Hold onto your hats, we’ve got the amazing and talented Martha Collison, youngest ever competitor on The Great British Bakeoff (or, The Great British Baking Show in the US)! She’s the charming 17-year-old who stole our hearts on our favorite new cooking show, set in idyllic farm country in Britain. Martha shares about what it’s like to be a cooking competition contestant, how to keep things creative in the kitchen, and even her thoughts on Brexit. Plus we share our favorite cucumber recipes inspired by our overflowing garden, and a story of our latest flaming kitchen incident.
Authentic tzatziki | A Couple Cooks
Gurkensalat (German cucumber salad) | A Couple Cooks
Quick refrigerator dill pickles | A Couple Cooks
The Great British Baking Show: check it out on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and PBS
Martha Collison, Quarter-Finalist on the Great British Baking Show
Her new cookbook: Twist!
Anti-human trafficking efforts through culinary training:
For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. (Oops.)
**Giveaway of the new Twist cookbook! Click here.
Molly Yeh is the star of this episode, classical musician turned food blogger and author of the new cookbook Molly on the Range. She shares her unlikely story of moving from New York City to a sugar beet farm in Northern Minnesota, and eating her way from lunchables to bahn mi to casseroles. Plus, Molly’s escapades cooking in Julia Child’s kitchen, a naked chef, and “The Best” peach pie recipe you’ll ever eat.
The Best Peach Pie | A Couple cooks
Molly Yeh of My Name is Yeh
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Her new cookbook: Molly on the Range *Preorder it now!*
How to organize your spices...the minimalist way (and Before + After photos of our spice drawer)
Our favorite cooking shows:
What are your favorite cooking shows? We’d love to hear in the comments below.
Who doesn’t love honey? In this episode we share our favorite recipes with the sticky nectar, from a salad to a dessert to our signature naturally sweet whiskey sour. We talk with bee expert Kate Franzman about the fascinating life of bees, and what we can do to help them. Plus, our thoughts on moderation: how can we embrace sweet treats without going overboard?
Roasted two-potato salad with honey mustard dressing | A Couple Cooks
Strawberries with balsamic, Greek yogurt and mint | A Couple Cooks
Naturally sweet whiskey sour | A Couple cooks
Kate Franzman of Bee Public
020 -- Homemade Bread...in 5 Minutes
Making bread at home sounds daunting, but it’s easier than you think: only 5 minutes per day and 40 cents per loaf. Not convinced? We talk with Zoe Francois, former pastry chef and author of the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes Per Day series, along with coauthor Dr. Jeff Hertzberg. Also, a real life mom who found a way to make bread-baking fit into her lifestyle -- and we taste our bread on the air.
GIVEAWAY: $100 from Bob’s Red Mill!
Multigrain Artisan Bread | A Couple Cooks
Zoe Francois is:
Zoe Bakes: Website | Instagram | Twitter
Artisan Bread in 5: Website | Instagram | Twitter
Books:
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day
Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day
Gluten-Free Bread Artisan in Five Minutes a Day
Do you, like Alex, suffer from misophonia?
50 shades of what? This episode, we talk brain food with Dr. Drew Ramsey, author of the books 50 Shades of Kale and Eat Complete. What we eat affects how we look, but what about how we feel? Psychiatrist Dr. Ramsey shares the best foods to eat to boost our brain and soothe our moods, and we add our favorite kale-tastic recipes.
Get your Culinary Box from Chef José Andrés today! Visit quarterly.co/YUM and enter code "SPAIN" at checkout for 10% off your first box.
Rice Bowl with Kale, Red Pepper, and Egg
Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable Skewers with Quinoa Pesto
Dr. Drew Ramsey
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
His books:
Eat Complete | 50 Shades of Kale
Dr. Ramsey's favorite Indy spots: Trader’s Point Creamery, Milktooth and Tinker Street
Ending world hunger is not the typical 17-year old’s top priority, but Katie Stagliano is not the typical 17-year old! Join us as we learn about the non-profit Katie started to inspire growing vegetable gardens all over the country. Plus, our favorite addicting Italian soup chock full of vegetables, and a few tips on growing herbs.
Italian Vegetable and Gnocchi soup
Some of our favorite cabbage recipes: Peanut Noodles with Napa Cabbage, Roasted Cabbage Wedge Salad, Cabbage and Apples
Sub-Zero will donate $5 up to $25,000 to Katie’s Krops for every hashtag with #freshfoodmatters. Join us!
