Season One Standouts from Stephanie’s Recipe Journal
Written by Kaelin Hagler, Producer at CET and ThinkTV
CET and ThinkTV premiered our new cooking show Stephanie’s Recipe Journal last fall, and with season one drawing to an end, I am reminiscing on my first season of producing for broadcast in addition to all of the wonderful recipes Stephanie has shared with us over the past couple months.
After five years of producing The Baking Journal for YouTube, we decided to spin the series into a broadcast program with 30-minute long episodes featuring recipes of all kinds. Stephanie’s Recipe Journal has allowed us to spend more time with Stephanie, enjoy her meditative process, learn the science behind her ingredients, and so much more.
The season finale brings a decadent vegetable garden carrot cake. When Stephanie first told me about this recipe, I had no idea how we would pull it off. From the moisture levels of the cake, to the cream cheese icing and the handmade marzipan vegetables on top, this is a complex dessert that tastes as good as it looks! Stay tuned for the premiere on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30pm on CET.
From our very first day on set to our final episode premiering this month, the lineup of recipes this season has been both fun to film and outstanding to eat after each long day on set. Here are a couple of my personal favorites:
1. Make-Ahead Appetizers
I’m all about easy to eat bites that you can prep ahead of time for a quick snack or appetizer before a meal, and these three recipes are the perfect example of how a little prep can make your day so much easier. Stephanie loves to make these sweet & savory bacon-wrapped dates, flaky prosciutto, pesto & gruyere pinwheels, and flavorful marinated olives whenever she is having people over for a party – but I like to just have them ready to go for a quick snack for the family! Check out the full recipe: https://www.cetconnect.org/simple-make-ahead-appetizers-787_ftr/.
2. Challah Bread
Homemade bread-making has always seemed a little intimidating to me, but watching Stephanie do this challah was so inspiring and she made it seem super approachable. Plus, that braid has to be the coolest thing ever! In this episode, Stephanie teaches two beautiful techniques—a classic 4-strand loaf and a braided bun. I think I’m going to give it a try soon! Check out the full recipe: https://www.cetconnect.org/challah-bread-4-strand-8-strand-techniques/.
3. Chocolate Cream Pie
This pie just reminds me of home. There’s nothing more southern than pie – no matter what kind it is. From the homemade crust to the chocolate curls on top, this pie is just spectacular. In this episode, Stephanie shows you how to make every single element from scratch, plus a bonus recipe for the perfect chocolate mousse using leftover custard and whipped cream. Check out the full recipe: https://www.cetconnect.org/chocolate-cream-pie-rich-creamy-irresistible-dessert-recipe-787_ftr/.
These are just a few of the delicious recipes Stephanie has guided us through this season. Explore the full collection from Stephanie’s Recipe Journal on our website: https://www.cetconnect.org/recipejournal/featured-recipes/.
Stephanie’s Recipe Journal airs Saturdays at 1:30pm on CET, as well as Tuesdays at 10:30am and Saturdays at noon on ThinkTV14. You can also stream all episodes on YouTube, the PBS app or online: https://watch.cetconnect.org/show/stephanies-recipe-journal/.
