presentation. He prepares Bloody Mary salmon, salad ‘Bouquet’ with cucumber vase and roasted tomatoes and little vanilla cakes.Recipes from this episode:    * Bloody Mary Salmon    * Little Vanilla Cakes    * Mint and Pea Puree    * Salad ‘Bouquet’ with Cucumber Vase and Roasted TomatoesEpisode 21 -Homemade SushiMichael shows how mainstream the flavours of Asia have become with orange ginger broth with soba noodles, sushi, spicy pineapple salad, coconut sticky rice pudding, and sun tea.Recipes from this episode:    * Coconut Sticky Rice Pudding    * Orange Ginger Broth with Soba Noodles    * Spicy Pineapple Salad    * Sun Tea 2    * Sushi 2Episode 22 -Braised Lamb ShanksMichael demonstrates how relaxing cooking can be with braised lamb shanks, roasted cauliflower with almonds, orange juice braised sweet potatoes, and roasted pineapple with coconut crusted ice cream.Recipes from this episode:    * Michael Smith’s Braised Lamb Shanks    * Orange Juice-Braised Sweet Potatoes    * Roasted Pineapple with Coconut Crusted Ice Cream    * Roasted Cauliflower with AlmondsEpisode 23 -Baked HalibutMichael shows off his infinitely modifiable method for cooking any fish by creating baked halibut with tomatoes, onions & a simple sauce, tomato couscous with black olives, cucumber & carrot salad, an avocado tuna fish appetizer and chocolate banana milkshakes for a treat.Recipes from this episode:    * Baked Halibut with Tomatoes and Onions    * Chocolate Banana Milkshake    * Cucumber and Carrot Salad 2    * Simple Seafood Sauce    * Tomato Couscous with Black Olives and Basil    * Tuna Avocado SaladEpisode 24-Potato Fish CakesThe mystery of combining flavours is revealed with potato & salmon cakes with horseradish sauce, broccoli & potato soup, and homemade peanut butter cups.Recipes from this episode:    * Broccoli and Potato Soup    * Homemade Peanut Butter Cups    * Horseradish Sauce    * Potato Salmon CakesEpisode 25 -Cocktail PartyA cocktail party is the best place to mix and match flavours. Nacho chips with bacon, jalapenos and cheddar, spicy tequila salsa, orange baked Brie in puff pastry, portobello pizzas, crispy bacon rings with smoked salmon mousse, a pink pineapple drink, and ‘Sangrita’ in cucumber cups with tequila shots get this party started!Recipes from this episode:    * Crispy Bacon Rings with Smoked Salmon Mousse    * Homemade Pineapple Vodka    * Nacho Chips with Bacon, Jalapenos and Cheddar    * Orange Baked Brie in Puff Pastry    * The Chef’s Home Brewed and Heavenly Hued Pineapple Powered Colada Concoction    * Portobello Pizzas    * ‘Sangrita’ in Cucumber Cups with Tequila Shots    * Spicy Tequila SalsaEpisode 26 -Fried Turkey The backyard is full of friends for a picnic, and Michael surprises them by deep-frying a turkey. He also makes potato salad with dill & mustard and Parmesan baked zucchini & tomatoes.Recipes from this episode:    * Deep Fried Turkey 2    * Potato Salad with Dill and Mustard    * Parmesan Baked Zucchini and Tomatoes