Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy

Food Friends
  • 4.8 (124)
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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, and NY Times Recipe Developer, Sue Li! 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?

  1. Weeknight meatless meals! A quick one-pan dish and a hearty soup! Our best bites of the week (Re-release)

    1 DAY AGO

    Weeknight meatless meals! A quick one-pan dish and a hearty soup! Our best bites of the week (Re-release)

    We're rereleasing a fan-favorite episode to give us a boost of meatless meal inspiration this new year! Are you searching for a quick easy one-pan meal that you can make any night of the week?  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 cook up a craveable gnocchi and brussels sprouts dinner that comes together in 30 minutes or less, and you’ll discover the secret to the heartiest, most flavorful, plant-based lentil soup! Don’t miss these two meatless meals that will work for any night of the week, and tune in now!  *** Links to from this week’s show: Crisp gnocchi with brussels sprouts and brown butter by Ali Slagle via NYT Cooking Ina Garten’s lentil vegetable soup Adrian Hale’s pita recipe can be found in her book Mama Bread! *** 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 our Substack for more soup recipes and roundups!

    12 min
  2. The best of broccoli! From sheet pan meals to salads, our top 8 recipes for cooking broccoli at home

    3 DAYS AGO

    The best of broccoli! From sheet pan meals to salads, our top 8 recipes for cooking broccoli at home

    Bored of the same old side of steamed or roasted broccoli? Let’s change that!  Whether you're looking for quick weeknight meals, vibrant salads, or rich vegetarian mains, this episode is full of broccoli boosts!  By the end of this episode, you’ll discover: A crispy sheet pan meal that will liven up any night of your weekThe broccoli salad with an unexpected dressing that's designed for meal prep or potlucksA surprising technique that transformers broccoli into a meltingly soft addition to pasta or crostini Tune in now and discover how to make broccoli the most exciting part of your plate! *** Correction from this episode: Broccolini and broccoli rabe are two different things! Broccolini is sometimes called baby broccoli or tenderstem broccoli. Broccoli rabe tends to be far more bitter and tough and requires different preparation. *** Links:  Three ingredient smashed crispy Parmesan broccoli from Live Eat Learn Roasted broccoli with nutritional yeast from Something Nutritious – Kari likes to cut up the florets super small so they’re more popcorn-sized Sonya’s sheetpan crispy harissa tofu, chickpeas, and broccoli Roasted broccoli + chickpeas with herb jalapeno topping can be found in Cook Beautiful by Athena Calderone Quinoa and broccoli spoon salad by Sohla El-Waylly for the NYT Cooking Hetty Lui McKinnon’s broccoli, date, and pistachio salad Pecorino Fried Bread with Broccolini by Melissa Clark for NYT Cooking, or try Smitten Kitchen’s broccoli melts for something similar Alice Waters’ long cooked broccoli from The Art of Simple Food Roasted broccoli and potato tacos with fried eggs by Kay Chun for NYT Cooking, and here’s the same recipe via the Baltimore Sun *** Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084 Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes! We love...

    28 min
  3. A simple veggie soup, a stunning fruit tart, and an unexpected toast topping... Our top 6 best bites of 2024!

    12/26/2024

    A simple veggie soup, a stunning fruit tart, and an unexpected toast topping... Our top 6 best bites of 2024!

    Need a last-minute dose of home cooking inspiration as you enter a new year?  In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate in 2024 to inspire each other – and you!  We’re reflecting on our top six favorite dishes of the year and swapping notes about the secret to making an easy, veggie-packed soup, a cranberry-glazed tart that will have your guests asking for the recipe, a surprising topping for your next slice of toast, and more… Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!  Links: Susan Spungen’s Squash Tart with Cranberry Glaze Slow cooker apple butter from Family Food On The Table Birria tacos from A Cozy Kitchen, and slow cooker birria from Muy Bueno Cooking Kari’s split pea soup from our Substack Little Fish in Echo Park Norwegian Gjetost (brown cheese/caramel cheese) Quail & Condor bakery in Healdsburg, CA  *** Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084 Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes! We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

    18 min

  4. 12/24/2024

    Chocolate chip cookies! Decoding and baking the perfect cookie at home (Rerelease)

    Are you obsessed with finding the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe? This week we're rereleasing a fan-favorite episode! By the end of this episode, you'll discover all of the ingredients and techniques that can lead to YOUR ideal chocolate chip cookie -- from what chocolate to use (chip or bar?), to sugar ratios (brown sugar v white), to how to ensure the best flavor and overall texture. Tune in now to unlock the keys to the best batch of chocolate chip cookies! *** LINKS Bon Appetit’s Brown Butter and Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies Bravetart’s chocolate chip cookies from Serious Eats Christina Tosi’s (of Milk Bar) Famous Choc. Chip cookie with nonfat 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 Chocolate hay stacks from Add a Pinch  *** Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084 Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes! We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

    30 min
  5. A warming winter minestrone and a quick weeknight Midwestern "snappy pizza”! Our best home cooking bites of the week

    12/19/2024

    A warming winter minestrone and a quick weeknight Midwestern "snappy pizza”! Our best home cooking bites of the week

