The Empty Nest Kitchen

Latest Episodes:

Cooking, Culture, and Connection with Paula Mohammed Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Paula Mohammed from In My Kitchen with Paula. Paula and I share a love of good food, connection, and exploring different cultures.

Paula told me all about how she started In My Kitchen back in 2018 to bring people together and celebrate traditional recipes. We also talked about her podcast, where she shares amazing culinary stories from cooks all over the world. One of my favorite parts of our chat was hearing how online cooking experiences unexpectedly took off during the pandemic—and how food continues to be such a powerful way to connect.

We got into everything from the joy of learning from passionate home cooks, to navigating cultural appropriation in the kitchen, to dreaming up future online classes we’d love to co-host. I can’t wait for you to hear this one—it’s all about food as a bridge, and the magic that happens when we gather around a meal.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:12 Paula's Podcast Journey
02:20 Cultural Connections Through Food
03:33 Challenges and Pivots
05:34 Exploring Iranian Culture
08:10 Food as a Cultural Bridge
21:17 Building Connections Through Virtual Classes
23:11 The Joy of Cooking Together Online
25:51 Acts of Kindness and Culinary Stories
29:38 Cultural Appreciation in Cooking
36:16 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

You can find Paula at www.exploreinmykitchen.com

pod on all major platforms: inmykitchenwithpaula

IG: @inmykitchenpaula

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The Empty Nest Reset: Finding Your Fall Kitchen Rhythm Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

As the seasons change, it's time to reset your kitchen and life for fall. This week you'll find practical tips for getting back into a cooking rhythm. From pantry refreshes and meal planning to setting routines and embracing small wins, this episode is packed with advice to help you enjoy cooking again. It also touches on mindset practices to make cooking a pleasurable experience. Don't miss the upcoming free Mediterranean masterclass on September 18th for more tips and inspiration.

00:00 Welcome to Fall: Embracing Change

00:47 Adjusting to an Empty Nest

02:17 Finding Your Cooking Mojo

03:22 Practical Kitchen Tips for Fall

03:43 Pantry Refresh and Meal Prep

09:37 Exploring New Recipes and Mindset

10:40 Meditation and Mindset Shifts

13:45 Planning and Rhythm for the Fall

14:30 Join the Mediterranean Masterclass

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Small Bites: Summer on a Plate Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

Let's talk about the importance of eating seasonally and locally! From making simple no-cook sauces to grilling the perfect seasonal vegetables, you'll find insights to make your kitchen a place of joy and discovery.
00:00 Welcome to the Empty Nest Kitchen
00:25 Seasonal Cooking: A Journey Through Summer
01:17 The Importance of Eating Seasonally
01:58 Restaurant Tips for Seasonal Eating
04:12 Fun with Figs and Kitchen Gadgets
05:14 Creating Delicious Seasonal Dishes
06:06 Splurging on Quality Ingredients
07:19 Simple and Flavorful Cooking Techniques
09:04 Appreciating Seasonal Produce
09:47 Join the Empty Nest Kitchen Community
10:44 Masterclass and Final Thoughts

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Small Bites: Garlic Girl Summer Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

Join me in the Empty Nest Kitchen as I share expert tips and techniques for cooking with garlic. From selecting the perfect garlic bulbs to using raw and roasted garlic in various dishes, we'll covers it all. Learn how to store garlic properly, the benefits of different garlic forms, and even get a sneak peek into my mini course 'Just Add Sauce'. Discover how to bring out the best flavors from this magical ingredient and enhance your culinary skills.
00:00 Welcome to the Empty Nest Kitchen
00:34 The Magic of Garlic
02:14 Choosing and Storing Fresh Garlic
03:57 Alternatives to Fresh Garlic
06:31 Using Raw Garlic
08:29 Roasting Garlic for Deeper Flavors
10:22 Experiment with Garlic
10:40 Join My Mini Course
11:14 Conclusion and Farewell

Find more information on Just Add Sauce: The No-Cook Mediterranean Fix

Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen
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Small Bites: Gettin' Figgy With It Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Let's dive into the excitement of fig season with a joyful celebration of fresh figs. From tips on selecting the perfect figs at the store to storing them properly, you'll learn how to make the most of these delicate fruits. Discover a variety of delicious ways to enjoy figs, including making fig jam, pairing them with cheese, creating a fig salad, and even making a fig pizza or flatbread. This episode is packed with creative ideas and culinary tips. Join the fig appreciation and share your culinary creations using fresh figs!

