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Is there a more perfect food than lentils? They are quick-cooking, a healthy source of protein, easy to store, and very budget-friendly. If you want to learn how to make the most of this wonderful plant-based ingredient, this is the episode for you!My guest this week is best-selling cookbook author Emily Paster, and we're talking all things lentils. Emily and her amazing recipes can be found at her blog, Westoftheloop.com, and you can follow her on Instagram @westoftheloop, and be sure to check out her amazing cookbooks: Epic Air Fryer Cookbook, The Joys of Jewish Preserving, and Instantly Mediterranean.

Calling all wannabe #vanlife peeps! If you've ever wondered what it would be like to live in a retrofitted van traveling around the country, or, more importantly, how you would cook meals while doing it, this is the episode for you! My guest, Brittney Lynn of the Human Connection Agency, has recently embarked on a vanlife adventure and she's telling us all about the struggles and successes from her van kitchen.

The meal plan that I walk you through in this episode uses very few dishes because both Brittney and I are without a dishwasher these days. Head over to COOKtheSTORY.com/MealPlans to get the meal plan with links to recipes, and the printable grocery list that goes with it. This one is Meal Plan #69.

Calling all Instant Pot Lovers! If you got an Instant Pot this holiday season, or if you already have one and love it, this episode is for you! I'm talking with vegan cookbook author Kathy Hester all about cooking beans in the Instant Pot. Kathy is such an expert on this topic and shares all of her amazing tips. Here are just a few of her cookbooks for you to check out #ad:

The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook For Your Instant Pot

Vegan Cooking In Your Air Fryer

The Great Vegan Bean Book

The crazy holiday season is now fully over and we have a bit more time to relax and take care of ourselves. A great place to start is to read the wonderful novels by Kate Heartfield. Kate is my guest on the show this week and we talk about her upcoming novel, The Embroidered Book, an enchanting work of historical fiction based on the life of Marie Antoinette. I also talk with Kate about how she manages her time as a work-from-home author, university instructor, mom, and caretaker to an elder.

The meal plan that I walk you through in this episode is mostly vegetarian, in honor of Kate's own way of eating. Head over to COOKtheSTORY.com/MealPlans to get the meal plan with links to recipes, and the printable grocery list that goes with it. This one is Meal Plan #67.

If you're thinking of trying some plant-based cooking in 2022, this is the episode for you! I talk with Kim Lutz, author of The Oat Milk Cookbook about using milk alternatives and about easy ways to incorporate plant-based foods into our diets.

The meal plan that I walk you through in this episode is all easy but delicious plant-based meals. Head over to COOKtheSTORY.com/MealPlans to get the meal plan with links to recipes, and the printable grocery list that goes with it. This one is Meal Plan #66.

Did you get an Instant Pot, Air Fryer or Sous Vide machine for Christmas? If so, or if you're thinking about getting one, this episode is for you. I give my tips for the types of things to start out trying in the new kitchen gadgets.

I also talk with best selling cookbook author and President of the International Sous Vide Association, Jason Logsdon, all about sous vide chicken. He is such an expert on this topic and I learned so much in this conversation.

Did you get a last-minute invitation to a party, or realize that you forgot to get your kids' teacher a end-of-year gift? I've got you! I'll be telling you about three simple non-perishable food gifts that you can make in moments:

Homemade Christmas Ground Coffee Blend

Homemade Candy Cane Hot Chocolate

Homemade Mulled Wine Spice Mix

I also talk with Mimi Sabo. Mimi is an educator, editor, and kids-cooking expert at  #ad Kidstir.com, a subscription box and cooking gift company that specializes in cooking kits and recipe development for kid cooks. If you need a last minute Christmas gift for an amazing child, Kidstir is a great place to look! Mimi and I talked about the kinds of recipes that get kids excited, and some great ideas for cooking with kids.

During the holiday season it can be tough to find time for self-care. In this episode I suggest one small thing you can do to fuel yourself through the busy days ahead. It involves this amazing Savory Oatmeal recipe!

I also talk with cookbook author and caterer Chef Rene Johnson about her no-judgment plant-based cooking and about her new cookbook, From My Heart To Your Table: Vegan and Traditional Soul Food Cookbook #ad.

We are right in the thick of the holiday season now. This episode has everything you need to plan your parties and get togethers.

I'm bringing you some of my favorite no-bake dessert ideas so that you can whip up delicious treats in a flash. I also have a few wonderful gift ideas, if you're making lists and checking them twice! #ad Check out Baketivity, Catch Sitka, and The California Wine Club for wonderful options!

With Thanksgiving behind us, our minds are turning towards the next big holidays. Hanukkah starts today, and Christmas is coming fast. I share a little exercise with you to help you figure out what you want from this holiday season and ideas for how to stick to it to keep the stress levels down.

I also talk with Mindy Samman from Catch Sitka, a family-run Alaskan seafood company that practices sustainability while getting delicious seafood delivered right to your door. Such a great gift idea! Mindy is the co-founder of the company along with her husband. Her story about how she first went to Alaska and how she ended up staying there, building a business, and raising a family there is very intriguing, and she has amazing seafood recipes to share as well!