Smidgen – Details, episodes & analysis

At Red Stick Spice Company, we love sheet pans. We teach sheet pan classes; we sell sheet pans. Most important: we use sheet pans all the time to make marvelous meals at home.

Anne Milneck (Chef, Smidgen host, sheet pan cheerleader and owner of Red Stick Spice Company) says we can’t really call sheet pan suppers a trend anymore—simply because sheet pan cooking is so ubiquitous and helpful to the home cook. In this episode, Anne shares new recipes and new techniques that you can start using right away to make your sheet pan cooking better than ever.

Whether you are a sheet pan fan or if you’ve ever wanted to try out some sheet pan suppers to make your weeknight meal planning faster and easier, this episode has something for every cook.

- See the line of USA Pans at Red Stick Spice Company: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/usa-pan-sheet-pans

- Here’s the scoop cookie sheet Anne talked about and the adorable eighth sheet pan Catherine was irrationally enchanted by

- Read the Milk Street article Anne mentioned, hilariously titled, How to Make a Sheet Pan Meal that Won’t Bore You to Tears: https://www.177milkstreet.com/2024/01/how-to-make-a-sheet-pan-meal-that-wont-bore-you-to-tears

- Anne has a new blog post detailing the new recipes and the new techniques for sheet pan cooking. Read it here:

- Garam Masala is a must for India-inspired cooking: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/garam-masala

- Want more Smidgen sheet pan supper inspo? The very first sheet pan episode is here; 4 Sheet Pan Suppers You Haven’t Tried. Also: slab grilled cheese fans, rejoice: listen to this episode here.

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with someone who might appreciate knowing these recipes? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Tell us about you getting back into your Instant Pot! Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

Did we fall out of love with the Instant Pot? How long has it been since you’ve used your Instant Pot? Anne Milneck (Chef, Smidgen host, INSTANT POT USER and owner of Red Stick Spice Company) thinks it’s time to revisit your Instant Pot and give this multi-purpose tool a glow up.  The Instant Pot is so good at what it does… with a few considerations (that Anne goes over in this episode. Spoiler alert: the Instant Pot can be your meal prep secret weapon. More in the episode.)

Three brand new recipes are featured in this episode for you to try in your Instant Pot. Anne brings one trending recipe; one rice recipe; one meal-prep friendly bean dish—all ready to be made in your Instant Pot. This episode is going to help you fall back in love with your Instant Pot AND provide you some outstanding meals, too.

- Everyone’s talking about them: Birria Tacos—made in the Instant Pot: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/instant-pot-birria-tacos/

- Basmati Jeweled Rice featuring savory harissa: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/instant-pot-basmati-pilaf/

- Emma’s Refried Pinto Beans from the Instant Pot: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/instant-pot-refried-beans/

- Read the Red Stick Spice Company blog post on re-falling in love with your Instant Pot: https://blog.redstickspice.com/instant-pot-glow-up/

- Here’s the Atlantic article that gave Anne some insight with what’s happened to the Instant Pot business:  https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/06/instant-pot-bankrupt-private-equity/674414/

- Are you trying some meats in your Instant Pot? Try Red Stick Spice Company’s Cuban spice rub: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/cuban-spice-rub

- Anne made Basmati Jeweled Rice with the harissa paste from New York Shuk: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/new-york-shuk-harissa-pastes

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with someone who might appreciate knowing these recipes? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Tell us about you getting back into your Instant Pot! Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

You can make a lovely and romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day at home! Anne Milneck of  Red Stick Spice Company has you covered with an elegant, multi-course meal that will impress—and that you can actually successfully make—that is sure to make your evening in something special.

- Read Anne’s blog post on Valentine’s, complete with menu and optional variations. Click here to read Anne’s blog post.

- Did someone say vanilla balsamic? Shop for this unique vinegar, featured in the menu: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/vanilla-balsamic-vinegar

- Anne mentioned that slow roasted salmon is all over the internet. Here’s Red Stick Spice Company’s spin—Chipotle Slow Roasted Salmon: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/chipotle-slow-roasted-salmon/

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with someone who might appreciate knowing these resolutions? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

 Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

What food trends are home cooks going to be seeing everywhere in 2024, and maybe more importantly, what are some of the recipes that will help you explore the best this new year has to offer? Smidgen host and owner of Red Stick Spice Company Anne Milneck loves food trends. So when she saw Southern Living’s list of pertinent food trends for 2024, she knew she wanted to talk about them on the show—and bring some exciting recipes from the Red Stick Spice Company teaching kitchen to help our customers bring these trends into their homes right away.  

