Is the viral Japanese yogurt cheesecake worth making?

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 find out for yourself if you should jump on the Japanese yogurt cheesecake trend, and you'll also discover a next-level take on no-bake rice crispies treats!

You'll also want to try our favorite slow-cooker braised chicken dish, which relies exclusively on pantry staples and can be the foundation for countless dishes -- like a delicious weekday taco.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

To join our monthly live hang, or for more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here.

***

Links:

Two-ingredient viral Japanese yogurt cheesecake recipe from Food & Wine

Pistachio Halvah Rice Krispie Treats by Miro Uskokovic from NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Kari’s slow cooker braised chicken for an easy taco lunch

Tortilla Land ready-to-cook flour tortillas that Kari uses (not sponsored!)

***

To join our monthly live hang, or for more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here.

Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084

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 foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

What if you could easily cook up an incredible meal at home for someone you love?

Date night doesn’t have to be fussy or complicated to be special, and we firmly believe it can be about cooking incredible food for anyone you're close to: a partner, family, roommates, or friends.

This week, we’re sharing our top 10 date night recipes, and by the end of this episode, you’ll:

1. Learn simple fuss-free dishes, like a 30-minute crispy artichoke pasta, and a no-churn ice cream
2. Discover interactive meals, like a home-cook-friendly Japanese hot pot
3. Find out about our favorite 15-minute, elegant classic French main course

Listen now to get inspired to make a memorable date night dinner at home... no hard-to-get reservations, waiting in line, or complicated cooking required!

***

Links:

Japanese shabu shabu (hot pot) at home from Just One Cook, or sukiyaki from White On Rice Couple

Classic sole meuniere by Molly Wizenberg, serve with steamed asparagus

Ricotta gnocchi by Mark Bittman for NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Crispy artichoke pasta by Andy Baraghani for NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Crepe night with savory buckwheat crepes by Martha Rose Shulman, and chocolate crepes by Zeynab Issa, both for NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Heart-shaped french toast by Sew White, and use the outside of the heart for “Egg-in-a-heart” (aka toad-in-a-hole)

Nigella Lawson’s one-step no-churn coffee ice cream

Heart-shaped pastry with strawberries and whipped cream from Bos Kitchen

Kiwi fool by Eric Triesit

Tiramisu dippers by Anna Painter for...

What are the building blocks of the perfect veggie sandwich?

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 crave a veggie sandwich that’s packed with easy-to-make homemade saurekraut, and you’ll get inspired to cook up restaurant-style pizza at home – loaded with crispy kale and savory crumbled sausage.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links:

Tabor Bread is one of Sonya’s favorite spots for sourdough loaves in Portland, OR

Our favorite brand of hummus is Little Sesame (not at all sponsored)

An easy reliable homemade sauerkraut recipe from The Gefilteria

Sweet Salt Food in Los Angeles inspired Kari’s pizza at home

Sourdough pizza dough made from Adrian Hale’s “Communal Table Bread - My easiest first bread recipe”

And our favorite super easy no-knead pizza dough

Looking for more answers to your home cooking questions? Every month, we'll gather on Zoom for "Around the Table with Food Friends: Live Q&A". Together, we'll connect in real time as a community and share recipes, tips, and solutions to everyday cooking struggles and successes. Join in by becoming a paid subscriber on our Substack today. Sign up here!

***

What if a seasonal winter produce haul could be as versatile, delicious, and exciting as a flat of berries in peak summer?

This week we’re sharing our 10 must-have winter farmers’ market produce picks, and the recipes to go with them.

By the end of this episode you’ll:

1. Discover a viral sweet potato recipe that will change how you make it forever
2. Learn simple and quick techniques for coaxing sweetness and depth from veggies like parsnips, turnips, and cabbage
3. Find out about our go-to winter weeknight meals, like a sheetpan chicken dinner full of greens and a rustic cabbage skillet dish

Tune in now to learn how the winter farmers' market might surprise you, and how to turn seasonal produce into satisfying meals you’ll want to dig into all season long!

***

Links

Sweet Potato:

New technique for the best whole roasted japanese sweet potatoes by Jamesyworld, + the viral TikTok cheese stuffed version from The Kitchen

And our favorite Carla Lalli Music recipe for steamed sweet potatoes with tahini butter for NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Squash:

Zucotte, garlicky braised squash, by Whistling Train Farm in Kent, WA

Bok Choy/Tatsoi:

Sheetpan Scallion Chicken with Bok Choy by Kay Chunfrom for NYT Cooking (unlocked)

We also like to use bok choy and tastoi instead of lettuce in salads

Cabbage:

Venetian smothered cabbage, “Verze Sofegae”

And a shout out to our favorite cabbage soup from Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden and Martha Holmberg

Leek:

Two takes on a leef tart, one straightforward Leek puff pastry tart from It’s A Veg World Afterall, or a stunning upside down leek tart from Live Eat Learn

And we love Braised leeks from Fox and Briar too!