00:00 Introduction to Fig Season

00:30 Personal Fig Tree Journey

01:29 Selecting and Storing Fresh Figs

03:02 Delicious Fig Recipes and Pairings

04:34 Creative Fig Dishes

07:14 Final Thoughts and Fig Ventures

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Small Bites: Summer Sauces, Big Flavors, No Stove Required Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Find fun and creative way to enhance summer meals with no-cook sauces in your Empty Nest Kitchen. Christine shares her tips and tricks on making flavorful sauces without turning on the stove, perfect for the hot summer months. You'll learn a simple framework using fats, acids, and flavor enhancers like fresh herbs. Christine also introduces her new mini-course, 'Just Add Sauce,' which provides detailed guidance on creating and remixing various no-cook sauces, emphasizing ease and adaptability for small-scale cooking.

00:00 Introduction to No-Cook Sauces

00:46 Why No-Cook Sauces?

03:16 The Basics of Sauce Making

05:01 Creative Sauce Ideas

08:24 Practical Tips and Tools

09:04 Challenge and Conclusion

10:49 Special Offer: Mini Course

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Small Bites Simply Peachy: The Sweet and The Savory Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Empty Nest Kitchen, cooking expert Christine Van Bloem shares her love for peaches and explores various ways to enjoy this summer fruit. From simple sliced peaches to gourmet salads and savory meat pairings, Christine provides detailed recipes and tips that highlight the natural sweetness and versatility of peaches. Learn about the importance of keeping it simple to let the flavors shine and tips for complementary ingredients to create balanced dishes.

00:00 Introduction to Peaches

00:38 The Perfect Peach

03:04 Peach Salad Ideas

06:04 Cooking with Peaches and Meat

10:41 Grilled Peaches for Dessert

12:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Small Bites: Zucchini Magic Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Let's explore fun and creative ways to cook with zucchini, a quintessential summer vegetable. From practical advice on picking the best zucchinis to three delightful (and easy!) recipes, your zucchini wishes are ready to become reality. Tune in to learn these simple yet delicious methods to make zucchini a hit in your kitchen.
00:00 Welcome to the Empty Nest Kitchen
00:27 Zucchini: The Ultimate Summer Vegetable
02:19 Choosing the Perfect Zucchini
03:44 Delicious Zucchini Recipes
08:39 Zucchini Boats: A Fun Twist
10:18 Protein-Packed Zucchini Egg Bites
14:49 Wrapping Up: Zucchini Tips and Tricks

Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen
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Small Bites: It's Corn! Making the Most of Summer's Best Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Let's dive into the world of corn. Get practical advice on choosing, storing, and cooking corn (keeping the husk on until right before consumption is important!). With tips for using corn in various dishes like salads and pancakes, and a unique microwave method for cooking, you'll find a delightful and informative guide to making the most out of fresh corn.

00:00 Introduction to Corn Talk

01:00 Corn at the Farmer's Market

03:25 Choosing and Storing Corn

06:52 Microwave Corn Cooking Hack

08:06 Creative Corn Recipes

09:21 Corn Salad and Vinaigrette

13:24 Corn Pancakes and Conclusion

Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen
Learn more about Menopause Meal Plans
Sign up for my FREE 10 Essential Tools for the Empty Nest Kitchen

Small Bites: Summer Tomatoes (How to Choose, Use, and Store) Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Let's kick-off the summer cooking series 'Small Bites', focusing on short episodes under 15 minutes. Each week will highlight a different food or technique, starting with summer tomatoes, covering tips on choosing, using, and storing them for optimum flavor.

00:00 Introduction to Summer Cooking Series

00:57 Choosing the Perfect Summer Tomatoes

03:09 Storing Your Tomatoes Correctly

04:00 Simple and Delicious Tomato Recipes

06:28 Making the Perfect Panzanella

11:47 Roasting Tomatoes for Extra Flavor

12:46 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes