Ep 6. Dishin On Dishes

In season 7 episode 6 of Paula's Best Dishes, Paula Deen is "dishin" on her favorite dishes, sharing her classic recipes and tips for making them even better.

The episode starts with Paula making her famous fried chicken, which she calls a "Southern staple." She starts by brining the chicken in buttermilk overnight, which she says keeps the meat moist and tender. Then she coats the chicken in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, and a secret ingredient: cornstarch. She fries the chicken in hot oil until it's golden brown and crispy, finishing it off in the oven to make sure it's fully cooked. Paula serves the fried chicken with her homemade honey mustard dip, which she says adds a "sweet and tangy" flavor that complements the chicken perfectly.

Next, Paula moves on to her "ultimate mac and cheese," which she claims is better than any restaurant version. She starts by cooking elbow macaroni until it's al dente, then makes a cheese sauce with butter, flour, milk, and her favorite cheeses: cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella. She seasons the sauce with hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard powder to give it a little kick. Once the sauce is thick and bubbly, Paula tosses the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce and bakes it in the oven until it's hot and bubbly. She serves the mac and cheese with a sprinkle of bread crumbs on top, which she says adds a "crunchy texture" to the dish.

For dessert, Paula makes her "chocolate gooey butter cake," which she says is a "chocolate lover's dream come true." She starts by making a chocolate cake batter with cocoa powder, flour, sugar, and other ingredients. Then she makes a gooey cream cheese filling with cream cheese, eggs, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. She pours the cream cheese filling over the cake batter in a baking dish, then bakes it until it's set and gooey at the same time. Paula advises letting the cake cool completely before cutting it into squares, as it can be messy when it's warm. She says the cake is best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, which helps cut through the richness of the chocolate and cream cheese.

Throughout the episode, Paula shares her "dishin" tips and tricks, such as using a cast iron skillet for the fried chicken, using real butter for the mac and cheese sauce, and using a quality cocoa powder for the chocolate cake. She also talks about her love of cooking for her family and friends, and how these classic dishes have been passed down through generations of Southern cooks.

Overall, "Dishin On Dishes" is a mouth-watering episode that showcases Paula Deen's expertise in Southern cooking. Her fried chicken, mac and cheese, and chocolate gooey butter cake are sure to become new favorites for viewers looking to add some classic comfort food to their recipe repertoire.