Ep 22. Dad's Dinner Delivery

In season 21 episode 22 of The Pioneer Woman, titled "Dad's Dinner Delivery," Ree Drummond is working on a special project for her father. He has recently moved into a new apartment and is having difficulty cooking for himself, so Ree decides to surprise him with a delivery of his favorite home-cooked meals.

Ree starts by making a classic meatloaf with tomato gravy, which she knows her dad loves. She mixes ground beef with bread crumbs, egg, and a variety of seasonings before shaping it into a loaf and baking it in the oven. While it cooks, she prepares the tomato gravy with onions, garlic, and canned tomatoes. When the meatloaf comes out of the oven, she pours the gravy over it and lets it rest for a few minutes before slicing it up.

Next up is mashed potato casserole, another one of her dad's favorites. Ree boils potatoes and then mashes them with milk, butter, and sour cream until they're smooth and creamy. She adds in grated Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions for flavor and texture, then spreads the mixture into a baking dish and bakes it until it's golden and crisp on top.

For some greens, Ree makes a simple green bean salad with a tangy vinaigrette. She blanches fresh green beans in boiling water, then shocks them in ice water to retain their vibrant color. She tosses them with sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, and a dressing made with olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey.

Finally, Ree assembles a dessert that her dad adores: cherry pie. She starts by making a homemade crust with flour, salt, butter, and water, rolling it out and fitting it into a pie dish. She fills the crust with a mixture of fresh cherries, sugar, and cornstarch, then adds a lattice top made from more crust. After brushing the top with an egg wash, she bakes the pie until it's bubbling and golden.

With all of the dishes completed, Ree packs them up into containers and sets out to surprise her dad with a delivery. He is thrilled to see her and even more thrilled to have a fridge full of homemade food to enjoy. As they sit down to share a meal, Ree reflects on the joy of cooking for loved ones and the importance of showing them how much you care.