Ep 9. Thankful for Family

Valerie's Home Cooking season 4 episode 9 named Thankful for Family is an episode that brings the essence of love and family to the show. Valerie is all set to cook a delicious and hearty meal for her family, and she has something special for everyone.

As the episode kicks off, Valerie explains how family is the heart of any meal and how she is excited to cook for her family. She shares that she has selected a variety of dishes that everyone loves and is sure to please their taste buds.

Valerie starts by making her family's favorite appetizer, Artichoke Dip. She uses fresh ingredients like cream cheese, mayonnaise, canned artichokes, green chilies, garlic, and Parmesan cheese to make a creamy and rich dip. She serves it with soft pretzels, crackers, and celery sticks, which make for a great start to the meal.

Next up, Valerie makes Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, which is perfect for the cold weather. She roasts butternut squash with onions, garlic, and thyme, and then purees it with chicken broth and cream to make a velvety soup. She garnishes it with roasted pumpkin seeds and croutons, which adds a nice crunch to the soup.

For the main course, Valerie makes a classic, hearty meal of Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy, Smashed Potatoes, and Roasted Asparagus. She uses ground beef, pork, and veal, along with breadcrumbs, eggs, onions, and spices to make a delicious meatloaf. She serves it with a savory mushroom gravy, which she makes by sautéing mushrooms, onions, garlic, and thyme and then adding beef broth and cream. Valerie also makes Smashed Potatoes, which are Yukon gold potatoes boiled with garlic and then mashed with butter and cream. She roasts asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper to complete the main course.

To finish off the meal on a sweet note, Valerie makes her mother's recipe for Coconut Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. She bakes a fluffy yellow cake with coconut flakes and fills it with tangy lemon cream cheese frosting. Valerie says that this cake is special to her family as it reminds her of her childhood and family gatherings.

Throughout the episode, Valerie talks about the importance of family and how she is grateful to have them in her life. She reminisces about her childhood and how she learned to cook from her mother and grandmother. She shares family stories and traditions, which makes the episode even more heartwarming.

In addition to cooking, Valerie also showcases some stunning table decorations and tips on setting up a beautiful family table. She sets up a rustic and cozy table with autumn leaves, pine cones, and candles, which adds to the warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Thankful for Family is a perfect episode for anyone who loves good food, family, and traditions. Valerie's recipes are simple, flavorful, and perfect for any family gathering. The episode is a lovely reminder of how important it is to cherish time with loved ones and create memorable moments with them.