Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy

Do you find yourself staring at gorgeous piles of ripe, colorful summer tomatoes and longing to turn them into something special? Something unforgettable? If you need a boost of inspiration to make use of the juicy tomatoes in your kitchen and are underwhelmed with your standard summer tomato repertoire, tune into this week’s episode to enhance your home cooking! This week you’ll learn….1. The trick to keeping even the juiciest BLT sandwiches neat and tidy, plus a genius vegetarian version that’s full of flavor and sure to please all the guests at your dinner table. 2. How to bake a summer tomato tart that even The Great British Bake-Off would approve of, hint: no soggy bottom pies allowed. 3. An easy recipe that turns sweet cherry tomatoes into a weeknight sheet-pan dinner, helping you get a delicious dinner on the table in minutesDon’t miss out on these six mouth-watering tomato recipes and tune in now to transform your summer cooking! ***Links to from this week’s show:How to make a bacon weave video from Justin Chapple for Food and Wine, and his BLT recipeAn HLT sandwich from the NY Times  – like a BLT but with halloumi  insteadYemenite tomato dip from OttolenghiPan con tomate (spanish tomato bread) by Kenji Lopez-Alt for Serious EatsHoda’s restaurant in Portland, ORA fatoush salad with pomegranate molasses dressing by Reem Assil via Tasting Table How to make homemade pita chips from Natasha’s Kitchen Fresh tomato tart by David Leibovitz, and another great tomato tart from Smitten Kitchen Paneer with burst cherry tomato sauce by Sohla El-Waylly for Bon Appetit10-minute sausage skillet with cherry tomatoes and broccoli by Anna Stockwell for EpicuriousSimply Tomato cookbook by Martha Holmberg, and her tips on frying up tomato leaves57 summer tomato ideas 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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you! If you have a sweet tooth and a love for stone fruit, you’ll want to whip up one of our favorite easy cherry cakes. Kari’s stunning sweet cherry upside-down cake can be baked in a well-loved cast iron pan and topped with a healthy dollop of whipped cream, and Sonya’s favorite one-bowl snacking sour cherry cake comes together in minutes with no special equipment required.Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! ***Links to from this week’s show:Upside-down sweet cherry cake by Jerelle Guy for the NY TimesSonya’s One-bowl sour cherry cake Cherry pitter from OXOGreat Jones colorful sheet pans***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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Have you ever wandered through a summer farmers’ market, hypnotized by stand after stand of crisp lettuces, juicy peaches, colorful tomatoes of every shape and size, and giant watermelons…yet unsure of what to buy and how to cook with it?Our latest episode dives into this common dilemma, offering practical tips and creative ideas to make the most of your market finds, including our top 6 essential items we can’t stop buying.In this episode you’ll learn how to:1) Transform seasonal produce into delicious, easy-to-make meals - ensuring you never face wasted vegetables or fruit again 2) Time-saving tricks for prepping and storing your farmers' market haul, including how to preserve the bounty for future ease and enjoyment. 3) Unique, trusted recipes for our top 6 produce itemsTune in now to turn your next farmers market trip into a culinary victory that makes shopping, cooking, and hosting a pleasure!***Links to from this week’s show:Grilled potato recipe from The KitchnMixed sabzi with yellow 8-ball squash from the NY TimesSuperba restaurant in Los AngelesGrilled romano beans by Karen MartiniCauliflower salad by Ham El-Waylly for the NY Times – serve it in buttered hot dog buns!Cilantro date chutney  by Samin Nostrat for the NY Times, (she suggests putting it on turkey sandwiches) Little breakfast parfaits with lemon yogurt + fresh cherries, kid friendly!Upside-down sweet cherry cake by Jerelle Guy for the NY TimesSonya’s One-bowl sour cherry cakeYou can find Sonya’s cucumber deli salad in her cookbook, Braids***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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Are you craving a crispy, fun, and inclusive party dish that will satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters…all at the same dinner table? 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 classic Mexican party dish that accommodates a range of dietary restrictions from gluten-free to dairy-free, and are easy to customize with fresh toppings! You’ll also want to cook up this one-pot weeknight meal that’s veggie-forward, helping you get dinner on the table in a snap!Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! Links to from this week’s show:The kind of veggie quinoa bake that inspired Sonya’s weeknight meal Rick Martinez’s chicken taquitos from the NY Times Mashed potato taquitos from Abraca Shaba***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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Have you ever wished you could get that smoky, charred flavor of grilled food without the hassle of firing up a grill?If you dream of inviting friends over for a summer meal to enjoy a beautiful, grilled dinner, tune in to this episode for 8 BBQ recipes you can cook at home, even if you have limited space, time, or no grill whatsoever. In this episode, you’ll discover1) How to use a cast iron grill pan to achieve those perfect grill marks and smoky flavors right in your kitchen, plus tips on how NOT to set off the fire alarm. 2) Catering strategies from our personal chef days on how to braise, broil, and char a range of foods in your oven to mimic the grill experience3) How to make delicious grilled pizzas and what to top them with, that will have your guests begging for the recipe and another invite to your house for dinner.Don't miss out on these game-changing grilling hacks — tune in now to take your summer cooking skills to the next level!

