What are the top chain restaurants in the United States? Have we been to them? What do we think about them? You might be surprised by how many we have (or haven't!) been to.

We've also got a one-minute cooking tip about better batters for pancakes or cakes. And we're very happy about pork belly this week.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of over three dozen cookbooks. Our latest is COLD CANNING: small batch preserving and canning without the need of any canner at all. If you'd like to check it out, please find it at this link.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:07] Our one-minute cooking tip: Never overmix a batter!

[03:25] The top fifteen chain restaurants in the United States . . . and what we think about them

[28:48] What’s making us happy in food this week? Pork belly two ways!

Chaos cooking. A new trend. Well, sort of new. About two years old at this point, but it's found it's way into restaurants across the country. What started as a "throw it from the pantry into a pot" technique has morphed into the new version of culinary fusion.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of more than three dozen cookbooks, including our latest: COLD CANNING, a guide to turning small batches of fresh produce into jams, chutneys, conserves, sauces, chili crisps, dessert toppings, and more, without a steam- or pressure-canner in sight.

We have lived through the ages of fusion cuisine and are really intrigued by this new take. It's sloppier and messier, but it's also sort of fun. Plus, we've got a one-minute cooking tip about how to cook faster. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:12] Our one-minute cooking tip. Smaller things cook faster!

[04:41] Chaos cooking: what is it, how does it work, and how have you already had an example of it without necessarily knowing it?

[23:10] What’s making us happy in food this week: fresh New England corn on the cob!

Fiber-maxxing. It's the latest social-media craze among food and fitness influencers. What is it? Why is it absurd? But also, why does it touch on something very important?

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of over three dozen cookbooks (plus Bruce's knitting books and Mark's memoir). Food and cooking are our passions. We're so happy to be able to share that with you.

If you'd like to see our latest cookbook, COLD CANNING, please check it out at this link.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:19] Our one-minute cooking tip: how to make better chimichurri!

[03:33] The latest social-media craze: fiber-maxxing. What is it? And why is fiber important?

[17:55] What’s making us happy in food this week? Summer corn and Bruce's wild take on chili crisp.

What happened to the Instant Pot? It's come off its highs and changed dramatically. Its story is not one of overproduction or the whims of popularity. It's a more complicated story that involves investment finance and private equity.

Join us, Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of four Instant Pot books, including THE INSTANT POT BIBLE. We want to talk about what happened to this favorite kitchen appliance. Plus, a one-minute cooking tip on vinegar. And our favorites this week: head-on shrimp and pickled plums!

[01:07] Our one-minute cooking tip: Be forewarned that there's been a big change in distilled white vinegar.

[03:02] The rise and fall of the Instant Pot: its start, its wild popularity, and its move into private equity firms with all the do in their vulture capitalism.

[27:10] What’s making us happy in food this week: head-on shrimp and pickled plums!

We've learned a lot after writing and publishing after thirty-seven cookbooks. We'd love to share with you those lessons.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough. We've actually written forty cookbooks, including two knitting books by Bruce and a memoir by Mark. We've been around the block! We'd love to tell you what we've learned over this long publishing career.

We've also got a one-minute cooking tip. And we're really excited about a specific type of melon and Mark's really excited about a specific way to cook goat.

If you'd like to get a copy of our latest cookbook, COLD CANNING, please check it out at this link right here.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:22] Our one-minute cooking tip: Store garlic at room temperature

[03:27] What have we learned after writing and publishing thirty-seven cookbooks.

[23:27] What’s making us happy in food this week? Melons and goat!

Nostalgia is such a big part of food trends. It shows up in dining, cooking, cookbooks, food writing, even food packaging. Think of that old-fashioned truck on the Peach Truck boxes!

Why is nostalgia such a big part of food trends, dining options, and even flash-popular things in North American cooking? Let's talk about the part of nostalgia in both our career and even in the books we've written.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of thirty-seven cookbooks. Our latest is COLD CANNING: small-batch preserving without the need of a steam or pressure canner. If you'd like to see that book, check out this link right here.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:14] Our one-minute cooking tip: Put your small children and pets out of the kitchen when you cook.

[02:40] What's with so much nostalgia in food, dining, and cooking trends?

[26:38] What’s making us happy in food this week: steamed Chinese riblets!

Burgers! What are they without their toppings? Let's talk about the most popular trends for burger toppings in 2025!

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, veteran cookbook authors of thirty-seven cookbooks (plus Bruce's knitting books and Mark's memoir!).

We're going to get Bruce's honest reactions to the most popular burger topping trends for 2025. Plus, we've got a one-minute cooking tip for better drinks this summer. And all about sour cherry jam and home-grown currants.

If you'd like to get a copy of our newest cookbook, COLD CANNING, please check it out at this link right here.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:20] Our one-minute cooking tip: Refresh the ice in your ice maker.

[03:20] What are the most popular burger toppings for 2025? Mark lists them for Bruce to see his reaction!

[18:40] What’s making us happy in food this week? Sour cherry jam and home-grown currants!

We all love ice cream. As our photographer, Eric Medsker, says: "Even bad ice cream is good ice cream." It's hard to argue with that!

What are the trends for ice cream in the summer of 2025. We've done the research and have the answers. Some of them may surprise you! Not only about flavors but even about how ice cream is sold in North America.

Plus, we've got a one-minute cooking tip about cooking together. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

If you'd like to check out our latest cookbook, please find COLD CANNING at this link!

Otherwise, here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:20] Our one-minute cooking tip: Buy a second cutting board if you’re cooking with someone else.

[03:04] What are the trends for ice cream in the summer of 2025?

[19:45] What’s making us happy in food this week? Homemade kimchi and smash burgers!

Side quests. A term from gaming but now a part of cultural moment. Everyone has a side quest, a way to find and fulfill their passions, even as they do whatever they do to pay the bills.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, veteran cookbook authors of over three dozen cookbooks. We've each found this career as a side quest that became our main quest.

We've also got a one-minute cooking tip. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week!

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:10] Our one-minute cooking tip: Microwave lemons and limes for a few seconds before juicing them.

[02:46] Side quests. What are they? Why are they important? How has our career developed out of our side quests? And what are our current side quests?

[25:02] What’s making us happy in food this week? Dried mung bean noodles for Bruce and vegan mozzarella from Three Girls Vegan Creamery in Guilford, Connecticut for Mark.

No doubt, the internet is being flooded with AI recipes. In fact, even unscrupulous publishing is being flooded by these generated recipes as small, independent publishers pop up who take advantage of the "free" content to package it as a book.

But there's some hope. AI recipes aren't all bad. And there are ways to identify them before you caught in the trap of making, oh, lemon meringue trout pie.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, veteran cookbook authors who've written over three dozen cookbooks and who've been around the block several times already with AI content. We'll tell you how to spot an AI recipe, how to use AI to help in the kitchen, and what the dangers of AI recipes are.

We've also got a one-minute cooking tip about a handy kitchen appliance. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:05] Our one-minute cooking tip: use a stick blender!

[03:11] How to spot, use, and stay away from AI-generated recipes.

[29:01] What’s making us happy in food this week: curried chili crisp and potato salad!