Barefoot Contessa Season 4 Episode 3 5 Day Make Ahead Dinner

In Barefoot Contessa season 4 episode 3, Ina Garten challenges herself to create five make-ahead dinners that will save time and stress during busy nights. Throughout the episode, she shares her tips for prepping and storing meals ahead of time, as well as recipes for delicious dishes that can be made in advance.

The episode begins with Ina explaining the importance of planning ahead when it comes to mealtime. She discusses how preparing meals ahead of time saves time, reduces stress, and allows for more quality time with family and friends. Ina then introduces the five meals she will be preparing, including a roasted vegetable lasagna, seafood gratin, chicken pot pie, beef and noodle casserole, and a chocolate brownie pudding.

First up is the roasted vegetable lasagna, which Ina starts by roasting vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and peppers. She then prepares a homemade tomato sauce and a béchamel sauce, which will serve as the base for the lasagna. After layering the vegetables and sauces with lasagna sheets, she tops the dish with parmesan cheese and pops it in the fridge to bake the next day.

Next, Ina moves on to the seafood gratin, a cheesy and flavorful dish that can be made ahead of time and baked in the oven before serving. She starts by making a roux, then adds white wine and cream to create a rich sauce for the seafood. After adding shrimp, scallops, and cod to the mixture, Ina tops it with a breadcrumb and cheese mixture before placing it in the fridge to be baked later.

For the third meal, Ina makes a classic and comforting chicken pot pie. She starts by preparing a homemade crust, then cooks chicken, vegetables, and herbs in a skillet. Ina then adds a creamy sauce to the mixture before pouring it into a baking dish and topping it with the crust. After prepping the pot pie, Ina refrigerates it so it can be baked the next day.

The fourth meal is a hearty beef and noodle casserole that is perfect for feeding a crowd. Ina starts by browning ground beef, then adds onions, garlic, and herbs to the mixture. After boiling noodles and preparing a cheese sauce, she combines the ingredients and tops the casserole with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. The dish is then stored in the fridge overnight and baked the next day.

Finally, Ina wraps up the episode with a delicious dessert, a chocolate brownie pudding that can be made in advance and served warm. She starts by melting chocolate and butter together, then adds sugar, flour, and eggs to create a batter. After pouring the batter into ramekins, Ina refrigerates them until they are ready to be baked. Once baked, the pudding is served warm with whipped cream.

Throughout the episode, Ina emphasizes the importance of planning ahead and how it can make mealtime much easier and stress-free. She also shares her tips for storing and reheating make-ahead meals to ensure they taste just as delicious as the day they were made. By the end of the episode, viewers will have learned how to make five delicious meals that can be prepped ahead of time, saving them time and stress during busy weeks.