Are you looking for a way to revamp your leftovers into a quick dinner?

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

By the end of this episode, you'll want to make tender, salmon cakes that come together in 15 minutes! And you'll discover a simple spicy soup made with flavorful salsa; it's a protein-packed comfort meal that’s as quick to prepare as it is satisfying... thanks to the help of rotisserie chicken. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links:

Ina Garten’s salmon cakes made with cooked or leftover salmon, and salmon patties made with fresh salmon from the Mediterranean Dish and a simpler version from Food Network. (Make sure to add extra dill!)

Easy salsa soup, similar to Kari’s, but we suggest you heat oil in your pot, then add the salsa for a few minutes, before adding the broth and any additional add-ins. 

A vegan speedy salsa soup option, too!

***

Got a cooking question? Leave us a message at: 323-452-9084

For more recipes and cooking inspo, sign up for our Substack here.

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 if one ingredient could turn your weeknight dinners into savory, satisfying dishes in less than 30 minutes — without ever feeling repetitive?

Cooking dinner can sometimes feel like a dull routine, but a simple can of chickpeas can change that. With the help of Sarah Bond, nutritionist and creator of Live Eat Learn, this week’s episode dives into the world of vegetarian meals built around our favorite versatile, affordable pantry staple.

Whether you’re looking to save time, eat healthier, or get inspired in the kitchen, chickpeas are the answer to your weeknight dinner dilemma!

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to:

1. Whip up the viral  “Marry Me Chickpeas” in 15 minutes!
2. Discover the unique, simple spice blend for addictive “Dorito” chickpeas – a snack-turned-main-dish that even reluctant bean lovers will enjoy
3. Cook up easy meatless dinners, like crispy, golden air-fried chickpeas and a flavorful sheet pan meal packed with vegetables 

Hit play on this episode to uncover the endless possibilities of chickpeas and transform your weeknight meals!

 ***

Links

Sarah Bond’s site: Live Eat Learn, Instagram, and her cookbook!

Marry Me Chickpeas (with creamy Tuscan sauce)

Roasted chickpea gyros 

Roasted veggie glow bowls

Copy-cat Cafe Yum sauce

Crispy air fryer chickpeas 

15-minute chickpea tacos with creamy cilantro sauce

Chickpea blondies

Vegan chicken and dumplings (with chickpeas!)

Chickpea pot pie

Vegan aquafaba + coconut popsicles

And a favorite recipe of Sarah's: Chai cinnamon rolls

***

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]!

Do you ever wonder how to make salads taste good in the height of winter?

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

In this episode, you’ll discover two meal prep and potluck-friendly salads that will brighten up any plate, including a viral carrot salad that tastes better the longer it sits; and a vibrant, nutty broccoli salad that can be the star of your next buffet spread. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

Links:

Korean carrot salad recipe from Alyona’s Cooking, and watch Danielle walk you through making her viral version on TikTok

Julienne vegetable peeler from OXO or one for under $5

Hetty Lui McKinnon’s broccoli, date and pistachio salad

Freddy Guy hazelnuts

Sonya’s favorite ras el hanout spice blend

One of our other favorite broccoli salads by Sohla El-Waylly

***

Got a cooking question? Call and leave us a voicemail! 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 week we're rereleasing a fan-favorite episode to start our year off with easy, comforting recipe inspiration! We'll return with new episodes starting Thursday (1/9) with our "Best Bites of the Week"!

***

What’s your ultimate comfort food on those chilly, bone-tired days?

Sometimes you need soul-soothing meals that offer comfort but don’t require hours in the kitchen or a pile of dishes; and other times, comfort can mean spending a day in a warm, cozy kitchen. 

This week, we explore our top one-pot wonder dinners, warming you from the inside out while keeping the mess to a minimum. 

By the end of the episode, you’ll:

1. Discover the easiest one-pot creamy broccoli mac & cheese 
2. Learn about a versatile vegan curry that uses pantry staples
3. Find out about an unexpected sheet pan dinner that’s kid-tested and mother-approved!

Tune in now to master the art of one-pot meals that will fill your home with mouthwatering aromas and will simplify your busy weeknight cooking!

***

LINKS:

Ali Salgle’s one-pot broccoli mac and cheese for NYT Cooking

One-pot bucatini with cauliflower and capers from Martha Stewart

Ina Garten’s easy turkey lasagna

One-pot chicken meatballs with greens by Yasmin Farh for NYT Cooking

Braised coconut chickpeas with greens by Faith Durand for The Kitchn i

Sheet-pan bibimbap by Eric Kim for NYT Cooking

Slow cooker/Crock Pot tortilla soup from Spend With Pennies

Sarah DiGregorio’s slow cooker pasta e fagioli for NYT Cooking

20-minute rotisserie chicken tortilla soup (without a slow cooker) by Olivia Adriance

***

Sign up for our free substack !

