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Hey Mama—you did it. This Christmas episode is a gentle reminder that every part of the season you carried mattered, even the unseen moments and the things that didn’t get done. Dina encourages listeners to release the pressure of a “perfect” holiday and reflect on the memories God is quietly forming in their hearts.
The featured recipe—a cozy Christmas coffee with candied bacon—is an invitation to pause, rest, and take five minutes for yourself before rushing into what’s next.
As the new year approaches, this episode shifts the focus away from resolutions and toward renewal. God doesn’t need a calendar change to do something new, and His grace extends far beyond January 1st. Instead of striving to become someone new, Dina invites you to walk into the new year continuing what God is already doing—trusting Him for renewed strength, faith, and hope.
Let’s walk into the new year thinking about rest, perseverance, and choosing renewal over resolutions.
This week in the kitchen:
Featured Recipe: https://www.dishitgirl.com/food
Christmas Coffee
Ingredients
Instructions
Candied Bacon
Ingredients:
Directions
Dina’s Cookbook- https://www.amazon.com/At-Kitchen-Sink-Recipes-Cookbook/dp/0593728939
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
In this Advent reflection, we turn to Luke 2 and the quiet strength of Mary, who “kept and pondered” the events surrounding Jesus’ birth in her heart. While we often imagine the nativity scene in vivid detail—the shepherds, the star, the awe-filled visitors—Scripture tells us very little about Mary’s outward response. Instead, we’re given insight into her inner life: a woman who weighed the wonder, the joy, and the gravity of God’s plan with deep intention.
This episode explores Mary not only as an example of obedience, but of self-control, restraint, and spiritual maturity. As others reacted, Mary reflected. She held both the joy of new motherhood and the painful prophecy spoken by Simeon—that her own soul would one day be pierced—trusting God with emotions she did not rush to explain or perform.
We’re invited to consider what it might look like in our own lives to pause before reacting, to sit with our thoughts rather than speak from fear or anxiety, and to allow God to cultivate our inner world through prayer. Especially during the chaos of the Advent season, this episode encourages listeners to create quiet space—even just a few minutes—to ponder, to listen, and to let the Lord bring peace, clarity, and strength.
This week in the kitchen:
Featured Recipe: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/brussels-sprouts-pomegranate-salad
Brussels Sprouts and Pomegranate Salad with Rotisserie Chicken
Ingredients
Dressing
Instructions
Dina’s Cookbook- https://www.amazon.com/At-Kitchen-Sink-Recipes-Cookbook/dp/0593728939
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
This week may not feel “all calm and bright,” but you’re here - and I pray these few minutes give you space to breathe, reset, and hear exactly what God wants to speak into your life. If you missed last week’s episode, be sure to listen to Part 1 of my story about Siena’s birth and my journey through postpartum depression.
In this episode, I continue sharing how my experience with postpartum depression became part of my Christmas story - the season when the panic attacks began, the baby blues didn’t lift, and the pressure of who I thought I “should” be left me exhausted and ashamed. Trauma, NICU stress, and new motherhood changed everything, and I struggled deeply with comparison and feeling like I was failing.
But God began teaching me to slow down, accept the season I was in, release the “always/never” thinking, and pay attention to small moments of contentment - tiny reminders of His presence when I felt overwhelmed.
The holidays can highlight the places we hurt, but the Christmas story reminds us that we never walk alone. God sees you, hears you, and strengthens you in your weakest moments. Christmas marks the beginning of the greatest hope - we can let that hope lift some of the weight we carry.
Knowing that holiday gatherings are in full swing, and whether you’re hosting or just trying to get dinner on the table between events, I’ve got you covered this week in the kitchen:
Featured Recipe: Baked Penne Vodka, This recipe lives in my cookbook, At the Kitchen Sink (linked below in resources)
Baked Penne Vodka
Serves 5 to 6
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) block whole milk mozzarella cheese
1 pound penne
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¾ cup vodka
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
½ cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup mascarpone cheese
3 cups baby spinach, rough chopped
½ cup finely grated Pecorino Romano
Instructions
Resources:
Resources: Dina’s Cookbook- https://www.amazon.com/At-Kitchen-Sin...
