Ep 1. Fall Favorites

In the season 30 premiere of The Pioneer Woman, host Ree Drummond celebrates the flavors of fall with a selection of her favorite recipes. As the leaves change outside Drummond's Oklahoma ranch, she creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere in her kitchen, whipping up dishes that evoke the essence of autumn.

Drummond starts off with a hearty breakfast dish that's perfect for a crisp fall morning: pumpkin pancakes with maple whipped cream. She mixes up a batter of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and nutmeg before frying up fluffy pancakes on her griddle. The finishing touch is a generous dollop of maple whipped cream, which adds a sweet and creamy element to the dish.

Next up, Drummond turns to a classic autumn ingredient: butternut squash. She roasts the squash and uses it as the base for a creamy soup that's garnished with crispy bacon and sage leaves. The soup's rich and savory flavors are balanced by a tangy goat cheese and herb sandwich on the side.

For the main course, Drummond puts a fall twist on a classic comfort food: chicken pot pie with biscuit crust. Instead of the usual pie crust, she tops it with homemade biscuit dough that's dotted with chives. The filling is full of root vegetables like carrots, turnips, and parsnips, giving it a hearty and earthy flavor that's perfect for the season.

For dessert, Drummond makes a show-stopping apple pie with salted caramel sauce. She starts with a homemade pie dough and fills it with a mixture of cinnamon-spiced apples. The secret ingredient is a drizzle of salted caramel sauce, which adds a rich and luxurious sweetness to each slice.

Throughout the episode, Drummond shares tips and tricks for working with seasonal ingredients and shortcuts for creating delicious meals with minimal fuss. She also brings viewers along for a tour of her picturesque ranch, showing off the changing colors of the countryside and offering behind-the-scenes glimpses into her life as a busy wife, mother, and food blogger.

Fall Favorites is the perfect episode for anyone looking to capture the essence of autumn in their kitchen. With its cozy recipes and warm, welcoming vibe, it's a reminder of how food can connect us to the changing seasons and the beauty of the world around us.