Need a meal that’s fast, flavorful, and starts with what’s already in your pantry?

In this bite-sized episode, we share delicious moments about the best things we ate this week to inspire each other – and you!

You’ll learn how a humble packet of ramen turned into a produce-packed weeknight favorite (yes, there’s a jammy egg involved), and how a store-bought cookie became the secret star of a dreamy layered trifle that can feed a crowd. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or for your next dinner party, these pantry-meets-fresh combos are all about making home cooking feel easy… and a little bit unexpected.

Tune in for a quick dose of inspiration, a few clever tips, and your next best bite!

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Links

Momofuku ramen noodles, and this one is Sonya’s favorite flavor (not sponsored)

Grilled asparagus from Love & Lemons

A bok choy salad similar to what Sonya made from The Cozy Apron

Japanese BBQ sauce to top noodles with

For the “Chocolate Cookie Crunch Trifle”: make chocolate pudding, make vanilla pudding, make a batch of whipped cream, and grab one package of Tate’s cookies. Layer all three in a big bowl or trifle dish just before serving! (And for the vanilla pudding, Kari added a bit of white chocolate ganache, a tip she learned from Nicole Rucker’s book, Fat + Flour)

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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. You can also now find us on YouTube.

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Ever wonder what food people actually cook when guests come over—and why those recipes always work?

In this episode, Adam Roberts—aka The Amateur Gourmet—takes us inside his kitchen, shares his favorite cookbooks and go-to recipes, and tells us all about his fantastic debut novel, Food Person. We talk summer cooking, dinner party philosophy, and why even a slightly undercooked salmon can still lead to a great night.

By the end of this episode, you’ll:

1. Get a sneak peek at Food Person, Adam’s twisty, funny, page-turning, novel (think The Devil Wears Prada, but for cookbook publishing).
2. Discover the dessert that never fails a dinner party.
3. Find out the #1 mistake home cooks make when hosting, and the mindset shift that turns chaos into calm.

Press play for Adam’s best dinner party advice, his all-time favorite cookbooks, and the recipes he relies on most to make hosting feel like a breeze.

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Links:

Food Person, Adam Roberts’ debut novel, is out now!

Subscribe to Adam’s Amateur Gourmet Newsletter on Substack

Follow Adam on Instagram

Adam’s cookbook recs from today’s episode:

The Barefoot Contessa books (especially for beginners)

Or level up your home cooking with Mozza at Home, by Nancy Silverton and Carolyn Carreno

For the best homemade ice cream recipes and techniques, check out David Leibovitz’s The Perfect Scoop

Anything by Melissa Clark is dependably excellent

Some of the cookbooks highlighted in Food Person: The Zuni Cafe Cookbook, The Chez Panisse Cookbook, and The Auberge of the Flowering Heart

Food writing that has inspired Adam:

Calvin Trillin

Amanda Hesser’s

Looking for easy dinner ideas that you can cook up in minutes, all in one pot?

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 get out your pasta pot and make scratch-made SpaghettiOs that are shockingly delicious, and only use a handful of ingredients. You'll also hear about a throw-back brunch option that travels well and can be made with a store-bought save.

Plus: wondering what to do with leftover tomato paste? We're answering questions from our kitchen hotline, and you'll also hear a great tip from a listener!

Tune in for a quick hit of home cooking inspiration!

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Links:

Maurice in Portland for their incredible quiche

A spinach, tomato and feta quiche from Food.com, and a mushroom and gruyere quiche by Elise Bauer from Simply Recipes

One pot homemade “Spaghetti O's” by Ree Drummond from Food Network

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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. You can also now find us on YouTube.

We love hearing from you — follow us on Instagram @foodfriendspod, or drop us a line at foodfriendspod@gmail.com!

Order Sonya's cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!