Catch the podcast anywhere: https://lnk.to/dishitgirl 🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes!
In today’s episode, I open up about a part of my story I wasn’t sure I should share during Christmastime: my experience with postpartum depression. The holidays often amplify what we carry—grief, anxiety, trauma, transition—and while our stories may differ, there are threads we all recognize.
This episode is the first of a two-part series where I talk about the season when I realized something was deeply wrong, all while navigating new motherhood after emergency birth and a NICU stay. I share what it was like to move through the holidays feeling lost, overwhelmed, ashamed, and disconnected—while still trying to “keep it all together.”
But woven through that darkness was the quiet, steady presence of God. This episode reflects on how He meets us in the unraveling, how He shapes us in the stillness, and how faith grows when we feel like we’re standing still. Inspired by Romans 4–5 and the biblical call to Sabbath rest, I’m learning to release expectations, let go of striving, and trust God to carry me into the next season—in His timing, not mine.
If you’re heading into Christmas or the new year feeling anything but merry, this episode is for you. You are not alone, and there is hope.
This week in the kitchen:
I’m also officially kicking off Christmas cookie season—because why wait to enjoy them all at once?
Featured Recipe: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/braised-short-ribs-red-wine-fig
Ingredients
Instructions
Resources:
Dina’s Cookbook
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Today’s episode is all about taking a breather in the middle of the holiday rush and finding practical ways to protect your peace. Dina shares her favorite hosting sanity-saver (yes—scheduling a shower!), plus why taking a break after the big meal is not only allowed but encouraged. This week’s featured recipe is a fun way to use up leftovers—Crispy Stuffing Bites with cranberry dipping sauce—and she shares more creative ideas like turkey shepherd’s pie, charcuterie paninis, and even pumpkin pie smoothies!
Dina also digs into the pressure of Black Friday, overcommitting, comparison, and the way chasing the “perfect” moment can steal our joy. With honesty and encouragement, she reminds us to notice the small moments of joy God reveals—even in the messy, imperfect parts of the weekend.
This week in the kitchen:
Featured Recipe: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/crispy-stuffing-bites
Prep Time: 10min
Cook time: 2-3 minutes Makes about 18
Ingredients
2 cups of leftover stuffing
1 egg
3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
2 tsp orange zest
1/2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp fresh thyme
1 cup panko bread crumbs
½ cup olive oil
Instructions
1. Add one egg to a large bowl, beat it. Add the leftover stuffing, cheeses, rosemary, and orange zest. Gently mix until we’ll combined.
2. Form balls with the stuffing mixture , about one inch in diameter. I used a small ice cream scoop to help me, about a tablespoon and half of the mixture
3. In a sauté pan with high sides or a Dutch oven, heat the olive oil.
4. Dredge the stuffing balls in the breadcrumbs until coated all the way around.
5. Fry each ball until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Let drain on a paper towel, serve with dipping sauce below!
Sauce:
Whisk together 1/4 cup mayo, 3 tbsp cranberry sauce, and dash of chipotle (or hot sauce).
Resources:
Dina’s Cookbook
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
Between conferences and holiday breaks, November’s school schedule is all over the place — and it’s totally normal to feel thrown off by it. This is our last episode before Thanksgiving, and I’m sharing one more recipe for your holiday table:
Pretzel Bread Stuffing — a fun, cozy twist on the classic stuffing, and honestly one of my favorite sides ever.
As fall sports come to an end, I had a moment on the sidelines watching my daughter play that really hit me. After an amazing goal attempt, she was suddenly taken out of the game, and it made me think about how often we feel “sidelined” in life.
Sometimes we feel like we’re right at the edge of a breakthrough — and then everything pauses. We assume it’s punishment or a setback, but what if it’s really pacing, preparation, or protection from a God who sees the whole field?
