How do working parents manage to cook thoughtful, home-cooked meals while balancing everything else — and still have time to bake, plan ahead, and enjoy the process?

If you’ve ever wished you could get delicious meals on the table without the stress, this episode is for you.

This week, we’re talking with two home cooks, who happen to be our real life “Food Friends.” Sam and Malin share their tips on how they get dinner on the table without spending hours in the kitchen.

Whether you’re packing lunches for kids, stocking your freezer for busy weeks, or trying to rediscover your joy in everyday cooking, this conversation offers real-world inspiration for how to make it happen.

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

1. Creative solutions for meal prep and packed lunches – from scratch-made baked goods to recs for premade items from Trader Joe’s and Costco
2. Quick weeknight recipes that work EVERY time, like an endlessly modifiable one-pot rice dish and creamy spicy tomato beans
3. Two takes on home-cooked classics, like: spaghetti bolognese, muffins, and even birthday cake!

Press play now to learn practical ideas you can actually cook this week!

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

La Baleine’s Grey Sea Salt comes from the Celtic shores of Guérande, on France’s west coast. Hand-harvested using traditional methods, this 100% natural sea salt is unrefined, additive-free, and naturally grey from the mineral-rich clay of the Guérande salt marshes.

With its unique delicate but crunchy texture, La Baleine’s Grey Sea Salt is our go-to salt for everything from roasted vegetables and grilled meats to fresh salads and even desserts.

👉 Grab a canister of La Baleine Grey Sea Salt here on Amazon! Starting on Nov 4th, the first 500 purchases will receive $1 off their order!

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Links:

Sam’s favorite recipes and recommendations:

The Lunch Tiffins Sam’s been using for years

Lunchbox Harvest Muffins by Melissa Clark for NYT Cooking (unlocked)

Apple, Fennel Salad by Melissa Clark for NYT Cooking

Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake by Sarah Jampel for Bon Appetit

French Yogurt Cake from Bon Appetit

Marcella Hazan’s Spaghetti