The Mediterranean diet is here to stay, and with it, olive oil. Join us on olive oil tasting with an expert in California where we slurp through oils like the best of them. Along with sharing our favorite basic homemade dressing recipe and a life-changing Mediterranean rice bowl, we’ve got a visit from our favorite minimalist and a special giveaway.
How to make homemade salad dressing
Basic Vinaigrette (A Couple Cooks)
Balsamic
Vinaigrette (The Faux
Martha)
Italian Vinaigrette (The Faux Martha)
Mediterranean Rice Bowl recipe (A Couple Cooks)
Maia Hirschbein’s
Challah with Olive Oil
California Olive Ranch
Want three bottles of California-made olive oil? Enter to win.
Coffee fanatics unite! This episode is dedicated especially to that enchanting morning elixir. We demonstrate our best quick-and-easy coffee-making method on the air, and share a favorite coffee-centric dessert. Plus, a visit to indie Indy coffee roaster couple Blue Mind Roasters and a special giveaway.
How to Make Coffee with an Aeropress
Mocha almond fudge vegan ice cream
Peppermint ice cream and hot chocolate affogato
Local craft coffee at Blue Mind Roasting.
The inspiration for the business name? Alexi Murdoch’s song: Blue Mind.
Want an Aeropress coffee maker? Enter to win or order one.
“I don’t miss meat. I just like eating really good food.” This episode, we join author and photographer husband and wife duo Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Matthews for a behind the scenes on their new cookbook, Love & Lemons. We talk everything from eating lots of vegetables to savory mushrooms to kitchen improv -- plus, a spring recipe of our own that proves tacos can be more than simply Mexican flavors.
Ricotta scrambled egg and asparagus tacos (A Couple Cooks)
Jeanine and Jack are Love and Lemons
Mushrooms are meaty...really.
Jack’s pretzel recipe
“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
The best food inspirations (foodspirations?) can come from travel, but what about in your very own city? In this episode we explore one of the decade’s hottest American food trends, ramen, first at a restaurant and then in our very own kitchen. And we create our own quick vegetarian version just for the podcast!
How every city became Brooklyn | Bon Appetit
In this episode: we answer your questions! How to shop and balance nutrition + cost, our Instagram food photo tips, baking versus roasting, and how often we disagree in the kitchen.
Alex was right with tomato artichoke lentil stew
Cherry hazelnut energy bars taste like heaven on top of a mountain
Garam masala was on point in this cauliflower curry
acouplecooks.com is redesigned, featuring a new acouplecookspodcast.com page
The Faux Martha shares her iPhone editing tips
There are many reasons for eating local, but how about it’s just plain fun? In this episode we share why we love markets and how to make it eating local doable. We’ve got a fantastic pair of local guests: photographer and film maker pair Kelley and JD Schuyler, who share what it’s like behind the scenes of their documentary. Plus fishing stories from Alaska, a handful of fresh recipes, and a kitchen tip for neat freaks.
Turmeric yellow rice bowls with broccoli and kale
Mocha almond fudge ice cream (for the soul)
Kelley and JD Schuyler of Last Man Fishing:
Kickstarter | Website | Instagram
Video collaboration circa 2011 with JD that started it all
Cluttered kitchens might urge us to overeat
Do you cook together with your significant other, or is it just too painful? In this episode we explore what it means to have a creative partnership in the kitchen, or whether it’s better for all involved to divide and conquer. Special guests Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom of the prominent food blog Pinch of Yum share behind the scenes in their own relationship, and we share our favorite recipe for a cooking date.
Cooking date perfection: Simple shrimp and artichoke paella
Veggie version: Simple vegetable paella
Add stations Indie in the Kitchen for cooking and Cocktail Party Jazz for eating
Our tips for cooking together as a couple
Should you cook with your S.O.? Take our quiz.
Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom run Pinch of Yum
Pinch of Yum on Instagram
Date Night In by Ashley Rodriguez
In this episode: we answer your questions! Our best kitchen tools, the best vegetable for a vegetable hater, salted versus unsalted butter, our best party appetizer, and how cooking together has affected our marriage. Plus, a question for you!
Baked sweet potatoes with salsa
Spinach isn’t just for salads: put it in soups, curries, pastas and sandwiches
Best party app: our addicting tomato almond dip
What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?
