As the days get colder and darker, are you searching for a nourishing dinner that will warm you up from the inside out? 

In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you! 

This week we’re talking about two must-try winter weeknight meals. You’ll discover the secrets to a craveable Minestrone, chock-full of veggies and topped with a vibrant basil sauce. You’ll also learn about a unique Midwestern twist on Sloppy Joe’s – it will make for a nostalgic weeknight meal that’s kid-friendly and parent-approved. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

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LINKS

Sign up for our Substack, and you’ll receive the Winter minestrone recipe (free) this Sunday (12/22)! You’ll also find more soup recipes in the Substack archives.

Sloppy Joe recipe with bonus veggies via Celebrating Sweets

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Are you searching for impressive holiday recipes that infuse your kitchen with irresistible aromas, beckoning your loved ones to gather around a festively appointed dinner table? 

In this episode, we share expert tips for hosting with ease and grace, guiding you toward the dishes you’ll want to cook for pleasure, as well as menu items that rely on store bought help. 

In this episode, you’ll:  

1. Learn simple, time-saving strategies to help you breeze through hosting any party
2. Discover the secret to sweet swirly slices of babka, and freshly baked cinnamon rolls, that will have your home smelling of sugar and spice
3. Unlock the secret to the flakiest biscuits—and the unexpected gravy you’ll want to smother them with!

Tune in now to discover the recipes and tips that will fill your holiday table—and your heart—with joy!

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LINKS

Sonya’s babka can be found in her cookbook Braids, and you can find Shannon Sarna’s babka via The Kitchn

Sonya's recipe for sweet potato latkes with cranberry salsa, and her Salad Olivier (potato salad)

The Gourmandise School cinnamon roll recipe 

Chocolate babka sufganiyot (donuts) by Retrolillies and traditional sufganiyot from Once Upon a Chef

Sweet cheese dreams via FoodTalk: add lemon zest and 1 tsp juice, cut into thirds! 

Savory Cheese Dreams by Melissa Knific for NYT Cooking 

Cheesy potatoes from Salt & Lavender, and cheesy potatoes with cornflake topping from Home Sweet Eats 

Simple garlic sauteed collard greens from Yup It’s Vegan, and Southern style collard greens from All Recipes 

Lemon-marinated Tuscan fried chicken from Serious Eats

Edna Lewis’ biscuit recipe (with a description for homemade baking powder at the bottom of it)

Sausage gravy recipe from Southern Bite

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

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Scrolling through your feed, have you ever stumbled on a loaf of gorgeous homemade sourdough bread and thought to yourself: “I can never do that.”

Maybe you’re intimidated by shaping, managing the rising times, or even picking out the best flour to use…. But you still crave a good quality loaf of bread to share with family and friends. 

This week we called in one of our favorite food friends, Adrian Hale, to help us demystify sourdough bread baking. Adrian is the author of Mama Bread, and regularly teaches both kids and adults alike how to make her easy, delicious, no-knead sourdough recipe – and she’s generously sharing itwith all of us!

Press play now to learn how just a little flour, water, and time can lead to a loaf of golden, delicious home-baked bread!

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Links:

Adrian’s recipe for: “Communal Table Bread - My easiest first bread recipe”

You can find out more about Adrian on Thousand Bites of Bread, or on her Instagram 

Order her cookbook: Mama Bread

Adrian’s flour resources round-up

If you’re visiting or living in Portland, you can book a baking class with Adrian!

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at [email protected]!

What’s more satisfying than the smell of sizzling eggs or the warmth of golden roasted potatoes to start your day? Celebrating the END of a long day with the comforts of breakfast-for-dinner! 

If you’re looking for creative and nostalgic dishes that feel fun and easy, this week we’re sharing our top 10 breakfast recipes. While these meals work for any time of day, we think they make for simple, quick, and extra fun dinners. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

1. How to make crowd-pleasing, nourishing dishes like shakshuka to share family-style
2. A go-to potato dish that will have everyone asking for seconds
3. Creative ways to make quick meals with pantry-friendly ingredients and minimal prep

Press play now to discover simple, customizable breakfast-for-dinner recipes that are guaranteed to make your evenings more delicious and enjoyable!

