Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy

Have you ever wanted to build the perfect holiday cookie tin but have no idea where to start? Whether you’re dreaming of a buttery shortbread with crispy edges, a strudel bar filled with jammy fruit, or a gluten-free confection that doesn’t taste like it’s missing anything at all… we reveal pro tips for baking your favorite cookies at home with the legendary Zoë François of “Zoe Bakes.”In this episode you’ll discover: The one kitchen tool that every home baker should own Foolproof tips for assembling, shipping, and traveling with holiday cookiesEssential lessons for ensuring perfect cookies every time (even when you're making gluten-free swaps!)Don’t miss your opportunity to learn practical tips and expert advice from Zoë François, and tune in now!(Photo credit: Wing Ho) ***LINKS:You can learn more about Zoë on her site: Zoe Bakes, Instagram, and YouTube.Grab a copy of her NEW NYT Best Selling cookbook, Zoe Bakes Cookies!Zoë’s recipes from this episode:Butter shortbreadSticky coconut maple barsDark chocolate madeleinesCoconut haystacks (gluten-free)Macarons (gluten-free)Some of Zoe’s favorite bakers: Dorie Greenspan, Sarah Kieffer and her Vanilla Bean Blog, Rose Levy Berenbaum, Nancy Silverton, and Claudia Flemming***Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084Sign up for our Substack newsletter here for special offers and opportunitiesOrder 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 [email protected]!

At the end of a long day, do you find yourself staring into your fridge or pantry, searching for something that will inspire you to make a protein-packed dinner? We've got you covered! 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 flavor-packed sheet pan chicken dinner loaded with Mediterranean-diet ingredients like olive oil, lemons, and veggies. And if you're on the hunt for a vegan option, you’ll be glad to dig into simple, nutritious, velvety coconut lentils.Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! ***LinksGreat Jones colorful sheet pans Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Meal by Lisa BryanOur coconut red lentil recipe Diaspora Co spices Coconut kale chips from My Chef’s Apron***Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunitiesOrder 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 [email protected]!

Have you ever wondered which cookbooks truly deserve a spot on your kitchen shelf? Whether you’re dreaming of wowing guests with holiday-perfect cinnamon rolls or mastering a melt-in-your-mouth pot roast, the right cookbook can be a game-changer for any home cook.In this episode, we’re diving into the cookbooks that have shaped how we cook—well-loved gems with splattered pages, the ones we gift over and over, and the timeless classics that every home chef should own.By the end of the episode you’ll discover:Why a cookbook with a collection of diverse recipes can be just as (if not more) supportive than one from a single author’s voiceHow a chef from a top restaurant can teach you professional techniques that transform home cookingThe standout recipes from best-selling cookbooks that you’ll want to make on repeatHit play to uncover how these books spark joy, build confidence, and turn your everyday cooking into something extra special in the kitchen!***Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunities***Links:Kari’s top 5:Most cooked from: The 150 Best American Recipes, by Fran McCullough and Molly StevensMost inspiring: Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies, by Najmieh BatmanglijGifted the most to others: Sonya’s cookbook Braids, and The Cooks Illustrated CookbookLife changing: The Improvisational Cook, by Sally SchneiderBiggest influence: The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook, by Amelia Satlzman Sonya’s top 5:Most cooked from: Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami TamimiMost inspiring: Summer Kitchens by Olia HerculesGifted the most ot others: Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking and Julia Turshen’s Small VictoriesLife changing: The Book of Jewish Food by Claudia RodenBiggest influence:

Do you love the smell of simmering soup and freshly baked cookies filling your kitchen... but don't think you can manage cooking all that on a busy weekday? 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 a super easy, viral "glow" soup; it's velvety, full of nutrients, and fully plant-based. And for dessert, you’ll get inspired to whip up perfectly crispy-edged, chewy, chocolate chunk tahini cookies that come together in minutes.Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration! Links:The viral TikTok “Glow Soup” by Maddie Harrington/NutriouslyeasyOlia Hercules’ Tarragon Soup from her cookbook Kaukasis: The culinary journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan & BeyondSonya’s tahini chocolate chunk cookies King Arthur’s regeneratively-grown climate blend flour (not sponsored)Adrian Hale’s Mama Bread cookbook for more whole grain baking inspiration***Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084Sign up for our newsletter here for special offers and opportunitiesOrder 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 [email protected]!