Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy

• What if making pie crust and homemade cookies could be easy? New baking methods with Nicole Rucker

  Do you dread making pie dough… and wish you could feel confident when baking your favorite treats like pies, cookies, and quickbreads? You’re not alone! So many of us home bakers struggle with outdated, overly complicated baking rules. If you’ve ever been frustrated by vague instructions like “add water as needed” or the impossible quest for “light and fluffy,” this conversation with noteable baker Nicole Rucker will change your entire outlook on baking.By the end of this episode, you’ll:Learn how to make a foolproof pie crust - no guesswork or high-level baking skills necessary! And yes, we’re serious…Discover how her no-creaming cookie method saves time and improves consistency, leaving you with the ability to turn out the cookies you’ve always dreamed of. Find out about 5 distinct banana bread recipes that go beyond basic—from warm, spiced streusel vibes to a protein-packed option that you just might want to take on your next hiking trip!Tune in now and start baking smarter, not harder—with tips you can use today! *EPISODE COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Alan Gastelum***Links:Get your copy of Nicole Rucker’s new cookbook, Fat + Flour: The Art of a Simple Bake, or check it out from your local library!To find out more about Nicole, follow her on Instagram @Nicole Rucker and her bakery @Fat + Flour Visit Fat + Flour in person in Los AngelesAlso, check out her first cookbook, Dappled: Baking recipes for fruit loversRecipes discussed in this week’s show:Nicole’s new chocolate chip cookie recipe with her genius method for making dough (the recipe is in the post description)The pie crust recipe, “Co-Op Tofu Brownie Cookies”, Banana bread recipes, and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip 90s cookies can all be found in Nicole’s new book: Fat + Flour: The Art of a Simple BakeSpecial shout out to the Zuni Cafe Chicken recipeBonus! Some of our favorite Nicole Rucker recipes: Nicole’s key lime pie recipe featured in the LA Times (with Nicole’s original crust recipe)A stunning July Flame Peach Pie recipe from The Kitchn Nicole’s famous drop biscuit recipe from the LA TimesRicotta biscuits and

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• Dinner solved with two one-pot chicken dishes! Our best home cooking bites of the week

  Could a one-pot braised chicken dish be the answer to "What should I make 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 want to cook up a Central-Asian inspired chicken and potato dish that has an unexpected ingredient, and you'll discover how to make a classic French coq au vin that’s make-ahead friendly and perfect for feeding a crowd.Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!***Links:Sonya’s one-pot chicken and potatoes with prunes for The NosherKari tried out Melissa Clark’s coq au vin for NYT Cooking, we also love the coq au vin recipe by Ina Garten, or a slightly easier version by Damn DeliciousFor more braising dishes, check out our braises episode “Cooking low and slow…” ***Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. You can also now find us on YouTube. Order Sonya's 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]!

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• Spring farmers’ market must-haves! Our 8 favorite recipes for seasonal home cooking

  What’s in season right now? From crisp asparagus to the sweetest peas, tender greens, and fragrant green garlic, the farmers market is bursting with fresh flavors! But what do you cook with all the seasonal produce you bring home?Cooking with early spring produce is exciting, but it can also feel tricky. This week, we’re exploring how to turn seasonal ingredients into delicious meals. By the end of this episode, you’ll:Learn how to shop for and cook with peak-season ingredients like snap peas, green garlic, and strawberriesGet foolproof recipes like crispy sheet pan gnocchi with any combo of spring veggies, and a no-fuss rhubarb tart made with store-bought frozen puff pastryDiscover easy techniques to bring out the best in fresh produce, like roasting your artichokes to caramelized perfection, and blending asparagus spears into a silky sauce for pasta. Listen now and get inspired to cook vibrant, seasonal meals with ease—straight from the farmers’ market to your table!***Links:Mix of spring vegetables: Sheet-pan gnocchi with asparagus, leeks, and peas by Susan Spungen for NYT Cooking (unlocked), and Le Vignole - Italian spring vegetable stew from Italian food foreverArtichokes: Sonya’s roasted artichokes, and also this lovely version from Adeena Sussman, and a sheet pan meal with chicken and artichokesAsparagus: Penne with asparagus and lemon sauce by Faith Heller Willinger, from The 150 Best American Recipes cookbookFennel: Colu Henry’s spicy citrus chicken with fennel and crushed olive pilaf from her SubstackSpring peas: Spring pea salad with dates and walnuts from Food Network Magazine Green garlic: Green garlic salsa verde from Wishbone Kitchen Rhubarb: Rhubarb tart using frozen puff pastry from Taste of Home (with video too!), and Strawbery rhubarb cobbler by Rich Rosendale***Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack

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• Easy Pudding Desserts + A Genius Brownie Tip! Your Home Cooking Questions Answered

  Are you looking for a quick and easy dessert to serve at your next dinner party? In this bite-sized episode, we answer a listener question from our hotline that will help you whip up a few easy pudding recipes with confidence. Plus, a caller reveals their foolproof method for getting the glossy, crackly brownie texture of your dreams!Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration, and give us a call to ask your home cooking question at: 323-452-9084!LINKS:Old fashioned vanilla pudding from Modern Mediterranean that you can make with either corn starch or potato starch (swap 1 for 1) Homemade tapioca pudding from Tastes Better From ScratchSonya’s banana pudding recipe Nicole Rucker’s Fat & Flour cookbook with recipes for pies with creamy fillings using instant pudding Kari’s new favorite brownie recipe: perfect fudgy brownies from Inspired Taste blogSonya’s new favorite brownie recipe: glossy fudge brownies recipe from Bravetart ***Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here.Order Sonya's 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]!

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• Bold Flavors Made Simple – Ethiopian Cooking with Chef Beejhy Barhany

  What if you could make your next soup or stew less bland... by just adding a flavorful homemade spice blend or aromatic paste? If you’ve ever wondered how to cook spicy, aromatic stews and Ethiopian-style dishes at home, tune in for our conversation with Beejhy Barhany, chef and owner of Tsion Café in Harlem.Barhany breaks down the keys to making nourishing dishes accessible and vibrant at home, and by the end of this episode, you’ll: Learn how to build bold, aromatic dishes with simple pantry staplesDiscover meal-prep tricks, like whipping up a garlic-ginger paste that you can keep in the fridge for weeksGet inspired by Beejhy Barhany’s powerful story of food, culture, and communityTune in now to whip up spice-filled meals in no time! Links:Follow Beejhy Barhany, and her restaurant Tsion Cafe, on InstagramGrab a copy of Beejhy Barhany’s new cookbook: GurshaBeejhy Barhany’s recipes:Red Lentil Stew (Messer Wot) Dabo (Ethiopian Bread)Carrot, cabbage, and potato dish video Teff matzah (and you can source teff flour here)Additional recipes discussed: Shiro (ground chickpea stew) by Ghennet Tesfamicael via NYT Cooking, or find Beejhy’s recipe in her cookbookHomemade garlic ginger paste from Indian Healthy RecipesKolo snack recipe from Made in HackneyHomemade berbere spice blend recipe from Food.com, or discover Beejhy’s unique version in her bookHow to make homemade sea moss gel***Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here.Order Sonya's cookbook

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