'America's Test Kitchen: Home For The Holidays'
(DVD / PG / 2019 / PBS)
Overview: The entire cast is home for the holidays, and they're revealing their all-time favorite holiday recipes from the test kitchen archives.
DVD Verdict: This delicious special hour-long holiday episode features hosts Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison and the rest of the America's Test Kitchen cast gathered in a casual behind-the-scenes setting while sharing the warmth of the holidays with viewers.
Personally, I find these shows to be rather excellent. I find the quality of the production to be very good, the recipes are great, the episodes are fun to watch and they are often humorous.
That said, and again, personally, I would prefer more cooking and less equipment and product taste testing, but that is just a personal preference.
This hour long holiday special also features five of the test kitchen's favorite holiday recipes, including new twists on classic holiday fare like Turkey En Cocotte and Beef Tenderloin with Smoky Potatoes and Persillade Relish.
The Porchetta recipe offers a flavor-packed alternative to traditional holiday roasts, and elegant desserts like Millionaire's Shortbread and Gateau Breton are surefire favorites to consider anytime you're trying to please a crowd.
What I love about America's Test Kitchen is that it takes the guessing out with detailed step by step instructions on how, and importantly why a certain ingredient, recipe and equipment is used; along with a sleuth of informative factual and scientific tidbits explained in an easy-to-understand manner.
Recipe 1
Turkey Breast en Cocotte with Pan Gravy - Cooking a turkey breast is a great alternative to tackling the whole bird; it’s easy to handle and full of white meat.
Recipe 2
Beef Tenderloin with Smoky Potatoes and Persillade Relish - For special occasions, few cuts top a beef tenderloin. This elegant roast cooks quickly and serves a crowd, and its rich, buttery slices are fork-tender.
Recipe 3
- Hailing from France’s Brittany coast, gâteau Breton boasts a bright jam filling and a rich, dense texture, which elevate this rustic cake to a first-class confection.
Recipe
Millionaire's Shortbread - Britain’s triple-decker combo of buttery cookie, sweet caramel, and dark chocolate makes a perfect holiday gift. But only if every layer is flawless.
Recipe
Porchetta - Italy’s rich herb-and-garlic-infused slow-cooked pork is one of the world’s best street foods. We wanted to transform it into a roast for company.
Complete with an outtake reel over the credits, this warm, inviting, and fun-filled hour of cooking with the whole America's Test Kitchen family will get you in the mood for the holiday season! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
www.PBS.org