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PODCAST

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,

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All Episodes

11:42

One-Pot Braised Chicken Piccata + A Make-Ahead...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/10/01

What if your next chicken piccata didn’t require dredging or sautéing and could come together in just one pot?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 try Alison Roman’s braised chicken piccata, a one-pot version that’s buttery and lemony with caramelized garlic and crispy capers. Plus, Ali Slagle’s chickpea-tomato salad; it only gets better as it sits, making it perfect

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34:05

What We Eat In A Day! What Chefs Really Cook At Home,...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/29

What if you could peek inside two private chefs’ kitchens and see what they really cook — and eat — at home?If you’re tired of the same breakfast every morning or looking for ways to make your desk lunch more interesting, this episode offers a look at how two professional cooks feed themselves on an ordinary week.By the end of this episode, you’ll:Get easy ideas for better breakfasts and lunches, from a unique take on oatmeal to a satisfying broccoli saladDiscover how leftovers and a few smart

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19:55

Cozy Kitchen Strawberry Brownies, Birthday Bundt Cake...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/24

What do you make when you want to try something new but still want dinner to feel familiar?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 Adrianna Adarme’s Best Bites of the week, including her viral strawberry brownies that will change the way you think about what a brownie can be. You’ll also hear about what she’s cooking in her "Cozy Kitchen," from classic Peruvian lomo saltado (with a genius

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29:57

Fall Farmers’ Market Must-Haves: Our Top 12 Recipes...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/22

What do you make when you come home from the farmers’ market with a bag full of beautiful fall produce, and no plan for what to do with it?This week, we’re sharing our top fall farmers’ market must-haves AND how we’re using them at home to make approachable dinners, nutritious meal-prep salads, satisfying lunches, and cozy vegetarian mains.By the end of this episode, you’ll:Find new foolproof techniques for cooking fall staples like eggplant and sweet potatoesDiscover a hearty, weeknight-friendly

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13:03

What Do You Do with Beets? | Answering Your Home...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/17

Could beets become a family favorite if you just found the right way to make them? In this bite-sized episode, we share a listener's question with expert advice, simple strategies, and lots of delicious ideas to inspire your cooking!By the end of this episode, you’ll discover our favorite ways to use beets, like in colorful soups, as crispy chips, and in meal-prep-friendly salads. You’ll also learn some unexpected ways to incorporate beets into both savory AND sweet dishes. Plus, we share our best

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26:39

8 Make-Ahead Salads for Fall

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/15

What if your fridge were stocked with delicious fall salads, ready whenever you needed an easy lunch or a dish to bring to the next potluckFall gets busy fast, and that’s why this week we’re sharing eight make-ahead salads that hold up beautifully in the fridge, so you can have easy, nutritious meals and sides ready all week long.By the end of this episode, you’ll find out:The best fall produce for prepping salads in advanceSimple techniques for keeping vegetables crisp, layering textures, and

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18:59

Cookbook Club, Fig & Almond Cake + A Vegetarian...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/10

What if using phyllo dough didn’t have to be difficult, and you could make a golden, buttery pie with a mountain of vegetables?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 discover a seasonal cookbook full of flavorful intuitive recipes, and you’ll also find out why David Tanis’ fig and almond cake is a must-bake that's perfect for fall hosting.You’ll also learn how to make a meatless

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36:36

What to Cook on Busy Weeknights: 6 Dinners, with...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/08

How do you make dinner happen every night without feeling like you’re starting from scratch?If you’re staring into the fridge at 5 p.m. with no idea what to make, this week Maggie Hoffman, host of The Dinner Plan, shares smart strategies for making weeknight cooking easier, along with a lineup of deeply satisfying fall dinners that come together quickly.Think: chewy noodles tossed in a 5-minute sauce, a crowd-pleasing sheet-pan meal, and a foolproof take on pasta e ceci.By the end of this episode,

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25:04

Easy Pickles, A Quick Way To Use Up Broccoli + A...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/03

What do you do when you have more vegetables than you know what to do with?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 a quick refrigerator pickle that can be made with almost any veggie, and you’ll also find out about a restaurant-inspired broccoli crostini that makes a satisfying meatless dinner for busy nights.Plus! Author Leah Koenig shares her “Best Bite” too: An easy carrot-date cake that

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38:14

Hosting this Fall? Four Menus for Seasonal Cooking at...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/09/01

What do you serve when you want to host, but don’t want to spend the entire day in the kitchen?Fall is one of our favorite seasons for gathering, from back-to-school dinners and Jewish High Holidays to casual meals with family and friends. But putting together a menu — and getting everything on the table at the same time — can feel like a lot of work.This week, we’re sharing four complete fall menus designed to help you plan ahead, cook strategically, and actually enjoy your own gathering. By the

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13:15

One-Pot Meatballs & Greens + Two Italian Cookies |...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/08/27

