In this episode Sarah and Doug recap the best and the worst of what they've made this year - and we finally manage to crack open the fruitcake we made for our Christmas in July episode. Tune in to hear what we liked the best and least from this years recipes and where we might take things in the future.

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Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

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In this episode Doug and Sarah delve into the history of this fiery dessert and work on recreating Stu Deeley's Baked Alaska - a delicious orange and ginger ice cream enrobed in lusciously torched Italian meringue. This is absolutely the perfect showy dessert for the holiday season!

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Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

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The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are entirely our own and do not reflect the greater Chasing Stars team. Please like, follow, and share. Thanks again for listening.

Website: Welcome to Chasing Stars

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In this episode... Nothing says holiday season baking quite like cookies. Join us for two cookie recipes - Polvorones from Katie Button and Holiday Spite Cookies from our own Doug, who wishes you all a very Merry Spitemas. This special recipe is based on a Christmas Pudding Crunch biscuit originally sold at Marks and Spencer.

Bernstein, William J. A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World. Atlantic Books, 2009.

Frisco Public Library Staff. “The History of Holiday Cookies.” Frisco Public Library, 15 Dec. 2021.

Butler, Stephanie. “The Medieval History of the Christmas Cookie.” History, 18 Dec. 2013.

“How Christianity Rebranded the Winter Solstice: Uncovering the Pagan Origins of Christmas.” Wellismo, wellismo.com.

Michelin Guide. “Recipe: Polvorones Cookies by Katie Button.” Michelin Guide, 2023.

Bradshaw, Paul. “The Dating of Christmas.” The Oxford Handbook of Christmas, edited by Timothy Larsen, Oxford University Press, 2020, pp. 7–10.

Roll, Susan K. Toward the Origins of Christmas. Peeters Publishers, 1995.

“Sol Invictus and Christmas.” Encyclopaedia Romana.

Hodges, Kenneth. “Medieval Price List.” University of California, Davis, medieval.ucdavis.edu.

Ewbank, Anne. “What Is Gingerbread? The Answer Is Complicated.” Atlas Obscura, 18 Dec. 2023

Curye on Inglysch: English Culinary Manuscripts of the Fourteenth Century (Including the Forme of Cury). Edited by Constance B. Hieatt and Sharon Butler, Oxford University Press, 1985. Internet Archive

Crowther, David. “Medieval Prices and Wages.” The History of England, thehistoryofengland.co.uk.

“Inflation Calculator.” Bank of England

Baker, Abbe. “Recipe: Polvorones.” MICHELIN Guide, 2 Dec. 2019

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Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

Please support the creators whose work we are attempting to reproduce.

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are entirely our own and do not reflect the greater Chasing Stars team. Please like, follow, and share. Thanks again for listening.

Website: Welcome to Chasing Stars

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In this episode... Doug and Sarah celebrate the Scandinavian holiday of St. Lucia Day (December 13) with traditional saffron buns.

O’Brien, Sam. “Detangling the Devilish Origins of Scandinavia’s St. Lucia Buns.” Atlas Obscura, 11 Dec. 2020.

“Saffron Buns.” British Food: A History, 20 June 2025.

“St. Lucia’s Day.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 3 Mar. 2025.

Samuelsson, Marcus. “Saint Lucia Saffron Rolls.” Marcus Samuelsson, marcussamuelsson.com.

Digby, Kenelm. The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Opened. 1669. Internet Archive.

“St. Lucy.” Catholic Online, www.catholic.org.

Voragine, Jacobus de. The Golden Legend. Translated by William Caxton, edited by F.S. Ellis, Temple Classics, 1900. Fordham University Internet History Sourcebooks Project.

Camurati, Leo. “The Eyes of St. Lucy.” Catholic Exchange, 13 Dec. 2013.

“Skillingsbolle – Bergen’s Favourite Pastry for 500 Years.” Visit Bergen, en.visitbergen.com.

“Bergen City of Gastronomy.” Visit Bergen, en.visitbergen.com.

Bergen UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Monitoring Report 2019. UNESCO, 31 Dec. 2019.

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Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

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The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are entirely our own and do not reflect the greater Chasing Stars team. Please like, follow, and share. Thanks again for listening.

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In this episode... The carrot may be humble but we have elevated it to a holiday star of the show in the final episode of our Sides That Don't Suck series.

Bender, David A. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 2009.

Touwaide, Alain, and Emanuela Appetiti. “Herbs in History: Carrot.” American Herbal Products Association, Sept. 2024.

Coe, Kevin, et al. “Carrot Domestication and Genetic History.” American Journal of Botany, vol. 100, no. 5, 2013, pp. 1–15.

Simon, Philipp W., et al. “Carrot.” Vegetables II: Handbook of Plant Breeding, vol. 2, Springer, 2008, pp. 327–357. ISBN 978-0-387-74108-6.

Smith, Benjamin Caballero, et al., editors. Encyclopedia of Food and Health. Elsevier Science, 2015, p. 387. ISBN 978-0-12-384953-3.

Juliana Anicia Codex, folios 312–314. Vienna, National Library of Austria, ca. 512.

“Daucus carota.” NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

“Doctor Carrot – the Children’s Best Friend.” Imperial War Museums.

Staub, Jack E. Alluring Lettuces: And Other Seductive Vegetables for Your Garden. Gibbs Smith, 2010, p. 230. ISBN 978-1-4236-0829-5.

Shufunotomo. 野菜まるごと大図鑑. 20 Feb. 2011, pp. 68–73. ISBN 978-4-07-273608-1.

Dalby, Andrew. Food in the Ancient World from A to Z. Psychology Press, 2003, p. 75. ISBN 978-0-415-23259-3.

