A Couple Cooks

Food & Wine Culinary Director Justin Chapple joins us for this episode and shares some mad genius cooking tips for spicing up your kitchen! Inspired by his grandmother’s way of making something out of nothing, Justin has gone on to have an illustrious career helping home cooks cook better, quicker, and more delicious food. For our small bite, we eat a smoky marinara soup that tastes like it’s been simmering for hours.   Connect: Find Justin on Instagram as @justinchapple and on Food & Wine’s video series Mad Genius Tips   Book: Just Cook It by Justin Chapple   Small Bite Recipe: Smoky marinara soup from Just Cook It   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.

Are carbs bad? Are detox diets worth it? In this episode we sit down with two Registered Dieticians with an evidence based approach to eating: Jess and Wendy of Food Heaven Made Easy and the Food Heaven Podcast. They break down food myths and help us with a few practical meal planning tips. For our small bite, some crispy, salty stovetop potatoes that count as part of a balanced diet!   Connect: Find Wendy and Jess on the Food Heaven Made Easy website, on Instagram as @foodheavenshow, or as hosts of the podcast Food Heaven Show   Small Bite Recipe: Crispy Stovetop Potato Rounds from Food Heaven Made Easy   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.

Hosting tips straight out of Hollywood from an actress and mom of two! It’s Tiffani Thiessen, who you might know as Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell. Tiffani shares her passion for bringing people together over food, and breaks down some fun ways to help people connect at the dinner table. With her interview, we pair a lemon feta dip from her new book, Pull Up a Chair.   Book: Pull Up a Chair: Recipes from My Family to Yours by Tiffani Thiessen   Small Bite Recipe: Lemon Feta from Pull Up a Chair   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.

Why eat organic? It’s a complicated question, so we’ve brought in an expert: the famed Gary Hirshberg who founded America’s largest organic yogurt company. Gary breaks down the benefits of organic for us as a Win, Win, Win: and helps us understand how to start with some organic baby steps. For our small bite with Gary’s interview, our fan favorite apple manchego salad. Another must listen! Connect: Gary’s “origin story” interview on How I Built This Book: Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World   Resources: Dirty Dozen List: the top 12 products you should splurge on for organic produce Skin Deep Cosmetics Database Gary’s StonyFIELDS project to remove pesticides from playing fields   Small Bite Recipe: Apple Manchego Salad from A Couple Cooks   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.

“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.

Culinary legend Mark Bittman joins us for an intimate conversation about trendy diets and how to make our world a better place through food. His book Food Matters was a part of a growing food movement 10 years ago, but are we eating better today? After writing a 20-year New York Times food column, authoring countless books and being in 4 television series’, there’s still conversation to be had. With Mark's interview, we pair a simple bruschetta you can make in 5 minutes with simple ingredients.   Connect: Find Mark Bittman at markbittman.com, subscribe to his newsletter here, and follow him on Instagram @markbittman   Small Bite Recipe: White Bean Bruschetta, Idea 19 from 101 Simple Appetizers in 20 Minutes or Less   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.

This episode stars one woman who’s combating Islamophobia in America one bite at a time! Amanda Saab is founder of Dinner with Your Muslim Neighbor, an organization that brings Muslims and non-Muslims together over home-cooked meals. She’s also the chef behind the Butter Bear Shop bakery in Detroit and star of a new television show called Chef in Hijab. With Amanda’s interview, we pair it with a small bite: a cookie from her Butter Bear Shop. Connect: Find Amanda Saab at amandasplate.com and on Instagram @amandasplate Small Bite Recipe: Chocolate Cardamom Halawa Cookies from Butter Bear Shop 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.

Can what we eat affect climate change? In this episode we take a bite into the big topic of how what we eat affects the planet. We’re joined by Eliza Barclay, Science and Health Editor at Vox.com, to break it down and share practical takeaways to help our world by eating more plant based meals. With Eliza’s interview, we pair a small bite: irresistible tomato almond dip from our vegetarian cookbook, Pretty Simple Cooking.   Read: Eliza Barclay and Umair Irfan’s article, 10 ways to accelerate progress against climate change   Connect: Find Eliza Barclay at Vox.com and on Twitter @elizabarclay   Small Bite Recipe: Irresistible tomato almond dip   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.

