The Key Ingredient

Food Series / 3 Seasons

Renowned food writer and cooking teacher Sheri Castle celebrates local ingredients, tracing their journeys from source to kitchen. Sheri introduces us to local farmers, growers, fishermen and chefs and shares approachable home cooking recipes and tips.

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Savory Ham, Cheese and Spinach Bread Pudding | Kitchen Recipe

7m 10s

Sheri shows how to create a stunning holiday dish you can prep the night before and bake fresh the next day. She elevates this sophisticated casserole with a vibrant tomato and roasted red pepper sauce, bringing bold color and incredible flavor to the table.

Preview | Sheri’s Home Recipes for the Holidays

30s

Sheri shares easy and delicious holiday recipes that are sure to be a hit at your next seasonal gathering. She whips up her mouthwatering roasted red pepper dip with pomegranate molasses and shares a brunch showstopper: savory bread pudding with ham, cheese and spinach. Sheri also shares her favorite recipes for a fluffy coconut cake and tasty crab cake bites.

Watermelon Cocktail | Cook Along with Cheetie Kumar

6m 3s

Sheri joins Raleigh’s rockstar chef Cheetie Kumar as she mixes up a delightfully refreshing watermelon cocktail. Perfect for savoring on a hot summer day, this vibrant drink is sure to become a seasonal favorite.

Watermelon Salad with Margarita Dressing | Kitchen Recipe

3m 36s

Sheri Castle’s watermelon salad with margarita dressing is as vibrant as it is refreshing. This colorful salad is perfect for summer gatherings, offering a delightful mix of sweet, tangy and savory notes in every bite.

Watermelon Rind and Refrigerator Pickle Slaw | Kitchen Recipe

7m 39s

Sheri Castle shares her recipe for a watermelon rind and refrigerator pickle slaw, a clever and refreshing twist on a classic recipe. Perfect as a vibrant side or topping, this slaw packs a punch with its tangy, unique flavor that is sure to brighten any dish.

Preview | Watermelon Vibes

30s

Sheri visits an heirloom watermelon patch in Virginia with food historian Debra Freeman and journalist Joshua Fitzwater. She shares her recipe for a watermelon salad and a fascinating way to make watermelon rind pickle slaw. Rock star chef Cheetie Kumar mixes up a refreshing watermelon and cucumber cooler cocktail, and Sheri demonstrates the most approachable way to cut up a watermelon.

Field Trip to Moore’s Produce

3m 54s

Sheri visits Moore’s Produce, where she witnesses more than eighty varieties of hot peppers. She chats with owner Stephanie Moore about growing hot peppers in the South, the best varieties for your dishes and when to buy this heat-packing fruit.

Gato Pima with Spiced Yogurt Sauce and Pikliz | Cook Along with Von Diaz

7m 38s

Sheri cooks along with Von Diaz, an Emmy Award-winning documentarian, food historian and author, to create Von’s signature island-inspired dishes. Together, they prepare gato pima, a flavorful deep-fried chili cake, and a spicy pikliz slaw with a tangy yogurt sauce. These recipes highlight bold, vibrant flavors from around the world, creatively blending island culinary traditions with the fiery ki

Roasted Green Chile, Chicken & White Bean Stew | Kitchen Recipe

5m 27s

Sheri Castle shares her recipe for a delicious, warm stew of roasted green chile, chicken and white bean. Roasted green chiles are the star of this hearty, flavorful dish, offering a wonderfully warming experience that will keep you coming back for more.

Candied Jalapeño Cheese Ball | Kitchen Recipe

6m 6s

Sheri Castle creates a candied jalapeño cheese ball, a show-stopping party centerpiece. This delightful blend of creamy cheese and sweet-spicy candied jalapeños is perfect for snacking and sharing. Rolled in crunchy nuts, it’s a flavorful and festive addition to any gathering, combining heat and sweetness for a memorable treat.

Preview | Warming Up to Hot Peppers

30s

Sheri Castle spices up your next potluck with recipes for a candied jalapeño cheese ball and a warm stew of roasted green chile, chicken and white beans. She also shares a tip for roasting peppers right in your kitchen. Sheri visits Moore’s Produce in rural NC to see what it takes to grow hot peppers in the South, then cooks along with Emmy Award-winning documentarian and author Von Diaz.

Fresh Peach and Summer Vegetable Salad with Basil-Lemonade Dressing | Kitchen Recipe

6m 24s

Sheri Castle shares her recipe for a fresh peach and summer vegetable salad dressed in a basil-lemonade vinaigrette. Juicy peaches, crisp veggies and fragrant basil come together for a beautiful, colorful dish that is as delicious as it is stunning. This salad is a perfect showcase of peak summer produce, offering a refreshing, light and flavorful addition to any meal.

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