What do you make when you have a package of ground chicken but no plan for dinner?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 discover a 5-star-rated, one-pot dinner of lemony meatballs and greens that’s perfect for busy weeknights.You’ll also want to try two Italian cookies: an easy double-chocolate biscotti that can be made ahead and freezes well, and a buttery cookie with a

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28:12

Recipes We’re Really Cooking! A Summer Recap + The...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/08/25

What if the best recipes aren’t the newest ones, but the ones you keep coming back to?This week, we’re revisiting some of our favorite summer meals and sharing the recipes from Season 4 that have earned a permanent spot in our kitchens.By the end of this episode, you’ll:Discover make-ahead salads that have become staplesFind a hosting-worthy sheet-pan dinner that’s easy enough for a weeknightGet two cookie recipes we bake year-round — and that are perfect for cookie boxes and giftingTune in now for

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14:55

A Must-Try Pizza Recipe + A Favorite Breakfast Dish |...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/08/20

Can a mountain of zucchini turn into a homemade pizza you can’t stop taking “just one more” slice of?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 discover a standout Smitten Kitchen recipe for a thin-crust summer pizza that’s loaded with zucchini yet somehow still crispy, golden, and nutty with browned Gruyère.You’ll also want to try a saucy, spicy breakfast dish inspired by a recent

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29:34

Meatless Sheet-Pan Dinners for Easy Home Cooking...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/08/18

What if your next vegetarian dinner could be packed with flavor - and made entirely on a sheet-pan in your oven?Whether you're trying to cook more plant-based meals, accommodate a vegetarian at your table, or just need low-effort dinner ideas, this episode is full of satisfying recipes that are anything but boring.By the end of this episode, you’ll:Learn how to make a sheet pan lasagna dotted with creamy ricotta cheese — no layering or béchamel-making requiredDiscover how to turn basic veggies into

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14:15

Grandma’s Plum Crumb Bars + A One-Skillet Summer...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/08/13

What do you make when you want a homemade dessert that feels special, but takes almost no effort to bake?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 want to make a buttery plum jam crumb bar inspired by Sonya’s grandmother. It’s beginner-friendly, and so delicious you’ll want to eat the whole tray as soon as it comes out of the oven.You’ll also discover a recipe for a quick one-skillet dinner made with sweet

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27:02

Puerto Rican Home Cooking, with Omi Hopper

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/08/11

What if you could easily fill your kitchen with the comforting aromas of sizzling sofrito, fluffy rice, and tender stews?This week, we’re talking to Omi Hopper, TikTok creator and runner-up on Next Level Chef, and author of Cooking Con Omi: A Love Letter to Puerto Rican Home Cooking.She’s sharing her favorite weeknight dinners, meal-prep strategies, and the techniques she uses to build big Puerto Rican flavor at home.By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:How fresh sofrito and homemade sazón

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32:34

Too Hot to Cook? Easy Summer Dinner Ideas to Beat the...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/08/04

What do you cook when it's too hot to turn on the oven (or even the stovetop)… but everyone still needs dinner?When summer temperatures climb, even the simplest meal can feel like too much effort. If you've been relying on takeout, eating cereal for dinner, or are staring into the fridge hoping for inspiration, this episode is full of practical ideas for keeping your kitchen cool.We're sharing our favorite no-cook and low-cook meals, make-ahead recipes, refreshing drinks, and easy summer desserts

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28:47

Summer Corn! 10 Recipes for Cooking Easy Seasonal...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/07/28

Are you up to your ears in corn and scrambling for new ways to use up one of the best summer ingredients? If you’re looking for easy and inspired recipes to enjoy this seasonal darling, then you’ll want to tune in to this fan-favorite episode.By the end of this episode, you'll:Uncover the secrets to cooking perfectly grilled corn on the cobGet inspired by a 30-minute corn-filled ramen with miso butterLearn how to make “corn ribs,” a popular restaurant dish that’s easy and delicious to recreate at

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12:50

Two Salads You Can Make Once, And Eat Twice (or Three...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/07/23

What salads can really hold up for days and transform into multiple meals?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 a 5-star broccoli salad that's meal-prep-friendly and full of Italian flavors. You’ll also want to try a summery cucumber-avocado salad that's perfect for piling onto toast or for serving at your next gathering.Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking

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37:20

Our Top 10 Best Bites of All Time! Celebrating 300...

Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy ·

2026/07/21

What recipes truly stand the test of time — the ones you make again and again because of their ease, deliciousness, and nostalgia?This week, we're celebrating our 300th episode by looking back at our top 10 “Best Bites” of all time. These are the dishes we still cook, recommend, and think about years later. They’re also the recipes that always make us think of each other.By the end of this episode, you'll discover:The beginner-friendly lentil dish we’ve been making for over a decade for friends,

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319 results

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