Make one delicious pork loin and you’ve got a head start for a week of diverse and delicious meals. An ample pork tenderloin translates into fun Wonton Soup and easy Pork Fried Rice later in the week. Add a few quick sides and you’ll have a porktastic week!
Culinary detectives, Kelsey Nixon and Megan Palmer, dine at one of Kelsey's favorite restaurants in an attempt to duplicate some of the restaurant's tastiest techniques and recipes at home. It's all about Kelsey inspiring the culinary adventurer in all of us to Try-It-At-Home without a recipe or culinary map. Back in the kitchen, Kelsey and Megan create an unforgettable meal inspired by their tasty restaurant meal: a succulent Lamb Ragu With Cheese Gnudi. And for dessert, they bake a Berry Crisp topped with Vanilla Ice Cream.
The meals are hand-held at these hotspots, but the unique flavors are the big attraction. Authentic Mexican cuisine pioneer Rick Bayless celebrates Mexico's most beloved street food and snacks, while two brothers bring decadent Italian toasts to one of New York's hippest neighborhoods. ATop Chef winner turns traditional eastern-european cuisine on its head with inspirations from his own Scottish-Israeli heritage. And a former fine dining chef feeds the need for cheese on the streets of LA - one gourmet grilled cheese sandwich at a time.
What's for dinner? This week steak's the answer for two quick and delicious meals. We'll grill a double batch one night for a steak dinner and slice the rest to top a healthy arugula salad another night. A pasta dish packed with vegetables makes it to the table in minutes, along with savory puff pastry twists that bake up in no time.
Jack asks Frederic to help her outfit her kitchen with necessary tools for the beginner cook. Recipes include: Crispy Potatoes with Bacon, Garlic and Parsley; Pan-Grilled Chicken with Gremolata.
Episode Guide
Below you’ll find a helpful episode guide for cooking along with Frederic and Jack, as well as tips and recipe rescues.
Equipment List:
Medium saucepan with lid
Chef’s knife
Pairing knife
Serrated knife
Cutting board
Potato scrubber
Pepper mill
Measuring spoons
Whisk
1 large regular or non-stick skillet
Slotted spoon
Wooden spoon
Metal spatula
Tongs
Grill pan
Pastry brush
Colander
Dry measuring cups
Liquid measuring cup
Rasp
Tips:When buying pots and pans, consider these factors:
Conductivity: A good pot or pan should transmit heat efficiently.
Weight: Heavier, thicker gauge pans distribute heat more evenly and hold it longer, preventing scorching and promoting even browning.
Non-reactive: Some materials, such as aluminum, react to acidic ingredients, imparting a metallic taste and an unappetizing gray color.
A good starter set of pots and pans might include:
10-inch skillet
12-inch skillet
2-quart saucepan
4-quart saucepan
Stockpot
When selecting knives, keep in mind the following:
A good knife will be sturdy and well-balanced.
Look for knives made of high-carbon stainless steel.
The "tang" (the handle end of the blade) should extend all the way to the end of the handle.
Most importantly, the knife should feel comfortable in your hand.
Recipe Rescues:If potatoes stick to the bottom of the pan - Use tongs to turn them occasionally while cooking, and use a wide metal spatula to scrape them up (use a wide hard plastic spatula if you have a non-stick skillet so as not to damage the finish). Next time, try cooking potatoes in a non-stick skillet, or use a little more fat.If your chicken is undercooked - Cook the first side until the edges become white and opaque; then flip the breasts and cook on the other side until firm to the touch. If you slice the chicken and it is still pink in the middle, return the slices to the pan and continue cooking until completely cooked through.
Learn the recipe for a Black Bean soup that creates the perfect, self-serve big game party bash.
Episode Guide
Below you’ll find a helpful episode guide for cooking along with Frederic and Jack, as well as tips and recipe rescues.
Equipment List:
Colander
Large saucepan with lid
Large soup pot
Pepper mill
Immersion blender or regular blender
Wooden spoon
Cutting board
Chef’s knife
Slotted spoon
Measuring spoons
Rolling pin
Pizza cutter or chef's knife
Pastry brush
Parchment paper
Sheet pan or cookie sheet
Ladle
Liquid measuring cup
Tips:
Soak beans in 3-4 times as much UNSALTED water as the quantity of beans
Soaking beans is necessary because:
They need to absorb some moisture in order to cook evenly
Soaking keeps beans from splitting open
Soaking breaks down the indigestible sugars that cause intestinal problems
Soaking maximizes the nutritional content of beans
Quick soak vs. long soak:For quick soak
Bring beans to a boil for 3 minutes, and then remove from heat, cover pot, and set aside for 1-4 hours
Drain beans and get rid of soaking water
Rinse beans so that sugars do not remain
Cook beans as directed
Long soak
Soak beans in cold water overnight or for 8 hours
Drain beans and get rid of soaking water
Rinse beans so that sugars do not remain
Cook beans as directed
Puff pastry:
Available pre-made in the frozen section
It is many-layered, consisting of pastry dough and pieces of chilled butter – when cooked, moisture from butter creates steam, causing dough to separate into many flaky layers
Many applications, both sweet and savory – cheese straws, pot pie crusts, wrapping for encasing meats, flaky cookies like palmiers, pastries like Napoleons, croissants, pain au chocolate, etc.
Recipe Rescues:For a vegetarian black bean soup - omit the ham hocks for a vegetarian black bean soup, but make up for it by seasoning with extra salt.For a chunkier soup - only puree half of the soup in the blender and add it back in to the chunky soup.Other sausages to use in the Saucisson - any type of smoked cured sausage containing pork, beef, or a combination.
A delicious sauce featuring tangy tomatoes and salty olives becomes the base for three totally different quick fix dinners. Italian Pasta Puttanesca one night, Chicken with a tasty tomato chutney the next, and a crabmeat salad with a fresh and easy presentation trick. And save room for soup -- a little extra Puttanesca sauce is the base for a no-sweat soup n’ sandwich meal.
The freezer can be your best friend when it comes to making dinner for a weeknight meal. Baked ziti freezes well, so we'll make a double batch and bank one for a rainy day. Pork loin is a terrific freezer staple too and will yield enough to make two delicious dinners without much work. And for dessert, we'll dress up frozen yogurt with a peanut fudge sauce.
This week Robin’s going international with a slew of healthy and delicious recipes that build on each other. A platter of roasted veggies becomes a Moroccan Stew one night and Eggplant Caponata the next. Chicken Kebabs turn into another meal of Chicken Curry, and the rice for the curry becomes an exotic and easy rice pudding for dessert another night. Easy and international!
It's a special day on Brunch @ Bobby's as Bobby creates an awesome menu inspired by one of his favorite places - Tuscany. Scrambled Eggs with Romano Cheese and Black Pepper start off the meal, followed by a Grilled Tuscan Bruschetta topped with fresh Tomatoes and Basil. As the flavors of Italy settle in, Bobby moves on to make homemade Orange Ricotta Pancakes with a Caramelized Fig Compote and Pistachios, and a side of tasty Italian Home Fries. To finish things off one of his favorite desserts - gelato! Only Bobby turns his into a triple threat cocktail with Raspberry Sorbetto, and fresh Peach and Vanilla Gelato, topped off with sparkling Prosecco. Viva L'Italia!