A Couple Cooks

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!   Our quick vegetarian ramen   How every city became Brooklyn | Bon Appetit   Rook   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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 Salmon, caper and dill dip Mocha almond fudge ice cream (for the soul)   Kelley and JD Schuyler of Last Man Fishing: Kickstarter | Website | Instagram   Sonja catches a fish Kelley catches a fish   Video collaboration circa 2011 with JD that started it all   Cluttered kitchens might urge us to overeat   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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 A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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? Shocking pink hummus Our new (non-romantic) favorite show   A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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 Amazing Soba Bowl Chickpea Indian Bowl Quick Summer Pasta Baked Oatmeal 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. 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.   VIDEO: Homemade pizza dough 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 Tipo 00 flour   Pizza peel (standard) Pizza peel (conveyor) Pizza stone   Pizza margherita Pesto & tomatoes White pizza with pecorino, scallions and egg *A favorite* So Cal Greek Kale & pistachio Mexican Thai curry   Caleb Schiff of Pizzicletta (Flagstaff, Arizona) Pizzicletta on Instagram   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 Coo

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) Millet’s PR problem   Graham Elliott Master Chef and Master Chef Junior His cookbook, Cooking Like a Master Chef Sonja’s salsa dancing skillz   What are your top 5 foods? A couple of ours: Pizza margherita Paella A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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

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 Vegetables)   Our honeymoon here, revisited: Rome + the Amalfi Coast The Flavor Bible by Karen Page.   What’s in season near you? A seasonal food chart. Sonja’s mom’s peach pie.   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. Tiny houses. A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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 Pumpkin Pie Mousse Shooters Our Winter 2015 signature cocktail: pomegranate spice hygge cocktail. What is hygge? Now you know. (We first heard about it here.) Eating mindfully. Delicata squash fries, with our favorite seasonal squash. A Couple Cooks on Instagram and Twitter

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   Our tips on salt   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

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