Do you ever find your soups bland, and missing that extra something — like a zippy, flavorful sauce that turns a humble meal into something extra special? 

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 make this hearty bean soup topped with herby green hot sauce that comes together in seconds in your blender, and you’ll get inspired to serve dinner in a crispy tortilla bowl – filled with an updated take on the classic taco salad that’s full of veggies, and makes for an easy meatless meal. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Sonya’s Yemenite white bean soup with zhoug

How to make crispy taco salad shells from Natasha’s Kitchen, and a roasted cauliflower taco bowl to serve inside it from Budget Bytes

For a more classic take, try taco salad by Sohla from  NYT Cooking

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

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

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Are you ready to simplify your fall hosting while still impressing your guests, whether for holidays, potlucks, or casual dinners with friends?

Fall gatherings can be overwhelming, from multi-course holiday dinners to last-minute potlucks. This episode provides you with 4 easy yet sophisticated menus with recipes and hosting tips, so you can delight your guests without stress. Whether you're hosting for Rosh Hashanah, going to a tailgate, or just cooking a casual dinner at home, this episode helps you create a relaxed, festive vibe in your kitchen. 

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

1. Create stunning, low-effort appetizers that can be assembled in advance, and made almost entirely with store-bought ingredients. 

2. Choose a main course that will impress guests, like a seasonal salad that’s hearty enough to be a main, studded with fresh herbs and jewel-toned pomegranate seeds, or a delicious one-pot braised beef and aromatic rice dish 

3. Enjoy the comfort of make-ahead desserts, like Kari’s crowd-pleasing chocolate sheet cake that travels well, or the spiced cookies that Sonya makes that taste better the next day 

Don’t miss out on this essential fall hosting episode — press play now to make your next gathering unforgettable! 

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Menu #1

Yotam Ottolenghi’s fig, radicchio, and hazelnut salad for the Guardian

Sonya’s beef plov and plum frangipane babka 

Sonya’s honey sesame cake and one-bowl tzimmes cake

Menu #2

Baked brie by Ina Garten  

Ottolenghi’s quinoa and fennel salad for Bon Appetit

Pear slab pie with sour dried cherries from Martha Stewart Living

Menu #3

Sonya’s smoked fish platter

Colu Henry’s sheet pan roasted chicken with shallot and roasted grape for NYT Cooking

Sonya’s apple + walnut spiced cookies in her recent Substack

Menu #4

Classic cheese ball recipe from It Tastes Better From Scratch

Fried chicken from your favorite place

Texas Chocolate Cake from All Recipes

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Are you looking for an easy meatless meal that you can cook in 30 minutes or less?

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 make our favorite one-pot soy butter corn ramen that captures the sweetness of late summer, and a soba noodle dish that’s dressed with a surprise ingredient!

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Soy-butter corn ramen by Hetty Lui McKinnon for the NY Times

Ottolenghi’s soba noodle and eggplant recipe via 101 Cookbooks – skip the dressing in the recipe and make a nutty peanut or tahini sauce instead. 

For an easy dressing, use this peanut sauce recipes but swap the peanut butter with tahini, and the chili sauce with gochujang, in this

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

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

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

frying, encourages you to freeze your tofu (who knew!), and describes several ways that silken tofu can be delicious in both savory and sweet dishes.

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Sweet and Crunchy Tofu (made with potato starch) from Maangchi

(Frozen) Tofu Braised in Soy Sauce from Chichi Wang of Serious Eats, and How to freeze Tofu by Jessie Yuchen of Bon Appetit

Tofu Guide from Serious Eats

Silken Tofu with green onion from Garlic Delight

Vegan Mapo Tofu from David Tanis via the New York Times

Hetty McKinnon’s Creamy Vegan Tofu Noodles for the New York Times

Isa Chandra Moskowitz’ Tofu Balls and Tofu Short Ribs

Tofu Chocolate Mousse from Martha Stewart)

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

After fifteen years of friendship and collaboration, we’re finally asking each other the question: how did you get your first job as a private chef? This conversation traces each of our own unique culinary paths back to their humble beginnings cooking in homes across Los Angeles. We have no idea what took us so long to have this conversation, but are excited to discover so many unexpected similarities, including one that might be as surprising to you as it is to us! We’re also sharing some of the dishes that our clients asked us to make again and again, which we’re STILL cooking for our families and friends. This conversation really shows us that no matter how long you’ve known a friend, there’s always more to discover.

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Blueberry Pudding Cake from Gourmet Magazine

Nobu’s Miso-Marinated Black Cod via Kathryn Hill at TheKitchn 

Mark Bittman’s Vegetable Soup 

Dorie Greenspan’s Paris Mushroom Soup

Ruth Reichl’s memoirs: Tender at the Bone and Garlic and Sapphires

One of Tyler Florence’s Flourless Chocolate Cake  recipes

Sonya’s Turkey Chili! (yes, she sent it to Kari as promised :)

This week we’re exploring our favorite meatless meals that are flavorful, easy, and exciting. These veggie-centric dishes include several one-pot meals, a deconstructed lasagna, and the “casserole” we both can’t stop making. We’ll also share a few surprising ways to use up that cauliflower! While we’re both fans of starting our week with a vegetarian dinner, we also don’t have any hard and fast rules about what day or time it needs to happen. This conversation inspired us both to get back into the kitchen and cook up all our favorite vegetable mains!

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Our favorite Farro + Cauliflower Parmesan, by Sarah Digregorio for The New York Times 

Bon Appetit’s Whole Eggplant Parmesan by Dawn Perry

Priya Krishna and Ritu Krishna’s Tomato Rice with Crispy Cheddar for The New York Times 

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Baked Rice via The Kitchn

Anna Thomas’ Love Soup cookbook, and her “beans + greens” recipe

Smitten Kitchen’s  Pizza Beans 

Heidi Swanson’s Baked Quinoa Patties 

Fly by Jing and Hot Mama Smoky Coffee Chili Oil 

Sonya’s Plov, while not meatless, you can modify it by omitting the meat or substituting it with your favorite vegetable or legume

From intimate dinners to huge potlucks, this week we reflect on our favorite dishes of 2022. These stand-out food moments made the cut, not because of their ingredients, but because of the special FOOD FRIENDS we shared them with and where we ate them. We are inspired by our friends’ beautiful cooking, insightful questions, and courageous projects that continue to expand the ways that we eat, cook, and talk about food.  

