Chef at Home

Fast food is on the menu - but not takeout - as Michael prepares pasta with tomato olive sauce, pesto salad and banana muffins with raspberry butter.

Michael 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.

Michael 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.

For a special Sunday dinner, Michael makes a simple Spanish paella, grilled asparagus with parsley pesto, watermelon & basil salad, and raspberry lemon parfaits.

A hot day calls for a picnic complete with mint gazpacho, chicken Caesar salad, and the world's fastest chocolate mousse.

Michael satisfies his craving for comfort food with a speedy split pea soup, Greek salad and French fries with spicy ketchup.

Inspired 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.

Michael 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.

A 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.

It'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.

Michael 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.

Michael finds inspiration everywhere and ends up with a southwestern steak salad, spicy sweet potato soup with crispy tortillas, and green rice with cilantro.

Gabe has a few friends over, so Michale whips up a simple, healthy meal of salsa chicken, BLT salad, corn fritters with maple butter, and jello shooters.

Michael 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.

It's 'restaurant night' at the Smiths' and Rachel and Gabe have placed their orders. Cornflake crusted chicken with curry sauce, white beans with bacon & spinach, beet & Goats cheese salad, and an upside down apple pie are on hte menu.

Michael 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 flambeed bananas served with ice cream.

The everyday flavours of Mexico are hte inspiration for tonight's menu of turkey tacos, cheesy quesadillas, avocado & corn salsa, apple pie burritos, and margaritas

Molten 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 sauteed spinach with nutmeg.

Michael tries something new with a family favourite, fish. Potato & horseradish crusted salmon with pickle sauce, roasted licorice carrots, sauteed mushrooms with sherry & spinach and mango & strawberry cobbler make up this reinvigorating menu.

Michael makes a romantic dinner for two with an emphasis on presentation. He prepares Bloody Mary salmon with mint and pea puree, salad "Bouquet" with cucumber vase and roasted tomatoes and little vanilla cakes.

Micahel shows how to 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.

Michael 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.

Michael 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 avacado tuna fish appetizer and chocolate banana milkshakes for a treat.

The mystery of combining flavours is revealed with potato & salmon cakes with horseradish sauce, broccoli & potato soup, and homemade peanut butter cups.

A 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, portabella pizzas, crispy bacon rings with smoked salmon mousse, a pink pineapple drink, and 'Sangrita' in cucumber cups with tequila shots get this party started!

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.