In this episode, we’re transported to Spain by the writer behind the popular blog Gimme Some Oven. Ali Martin reports in from Barcelona about lingering over the table and Spanish tapas. Where American culture is all about speed when it comes to food, Spain is about nourishing relationships around the table. With Ali’s interview, we pair a small bite: homemade roasted patatas bravas. Connect: Find Ali Martin at www.gimmesomeoven.com, and on Instagram at @gimmesomeoven and @gimmesomeali Small Bite Recipe: Patatas bravas Find A Couple Cooks: Find Sonja & Alex on Instagram at @acouplecooks or online at www.acouplecooks.com

In this episode, cookbook author Julia Turshen shares with us how to reinvent leftovers into new dishes, à la her new cookbook Now & Again. Plus, she provides inventive ideas on what to bring if you’re a dinner guest, and how to connect to your community through food. With Julia’s interview, we pair a small bite: charred broccoli crostini with creamy goat cheese.   Connect: Find Julia Turshen on Instagram at @turshen   Book: Find her book Now & Again: Go-To Recipes, Inspired Menus + Endless Ideas for Reinventing Leftovers   Small Bite Recipe: Make crostini, spread with soft goat cheese (chevre), top with roasted broccoli squeezed with fresh lemon juice (we used the Charred Broccoli recipe from Now & Again)   Find A Couple Cooks: Find Sonja & Alex on Instagram at @acouplecooks or online at www.acouplecooks.com

“Mindset matters. Everyone talks so much about what the perfect diet is—we debate what foods you should take out of your diet, and whether you should exercise or meditate in the morning or the night. And those are all important, but they are totally missing the point if you have a mindset that has you suffering and feeling like you’re a failure.” That’s Robyn Downs, and along with her husband Dr. Andrew, they’re fascinated with the mindsets that lead to healthy eating. This podcaster teamed up with her psychology professor husband to conduct a study on the way we think about food—and the results were surprising. They joined us to talk about their story and what mindsets can help us to be actually healthy.   Robyn & Dr. Andrew Downs Real Food Whole Life The Feel Good Effect Podcast Instagram Their online course! Actually Healthy   Vegan pot pie with sage crust | A Couple Cooks   Preorder A Couple Cooks cookbook >> Pretty Simple Cooking   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

Want to be transported to the Eternal City without leaving your couch? We got Rome on the phone in this episode and chatted with Kristina Gill, author and photographer behind the cookbook Tasting Rome. Hear about her love affair with the city that’s kept her there for nearly 20 years, and what she’s learned about authentic Italian cuisine from cabbies to restaurateurs.   Kristina Gill Instagram | Kristina on Design Sponge Order her book: Tasting Rome   Rome Travel Guide | A Couple Cooks Cacio e pepe | A Couple Cooks via Date Night In Pizza dough | A Couple Cooks Pizza with egg | A Couple Cooks   Preorder A Couple Cooks cookbook >> Pretty Simple Cooking   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

Ever wondered what it’s like to write a book—and adopt a baby at the same time? This episode is an exclusive with Alex and Sonja about the process of writing their new cookbook, Pretty Simple Cooking. They share about starting A Couple Cooks, deciding to write a book, adopting their son Larson, and all the trials and triumphs in between. Along the way, you’ll learn the entire process of book writing from agent to proposal to launch.   Preorder A Couple Cooks cookbook >> Pretty Simple Cooking   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

"You have to see things not as they are, but as they could be. That's what an artist does. And that's what I am at heart." That’s Majora Carter, real estate developer and urban revitalization strategist who’s won a long list of accolades for her work, including the coveted MacArthur Genius fellowship. Her 2016 TED talk was one of the first 6 on that groundbreaking website. Majora joins us to talk about beautifying our neighborhoods, the value of coffee shops and groceries, and how to create “demand” for real good food. She shares about the Boogie Down Grind Cafe, a coffee shop she helped to start serving high quality coffee (and veggies) in the South Bronx, and the value of taking risks to try new things.   Majora Carter Website | Instagram   Boogie Down Grind Cafe | Coffee lovers gift available on Instagram   Roasted Brussels sprouts with goat cheese & harissa | A Couple Cooks   Preorder A Couple Cooks cookbook >> Pretty Simple Cooking   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