We’re so glad you’ve joined us here this year; we love sharing these conversations with you, and we appreciate all the feedback we’ve received from your reflections.  Thank you! We are going to take a break for a couple of weeks, and can’t wait to restart the conversation in 2023.  Happy holidays and happy new year!

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Diane Yen’s “Self Care Carbonara” reel on IG inspired Kari

Simply Recipes’ Braised Leeks

Sonya’s Apple & Honey Ruffle Milk Pie recipe

@ramenasayswow’s Crinkle Cake

Our food friend and cookbook author, Shannon Sarna, reveals all the details of her holiday cookie boxes and shares the recipes she must include each year, as well as some of the cookies she makes sure to leave out. She has us drooling over her cranberry streusel bars made with homemade cranberry jam (YUM!), as well as her legendary rainbow cookies from her new cookbook, Modern Jewish Comfort Food. 

We are thrilled to share this conversation and hope it gets you in the baking mood as much as it does for both of us. Tune in to hear why baking cookie boxes can be more than the alchemy of butter, sugar, and sprinkles… this special holiday tradition can communicate love, connect us to our past, and bring joy to our community.

This week’s episode leaves us asking: how do we get on Shannon’s holiday cookie list next year?

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Shannon’s new book Modern Jewish Comfort Food (it makes an amazing Hanukkah gift!)

Cranberry Crumble Bars from Baked From Scratch

Shannon’s favorite Whole Foods’ Chai Spiced Cookies, and Sonya’s favorite Chai Spiced Sugar Cookies

Shannon's Black & White Cookies on The Nosher

Kari’s favorite Spoon Cookies

Sue Li’s Orange, Pistachio, Chocolate Shortbread for the NY Times

Erik Kim’s Gojuchang Caramel Cookies for the NY Times

Chocolate Mint Crinkle Cookies From Tutti Dolci and

Classic Buckeyes!

“Classic Latkes & Country Ham” might not be an obvious holiday food pairing, but these two iconic dishes hold special places in our FOOD FRIENDShip.  

Sonya collected several key insights that led her to the latke of her dreams: crispy golden edges with a tender center. Surprisingly, one of those insights came from a catering experience with Kari, which helped Sonya to rethink the way she prepared latkes for a crowd. The conversation takes an unexpected turn to Christmas ham, a dish that has been shared for several generations by Kari’s family AND played a key part in Sonya’s life. 

The stories in this episode hint at several universal truths: crispy potatoes are good in any form, our friends are often our best teachers, and love can be expressed in many ways… even with a ham sandwich. 

****

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Sonya’s daikon and potato latkes with ponzu dipping sauce

A ham “recipe” that’s similar to Kurt Lauritzen’s, aka Kari’s dad

Michael Solomonov’s potato leek latkes

Kari’s favorite recipe for cheesy potatoes from Jessica Merchant (it’s the closest to her mom’s version)

Our favorite shaved veggie salads from Food and Wine and the NYTimes

You too can order Linda’s Latkes!

The buttery, crunchy Chex mix Kari ate throughout her life is the traditional version that comes from the recipe found on the cereal box. Recently, Kari discovered an updated version of Chex mix that inspired us to talk all about our favorite party snacks, including muddy buddies and ranch fun dip! These snacks are equally fun at a party as they are in a lunchbox, or on a long car ride.

Along with talking about our favorite childhood treats, in this episode we embrace our pasts and respective backgrounds, finding a deeper love and respect for the memorable foods that we may have once taken for granted.

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Furikake Chex Mix Snack from Hana Asbrink at Food 52 (It’s become our new favorite!)

Sohla El-Waylly’s Miso Party Mix

Classic Muddy Buddies! You can replace the peanut butter with tahini, or almond butter

Ranch Fun Dip from Sohla El-Waylly at Bon Appetit

French Onion Labne Dip from Romel Bruno at Food52

Welcome to our first guests! Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen have been hosting Thanksgiving together for close to twenty years. In this episode, they share stories about how they host and cook massive Thanksgiving gatherings, their favorite and not-so-favorite recipes, and how they’ve merged their different backgrounds (and tastes) to create new traditions with their friends and family.

Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of laughter as we debate the merits of cranberry JELL-O salad, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, deep-fried turkey, and more!

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Slow Cooker Mac n’ Cheese

Traditional Cranberry JELL-O Salad (Lauren likes to add mandarin oranges)

The recent NY Times take on Cranberry JELL-O Salad

Serious Eats’ on How to smoke a Turkey

The Best Way to Fry a Turkey (but also, maybe don’t?)

This week we break down the elements for hosting a successful potluck meal, whether it’s for Thanksgiving or any time of year. We’ll share our favorite dishes, as well as tips for both hosting or attending potlucks.

As always, Kari and Sonya will share their unique culinary experiences like Kari’s favorite Midwestern “salads” that her family makes at Thanksgiving, both of which include Cool Whip. And Sonya shares a couple of different approaches to potato salad, including a classic Soviet potato salad that includes canned peas… and Kari’s not so sure about it.

For us, Thanksgiving and potlucks are a time to throw out the playbook and do what feels right to you. All traditions and food memories are welcome, even when they include Cool Whip and canned peas.

***

Links to recipes from this week’s show:

Kari’s favorite farro salad: Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad by Melissa Clark

Sonya’s favorite Spinach and Roasted Vegetable Salad with Chickpeas, also by Melissa Clark

Kari’s family’s jello salad recipes

Sonya’s Salad Olivier recipe, a Soviet-style potato salad

Dorie Greenspan’s Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good

Sonya tells Kari all about the life-changing frittata made by her chef friend, Lauren Chandler. Who knew this simple egg dish could be so delicious with a few key, unexpected, ingredients?

Frittatas and egg casseroles are the perfect dishes to feed a crowd during the holiday season, or really any time of year. Kari and Sonya also talk about Kari’s breakfast egg casseroles, and the benefits of having a dish you can make the night before, and easily pop into the oven in the morning.

