Damaris shops for ingredients at her favorite neighborhood Italian grocery store and transforms them into a decadent but easy goat-cheese gnocchi with bacon, dates and a Kentucky brown-butter wine sauce. For dessert, she makes a silky buttermilk panna cotta.

A visit from Damaris' niece and her friends prompts the chef to make kid-friendly food - foods that kids love with sneaky tricks to get them to eat well. With easy clean-up strategies, simple, sure-fire recipes and a little bit of chef's magic, Damaris shows how to make special meals for the little loved ones in your family. Meals include waffles made with semolina and sun-dried tomatoes and served with homemade pizza sauce; a cast-iron recipe for chocolate chip cherry cookies. Written by Anonymous

Damaris reveals one of her secrets to being a great restaurant chef: use interesting and unexpected spices. To show why spices matter, she takes on a typically boring dish - the salad - and transforms it into a whole meal with bold flavors and interesting textures. Highlighting easy techniques to roast vegetables, devil eggs and spice nuts, Damaris also demonstrates how to make fresh vinaigrette at home. And for an exotic complement, her savory za'atar biscuit takes Southern biscuit-making to a new level. Written by Anonymous

Tasso ham from New Orleans inspires Damaris to prepare the traditional Louisiana dish, maque choux; a muffaletta sandwich with olive tapenade; and banana Foster bread.

Damaris prepares a menu for a Kentucky Derby party. Included: hot browns with pimento-cheese mornay; mint julep; and chocolate-bourbon-pecan pie.

Mexican food is on the menu, including a fauxrizo taco filling that's spicy and easy to prepare; black beans flavored with coconut and lime; slaw made with creme fraiche, jicama and cilantro; and blackberry-and-sage margaritas.

Damaris creates an elegant menu for an afternoon tea party. On the menu: Benedictine, borage and bacon come together for a new twist on the cucumber sandwich. Also: a beet-and-potato salad w/blue-cheese dressing and dill; and saffron flower madeleines.

Damaris helps a friend plan a low-stress romantic dinner for two. On the menu: pan-grilled shrimp with sumac sauce; fresh turmeric rice; and crispy sautéed zucchini.

Damaris puts jalapeño poppers and strawberries on the grill and then uses them in dishes that include pan-seared pork chops, cornbread and barbecue baked beans.

Damaris plans a romantic picnic as part of a $30 date. On the menu: fried chicken-salad sandwiches and chocolate Mason jars. Plus, she makes a salad dressed with an Asian vinaigrette.