Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics Season 2 Episode 5 What Friends Are For

In Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics season 2 episode 5, titled "What Friends Are For," renowned chef and host, Ina Garten, showcases some of her favorite dishes and entertaining ideas to help elevate any dinner party. Garten, known for her easy-to-follow recipes and elegant yet approachable style, invites her close friend and yoga instructor, Deborah, to the show to cook some healthy and delicious meals.

Garten begins the episode by showing viewers how to prepare a simple but flavorful roasted shrimp dish. Using fresh ingredients such as garlic, lemons, and parsley, she demonstrates how easy it is to create an impressive appetizer that will make guests think you spent hours in the kitchen. She then moves on to making a colorful mixed green salad and her famous vinaigrette dressing. Garten explains how important it is to have a salad that's both tasty and visually appealing, and shows creative ways to garnish it to impress your guests.

Next up, Garten and Deborah collaborate on a healthy and hearty main course – grilled chicken with arugula and basil sauce. The dish is packed with flavor and nutrition, using grilled boneless chicken breasts, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Garten and Deborah share their love for healthy and delicious food and discuss the importance of being mindful of what we eat and its impact on our overall health.

For dessert, Garten prepares a delicious and easy-to-make fruit tart using fresh raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. She demonstrates how to make a simple crust and filling while also sharing tips on how to arrange the fruit beautifully. She further emphasizes how important it is to use seasonal ingredients to make the dessert taste more delicious.

Throughout the episode, Garten also shares her entertaining tips, including how to set a beautiful table, make simple but elegant decorations, and create an inviting ambiance. She mentions her belief that friends and family provide an invaluable source of support and joy in our lives, emphasizing that's what life is all about. She believes that cooking and entertaining is a great way to bring people together and create cherished memories.

Overall, "What Friends Are For" is an episode that's both inspiring and informative. Garten's joy for cooking, love of entertaining, and passion for healthy living come through in every dish she prepares. Viewers are sure to come away with lots of ideas for how to elevate their cooking skills, create beautiful and delicious meals, and make entertaining a lot easier and more enjoyable.