Ep 5. Top Drawer Menu

In this episode of 30 Minute Meals, celebrity chef and TV host Rachael Ray brings her signature quick and easy cooking style to create a Top Drawer Menu. Ray starts off by showing us how to make a Crab BLT salad, which involves combining wild-caught crab meat with bacon, lettuce, and tomato, and dressing it with a simple homemade vinaigrette.

Next up is a recipe for Sausage and Peppers, a classic Italian dish made with sweet and hot Italian sausages, bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Ray shows us an easy method for cooking the sausage and peppers together on the stove in one pan, making clean-up a breeze.

For a vegetarian option, Ray offers a recipe for Cauliflower Fried Rice, which mimics the flavors and textures of traditional Chinese fried rice but swaps out the rice for grated cauliflower. The dish is flavored with traditional Asian seasonings and topped with chopped scallions and sesame seeds.

For dessert, Ray creates a simple yet decadent Salted Caramel Pudding using store-bought pudding cups and a homemade caramel sauce. She tops the pudding with a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh whipped cream for an indulgent finish to the meal.

Throughout the episode, Ray shares tips and tricks for making meal planning and preparation easier, such as using pre-chopped veggies and frozen shrimp to cut down on prep time. She also emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients and seasonings to elevate the flavor of even the simplest dishes.

Overall, Top Drawer Menu is a great episode for anyone looking to add some new recipes to their meal planning repertoire. Ray's quick and easy style makes these dishes accessible to even the busiest home cooks, while the flavors and techniques she shares add an exciting twist to classic dishes.