Looking for the perfect make-ahead menu for hosting on a chilly fall evening?

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 be craving Julia Child’s classic boeuf bourguignon; it’s famous for a reason, with tender beef and a rich, velvety sauce. You’ll also pick up our tips for making the best apple-cranberry crisp – a dessert that’s impressive enough for your next dinner party, or even for brunch!

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

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Links:

Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon

Apple Crisp recipe from The Chunky Chef. To make Kari’s breakfast/brunch version, sub maple syrup for the sugar in the apples, and bake them with cranberries in the oven until tender and jammy. Mix up crumble topping and bake SEPARATELY from the fruit for added crunch (use gf oats if you like!). Add crumble topping to roasted fruit before serving. Offer whole milk Greek yogurt as an optional topping!

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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. You can also now find us on YouTube.

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Looking for an in-person Food Friends experience? Book a farmers’ market tour with Sonya in Portland, OR!

What cookbooks are worth the investment? And which ones will you really cook from, time and time again?

Even the most passionate home cooks struggle with navigating the sea of available cookbooks out there! In this episode, we’re sharing the ones that have earned a permanent spot in our kitchen — these are the books that make weeknight cooking easier, baking more reliable, and hosting more successful.

Whether you’re just starting your collection or looking to fall back in love with the books you already own, this episode helps you discover the ones that make you want to cook.

By the end of this episode you’ll:

• Find out which cookbooks we rely on for weeknight cooking, with repeat-worthy recipes like chicken piccata and one-pot baked lentils with feta
• Learn which baking books made us confident home bakers, with recipes for an outstanding banana cake or the perfect homemade cinnamon rolls
• Discover inspiring recipes you might not expect, like a comforting bean soup from Frida Kahlo’s cookbook or iconic casseroles from a classic vegetarian tome

Pour yourself a cup of tea, open your favorite cookbook, and listen in. This episode might just remind you why you fell in love with cooking in the first place…

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This week’s episode is sponsored by La Baleine, makers of ancestral sea salts harvested from France.

Discover La Baleine’s sister brand’s new, organic Le Saunier de Camargue Fleur de Sel Sprinklers — the iconic finishing sea salt from the South of France, now in an easy, ultra-practical sprinkling format.

Each grain is carefully hand-harvested by salt masters using ancestral methods passed down through generations. This delicate, crunchy sea salt enhances every dish with a perfect touch of flavor and texture, and it’s 100% natural, unrefined, and additive-free.

Choose from three organic varieties: ✨ Original — for everyday flavor, 🌿 Rosemary — for a Provençal touch on meat, fish, and vegetables, and 🌶️ Espelette Pepper — for a bold, subtly spicy finish.

👉 Grab all three Fleur de Sel Sprinklers here on Amazon and bring a taste of the South of France to your kitchen. Use code SALTSHAKE for $2 off your order!

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Links:

Sonya’s favorite cookbooks for:

WEEKNIGHT/EVERYDAY COOKING: Whole Food Cooking Every Day, by Amy Chaplin

ENTERTAINING: At Elizabeth David’s Table, by Elizabeth David

BAKING: Classic Home Desserts, by Richard Sax

RELIABLE: The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, by Deb Perelman

GIFTING: Tenderheart, by Hetty Lui McKinnon

ESSENTIAL CLASSIC: The Taste of Country Cooking, by Edna Lewis

INSPIRING/UNIQUE:

What if dinner could practically cook itself?

In this bite-sized episode, we’re sharing our best home-cooking bites of the week, including two sheet pan meals that make busy weeknights a breeze.

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• A Hungarian-inspired sheet pan chicken dinner loaded with veggies and big flavor — all roasted together for minimal effort and cleanup.
• A make-ahead sheet pan quiche that’s buttery, herby, and perfect for brunches, potlucks, or easy weekday lunches.

Press play for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

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Links:

Sonya’s Sheet pan chicken paprika

Spinach sheet pan quiche from Smitten Kitchen. Kari kept the total weight of the greens, but combined added kale as well as spinach, and added in fresh parsley, dill, and mint