What’s one recipe that changed everything in your kitchen — and maybe even your friendships? 

If you’re a home cook who’s ever felt stuck in a rut, outgrown old favorites, or longed for a deeper connection at the dinner table, this episode is for you. We’re reflecting on the recipes we return to again and again, and how they shape our kitchens, our routines, and our relationships. Passing a recipe from one friend to another can ripple outward, becoming part of something bigger than just dinner.

To celebrate our 200th episode, we’re sharing the top 10 recipes that have transformed how we cook and host… and brought us closer as friends. that have transformed how we cook and host…  and brought us closer as friends. 

By the end of this episode, you’ll:

1. Discover reliably delicious recipes for entertaining, potlucks, meal delivery, and quick weeknight meals
2. Learn unexpected tips, from slow cooker short-cuts to the dish that turned a salad-skeptic kid into a salad lover
3. Find out the easiest dessert that we have made dozens of times, and have even served for breakfast!

Press play now, and rediscover why cooking at home still feels exciting, nourishing, and new… even after hundreds of meals. 

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This week’s episode is sponsored by La Baleine, makers of ancestral sea salts harvested from France.

A good quality salt can enhance the flavor of just about any dish, and even your next dessert!

We love their fine grey sea salt from the mineral-rich clay of the Guérande region. Untreated and additive free, it’s hand-harvested using traditional know-how. 

👉 Grab a jar here or at your local Whole Foods Market, and bring a little French magic to your kitchen. Until August 12th, the first 1,000 customers who order from the link can select a coupon for $1 off their purchase!

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LINKS:

Sonya’s favorite recipes from Kari:

1. Farro and Cauliflower Parm by Sarah DiGregorio for NYT Cooking (unlocked) is now a go-to for hosting or for meal delivery
2. Quinoa and broccoli spoon salad by Sohla El-Waylly for the NYT Cooking (unlocked)
3. Blueberry Pudding Cake from Epicurious has been made countless times in every season

Kari’s favorite recipes from Sonya:

1. Kari eats more salad because of Sonya, and her favorites are the kale with mint and strawberries, the Maria’s chopped salad, and most importantly, the rainbow salad recipe that converted her son to a salad eater. 
2. Sonya’s turkey chil is a family favorite
3. Using her slow cooker more! Especially slow cooker apple butter from Family Food On The Table, and slow cooker caramelized onions from Gimme Some Oven (which she uses for her tomato soup recipe) 

Our top recipes discovered by hosting the podcast:

1. Olia Hercules’ Tarragon Soup from her cookbook Kaukasis: The culinary journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan & Beyond
2. Adrian Hale’s recipe for: “Communal Table Bread - My easiest first bread recipe.” If you want to take a baking class with her in Portland, OR, sign up here. 
3. The life-changing frittata inspired by Lauren Chandler’s take on a frittata. She referenced this Bon Appetit How to Master Frittata for a Crowd, as well as How to Make a Perfect Frittata: Rules to Follow and Mistakes to Avoid. Lauren adds: “This was the jumping-off point. They say any dairy, but I used ½-cup of heavy cream per dozen eggs. The creaminess was definitely also due to the heavily caramelized onions. Also, I added ¾ cup shredded Tillamook cheddar per dozen eggs, as well as herbs.”
4. Nicole Rucker’s pie dough recipe can be found in Fat + Flour: The Art of a Simple Bake

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

For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. You can also now find us on YouTube. 

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

Book a farmers’ market tour with Sonya in Portland, OR!