Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy

Food Friends
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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?

  1. Sheet-Pan Meals for Easy Spring Cooking at Home

    1D AGO

    Sheet-Pan Meals for Easy Spring Cooking at Home

    Are sheet-pan dinners the ultimate weeknight shortcut, or are they overrated? If you’ve ever tried one and ended up with soggy vegetables, unevenly cooked protein, or underwhelming flavor, you’re not alone. In this episode, we break down what makes a sheet-pan dinner work, and how to get better results from simple, oven-roasted meals. We’re sharing a handful of spring-forward recipes, along with the small technique shifts that make a big difference. By the end of this episode, you’ll discover: A crispy rice sheet-pan dinner with everything you love about fried rice, without the stovetopA popular Nigella Lawson’s tray bake that highlights spring produceHow to make sheet-pan eggs with herbs, vegetables, and feta for easy breakfasts, sandwiches, or quick dinners If you’re looking for straightforward ways to improve your weeknight cooking, this episode will change how you use your oven! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links: Chicken and pea tray bake from Nigella Lawson Liz’s roasted broccoli salad by Pinch of Yum Rainbow veggie sheet-pan with green tahini sauce by Jenn Eats Good Sheet-pan crispy rice with bacon and broccoli by Ella Quittner via Food52 Sheet-pan eggs and veggies by Ali Slagle for Food 52 Puttanesca fish tray bake by Recipe Tin Eats Viral sheet-pan Doner Kebab from Feel Good Foodie Chili-stuffed poblano peppers from Taste of Home Other recipes: Rainbow salad Maple and Miso Sheet-Pan Salmon with Green Beans by Colu Henry for NYT Cooking **** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    30 min
  2. A Memorable Spring Menu, Seasonal Fried Rice & the Best Philly Sandwich | Best Bites with Special Guest David Page

    6D AGO

    A Memorable Spring Menu, Seasonal Fried Rice & the Best Philly Sandwich | Best Bites with Special Guest David Page

    A Memorable Spring Menu, Seasonal Fried Rice & the Best Philly Sandwich | Best Bites with Special Guest David Page What makes a meal truly memorable? And what’s actually worth repeating at home? In this bite-sized episode, we’re sharing the best things we ate this week — and with special guest David Page of “Culinary Characters Unlocked” — to inspire each other and you. By the end of this episode, you’ll discover a simple but unforgettable spring menu, a fried rice that makes the most of seasonal ingredients, and a Philly sandwich that lives up to the hype. We also get into a few cooking techniques, from reverse-searing steak to building a seafood stew, that are worth trying (or rethinking) in your own kitchen. Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration. *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links: Tune into David Page’s Culinary Characters Unlocked wherever you listen to podcasts! The menu from the birthday party: Farro & spring radish salad, spring green salad, marinated farm asparagus, thyme-scented baby new potatoes, Pacific NW smoked salmon, grilled Bavette steak The potatoes were prepared similarly to simple roasted new spring potatoes (but add thyme!) Green garlic salsa verde from Wishbone Kitchen Kari’s fried rice: Use avocado oil to fry the rice first; add butter and spring onion tops and cook until softened. Add scrambled eggs into the buttery onion mixture until just cooked. Add favas to warm them up; top with fresh dill and crumbled feta. David’s best bites: Philly Roast Pork Sandwich from Serious Eats SF-style Cioppino (but David prefers to cook each fish element separately) Reverse-seared steak from Serious Eats **** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    26 min
  3. Make it Mediterranean! Everyday Cooking with Yumna Jawad of Feel Good Foodie

    APR 28

    Make it Mediterranean! Everyday Cooking with Yumna Jawad of Feel Good Foodie

    Do your weeknight meals ever start to feel a little flat — even when you’re cooking all the time? In this episode, we’re talking to Yumna Jawad of Feel Good Foodie, known for her viral, approachable dishes. She shares how she transforms familiar recipes like banana bread, pancakes, and sheet-pan dinners with Mediterranean ingredients in ways that feel accessible for home cooks. By the end of this episode, you’ll discover: The five Mediterranean ingredients to stock your pantry with, so you can easily whip up delicious weeknight dinnersUnderstand what makes a recipe go viral (including a must-try pasta)New ways to use up oats – including a unique take on a savory breakfast Press play now for practical home cooking tips that will make your meals brighter, and weeknight dinners feel easier! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links: Yumna’s website, Feel Good Foodie, her Instagram, and her TikTok Grab a bag of her Oath Oats! Recipes: Strawberry rose pancakes and tahini banana bread, full recipes can be found in her cookbook: The Feel Good Foodie Dry yogurt with strawberry and spirulina powder Stuffed onions with ground beef and rice Overnight oats recipe One-pot Arabic-style stew Viral recipes: Baked feta pasta, pasta chips, and cottage cheese ice cream Yumna’s top Mediterranean ingredients: feta cheese, dates, tahini, olives, oregano, lemon **** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    28 min
  4. A Chili Cook-Off + Cookbook Club Recap: Edna Lewis’ Taste of Country Cooking | Best Bites of the Week

