If you've ever rushed into the kitchen and frantically tried to throw dinner together—or if that's how you always cook—you know that feeling of fight-or-flight doesn't actually make for a tastier meal. Nicki Sizemore, the author of Mind, Body, Spirit, Food, chats with The Dinner Plan's host Maggie Hoffman about how she gets out of that state of stress at the end of the day—and gets more out of the cooking process as a result. Nicki shares advice for getting through the dark days of winter, tips on cooking when you just don't feel inspired, and a few recipes she loves to make when the weather's cold. Head to The Dinner Plan's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com for a recipe from Nicki and a chance to win a copy of the book.

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Thanks to this week's sponsors:

• The Zero Proof: Use code DINNERPLAN20 for 20% off at TheZeroProof.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.
• Rouxbe: Save 30% on any course over $50 with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com
• Early Bird Granola: Save 15% on your order with code DINNERPLAN15 at EarlyBirdFoods.com
• Aunt Fannie's cleaning supplies are available on Thrive Market and Amazon
• Find Franklin Farms’ new Organic Super Firm Tofu wherever you buy groceries.

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Even if you really want to getting more organized about your daily meals, creating a meal-planning and meal-prepping routine from scratch can feel like a lot. But Coco Morante's new book, The Instant Kitchen Meal Prep Cookbook, takes a lot of that work off your plate with 10 full weeks of meal plans and shopping lists, ready to go. On the 77th episode of The Dinner Plan, host Maggie Hoffman talks to Coco about the way meal prepping has transformed her routine, how it can facilitate an easier division of household responsibilities, and her notes on which ingredients keep really well in the fridge (and which just don't.) Get a preview of the book over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com

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Thanks to this week's sponsors:

• The Zero Proof: Use code DINNERPLAN20 for 20% off
• Aunt Fannie's cleaning supplies are available on Thrive Market and Amazon
• LaBelle Patrimoine: Find these heritage-breed chickens at Whole Foods and GrownasPromised.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer

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In this episode of The Dinner Plan, host Maggie Hoffman talks to Debra Borden, a licensed clinical social worker whose book, Cooking As Therapy, describes how she uses cooking as a tool to unlock whatever her clients are struggling with. Through the use of mindfulness, metaphor, and mastery, cooking can lead to breakthroughs. Learn the core tenets of Debra's practice, plus tips for dealing with the stress of holiday get-togethers with family. For a chance to win a copy of Debra's book, head to TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com.

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Thanks to this week's sponsors:

• The Zero Proof: Use code DINNERPLAN20 for 20% off at TheZeroProof.com
• Rouxbe: Save 30% on any cooking course over $50 with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flora Shedden, who you might remember from The Great British Bake Off, opened the acclaimed ARAN Bakery in the heart of Scotland when she was just 21. She’s the author of Gatherings, Aran, Supper, and the new cookbook, Winter in the Highlands: Eating, Drinking and Celebrating in Scotland. In this episode of The Dinner Plan, Flora shares favorite holiday food traditions, ways to get ahead when you're hosting, and the cookbooks she finds most inspiring. Get two recipes from Flora's book over at our newsletter: TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com.

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Thanks to today's sponsors:

• LaBelle Patrimoine: Find these heritage-breed chickens at Whole Foods and GrownasPromised.com
• Guittard Chocolate: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off at Guittard.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.
• Rouxbe: Save 30% on any course over $50 with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com
• Zassenhaus Classic Bread Slicer: Get 10% off the Zassenhaus Classic Manual Bread Slicer on Amazon (https://amzn.to/48S3heh) through the end of 2025 by entering code BW5IRSLO at checkout.

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Joshua Russ Tupper is the 4th-generation co-owner of Russ & Daughters, the iconic New York City appetizing shop, and the co-author of the cookbook Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing. In this episode, Josh talks to host Maggie Hoffman about the ultimate fishy bite from the shop, his go-to brunch moves and holiday appetizer favorites, his thoughts on hosting a latke party for Hanukkah and the very best recipes for winter cooking, plus lots of family stories from 100 years in the business. Get two recipes from Russ & Daughters and a chance to win the book at The Dinner Plan's newsletter at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com.

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Thanks to this week's sponsors:

• Rouxbe.com: Save 30% on any course over $50 with code DINNERPLAN30
• Frog Hollow Farm: Save 10% on your order with code DINNERPLAN10 at FrogHollow.com
• Find Row 7 vegetables at Whole Foods or visit Row7Seeds.com to find the closest store near you.
• Early Bird Granola: Save 15% on your order with code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off at EarlyBirdFoods.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 73rd episode of The Dinner Plan podcast, Alex Snodgrass of The Defined Dish shares her winter salad formula, a few favorite low-lift weeknight meals, and her family's essential December food tradition. Her most important holiday entertaining advice? It's all about a strategic menu that doesn't require everything to be prepped last minute. Twice-baked potatoes are your friend. Get a few weeknight recipes from Alex and a chance to win her book, Dinner Tonight, at The Dinner Plan's newsletter on Substack.