This week’s episode is inspired by Southern Living’s article: Food Trends You'll See Everywhere In 2024, According To Southern Living Editors

- Read Anne’s blog post on the big food trends for 2024, including recipes you can try and get a feel for the trend: https://blog.redstickspice.com/2024-recipe-trends/

- MUST-TRY! Anne says this maple tahini tea latte is sure to please: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/maple-tahini-tea-latte/

- Have you tried Soom tahini yet? Select any of the wonderful Soom products, available at Red Stick Spice Company, INCLUDING dark chocolate sea salt (yum!): https://www.redstickspice.com/search?type=product&q=soom*

- Whip up a batch of tahini blossoms with chocolate kisses: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/tahini-blossom-cookies-with-chocolate-kisses/

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with someone who might appreciate knowing these resolutions? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

 Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

Hello, 2024! Are you ready to cook up a storm this year? Do you want to love your kitchen and your home cooking even more this year? On this episode of Smidgen, Anne Milneck—chef and proprietor of Red Stick Spice Company—has some practical resolutions that you can easily incorporate to your routines and are you ready for this? Are resolutions you can actually stick to.

Meal prep one thing each week (just one!); try a new recipe from a new cookbook every month; cook something in a wok; eat down the freezer strategically; explore fridge-friendly salads that can sub in as sides. Anne walks through each of these tips and explains how each idea can make life easier as you cook meals this year.

- Read Anne’s blog post with 5 cooking resolutions that will actually change and improve your home cooking: https://blog.redstickspice.com/five-cooking-resolutions/

- Did you hear Anne give a shout-out to Country Captain Chicken? Check out this vintage recipe that now is a Teaching Kitchen favorite. Yum! https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/country-captain-chicken/

- Can’t get enough of Kung Pao Chicken. A MUST-TRY: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/kung-pao-chicken/

- BTW the class which brought Kung Pao Chicken to Anne’s attention originated is Better Than Take-Out. You can take this class, too! More info here: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/better-than-takeout

- Ready to wok? Matt from the Teaching Kitchen likes this one, Helen Chen Carbon Steel Wok: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/helen-chen-carbon-steel-wok

- Attention duck hunters and duck hunters’ loved ones: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/duck-flatbread-with-shallot-and-figs/

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with someone who might appreciate knowing these resolutions? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

 Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

The holidays and Christmas season is here! Are you or a favorite home cook feeling stressed? Less than jolly? Anne Milneck, chef, owner of Red Stick Spice Company, and host of Smidgen has some help for you. Lots of outlets churn out “helpful hints for the holidays” lists that… let’s face it… are a little less than robust. We need real help this year, and Anne delivers on this episode of Smidgen.

- Read Anne’s blog post with 12 Holiday Tips that are impactful; real-world tested; not your usual run-of-the-mill tips. Link on the Red Stick Spice Co website: https://blog.redstickspice.com/12-helpful-holiday-tips/

- Did you hear Anne mention Lily’s Apple Strudel? No better reason to have some puff pastry on hand. Recipe here: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/apple-strudel/

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with someone who might appreciate knowing these REAL holiday kitchen tips? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

We’ve all said it: we don’t want more “stuff” and we want to keep our Holiday budget intact. But we also don’t want to go empty handed to our friend’s house this season. Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company has a delicious solution on this episode of Smidgen. Have fun and a joyful kitchen as you make these 5 wonderful gifts from your kitchen to share with the people you love.

From scratch granola, shortbread, sumptuous dessert sauces, savory quick pickles, and comforting quick breads are recommended gifts—Anne wrote a blog post highlighting each of these most-wanted hostess gifts. Read the blog post here.

- Bonus! Anne has some ideas about gifts to give to your favorite home cook, too!

• Make your own Chile Crisp Kit, for the chili lover in your life: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/chile-crisp-kit
• Sourdough starter from Magnolia Hill-- what is better than homemade bread? https://www.redstickspice.com/products/home-on-magnolia-hill-sourdough-starter
• Cocktail makers and mixologists are going to love Elderberry Creamed Honey from Cockeyed Farms: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/cockeyed-farms-16oz-american-elderberry-creamed-honey
• Snackers will love candied jalapenos from Grinning Jupiter: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/candied-jalapenos

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with someone who might appreciate knowing these gifts from the kitchen? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

Oh my! What are we going to do with all this food?? If you are looking upon your Thanksgiving Leftovers with a little bit of dread, Anne Milneck—chef and owner of Red Stick Spice Company reveals her skill as a meal makeover artist in this episode of Smidgen. Now, keep in mind: we are pro-leftover on Smidgen; this is not about simply eating down the Thanksgiving meal. Rather, this episode is all about fully transformed meals, using food from Thanksgiving. Each of the recipes Anne discusses are great dishes on their own—the fact that they help making a dent in the leftovers crowding the fridge: a bonus.