***

Links to Lauren Chandler’s reference recipes + her notes about the frittata:

Bon Appetit’s - How to Master Frittata for a Crowd, as was as their 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 1/2-cup of heavy cream per dozen eggs. The creaminess was definitely also due to the heavily caramelized onions. Also, I added 3/4=cup shredded Tillamook cheddar per dozen eggs, as well as herbs.”

Links to our favorite related recipes:

Just a Taste’s Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole is perfect for fall

Melissa Clark’s Green Strata with Goat Cheese and Herbs

Susan Spungen’s Sausage Egg and Kale Casserole

Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Recipe

The kind of quiche Sonya grew up with, from Peas Love & Carrots

We’ve all been there — exhausted, hungry, and in no mood to cook. But what if you could whip up something delicious without the stress? 

This conversation with Caroline Chambers, creator of the #1 food and beverage Substack: “What to cook when you don’t feel like cooking”, reveals her tried and true tips for getting a complete dinner on the table quickly and effortlessly, perfect for those nights when cooking feels like a chore.

In this episode you’ll discover:

The ultimate rotisserie chicken hack to save time and make easy delicious meals

Creative ways to get dinner on the table without dirtying every dish in your kitchen

How Caroline has built the #1 Food & Beverage Substack, and helped countless home cooks in the process

Tune in now to master the art of low-effort, high-reward cooking and make your weeknights easier!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

What to cook when you don’t feel like cooking, Caroline Chambers’ Substack

You can also find her on Instagram, or tune into her podcast: So Into That

Caroline’s brand new cookbook: What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking 

Caroline’s: Sheet pan roasted sweet potato and chickpeas

Caroline’s: Salmon crunch bowls 

Caroline’s: 5-ingredient skillet enchiladas

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Kari is known for bringing jars of delicious, nourishing soups and broths to her friends’ doorsteps. Homemade broths and soups can be the best gift you can give someone, especially if they’re under the weather or going through a rough patch. In this episode, we talk about all the ways we like to make bone broth, mineral broth, and vegetable broth, and how we turn those broths into soup.

Links to some of our favorite related recipes:

Rebecca Katz’ Mineral Broth, and her book The Cancer Fighting Kitchen

Serious Eats collection of stock and broth recipes

Ina Garten’s chicken noodle soup recipe

Sonya’s chicken pelmeni recipe

Sonya’s quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie led her on a 10-year journey of tasting, testing, and asking hundreds of questions all in the name of creating her ideal version of America’s most iconic cookie. In this episode, we examine the ingredients that make a great chocolate chip cookie, delving into specifics about butter, chocolate, and more. Sonya reveals details about the many chocolate chip cookies that she loved before creating her ultimate recipe for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Kari confesses that she prefers to eat her cookies frozen and that her freezer is stocked with cookies of all kinds, including the colorful boxes sold by enthusiastic young girl scouts. Our conversation explores a spectrum of cookie making and eating that’s sure to leave you with a serious craving for your perfect version of a chocolate chip cookie!  

Links to some of our favorite recipes:

Bon Appetit’s Brown Butter and Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christina Tosi’s (of Milk Bar) famous chocolate chip cookie with non-fat 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

It’s our 100th episode (yay!), and we’re celebrating with a listener question from our kitchen hotline!

Are you looking for unexpected ways to use winter herbs from the garden while the temps are still high? 

In this bite-sized episode, we share a listener question - and answer with expert advice - to inspire each other and you! 

You’ll want to make a flavorful weeknight chicken that leans on herbs for a boost of flavor, plus discover a new way to make a healthy snack even more delicious. Bonus: our listener offers her own expert advice on how to avoid a soggy-bottomed tomato tart.

Thank you to all our listeners and callers, and tune in now for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

How to make a shrub with any combination of fruit + herb from Food52

Rosemary infused syrup from The Bearded Chef

Marinated rosemary chicken from All Recipes

Sonya’s simple tomato confit with thyme

Rosemary white bean salad from the Splendid Table

And a rosemary white bean salad with cherry tomatoes from Simply Recipes

Sonya’s rosemary turmeric roasted nuts

Justine Snacks blueberry cookies

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

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

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Is your blender sitting on your counter gathering dust? Or do you regularly make smoothies but wonder how else you can put your blender to use? 

In this episode, we tackle the common problem of underutilizing your blender, and you’ll…

Discover how to whip up a delectable breakfast and savory sauces effortlessly, like a tried and true Blintz recipe and an easy aioli

Learn how to make creamy, nutrient-packed dressings that are surprisingly non-dairy

Unlock the secret to creamy chia puddings and luscious mango lassis 

If you've ever felt your blender is just taking up cupboard space, we'll show you how it can revolutionize your cooking routine and help you create delicious meals with the push of a button. 

Tune in now to discover how this versatile kitchen tool can upgrade your next meal!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Mango coconut chia pudding from Ali Hooke

Mango Lassi from Swasthi’s Recipes 

Sonya’s savory blintzes recipe (or just use the batter part), and Shannon Sarna’s sweet blintzes

Julia Child’s crepe recipe

Traditional aioli from Melissa Clark via NYT Cooking, and cheater’s aioli from Cookie & Kate 

Broccoli Mum’s tofu dressing for cabbage salad from TikTok, and Basil tofu dressing (with silken tofu) from Viet World Kitchen

Whipped Tofu dip recipe by Kate Kassin via Bon Appetit 

Carrot miso ginger dressing from Nutri Bullet

Lamb and cilantro mint sauce recipe is from the cookbook: Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks 

A similar cilantro mint sauce, but use a blender instead of a food processor to get a better texture 

Basil oil from the NY Times

Summer gazpacho with coconut water, and Julia Moskin’s “Best gazpacho” from the NY Times

Chilled golden beet buttermilk soup from the NY Times, and Jamie Oliver’s chilled buttermilk beet soup 

Avocado date shake from  Primavera Avocados

Sonya’s raspberry tahini date shake recipe

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

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 make these 2 skillet meals with cherry tomatoes! One comes together in 10 minutes or less and is great for entertaining, and the other is loaded with surprising flavor, tons of spices, and can be modified to accommodate any diet. 