This week in the kitchen:
• Flounder Milanese from my cookbook (Siena’s favorite way to eat fish!)
• Farro bowls with roasted veggies
• A Greek-inspired night with cucumber salad, kalamata olives, pita, chickpea fritters, gyro meat, and all the toppings.
Featured Recipe: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/pretzel-bread-sausage-stuffing
Prep Time: 10min
Cook time:1 hr 40 min
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
5 cups pretzel bread, cubed (4 store bought pretzel rolls)
2 sweet Italian sausages, removed from casing
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup carrots, diced
½ cup yellow onion, diced
¼ cup white wine
1 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
½ tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp whole grain mustard
½ tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp dried thyme
Kosher salt
pepper
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp unsalted butter (divided)
¾ cup cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Arrange pretzel bread cubes in one even layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes until the bread is dry, like a large crouton.
2. Pull from the oven and place pretzel bread in large mixing bowl, set aside.
3. In a large skillet add some olive oil over medium heat. Saute the sausage, breaking up the meat, until it browns. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
4. Add the diced carrots and onion to the pan and sauté until the carrots become soft.
5. After about 5 minutes, add in the white wine, scraping up any brown bits from the pan.
6. Let the white winner simmer for about 2-3 minutes, until reduced a bit. Then add in your chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
7. Whisk in the Worcestershire sauce, whole grain mustard, maple syrup, thyme, salt and pepper. Let it simmer together for another minute. Turn off heat.
8. In the large mixing bowl with the pretzel bread, add the beaten egg and gently toss. Then add ¾ cup of your carrot and onion mixture to the bowl a little at a time. Gently tossing the bread cubes until absorbed.
9. Add in the sausage and toss gently again. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, if the mixture seems dry add another ¼ cup of the carrot and onion mixture over top, mix again.
10. Butter a 9x12 baking pan or a ceramic baking pan. Place the stuffing mixture in the pan. Top with grated cheddar cheese if desired. Distribute over the top of the pan 2 the tablespoons worth of unsalted butter (divided)
11. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes at 375°F. Remove the foil, rotate the dish, and reduce oven temp to 350°F. Bake for another 20 minutes until deeply golden brown and crisp on top.
12. If it seems dry, pour ¼ cup chicken stock over top and bake for another 5-8 minutes.
13. Let rest for 10 mins before serving.
Resources:
Dina’s Cookbook
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
This week on the DishItGirl podcast, Dina is serving up comfort — both in the kitchen and in the heart. With back-to-back holidays and endless gatherings, it can feel like the foodie Olympics, but she reminds us that showing up matters more than showing off. Whether you’re bringing mac and cheese, popcorn, or just your helping hands, what counts is connection.
Dina also opens up about learning to “sort through the garbage” — shifting her focus from what’s missing to what God has already done. Through stories of faith, healing, and perspective, she shares how gratitude isn’t about ignoring the hard things,but about seeing God’s goodness even in them. Posing the question, what if we change the way we think about “gratefulness”? Is it possible that the key is shifting towards being grateful for who God is, rather than focusing on the tangible blessings all the time?
Tune in for cozy recipes like her creamy mac and cheese, butternut squash soup, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies — and leave with a full belly and a grateful heart.
This Week in The Kitchen:
1. Butternut Squash Soup
2. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies
Feature Recipe:
The Ultimate Mac and Cheese: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/hot-honey-macaroni-cheese
Ingredients
8 tbsp unsalted butter (divided)
1/2 cup flour
5 cups whole milk
2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup hot honey
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
2 cups gruyere cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 lb elbow macaroni cooked until al dente (about 7-8 min)
½ cup panko
2 tbsp coarsely chopped parsley
1 tbsp coarsely chopped rosemary
1 tbsp coarsely chopped thyme
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp pepper
Instructions
Resources:
Dina’s Cookbook
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
Welcome to another episode of the DishItGirl Podcast! Dina kicks off November by diving into everyone’s favorite part of the holiday meal—side dishes. First up: Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with smoky paprika, maple syrup, and gruyere cheese—an elevated remix to the classic casserole. Dina also shares what’s been happening in her kitchen lately, from her cozy Pumpkin Pasta with dried sage and sherry, to her Fall French Onion Chicken, and even her go-to “Kick Sick” ginger tea that’s been on repeat in her home.
