Ep 11. Grandma's Favorites

In Lidia's Kitchen season 2 episode 11, titled "Grandma's Favorites," Lidia Bastianich explores some of her grandmother's classic recipes and gives them a modern twist. Lidia begins the episode by reminiscing about her childhood memories of food and cooking with her grandmother. She explains how her grandmother's meals were always simple, made with fresh ingredients, and full of flavor.

The first recipe Lidia makes is her grandmother's braised beef with onions and tomatoes. She starts by seasoning the beef with salt and pepper and then searing it in a pan until it's browned on all sides. Next, she sautés onions and garlic in the same pan and adds canned tomatoes and tomato paste. She places the beef back in the pan and simmers it with the tomato sauce until it's tender. Lidia serves the dish with polenta and a side of steamed vegetables.

The next recipe Lidia prepares is her grandmother's chicken fricassee. She begins by seasoning the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and then browning them in a pan. Lidia removes the chicken from the pan and sautés onions, garlic, celery, and carrots. She adds flour and chicken stock to the pan and stirs until the mixture thickens. Lidia then returns the chicken to the pan and simmers it until it's cooked through. She serves the fricassee with a side of rice and sprinkles parsley over the top for added freshness.

Lidia then moves on to her grandmother's vegetable soup, which she remembers fondly from her childhood. She starts by sautéing onions, celery, and carrots in a pot before adding canned tomatoes and chicken stock. Lidia adds seasonal vegetables like zucchini, green beans, and potatoes and lets the soup simmer until the vegetables are tender. She finishes the soup with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and serves it with crusty bread.

For dessert, Lidia makes her grandmother's apple strudel. She starts by making the dough from scratch, combining flour, water, salt, and oil. She stretches the dough out on a tablecloth and then sprinkles breadcrumbs and sugar over the top. Lidia adds a mixture of grated apples, raisins, sugar, cinnamon, and breadcrumbs to the dough and then rolls it up tightly. She bakes the strudel in the oven until it's golden brown and serves it warm with a dollop of whipped cream.

Throughout the episode, Lidia shares family stories and memories that add a personal touch to the recipes. She emphasizes the importance of using fresh, seasonal ingredients and taking the time to cook meals with love and care. Lidia's grandmother's recipes may be old-fashioned, but with Lidia's modern twists, they become new and exciting again. "Grandma's Favorites" is a heartwarming episode that showcases the power of food to bring back cherished memories and create new ones.