John had a lot at stake last Thanksgiving. After years of not-too-subtly hinting that he wanted the hosting job, John got permission from his mother-in-law to host the holiday in 2022—and he hit it out of the park. But anxious to keep his standing as the family's Thanksgiving host, John turned to Dinner SOS for some help perfecting his already perfect meal. And this year, Chris caught up with him to find out how everything went — and whether he's permanently secured the hosting position.

Recipes Featured:

Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Foods That Matter.

Mark Jacobs, Chairman of Watkins, divulges the delicate (and sometimes dangerous) process of sourcing the finest vanilla beans in Madagascar and explains why vanilla can be so darn expensive, only sometimes. But vanilla's not all they offer! Mark shares surprising health benefits of spices, and spills the tea on how Watkins keeps their huge variety of spices bursting with flavor - including a tip to properly storing your spices at home. Mark even reveals the one spice that mysteriously eludes Watkins (and why), and shares exactly what to look for when you're on the hunt for the perfect spices. Whether you're a spice connoisseur, a curious cook, or a foodie, this episode is packed with flavor-boosting tips and fascinating facts about food and the brand leading the way for delicious flavors. 

Jen is a confident cook in a household of self-described food people. But she's never been able to successfully make tender, shreddy pork at home, so she called us looking for some rules she can follow to achieve her dream pork in her own kitchen. Chris calls on Inés Anguiano, Certified Pork Stan (tm), to help Jen embrace pork's versatility... and the fact that the only rule with pork cookery is "there are no rules."

Recipes featured:  

Soy-Basted Pork Chops with Herbs and Jalapenos

Crispy Pork Cutlets with Kimchi Slaw

Citrus-Braised Pork with Crispy Shallots

And the bonus "middle lane" pork recipes:

Mustardy Cider-Braised Pork Chops

Sweet-and-Saucy Pork Chops

Pork Shoulder Steaks with Grilled Mustard Greens

We get a lot of questions in our inbox from listeners with dietary restrictions. And sometimes, we can absolutely handle them using the expertise right in our test kitchen – no dairy? No meat? No nightshades? No problem. But not all restrictions are that simple. So we tapped registered dietician Desiree Nielsen to answer questions about cooking low-FODMAP, diabetes-friendly, and more. If you're experiencing changes in your health, make sure you contact your doctor and/or a Registered Dietician to make a plan that's right for you.

Recipes featured:

Super-Seedy Gluten Free Bread

Blueberry Chia Seed Jam

Gluten Free Carrot Cake

Vegan Cacio e Pepe

Black Vinegar Chicken with Radishes

Kate's Feel Good Food Plan

30 Minute Green Pasta with Kale

Velvety Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Vegan Sausage Stuffed Acorn 

Squash

Cashew Alfredo

Rachel's the kind of cook who free-forms it – no two dinners turn out the same, and she likes it that way. But she’s setting up a dinner for her parents and her partner’s parents to meet each other for the first time, and she wants everything to be perfect. The only issue? Every one of her guests has a different dietary restriction, and none of them seem to work together. So Chris taps Kendra Vaculin to help keep Rachel's eyes on the ultimate prize: making this gathering an excellent time for all involved.

Recipes featured:

Squash and Broccoli Rabe Lasagna

Three-Minute Red Wine Vinaigrette

Raspberry Cake with Whipped Cream Filling

Cheesy Mushroom Galette

Leah loves the Union Square Farmer's Market, but there's one tent she's too intimidated to stop at: the "mushroom guys" (aka Mushroom Queens).  So to help demystify the alien-looking fungi that Leah's seen at their stall — and prove to her that she can achieve a crispy, umami-rich 'shroom in her own kitchen — Chris takes Leah to Mushroom Queens in Ozone Park, and they get a tour of an urban mushroom farm.

Recipes featured:  

Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Ragu

Seared Mushrooms with Garlic and Thyme

Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends at The Financial Times. 

If you’ve been to the wine shop lately you may have noticed a trend: wines marketed specifically toward younger drinkers. Many are natural, organic, or biodynamic. Others are made without special certification but boast backstories that focus on the producers, not just the region or grapes. Wine writer Hannah Crosbie joins host Lilah Raptopoulos to give us a primer on what young wine drinkers want. Why are pét nats, skin-contact wines, and chilled reds suddenly everywhere?

Check out Life and Art from FT Weekend wherever you get your podcasts.

Nelson's partner, Cate, is an incredible cook. But she's chronically ill, and not always feeling well enough to cook. So Nelson wants to step up and make her delicious, nourishing meals when she's not feeling her best. The only issue? He's not so confident in the kitchen - especially when it comes to taking on a new recipe or technique. So Chris & Shilpa step in to provide him with a cornucopia of straightforward, unfussy recipes to build his confidence and help him make dinner for Cate. 

Recipes Featured:

Very Good Vegan Tacos

Herby Cauliflower Fritters

Samosa-Dillas with Cucumber Salad

Cold Soy Milk Noodles with Chili Crisp

Cold Noodles with Tomatoes and Peanut Sauce

Tofu Meatballs in Burst Tomato Sauce

Everyone’s Favorite Gado Gado

Caller Teddy has been vegan for a few years. But while she’s confident in her chickpea and lentil skills, bean mastery has eluded her. And, to be fair, the questions are big: canned or dried? What type of bean works best for which application? Is a big pot of brothy beans enough for a meal, or does it need to be doctored? Chris taps Justine Doiron (aka @Justine_Snacks), bean enthusiast, to help Teddy get hip to the humble bean.

Recipes mentioned:

Brothy Pasta with Chickpeas

Gochujang Brothy Beans

Breaded Beans

Brothy Beans

Pasta e Fagioli with Escarole

Learn more about how beans can help the planet and your health at BeansIsHow.com.

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Bon Appetit's annual Best New Restaurants list is live! This year, we're spotlighting 20 new American restaurants that we're particularly excited about. To celebrate the list's release, Chris sits down with Anna and Ni Nguyen, married couple and chef-owners of the Denver, Colorado restaurant Sap Sua. They talk about their partnership in and out of the kitchen and dig deep into the three Sap Sua recipes featured in this month's Bon Appetit magazine.

Recipes:

Fish with Coconut Caramel

Brown Butter Scrambled Eggs Over Rice

Tofu with Hot Oil Chimichurri