As we head into the holiday season, Dina reflects on that all-too-familiar sense of overwhelm—the feeling of running full speed into another busy stretch of life. She opens up about Drawing from Proverbs 21, Dina reminds listeners that while we often think we know what’s right, God ultimately weighs the heart. She unpacks what it means to serve with the right intentions and not out of guilt or obligation. Dina also shares practical ways to ease the overwhelm this season.
This Week in The Kitchen
1. “Kick the Sick” Tea
2. Fall French Onion Chicken
3. Pumpkin Pasta
Feature Recipe: Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/twice-baked-sweet-potatoes
Ingredients
4 large sweet potatoes
2 pieces of bacon, cooked and roughly chopped
¼ cup sour cream
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 cup shredded smoked gouda cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
Instructions
Resources:
Dina’s Cookbook
Pumpkin Pasta recipe
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
As October winds down, Dina’s in the kitchen tackling the post-Halloween candy avalanche and turning it into something sweet and smart! This week, she shares creative ways to use leftover candy, including a Yogurt Bark and Granola. Plus she’s stirring up a cozy Loaded Sweet Potato Soup and testing a new Mac & Cheese recipe for the holiday season.
But beyond the recipes, this episode takes a powerful spiritual turn. Dina opens up about walking through her own “valley moments,” times when faith feels dry and God seems quiet. Through Ezekiel 37 and 40, she reminds us that God is always working toward restoration, even when we only see rubble. The invitation this week: give God your “dry bones” and ask Him to breathe new life into them.
This Week in the Kitchen:
Recipe of the Week:
Leftover Candy Yogurt Bark
2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
20 mini candy bars, roughly chopped
8-10 gummy fish
¼ cup candy corn (optional)
Edible eyes (optional)
Resources:
Dina’s Cookbook
Dina’s website, recipe for loaded sweet potato soup
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
DishItGirl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
This week, Dina’s leaning on the comfort of good old faithfuls: chicken cutlets, pizza night, and a batch of Baked Honey Mustard Turkey Sliders inspired by a long-lost favorite. But in between bites, she opens up about the “broken record” moments in life—those thought patterns that keep us stuck. Through a moving song and a reminder from Deuteronomy 31, Dina shares how to trade fear for faith and trust that God’s already gone before you.
This Week in the Kitchen:
1.Chicken Cutlets
2. Pizza Night with Easy Marinara Sauce
3. Baked Honey Mustard Turkey Sliders (This Week’s Featured Recipe)
Recipe of the Week: https://www.dishitgirl.com/recipes/turkey-swiss-honey-mustard-sliders
Baked Turkey and Honey Mustard Sliders
Serves: 3-4
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Honey Mustard Sauce
¾ cup melted butter
1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ cup mayo
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp cayenne pepper 1
tsp kosher salt
½ tsp pepper
4 Pretzel Bun sliders cut in half
4 slices swiss cheese
6 slices turkey breast
Instructions
Resources:
Dina’s Cookbook- https://www.amazon.com/At-Kitchen-Sink-Recipes-Cookbook/dp/0593728939
Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!
The DishItGirl Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org
From the publisher's feed
In just 15 minutes, you’ll find both practical inspiration for dinner and spiritual encouragement for your day. Each episode feels like time with a trusted friend who sends you home with a…
Join Dina Deleasa-Gonsar each week on Dish It Girl, where faith and food come together. Through her stories and recipes, Dina encourages you to see the value in your everyday moments. Life is meant to be savored, not just survived. In the middle of busy, overwhelming days, you don’t have to run on empty.
Dish It Girl is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org