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 –  Moroccan ChickenMichael shows how easy the unfamiliar can be with a gastronomic visit to Morocco. A chicken tangine, couscous stuffed tomatoes and homemade hummus with seasoned pita chips completes this culinary adventure.Recipes from this episode:    * Moroccan Chicken Tagine    * Couscous-Stuffed Tomatoes    * Michael Smith’s Hummus    * Moroccan PB&J    * Seasoned Pita ChipsEpisode 2 –  Tomato Bacon PastaMichael demonstrates how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Fettuccini with tomato and bacon sauce, a house salad with salsa dressing and a simple berry pudding will all tantalize your taste buds.Recipes from this episode:    * Berry Pudding    * Brussels Sprouts 2    * Pasta with Tomato and Bacon Sauce    * Salsa SaladEpisode 3  –  Weekend BrunchMichael creates a simple brunch buffet with sunshine smoothies, a tasty baked egg dish, potato bacon cakes and French toast with blueberry maple sauce.Recipes from this episode:    * Blueberry Maple Syrup    * Brunch Bake    * Fortune French Toast    * Potato Bacon Cakes    * Sunshine SmoothiesEpisode 4 –  Creme BruleeMichael makes a special candlelight dinner for his wife. Pot steamed salmon, fennel apple salad and his wife’s favourite dessert, caramel crème brûlée, complete this romantic meal.Recipes from this episode:    * Apple Chips    * Caramel Crème Brûlée    * Fennel Apple Salad    * Pot Steamed SalmonEpisode 5 –  Chicken DippersMichael heads to the kitchen to clear away the rainy day blues. Chicken dippers with an apple yogurt dip and a kid friendly salad bar complete with colourful kid’s vinaigrettes make up this wonderful indoor picnic.Recipes from this episode:    * Apple Butter    * Apple Yogurt Dip    * Michael Smith’s Chicken Dippers    * Homemade Play Dough    * Kids Vinaigrette    * Oatmeal MuffinsEpisode 6 –  Homemade Chicken SoupMichael heads to the kitchen to play doctor daddy. His restorative cooking helps Gabe fight off the sniffles with homemade chicken soup, matzo balls, cucumber carrot salad, and warm bread pudding.Recipes from this episode:    * Bread Pudding    * Chunky Monkey    * Cucumber and Carrot Salad    * Homemade Chicken Broth with Matzo BallsEpisode 7 –  Rotini with Clam SauceMichael is on a quest for culinary adventure in his own kitchen. Rotini with red clam sauce accompanies grilled Caesar salad while a unique dessert of Parmesan cream and balsamic honey syrup tops off the day.Recipes from this episode:    * Grilled Caesar Salad    * Parmesan Cream with Balsamic Honey Syrup    * Rotini with Red Clam Sauce    * Horseradish GravyEpisode 8 –  Prime Rib DinnerSharing food is one of the friendliest gestures anyone can make, so Michael invites the new neighbours over for dinner. Prime rib with horseradish gravy, and stuffed baked potatoes are on the menu for this ‘welcome’ dinner.Recipes from this episode:    * Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich    * Homemade Horseradish    * Prime Rib Dinner    * Stuffed Baked PotatoesEpisode 9 –  Steamed MusselsFresh local ingredients are the inspiration for this delicious meal. Michael starts by steaming fresh mussels, and then bakes crispy whole grain dippers. Oka cheese stuffed potatoes, a field salad and a fruit tart all add local flavour to the table.Recipes from this episode:    * Blueberry Slushie    * Crispy Whole Grain Dippers    * Field Salad with Cider Vinaigrette    * Oka Stuffed Potatoes    * Steamed Mussels in Riesling BrothEpisode 10 –  Lobster PenneMichael celebrates his wife Rachel’s birthday by creating a new dish with her favourite crustacean. Lobster a la Rachel, potato salad with smoked salmon and dill, and chocolate truffles complete the birthday feast.Recipes from this episode:    * Chocolate Truffles    * Lobster a la Rachel    * Potato Salad with Smoked Salmon and DillEpisode 11 –  Caribbean SalmonReggae music and Michael’s island cooking experience are the inspiration for a Caribbean themed meal. Caribbean coconut crusted salmon, salsa dip, salad, reggae rice, and mango fool make up this exotic feast.Recipes from this episode:    * Banana Rum Coconut Smoothies    * Caribbean Coconut Crusted Salmon    * Michael Smith’s Caribbean Salad    * Caribbean Salsa    * Fresh Grated Coconut    * Mango Fool 2    * Reggae RiceEpisode 12 –  Pan Roast Pork ChopsMichael heads to the refrigerator to reinterpret some old flavour pairings. Apple stuffed pork chops, pork stuffed apple and southwestern style rice is the result of this creative journey.Recipes from this episode:    * Apple Stuffed Pork Chops    * Cumin Seed Oil    * Pork Stuffed Apples    * Southwestern RiceEpisode 13 –  Chinese NightMichael reveals the simplicity of making great tasting Chinese food at home. Egg drop soup with chicken dumplings, shrimp toast, Chinese broccoli and fortune cookies make up this culinary delight.Recipes from this episode:    * Asian Dipping Sauce    * Michael Smith’s Chicken Dumplings    * Chinese Broccoli    * Fortune Cookies 2    * Shrimp ToastEpisode 14 –  Wood Grilled SteakNo good deed goes unrewarded in Michael’s kitchen. So after a day of splitting wood with his buddy, a meal of wood grilled steak, scallop potato gratin and grilled vegetables is the reward.Recipes from this episode:    * Homemade Steak