Southern at Heart

Damaris visits her favorite neighborhood Italian grocery store, Lotsa Pasta, where she finds beautiful fresh ricotta and local goat cheese, and transforms it into a decadent but easy-to-make Goat Cheese Gnocchi With Bacon, Dates and a Kentucky Brown Butter Wine Sauce. For dessert, Damaris puts her twist on an Italian favorite with a silky Buttermilk Panna Cotta. It's a celebration of Italy with a Kentucky accent.

Damaris and one of her best friends, pastry chef Terra Nelson, rent a movie from their favorite video store and decide to whip up the perfect snacks to munch as they watch. On the menu: Hickory and Gorgonzola Popcorn, easy handmade Wild Mushroom and Cheddar Pork Sausages and no one can resist their Homemade Candy Bars With Chunks of Cookies and Caramel.

Damaris reveals one of her secrets to delicious cooking: interesting and unexpected spices. To show why spices matter, she takes on a typically boring dish — salad — and transforms it into a whole meal with bold flavors and interesting textures in a Kale, Roasted Celery Root, Deviled Eggs and Spiced Almond Salad With Garlic Confit Vinaigrette. And for an exotic complement, her savory Za'atar Biscuit takes Southern biscuit-making to a new level.

Damaris's niece and friends are visiting, so she whips up foods that kids love with sneaky tricks to get them to eat their veggies. They make Semolina and Sundried Tomato Waffles with homemade Pizza Sauce and Chocolate Chip Cherry Cast-Iron Cookies. With simple, sure-fire recipes, Damaris shows how to make special meals for the little loved ones in your family.

Damaris helps her kitchen-challenged Uncle John tackle the traditional Phillips spring lamb feast. Taking the intimidation out of preparing a large roast, Damaris demonstrates an easy cooking method and simply layers fresh flavors to bring out the best qualities of Roasted Lamb and Mint Chimichurri. Feta Roasted New Potatoes and Togarashi Glazed Carrots round out this crowd-pleasing menu that shows a fresh take on traditional Southern fare.

Damaris brings the flavors of New Orleans home. When her brother sends a care package of tasso ham from New Orleans, Damaris creates an inspired menu to satisfy her Louisiana cravings. With simple techniques, she whips up a flavorful Maque Choux With Tasso Ham. Her foolproof olive tapenade transforms an ordinary cold cut sandwich into a signature Muffaletta and for a sweet finish, a decadent Bananas Foster Bread.

Damaris takes on her hometown's grand event with her own version of a proper Derby party, even if you're not in Louisville. With her fancy hat on and ready, she kicks off with her version of a classic Kentucky dish: Hot Browns With Pimento Cheese Mornay. She pulls into the lead with a refreshing Mint Julep and it's an easy win with her spectacular Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. Damaris gives you all the tips and tricks you will need to make your Derby party a photo finish!

Inspired by a margarita at one of her favorite bars, Damaris invites the mixologist back to the kitchen with Mexican Food on the brain. On the menu: easy-to-make spicy, homemade "Fauxrizo" Taco Filling, Coconut Lime Black Beans and to finish the plate off, a simple, aromatic Jicama and Cilantro Creme Slaw. Damaris's fiery menu is cooled down with a Blackberry and Sage "Heart of Darkness" Margarita.

It's a lovely afternoon for tea with the girls and Damaris creates a menu of feminine and elegant dishes with tons of flavor. Instead of the traditional cucumber sandwiches, she changes it up with delicious Borage Benedictine and Bacon Sandwiches. Then, she takes Southern potato salad to the next level with her Beet and Potato Salad With Blue Cheese Dressing and Dill. To finish off a perfect tea party, Damaris serves Saffron Flower Madeleines.

Nothing can spoil the mood like a stressed cook, so when her friend Keith needs help planning a romantic dinner for two, Damaris shows him how to put together a low-stress, huge reward meal. She starts with a Pan-Grilled Shrimp With Sumac Sauce. Her foolproof Fresh Turmeric Rice and crispy Sauteed Zucchini will make you look like a pro.

When Damaris and her friend Kelly take on the rowing machine at the local gym, they keep their endorphins pumping by making a light, flavorful and satisfying meal. Their menu consists of Quinoa and Salmon Croquettes, Spaghetti Squash With Parsley and Pecan Pesto and Strawberries With Honey Rosemary Whipped Cream for dessert. It's everything you crave, made healthy.

Every Sunday, Damaris lights up the grill and fires off ingredients to last the week: this week, she's grilled off jalapeno peppers and strawberries. She uses the peppers as a base for a Compound Butter to top her Pan-Seared Pork Chops that she dresses alongside her Perfect Cornbread. The grilled Strawberries are the basic element in her mouthwatering Barbecue Sauce Baked Beans. Grill once and have flame-kissed flavor all week long.

Damaris has a tradition: the $30 date, which must last a minimum of five hours and include a meal. For this date, Damaris plans a romantic picnic. She transforms leftover fried chicken into mouth-watering Fried Chicken Salad Sandwiches. She brightens up her basket with a Salad dressed with an Asian Vinaigrette and finishes the meal with decadent Chocolate Mason Jars. It's the perfect meal for a memorable date!