Our new (non-romantic) favorite show
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 explore minimalism in the kitchen with Melissa Coleman of the website The Faux Martha, graphic designer and self-proclaimed minimalist. Plus how to design a meal, an easy weeknight dinner, and cleaning out that spice drawer.
Fried Eggs with Bulgur and Spinach (with VIDEO) (A Couple Cooks)
Simplify your kitchen in the new year (Mark Bittman via New York Times)
Melissa Coleman is The Faux Martha
Her top minimalist recipes:
Balsamic Pasta using this vinaigrette
The Faux Martha on Instagram
How to design a meal (by Jeanine Donofrio of Love and Lemons, on A Couple Cooks)
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
What are your favorite easy weeknight meals? Drop us a line at acouplecooks@gmail.com.
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.
In this episode: we talk with rock star Mario Batali about the true rockstars: local farmers. And, our favorite Italian stew, cooking without a recipe, pickles, tiny houses, and bucket lists.
Our recipe of the week: Tomato artichoke lentil stew (A Couple Cooks)
Sonja’s recipe pick: Spicy peanut stew with butternut squash and chickpeas (Ashlae Warner of Oh Ladycakes)
Alex’s recipe pick: Roasted leeks with tangerine vinaigrette (Michael Anthony from V is for
Our honeymoon here, revisited: Rome + the Amalfi Coast
The Flavor Bible by Karen Page.
What’s in season near you? A seasonal food chart.
Mario Batali: his empire. His book, America: Farm to Table.
Find a farmer’s market near you.
Our refrigerator pickles. Mario’s pasta a la norma.
What’s on your bucket list?
-Sonja’s bucket list was fulfilled in Alaska. And also, here.
-Alex’s bucket list desire: a magical dinner.
In this episode: Alex unveils a surprise signature cocktail on the air, and we share colorful, seasonal recipes for a Thanksgiving menu (or anytime). Plus salty listener questions answered, eating mindfully, and hygge.
Our recipes of the week:
Lentil and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Green Beans with Hazelnuts
Roasted Cauliflower and Apples with Dill
Our Winter 2015 signature cocktail: pomegranate spice hygge cocktail.
What is hygge? Now you know. (We first heard about it here.)
Delicata squash fries, with our favorite seasonal squash.
In this episode: a big bowl that unites random refrigerator components, what we learned from Julia Child, and the best way to make cooking fun. Plus, we confess our biggest kitchen disaster and our favorite food memories (hint, Italia).
Our recipe of the week: Roasted nourish bowl (A Couple Cooks)
Sonja’s recipe pick: Ribollita (Tuscan white bean soup) (Jeanine Donofrio of Love and Lemons)
Alex’s recipe pick: Spicy pita pockets with lentils and tahini sauce (Food and Wine)
Bonus: Ribollita from A Couple Cooks, recipe from Green Kitchen Travels cookbook by Green Kitchen Stories
The butternut squash soup we used for our on-air salt experiment
Cooking as a couple - how we do it, and why to cook with a friend, spouse, partner, etc.
The recipe behind our biggest kitchen disaster. Share with us your failure stories?
What is your favorite food memory? We’d love to hear.
Alex’s favorite food memory in Rome (search for the word “Campoleone”)
Sonja’s favorite food memory in Positano (search for the world “Peach”)
A Couple Cooks on Instagram
In this episode: chili with a magical secret ingredient and a life changing way to make vegetables. Plus, the joy of hosting a dinner party and an encouraging tip from an expert.
Our recipe of the week: Quinoa and black bean chili (A Couple Cooks)
Sonja’s recipe pick: Spaghetti squash burrito bowl (Kathryne Taylor of Cookie & Kate)
Alex’s recipe pick: French Green Beans with Shallots (Jacque Pepin via New York Times)
Roasting is our favorite way to prepare vegetables in the fall and winter. Some of our favorite recipes:
Spiced roasted cauliflower or roasted cauliflower
Roasted brussels sprouts with pecorino and pecans (pecorino and pecans optional)
Roasted fingerling and new potatoes with rosemary
How to Throw a Healthy Dinner Party from Anna Watson Carl of The Yellow Table
What should Sonja make with an 8-pound green cabbage? Sonja’s farmer’s market haul
Did you find the Easter egg?
A Couple Cooks on Instagram