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Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy

Do you love home cooking but hunger for better recipes that help you deliver quick and delicious meals to your dinner table?

Two former personal chefs turned best friends share their expertise with each other and you! Kari and Sonya have been inspiring each other in the kitchen for over 15 years by swapping recipes, tips, and trade secrets in the pursuit of better home cooking.

FOOD FRIENDS is a bi-weekly podcast inspiring home cooks to try new dishes in the kitchen by sharing trusted recipes, tips, and friendship.

Every Tuesday, each host delivers 3 unique solutions to seasonal home cooking, like: how to make craveable soups with your farmers market haul, the easiest one-pot meals for busy nights, or what to do with leftover rotisserie chicken. On Thursdays, we serve up a pint-sized chat about our “Best Bite” of the week, pantry essentials we can’t live without, and more.

Previous guests include Seth & Lauren Rogen, actor Randall Park & writer/director Evan Goldberg, recipe developer Justine Doiron, #1 Food & Beverage Substacker Caroline Chambers, and more.

If you’re looking for a boost of fun in the kitchen by discovering recipes that will make mealtime easier and more delicious with a healthy dose of laughter, then you’ll want to dig in with FOOD FRIENDS!

First-time listener? Tune into Episode 2: Don’t send flowers, send soup! and Episode 4: What do you bring to a potluck?

Copyright: © Food Friends Podcast 2022

Latest Episodes:

Episode 108: A quick weeknight meal and an easy skillet peach cobbler! Our best home cooking bites of the week Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

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!

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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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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!

Episode 107: How homemade snacks can make hosting easy and welcoming, with Carolina Gelen! Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Do you feel nervous about hosting, and wish you could create a warm and generous vibe for guests with a few simple homemade starters and snacks?

If you’re looking for unfussy recipes that make entertaining easy, tune into our episode with Carolina Gelen. Her simple-to-follow recipes communicate love and care, even when you don’t have lots of time to spend in the kitchen.

This week you’ll…

1. Learn simple yet impressive recipes like “Butter Pecan Twists” made with pantry staples like brown sugar, butter, and frozen puff pastry.

2. Discover how to create a warm and inviting atmosphere by pulling fluffy homemade focaccia out of the oven just as the doorbell rings.

3. Get inspired by what Carolina learned from her childhood about being resourceful in the kitchen, and how that translates into accessible and impressive potluck dishes like her cabbage roll cake or one-pot baked risotto.

Tune in now for home cooking tips, recipes, and heart-warming stories with Carolina Gelen!

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Links to from this week’s show:

Get your copy of Pass the Plate, Carolina Gelen’s debut cookbook with recipes like butter pecan twist, stuffed dates, cabbage roll cake, and more!

Carolina’s Instagram, TikTok, and Substack!

Carolina’s recipes for phyllo-wrapped fish sticks, her pickle latkes, her viral roasted cherry tomato soup, and loaded smashed potatoes

Hot mustard Doritos

Carolina’s cookbook pick: Shelf Love by the Ottolenghi test kitchen

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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!

Episode 106: A crispy way to use your zucchini and a decadent no-bake cake! Our best home cooking bites of the week Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

Are you looking for delicious ways to use up all the zucchini available right now?

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 addictively crispy, Italian zucchini dish, that’s loaded with veggies and is gluten-free, and you’ll also be inspired to make a creamy, no-bake pie recipe that has all the nostalgic comfort food vibes, perfect for the peanut-butter-and-chocolate-lover in your life (maybe that’s you?)!

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

Giada’s scarpaccia video and her recipe (gluten-free!)

Vegan version of scarpaccia from Earth To Rocco

Nutter butter ice box cake from Store Bought Is Fine

***

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!

Episode 105: Can dinner at home be easier? 6 Pasta recipes for cooking on the busiest weeknights Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

Feeling overwhelmed with weeknight dinners?

Cooking at home can be challenging when your schedule is crammed or unpredictable!

