Vegetarian Tourtiere

Being vegetarian doesn't mean you have to skip the traditional tourtiere. TVP, or textured vegetable protein, is a dried soy product available in granules or chunks that, when cooked, resemble the texture of ground meat. Look for it in the health food section of grocery stores. Serve this tourtiere with Tomato Pear Ketchup.

Classic Bouillabaisse

This French seafood stew shows off the catch of the day in a flavourful homemade stock. Herbed rouille (a thick bread-based garlic sauce) spooned onto the soup or spread on toasted baguette slices adds a special finishing touch.

Roast Bison or Venison with Red Wine and Onion Jus

Game meat is always leaner than domestic meat, so special care must be taken when roasting to prevent it from drying out. Larding it with bacon or pork fat is a traditional method, and it's important to never cook it past medium.

Brined Turkey With Potato & Parmesan Stuffing

Summerhill Market Chicken Pot Pie

Toronto chef Chris Klugman took over the catering and takeout-food department of the Summerhill Market in the fashionable Toronto district of Rosedale in 2001. His soups and prepared main courses are flying off the shelves of this upscale family-run grocery store, which was established in 1954. The most popular dinner item is chicken pot pie, subtly flavoured and rich in chicken taste. Klugman likes to thicken the sauce with a roux of rendered chicken fat and flour; try it if you wish. You can also boil cubed potatoes in the cooking liquid to add to the pie.

John Catucci's Pasta e Fagioli

  This dish is pure comfort food to John Catucci, host of Food Network Canada’s Big Food Bucket List. It’s his mom’s original recipe – with a few of his own tricks added to it. He makes it at least twice a month. It’s simple but SO  delicious and it comes together pretty quickly.

John travels coast to coast checking off one tasty meal at a time and sharing some delightful moments with both the chefs and customers along the way. And be sure to catch brand-new episodes of Big Food Bucket List starting on September 3rd at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada! Food Network Canada is also available to stream live and on demand with STACKTV.

''Sure to Please'' Chicken Cacciatore

I like to prepare dishes for guests that allow me to enjoy their company. In order to do this, I select dishes that can be prepared before the guests arrive and are already cooking while we are enjoying their company. My "Sure to Please" Chicken Cacciatore is a prime example of this. Over time I have made several adjustments to enhance the flavour while at the same time using healthy alternatives (eg. skinless chicken thighs and breasts; I saute ingredients in extra virgin olive oil instead of butter). Because this dish has an Italian flare, so do all the other dishes that I serve before, during and after this meal. I serve an antipasta tray as an appetizer, and toasted garlic bread, a tossed green salad with an oil and vinaigrette dressing, whole wheat spaghetti, and the same wine that is in the cacciatore. For dessert I serve Tiramisu (also made ahead). As a result, most of my work is complete before company arrives. I have shared this recipe with women who say they do not cook and I have received rave reviews from all of them - their guests loved it so much that one man ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I like to make this dish in the summer, when I can use fresh produce from my vegetable garden or from the local farmer's market. My inspiration for this recipe is that I love to cook and entertain. This recipe is full of flavour, easy to prepare and tastes like you were in the kitchen all day (what a bonus!).

Flaky Seafood Pie

One of the pleasures of the cooking traditions of the British Isles is seafood pie, with its bounty of northern seafood in a creamy sauce topped with flaky pastry. You can make the pie a day ahead and refrigerate it or freeze it. If you prefer, use pie pastry (one double-crust recipe) instead of puff pastry.

Smoked Brined Turkey

This turkey is full of flavour thanks to the brine and smoke. Cooking on the barbecue not only allows you to smoke the bird but also keeps your oven free for other dishes. For best results, do not use a bird larger than 13 lb (6 kg) on the barbecue. You'll need about 2-1/2 cups applewood chips; be sure to soak them in water for an hour before using.

Smoked Herbed Brined Turkey

Smoking turkey with applewood chips imparts a subtle sweet flavour that will make your meal extra special. If you love a strong smoky aroma, opt for a more potent wood, such as hickory. Always read the label before buying a turkey; for this recipe, you'll want an unseasoned bird, as turkeys labelled "seasoned" have already been salted.