Ep 7. Home Comforts

In the season 10 episode 7 of Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten welcomes viewers into her home kitchen for a cozy episode dedicated to comfort food. The episode, titled “Home Comforts,” features Garten making a variety of dishes designed to make viewers feel warm and nostalgic.

The episode begins with Garten sharing her recipe for a classic roast chicken, which she serves alongside herbed basmati rice. She emphasizes the importance of using a good quality chicken and generously seasoning it with salt and pepper. Garten also shares tips on how to achieve perfect crispy skin, including drying the chicken well before roasting and adding a layer of melted butter to the skin.

Next up is Garten’s recipe for homemade vegetable soup. She starts by sautéing onions, leeks, celery, carrots, and garlic, then adds chicken stock, canned tomatoes, and a variety of vegetables such as green beans, zucchini, and yellow squash. She simmers the soup until the vegetables are tender and adds fresh herbs for flavor. Garten suggests serving the soup with crusty bread and a dollop of pesto for extra flavor.

For the main course, Garten prepares her take on the classic French dish, Coq au Vin. She uses bone-in chicken thighs and slow cooks them in red wine and chicken stock along with mushrooms, onions, and bacon. Garten advises viewers to be patient and let the dish simmer for a long time in order to develop the deep flavors. She serves the Coq au Vin with creamy mashed potatoes and roasted carrots.

Moving onto dessert, Garten makes her grandmother’s Apple Sauce Cake. She starts by making homemade applesauce, which she then uses to make the cake batter. The cake also includes warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as toasted walnuts for crunch. Garten serves the cake with a dollop of freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Throughout the episode, Garten shares her personal stories and memories associated with each dish. For example, she reminisces about making vegetable soup with her mother as a child and how comforting it was to have a bowl of hot soup on a cold day. By sharing these stories, Garten invites viewers to not only enjoy the food but also to connect with the memories and emotions associated with the dishes.

Overall, “Home Comforts” is a heartwarming episode that celebrates the power of food to bring comfort and joy. Garten’s recipes are easy to make and full of flavor, making them perfect for a cozy family dinner or a solo meal on a rainy day. This episode is sure to inspire viewers to cook with love and to savor the simple pleasures of a home-cooked meal.