Valerie's Home Cooking — Season 5

Valerie Bertinelli remembers a wonderful weekend in Miami, where all the fragrances and tastes of authentic Cuban food inspire her to recreate some Cuban comfort magic in her own kitchen. She makes a Cubano Salad, Cuban Sandwiches with Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, Spicy Black Bean Soup, a Tropical Sundae, and to drink, Grapefruit Mojitos.

Valerie Bertinelli's dear friends, the Dinsmores, have a party twice a year for their wine club. Valerie has offered to cook for the party, knowing one of the guests is lactose-intolerant. Her menu features Steak Towers, Polenta Crackers with Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Green Onions and Romesco Sauce, and White Pepper Cherry Cookies.

One of Valerie Bertinelli's good friends is a recent Chicago transplant, living in Los Angeles but always extolling the virtues of his hometown eats. She invites him and another recent transplant over for a taste of their hometown, including Deep Dish Sausage Pizza, Cheese and Caramel Popcorn, an Italian Pizzeria Salad and Chocolate Hazelnut Pull-Apart Bread.

Who doesn't love meeting friends for an after-work drink and some yummy bites to share? Valerie Bertinelli invites her glam squad for happy hour, but doesn't wait for the end of a tough workweek on the Valerie's Home Cooking set to start the party! She whips up Turkey Cranberry Sliders, Roasted Cauliflower Popcorn with Chili Lime Seasoning, Jalapeno Fries with Roasted Garlic Ranch Dipping Sauce, and a Key Lime Pie Martini.

Valerie Bertinelli and her longtime babysitter and friend, Elia, cook So-Cal style Mexican recipes, just they did when her son Wolfie was a little boy. They make Chicken Enchiladas with Classic Sauce, a Casa Vega style Tostada Salad, Roasted Salsa, Refried Beans and Smoky Margaritas with Mezcal.

When Valerie Bertinelli's husband's cousins come to town, she is challenged with converting cousin Mary's favorite Italian recipes into healthier versions, so that Mary can still indulge while staying on a heart-healthy regimen. Valerie makes Classic Salami Pie, an Italian Veg Pie, Crunchy Romaine Salad with a Sweet Sesame Vinaigrette, Pepperoni Rolls with homemade Marinara, and Spumoni.

Valerie Bertinelli goes to a lemon farm in search of different varieties of lemon trees with her friend, actress Melissa Peterman. Then, she puts her favorite ingredient into a menu that is fun from soup to nuts -- to lemons! She whips up Greek Lemon Soup with Chicken, Crispy Pancetta Crostini with Arugula Lemon Pesto, Lemon Love Cake, and homemade Limoncello as a base for Lemonade Moscow Mules.

Valerie Bertinelli and her husband, Tom, have been living through remodeling angst for a few months and the end is in sight. In order to show off and celebrate her new and organized closet, she invites friends over and prepares a lovely elegant dinner that includes a Crunchy Mustard Chicken Bake, Snap Pea and Radish Salad with Mint and Tarragon, Aperol Spritzes, and a Red and Green Grape Galette with a Fennel Crust and Red Wine Syrup for dessert.

Valerie Bertinelli hired her pal, food blogger Jo Stougaard, to help expand her social media reach. Today, over a menu of Roasted Vegetable Soup, Tuscan Pesto Pizza with Shrimp Scampi, Shortbread and Lemon Cheesecake, and Spiked Strawberry Lemonades, they create new posts for Valerie's social media.

Valerie Bertinelli loves her little brother, nicknamed Mud, and they're celebrating his birthday with a really spicy feast. The guests dine on a hot hot hot meal of Chili Rubbed Beef with Garlic Herb Oil, Jalapeno Mac & Cheese, Sweet and Spicy Popcorn, Blistered Green Beans with Spicy Chile Sauce and Mexican Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Valerie Bertinelli cooks a springtime feast for her family by adapting some of her mom's favorite recipes. When she has trouble remembering a recipe, Valerie videochats with her mom, Mrs. B, for advice. Her menu includes Honey Mustard Glazed Ham, Pea and Mint Risotto, Strawberry Shortcake Trifle, and Cinnamon Sugared Walnuts.

Valerie Bertinelli's old friends and the other four Fab Five birthday celebrants enjoy a favorite old world recipe: her Gnocchi with Marinara Sauce; Valerie adds some modern recipes; Prime Rib, Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and a Mixed Berry Tart.

On a prior visit to California, Valerie Bertinelli's friends showed her how to grill breakfast, which started a fierce competition to see who could come up with the best all-day grill menu. Today, Valerie is turning up the heat with Grilled French Toast with Apple Berry Compote and Apple Mascarpone Cream, Grilled Shrimp and Radicchio Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette, Grilled Lamb Meatball Flatbread with Grilled Tomato Sauce, and a refreshing Grilled Citrus Spiked Lemonade.