    APR 23

    A Chili Cook-Off + Cookbook Club Recap: Edna Lewis’ Taste of Country Cooking | Best Bites of the Week

    What actually wins a chili cook-off — and is it even the kind of chili you want to eat? In this bite-sized episode, we share the best things we ate this week to inspire each other... and you! By the end of this episode, you’ll discover why Edna Lewis' "The Taste of Country Cooking" is an essential addition to any cookbook collection, plus the recipe from the book we can’t stop thinking about. We also break down a cook-off-winning chili, along with other versions that may not take home a prize, but are staple recipes in our kitchens. Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links: The Taste of Country Cooking, by Edna Lewis Edna Lewis recipes from Cookbook Club: Plum Torte Sweet Potato Pie Biscuits Edna Lewis-style Spoon bread from Serious Eats Recipes for: Parker House Rolls, Salad of Grand Rapids Lettuce and Romaine, Ring Mold of Chicken with Wild Mushrooms sauce, and New Cabbage with Scallions can be found in the book Sonya’s chili recipe from our Substack; two options – turkey and vegetarian! To get the winning chili recipe from the cookoff, Subscribe to our Substack here and you’ll get it for free Sunday 5/3! *** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    24 min
  5. Chickpeas! Cooking Easy Meatless Meals with Sarah Bond (Re-Release)

    APR 21

    Chickpeas! Cooking Easy Meatless Meals with Sarah Bond (Re-Release)

    What if one ingredient could turn your weeknight dinners into satisfying dishes in less than 30 minutes — without ever feeling repetitive? Cooking dinner can sometimes feel like a dull routine, but a simple can of chickpeas can change that. In this re-release of a fan-favorite episode, and with the help of Sarah Bond, nutritionist and creator of Live Eat Learn, we dive into the world of vegetarian meals built around our favorite versatile, affordable pantry staple. By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to: Whip up the 15-minute viral “Marry Me Chickpeas” Discover the unique, simple spice blend for addictive “Dorito” chickpeas – a snack-turned-main-dish that even reluctant bean lovers will enjoyCook up easy-to-make meatless dinners, like crispy, golden air-fried chickpeas and a flavorful sheet pan meal packed with vegetables Hit play on this episode to uncover the endless possibilities of chickpeas! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links Sarah Bond’s Instagram, her site: Live Eat Learn – Easy Vegetarian Recipes, and her cookbook! Marry Me Chickpeas (with creamy Tuscan sauce) Roasted chickpea gyros Roasted veggie glow bowls Copy cat Cafe Yum sauce Crispy air fryer chickpeas 15-minute chickpea tacos with creamy cilantro sauce Chickpea blondies Vegan chicken and dumplings (with chickpeas!) Chickpea pot pie Vegan aquafaba + coconut popsicles **** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    30 min
  6. What to Do with Tahini, Gochujang & Miso | Answering a Listener Question

