Ep 9. Cooking with the Nuns

Lidia's Kitchen season 8 episode 9 is named Cooking with the Nuns and it features Lidia Bastianich cooking with a group of nuns in their convent kitchens. The episode opens with Lidia arriving at the convent and being greeted warmly by the nuns. She begins by introducing herself and explaining the concept of the show to the nuns.

The first dish that Lidia and the nuns prepare is a classic Italian dish, polenta. The nuns start by heating a large pot of water on the stove and adding cornmeal to the pot. They stir the mixture constantly as it thickens and cooks. Lidia adds some Parmesan cheese and butter to the polenta, giving it a rich and creamy flavor. They serve the polenta topped with a hearty meat sauce made with beef and pork.

Next up, Lidia and the nuns make a pasta dish. They start by making the pasta from scratch, mixing together flour and eggs and rolling out the dough using a pasta machine. The nuns show Lidia how to make a simple tomato sauce using fresh tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. They cook the pasta until it is al dente and serve it with the tomato sauce.

For the third dish, Lidia and the nuns make a classic Italian dessert, tiramisu. They start by making a coffee-flavored syrup and dipping ladyfingers in it. They then layer the ladyfingers in a dish with a mixture of mascarpone cheese, sugar, and egg yolks. They finish the dessert by dusting it with cocoa powder.

Throughout the episode, Lidia and the nuns share stories about their lives, their faith, and their love of cooking. Lidia marvels at the simplicity of the ingredients and the care that the nuns put into their cooking.

Cooking with the Nuns is a heartwarming episode that celebrates the joy of cooking and the power of faith. Lidia Bastianich and the nuns create simple, delicious dishes that are a testament to the enduring traditions of Italian cuisine.