Ep 5. Fine Dining at Home
- TVG
- October 13, 2007
- 20 min
In season 4 episode 5 of Quick Fix Meals With Robin Miller, entitled "Fine Dining at Home," cooking expert Robin Miller demonstrates how easy it can be to create a gourmet meal from the comfort of your own kitchen. With a focus on simplicity and easy-to-find ingredients, Robin shows viewers how to elevate their everyday cooking to restaurant-quality fare.
The episode opens with Robin preparing a dish of pea and mint crostini. She starts by preparing a simple puree of fresh peas, mint, lemon juice, and olive oil in a food processor. She then tops slices of toasted baguette with the pea mixture, crumbled feta cheese, and a drizzle of honey for a flavor-packed and elegant appetizer.
Next, Robin moves on to the main course, a seared duck breast with a cherry port reduction. She begins by seasoning duck breasts with salt and pepper and heating a skillet over high heat. She sears the duck breasts for a few minutes on each side to achieve a crispy skin and juicy interior, then sets them aside to rest. In the same skillet, she adds chopped shallots and cherries, deglazes with port wine, and reduces the mixture until it thickens into a luscious sauce. She finishes the dish by slicing the duck breasts and spooning the cherry port reduction over the top.
For a side dish, Robin prepares a creamy polenta with Parmesan cheese and green onions. She starts by bringing chicken broth to a boil, then slowly whisking in yellow cornmeal until it thickens and becomes smooth. She stirs in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped green onions for a burst of flavor and color.
To round out the meal, Robin creates a refreshing citrus salad with grapefruit, orange, and pomegranate seeds. She segments the grapefruit and orange, then mixes them together with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds and a dressing made from orange juice, honey, and Dijon mustard.
Throughout the episode, Robin shares tips for preparing each dish efficiently and effectively, making sure to maximize flavor and minimize prep time. She shows viewers that it's possible to create a restaurant-worthy meal at home, with minimal fuss and just a handful of ingredients.
Overall, season 4 episode 5 of Quick Fix Meals With Robin Miller offers a master class in elegant, yet approachable home cooking. From the bright, tangy flavors of the pea and mint crostini to the rich, savory duck breast with cherry port reduction, each dish in this episode is sure to impress even the most discerning palate. Whether you're looking to impress dinner guests or simply indulge in a bit of gourmet cooking at home, this episode is a must-watch for any food lover.