Double Date

"I didn't throw away the key. It's in the kitchen."

Synopsis:
Two double dates. Rory and Dean set up Lane with Dean's friend and the four go out. Meanwhile Sookie and Jackson's first date includes Lorelai and Jackson's cousin, who's very very weird. Lorelai does not enjoy the evening.

Dress Like a Gilmore:

This is a good at-home, relaxing outfit. Perfect for studying, like Lorelai is doing here. She is wearing a pink, baseball-style shirt with a colorful floral headband.

Eat Like a Gilmore:

Sookie's Baked Alaska

• 2 quarts vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 8 egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar

1. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round mixing bowl or deep 8-inch square container with foil. Spread ice cream in container, packing firmly. Cover and freeze 8 hours or until firm.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x8 inch pan.
3. Prepare cake mix with egg and almond extract. Pour into prepared pan.
4. Bake in preheated oven according to package instructions, until center of cake springs back when lightly touched.
5. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt and sugar until stiff peaks form.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment or heavy brown paper. Place cake in center. Turn molded ice cream out onto cake. Quickly and prettily spread meringue over cake and ice cream, all the way to paper to seal. Return to freezer 2 hours.
7. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
8. Bake the Alaska on the lowest shelf, 8 to 10 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned. Serve at once.

Paris is Burning

"How does the first annual mother-daughter ditch day sound?"

Synopsis:
As the relationship with Rory's teacher Max grows more serious, Lorelai panics and decides to end it, but her attempt to break up with him during Parent-Teacher night at Chilton causes even more trouble at school for Rory.

Live Like a Gilmore:
Put on your most pom-pommed outfit and go ice skating.

Forgiveness and Stuff

"No one has ever made me something quite so disgusting. I thank you."

Synopsis:
Richard Gilmore is rushed to hospital after collapsing at the Christmas party. Luke goes with Lorelai to the hospital, where Emily and Rory already are.

Eat Like a Gilmore:
Emily's (Cook's) Apple Tarts:

Dough:
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, just softened, cut in 1/2-inch pieces
3 1/2 tablespoons chilled water

Filling:
2 pounds apples (Golden Delicious or another tart, firm variety), peeled, cored (save peels and cores), and sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
5 tablespoons sugar

Glaze:
1/2 cup sugar

MIX flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl; add 2 tablespoons of the butter. Blend in a mixer until dough resembles coarse cornmeal. Add remaining butter; mix until biggest pieces look like large peas.

DRIBBLE in water, stir, then dribble in more, until dough just holds together. Toss with hands, letting it fall through fingers, until it’s ropy with some dry patches. If dry patches predominate, add another tablespoon water. Keep tossing until you can roll dough into a ball. Flatten into a 4-inch-thick disk; refrigerate. After at least 30 minutes, remove; let soften so it’s malleable but still cold. Smooth cracks at edges. On a lightly floured surface, roll into a 14-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Dust excess flour from both sides with a dry pastry brush.

PLACE dough in a lightly greased 9-inch round tart pan, or simply on a parchment-lined baking sheet if you wish to go free-form, or galette-style with it. Heat oven to 400°F. (If you have a pizza stone, place it in the center of the rack.)

OVERLAP apples on dough in a ring 2 inches from edge if going galette-style, or up to the sides if using the tart pan. Continue inward until you reach the center. Fold any dough hanging over pan back onto itself; crimp edges at 1-inch intervals.

BRUSH melted butter over apples and onto dough edge. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over dough edge and the other 3 tablespoons over apples. (Deb note: I found it nearly impossible to coat it with this much sugar, so I used a little less–more like 3 tablespoons. It made a lightly sweet tart, which we found perfect.)

BAKE in center of oven until apples are soft, with browned edges, and crust has caramelized to a dark golden brown (about 45 minutes), making sure to rotate tart every 15 minutes.

