Ep 15. Weeknight Special

Giada At Home season 4 episode 15, titled Weeknight Special, is a cooking show hosted by the renowned Italian-American chef Giada De Laurentiis. In this episode, Giada whips up some delicious and quick recipes perfect for a weeknight dinner.

The show starts with Giada introducing her viewers to the concept of a weeknight special - dishes that are easy and quick to make, but still tasty and satisfying. She promises to share some of her favorite recipes that can be prepared in under 30 minutes, using simple ingredients that are easily available in any kitchen.

The first dish that Giada makes is a comforting bowl of pasta with broccoli and sausage. She starts by cooking the sausage in a skillet, then adds onions and garlic to build flavor. Next, she blanches the broccoli and adds it to the skillet along with some chicken stock, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. She finishes the dish by tossing the cooked pasta with the flavorful broccoli-sausage sauce, and garnishing it with Parmesan cheese.

Next up, Giada shows her viewers how to make a healthy and colorful quinoa salad. She starts by cooking the quinoa in vegetable broth, which gives it a boost of flavor. While the quinoa is cooking, she prepares a simple dressing using olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and honey. She then adds some diced bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and chickpeas to the cooked quinoa, and tosses it all with the dressing. The result is a colorful and vibrant salad that is both delicious and nutritious.

For the main course, Giada prepares a flavorful and easy-to-make chicken recipe. She starts by seasoning boneless chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, then sears them in a hot skillet until golden brown. Next, she adds some diced onions, garlic, and canned tomatoes to the skillet, and simmers everything together until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened. She serves the chicken with a side of creamy polenta, which she makes by whisking cornmeal with milk and butter on the stovetop.

Last but not least, Giada shares a crowd-pleasing dessert that can be whipped up in no time: chocolate-hazelnut puffs. She starts by baking store-bought puff pastry in the oven until golden brown and puffy. Once out of the oven, she cuts the pastry into squares and fills them with a mixture of chocolate-hazelnut spread and whipped cream. Finally, she dusts the puffs with powdered sugar for a decadent finish.

Throughout the episode, Giada shares tips and tricks for making weeknight cooking a breeze. She emphasizes the importance of having a well-stocked pantry, and encourages viewers to be creative and make use of whatever ingredients they have on hand. Above all, she proves that delicious and satisfying meals can be prepared quickly and easily, even on the busiest of nights.