Links

Ottolenghi’s classic shakshuka, Sonya’s eggplant and zucchini shakshuka, and green shakshuka by Adeena Sussman 

Bacon, egg, and toast cups by Martha Stewart

Potato chip frittata with carmelized onion from Delish, a quicker Spanish potato chip frittata with peppers from Food Network, and and the potato chip omelet from The Bear

Migas con huevos from Muy Delish

Matzo brei by Lee Mason from The Nosher

How to make congee on the stovetop OR Instant Pot from Omnivore's Cookbook

Blue corn atole video and recipe that Kari worked on, and another video on how to make traditional atole 

Sheet pan potato nachos similar to what Kari makes but layered with crispy smashed potatoes + your fave roasted veggies instead of sliced potatoes 

Sheet pan sweet potato hash from Detoxinista

***

Got a cooking question? Leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at [email protected]!

Do you ever find yourself stumped on an easy-to-make, but still impressive, holiday dessert for hosting or to bring to a friend?

In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you! 

You’ll discover a seasonal one-bowl snacking cake that is full of festive flavors and made for holiday hosting. You’ll also learn about 3 easy edible gift ideas, inspired by a trip to a bake sale, that are designed to spread cheer and friendship.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! 

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Links

Sonya’s Cara Cara orange olive oil cake, and watch her make it on AM NW on KATU

Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies from My Baking Addiction 

Avocado Bella’s viral date caramel apple

Homemade brownie mix from Sugar Spun Run

Rubinette produce in Portland, OR

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

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Have you ever wanted to build the perfect holiday cookie tin but have no idea where to start? 

Whether you’re dreaming of a buttery shortbread with crispy edges, a strudel bar filled with jammy fruit, or a gluten-free confection that doesn’t taste like it’s missing anything at all… we reveal pro tips for baking your favorite cookies at home with the legendary Zoë François of “Zoe Bakes.”

In this episode you’ll discover: 

1. The one kitchen tool that every home baker should own 
2. Foolproof tips for assembling, shipping, and traveling with holiday cookies
3. Essential lessons for ensuring perfect cookies every time (even when you're making gluten-free swaps!)

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn practical tips and expert advice from Zoë François, and tune in now!

(Photo credit: Wing Ho)

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LINKS:

You can learn more about Zoë on her site: Zoe Bakes, Instagram, and YouTube.

Grab a copy of her NEW NYT Best Selling cookbook, Zoe Bakes Cookies!

Zoë’s recipes from this episode:

• Butter shortbread
• Sticky coconut maple bars
• Dark chocolate madeleines
• Coconut haystacks (gluten-free)
• Macarons (gluten-free)

Some of Zoe’s favorite bakers: Dorie Greenspan, Sarah Kieffer and her Vanilla Bean Blog, Rose Levy Berenbaum, Nancy Silverton, and Claudia Flemming

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at [email protected]!

At the end of a long day, do you find yourself staring into your fridge or pantry, searching for something that will inspire you to make a protein-packed dinner?

We've got you covered! In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you! 

You’ll want to make this flavor-packed sheet pan chicken dinner loaded with Mediterranean-diet ingredients like olive oil, lemons, and veggies. And if you're on the hunt for a vegan option, you’ll be glad to dig into simple, nutritious, velvety coconut lentils.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! 

***

Links

Great Jones colorful sheet pans 

Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Meal by Lisa Bryan

Our coconut red lentil recipe 

Diaspora Co spices 

Coconut kale chips from My Chef’s Apron

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

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Have you ever wondered which cookbooks truly deserve a spot on your kitchen shelf? 

Whether you’re dreaming of wowing guests with holiday-perfect cinnamon rolls or mastering a melt-in-your-mouth pot roast, the right cookbook can be a game-changer for any home cook.