***

Links to from this week’s show:

10-minute sausage skillet with cherry tomatoes and broccolini by Anna Stockwell for Epicurious

Paneer with burst cherry tomato sauce by Sohla El-Waylly for Bon Appetit

Sonya’s herby potato salad recipe can be found in her cookbook Braids

How to make Sonya’s cherry tomato confit

You can find our full tomato episode here

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

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

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

Are you up to your ears in corn and scrambling for new ways to use up one of the best summer ingredients? 

If you’re craving fresh summer corn, and looking for easy and inspired recipes to enjoy this seasonal darling, then you’ll want to tune-in and discover how to transform sweet cobs of kernals into refreshing salads, comforting soups, and exciting pasta dishes that will elevate your weeknight meals and summer hosting.

In this episode, you’ll… 

1. Uncover the secrets to cooking perfectly grilled corn-on-the-cob, which enhances its natural sweetness and has just the right amount of char. 

2. Get inspired by unexpected salad, soup, and pasta recipes like ramen with soy butter and a 5-star vegan coconut corn soup

3. Learn how to make “corn ribs,” a popular restaurant dish that’s easy to recreate at home, and stunning to offer guests or bring to your next potluck

Tune into our latest episode now to satisfy all of your corn-y cravings!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Our episode with Javier Lara: The three sisters: Indigenous wisdom for growing, sharing, and home cooking squash, beans, and corn

Compound chili lime butter

How to make corn ribs from Food Wishes

All Time restaurant in Los Angeles

Corn soup with basil by David Tanis for the NY Times, and chilled corn soup with basil oil  from Food52

Soy butter corn ramen by Hetty Lui McKinnon for the NY Times

Sarah Jampel’s spicy corn coconut soup for the NY Times

Ham El-Waylly’s corn and miso pasta salad for the NY Times

Sue Li’s grilled corn and avocado salad with feta dressing for the NY Times

“Ears and Ears” Orecchiette and corn pasta similar to what Kari makes 

Colu Henry’s orecchiette with corn, jalapeno and feta for the NY Times

Sonya’s corn, romano bean, tomato pasta dish 

Korean corn cheese by Darun Kwak for the NY Times

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Are you looking for the secret to cooking delicious tofu recipes at home?

In this quick-tip episode, we answer a listener question all about tofu and share our thoughts with each other - and you! Your questions help us ALL improve our home cooking skills!

In this episode, you’ll learn the secrets to making crispy tofu at home with common pantry staples from our kitchen, and you’ll get inspired to make your own sheet-pan vegetarian dinner with simple, flavorful sauces and spice combinations. 

If you have a question or cooking tip you’d like to share, call our Kitchen Hotline today: 323-452-9084!

Tune in now for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Our Tofu episode from Season 1: Friends who help friends love tofu

Ota tofu  in Portland, OR (sorry we mispronounced it!)

Crispy baked tofu from Cookie & Kate

Sonya’s cookbook with her sheet-pan tofu recipe

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Are you tired of soggy bottom crusts and mediocre pie fillings? Do you dream of baking and serving a perfect homemade pie with confidence? 

We’re re-releasing our fan-favorite pie episode for a refresher on the ins and outs of cooking delicious and comforting pies you’ll be proud to serve.

In this episode, you’ll…

Learn the secret to flaky, burnished pie crusts

Get inspired to make a variety of pies, and also galettes, hand pies, and an easy-to-assemble ice cream pie with no baking required! 

Discover the glamor of a savory pie, including Daniell Bell’s famous “Greens Pie” packed with healthy greens, and salty feta, and baked in a rich, buttery crust that stays flaky for days. 

Listen now to boost your confidence with expert tips and delicious pie recipes you’ll want to make all year long!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Get in touch with Danielle and find out more about de Porres here

Follow Danielle and Pablo’s instagram 

Puff pastry hand-pies via Sally’s Baking Additiction 

Sonya’s galette recipe 

Skillet pie from America’s Test Kitchen 

Alison Roman’s double-crust peach pie 

Smitten Kitchen’s sour cherry slab pie

10-minute ice cream pie from Gimme Some Oven

Edna Lewis’ lemon chess pie via The Butter Lab

Derby Pie via The New York TImes

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

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 make this delicious and cleverly named “Scuttlebutt sandwich,” which combines pillowy foccacia with tangy pickled beets for an unexpected summer meal that’s equally perfect for entertaining as it is for your next beach day.

And if you bought too many peaches at your local stand or farmers’ market, you’ll want to whip up one of our favorite peach desserts — a simple take on peach melba, or classic pie with a buttery crust.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Scuttlebutt sandwich adapted by Sara Bonisteel for the NY Times

Not-so-classic peach melba by David Tanis for the NY Times

Perfect peach pie from Sally’s Baking Addiction, and Peach Pie with Honey and Ginger from Alison Roman

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

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

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Have you ever found yourself craving the comfort and ease of a homemade casserole dish, but you just wish it could be full of vibrant flavors and veggies instead of something bland and starchy? 

In this episode, we’re sharing delicious vegetarian casseroles that offer solutions for those of us seeking hearty but not heavy dishes that are perfect for weeknight meals, potlucks, or even your next dinner party. 

You will discover:

1. Casseroles that emphasize veggies, herbs, and flavor, yielding delicious modern meals that are hearty but not heavy 

2. Six recipes that can be adapted for any dietary need, including dairy-free and gluten-free options.

3. Time-saving tips for making casseroles ahead and freezing them for future enjoyment

Tune in now to learn how to transform your home cooking with modern vegetarian casseroles that are sure to become your new go-to dishes!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Kari and Sonya’s recipes for Mediterranean quinoa casserole, Ratatouille casserole, and Cheesy baked polenta casserole with greens and summer herbs 

Heidi Swanson’s quinoa patties

Eggplant and bulgur stuffed vegetables from Gourmet Magazine 

Sonya’s stuffed tomato recipe 

Smitten Kitchen’s ratatouille

Layered Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomato Casserole from Food & Wine

Our favorite brand of mandoline

Summer squash gratin by Laura Rege for Food & Wine

Classic Jiffy corn casserole from The Kitchn

Scratch-made corn casserole with poblano from My Texas Kitchen and also from Eating Well 

Farro and cauliflower parm by Sarah DiGregorio for the NY Times

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Are you stumped on what to bring to a potluck? Looking for a dish that will please a crowd but is still simple to make and transport?

