Ep 3. Growing Up Italian

Lidia's Kitchen is a cooking show featuring Italian-American chef Lidia Bastianich. In season 7 episode 3, titled "Growing Up Italian," Lidia shares recipes and memories from her childhood growing up in Italy.

The episode begins with Lidia describing the importance of family and food in Italian culture. She reminisces about her childhood in Pula, a small town on the coast of Istria, Italy. Lidia's family used the fresh seafood and vegetables from the local markets to create flavorful and simple dishes.

Lidia then dives into the recipes of the episode, starting with a classic Italian dish: spaghetti and meatballs. She shares her technique for making perfectly tender and juicy meatballs and demonstrates how to pair them with a flavorful and fresh tomato sauce. Lidia also gives tips on cooking spaghetti al dente and how to properly dress and serve the dish.

Next, Lidia prepares a dish that is special to her family: fried artichokes. She walks viewers through the process of cleaning and preparing the artichokes, and then shows how to fry them until they are crispy and golden. Lidia serves the artichokes with a lemon and herb-infused olive oil dipping sauce.

Continuing with the theme of fresh vegetables, Lidia also makes a dish called "insalata di peperoni," or roasted pepper salad. She roasts red and yellow bell peppers until they are charred and tender, then removes their skins and slices them into strips. Lidia pairs the peppers with a simple dressing made of olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and herbs.

Lidia then moves on to a protein-packed dish: baked stuffed eggs. She combines hard-boiled eggs with sautéed spinach and pancetta, then stuffs the mixture back into the egg whites and bakes them until golden brown. Lidia notes that this dish is great for breakfast or brunch, or as a satisfying appetizer.

Finally, Lidia shares a dessert recipe that is a favorite in her family: "la torta della nonna," or grandma's cake. This classic Italian cake features a shortbread crust, a sweet and creamy filling made with pastry cream and ricotta cheese, and a dusting of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top. Lidia notes that this cake is perfect for special occasions or as a sweet ending to any meal.

Throughout the episode, Lidia also shares more stories and memories from her childhood in Italy. She emphasizes the iimportance of using fresh, high-quality ingredients and taking the time to savor and enjoy each dish. The show offers a delicious taste of Italian cuisine and culture, and a reminder of the joy and comfort that food and family can bring.