Ep 14. Friend in Need

In Barefoot Contessa season 2 episode 14 titled "Friend in Need," the host, Ina Garten, invites her friend Marcy to her home for dinner. Marcy has been going through a tough time and Ina wants to provide her with some comfort through a delicious meal.

To start off the meal, Ina prepares an arugula salad with prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. She demonstrates her technique for making perfect vinaigrette dressing and tosses the salad with it. Next, she moves on to the main course and prepares Italian wedding soup, which is a soup filled with meatballs, vegetables, and pasta. She also serves garlic bread on the side, which she makes by rubbing garlic and butter over a baguette and toasting it in the oven.

For dessert, Ina prepares a lemon and ginger parfait, which is made by layering ginger snaps, whipped cream, and lemon curd in a glass. She shows how to make the ginger snaps from scratch and whips up the lemon curd while the soup is cooking.

Throughout the episode, Ina and Marcy chat and catch up on each other's lives. Marcy expresses her gratitude for Ina's friendship and the comfort that comes with a home-cooked meal. Ina explains how cooking provides her with a sense of relaxation and enjoyment, and it brings her joy to share that with others.

Overall, "Friend in Need" is a heartwarming episode focused on the power of food and friendship. Ina's recipes are straightforward and accessible, making them perfect for a cozy dinner with friends or family. The episode showcases Ina's natural ability to make her guests feel at ease and highlights her passion for cooking and entertaining.