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When I was a little boy a tuna sandwich was the very first thing in the kitchen I was allowed to make all by myself. I was very proud that I didn’t need a helping hand or a recipe! I know that you don’t either, so think of this as a guided tour to jazzing up this kitchen classic with a few new flavours.

Shrimp is the most popular seafood in North America, and topped with cocktail sauce is one of the most popular ways to serve it. This super-simple method cooks the shrimp and makes the sauce at the same time. For best results and a great sustainable choice, purchase shrimp from North America where its harvest is subject to strict regulations. Imported shrimp is often raised or trawled in a very irresponsible manner.

Mussels travel with their own built-in sauce base. They’re easy to steam and, when you do, they release a flavourful broth that many connoisseurs swear is the best part. That broth can be flavoured any way you want, so mussels are also a great ingredient to freestyle with.

This is one of the easiest ways to cook any type of fish. It’s also one of the tastiest, and fastest. Perhaps more than any other technique, this is how I choose to get fish on the table in a hurry. Whitefish is a generic term that refers to many different types of fish, all of them easy to find and cook.

From The Best of Chef at Home © Michael Smith, Whitecap 2009

Fresh cultured blue mussels are easy to cook as well as being a healthy and easy meal option. They’re quick and tasty and can be eaten right out of the pot or used in a variety of recipes. Before you start cooking, you should always give your mussels a quick rinse. Cultured blue mussels are pre-cleaned so that’s really all you need to do. The fresh water will cause the mussels to close. If there are any that don’t close give them a quick tap, if they still don’t close at least partially, simply discard them.

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Tomatoes aren’t the only sweet red fruit that make great pasta sauce. Red bell peppers are excellent too, especially paired with the faint licorice flavour of fennel seeds.

Braising is my favourite cooking method. I just love the way it can transform an inexpensive, tough cut of beef into a tasty tender stew. Toss in the earthy flavours of root vegetables and aromatic red wine, and you are well on your way to a rich flavour base. But the real secret to a truly memorable beef stew is patiently browning the meat.

If a perfect basket of crisp fried wings isn’t a treat than I don’t know what is!

There are few things as good as a warm bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese especially when it doesn’t come out of a box! I don’t normally put lobster in mine - and this version is great without my favourite crustacean - but it’s a great way to make the ordinary extraordinary

Over the years I’ve tried experimenting with many additions to the classic burger, and I’ve discovered that most just don’t work. One thing that does work is shredded meat from a tender beef stew. It adds a rich layer of beefy flavour and texture that I love! Just the thing to serve with my all-time favourite spud, smashed potatoes!

I love the way stewing transforms inexpensive, tough cuts of beef into tasty, tender stew. The earthy flavours of root vegetables combine with the full body of beef stock and aromatic red wine to form a rich flavour base. The only thing better than a bowlful of hearty stew is the same bowl with a biscuit topping!
Ease of Preparation: Moderate