In this special episode, Roni and Riley sit down with Carol Ann Kates, award-winning author, former grocer, and expert in all things food and shopping. Carol Ann shares her story of growing up in her family’s grocery store, co-owning a chain of markets in Northern Colorado, and turning decades of experience into practical tools for home cooks.

You’ll hear about the real-life challenges of running a family business, her favorite childhood memories at the store, and what inspired her to write Grocery Shopping Secrets.

This conversation is full of heartfelt stories, practical wisdom, and good laughs. Don’t miss her tips on avoiding common shopping mistakes!

Find Carol online:

Website: https://www.carolannkates.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolannkates/

Get Carol's Blog Recipes!

• Banana Pancakes: https://www.carolannkates.com/post/cooking-for-aiden-he-loves-buttermilk-banana-pancakes
• Grilled Artichoke Hearts: https://www.carolannkates.com/post/grilled-artichoke-hearts

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In this episode, we continue our book club breakdown of Grocery Shopping Secrets by Carol Ann Kates, focusing on the chapters about dairy and eggs. From how to properly freeze milk and cream to understanding egg labels at the grocery store, this chapter is full of useful, often surprising, information.

We discuss why some butters have more flavor and how gelato compares to ice cream. We also cover how dairy fat content affects taste and texture, and share practical tips for storing both dairy and eggs to preserve freshness and quality.

If you want to understand the food in your fridge better, this episode is for you!

Mentions:

Souper Cubes Freezer Trays
Unexpected Cheddar from Trader Joe’s
Grocery Shopping Secrets by Carol Ann Kates

Roni's California Burrito Recipe

Riley's Chicken Pizza Crust Recipe 

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This is a special bonus episode with answers to your Dinner Dilemmas! Check out this episode for answers to questions about getting started with the paleo diet, having different preferences than your spouse, cooking with busy after-work schedules, budgeting, and more!

Links & Resources:

• Plan to Eat Free Trial – Try the app that helps simplify grocery shopping, freezer tracking, and meal planning all in one.
• Paleo Blogs: PaleOMG and Nom Nom Paleo
• BudgetBytes.com – Budget-friendly recipes 

If you’re enjoying the podcast, the best way to support us is to share it with a friend or family member who could use a little mealtime inspiration.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll be back next week with more from Grocery Shopping Secrets!

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We're continuing our Book Club Breakdown of Grocery Shopping Secrets by Carol Ann Kates. This week we're diving into the sections on selecting fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs/spices at the grocery store!

These chapters have SO much information about produce including fun tidbits, how to select the best produce, how to store it to keep it fresh longest, and seasonal availability. There are tips for how to freeze and preserve produce as well with exact instructions, so you'll never question what to do!
 

Featured Recipes:

Riley's Tuscan Chicken
Roni's Chicken Tinga

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We’re kicking off a brand new Book Club Breakdown with Grocery Shopping Secrets by Carol Ann Kates!

In this first episode of our multi-part series, we’re delving into the early chapters, discussing grocery budgets, pantry clean-outs, sneaky food labels, and how a well-planned shopping trip can save you money!

We share what we learned, what surprised us, and the simple ways you can save money without overhauling your life. Let's learn how to spend less and shop smarter!

The book: Grocery Shopping Secrets by Carol Ann Kates

Follow along on Instagram @plantoeat_official for updates and behind-the-scenes.

Recipes shared:

Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
Gluten-Free Naan Bread

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It's almost Summer and we're tackling vacation meal planning in this episode!

Vacations are for slowing down and making memories, not stressing about what’s for dinner. In this episode, we’re talking about how to meal plan - before, during, and after your trip - to keep things simple and stress-free.

Whether you're road-tripping with snacks in the cooler or coming home to an already-planned grocery list, a little planning goes a long way! Enjoy!

Our new book club pick!

Want to ask us your Dinner Dilemma? Head to this form and submit your question!

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In this episode, we dive into a seasonal favorite: spring cleaning! But instead of tackling closets and garages, we're talking about cleaning out your fridge, freezer, pantry, and even your Plan to Eat recipe book to freshen up your meal-planning routine.

Plus, we answer multiple Dinner Dilemmas! This week covers:

• How to reduce food waste and grocery costs by planning with what you already have
• Tips for cooking with chronic illness or unpredictable energy levels
• Easy ways to adjust meals for picky eaters without making two dinners
• How to organize multiple freezers 
• Making batch cooking easier and more approachable

Mentions:
Our pantry clean-out episode from 2022
Our new book club pick!

Want to ask us about your Dinner Dilemma? Head to this form and submit your question!

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It’s the final episode in our Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat breakdown. This week is all about Heat - the element of transformation. Whether you’re roasting, simmering, searing, or baking this chapter details the nuances of it all!

We explore how heat affects ingredients, including their flavor and texture, and how to gain confidence in applying heat for the best results. As with all the elements, the way to get the best result is to know what you're after. Do you want food that's crisp, tender, chewy, or soft? Heat is the key to developing any of those textures!

Plus, we answer a couple of Dinner Dilemmas!

Find Debbie's Cookbook here: https://mybook.link/book/1946694851

Thanks for coming along for the ride through Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. We're choosing another book to breakdown soon - be on the lookout for the announcement on Instagram!

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review - we’re so glad you’re here!

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We’re back with another episode in our Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat series, and this week it’s all about Acid! Acid is the unsung hero of flavor - it brightens, balances, and brings depth to your dishes. 

In this episode, we dive into the science of acid in cooking (and how it shocked us!), how it affects the color and texture of foods, and why it's called salt's "alter ego".

You’ll also learn:

• The most common types of acid used in cooking
• How to layer acid for a flavor-balanced meal
• Why acid is key to elevating even the simplest dishes

And as always, we wrap up with a few Dinner Dilemmas - real questions from you about meal planning and home cooking.

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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We’re continuing our "book club breakdown" of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat, and this week is all about Fat! Fat does much more than add richness - it carries flavor, creates texture, and is essential for balanced, delicious meals.

Ever wondered why you don't like the taste of olive oil? Or why your food gets soggy instead of crispy? We’ll break it all down and share practical tips for using fat effectively in your cooking.

Plus, we’re wrapping up with more answers to your Dinner Dilemmas! We're tackling your real-life meal planning questions to make home cooking easier.

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review - thanks for listening!

Find One Pot October recipes here: https://app.plantoeat.com/pte-recipes/259058

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