In this bite-sized episode, we share listener questions and offer expert advice to inspire you and each other!

Discover our go-to potluck salad and the tricks to keeping it fresh for hours. Plus, get tips on making hosting easier by delegating kitchen tasks—learn what jobs to assign to your partner or friend when feeding a crowd.

Tune in for a quick dose of home-cooking inspiration!

Have your own culinary question? CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

***

Links to from this week’s show:

A kale and lentil recipe that’s similar to Kari’s sister-in-law’s, and a kale and lentil bowl recipe that’s a bit heartier (check out our Instagram for pics!) 

Farro and cauliflower parm by Sarah DiGregorio for the NYT Cooking

Melissa Clark’s spinach salad with roasted root vegetables and spiced chickpeas  for NYT Cooking

Our potluck episode - Season 1, Episode 4

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

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

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Are you looking for an easy way to amp up your fruit desserts and take them to the next level this summer? 

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 make this easy rich almond cream, aka frangipane, to instantly improve fruit desserts made with summer’s juiciest peaches, apricots, and cherries. You’ll also want to make a winning crunchy and delicious rainbow salad that’s stunning to bring to the weeknight dinner table, and beloved by kids and adults alike!  

***

Links to from this week’s show:

King Arthur flour frangipane (almond cream) recipe

Sonya’s rainbow salad 

Seka Hills elderberry balsamic vinegar 

Great Jones’ baking sheets

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

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

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

Do you find yourself staring at gorgeous piles of ripe, colorful summer tomatoes and longing to turn them into something special? Something unforgettable? 

If you need a boost of inspiration to make use of the juicy tomatoes in your kitchen and are underwhelmed with your standard summer tomato repertoire, tune into this week’s episode to enhance your home cooking! 

This week you’ll learn….

1. The trick to keeping even the juiciest BLT sandwiches neat and tidy, plus a genius vegetarian version that’s full of flavor and sure to please all the guests at your dinner table. 

2. How to bake a summer tomato tart that even The Great British Bake-Off would approve of, hint: no soggy bottom pies allowed. 

3. An easy recipe that turns sweet cherry tomatoes into a weeknight sheet-pan dinner, helping you get a delicious dinner on the table in minutes

Don’t miss out on these six mouth-watering tomato recipes and tune in now to transform your summer cooking! 

***

Links to from this week’s show:

How to make a bacon weave video from Justin Chapple for Food and Wine, and his BLT recipe

An HLT sandwich from the NY Times  – like a BLT but with halloumi  instead

Yemenite tomato dip from Ottolenghi

Pan con tomate (spanish tomato bread) by Kenji Lopez-Alt for Serious Eats

Hoda’s restaurant in Portland, OR

A fatoush salad with pomegranate molasses dressing by Reem Assil via Tasting Table 

How to make homemade pita chips from Natasha’s Kitchen 

Fresh tomato tart by David Leibovitz, and another great tomato tart from Smitten Kitchen 

Paneer with burst cherry tomato sauce by Sohla El-Waylly for Bon Appetit

10-minute sausage skillet with cherry tomatoes and broccoli by Anna Stockwell for Epicurious

Simply Tomato cookbook by Martha Holmberg, and her tips on frying up tomato leaves

57 summer tomato ideas from Bon Appetit

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

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

If you have a sweet tooth and a love for stone fruit, you’ll want to whip up one of our favorite easy cherry cakes. Kari’s stunning sweet cherry upside-down cake can be baked in a well-loved cast iron pan and topped with a healthy dollop of whipped cream, and Sonya’s favorite one-bowl snacking sour cherry cake comes together in minutes with no special equipment required.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Upside-down sweet cherry cake by Jerelle Guy for the NY Times

Sonya’s One-bowl sour cherry cake 

Cherry pitter from OXO

Great Jones colorful sheet pans

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Have you ever wandered through a summer farmers’ market, hypnotized by stand after stand of crisp lettuces, juicy peaches, colorful tomatoes of every shape and size, and giant watermelons…yet unsure of what to buy and how to cook with it?

Our latest episode dives into this common dilemma, offering practical tips and creative ideas to make the most of your market finds, including our top 6 essential items we can’t stop buying.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

1) Transform seasonal produce into delicious, easy-to-make meals - ensuring you never face wasted vegetables or fruit again 

2) Time-saving tricks for prepping and storing your farmers' market haul, including how to preserve the bounty for future ease and enjoyment. 

3) Unique, trusted recipes for our top 6 produce items

Tune in now to turn your next farmers market trip into a culinary victory that makes shopping, cooking, and hosting a pleasure!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Grilled potato recipe from The Kitchn

Mixed sabzi with yellow 8-ball squash from the NY Times

Superba restaurant in Los Angeles

Grilled romano beans by Karen Martini

Cauliflower salad by Ham El-Waylly for the NY Times – serve it in buttered hot dog buns!

Cilantro date chutney  by Samin Nostrat for the NY Times, (she suggests putting it on turkey sandwiches) 

Little breakfast parfaits with lemon yogurt + fresh cherries, kid friendly!

Upside-down sweet cherry cake by Jerelle Guy for the NY Times

Sonya’s One-bowl sour cherry cake

You can find Sonya’s cucumber deli salad in her cookbook, Braids

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Are you craving a crispy, fun, and inclusive party dish that will satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters…all at the same dinner table? 

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 make this classic Mexican party dish that accommodates a range of dietary restrictions from gluten-free to dairy-free, and are easy to customize with fresh toppings! You’ll also want to cook up this one-pot weeknight meal that’s veggie-forward, helping you get dinner on the table in a snap!

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

Links to from this week’s show:

The kind of veggie quinoa bake that inspired Sonya’s weeknight meal 

Rick Martinez’s chicken taquitos from the NY Times 

Mashed potato taquitos from Abraca Shaba

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Have you ever wished you could get that smoky, charred flavor of grilled food without the hassle of firing up a grill?

If you dream of inviting friends over for a summer meal to enjoy a beautiful, grilled dinner, tune in to this episode for 8 BBQ recipes you can cook at home, even if you have limited space, time, or no grill whatsoever. 

