2x2 - Tomato Bacon Pasta

Michael 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.

2x3 - Weekend Brunch

Michael creates a simple brunch buffet with sunshine smoothies, a tasty baked egg dish, potato bacon cakes and French toast with blueberry maple sauce.

2x4 - Crème Brûlée

Michael 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.

2x5 - Chicken Dippers

Michael 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.

2x6 - Homemade Chicken Soup

Michael 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.

2x7 - Rotini with Clam Sauce

Michael 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.

2x8 - Prime Rib Dinner

Sharing 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.

2x9 - Steamed Mussels

Fresh 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.

2x10 - Lobster Penne

Michael 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.

2x11 - Caribbean Salmon

Reggae 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.

2x12 - Pan Roast Pork Chops

Michael 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.

2x13 - Chinese Night

December 27, 2005

Michael 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.

2x14 - Wood Grilled Steak

No 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.

2x15 - Luncheon Omelet

January 10, 2006

Weekends 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.

2x16 - Summer Salads

January 17, 2006

It’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.

2x17 - Backyard Smoked Chicken

Michael’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.

2x18 - Indian Lamb Curry

January 31, 2006

An 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.

2x19 - Italian Flavours

Michael 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.

2x20 - Lamb Burgers

After 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.

2x21 - Hors d’Oeuvres Party

Great 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.

2x22 - Colorful Halibut

Paper-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.

2x23 - Fusion Fish Cakes

Michael 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.

2x24 - Veggie Burgers

Variety 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.

2x25 - Grilled Pizza

Bored 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.

2x26 - Grandma’s Beef Stew

Michael’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.

2x27 - 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.