The Grill Dads find out that outrageous food is more fun when it's a mash-up. First, they visit The Doughnut Lounge in Kansas City, Mo., where they whip up homemade doughnuts and pair them with crispy burnt ends from in-house smoked brisket to create a sweet and savory dessert that's too unique to miss. Then the Dads visit Albuquerque, N.M., to fry up a pastry called a Sopapilla that's stuffed with spicy beef and pork ribs. Finally, the Dads travel to Denver, Colo., to make a gorgeous pizza topped with the flavors of chicken parmesan.
The Kitchen hosts share easy tricks to keep in your toolkit that get you ahead for mealtime. Alex Guarnaschelli kicks things off with her Chermoula Chicken Drumsticks with Sweet Potatoes, and Katie Lee Biegel reveals two ways to pump up veggies -- Roasted Broccoli with Crispy Salami, Parmesan and Balsamic plus a Soy, Ginger, Garlic and Lemon Roasted Broccoli. Then, Geoffrey Zakarian whips up Caper-Herb Butter with Chilean Sea Bass, Sunny Anderson preserves herbs with her House Italian Seasoning and Jeff Mauro caps things off on a sweet note with his creamy Key-Lime Cannoli Dip.
Guy Fieri's looking for a classic and favorite flavor combination: sweet and sour. Chef Rocco DiSpirito takes the main stage with his Maine Lobster Peperonata and makes sure your eyes won't glaze over with Glazed Beets Agro Dolce with Ricotta Salata. Chef Aaron May hits the right note with a Key Lime Pisco Sour before giving us his Grilled Quail with Pomegranate and reminding us that life is sweet with a Grapefruit Brûlée Tartlette. Hunter Fieri stuns with some Sweet 'N Sour Chicken Wings and busts out his Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Maple Bacon and Parmesan.
Guy Fieri and his family rise at dawn in Corpus Christi, Texas to head out on the Gulf in search of snapper. The fishing's good, so they take their catch to a nearby ranch where Guy and his friends fry up the fish, along with some chicken parmesan, for the evening feast. In New Orleans, Guy searches for the perfect po' boy in the back of an off-the-beaten path grocery store before visiting Johnny Sanchez, where Chef Aaron Sanchez shows Guy how to make ceviche and a soft-shell crab sandwich. Finally, a canoe tour of the bayou ends with a festive crawfish boil in fine Cajun form.
Ina Garten's favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal is the side dishes, and she's leaving no vegetable unturned for side dishes that will steal the spotlight at the big feast. There's everything from Mushroom and Leek Bread Pudding with Homemade Gravy and Cranberry Fruit Conserve to Haricots Verts with Dill and Hazelnuts. Then she shares tasty ideas for Sauteed Brussels Sprouts and Bacon, plus Celery Root and Apple Puree. Ina starts with Classic Mashed Potatoes and takes them in three new directions: Truffled Mashed Potatoes, Parmesan Mashed Potatoes and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. In the oven, a colorful Roasted Beet, Butternut Squash and Apple Salad bakes along with a make-ahead Root Vegetable Gratin. There are even some cool, side-inspired table setting ideas. Ina also asks friends to reveal their must-have Thanksgiving sides. For Nigella Lawson, its Red Cabbage with Pomegranate, and Chef Marcus Samuelsson has to have his Killer Collards. Ina's biggest fan, actress Jennifer Garner, makes her grandmother Exie Mae Garner's Sweet Potato Casserole in an episode of her "Pretend Cooking Show" shot especially for Ina.
In Mary Berg's world, when life gives you lemons, you put them in everything! Lemons are her absolute main squeeze in the kitchen, and she can never get enough. Using her all-time favorite ingredient as the star, Mary starts with sweets by baking Lemon Raspberry Loaf topped with a bright pink glaze, sure to satisfy her inner old lady at tea time. Moving on to mains, Mary whips up Lemon Parmesan Chicken that's fancy enough for guests but quick enough for any night of the week. Then, she shows off a zesty take on carbonara: Creamy Lemon Crab Pasta with a nutty sesame topping. To finish it off, she obviously has to make Lemonade infused with seasonal berries and fresh mint.