Ep 2. Modern Comfort Food: Simple Pleasures

In season 28 episode 2 of Barefoot Contessa, titled "Modern Comfort Food: Simple Pleasures," Ina Garten is highlighting the simple pleasures of comforting food that bring joy to people in a stressful time. She is focusing on easy-to-make dishes that can be enjoyed by everyone.

To start off the episode, Ina is sharing her recipe for French Toast Bread Pudding, which is a comforting dish that can be made ahead of time and is perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. The French Toast Bread Pudding is made with brioche bread, eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon and vanilla extract. Ina then tops the bread pudding with a mixture of sugar, butter, and maple syrup, which caramelizes in the oven and creates a delicious crust.

Next, Ina is making her recipe for Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Croutons. The tomato soup is made with canned San Marzano tomatoes, onions, garlic, chicken stock, and heavy cream. Ina then blends the soup until it is creamy and smooth. For the grilled cheese croutons, Ina uses white bread, butter, cheddar cheese, and tomato slices. She grills the sandwiches until the cheese is melted and then cuts them into croutons to add to the soup for a fun twist on a classic dish.

Ina's third dish is Mussels and Frites, which is a classic French dish that is perfect for a cozy night in at home. Ina makes the mussels by cooking garlic, shallots, and white wine in a pot until the mixture has reduced by half. She then adds the mussels, cover the pot, and lets them cook for a few minutes until they have opened. For the frites, Ina cuts potatoes into thick wedges and fries them until they are golden brown and crispy. She finishes the dish by topping the mussels with a mixture of butter, garlic, and parsley and serving them with the frites and homemade mayonnaise.

Finally, in the last part of the episode, Ina is making her recipe for Chicken Pot Pie Soup. The soup is a play on the classic dish, but in a more liquid form. Ina makes the soup by cooking onions, celery, and carrots in butter until they are soft. She then adds flour to make a roux, which thickens the soup. Ina then adds chicken stock, heavy cream, shredded chicken, peas, corn, and thyme. She lets the soup simmer until the flavors have melded together, and then serves it with buttery puff pastry on top.

Throughout the episode, Ina emphasizes the importance of finding joy in the simple pleasures of comforting food. She emphasizes how important it is to take the time to enjoy a home-cooked meal and how it can bring people together. Overall, "Modern Comfort Food: Simple Pleasures" is a heartwarming episode that reminds viewers of the simple joys of good food and company.