Turnips:

Ever bring home beautiful winter vegetables from the market, and then completely blank on what to cook with them?

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 deeply comforting, grandmother-approved borscht that celebrates winter vegetables, plus a one-pot, meatless main designed to use up every last leafy green, finished with a bold, garlicky, crispy topping that makes it irresistible.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration, and turn your winter produce into meals you’ll genuinely look forward to cooking.

***

Links:

Sonya’s family borscht recipe from our free Substack

Utica Greens from Chesterfield Restaurant in Utica, NY; adapted by Jim Shahin for NYT Cooking

***

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.

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 foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Struggling to put together easy, satisfying weeknight meals during these chilly winter months?

This week, we’re taking the guesswork out of meal planning and sharing ten fast dinners for nights when you don’t want to rely on takeout or make an extra trip to the grocery store. All quick. All comforting. All genuinely delicious.

By the end of this episode, you’ll:

1. Discover flavorful ways to turn a single package of ground beef, turkey, or pork into a dinner that rivals your favorite takeout
2. Learn a simple tofu technique that transforms it into a craveable, meatless main
3. Explore pasta dishes beyond spaghetti and red sauce — think silky sauces, peppery greens, toasted breadcrumbs, and brothy bowls of comfort

Press play now and walk away with a handful of reliable weeknight dinners you’ll want to make on repeat all winter long!

***

Links:

Turkish pasta by Rachel Perlmutter for The Kitchen (sub red pepper paste, or with a few roasted bell peppers, with a spoonful of tomato paste)

Salad pasta, by Anna Stockwell for Epicurious

10-minute Thai Basil from The Woks of Life

Egg Roll in a Bowl by Ree Drummond

Garlic butter steak bites by Coco Morante for Simply Recipes, and easy mashed cauliflower from Joyful Healthy Eats

Chicken with mustard cream sauce, by Sarah Carey for Martha Stewart

30-minute gado gado bowl by Minimalist Baker

Salmon patties by Nagi Maehashi of Recipe Tin Eats

I can't believe it's not chicken (it’s tofu!) by Nisha Vora for NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Butter beans, paprika, and piquillo peppers, excerpted from Three: Acid, Texture, Contrast by Selena Kiazim

***

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.

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

What if baking at home didn’t require special skills or effort and instead could deliver a shareable sweet treat to warm up a chilly, busy week?

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 Alison Roman's recipe for blueberry muffins that are as easy to bake as they are to eat. Bonus: they're freezer and make-ahead-friendly. You’ll also want to try bright and citrusy classic Italian ricotta cookies – one simple batch yields a mountain of soft, lemony treats that are perfect for taking on the go, or for filling your cookie jar.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration!

***

Links:

Alison Roman’s blueberry muffin recipe

Italian Ricotta Cookies by Melissa Huett, adapted by Melissa Clark for NYT Cooking

***

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.

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 foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

What’s the secret to transforming tough cuts of meat and sturdy vegetables into fork-tender meals that feel like a warm hug on a cold day?

If you’ve ever been disappointed by a chewy brisket, flavorless chicken, or dry pot roast, we're re-releasing this fan-favorite episode to give you the foolproof techniques and tips for braising success.

By the end of this episode, you’ll:

1. Learn how to braise like a pro with equipment you already have in your kitchen (no Dutch oven required!)
2. Explore classic recipes like comforting smothered pork chops and a rich coq au vin
3. Discover time-saving tricks that will make a braised dish your next go-to for hosting

Tune in now to bring the magic of braising into your kitchen this season!

***

Links:

Tyler Florence’s wine-braised beef brisket recipe

Beer braised brisket with onions from Food.com, and one for the slow cooker from The Kitchn

George Graham’s Smothered Pork Chops with andouille, which are richer than his wife’s Roxanne’s version (which Kari describes in the show). Here’s a simpler version, too. Just be sure to use thin, bone-in chops and continue simmering until they are fork-tender and falling off the bone.

Traditional coq au vin by Ina Garten, or a slightly easier version by Damn Delicious

Eric Kim’s garlic-braised chicken recipe from NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Amateur Gourmet’s braised chicken recipe and video

Samin Nostrat’s soy-braised short rib recipe

Ginger beer-braised butternut squash by Alexa Weibel from NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Oven-braised red kuri squash video on TikTok from Kate Woodward (inspired by Prune by Gabrielle Hamilton)