A new batch of kids celebrate mac and cheese in all three rounds, beginning with appetizers containing the ready-to-make version. A bright orange snack and fancy cheese must work their way into entrees, then in the final round, even the judges -- actress Betsy Brandt and chefs Marc Murphy and Nguyen Tran -- are surprised to see how mac and cheese can be interpreted in dessert form.
The competition heats up with two rounds of head-to-head barbecue battle. Based on the results of the first challenge with hot dogs, one kid earns a major advantage in the elimination round of stuffed burgers. Chef Kardea Brown joins the judging panel to help decide which young barbecue cook will be sent home.
It's Halloween, so 'tis the season for a major sugar fix. Giada prepares decadent dessert with the kids in mind. She spins the Smoked Almond Caramel to perfection, turns Truffles into lollipops and creates the ultimate Homemade Orange Marshmallows for trick or treaters to enjoy in a little sugar rush before heading out into the neighborhood for an evening of Halloween fun.
Ree Drummond celebrates her middle children Paige and Bryce, with three snapshots of food and fun over a week while the other kids are away. She's making their favorite food starting with Cornmeal Pancakes with Blueberry Syrup. There's speedy, creamy Bow Tie Chicken Alfredo and build-your-own Grilled Fruit Pizzas with a cookie base, cream cheese frosting and indoor grilled glossy fruit.
On the search for healthy sandwiches, Jeff Mauro heads up to Graze restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin to pick up some techniques from a chef who makes the most colorful and craveable veggie burger on the planet. Back home, the healthy swagger of a Caesar salad helps jazz up Jeff's Grilled Chicken Wrap, while he uses what he learned in Madison to help him put together a Middle-Eastern spiced mini burger. And on the side, a healthy snack that's almost too good to be true: crunchy kale chips with a barbecue flair.
Host Alfonso Ribeiro is here to help explore some snack bar treats, starting with cool and refreshing Junior Mints and their signature dimple. For dessert on the go, find out about Nemo's Carrot Cake Squares and Tasty Kake's individual cherry pies. Then, a salty fix is satisfied as the trick to the unique pretzel shape of Snyder's Lance Pretzel Snaps is revealed.
Ree Drummond is sharing the dinners and sweet treats that her sons love the most. There are Chocolate Spreads decorated with all sorts of fun and crazy toppings for football camp kids, and Breakfast Quesadillas make an easy on-the-go meal for when Bryce and Todd are too busy playing to stop and eat. Another day and another football practice calls for Quick Shells and Cheese, a shortcut pasta dish that never fails to please, and finally, it's sweet fun for mother and son when they make Ice Cream Cookie Sundaes with yummy slice-and-bake cookies and over-the-top toppings.
The young competitors get a generous 30 minutes to cook minute steak in the appetizer round. Breaking down a bird is part of the challenge in round two, along with figuring out what to do with some cool ketchup. Then, the dessert basket contains some delicious stuffed fruit and a fun snack cake. The judging panel features chefs Amanda Freitag and Kristen Kish and former MLB player Jason Varitek.
Melissa d'Arabian cooks a weekend brunch menu with two enthusiastic helpers: her daughters. Chocolate-Chocolate-Veggie Pancakes are filled with chocolate flavor and nutrients. Baked Eggs With Chorizo and Cream look elegant and are kid-friendly, cooked in ramekins with a layer of bubbly jack cheese. To drink, Green Morning Smoothies are a fun color and a tasty finale for this delicious, nutritious family brunch.
Ree Drummond is sharing ideas for four delicious family meals, with extra helpings of fun and mayhem on the side thanks to her kid film crew. Ree's husband, Ladd, and his father, Chuck, drop by to share speedy mini Sloppy Joe Sliders. Then Ree makes shortcut Hawaiian Chicken Bowls, marvelously meatless Sheet Pan Gnocchi and one of her own favorites, quick Lemon Shrimp Alfredo.