MAKE glaze: Put reserved peels and cores in a large saucepan, along with sugar. Pour in just enough water to cover; simmer for 25 minutes. Strain syrup through cheesecloth.

REMOVE tart from oven, and slide off parchment onto cooling rack. Let cool at least 15 minutes.

BRUSH glaze over tart, slice, and serve.

Rory's Dance

"Oh, my goodness. You're a movie star! I'm serious. At some point tonight, walk down a flight of stairs. Movie stars always walk down staircases."

Synopsis:
Rory asks Dean to accompany her to a formal dance at Chilton, but the lovely evening is spoiled when they fall asleep together after the dance, leading to a fight between Rory's grandmother and her mom over who has been a worse mother.

Live Like a Gilmore:
Always carry a book in your purse!

Love & War & Snow

"There is no use for lava lamps unless you are high."

Synopsis:
It's snowing, and Rory gets stuck at Emily and Richards for the night. Lorelai runs into Max and invites him home but Lane unexpectedly shows up.

Dress Like a Gilmore:

Even though pigtails are out of style these days, they can still be worn around the house or while doing chores, etc.

Live Like a Gilmore:
Enjoy the magic of snow.

Eat Like a Gilmore:
Sookie's Rocky Road Cookies

• 2 cups pecans or walnuts, or a combination of both
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup mini marshmallows 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and spray the parchment with cooking spray.  

Place the nuts on a baking sheet and toast for 7 minutes. Let cool completely. Chop nuts into pieces the same size as your milk chocolate chips.

Place the butter, bittersweet chocolate, and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a small bowl.

Using a mixer, beat the eggs and sugar on medium speed for about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and melted chocolate mixture, continue beating for another 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add flour mixture, mix until just incorporated. Fold in the toasted and chopped nuts, milk chocolate chips, and marshmallows. Chill dough in fridge for thirty minutes, or until firm enough to hold its shape.

Using a 1 3/4-inch diameter scoop drop spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets. With the bottom of a measuring cup sprayed with cooking spray, gently flatten the dough mounds.Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the tops crack and look shiny. Cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the baking sheets. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Kiss and Tell

"Here's a tip: don't sit on any cold benches."

Synopsis:
Dean kisses Rory in the grocery store, but Rory doesn't tell Lorelai.

Dress Like a Gilmore:

This is a good outfit for staying at home or running errands in. Lorelai pairs a casual plaid shirt with a denim jacket. Very country.

Rory's Birthday Parties

"So just look around and when you see something you like, put a Post-It on it."

Synopsis:
For Rory's birthday, she gets two parties. One is an elegant, expensive party thrown by Emily, where all her Chilton classmates are invited. The other is a fun, informal party thrown by Lorelai and all the citizens of Stars Hollow.

Live Like a Gilmore:

Wear a loud, gawdy outfit on your birthday.

Craft Like a Gilmore:
To make the bracelet that Dean gives Rory, all you need are 3 leather straps and a medallion. Start by braiding the leather straps and then halfway through, put the medallion on, then continue braiding.

Another crafty idea, this time from Lorelai: turn old baby clothes into a quilt.

Cinnamon's Wake

"I'm attracted to pie. That doesn't mean I feel the need to date pie."

Synopsis:
Max asks Lorelai out on a date. She misses it because Babette and Morey's cat dies and she has to go to the funeral.

Live Like a Gilmore:
Read classic literature on park benches. See here for a full list of all the books Rory is caught reading throughout the series:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/all-339-books-referenced-in-gilmore-girls

The Deer Hunters

"I was extremely charming. I won the whole crowd over. They made me queen."

Synopsis:
Rory misses an important English test after studying all night for it, then gets hit by a deer on the way to school. Lorelai yells at Headmaster Charleston because he won't let Rory take a make-up test.

Dress Like a Gilmore:

Lorelai wears a simple maroon sweater paired with a burnt orange skirt. Although the style is a little outdated, I like these colors together, especially on a fall day.