Ashley Capps' Dreamy Pumpkin Crème Caramel Dessert
A Candy Roaster pumpkin purée shines in Ashley Capps' stunning custard dessert, perfect for beautiful garnishes.
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The Key Ingredient with Sheri Castle
Thursdays at 7:30 PM on PBS NC and the PBS Video App
In each episode of The Key Ingredient with Sheri Castle, the renowned food writer and cooking teacher features one local ingredient, tracing its journey from source to kitchen. Sheri will introduce us to local farmers, growers, fisherman and chefs and share approachable home cooking recipes and tips. Join Sheri each week to learn the stories behind some of North Carolina's most beloved ingredients.
The Key Ingredient with Sheri Castle is now streaming at video.pbsnc.org and on the PBS Video app.
Tuesday, December 14 at 7 PM
Virtual Event | A Taste of the Holidays
PBS North Carolina and Our State present A Taste of the Holidays with Sheri Castle. Join us for a magical evening featuring a special preview screening of NC Weekend, a baking segment with The Key Ingredient's Sheri Castle, and a spectacular photo essay from Our State magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Elizabeth Hudson.
Watch Full Episodes
Meet our Host, Sheri Castle
Sheri Castle, award-winning food writer and cooking teacher, is known for melding culinary expertise, storytelling and humor, so she can tell a tale while making a memorable meal. Her creative, well-crafted recipes and practical advice inspire people to cook with confidence and enthusiasm. She's written a tall stack of cookbooks and her work appears in dozens of magazines. In 2019, the Southern Foodways Alliance named Sheri among Twenty Living Legends of Southern Food, calling her The Storyteller.
Sheri says that she's fueled by great ingredients and the endless pursuit of intriguing stories, usually about the role that food plays in our lives, families, communities and culture.
When she steps away from the kitchen or a local farm, Sheri enjoys spending quiet time at her home near Chapel Hill. She hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
Sheri Says! Tips for Your Home Kitchen
Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
Sheri says some helpful tips on how to perfectly roast your pumpkin seeds.
Watch Now
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Videos
sheri Says
Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
Sheri Says
Picking the Best Cabbage
Sheri Says
Using & Storing Buttermilk
Sheri Says
Infused Apple Peel Vodka
Sheri Says
Taking Seeds out of Muscadines
Sheri Says
Cutting a Bell Pepper
sheri Says
How to Care for Your Cast Iron Skillet
Sheri Says
Safely Storing Fresh Oysters
Explore Recipes from the Show
Whole Roasted Pumpkin Stuffed with Savory Mushroom Bread Pudding
This is an impressive entree, fancy enough to star in a Thanksgiving feast, but simple enough to prepare all season.
Seasonal Salad with Warm Pumpkin Wedges and Honey Vinaigrette
This gorgeous composed salad, assembled on a serving platter instead of tossed in a bowl, features spice-roasted pumpkin wedges.
Grilled Cabbage with Sweet & Sour Sauce
Sheri and Joe Kwon prepare a new-fangled variation on old-fashioned stuffed cabbage rolls, hearty comfort food.
Luxurious Cabbage Soup
Every cook needs a go-to vegetable soup in their repertoire. This one is flavorful, colorful, and keeps well for a few days.
Marinated Chow Chow Slaw
This slaw is dressed with a deeply flavorful marinade instead of bound with mayonnaise and keeps beautifully for days.
Erika Council's Bomb Buttermilk Biscuits
Erika Council, founder of Bomb Biscuit Company in Atlanta, makes biscuits that are the envy of bakers around the world.
Chocolate Buttermilk Pudding with Tangy Whipped Cream
Prepared in individual servings, this dessert is sure to surprise and delight.
Buttermilk-Brined Southwestern Skirt Steak
Buttermilk flavors and tenderizes the skirt steak, paired well with a great wedge salad and creamy buttermilk dressing.
Meherwan Irani's Apple Sabzi
Meherwan Irani shares his Apple Sabzi, a recipe that reminds him of home and the great cooks in his family.
Fresh Apple Cake with Cider Caramel
Sheri presents one of her favorite cakes, perfectly served with its simple glaze & made more delectable with whipped cream and apple cider caramel.
Roasted Chicken with Apple Pan Dressing
This one pan chicken and apples dish highlights flavorful baking apples easily found in your local grocery store.
Keia Mastrianni's Muscadine Pie with Peanut Butter Streusel
Keia Mastrianni's recipe for this elegant, impressive pie features sophisticated flavors and textures and the playful disposition of a classic PB&J sandwich.
Muscadine and Broccoli Pasta Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
A crunchy broccoli salad, a crisp pasta salad & old-fashioned poppyseed dressing, put over the top with the earthy sweetness of muscadines.
Skillet-Roasted Sausages with Muscadines & Shallots
Inspired by countryside recipes in the Umbria region of Italy, this dish pairs perfectly with mustard, cheese and good bread for a delicious meal.
Jamie Swofford's Field Pea Succotash
Jamie’s recipe is redemptive succotash, a feast for the eyes and palate, full of color, texture, and flavor.
Hoppin’ John Risotto with Collard Pesto
Sheri makes her Hoppin’ John—an iconic Southern dish—like risotto, creating a large pot of creamy rice and field peas studded with sausage.
Lady Pea & Heirloom Tomato Salad
This salad is as beautiful as it is delicious, the best of late summer on a platter.
Roasted Oysters on the Half Shell
Jamie Davis shares his recipe for refined and easy roasted oysters, topped with a generous dollop of delicious spiced butter.
Crispy Fried Oyster Rolls with Zesty Tartar Sauce
Fried oysters are delightfully easy to prepare at home with this recipe from Sheri.
Oyster Stew with Toasted Benne Seeds
Benne seeds add flavor to this simple Southern-style stew without overwhelming the oysters.
Cornmeal Pound Cake
A delightful pound cake with enough flavor and character to serve solo or with the Blackberries and Peaches in Sweet Basil Syrup.
Sheri's Skillet Cornbread and Honey Butter
Sheri shares her secrets to great cornbread and a honey butter topping that steals the show.
Savory Coconut Cornmeal Upma
Cheetie Kumar shows Sheri her recipe for this fragrant, beautiful and tempting meal.
Meet our Guest Chefs
Each week, Sheri invites a local chef to explore their connection to local ingredients and to share their own special recipe with us. Learn more about our featured guests below.
Meet our Executive Producer, Heather Burgiss
Emmy® award-winning Executive Producer/Director Heather Burgiss has been telling the stories of her beloved adopted home state of North Carolina and developing new series and shows for both digital and broadcast at PBS NC since 2000.
In The Key Ingredient with Sheri Castle, Heather leads the development, writing and direction of this modern "stand and stir" with Sheri Castle, exploring ingredients from the ground up with farmers, producers and recipes in the kitchen. In casting and storylines, Heather seeks out unique, diverse voices to give the audience a deeper glimpse and connection into the subject at hand.
When she's not storytelling, Heather enjoys the outdoors with her husband, three sons and good dogs, Ruby and Beau.