In this episode, you’ll discover

1) How to use a cast iron grill pan to achieve those perfect grill marks and smoky flavors right in your kitchen, plus tips on how NOT to set off the fire alarm. 

2) Catering strategies from our personal chef days on how to braise, broil, and char a range of foods in your oven to mimic the grill experience

3) How to make delicious grilled pizzas and what to top them with, that will have your guests begging for the recipe and another invite to your house for dinner.

Don't miss out on these game-changing grilling hacks — tune in now to take your summer cooking skills to the next level!

Are you searching for a delicious weeknight meal…straight from your pantry? 

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

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Ali Slagle’s Farro and Lentils with Jammy Onions from the NY Times

Sonya’s farro cauliflower from her free Substack

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

You’ll want to make this flavorful farro bowl with spiced, roasted cauliflower and drizzled with simple tahini sauce…or sub in whatever veggies you’ve got in the crisper drawer! We’re also sharing a one-pot lentil farro recipe that comes together quickly for a delicious and satisfying vegan dinner, hot sauce on the side! 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

Are you craving fresh flavors to brighten up your summer meals and entertaining menus? 

Discover how summer herbs can transform simple recipes into tasty, seasonal meals that will delight your tastebuds + your guests all summer long! 

In this episode, you’ll learn:
1) Creative ways for using herbs in everyday cooking, like  “any herb green sauce” you can blend in seconds to serve with grilled meats and veggies
2) Expert tips on how to use herbs in your summer cocktails and mocktails
3) A thoughtful hosting gift straight from your garden or farmer’s market

Tune into our latest episode with Julia Dzafic, author of Garden Grown, and brighten your summer cooking with the magic of fresh herbs today!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Julia Dzafic is a blogger and the author of Garden Grown. You can find more of her recipes on Instagam and on her site, Lemon Stripes.

Julia’s favorite caponata recipe, and her viral white chicken chili 

How to make homemade herbal teas from Learning Herbs

How to brew herbal teas by Naomi Spector from Learning Herbs

Vietnamese lettuce wraps with fresh herbs by Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats 

Kimchi lettuce wraps via the NY Times

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Are you looking for easy weeknight dinner recipes that are fun to eat and kid-friendly?

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 make this twist on classic Sloppy Joe’s that’s laden with extra veggies, plus tips for serving that will make your weeknight dinner feel like a party! You’ll also want to make this simple taco dinner that’s easy to customize with your favorite salsa and any crunchy-fresh elements you already have in your fridge. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Sam Sifton’s ground beef taco recipe  from the New York Times

Sloppy Joe recipe with bonus veggies via Celebrating Sweets

Sonya’s rainbow salad recipe guide

Great Jones colorful sheet pans

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Do you ever find yourself staring at a sad container of storebought hummus and wish you had something more exciting to serve along with your chips and crudite? 

Everyone loves a good party snack, but we all know the frustration of serving the same boring appetizers and noshes. This episode will up your appetizer game with craveable dips and spreads that are easy to make at home. 

This week you’ll discover how to:

1) Say goodbye to bland store-bought dips and say hello to scratch-made nostalgic onion dip that you’ll still want to serve with a classic Ruffle’s potato chip.

2) How to create a light and airy whipped feta spread that pairs perfectly with summer veggies like crunchy-sweet sugar snap peas, crisp cucumber spears, and rainbow carrots. 

3) Unique dips that can double as an entree for a light summer dinner, like roasted cherry tomato and goat cheese dip served with crusty bread – a fun and seasonal approach to pizza dip! 

Ready to become the dip master of your next party? Hit play now and unlock the secrets to these festive summer dips and spreads!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

How to make onion dip in any combination: classic, shallot, leek, with labneh, greek yogurt, and more from Food 52

Ina Garten’s onion dip recipe

Whipped feta by Daniel Gritzer for Serious Eats

Baked goat cheese and cherry tomato dip from Foody Schmoody

Michael Solomonov’s hummus recipe from dried beans, and his 5-minute hummus recipe with canned chickpeas 

“Delicious Dips” cookbook by Diane Morgan, which includes Kari’s favorite Cauliflower dip

A cauliflower dip, from the Times of India 

Ukrainian eggplant caviar recipe from The New Baguette

A Midwestern-style Taco Dip Recipe from Sugar Spun Run

Classic 7 Layer Dip by Ali Slagle for The New York Times

Smoked Salmon Terrine from the Greedy Gourmet

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

When summer meets fall, do you find yourself both excited and overwhelmed with the abundance of produce available at the farmers’ markets this time of year? 

If you’re like us, you’re craving the fresh flavors of fall, like crisp apples, harvest salads with vibrant greens, and soups with warming spices like ginger and turmeric.

This week, we’re sharing our fall cooking bucket lists, including what to pick up for your next fall produce haul and what to cook with it! By the end of the episode, you’ll…

1. Discover a mushroom dish that’s universally loved and is ideal for both weeknights as well as dinner parties. 

2. Learn how to turn simple roasted squash into a luscious mash with caramelized onions and topped with fresh herbs

3. Find out how to maximize pantry staples to transform simple roasted peppers and grilled eggplant, and turn them into crowd-pleasing meatless meals

Tune in now and get inspired to create memorable fall meals using your favorite seasonal produce - straight from your local farmers’ market to your table!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

ABC Kitchen’s squash toast by way of Smitten Kitchen 

Delicata squash, corn, zucchini fritters by Kay Chun from NYT Cooking 

Kale, delicata, ricotta salata salad from Camille Styles

Sonya’s plum and rosemary challah, her marinated red bell peppers

Ina Garten’s plum cake tatin 

Grilled eggplant with lemons and labne, with fresh mint by Dawn Perry from Bon Appetit

Greek Fisherman’s Stew by Florence Fabricant from NYT Cooking

Garlic butter roasted mushrooms from Smitten Kitchen

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Craving a cold and creamy dessert to beat the summer heat, but can’t even imagine walking into your hot kitchen, let alone turning on the oven? 

In this episode we’re divulging our tried and true easy summer dessert recipes to make at home, from cold and creamy to perfectly packable, no cooking required! 

