Ep 3. Tropical Tastes

Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee season 5, episode 3, titled "Tropical Tastes," takes viewers on a culinary journey to the tropics. Host Sandra Lee demonstrates how to create easy and delicious dishes that capture the flavors and colors of the Caribbean.

The episode begins with Sandra in the kitchen, where she explains that the inspiration for this episode came from her recent trip to the Caribbean. She starts things off with a refreshing pineapple mojito that's perfect for sipping on a hot summer day. She combines fresh pineapple, rum, lime juice, and mint in a blender, then adds club soda for some fizz and pours the mixture into glasses filled with ice.

Next up, Sandra shows viewers how to make a roasted vegetable and shrimp salad with a pineapple vinaigrette. She roasts bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant in the oven, then tosses them with sautéed shrimp and a tangy dressing made with pineapple juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and honey. The result is a colorful and hearty salad that's full of flavor.

For the main course, Sandra makes jerk-glazed beef skewers with coconut rice. She combines jerk seasoning with honey, lime juice, and Worcestershire sauce to create a glaze for the beef, then grills the skewers until they're cooked to perfection. She serves them alongside a flavorful coconut rice that's cooked with coconut milk and seasoned with scallions and ginger.

Finally, Sandra prepares a dessert that's as beautiful as it is delicious - a tropical fruit tart with a coconut crust. She begins by making the crust, which is made with shredded coconut, butter, and flour, then presses it into a tart pan and bakes it until golden brown. For the filling, she blends cream cheese, confectioner's sugar, and lime juice until smooth, then spreads it over the cooled crust. She tops the tart with slices of kiwi, mango, and pineapple, arranging them in a beautiful pattern that's almost too pretty to eat.

Throughout the episode, Sandra offers plenty of cooking tips and tricks, from how to properly roast vegetables to how to make the perfect cocktail. Her easy-to-follow recipes make it possible to create delicious and impressive tropical-inspired dishes without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you're planning a party or simply looking to spice up your weeknight meals, this episode of Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee is sure to inspire.