“I don’t expect perfection: I long for relationship.” Cookbook author and video series host Ashley Rodriguez joins us to talk about life around the table. In an Instagram-saturated world, how do we overcome our desire for a perfect meal and simply gather around the table? We also chat about teaching kids of all kinds learn to embrace the beauty of food. With Ashley’s interview, we pair a charred scallion dip from her new book, Let’s Stay In.
Connect: Find Ashley Rodriguez at the Not Without Salt website, on Instagram as @ashrod, or as the host and producer of the video series Kitchen Unnecessary
Book: Let’s Stay In by Ashley Rodriguez
Small Bite Recipe: Charred Scallion Dip from Let’s Stay In
Find A Couple Cooks: Find Sonja & Alex on Instagram at @acouplecooks or online at www.acouplecooks.com. Find Pretty Simple Cooking online and everywhere books are sold.
You’ve heard of four seasons, but six? This episode stars Joshua McFadden, chef/owner of the acclaimed Ava Gene’s in Portland. Joshua shares about his massive cookbook project, Six Seasons, intended to teach everyone from first time cooks to foodies how to make seasonal vegetables taste incredible. He also chats about his journey from film school to chef of one of the premier restaurants in the country. Plus, we share how to make raw falafel, and tips for shopping affordably at your local farmer’s market.
Recipes:
Joshua McFadden, Ava Gene’s Chef/Owner (Portland)
>>Order the cookbook: Six Seasons
Israeli-born chef Einat Admony is one of the few female chefs who is a wife, mother, cookbook author, and owner of not just one but three successful Israeli restaurants in New York City. She joins us in this episode to chat about what a balaboosta is (and how to be one), tasty falafel and tahini, and her relentless passion for cooking for people she loves. Plus, we chat about fearless cooking and a few Mediterranean-inspired recipes of our own.
Recipes:
Baked falafel salad bowl | A Couple Cooks
Falafel patties with harissa yogurt | A Couple Cooks
Books:
Balaboosta by Einat Admony
Chef Einat on Instagram
Restaurants
Taim (NYC)
Balaboosta (NYC)
Bar Bolonat (NYC)
“The” chef Rick Bayless joins us on a journey to explore Mexican cuisine. From huevos rancheros tacos to roasted tomatillo salsa, we discuss authentic flavors, Baja California, his newest (secret) restaurant project, and what it’s like to compete on a cooking show. Plus, fun tips like how to regulate the heat of your salsa and make impressive giant flames. It’s a legit fiesta.
Links:
Loaded huevos rancheros tacos (A Couple Cooks)
Roasted tomatillo salsa (A Couple Cooks via Rick Bayless)
Homemade tortilla chips (A Couple Cooks)
More Mexican from A Couple Cooks
Rick Bayless:
His new book: More Mexican Everyday
His restaurants: Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Xoco
Valle de Guadalupe: the Napa Valley of Mexico
In this episode: we explore the fun of eating global flavors and travel-inspired meals with featuring celebrity chef Carla Hall, Top Chef finalist and host of ABC’s The Chew. We talk everything from herbs and spices to her philanthropic trip to Mozambique; plus, our favorite Indian-inspired comfort food turned to simple weeknight meal.
Cauliflower and Tomato Coconut Curry (A Couple Cooks)
All about Carla Hall
Her book: Carla’s Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World
Carla Hall on Instagram
Our time in Greece inspired these recipes
A video we took at the Cambodian market
25 Healthy Recipes with Global Flavors
A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter
In this episode, we talk PIZZA: its evolution from peasant food to worldwide fame, a wood-fired pizza shared in Rome, and a years-long quest to recreate it. Plus, our best tips for making pizza at home, and our chat with premier pizza restaurateur Caleb Schiff of Pizzicletta.
Pizza dough recipe - stand mixer method
Pizza dough recipe - food processor method
Gluten-free? Check out Gluten-free artisan bread in 5 minutes a day
How to make a sourdough starter
White pizza with pecorino, scallions and egg *A favorite*
Caleb Schiff of Pizzicletta (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Our honeymoon in Rome (revisited 7 years later)
A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter
In this episode: we make dark chocolate bark on the air in our kitchen -- a perfect anytime treat that’s a little bit fancy + supremely simple. Then we talk recipes with entertaining queen Annie Marshall from the blog Annie’s Eats, including DIY food projects like bread, tortillas, yogurt, ice cream, and more.
Our recipe of the week: Dark chocolate quinoa bark
Raw brownies are dark chocolatey and wholesome; they’re a hit in our house.
Alex quotes from Michael Pollan’s Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, which has had a huge influence on our philosophy on food.
We talk recipes with Annie Marshall of Annie’s Eats
Our garlic and rosemary white bean dip was part of her holiday spread
Her go to’s for family dinners: Mexican quinoa & Salmon salad with honey mustard vinaigrette
Our DIY challenge: try one new-to-you homemade recipe:
Flour tortillas or Corn tortillas (Annie’s Eats)
Multigrain artisan no-knead bread (A Couple Cooks)
Light wheat sandwich bread (Annie’s Eats)
Stand mixer pizza dough (A Couple Cooks)
DIY Greek yogurt (Annie’s Eats)
Ricotta cheese (Annie’s Eats)
Waffle cones or sugar cones (Annie’s Eats)
Sweet corn black raspberry ice cream (Annie’s Eats)
Salted butter caramel ice cream (Annie’s Eats)
Salted chocolate pistachio creamy vegan ice cream (A Couple Cooks)
Mocha almond fudge vegan ice cream (A Couple Cooks)
In this episode: we talk with celebrity chef Graham Elliot about having fun in the kitchen and his approach to healthy living. Plus, how we went from hating to craving healthy foods, comforting casseroles, bird food, and lighting rounds.
Our recipe of the week: Roasted broccoli cheddar millet bake (A Couple Cooks)
Master Chef and Master Chef Junior
His cookbook, Cooking Like a Master Chef
What are your top 5 foods? A couple of ours:
In this episode: we interview a real urban farmer (Amy Matthews) and brainstorm what to do with her seasonal eats. Plus, we share the story of how we got into cooking in the first place, an innovative pad thai variation, new comfort foods to get through the winter months, and our favorite podcasts.
Our recipe of the week: Spaghetti squash pad thai (A Couple Cooks)
Sonja’s recipe pick: Red curry lentils (Lindsay Ostrom of Pinch of Yum)
Alex’s recipe pick: Mushrooms and greens with toast (Tara O’Brady in Seven Spoons Cookbook via Smitten Kitchen)
Bonus: Dolsot bibimbap (I am Food Blog | Stephanie Le) or Vegetarian dolsot bibimbap (Emily Ho | The Kitchn)
Our tour with Amy at South Circle Farm
Recipes with Amy’s produce:
Fennel: Italian white bean soup (a favorite!)
Bok choy: Market vegetable fried rice
Parsnip: Roasted root vegetables
Rainbow carrots: Raw with Garlic and rosemary white bean dip or Greek yogurt ranch dip
We recreated the the homemade sushi dinner that started it all
Julia Child, the mother of all cooking shows (complete with old episodes)
Alton Brown’s Good Eats
Who inspires you to cook (on TV or in real life)?
Our favorite podcasts - what podcasts do you love?
Amy's podcast recommendation: The Memory Palace.