“Treat sugar like salt.” That’s Bill Yosses, former White House pastry chef for Barack and Michelle Obama. When the First Lady asked him to create healthier treats for her family, he discovered that dialing back the sugar actually made his desserts taste better. In this episode, we learn Bill’s secrets to creating stellar, decadent tasting desserts that are “healthified” but still incredibly delicious. Plus, he shares the behind-the-scenes to making everyday meals at the White House, and President Obama’s favorite dessert.   Bill Yosses Website | Instagram Order his book: The Sweet Spot   Chai-spiced snowball cookies | A Couple Cooks Soft gingerbread cookies | A Couple Cooks Maple macadamia vegan blondies | A Couple Cooks Bliss bites | A Couple Cooks   Preorder A Couple Cooks cookbook >> Pretty Simple Cooking   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

“I love the imperfections in a dinner party. When we micromanage, we lose all ability to see what the dinner party is about. In all truth, no matter what Pinterest tells us or what we see in a magazine, the only things that really matter are the food and the people.” That’s Megan Gilger, Creative Director of the Fresh Exchange blog and brand. She’s passionate about getting people around the table, for events simple and elaborate. This episode is all about the dinner party: practical tips for pulling one off, and how to focus on what matters most: building relationships, shunning perfection, and making it work for you.   The Fresh Exchange Website | Instagram Some Fresh Exchange gatherings: Fall harvest A late evening on the front porch Ladies night Barebones Living coolers   How and why to start a cookbook club | A Couple Cooks   Preorder A Couple Cooks cookbook >> Pretty Simple Cooking   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

It’s not every day that you get to hear from an entire family of cooks, especially one that’s had such an impact on American food culture. Enter the Pollan Family: Corky, Lori, Dana, and Tracy. Only missing brother Michael Pollan, bestselling author about food and agriculture, the Pollan family shares the story of growing up around the table. Mom Corky passed down a culture of cooking and eating together, which has now been passed down to a new generation of cooks. Along they way, they wrote a cookbook: accessible, everyday recipes, heavy on the vegetables, to inspire families to come together around the table.    The Pollan Family Table Website | Instagram Their cookbook: The Pollan Family Table   Recipes: Pumpkin goat cheese baked gnocchi | A Couple Cooks   Preorder A Couple Cooks cookbook >> Pretty Simple Cooking   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

“The day to day romantic vision you have of farming: that is completely gone. It’s full panic mode from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep. We have that in our chest from March until August.” That’s Taylor and Andrea Bemis on what it takes to run a farm as a husband-wife team. Theirs is Tumbleweed Farm, a picture perfect mountain-view farm outside of Portland, Oregon. What’s more, Andrea is a farmer with a first-class food blog and a popular cookbook. For Dishing Up the Dirt, Andrea develops recipes with the produce she grows and photographs them in her home studio. Hear about how she got a cookbook deal to tell their story and behind the scenes of a successful organic vegetable farm. While running a farm is not as romantic as it seems, in the end it’s the most fulfilling work they’ve known.   Andrea and Taylor Bemis, Dishing Up the Dirt & Tumbleweed Farm Dishing Up the Dirt | Instagram Tumbleweed Farm Her cookbook: Dishing Up the Dirt   Recipes: Chard quiche with almond crust Grilled bo

“Everyone is so busy. We're constantly getting fast food or ordering out because our schedules are so, so busy. Sitting around the table and enjoying a meal, or being in the kitchen and preparing a meal with other family members, the joy and the love of that experience has gotten drowned out. And I really want to make sure that doesn't happen." That’s Jocelyn Delk Adams, the personality behind Grandbaby Cakes. She’s appeared on The Today Show, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and the Cooking Channel with her modern takes on her grandmother’s traditional recipes. Jocelyn sat down with us to chat about her family history in the kitchen, her road to becoming a mother, and how food can have a place in expanding diversity and understanding.   Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes Website | Instagram Her cookbook: Grandbaby Cakes Julia Turshen’s new cookbook: Feed the Resistance   Recipes: Creamy vegan pasta marinara | A Couple Cooks Spicy oven fried catfish | Grandbaby cakes   Links: This Lebanese cookbook author’s ca