Ep 2. Friends Thanksgiving

Giada's Holiday Handbook season 5 episode 2 is titled "Friends Thanksgiving". The episode focuses on Giada De Laurentiis, who is an Italian-American chef, preparing a Thanksgiving feast for her friends. The episode takes place in Giada's home kitchen, where she shares her favorite Thanksgiving recipes with her viewers.

In this episode, Giada discusses how she typically spends her Thanksgiving holiday, which often includes hosting a dinner party with her closest friends. Giada notes that, while Thanksgiving is typically associated with traditional dishes like turkey and stuffing, it can be fun to mix things up by incorporating unique flavors and ingredients.

To start off her Friends Thanksgiving feast, Giada prepares a maple glazed roasted turkey. She explains that the key to a successful roast turkey is to season the bird generously with salt and pepper, and to cook it slowly over a period of several hours. The maple glaze adds a nice sweetness to the turkey, and Giada recommends serving it with a side of cranberry sauce.

In addition to the turkey, Giada also prepares several side dishes. She makes a creamy spinach and artichoke gratin, which is made with fresh spinach, artichoke hearts, and a blend of cheeses. Giada notes that the dish can be made ahead of time and heated up just before serving.

Another side dish in this episode is a classic green bean casserole, which is made with fresh green beans, mushrooms, and a homemade mushroom gravy. Giada explains that she likes to add a little bit of cayenne pepper to the dish to give it some heat.

One of the standout dishes in this episode is Giada's pumpkin and mushroom lasagna. This dish is a unique twist on traditional lasagna, and features layers of fresh pasta, pumpkin sauce, and sautéed mushrooms. Giada emphasizes the importance of using fresh pasta in this dish to give it a truly authentic Italian flavor.

To round out her Friends Thanksgiving feast, Giada also prepares a dessert. She makes a caramelized pear and hazelnut tart, which features a flaky pastry crust filled with sweet pears and crushed hazelnuts. Giada notes that the tart can be served warm or cold, and recommends pairing it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Throughout the episode, Giada also shares some helpful tips on how to make Thanksgiving entertaining stress-free and enjoyable. She recommends setting the table in advance, using pre-made pie crusts to save time, and putting together a playlist of festive music.

Overall, Giada's Holiday Handbook season 5 episode 2 is a fun and informative episode that provides viewers with a variety of Thanksgiving recipes and entertaining tips. Whether you're an experienced chef looking to add some new dishes to your holiday menu, or a novice cook looking for some ideas, this episode has something for everyone.