Sauce    * Scalloped Potato Gratin    * Steaming Mocha Cocoa    * Wood Grilled Steak and VegetablesEpisode 15 –  Luncheon OmeletWeekends are a time to take it easy, letting weekday tensions fade away. A classic omelet with thyme and cheddar, fruit salad with orange mint dressing and butterscotch breakfast buns make up this simple, tasty weekend brunch.Recipes from this episode:    * Butterscotch Breakfast Buns    * Classic Omelet with Fresh Thyme and Cheddar    * Fruit Salad with Mint    * Yogurt CheeseEpisode 16 –  Summer SaladsIt’s a beautiful day for a picnic and Michael improvises cold salads to maximize his time outdoors. A feast of Asian spinach salad with orange dressing, Asian cabbage salad, salsa, and tuna potato salad is made complete with homemade ice cream sandwiches.Recipes from this episode:    * Asian Cabbage Salad    * Ice Cream Sandwiches    * Salsa    * Spinach Salad with Orange Vinaigrette    * Tuna Potato SaladEpisode 17 –  Backyard Smoked ChickenMichael’s quest for flavour leads him down a delicious path. Wood smoke roasted chicken, spaghetti squash salad, brown rice and apples satisfy his flavour craving.Recipes from this episode:    * Brown Rice with Apples    * Smoked Sardines    * Spaghetti Squash Salad    * Wood Smoke Roasted ChickenEpisode 18 –  Indian Lamb CurryAn adventurous spirit leads Michael to the bright flavours of India. Lamb curry, aromatic basmati rice, spicy cilantro relish and cucumber mint raita are surprisingly easy to prepare.Recipes from this episode:    * Aromatic Basmati Rice    * Cucumber Mint Raita    * Garam Masala    * Pea Pancakes    * Spicy Cilantro Relish    * Indian Lamb CurryEpisode 19 –  Italian FlavoursMichael brings the flavours of Italy to his kitchen. Pasta sauce with chicken, Ratatouille, tomato & fresh mozzarella salad, rapini with brown butter and Italian sodas complete this Italian expedition.Recipes from this episode:    * Italian Sodas    * Pasta Sauce with Chicken and Peppers    * Rapini with Brown Butter    * Raspberry Syrup    * Ratatouille 2    * Tomato Mozzarella SaladEpisode 20 –  Lamb BurgersAfter a day on the golf course, Michael prepares some 19th hole refreshments. Grilled lamb burgers, grilled corn and red onion salsa, potato bacon tart and caramel rum pudding are sure to satisfy his golfing buddies.Recipes from this episode:    * Grilled Corn and Red Onion Salsa    * Grilled Lamb Burgers    * Potato Bacon Cheddar Tart 2    * Spiced NutsEpisode 21 –  Hors d’Oeurves PartyGreat ingredients and lots of friends are the key to any great party. Chewy wine shots, chicken dippers, smoked salmon mousse in tortilla chips, smoked salmon egg rolls, chipotle yogurt dip and savory Parmesan and thyme cookies round out this delectable cocktail party menu.Recipes from this episode:    * Balsamic Syrup    * Chewy Wine Shots    * Michael Smith’s Chicken Dippers    * Chipotle Yogurt Dip    * Savory Parmesan and Thyme Cookies    * Smoked Salmon Egg Rolls    * Smoked Salmon Mousse in Tortilla CupsEpisode 22 –  Colourful HalibutPaper-baked halibut with julienne vegetables, rice paper tuna salad roll, cherry tomato crisp and curried cauliflower soup with red pepper puree add colourful flavour to Michael’s dinner table.Recipes from this episode:    * Cherry Tomato Crisp    * Curried Cauliflower Soup with Red Pepper Puree    * Paper Baked Halibut with Julienne Vegetables    * Rice Paper Tuna Salad Roll    * Roast Chicken BrothEpisode 23 –  Fusion Fish CakesMichael fuses fun and flavours in the kitchen. Smoked salmon sushi, fusion salmon cakes, Asian noodle salad, iced tea and coconut tarts with chocolate add an international flavour to the menu.Recipes from this episode:    * Michael Smith’s Asian Noodle Salad    * Coconut Tarts with Chocolate and Coconut Cream    * Fusion Salmon Cakes    * Smoked Salmon Sushi    * Spiced Maple Iced TeaEpisode 24 –  Veggie BurgersVariety is the key to life, in and out of the kitchen. Veggie burgers, sweet potato wedges, and grilled veggies illustrate that a vegetarian spread is an easy, flavourful option.Recipes from this episode:    * Grilled Veggies    * Sweet Potato Wedgies    * Veggie Burgers    * Veggie Pita WrapEpisode 25 –  Grilled PizzaBored with routine, Michael takes the tried and true out to grill. Grilled pizza, grilled pineapple salad, grilled radicchio and shortcakes with strawberry rhubarb satisfy Michael’s urge for something new.Recipes from this episode:    * Grilled Pineapple Salad    * Grilled Pizza 2    * Grilled Radicchio 4    * Shortcakes with Strawberry-Rhubarb CompoteEpisode 26 –  Grandma’s Beef StewMichael’s mom is coming for dinner so he jazzes up some of her classics. Beef stew, mashed potatoes and spinach salad with pears, walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette all get a Michael makeover to impress Mom.Recipes from this episode:    * Beef Broth    * Beef Stew    * Grandma’s Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes    * Spinach Salad with Pears, Walnuts and Raspberry VinaigretteEpisode 27 – Christmas Dinner Michael takes easy it for the holidays by adding some new twists to his family’s holiday favourites. Spiced sugar cookies, brined turkey and whole grain stuffing add to the flavourful fest.Recipes from this episode:    * Honey Roast Turkey with Gravy    * Whole Grain Stuffing