Ep 1. Training Day Dinner

In Barefoot Contessa season 15 episode 1, titled "Training Day Dinner," celebrity chef Ina Garten prepares a delicious meal for her friends who are trainers for the United States Army. She takes inspiration from her own basic training experience in the army and prepares a nutritious and hearty dinner for the trainers.

To start the meal, Ina prepares a winter squashes soup with curry condiments and toast. The soup is made out of roasted squashes, vegetable broth and curry powder, which Ina believes is a comforting and warm dish to start the meal.

As the main course, she prepares a seared salmon fillet with lentil salad. The salmon is marinated with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and is left to rest for some time to let the flavors blend in. Ina then sears the salmon until it is golden brown and perfectly cook through and serves it with lentil salad cooked with chopped scallions, parsley and garlic. This lentil salad is not only a great source of protein, but also adds complementary flavors to the dish.

For the side dish, Ina prepares roasted baby carrots and parsnips with dill, which adds a fresh flavor to the roasted vegetables. The guests are impressed by the healthy and nutritious meal and appreciate how delicious it is despite being low in calories.

For dessert, Ina prepares a chocolate pecan scone. She grinds the pecans to add a crunchy texture to the scone and uses cocoa to add a chocolate flavor. These drop scones are easy to make and a perfect dessert to end the meal on a sweet note.

Throughout the show, Ina shares personal anecdotes from her own time in the army and how it has made her appreciate good food which leads to a close bond between her and the guests. The show demonstrates how cooking techniques, meal preparation, and healthy ingredients come together to create a wonderful dining experience.