    APR 16

    What to Do with Tahini, Gochujang & Miso | Answering a Listener Question

    What do you do with those jars of tahini, gochujang, and miso sitting in your pantry? If you have condiments in your kitchen that you always mean to use — but never quite know how — this episode is for you! This week, we’re answering a listener question and breaking down three powerful, versatile ingredients: tahini, gochujang, and white miso. We share simple techniques and go-to recipes to help you actually use them in your everyday cooking. By the end of this episode, you’ll discover: Easy, flexible ways to use tahini, gochujang, and misoGo-to ideas for sauces, sheet-pan meals, noodles, and moreHow a small spoonful of can add big flavor to your next stew, BBQ, or braise Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links: Tahini: Easy Tahini Sauce with just water and lemon from The Immigrants Table Sonya’s tahini sauce 3 ways from The Nosher (including with gochujang!) Sonya’s Tahini Chocolate Chunk Cookies Sonya’s flourless Tahini Brownies from The Nosher Tahini roasted swordfish from Ham El-Waylly David Leibovitz has a a really good loaded tahini granola recipe Some of our favorite tahini brands Soom, Seed & Mill, Whole Foods 365 Organic Tahini, and Eden Foods  Gojuchang Gochujang Buttered Noodles by Eric Kim for NYT Cooking Sheet-Pan Bibimbop by Eric Kim for NYT Cooking Roasted Gochujang Salmon by Sue Li for NYT Cooking Hetty Lui McKinnon’s sticky gochujang brussels sprouts from her cookbook Tenderheart A great list of Korean recipes made with gochujang from Maangchi Miso  Coconut Miso Salmon Curry by Kay Chun for NYT Cooking Maple and Miso Sheet-Pan Salmon with Green Beans by Colu Henry for NYT Cooking  Nobu’s Miso Black Cod from The Kitchn Miso Caesar from Top Chef Melissa King from our Substack  5-Minute Carrot Miso Dressing by Kale Junkie, similar to what Sonya makes  Corn and Miso Pasta Salad by Ham El-Waylly for NYT Cooking **** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    21 min
  7. 30-Minute Meals! Our Top 6 Recipes for Quick Spring Home Cooking

    APR 14

    30-Minute Meals! Our Top 6 Recipes for Quick Spring Home Cooking

    Are you looking for quick, satisfying dinners and seasonal ideas to get out of a cooking rut and get dinner on the table faster? If you’ve ever come home with a bundle of asparagus, some greens, or a beautiful piece of fish— only to fall back on the same old routine— this episode is for you. This week, we’re sharing 30-minute spring meals that feel fresh and seasonal but are built for real weeknights: minimal prep, big flavor, fewer dishes, and smart shortcuts. By the end of this episode, you’ll have: Two easy stir-fries to make the most of asparagus seasonA surprisingly simple dumpling you can make in about 15 minutesA way to turn a small piece of fish into a Japanese restaurant-style meal at home Press play now to make your spring cooking simpler and easier! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links: 15-minute turmeric black pepper chicken with asparagus by Ali Slagle for NYT Cooking – we love the turmeric from Diaspora Co and from Burrlap & Barrel Steak and asparagus stir fry with rice by Martha Stewart  Easy lamb meatballs for mediterranean bowls from Recipe Tin Eats Lemony Peas and Dumplings by Carolina Gelen for NYT Cooking Japanese Sashimi and Rice (Chirashi) by Staci Adimando for Saveur Salmon with Swiss Chard and Radishes (one-pot) by Emily Paster for Midwest Living Some of our favorites from last year’s episode:  Sonya’s sheet-pan lemony baby artichokes and potatoes, and also her simple roasted artichoke recipe Penne with asparagus and lemon sauce by Faith Heller Willinger, from The 150 Best American Recipes cookbook *** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    30 min
  8. What One Ingredient Can Do for Your Cooking + A Standout Sandwich & Italian Pastry! Our Best Home Cooking Bites of the Week

    APR 9

    What One Ingredient Can Do for Your Cooking + A Standout Sandwich & Italian Pastry! Our Best Home Cooking Bites of the Week

    How can one ingredient completely change your weeknight cooking? In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you! By the end of this episode, you’ll want to make Ham El-Waylly's highly-rated Kung Pao tofu recipe that’s perfect for breaking out of a cooking rut. You’ll also want to try a loaded veggie sandwich that’s a fridge-cleanout hero, and you’ll discover a fresh take on a morning pastry. Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! *** For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our free Substack here. And join us on our live monthly calls by upgrading your subscription to paid! *** Links:  Kung Pao Tofu by Ham El Waylly for NYT Cooking Ham El Waylly’s new book book: Hello, Home Cooking: Do-able Dishes for Everyday and our episode with Ham  Raspberry Danish with puff pastry video Sonya’s blueberry cheesecake danish recipe Kari’s Veggie Sandwich: Thickly sliced whole-wheat sourdough (Adrian Hale’s recipe), but any thick-sliced fresh bread would work!Spread hummus on one slice of bread (I love Little Sesame classic) and top with grated carrot and crumbled fetaMash avocado and a little kosher salt on the second siide, then top with thinly sliced cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced kohlrabi, and honey-mustard pickles (my family’s local fave Kaylin & Kaylin)Shred romaine, baby gem, or iceberg lettuce and carefully top one side, then close the sandwich, and cut in halfServe with your favorite chips! **** Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084 For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. Are you a local to Portland or planning a visit? You can now book a private farmers’ market tour with Sonya through Airbnb Experiences! Or order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

    19 min
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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?

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