Read Anne's blog post on leftovers here: https://blog.redstickspice.com/leftover-love/

You don’t have to face your post-Thanksgiving fridge with dread. Here are 5 great recipes to makeover your Thanksgiving leftovers. 

- A South Louisiana staple: Turkey & Sausage Gumbo

- Have you ever said, “Will it waffle?” then this is for you: Cheesy Waffled Mashed Potatoes

- Ooh la la ooey gooey goodness: Turkey & Brie Panini with Cranberry Sauce

- Nothing like a good sweet potato. Try these Sweet Potato Pancakes—yum!

- Cranberry lovers unite! Rosemary Thumbprint Cookies with Cranberry Sauce

-… and if you heard Anne mention the Bourbon Vanilla Cranberry Sauce—recipe is here.  

- Producer note: This stuffing is amazing! Do yourself a favor and give it a try: Ciabatta & Sausage Stuffing

- Y’all interested in a make-ahead roux? Anne has you covered: Make-Ahead Roux

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with a fellow Thanksgiving leftover lover? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

Spatchcock your Thanksgiving turkey for gorgeous crispy skin and juicy turkey meat. Smidgen host Anne Milneck of Red Stick Spice Company details on this episode why everyone should consider taking a note out of Kenji Lopez-Alt’s book (or podcast appearance) and spatchcocking this year’s Thanksgiving turkey. What do you get?

•           CRISPY, crispy golden lovely delicious skin
•          Plump, juicy turkey (NO dry bird—you’re not relying on all the great Thanksgiving sides to carry the meal. Enjoy the bird, too!)
•          Relatively quick cooking time (a 14-16 lbs in 90 minutes, OH YEAH!)

Anne explains why this year is a perfect time to try this technique and have wow results for your family and other Thanksgiving guests.

There’s a step-by-step guide on the Red Stick Spice Company website showing how to spatchcock your Thanksgiving turkey here: https://blog.redstickspice.com/why-we-are-spatchcocking-our-turkey/

Anne recommends several spice blends to try on your turkey when spatchcocking and a variety of salts:

- This is the time of year to try Gobble Gobble Blend: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/gobble-gobble-blend

- Italian Herb Blend: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/italian-seasoning

- When you dry brine, use our Dry Brine Blend: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/dry-brine

- Customer favorite Butcher Salt is also a great choice: https://www.redstickspice.com/products/sea-salts-products-butcher-salt

 - Want to share Smidgen podcast with a fellow Thanksgiving cook? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- Anne recommends the countdown to Thanksgiving method, covered previously on Smidgen. Want to know how to prepare? Listen to these short, technique-packed episodes: 5 Days before T-Day; 4 days; 3 days, 2 days; 1 day until Thanksgiving. What do you think of this sequence? 

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.

Boo! Halloween is a fun and special time for Smidgen host Anne Milneck and Red Stick Spice Company. Anne likes to go big with costumes, decorations, and Halloween festivities! You can too—even at this date, you can pull together a delightful and delicious Halloween celebration for friends and neighbors. On this episode, 7 Halloween recipes that are easy and can feed a crowd. Spooky root beer, sheet pan nachos, pumpkin soup, mummy-wrapped baked brie, sloppy joes, ogre-green matcha popcorn, witch’s fingers cookies are sure to amaze your favorite fiends (er, or friends.)

Read Anne's blog post-- 7 Halloween Recipes for a Block Party: https://blog.redstickspice.com/7-recipes-for-a-halloween-block-party/

- Spooky Halloween root beer: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/spooky-halloween-rootbeer/

- Matcha popcorn: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/matcha-popcorn/

- Feed-a-crowd smoky sloppy joes: https://blog.redstickspice.com/recipe/smoky-sloppy-joes/

- Listen to the episode to hear how to make mummy wrapped brie; witches’ fingers cookies; and check out Anne’s blog post about Halloween treats.

- Want to share Smidgen podcast with a fellow trick or treater? Please do! Easy link to share: https://pod.link/1465606357

- How do I get the Red Stick Spice Company newsletter with recipes and cooking ideas? Sign up for our newsletter here.

Hear all Smidgen episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, or your browser, or your favorite podcast app. Follow Red Stick Spice Co socials, including Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Smidgen is the award-winning podcast of Red Stick Spice Co.