Ep 1. Stanton and Paige

The Pioneer Woman season 11 episode 1, titled "Stanton and Paige," focuses on Ree Drummond, the host of the popular cooking show, as she welcomes her college friend, Stanton, and his wife, Paige, to her Oklahoma ranch. As soon as Stanton and Paige arrive, Ree takes them on a tour of her beautifully landscaped property where they relax and enjoy the scenic surroundings.

The episode kicks off with Ree taking us through her morning coffee routine at her ranch's lodge, which is a cozy and rustic cabin with a wood-burning fireplace. After having coffee, Ree heads to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her guests. She reveals that she's preparing a meal that's typical of a breakfast in Oklahoma, which is filled with home-cooked goodness.

Ree's menu for the day includes blueberry sweet rolls, cheesy hashbrown casserole, and bacon-wrapped sausage breakfast burritos. She takes great care in explaining everything she does and provides useful tips throughout the cooking process. The blueberry sweet rolls are made with a homemade dough which Ree says can be prepared ahead of time and placed in the fridge overnight. The cheesy hashbrown casserole is made with frozen shredded potatoes and cheddar cheese, which she tosses together and bakes in the oven for 30 minutes. The bacon-wrapped sausage breakfast burritos are made with ground pork and wrapped in a tortilla with plenty of melted cheese.

After breakfast, Ree takes her guests to the drummond family museum, which is filled with items from her family's history. She explains her family's story to Stanton and Paige, revealing how her ancestors came to the United States in search of a better life. Ree then takes the couple to the nearby town of Pawhuska, where they explore some of the unique landmarks, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and The Osage Nation Museum.

Later in the episode, Ree shows how to make some of her favorite lunch dishes, which include a chicken salad sandwich, pasta salad with grapes and almonds, and pretzel-crusted fried chicken. For the chicken salad sandwich, Ree mixes the cooked chicken with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickles, and butter lettuce leaves. The pasta salad is a refreshing dish that consists of cooked pasta, grapes, almonds, and a dressing made of olive oil and apple cider vinegar. The pretzel-crusted fried chicken is made with seasoned pretzels, which Ree crushes and uses to coat the chicken pieces before frying them in a shallow pan on the stovetop.

The episode continues with Ree and her guests engaging in a friendly conversation while sipping on wine and snacking on an appetizer of cheese and crackers. Ree shares her admiration for her hometown and how it has been a source of inspiration for her cooking show. She says she loves being able to share her family's history and her passion for cooking with her viewers.

The episode concludes with Ree and her guests enjoying a hearty dinner of Salisbury steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and charred carrots. Ree says the Salisbury steak is one of her childhood favorites and that she adds parsley and onions to the meat mixture for extra flavor. The garlic mashed potatoes are made with butter, whole milk, and plenty of garlic. The charred carrots are lightly coated in honey and balsamic vinegar before being roasted in the oven.

Overall, "Stanton and Paige" is a heartwarming episode that shows the genuine hospitality and love that Ree Drummond has for her guests. It's a reminder that cooking and sharing a meal together is not just about feeding someone's stomach, but also about nourishing the soul. The dishes that Ree prepares in this episode are comfort foods that are sure to delight any palate.