Ep 9. Eating Like a Kid

Aarti Party is a cooking show hosted by Aarti Sequeira that is centered around Indian and American fusion cuisine. In season 3, episode 9 titled Eating Like a Kid, Aarti takes a trip down memory lane and revisits some of her childhood favorite dishes, but puts her own twist on them to make them more grown-up and sophisticated.

The episode begins with Aarti introducing the theme and discussing her memories of eating mac and cheese, PB&J sandwiches, and pizza as a child. She points out that these dishes are often thought of as food for kids, but she believes that there's nothing wrong with indulging in your childhood favorites every once in a while.

The first dish on the menu is Aarti's take on mac and cheese. Instead of the classic elbow macaroni and cheddar cheese, Aarti uses rigatoni and brie for a grown-up twist. She also adds in some jalapeños for a kick of heat. Aarti shows viewers how to make a roux and a perfectly creamy sauce before combining everything in a baking dish and topping it with breadcrumbs.

Next up is a PB&J-inspired waffle sandwich. Aarti takes frozen waffles and toasts them in the oven, then spreads one with peanut butter and the other with jelly. She adds sliced bananas and a drizzle of honey before sandwiching the two waffles together. Aarti notes that this dish is a great way to use up leftover waffles and to make breakfast or brunch more exciting.

For lunch, Aarti turns to her childhood favorite pizza. She starts by making a homemade pizza dough and then adds toppings like caramelized onions, goat cheese, and arugula. Aarti's pizza is more sophisticated than the frozen pizzas of her youth, but she emphasizes that the flavors are still reminiscent of the pizza she loved as a kid.

To finish off the episode, Aarti makes a dessert that's perfect for summer: strawberry shortcake popsicles. She blends together fresh strawberries, sugar, and cream before pouring the mixture into popsicle molds. Aarti then adds chunks of pound cake to the popsicles for an extra layer of texture. She notes that these popsicles are a fun and refreshing treat for both kids and adults.

Throughout the episode, Aarti shares tips and tricks for cooking each dish, as well as stories and memories from her childhood. She emphasizes that it's okay to indulge in childhood favorites every once in a while and that it's possible to make those dishes more sophisticated while still preserving the nostalgia. By the end of the episode, viewers will be left feeling inspired to recreate their own childhood favorites at home with a grown-up twist.