This week you’ll discover:

1. How to stay cool with refreshing icebox cakes and frozen pies that bring excitement to any table, rely on premade ingredients, and are easy to assemble. 

2. A portable cookie treat that travels easily to the beach, picnic, or on a road trip made of melted chocolate combined with classic ingredients like peanut butter, cereal, and butterscotch.

3. A make-ahead dessert from Sonya’s childhood that maximizes seasonal fruit and is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Add sweetness into your summer gatherings with these exciting and easy no-bake desserts…tune in now for a spoonful of sweet inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Sonya’s raspberry mocha icebox cake, strawberry tiramisu, and fruit compote recipes

Ina Garten’s mocha icebox cake

Chocolate wafers for icebox cake

18 ice cream pie ideas from Taste of Home

Not-so-classic peach melba from David Tanis for the NY Times

Classic Scotheroos recipes from Tastes Better From Scratch

Buckeyes recipe by Tammy Winters for All Recipes

Tricia Yearwood’s no-bake rocky road bars

All the rocky road bar combos on TikTok

Ina Garten’s limoncello fruit salad recipe

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

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 make this deeply flavorful caramelized scallion sauce and find out what to use it for, and you’ll also discover a surprising gluten-free ingredient that shows up in a classic coffee cake recipe! 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Caramelized scallion sauce by Francis Lam via NYT Cooking
How to make crispy fried shallots from Hot Thai Kitchen

Sonya’s tahini coffee cake recipe

Gluten-free teff coffee cake coming soon to the Maskal Teff recipe library 

Teff flour from Maskal Teff

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Does the summer heat stump you in the kitchen? Are you craving something, cold, crunchy, and satisfying that you can make easily, quickly, and maybe even pack up for a day at the beach? 

If you’re tired of your same old pasta salad recipe and looking for easy, healthy, and delicious noodle salad inspiration, this episode is for you! 

In this episode, we share:

1. Six recipes that can be made ahead and are packed with bright herbs, crunchy veggies, and zesty dressings, making them ideal for beach days, picnics, and summer gatherings of all kinds 

2. A lip-smacking dressing with fresh lime juice and pantry staples

3. The chewy, satisfying gluten-free noodle that can be served hot, cold, or room temperature for a crowd-pleasing main dish 

Tune in now to transform your summer meals with these easy and colorful noodle salad recipes!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Ottolenghi’s mango eggplant soba noodle salad via 101 Cookbooks

Soba noodle salad with peanut dressing from Vegetarian Times

Sambal olek chili paste

Melissa Clark’s rice noodle salad with salted peanuts and herbs for the NY Times

Japchae sweet potato noodle

Japchae recipe from Maangchi and from Rosenadle Online

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

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 make this colorful, vibrant rainbow salad for your next dinner party, and you may just get in the mood to whip up a simple batch of French crepes.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Rainbow salad recipe on Sonya’s substack

French crepe recipe from Sweet as Honey

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Does turning on the stove in the summer stress you out? Do warm, long evenings make you dream of hosting friends for delicious meals at home?

Let’s be honest: no one wants to slave away in a kitchen on a hot summer day. This week, we’re offering six approaches to summer dining that will make gathering around the table a breeze.

This week you’ll discover:

1. Strategies for prepping your menu 90% ahead of time, like making colorful and versatile sheet pan salads that offer a no-fuss approach to serving veggies

2. Tips on how to grill with ease

3. The perfect pasta dish to take to parties, beaches, and picnics

Ready to transition into relaxed summer cooking with easy-to-make recipes? Tune in now for all the tips and menus for delicious summer home cooking!

***

Links:

Sheet pan salad inspiration from The Kitchn, The First Mess, and Rosalyn Daniels  

How to make crostini from Cookie & Kate

Pickled red onion recipe from Love & Lemons

Frascatelli with pecorino and mustard greens from Bon Appetit

Also, Frascarelli “World’s Easiest Pasta” from Serious Eats

Samin Nostrat’s pesto from the NY Times, and one with lemon from Love & Lemons

Have you ever wanted to serve a show-stopping dessert that relies on just 3 pantry staples you already have in your kitchen?

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 make this 3 ingredient classic French pastry that’s endlessly adaptable! Plus, cook up a braised turkey breast for a meal prep dream. It’s a make-ahead, one-pot recipe, that will leave you with leftovers, too!

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Kari’s favorite profiterole recipe by Shelly Wiseman for Gourmet in 2008, via Epicurious

A similar profiterole recipe by Chef Thomas Keller that includes chocolate sauce, from Epicurious

If you’ve never roasted a turkey before here’s a great place to start from Tastes Better from Scratch!

A simple braised turkey breast recipe, similar to what Sonya made from Kosher.com

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Have you ever felt like you’re fading in the afternoon, and wish you knew what snack to eat that would satisfy and energize you until dinner time?

If your afternoon snacks need a makeover, this episode is packed with creative, simple, and delicious ideas to keep you happy instead of “hangry!”

In this episode you’ll discover how to:

1. Assemble fun, nourishing, and creative ingredients straight from the pantry for an exciting snack plate

2. Make your favorite childhood snacks from scratch with no funky additives, including granola bars, fancy popcorn, and even homemade crackers (p.s. it’s super easy!)

3. Set up a trail mix bar with a mix of savory and sweet ingredients that will satisfy everyone’s cravings.

If you’re ready to upgrade your snack game, tune in now to discover how to make your afternoon mini-meal the highlight of your day!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Homemade granola bars from Eating Well

Sohla’s method for popping popcorn via her Substack, and perfect stovetop popcorn from Cookie & Kate

Jacobson salt turmeric popcorn seasoning blend

Pistachio stuffed dates with tahini by Sonya for The Nosher

Sonya’s cheddar cheese coin crackers

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

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

You want to find any excuse to make an easy and comforting Frito Pie (also known as a walking taco), and you’ll learn about a simple, nutritious sheet pan meal that can help you get dinner on the table quickly and easily. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Walking tacos/Frito Pie recipe from the Girl Who Ate Everthing

Doritto walking tacos from Eating on a Dime

A sheet pan chicken sausage, potato, and asparagus meal that’s similar to what Sonya made fro dinner (swap sweet potato for potato/carrot)

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Have you ever had a fudgy, chewy, glossy, crackly-topped brownie and wondered: How can I replicate this brownie bliss? How can I make it at home? 