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

Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

We're rereleasing a fan-favorite episode to give us a boost of meatless meal inspiration this new year!

Are you searching for a quick easy one-pan meal that you can make any night of the week? 

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 cook up a craveable gnocchi and brussels sprouts dinner that comes together in 30 minutes or less, and you’ll discover the secret to the heartiest, most flavorful, plant-based lentil soup!

Don’t miss these two meatless meals that will work for any night of the week, and tune in now! 

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Crisp gnocchi with brussels sprouts and brown butter by Ali Slagle via NYT Cooking

Ina Garten’s lentil vegetable soup

Adrian Hale’s pita recipe can be found in her book Mama Bread!

***

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

Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for our Substack for more soup recipes and roundups!

Bored of the same old side of steamed or roasted broccoli? Let’s change that! 

Whether you're looking for quick weeknight meals, vibrant salads, or rich vegetarian mains, this episode is full of broccoli boosts! 

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

1. A crispy sheet pan meal that will liven up any night of your week
2. The broccoli salad with an unexpected dressing that's designed for meal prep or potlucks
3. A surprising technique that transformers broccoli into a meltingly soft addition to pasta or crostini

Tune in now and discover how to make broccoli the most exciting part of your plate!

***

Correction from this episode: Broccolini and broccoli rabe are two different things! Broccolini is sometimes called baby broccoli or tenderstem broccoli. Broccoli rabe tends to be far more bitter and tough and requires different preparation.

***

Links: 

Three ingredient smashed crispy Parmesan broccoli from Live Eat Learn

Roasted broccoli with nutritional yeast from Something Nutritious – Kari likes to cut up the florets super small so they’re more popcorn-sized

Sonya’s sheetpan crispy harissa tofu, chickpeas, and broccoli

Roasted broccoli + chickpeas with herb jalapeno topping can be found in Cook Beautiful by Athena Calderone

Quinoa and broccoli spoon salad by Sohla El-Waylly for the NYT Cooking

Hetty Lui McKinnon’s broccoli, date, and pistachio salad

Pecorino Fried Bread with Broccolini by Melissa Clark for NYT Cooking, or try Smitten Kitchen’s broccoli melts for something similar

Alice Waters’ long cooked broccoli from The Art of Simple Food

Roasted broccoli and potato tacos with fried eggs by Kay Chun for NYT Cooking, and here’s the same recipe via the Baltimore Sun

***

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

Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities

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]!

Need a last-minute dose of home cooking inspiration as you enter a new year? 

In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate in 2024 to inspire each other – and you! 

We’re reflecting on our top six favorite dishes of the year and swapping notes about the secret to making an easy, veggie-packed soup, a cranberry-glazed tart that will have your guests asking for the recipe, a surprising topping for your next slice of toast, and more…

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! 

Links:

Susan Spungen’s Squash Tart with Cranberry Glaze

Slow cooker apple butter from Family Food On The Table

Birria tacos from A Cozy Kitchen, and slow cooker birria from Muy Bueno Cooking

Kari’s split pea soup from our Substack

Little Fish in Echo Park

Norwegian Gjetost (brown cheese/caramel cheese)

Quail & Condor bakery in Healdsburg, CA 

***

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

Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities

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]!

Are you obsessed with finding the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe?

This week we're rereleasing a fan-favorite episode!

By the end of this episode, you'll discover all of the ingredients and techniques that can lead to YOUR ideal chocolate chip cookie -- from what chocolate to use (chip or bar?), to sugar ratios (brown sugar v white), to how to ensure the best flavor and overall texture.

Tune in now to unlock the keys to the best batch of chocolate chip cookies!

***

LINKS

Bon Appetit’s Brown Butter and Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bravetart’s chocolate chip cookies from Serious Eats

Christina Tosi’s (of Milk Bar) Famous Choc. Chip cookie with nonfat milk powder

America’s Test Kitchen self-proclaimed, perfect chocolate chip cookie

Sonya’s Chocolate Tahini Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Alison Roman’s Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread

Chocolate hay stacks from Add a Pinch

 ***

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

Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities

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]!

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!

***

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

***

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

Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities

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]!

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!

***

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

Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities

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]!