In this episode, we’re diving into the cookbooks that have shaped how we cook—well-loved gems with splattered pages, the ones we gift over and over, and the timeless classics that every home chef should own.

By the end of the episode you’ll discover:

1. Why a cookbook with a collection of diverse recipes can be just as (if not more) supportive than one from a single author’s voice
2. How a chef from a top restaurant can teach you professional techniques that transform home cooking
3. The standout recipes from best-selling cookbooks that you’ll want to make on repeat

Hit play to uncover how these books spark joy, build confidence, and turn your everyday cooking into something extra special in the kitchen!

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***

Links:

Kari’s top 5:

Most cooked from: The 150 Best American Recipes, by Fran McCullough and Molly Stevens

Most inspiring: Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies, by Najmieh Batmanglij

Gifted the most to others: Sonya’s cookbook Braids, and The Cooks Illustrated Cookbook

Life changing: The Improvisational Cook, by Sally Schneider

Biggest influence: The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook, by Amelia Satlzman 

Sonya’s top 5:

Most cooked from: Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

Most inspiring: Summer Kitchens by Olia Hercules

Gifted the most ot others: Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking and Julia Turshen’s Small Victories

Life changing: The Book of Jewish Food by Claudia Roden

Biggest influence: Prune: A Cookbook, by Gabrielle Hamilton

Recipe links from this episode:

Diana Kennedy’s Mexican corn soup

Butternut squash tahini spread from Jerusalem

Fresh Herb Khoresh (Khoresh-e qormeh sabzi) from Food of Life

Julia Turshen’s turkey meatball recipe  from Small Victories

Toasted manti and cold candied oranges, by Gabrielle Hamilton from Prune

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at [email protected]!

Do you love the smell of simmering soup and freshly baked cookies filling your kitchen... but don't think you can manage cooking all that on a busy weekday?

In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you! 

You’ll want to make a super easy, viral "glow" soup; it's velvety, full of nutrients, and fully plant-based. And for dessert, you’ll get inspired to whip up perfectly crispy-edged, chewy, chocolate chunk tahini cookies that come together in minutes.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! 

Links:

The viral TikTok “Glow Soup” by Maddie Harrington/Nutriouslyeasy

Olia Hercules’ Tarragon Soup from her cookbook Kaukasis: The culinary journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan & Beyond

Sonya’s tahini chocolate chunk cookies 

King Arthur’s regeneratively-grown climate blend flour (not sponsored)

Adrian Hale’s Mama Bread cookbook for more whole grain baking inspiration

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at [email protected]!

This holiday season, are you searching for easy party snacks that you can make-ahead so you can relax and enjoy your own party? 

Whether you're asked to bring an appetizer to a gathering or you’re hosting a holiday get-together, coming up with fresh, crowd-pleasing hors d’oeuvres can be a challenge. This episode offers creative party snacks from two former personal chefs who will help you create a memorable party!

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. Expert tips for transforming a simple starter like olives and almonds
2. Recipes that can be scaled up for large parties or scaled down for intimate gatherings, with tips from entertaining mavens like Martha Stewart. 
3. Decadent ideas that include a bit of caviar, to irresistible comforting appetizers like nostalgic queso dip

Listen now to discover a world of party snacks that will keep your guests talking and your gatherings deliciously unforgettable!

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Links

Martha Stewart’s blanched snowpeas stuffed with boursin cheese

Endive boats with pear and blue cheese from The Yellow Table

Amelia Satlsman’s roasted almonds and green olives, you can also find her squash puree for crostini in the The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook or try this butternut squash puree 

Three ingredient goat cheese stuffed dates from Live Eat Learn 

Sonya’s beet-cured gravlax 

Ottolenghi’s butternut squash and tahini spread

Tarte au soleil from Smitten Kitchen 

Mississippi roast by Jenn Crippen for All Recipes, and the NYT Cooking version 

Classic queso dip from All Recipes, and one without the Velveeta from Recipe Tin Eats

***

Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at [email protected]!