“Paul Heathcote.” Great British Chefs.

“Glazed Carrots with Tarragon and Garlic.” Great British Chefs.

“Jane Austen Society Book Review.” JASNA, vol. 26, no. 1, 2004, p. 22.

“Carrot History Archive.” Internet Archive.

“The Cooking Gene.” Instagram.

“Colonial Williamsburg.” Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

“How to Make Carrot Puffs.” Colonial Williamsburg Resource Hub.

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Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

Please support the creators whose work we are attempting to reproduce.

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are entirely our own and do not reflect the greater Chasing Stars team. Please like, follow, and share. Thanks again for listening.

Website: Welcome to Chasing Stars

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In this episode... A bonus mini episode featuring a recipe from Jimmy Protitt's new cook book, check it out now!

Proffitt, Jimmy. The Appalachian Tale [@theappalachiantale]. Instagram, 2025

Proffitt, Jimmy. The Appalachian Tale. The Appalachian Tale, 2025. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025.

Proffitt, Jimmy. “Jimmy Proffitt Turns Out Something Sweet.” Southern Cast Iron, 9 Nov. 2021. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025.

Proffitt, Jimmy. “Sweet Potato Cornbread.” The Appalachian Tale, 12 Oct. 2020. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025.

Proffitt, Jimmy. Seasoned in Appalachia: Delicious Recipes from the Mountains and Hollers. Amazon, 2025. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025.

The Old Mill. The Old Mill, 2025. Accessed 26 Sept. 2025.

Send us a text

Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

Please support the creators whose work we are attempting to reproduce.

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are entirely our own and do not reflect the greater Chasing Stars team. Please like, follow, and share. Thanks again for listening.

Website: Welcome to Chasing Stars

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In this episode... Get ready to elevate your holiday game on our second episode in the Sides that don't suck series - stuffing. It's a holiday classic with origins in Ancient Rome. Join Doug and Sarah for stuffing, or is it dressing, to wow your guests this Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Tomczak, Sylvia “The Ancient Roman Origins of Stuffing” Tasting Table, 11 Nov 2022

“Dressing, Stuffing or Filling: Regional Differences Are Subtle but Huge on Thanksgiving” The Splendid Table, 20 Nov 2015

“Regional Stuffing Styles Across America” Wide Open Country, www.wideopencountry.com

“How Long to Cook a Stuffed Turkey: Stuffing vs. Dressing Safety Tips” Epicurious, www.epicurious.com

Apicius. Apicius de Re Coquinaria, Book VIII. Translated by Joseph Dommers Vehling, University of Chicago

“The Medieval Culinary Art of Stuffing” Blue Bells Trilogy, 26 July 2016

Farmer, Fannie Merritt. The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book. Little, Brown, 1918, p. 254

“Sally Abé” Great British Chefs, www.greatbritishchefs.com

“Fig and Chestnut Stuffing” Great British Chefs, www.greatbritishchefs.com

“Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe from a Michelin-Starred Chef” InsideHook, www.insidehook.com

“Charlie Mitchell: Michelin Guide Star in New York” Michelin Guide, www.guide.michelin.com

“Charlie Mitchell” Todd Snyder Editorials, www.toddsnyder.com

“Saga” Michelin Guide, www.guide.michelin.com

Formicola, Jessica. “Copycat Jiffy Cornbread M

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Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

Please support the creators whose work we are attempting to reproduce.

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are entirely our own and do not reflect the greater Chasing Stars team. Please like, follow, and share. Thanks again for listening.

Website: Welcome to Chasing Stars

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In this episode... The first ep of our mini series sides that don't suck - helping you elevate your holiday side dishes. This week? Potatoes!

“Horrific Tales of Potatoes That Caused Mass Sickness and Death” – Smithsonian Magazine

“How the Potato Changed the World” – Smithsonian Magazine

“Potatoes Were Not Just a Symbol of the Elite in Ancient Peru” – Forbes

“Potato History and the Legacy of Marie Antoinette, Jefferson & Franklin” – ABC News Australia

“The Potato Blight and the Irish Famine” – Wesley Johnston

“Irish Emigration to America” – National Museum of Ireland

“Le Roi des Gratins: Le Gratin Dauphinois” – Comme des Français

“Garlic Parmesan Potato Pavé with Crème Fraîche” – Cooking with Wine Blog

“Potato Flan” recipe by Daniel Boulud – Reporter Gourmet

Thomas Keller

Ms I-Hua “Potato Pavé Recipe from Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc at Home” Ms I-Hua & The Boy, 21 Feb. 2011

Insider Food Chef Daniel Boulud's $270,000 Custom Super Stove And More | Pro Kitchen Tours YouTube, 31 Mar 2021

Zhang, Zhiyang, et al “Ancient Hybridization Underlies Tuberization and Radiation of the Potato Lineage” Cell, vol 186, no 16, 31 July 2025, pp 3456–3471

United Press International “Rotting Potatoes in Basement Kill Four Members of Ru

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Hosts: Sarah Davis & Doug Right

Producer: Will Ellesson

Audio Consultant: Ben Staub

Cover Art: Matt Laverty

Music: jonworthymusic/Salty, Sugar, Sweet - Instrumental/Tribe of Noise

Please support the creators whose work we are attempting to reproduce.

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are entirely our own and do not reflect the greater Chasing Stars team. Please like, follow, and share. Thanks again for listening.

Website: Welcome to Chasing Stars

Facebook: Chasing Stars Podcast

Instagram: welcometochasingstars

BlueSky: @chasingstarspod.bsky.social

Email: contact@welcometochasingstars.com