If you're looking to create the brownies and blondies of your dreams with help from expert bakers and tried-and-true recipes, this episode is your ticket to home cooking heaven! 

This week you’ll learn…

1. Insider secrets from baking experts like Nigella Lawson and Alice Medrich for achieving the glossy, shatter-y top and rich chocolate flavors that make for an ideal brownie

2. Delicious takes on classic brownie and blondie recipes, from gooey caramel swirl brownies to nutty coconut blondies

2. How to make an easy pecan bar straight from Kari’s childhood!

Are you ready to take your baking skills to the next level and indulge in a world of decadent brownies, blondies, and bar cookies? Tune in now and embark on a delicious exploration of sweet treats that are sure to please!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

A helpful brownie chart with ingredients, baking times, and bakeware can change the texture and look of your brownie, from Delish

Nigella Lawson’s Feast cookbook, and her recipe for snow-flecked brownies

Alice Medrich’s famous cocoa brownie recipe via Food 52

Sonya’s flourless tahini brownies, featured in her cookbook Braids

Smitten Kitchen cheesecake marbled brownies

Cherry Bombe Cookbook for Kari’s favorite salted caramel brownies

Caramel brownies made with cake mix and storebought Kraft caramels from The Recipe Critic

Grasshopper brownies by Yossy Arefi for the NY Times

Butterscotch blondies from the Lemonade Cookbook

English Toffee Bars from Hersheyland

Chewy chocolate cookie bars from the Shabby Creek Cottage

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Are you in a breakfast or lunch rut? 

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 make this easy refrigerator jam made with frozen fruit that will elevate your morning toast. It has a secret ingredient that adds a boost of nutrition!. You’ll also learn how to upcycle last night’s salad into a delicious and satisfying lunch that’s filled with veggies and can be made vegan-friendly.  

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Strawberry rhubarb chia jam  from Bakerita (Sonya uses sugar in place of maple syrup)

Adrian Hale’s Mama Bread Cookbook

***

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Are you looking for a crowd-pleasing dessert to serve at your next dinner party? Or maybe, you’re searching for an easy sheet-pan dinner that can make weeknight cooking a little easier? 

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 make this healthy salmon recipe that comes together with pantry staples, and take your weeknight dinners to the next level. 

You’ll also love this easy skillet peach cobbler that travels well and feeds a crowd, and tastes just as great with peaches from the farmers’ market OR from your freezer. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Harissa-honey glazed salmon (which can be swapped with steelhead trout)

Hudson valley fisheries steelhead trout

Sonya’s favorite brand of harissa paste

Melissa Clark’s peach cobbler for NYT Cooking

***

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

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Are you ever overwhelmed by the thought of hosting a dinner party? Do you often find yourself stuck in the kitchen, cooking at the last minute, and missing out on the conversation?

If you're tired of complicated dinner parties and craving a simple yet elegant way to entertain loved ones with an Italian feast, then this episode is for you. We'll guide you through making home cooking and hosting easy and enjoyable!

This week you’ll discover:

How to assemble a brilliant first course made entirely of prepared items you source and elevate from your local grocery store

3 make-ahead comfort foods that make hosting a breeze, including a game-changing technique for fail-proof risotto!

An approachable strategy for homemade pasta that brings your friends and loved ones into the kitchen

A dessert you can make from scratch to wow your friends, or a premade option that you can assemble and serve in an unexpected and delightful way  

Don't miss out on the chance to invite some friends over for a memorable Italian dinner party. Tune in now to learn how to make it easy, fun, and enjoyable for all—especially for you!

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Links to from this week’s show:

Ina Garten’s antipasto platter

Marinated mozzarella balls from We Are Not Martha

Grissini breadsticks

White bean bruschetta (hot) from Full of Beans and a simple white bean salad to top bruschetta from Fifteen Spatulas

Simple homemade anchovy dressing from The Kitchn

Sunday Sauce by Ali Slagle for the NY Times

Marcella Hazan’s tortellini and her Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking cookbook

Classic tortelloni from QBCucina, and Tortellini with asparagus and lemon from Taste of Home

How to make easy oven baked risotto via The Kitchn

Instant pot risotto from Pressure Cook Recipes

Jules de Strooper cookies and Italian pizzelles

Sonya’s crostada/galette recipe

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We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

How exciting is it to come home after a long day at work and find a sweet treat waiting for you to indulge in joy and comfort?

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 bake up an easy rhubarb snacking cake that’s as satisfying to eat as it is easy to assemble. Pressed for time this week? Learn Kari’s freezer trick for when of her favorite hometown sweets. 

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

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Links to from this week’s show:

Claire Saffitz’s rhubarb custard cake for Bon Appetit

Pfaff’s Bakery in Pontiac, Illinois

A recipe for Danish-style coffee cake from Taste of Home

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We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Do you ever stare at a head of cauliflower and have no idea how to make it taste amazing? Or, maybe you’re tired of simply roasting or steaming it?

This is your opportunity to stretch your imagination and embrace the versatility of the humble cauliflower! 

In this episode you’ll discover:

10 new cauliflower recipes, including how to use this veggie for meaty substitutes and creamy sauces

How to cook cauliflower so that it yields a sweet, caramelized, and luxurious bite, or so it can turn into the base of a silky soup

And how to make a cauliflower the main course or your next meal, while still delivering a big wow factor for your guests!

If you’re ready to up your veggie game, tune in now to unlock a world of cauliflower possibilities that you never knew existed!

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Links to from this week’s show:

Mark Bittman’s recipe for whole roasted cauliflower for the NY Times

Cauliflower steak with green yogurt sauce by Max Nelson for Food52

David Tanis’ cheese-topped cauliflower steaks for the NY Times

Cauliflower nachos from Hungry Happens

Cauliflower chips from Eating Well

Cauliflower pizza crust from The Ambitious Kitchen 

Andy Baraghani’s cauliflower bolognese from Bon Appetit

Cauliflower alfredo by Yumna Jawad from Feel Good Foodie

Buffalo cauliflower wings from Love & Lemons

Nigella Lawson’s cauliflower cheese

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We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!