Are you searching for a delicious weeknight meal…straight from your pantry? In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you! ***Links to from this week’s show:Ali Slagle’s Farro and Lentils with Jammy Onions from the NY TimesSonya’s farro cauliflower from her free Substack***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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!You’ll want to make this flavorful farro bowl with spiced, roasted cauliflower and drizzled with simple tahini sauce…or sub in whatever veggies you’ve got in the crisper drawer! We’re also sharing a one-pot lentil farro recipe that comes together quickly for a delicious and satisfying vegan dinner, hot sauce on the side! Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

Are you craving fresh flavors to brighten up your summer meals and entertaining menus? Discover how summer herbs can transform simple recipes into tasty, seasonal meals that will delight your tastebuds + your guests all summer long! In this episode, you’ll learn:1) Creative ways for using herbs in everyday cooking, like  “any herb green sauce” you can blend in seconds to serve with grilled meats and veggies2) Expert tips on how to use herbs in your summer cocktails and mocktails3) A thoughtful hosting gift straight from your garden or farmer’s marketTune into our latest episode with Julia Dzafic, author of Garden Grown, and brighten your summer cooking with the magic of fresh herbs today!***Links to from this week’s show:Julia Dzafic is a blogger and the author of Garden Grown. You can find more of her recipes on Instagam and on her site, Lemon Stripes.Julia’s favorite caponata recipe, and her viral white chicken chili How to make homemade herbal teas from Learning HerbsHow to brew herbal teas by Naomi Spector from Learning HerbsVietnamese lettuce wraps with fresh herbs by Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats Kimchi lettuce wraps via 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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!

Are you looking for easy weeknight dinner recipes that are fun to eat and kid-friendly?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 twist on classic Sloppy Joe’s that’s laden with extra veggies, plus tips for serving that will make your weeknight dinner feel like a party! You’ll also want to make this simple taco dinner that’s easy to customize with your favorite salsa and any crunchy-fresh elements you already have in your fridge. Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! ***Links to from this week’s show:Sam Sifton’s ground beef taco recipe  from the New York TimesSloppy Joe recipe with bonus veggies via Celebrating SweetsSonya’s rainbow salad recipe guideGreat Jones colorful sheet pansWe love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com! Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Do you ever find yourself staring at a sad container of storebought hummus and wish you had something more exciting to serve along with your chips and crudite? Everyone loves a good party snack, but we all know the frustration of serving the same boring appetizers and noshes. This episode will up your appetizer game with craveable dips and spreads that are easy to make at home. This week you’ll discover how to:1) Say goodbye to bland store-bought dips and say hello to scratch-made nostalgic onion dip that you’ll still want to serve with a classic Ruffle’s potato chip.2) How to create a light and airy whipped feta spread that pairs perfectly with summer veggies like crunchy-sweet sugar snap peas, crisp cucumber spears, and rainbow carrots. 3) Unique dips that can double as an entree for a light summer dinner, like roasted cherry tomato and goat cheese dip served with crusty bread – a fun and seasonal approach to pizza dip! Ready to become the dip master of your next party? Hit play now and unlock the secrets to these festive summer dips and spreads!***Links to from this week’s show:How to make onion dip in any combination: classic, shallot, leek, with labneh, greek yogurt, and more from Food 52Ina Garten’s onion dip recipeWhipped feta by Daniel Gritzer for Serious EatsBaked goat cheese and cherry tomato dip from Foody SchmoodyMichael Solomonov’s hummus recipe from dried beans, and his 5-minute hummus recipe with canned chickpeas “Delicious Dips” cookbook by Diane Morgan, which includes Kari’s favorite Cauliflower dipA cauliflower dip, from the Times of India Ukrainian eggplant caviar recipe from The New BaguetteA Midwestern-style Taco Dip Recipe from Sugar Spun RunClassic 7 Layer Dip by Ali Slagle for The New York TimesSmoked Salmon Terrine from the Greedy Gourmet***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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Craving a cold and creamy dessert to beat the summer heat, but can’t even imagine walking into your hot kitchen, let alone turning on the oven? In this episode we’re divulging our tried and true easy summer dessert recipes to make at home, from cold and creamy to perfectly packable, no cooking required! This week you’ll discover:1. How to stay cool with refreshing icebox cakes and frozen pies that bring excitement to any table, rely on premade ingredients, and are easy to assemble. 2. A portable cookie treat that travels easily to the beach, picnic, or on a road trip made of melted chocolate combined with classic ingredients like peanut butter, cereal, and butterscotch.3. A make-ahead dessert from Sonya’s childhood that maximizes seasonal fruit and is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice creamAdd sweetness into your summer gatherings with these exciting and easy no-bake desserts…tune in now for a spoonful of sweet inspiration!***Links to from this week’s show:Sonya’s raspberry mocha icebox cake, strawberry tiramisu, and fruit compote recipesIna Garten’s mocha icebox cakeChocolate wafers for icebox cake18 ice cream pie ideas from Taste of HomeNot-so-classic peach melba from David Tanis for the NY TimesClassic Scotheroos recipes from Tastes Better From ScratchBuckeyes recipe by Tammy Winters for All RecipesTricia Yearwood’s no-bake rocky road barsAll the rocky road bar combos on TikTokIna Garten’s limoncello fruit salad 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! 323-452-9084Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braidsfor more Food Friends recipes!