Tag: Chef Michael Smith

Jun 15, 2016

Grilled Asparagus Salad

Grilled Asparagus Salad

Recipe by Chef Michael Smith During grilling season you can easily fill Half Your Plate with grilled vegetables. Every time…

May 17, 2016

Step up your veggie game with Chef Michael Smith

Did the winter stunt your kitchen creativity?  Well we’ve got the solution! On May 26th we are very excited to…

May 16, 2016

Basil Caesar Salad

When I toss romaine hearts into my shopping cart, chances are I'm heading home to make my family’s favourite salad. Every cook should know the joy of crafting a true Caesar salad while avoiding the also-ran dressings at the supermarket that never quite measure up to the real thing. Over time we’ve experimented with lots of additional flavours in this salad but, more often than not, I toss in lots of fresh basil leaves and brightly flavoured cherry tomatoes. What a great way to fill Half Your Plate! SERVES 4 TO 6 For the croutons 1 baguette, cut into large bite-sized cubes 1/4 cup (60 mL) of water 1/4 cup (60 mL) of your best olive oil For the dressing 6 thick slices of bacon, finely cut 1/4 cup (60 mL) of extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup (60 mL) of Dijon mustard 4 cloves of garlic a full 2-ounce (50 g) can of anchovies the zest and juice of 2 lemons 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of honey a dash or two of your favourite hot sauce For the salad 3 hearts of romaine lettuce, rinsed and sliced into bite sized pieces 1 large bunch of basil leaves 2-ounces or so of Parmigiano-Reggiano, shaved into thin pieces with a vegetable peeler 1 pound of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half Preheat your oven to 375ºF. Turn on your convection fan if you have one. Begin with the croutons. Sprinkle the bread cubes with water and toss until evenly absorbed. Continue tossing with the oil until it too is absorbed. Spread the works out on a baking tray and bake until the croutons are crispy, crunchy and thoroughly golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and cool while you prepare the rest of the salad. Make the dressing. Toss the bacon and a big splash of water into a pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently until the bacon is fully browned and evenly crispy, 10 minutes or so. Strain off the bacon bits and reserve for garnishing. Reserve all, some or none of the tasty fat. Measure the oil, Dijon, garlic, anchovies, lemon zest and juice, honey and hot sauce into your blender or food processor. Add the reserved bacon fat. Purée until smooth. Make the salad. In a large salad bowl toss together the romaine leaves, basil leaves, croutons and tomatoes. Pour in the dressing and toss the works until the salad is evenly dressed. Top with the bacon and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Serve and share! Freestyle Flavour You can easily elevate this salad into an entire meal by adding lots of your favourite protein. Try grilling off a few chicken breasts and thinly slicing them into the works. A filet or two of salmon, grilled steak, pork tenderloin, even chunks of tofu can be added for a full protein kick.

Recipe from Chef Michael Smith, 2016 – Basil Caesar Salad When I toss romaine hearts into my shopping cart, chances…

Apr 20, 2016

Raspberry Rhubarb Granola Crisp

Raspberry Rhubarb Granola Crisp

Written by Chef Michael Smith 2016 Rhubarb is more than a vegetable; it’s a sign of hope. Its arrival every…

Mar 18, 2016

Steamed Broccoli 101

Recipe by Chef Michael Smith This is by far my favourite way to cook and serve broccoli. It’s super-simple, super-speedy…

Feb 24, 2016

MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes’ Famous Sweet Potato & Rosemary Soup

One of the best ways to fill Half Your Plate (and all of your soup bowl) is with a simple…

Feb 24, 2016

MP Bruce Stanton’s Famous Green Pea & Thyme Soup

BruceStanton

One of the best ways to fill Half Your Plate (and all of your soup bowl) is with a simple…

Feb 24, 2016

Honourable Lawrence MacAulay’s Famous Red Bell Pepper & Nutmeg Soup

LawrenceMacAulay

Recipe by Chef Michael Smith One of the best ways to fill Half Your Plate (and all of your soup…

Feb 16, 2016

Leek & Apple Compote

Michael Smith Leeks and Apple Post

© Chef Michael Smith 2016 Leeks are the easiest-to-get-along-with members of the onion family. They’re deliciously sweet, mildly pungent and…

Jan 20, 2016

Twitter Party Celebrating Winter Produce!

Brrr and ugh. Those are two common sounds we often utter and hear during the Winter.  It’s cold, it gets dark…

Dec 14, 2015

Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sriracha Orange Glaze

Orange-Glazed Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

© Chef Michael Smith 2015 I will admit that I was not a big fan of Brussels sprouts as a…

Nov 18, 2015

Cranberry Braised Red Cabbage

Cranberry Braised Red Cabbage

© Chef Michael Smith 2015 You can enjoy the bright red flavours and intense nutritional density of these two harvest…

Oct 28, 2015

Puréed Vegetable Soup 101

Pureed Soup 101

© Chef Michael Smith – Family Meals, 2014 There are as many soups as there are cooks, pots and vegetables,…

Oct 25, 2015

Pasta with Lots of Green Veggies and Boursin Sauce

HYP.Pasta Veggies Boursin

© Chef Michael Smith 2015 Looking for a way to fill your table with lots of healthy flavours in a…

Oct 21, 2015

Roast Chicken with Butternut Squash and Apples

HYP.Roast Chicken

© Chef Michael Smith 2015 There are as many ways to roast a chicken as there are cooks. This basic…

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