Cristina Ferrare

Oprah says she loves to cook for Stedman, but she's ready to expand her recipe repertoire. "I cook the same four things over and over," she says.

Oprah's friend Cristina Ferrare is here with some simple dinner ideas anyone can make. "[Cristina is] probably the best cook I've ever met, other than Maya Angelou and my own mother," Oprah says. "She's cooked three Christmas dinners for 80 people, and I was sitting at the table for all of them."

Many busy moms are intimidated by cooking, but Cristina says they don't have to be. "I'm a working mom; I come home at 5 o'clock. I stop at the market and look around and think, 'What am I going to do?' But it's so easy, you don't have to be intimidated. Today's cooking lesson will show you that," she says. "We're going to be cooking two roasted chickens to make three meals for a family of four to save time and money."

Cristina roasted the chickens herself, but she says you can buy them at the store to save money. "I highly recommend that you use my famous marinade," she says. "Thanksgiving is coming up, and if you use this marinade you can have the best turkey!" Plus, it makes a great gravy for mashed potatoes.

Get Cristina's Roasted Chicken recipe!

"The secret is to take the lemon rinds and stuff that into the bird along with some fresh herbs," Cristina says. "It will make all the difference in your turkey, and you can put it on lamb, on fish or on chicken." But don't forget to take the lemon rinds out before you eat it!
Cristina Ferrare's Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas have a reputation for being fattening, but Cristina says they don't have to be. You can use fat-free or low-fat tortillas and low-fat refried beans, but Cristina prefers real cheese. "I don't like to use non-fat or low-fat cheese. It's just not the same," she says.

Get Cristina’s Chicken Enchilada recipe.

Garnish the enchiladas with fresh cilantro, guacamole or jalapeño for some extra Mexican flavor. "That looks good," Oprah says. "I would be so impressed if I did this!"
Cristina Ferrare's Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Chicken pot pie is a great dish for fall, Cristina says. "I love it this time of year because the weather is starting to turn cold and it gets nice and toasty."

Cristina's recipe calls for a cornmeal crust rather than the traditional pie crust. "You save time, you save money and you don't have to go through all the hassle of making a pie crust," she says. "And everybody loves cornbread."

Get Cristina's Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust recipe.

"It's just so comforting to have a pot pie that you made," Oprah says. "You are really going to love yourself when you do this!"
Cristina Ferrare's Pesto with Farfalle Pasta with Roasted Chicken

Cristina created her Pesto with Farfalle Pasta recipe in Oprah’s honor. "I love basil so much," Oprah says. "I have a lot in my garden, and I make pesto all the time."

This recipe calls for farfalle pasta, which looks like little bow ties, but Cristina says you can use any type. "I like the bow tie at this time of year because it reminds me of Christmas," she says.

Get Cristina's Pesto with Farfalle Pasta with Roasted Chicken recipe .

If you have leftover pesto, freeze it to keep it fresh. "It has a tendency to get moldy if you put it in the refrigerator," Cristina says. "If you put it in ice cube trays, you can have it whenever you need it for stews, soups or sauces."

Try all of Cristina's Roasted Chicken recipes.

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