The Pioneer Woman

Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's throwing open her Oklahoma ranch for a brand-new food series with juicy slices of frontier life. There's a quintessential ranch dinner, a dawn cattle gathering with the kids and cowboys, and rookie cowgirl Ree's facing two family challenges. With chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy with a city girl tomato salad on the side, as well as Cowboy Breakfast Sandwiches and Sunrise Punch, it's going to be a mouthwatering feast of fabulous food and fun.

There's a big secret on the ranch. It's Todd's 7th birthday and the family is planning his first-ever surprise party. First the baby cowboy gets treated to his favorite lemon blueberry pancakes for breakfast, then it's a day of keeping mum as Ree conjures up a county birthday feast of Macaroni Cheese and juicy Sliders with a toppings bar. Then, stand by for the moment when Todd gets the surprise of his life. Well, if his brother hasn't let the cat out the bag.

There's a battle of the sexes going down on the ranch where the guys like their food brown and hearty. There's a blind taste test to see if punchy Penne alla Vodka can win a coveted spot on Ladd's approved list. Then when the guys are away, eating steak and potatoes, the girls will play, and Ree's throwing a cowgirl's dinner the guys would hate with elegant, sophisticated goat cheese with dill appetizers, chilled sangria, and a hip fig, prosciutto and arugula pizza. There's only one guy allowed and that's Charlie – he's always invited.

It's all about work, food and fun on the Pioneer Woman's ranch where she's cooking up a fabulous spicy Cajun pasta lunch for her hungry kids. Then, with the kids on a sleepover, it's a rare date night, frontier-style. Ree's rustling up his-and-her versions of Ladd's Favorite Sandwich and a Drummond classic, egg in the hole, for breakfast. But stand by for dinner and breakfast crashers, as well as a cool, refreshing Oklahoma-style cherry limeade and one accidental ranch wife who is not planning to help with the fence painting. We'll see.

It's all about school days and Sundays on the ranch – and more slices of frontier family life. Ree is making incredible Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies for a field trip to a local museum and wildlife reserve with her home-schooled kids. Then it's the day of rest and that means church, shopping and comfort classics: Perfect Pot Roast, Blackberry Cobbler and a family nap.

Guns, roping and a marital shootout are all part of the Drummonds' Rancher's Dinner. This is party time with a real Wild West difference. There's got to be beef, Ladd's grilled tenderloins, twice-baked potatoes, crunchy fresh corn casserole and homemade ranch dressing over iceberg wedges. It's a family affair, so the kids and cowboys are helping and sister-in-law Missy's bringing dessert. Then it's Ladd and Ree's guns and roping throwdown - may the best man or woman win.