Trisha Yearwood celebrates her friend Glenda's birthday with a slumber party in comfy clothes, and delicious treats are on the menu. Glenda's favorite Dirty Martini is followed by a gorgeous Charcuterie Board of cheese, meats, veggies and bread, served with Cheese Fondue. Then, Sweet Chili Garlic Wings are out of this world, and it's all topped off with a Key Lime Vanilla Birthday Cake.
It's the semi-finals, and host Sunny Anderson challenges the four remaining bakers to take on one of the biggest trends in food: the over-the-top charcuterie board! But instead of being filled with meats, their dessert boards must be filled with Easter treats! Then, the competitors fight for a seat at the Easter dinner table and try to fool the judges with hyper-realistic Easter dinner cakes that look exactly like classic Easter dinner dishes. The bakers that fool judges Jordan Andino and Stephanie Boswell get to move on to compete in the finale.
Ree Drummond is building a new house, and her favorite women are coming over for casual eats, cocktails and a look-around. She makes Mini Pineapple Shrimp Tostadas to build on site and four-ingredient Bacon-Wrapped Baby Potatoes for a perfect mouthful. Next, she whips up a simple, no-cook Charcuterie Board, gorgeous layered individual Boozy Chocolate Trifles and Blackberry Blood Orange Mojitos to toast the new place.
Mary Berg elevates classic party recipes to easily turn out a tray of handy hors d'oeuvres. She kicks up the standard shrimp ring with her Grilled Shrimp Cocktail, served with three dunkable dips for the spicy cocktail sauce fan, the milder herb aioli enthusiast and a crowd-pleasing mix of both. Mary pairs it with her bubbly cocktail, the Grown-Up Float, featuring frozen sorbet and sparkling wine. Rounding out the party platter is a couple of grab 'n go's made for mingling, including a Sausage Roll Wreath with homemade pork and pancetta and Charcuterie Board Popovers that turn a cheese board into pleasant parcels stuffed with meats and cornichons.
Mary Berg believes that sandwich possibilities are endless. She stacks her recipe lineup with Tuna Niçoise Sandwich, a French Riviera salad staple thrown onto crusty ciabatta, a Classic Muffuletta -- aka charcuterie board on a bun -- that can feed a crowd with its layers of meats, cheeses and pickled things, a Curried Chickpea and Artichoke Pita wrapped up with mango chutney and some greens, and Turkey Patty Melts that cross a burger with a grilled cheese on marble rye.
For Christmas, Ree Drummond is giving edible gifts and kitchen cookware to four dear friends. First, she fills a casserole dish with Chai Spiced Orange Rolls in a new take on a festive classic. Then, Red Wine Onion Jam stars in a beautiful, seasonal charcuterie board, and a kit for Coconut Cherry Almond Cookies has everything needed to bake the holiday treats. Finally, Ree makes Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup for a super comforting homemade gift.
Host Jesse Palmer kicks things off with a swanky Christmas open house for judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Carla Hall and asks the bakers to create dessert charcuterie boards. Then, the bottom two bakers face off in a sudden elimination challenge of dueling holiday pinata desserts. In the final main heat, the competitors take on holiday party theme cakes and incorporate lights into their designs. The most successful cake maker becomes the Holiday Baking Champion and walks away with $25,000!
Kardea Brown plans a fancy Southern-style light lunch for her good friend and colleague Nancy Fuller. First, Kardea creates an assortment of Southern Tea Sandwiches filled with Smoked Salmon, Homemade Egg Salad and Ham. She pairs those with a Lowcountry Charcuterie Board featuring Buffalo Blue Pimiento Cheese and Candied Pecans. For dessert, she makes mini versions of Nancy's favorite, Key Lime Pie Tartlets. Of course, no lunch with Nancy would be complete without a little Gigi juice, so Kardea mixes up a Spiked Peach Tea.
Ina Garten is focusing on easy French food that you can make at home. First, her Easy Coquilles Saint Jacques is a typical French bistro take on scallops. A classic French cheese board that includes Herbed Goat Cheese and a toasted baguette is perfectly paired with Ina's Green Salad with the Ultimate French Vinaigrette. Her fancy Raspberry Tart only looks difficult to make, and a French 75 cocktail will make you think you're in France. World-famous chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud shares the secret to a perfect French Charcuterie Platter.