christina cooks back to the cutting board

I'm all about cooking, in case you were wondering. Cooking for our loved ones - or even just for ourselves - is the ultimate super power. Making meals with fresh seasonal ingredients preserves our strength and wellness. Simply cooked and beautifully served foods say "I love you" in a delicious way. In this very special episode, we visit Sandro, a retired investment banker living in the small village of Regillo. After years of long hours commuting back and forth to work, he's making the most of his retirement cooking rich, luscious home meals for family and friends. Today, he's making special plant-based delicacies for our whole crew. Recipes: Winter Squash Risotto; Pappa al Pomodoro; Zucchini Focaccia

As Americans, we have one big thing in common: we are stressed. From politics to disease; the economy to world affairs; family obligations to our work. We race around from dawn 'til dusk, never stopping to breathe. We're living as total type 'A' people all the time, even on vacation. In contrast, Italians often resemble what I like to call "type meh." What they can't get done today, they do the next - and the world doesn't end. Their attitude creates a culture of less stress and anxiety. Today we're cooking to bust stress alongside my good friend Carolina, an Italian-born doctor living in the US who knows a thing or two about managing a stressful life with good food and great company. Recipes: Millet Cauliflower Soup with Sauteed Broccoli; Rigatoni with Caramelized Fennel and Garlic; Lemon Spaghetti