America's Test Kitchen - Season 2

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Three Pureed Vegetable Soups

1 - Three Pureed Vegetable Soups

Air Date: January 5, 2002

Making pureed soups is a balancing act. Small changes can have major effects. The test kitchen has worked out all the kinks and created three great soup recipes.

Pesto, Carbonara and Salad

2 - Pesto, Carbonara and Salad

Air Date: January 12, 2002

Spaghetti alla carbonara and pasta with pesto are quick and easy ways to put an outstanding pasta dish on the table. The test kitchen pairs the pastas with a simple green salad.

Spaghetti and Meatball Supper

3 - Spaghetti and Meatball Supper

Air Date: January 19, 2002

With the right techniques, a spaghetti supper can rival any fancy meal. The test kitchen reveals the secrets for success.

Pizza Night

4 - Pizza Night

Air Date: January 26, 2002

To satisfy everyone, the test kitchen developed two pizza recipes—a deep-dish pizza that bakes in a pan as well as a cracker-thin pie that’s in and out of the oven in just 10 minutes.

Simple Sandwiches

5 - Simple Sandwiches

Air Date: February 2, 2002

Lunch is ready in the test kitchen. Two classics--tuna salad and grilled cheese--along with a fancy steak sandwich are being served.

Shrimp Classics

6 - Shrimp Classics

Air Date: February 9, 2002

Shrimp is quick to prepare, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Step into the test kitchen and learn how to become the shrimp expert in your home.

Steak Frites

7 - Steak Frites

Air Date: February 16, 2002

The test kitchen explores how to properly sear a steak, make a flavorful pan sauce, and fry up hot, crispy french fries.

Fried Chicken and 'Fixens

8 - Fried Chicken and 'Fixens

Air Date: February 23, 2002

The test kitchen shares our fried chicken recipe that is the result of five years work and incorporates many unusual techniques.

Chicken Cutlets 101

9 - Chicken Cutlets 101

Air Date: March 2, 2002

Although chicken cutlets can be delicious, they can also be tough or dry if cooked wrong. We take three classic preparations—Marsala, breaded, and stuffed—and explore ways to make these chicken dishes really good.

All-American Cookout

10 - All-American Cookout

Air Date: March 9, 2002

We move the test kitchen out back to make juicy hamburgers and grilled veggies.

Middle Eastern Barbeque

11 - Middle Eastern Barbeque

Air Date: March 16, 2002

Shish kebab, rice pilaf, and baba ghanoush are perhaps three of the greatest dishes from the Middle East. The test kitchen discovers the best way to prepare each specialty.

Fajitas and Margaritas

12 - Fajitas and Margaritas

Air Date: March 23, 2002

The test kitchen unlocks the secrets for making fresh margaritas, flank steak fajitas and chunky guacamole.

Thanksgiving Dinner

13 - Thanksgiving Dinner

Air Date: March 30, 2002

The test kitchen figures out how to bring the most flavorful, most beautiful bird to the holiday table.

Christmas Dinner

14 - Christmas Dinner

Air Date: April 6, 2002

Christmas dinner is not the time to experiment with new recipes or techniques. The test kitchen gives you these foolproof recipes for holiday family favorites.

Winter Supper

15 - Winter Supper

Air Date: April 13, 2002

The test kitchen’s challenge is to cook short ribs until they are fall-off-the-bone tender while removing as much of the grease as possible.

Ham, Biscuits, and Greens

16 - Ham, Biscuits, and Greens

Air Date: April 20, 2002

Southern food has a special place in the test kitchen. In this episode, the test kitchen shows you how to prepare roast fresh ham, cream biscuits, and greens.

Muffins and Scones

17 - Muffins and Scones

Air Date: April 27, 2002

We turn the test kitchen into the neighborhood bakeshop and make tender blueberry muffins and delicate cream scones.

Bacon, Eggs, and Homefries

18 - Bacon, Eggs, and Homefries

Air Date: May 4, 2002

Bacon, eggs, and potatoes are the classic components of an all-American breakfast. The test kitchen makes sure the bacon is crisp, the omelet is tender, and the home fries are perfectly browned.

French Toast, Waffles, and Breakfast Strata

19 - French Toast, Waffles, and Breakfast Strata

Air Date: May 11, 2002

If you are going to spend the time making French toast and waffles, they better be good. The test kitchen gives the recipes that deliver.

Bar Cookies

20 - Bar Cookies

Air Date: May 18, 2002

Everyone loves bar cookies—especially the cook, because there's no need to form individual balls of dough. But baking dough in the pan, rather than balls on a cookie sheet, can cause problems. We show you how to avoid them.

Two French Tarts

21 - Two French Tarts

Air Date: May 25, 2002

The test kitchen turns out French tarts that put even the finest pâtisseries to shame.

Diner Pies

22 - Diner Pies

Air Date: June 1, 2002

Those cream-topped pies in the revolving case at the diner always look better than they taste. We show you how to prepare Chocolate Cream Pie and Key Lime Pie at home—with amazing results.

Apple Pies

23 - Apple Pies

Air Date: June 8, 2002

The test kitchen has made hundreds of pie doughs. Learn how to make the resulting recipe, which is the culmination of years of kitchen work and testing.

Peach Pie and Cherry Cobbler

24 - Peach Pie and Cherry Cobbler

Air Date: June 15, 2002

Nothing quite says summer like a slice of peach pie or a bowl of cherry cobbler. The test kitchen reports on the best ways to make these classic desserts.

Chilled Summer Puddings

25 - Chilled Summer Puddings

Air Date: June 22, 2002

Light summer desserts, made with or accompanied by fruit, are perfect for summer eating. The test kitchen tackles the problems of panna cotta, rhubarb fool, and summer berry pudding.

Chocolate Desserts

26 - Chocolate Desserts

Air Date: June 29, 2002

The test kitchen figures out how to make showy desserts with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of flavor.