The Kitchen tackles a week's worth of warming winter dinners, starting with Geoffrey Zakarian's Fusilli with Sausage and Oyster Mushrooms. Jeff Mauro whips up his Easy Beef French Dip with Quick Jus, and Alex Guarnaschelli does everything in one pan for her Sheet Pan Blackened Salmon with Garlicky Kale. Jeff takes on the midweek sweet with his Strawberry Crostata, and Katie Lee Biegel changes the game with her Roasted Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes and Polenta. Finally, Sunny Anderson makes a Quick Hot Ranch Dressing to spice up frozen pizza.
Ree Drummond is showcasing great, easy recipes made with her favorite kitchen heroes. First, a showstopping Surf and Turf Skillet is full of color and flavor. Then, Sweet Heat Chicken Thighs are made in a Dutch oven, Ree's pot of choice for this simple all-in-one dinner. Next, Sausage and Peppers Quarter Sheet Pan Pizza is perfect for two, and a mug stars in a charming Cherry Chocolate Mug Cake, the ideal solo treat.
One of the simplest parties to give, and one of the best! Bowls of steaming hot pastas and home made raviolis are set out with a choice of delectable sauces. Guests mix and match their own signature pasta dishes, then dig in with a side of hearty salad and garlic bread.
Gameplan Day Before Party:
Poach chicken thoroughly, transfer to a bowl, cover and chill in refrigerator for Mama’s Old Fashioned Ravioli.
Blanche parsley and basil, mix with other ingredients for Blanched Basil Pesto, refrigerate overnight.
Combine other ingredients with poached chicken, refrigerate for Mama’s Old Fashioned Ravioli.
Assemble Mama’s Old Fashioned Ravioli, place on a cookie sheet, cover with a damp towel and refrigerate.
1 Hour Before Party:
Poach and brown sausage for Spicy Sausage sauce.
Mix Pasta Pomodorini sauce, and allow to simmer.
Add other ingredients to Spicy Sausage Sauce pan, and allow to simmer.
Slice and re-add browned sausage to Spicy Sausage Sauce, and continue to simmer.
Pull Blanched Basil Pesto Sauce out of the refrigerator before reheating.
At Party:
Reheat sauces.
Boil pasta.
Keep pasta warm.
Eat and Enjoy!
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.