In our Season 3 premiere (!!!), we’re sharing our 6 favorite quick pasta recipes that are perfect for those busy evenings when you just need dinner to be comforting and easy.

This week you’ll…

1. Discover versatile pasta recipes that rely on the most basic pantry staples

2. Learn expert tips for maximizing flavor in minimal time, from incorporating gluten-free noodles to creative uses for zucchini and chickpeas.

3. Find out our 3-ingredient weeknight go-to cheesy pasta

Don't miss out on these lifesaving pasta recipes—hit play now and make your next weeknight dinner a breeze!

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Links to from this week’s show:

A chickpea and spinach pasta similar to Kari’s greens and beans

Sonya’s cranberry brothy bean and orzo

Zucchini Bow Ties with parm and yogurt from Food & Wine

Melissa Clark’s one-pan spinach and feta orzo with peas from NYT Cooking

Sausage and Peppers with Broccoli by Kay Chun from NYT Cooking

Carolina Gelen’s tuna cacio e pepe recipe

Tortellini with Brown Butter, Sage + Walnuts by Molly Baz from Bon Appetit

Sungold tomato pasta from Wishbone Kitchen

Pasta with Pumpkin Brown Butter Sauce from Food & Wine

Rigatoni with Lemony Kale and Pecorino Pesto from Food & Wine

***

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!

Episode 104: Green beans can be the start of your next great meal – Our best home cooking bites of the week! Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

Do you have veggies sitting in your fridge that need to be cooked…today?

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 dumpling stir fry; it brings dinner to the table quickly while creating more space in both your fridge and freezer. You’ll also be inspired by this unexpected way to cook green beans (no blanching required!), plus a delicious salad that includes both crunchy and grilled elements and celebrates fresh seasonal flavors.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

A dumpling stir-fry recipe from the Kitchn, similar to what Kari made this week

Grilled green beans from A Couple Cooks

A marinated kale and green bean salad 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 Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Episode 103: Sheet pan meals made easy — Home cooking your way to a quick and delicious dinner! Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Do you ever find yourself wanting the comfort a homemade meal, but not wanting to spend a ton time OR have to take out a bunch of pots and pans to make it?

This week, we're re-releasing one of our fan-favorite episodes where we dive into the ultimate guide to sheet pan meals. Whether you're a busy parent or someone who loves a no-fuss dinner, we've got you covered. Imagine the sizzle of perfectly crispy chicken, the aroma of saucy teriyaki chicken, and the vibrant colors of a hearty vegetarian dinner — all made on just one sheet pan.

By the end of this episode you’ll…

1. Learn how to whip up a flavor-packed teriyaki chicken dinner in under 30 minutes.

2. Discover the secret to making the crispiest oven-baked chicken parm that will rival your favorite restaurant.

3. Get our go-to vegetarian sheet pan meal that’s as satisfying as it is simple — perfect for Meatless Mondays or any night of the week.

Tune in now to discover how a sheet pan meals can make any dinner easier!

***

Links to from this week’s show:

We recommend local restaurant supply stores for sheet pans, or these excellent Nordicware pans

Sonya’s sheet pan Seattle-Style chicken teriyaki

The Meatball Shop’s cookbook

Sheet pan sausage supper via Food Network

Sheet pan chicken parm via Rich Rosendale

Sheet pan haloumi via The Kitchn

Sheet pan eggplant parm via Food & Wine

Sheet pan harissa salmon by Colu Henry 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!

Episode 102: Two easy noodle recipes for meatless dinners! Home cooking our best bites of the week Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

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 Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Episode 101: What to cook when you don’t feel like cooking! Tips for ease in the kitchen, with Caroline Chambers Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

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 Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Episode 100: How to use winter herbs in the summer and a tomato tart tip! Home cooking questions answered from our hotline Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

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 Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Episode 99: Beyond the smoothie, how to maximize your blender! Tips for cooking up easy blender recipes at home Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

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 Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

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