Ep 13. Fiesta of Flavor

In Paula's Best Dishes season 6 episode 13 titled "Fiesta of Flavor," Paula Deen shows viewers how to cook a delicious spread of Mexican-inspired dishes. Paula welcomes her friend and fellow Food Network personality Marcela Valladolid to her kitchen to share some of her favorite Mexican recipes.

The episode starts off with Paula and Marcela making a refreshing cocktail called a Paloma. They mix tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and club soda for a light and citrusy beverage. Next, they start on the appetizers. Paula makes mini tostadas with shrimp and avocado. She cooks the shrimp with onions, garlic, and cumin, then serves them on top of crispy tortilla rounds with mashed avocado and a dollop of sour cream.

Marcela makes a flavorful salsa with tomatillos, jalapenos, and cilantro to go with Paula's tostadas. She grills the tomatillos and jalapenos before blending them together with the cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Paula and Marcela also make a guacamole with roasted jalapenos and cotija cheese, and they serve it with fresh tortilla chips.

For the main course, Paula prepares a dish called Carne Asada Tacos with Charred Tomato Salsa. She marinates flank steak in a mix of olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and cumin for a few hours before grilling it to perfection. She serves the steak with warm corn tortillas, shredded lettuce, and a homemade salsa made with charred tomatoes, garlic, and jalapenos.

Marcela makes a side dish of Mexican Rice with Tomatoes and Peppers to go with the tacos. She sautese onions and bell peppers before adding in rice and cooking it up with diced tomatoes and chicken broth. The result is a colorful and tasty rice dish that is the perfect complement to Paula's carne asada.

Finally, for dessert, Paula and Marcela make a tres leches cake with a twist - they add in some Mexican cinnamon and top it with fresh whipped cream and sliced strawberries. To make the tres leches cake, they start with a simple vanilla cake and soak it in a mixture of three different types of milk (hence the name "tres leches"). They let the cake absorb the milk mixture overnight, then top it with the whipped cream and strawberries right before serving.

Throughout the episode, Paula and Marcela share tips and tricks for cooking Mexican cuisine, such as using a cast iron skillet to get a nice sear on the steak, or using fresh lime juice to brighten up the flavors of the dishes. They also talk about their experiences cooking in different parts of the country and the world, and how they incorporate those influences into their own cooking.

Overall, "Fiesta of Flavor" is a fun and festive episode of Paula's Best Dishes that showcases some delicious and easy-to-make Mexican recipes. Paula and Marcela's chemistry is infectious, and viewers are sure to feel inspired to try making some of these dishes themselves.