    As the days get colder and darker, are you searching for a nourishing dinner that will warm you up from the inside out?  In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you!  This week we’re talking about two must-try winter weeknight meals. You’ll discover the secrets to a craveable Minestrone, chock-full of veggies and topped with a vibrant basil sauce. You’ll also learn about a unique Midwestern twist on Sloppy Joe’s – it will make for a nostalgic weeknight meal that’s kid-friendly and parent-approved.  Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! *** LINKS Sign up for our Substack, and you’ll receive the Winter minestrone recipe (free) this Sunday (12/22)! You’ll also find more soup recipes in the Substack archives. Sloppy Joe recipe with bonus veggies via Celebrating Sweets *** Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084 Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes! We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

    13 min
  6. It’s time to celebrate! Our favorite recipes for holiday home cooking

    12/17/2024

    It’s time to celebrate! Our favorite recipes for holiday home cooking

    Are you searching for impressive holiday recipes that infuse your kitchen with irresistible aromas, beckoning your loved ones to gather around a festively appointed dinner table?  In this episode, we share expert tips for hosting with ease and grace, guiding you toward the dishes you’ll want to cook for pleasure, as well as menu items that rely on store bought help.  In this episode, you’ll:   Learn simple, time-saving strategies to help you breeze through hosting any partyDiscover the secret to sweet swirly slices of babka, and freshly baked cinnamon rolls, that will have your home smelling of sugar and spiceUnlock the secret to the flakiest biscuits—and the unexpected gravy you’ll want to smother them with! Tune in now to discover the recipes and tips that will fill your holiday table—and your heart—with joy! *** LINKS Sonya’s babka can be found in her cookbook Braids, and you can find Shannon Sarna’s babka via The Kitchn Sonya's recipe for sweet potato latkes with cranberry salsa, and her Salad Olivier (potato salad) The Gourmandise School cinnamon roll recipe  Chocolate babka sufganiyot (donuts) by Retrolillies and traditional sufganiyot from Once Upon a Chef Sweet cheese dreams via FoodTalk: add lemon zest and 1 tsp juice, cut into thirds!  Savory Cheese Dreams by Melissa Knific for NYT Cooking  Cheesy potatoes from Salt & Lavender, and cheesy potatoes with cornflake topping from Home Sweet Eats  Simple garlic sauteed collard greens from Yup It’s Vegan, and Southern style collard greens from All Recipes  Lemon-marinated Tuscan fried chicken from Serious Eats Edna Lewis’ biscuit recipe (with a description for homemade baking powder at the bottom of it) Sausage gravy recipe from Southern...

    32 min

  7. 12/12/2024

    An easy no-knead sourdough that even a kid can bake! Bread baking at home with Adrian Hale

    Scrolling through your feed, have you ever stumbled on a loaf of gorgeous homemade sourdough bread and thought to yourself: “I can never do that.” Maybe you’re intimidated by shaping, managing the rising times, or even picking out the best flour to use…. But you still crave a good quality loaf of bread to share with family and friends.  This week we called in one of our favorite food friends, Adrian Hale, to help us demystify sourdough bread baking. Adrian is the author of Mama Bread, and regularly teaches both kids and adults alike how to make her easy, delicious, no-knead sourdough recipe – and she’s generously sharing itwith all of us! Press play now to learn how just a little flour, water, and time can lead to a loaf of golden, delicious home-baked bread! *** Links: Adrian’s recipe for: “Communal Table Bread - My easiest first bread recipe” You can find out more about Adrian on Thousand Bites of Bread, or on her Instagram  Order her cookbook: Mama Bread Adrian’s flour resources round-up If you’re visiting or living in Portland, you can book a baking class with Adrian! *** Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084 Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes! We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

    16 min
  8. Is breakfast for dinner the ultimate comfort food? 10 recipes for cooking up our favorite meal at home

    12/10/2024

    Is breakfast for dinner the ultimate comfort food? 10 recipes for cooking up our favorite meal at home

    What’s more satisfying than the smell of sizzling eggs or the warmth of golden roasted potatoes to start your day? Celebrating the END of a long day with the comforts of breakfast-for-dinner!  If you’re looking for creative and nostalgic dishes that feel fun and easy, this week we’re sharing our top 10 breakfast recipes. While these meals work for any time of day, we think they make for simple, quick, and extra fun dinners.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  How to make crowd-pleasing, nourishing dishes like shakshuka to share family-styleA go-to potato dish that will have everyone asking for secondsCreative ways to make quick meals with pantry-friendly ingredients and minimal prep Press play now to discover simple, customizable breakfast-for-dinner recipes that are guaranteed to make your evenings more delicious and enjoyable! Links Ottolenghi’s classic shakshuka, Sonya’s eggplant and zucchini shakshuka, and green shakshuka by Adeena Sussman  Bacon, egg, and toast cups by Martha Stewart Potato chip frittata with carmelized onion from Delish, a quicker Spanish potato chip frittata with peppers from Food Network, and and the potato chip omelet from The Bear Migas con huevos from Muy Delish Matzo brei by Lee Mason from The Nosher How to make congee on the stovetop OR Instant Pot from Omnivore's Cookbook Blue corn atole video and recipe that Kari worked on, and another video on how to make traditional atole  Sheet pan potato nachos similar to what Kari makes but layered with crispy smashed potatoes + your fave roasted veggies instead of sliced potatoes  Sheet pan sweet potato hash from Detoxinista *** Got a cooking question? Leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084 Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities Order Sonya's debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes! We love hearing...

    29 min
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4.8
out of 5
124 Ratings

About

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, and NY Times Recipe Developer, Sue Li! 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?

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