Ep 16. Come Cassoulet with Me: A Decadent Dinner on a Dime

Valerie's Home Cooking season 6 episode 16, "Come Cassoulet with Me: A Decadent Dinner on a Dime," is a delightful episode that showcases Valerie Bertinelli's culinary skills and her talent for creating delicious meals that are easy on the budget. The episode features Valerie preparing a classic French dish called cassoulet, which is a hearty and satisfying stew made with white beans, pork, and sausage.

Valerie starts the episode by introducing her viewers to the key ingredients of cassoulet, which are dried white beans, pork shoulder, and sausage. She explains the importance of soaking the beans overnight to ensure that they cook evenly and don't turn mushy. She also shares her tips for selecting the right cuts of meat and sausages for cassoulet, reminding viewers that cheaper cuts of meat can be just as flavorful and tender as more expensive cuts.

As Valerie begins preparing the cassoulet, she demonstrates how to brown the pork shoulder and sausage in a large Dutch oven before adding diced carrots, onions, celery, garlic, and herbs. She then adds the soaked beans and enough chicken stock to cover them, and simmers the stew for several hours until the beans are tender and the pork is falling apart.

While the cassoulet cooks, Valerie also prepares a simple but elegant spinach salad with a homemade lemon vinaigrette and toasted walnuts. She shows viewers how to make the vinaigrette from scratch using Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper, and how to toss the spinach leaves with the dressing and top them with the toasted walnuts.

As the cassoulet and salad are finishing up, Valerie also shares her recipe for an incredibly easy and decadent chocolate truffle cake. She shows viewers how to melt chocolate and butter together over a double boiler, and then add a mixture of heavy cream and vanilla extract before pouring the mixture into a springform pan and chilling it until firm. The result is a rich and indulgent dessert that's perfect for special occasions or just a cozy night in.

Throughout the episode, Valerie emphasizes the importance of cooking with love and intention, and of finding joy in the process of creating delicious meals for loved ones. She also shares her tips for budget-friendly cooking, reminding viewers that good food doesn't have to come with a high price tag.

Overall, "Come Cassoulet with Me: A Decadent Dinner on a Dime" is a heartwarming and inspiring episode that showcases Valerie Bertinelli's passion for cooking and her talent for creating satisfying and delicious meals that anyone can make at home. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this episode is sure to inspire you to try something new and create something beautiful and delicious for your loved ones.