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Thanks to today’s sponsors:

• Rouxbe: Save 30% on any cooking course over $50 with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com
• Guittard Chocolate: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off at Guittard.com
• Frog Hollow: Save 10% on your order with code DINNERPLAN10 at FrogHollow.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tamar Adler's new book, Feast on Your Life, captures 365 moments of delight in the kitchen. Looking for those moments of goodness in the necessary practice of feeding oneself, Tamar Adler says, “ended up being super lucky because when you’re depressed, even if you’re a food writer, you know, you don’t really want to cook, you don’t want to do anything. And so it was this secret mind trick that really changed my life.” In the 72nd episode of The Dinner Plan, Tamar chats with host Maggie Hoffman about the simple things she cooks in winter, the reasons she come back to cooking over and over, and the very best way to cook spinach. Get the recipe and a chance to win the book over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com.

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Thanks to this week's sponsors:

• The Zero Proof: Use code DINNERPLAN20 for 20% off at TheZeroProof.com
• Early Bird Granola: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off at EarlyBirdFoods.com
• Saturday Sauce: Use code DINNERPLAN20 for 20% off when you purchase two jars at Sababa-Foods.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.
• Rintaro: Japanese Food from an Izakaya in California by Sylvan Mishima Brackett is available on Bookshop or wherever you buy books.

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Kat Craddock, editor-in-chief of Saveur magazine, has one main piece of Thanksgiving advice: "Revel in the shortcuts, and take the time to do the things that matter to you," she says. "And get started earlier than you think you should." On this episode of The Dinner Plan, Kat shares pie-making advice, quick dinners to eat in November, and the story of how she made scratch-and-sniff happen in the latest issue of the magazine. Get a chance to win that issue—plus some other fun Saveur merch—on TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com.

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Thanks to today's sponsors:

Frog Hollow: Save 10% on your order with code DINNERPLAN10 at FrogHollow.com

Rouxbe: Save 30% on any course over $50 with code DINNERPLAN30 at Rouxbe.com

Made In: Save up to 30% off during the Black Friday sale until December 7th at MadeInCC/dinnerplan

Wildly Virgin Olive Oil: use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off at WildlyVirgin.com

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On Episode 70 of The Dinner Plan, host Maggie Hoffman talks with Toni Chapman, @themoodyfoody on Instagram, and author of Everything's Good. “Cooking is at the intersection of everything in our lives,” Toni says. "Approaching it with care and love and learning just makes it better." Toni shares holiday recipe favorites, soups she loves, and thoughts on dialing down Thanksgiving stress. Get all the links, Toni's signature cornbread recipe, and discount codes at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com.

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Thanks to this week's sponsors:

• Lapo’s Espresso Martini: Get 20% off your order with code DINNERPLAN20 at TheZeroProof.com.
• Save on sets at Goldilocks Cookware (CookGoldilocks.com)
• Find LaBelle Patrimoine chicken at Whole Foods or at GrownAsPromised.com
• Find Cangshan’s Kita Series knives at at CangshanCutlery.com and Crate and Barrel
• Wildly Virgin: Use code DINNERPLAN15 for 15% off Portuguese olive oils at WildlyVirgin.com
• Zassenhaus Classic Manual Bread Slicer: get 10% off on Amazon with code BW5IRSLO at checkout.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Working as a private chef can teach you a lot about elaborate dinners—including what not to do when you're hosting Thanksgiving. On this episode of The Dinner Plan, host Maggie Hoffman chats with Maddy DeVita, a private chef and recipe developer whose content you may have seen at @handmethefork. Maddy shares advice on cooking more efficiently, tales of cooking disaster, and the way she's thinking about dinner parties now. Get all the recipe links and book recommendations over at TheDinnerPlan.Substack.com.

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Thanks to today's sponsors:

• The Zero Proof: Use code DINNERPLAN20 for 20% off your order at TheZeroProof.com
• Made In Cookware: Head to madein.cc/dinnerplan to unlock your discount offer.
• CookShelf: Use code DINNERPLAN10 for $10 off your first year at Cookshelf.app
• Find LaBelle Patrimoine chicken at Whole Foods or GrownAsPromised.com
• Feasts on the Farm by Tamara Jo Hicks and Jessica MacLeod is available wherever you buy books.
• Find House Foods Organic Soft Tofu wherever you shop.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.