Feeling a chill in the air and looking for a way to warm up after a busy fall day?

As the days get shorter and cooler, we crave comfort food that are nourishing, while still simple to make at home. But with so many different recipes out there, how do you choose a soup that will truly hit the spot?

Whether you want a quick weeknight option or a slow-simmered weekend treat, this episode will inspire you to make the most of soup season. By the end of this episode, you’ll…

1. Discover the viral “Glow Soup” — creamy, nutritious, and 100% plant-based
2. Learn tips for creating hearty, flavorful broths in your slow cooker or Instant Pot that can be enjoyed as a healthy snack or used to elevate classics like tomato, lentil, or chicken noodle
3. Get creative with root veggies and hearty greens, combining them with pantry staples like smoky spices and coconut milk to take your soup game to the next level

Tune in now to learn how to create soul-warming soups that will carry you through autumn and into winter with ease and comfort!

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Links:

The viral TikTok “Glow Soup” by Maddie Harrington/Nutriouslyeasy

Similar to Kari’s soup: Andouille sausage + black bean soup with fire-roasted tomatoes by Sarah Carey for Martha Stewart, or this sausage, kale, and lentil soup (just swap the tomatoes for fire-roasted ones)

Olia Hercules’ Tarragon Soup from her cookbook Kaukasis: The culinary journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan & beyond

Classic French onion soup with beef stock and white wine, and a mushroom farro version from NYT Cooking

Slow cooker carmelized onions from Gimme Some Oven

Parsnip soup options – Easiest parsnip soup form Taming Twins , Carrot-Parsnip Soup from NYT Cooking, and Apple parsnip soup from Dana’s Table

White chicken chili (with 3 different methods!) from Add a Pinch, and a 5-ingredient white chicken chili from Gimme Some Oven

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Got a cooking question? Call in and leave us a voicemail on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

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Order Sonya's debut cookbook

Have you ever wondered what kitchen gadgets are essential to any home? Or maybe you’re looking for some new cookbook inspiration?

In this bite-sized episode, we share listener questions – and answer with expert advice – to inspire each other and you!

You might be surprised to hear what pieces of inexpensive equipment two former personal chefs consider a must-have in our respective kitchens. You’ll also discover the cookbooks we keep reaching for over and over again.

Tune in for a quick dose of home cooking inspiration, and call our hotline 323-452-9084 with your own culinary question!

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Links

Kari’s favorite books and gadget:

Love Soup: 160 All-New Vegetarian Recipes from the Author of The Vegetarian Epicure by Anna Thomas

Sonya’s cookbook, Braids: Recipes From My Pacific Northwest Jewish Kitchen

Wide mouth funnel

Sonya’s favorite books and gadget:

Cooking for Artists by Mina Stone

Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan

Benriner mandoline

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

Or give us a CALL on our kitchen phone! 323-452-9084

Sign up for Sonya’s free Substack, or order her debut cookbook Braids for more Food Friends recipes!

Packed lunches just got easier!

If you need a boost for your midday meal, this week we’re sharing expert tips to help you upgrade your lunch game—whether you're meal-prepping for the week ahead or looking to pack something up in minutes.

By the end of this episode, you’ll:

1. Learn the 5 elements for building nutritious and customizable "adult Lunchables."
2. Discover flavorful, protein-rich salads that can be prepped in advance (and get better over time).
3. Find out how to stock your freezer with satisfying, grab-and-go lunches that are simple, satisfying, and kid-friendly.

If you’re craving lunch that’s delicious, quick, and easy to prep, tune in now and take your packed lunches to the next level!

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Links:

Easy adult lunchable ideas from Nourished by Nic

Crispy chickpeas from Minimalist Baker

Little Sesame Hummus, Sonya’s favorite store-bought variety

Quinoa and broccoli spoon salad by Sohla El-Waylly for the NY Times

Herby quinoa salad with feta and pomegranate by Sarah Cook for BBC Good Food

Italian pasta salad with homemade dressing from Tastes Better From Scratch, or the classic Italian pasta salad with bottled dressing from Plowing Through Life

Spiced maple roasted carrots with zhoug recipe is in Sonya’s cookbook Braids, and you can find her “health salad” here

Kenji Lopez-Alt’s Kale Caesar salad for Serious Eats

Massaged kale salad with tahini dressing from Big Delicious Life

Fennel and lentil salad by Yasmin Fahr for NYT Cooking

Shaved brussels sprouts salad with walnut and pecorino from NYT Cooking

Homemade bean and cheese burritos and how to freeze them from Two Peas and their Pod

Yewande Komolafe’s