194: Dinner Derailed, Better without Booze, Joan Nathan

In food news this week, we talked about the recent scandal over horse meat that went down in Pittsburgh.

You know how much we love home cooking, but sometimes dinner gets derailed for us, too. We talked a little about why and how this happens and how to get back on track.

Regular listeners might remember that Joy took the month of January off from drinking alcohol. Well, she never went back. Feeling secure in her new identity as a nondrinker, she launched a new project: Better without Booze.

Cookbook maven extraordinaire Joan Nathan has a new release: King Solomon’s Table. This is an ambitious cookbook that anyone who loves food will want to get their hands on. Marisa and Joy had the chance to meet Joan and to taste some of the recipes in the book at a recent dinner to celebrate the book at Abe Fisher and we tell you all about it.

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

193: Vegan Tacos, Grain Bowls, New Cookbooks

Vegan tacos are just as good as meaty tacos.

In Food News this week, NPR’s The Salt blog asks: How organic is your milk? (Hint: Probably not as organic as you think.)

Joy is on a vegan taco kick. She likes to fold beans, greens, avocado, asparagus and all kinds of other vegetables into her tortillas.

We recap our recent grain bowl class at the Philadelphia Free Library. It was so much fun and everyone feasted on grain bowls. Sound like a good night? Come to our salad class on June 20. Mark your calendar.

We talked about some of the season’s new cookbooks that are calling out to us.

And finally, at the market we’re buying spinach. The big kind, not the baby kind.

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

 

Taco photo by Stephanie via flickr CC

Episode 192: Miso-glazed Salmon, Smoothie Season, Corn Tortillas

A terrific new cookbook by Melissa Clark. Try the miso-glazed salmon!

In food news this week, we discuss a recent study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology that found people who frequently take a turn at small, creative projects (like cooking and baking!) report feeling more relaxed and happier in their everyday lives.

In our What’s for Dinner segment, we talk about a dynamite recipe for Miso-Glazed Salmon from the new cookbook, Dinner: Changing the Game.

It’s smoothie time! We talk about our favorite combos for this warm-weather staple.

Joy took at class about tortillas from South Philly Barbarco chefs, and she fills Marisa in on how they make their amazing tortillas from local corn.

At the market this week, we’re buying hot house tomatoes!

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

 

REPEAT: Birthday Special

In honor of Joy’s and Marisa’s fast-approaching May birthdays, we’ve given ourselves the week off. Enjoy this encore presentation of the Birthday Special we recorded to celebrate last year.

Episode 188: Freezer Bankruptcy, Easter Treats, and Bowls!

Molly Watson’s new cookbook

A new study from the University of Washington finds that cooking at home is healthier and cheaper than the away-from-home alternatives. (Surprise!)

Joy and Marisa swap ideas about “Freezer Bankruptcy.” Whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on your situation.

Easter is this Sunday. Joy tells you about a few favorite local treats for your Easter basket or table.

We have a conversation with food writer Molly Watson, author of the wonderful new cookbook, Bowls!.

Finally, at the market we are exploring fresh cheeses.

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

Episode 186: Unrestricted Dinners, Bagel Thursdays at Essen Bakery, and Baby Kale

Smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, and capers on a fresh bagel at Essen Bakery

In food news this week, we discuss a recent NPR’s The Salt piece that addresses the difficulty of shopping for sustainable seafood, even with the help of all those guides.

Next up: Dinner, unrestricted. As Marisa’s husband shifts away from a low-carb eating style, she is free to add some grains glorious grains to their shared dinners.

Joy shares one of her current obsessions: Bagel Thursday at Essen Bakery in South Philly.

We also talk about meatloaf–there’s a new meatloaf cookbook, A Meatloaf in Every Pot, and a whole lot of opinions on the subject of this humble foodstuff. (Here’s a link to Joy’s favorite meatloaf recipe.)

At the market this week, we are buying some baby kale.

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

Episode 181: Stromboli, Malted Milk Powder, and Healthy Recipe Makeovers

Today in food news, we keep it local and talk about a new restaurant in Philly, Rooster Soup Company.

In our What’s for Dinner segment we talk about stromboli, both restaurant and homemade.

We talk about the wonderful and versatile ingredient, malted milk powder.

We explore the questionable wisdom of giving classic dishes “healthy” makeovers.

And finally, at the market we found Mini Shokichi Squash.

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

Episode 180: Empanadas, Soup Dumplings, Heather Thomason

Primal Supply Meats’ Heather Thomason in her natural environment …

In food news, did you know that Alice Waters and Jacques Pepin kind of hate Top Chef? (We like the show but they make some strong points!)

In our What’s for Dinner segment, this week we’re talking empanadas.

Given it’s the dead of winter, we are trying to eat plenty of soup dumplings. We share our favorite spots to slurp them here in Philly.

We sat down with Heather Thomason of Primal Supply Meats to talk about local meat, butchery, and running an old-fashioned kind of business in the internet age.

At the market this week, we’re buying one of our many favorite winter citrus fruits: grapefruits.

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

Episode 178: Faux Meat, A Soup-Making Session, and author Stephanie Weaver

Our guest’s new book about healing headaches

This week, the news we discuss is about our podcast. Local Mouthful is now also an FM radio show. In Philadelphia and Camden, you can hear us every Wednesday at 6:30 pm on WPPM 106.5 FM. It’s Philly CAM’s radio station. Philly CAM is a wonderful community access media center with a radio studio, a TV studio and tons of affordable classes to learn how to make your own media. (Joy learned a lot about radio making and audio editing in a class there last winter.) Check it out!

We talked about “plant based burgers” including one hot new product that Joy and Marisa taste-tested.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to cook without a recipe? We’re teaching an improvisation Soup Class at the Philadelphia Free Library’s Center for Culinary Literacy on February 22 at 6 pm. In this hands-on session, we’ll teach you a few adaptable formulas so you can make soup with whatever you have on hand. And we’ll enjoy the fruits our labor together! Tickets are $15 and you can get them here.

We have an interview with Stephanie Weaver, author of The Migraine Relief Plan: An 8-Week Transition to Better Eating, Fewer Headaches, and Optimal Health

And finally, at the market, we are stocking up on apples.

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

Episode 177: Carrot Ginger Dressing, Make Good Baked Goods, and Cooking Secrets of Adulthood

We need to get our hands on this book …

In food news this week, we really enjoyed the New York Time’s profile of Ruby Tandoh “Ruby Tandoh Just Wants You to Eat What You Love” (Ruby was the GBBO 2013 runner up.) We especially liked her views around “clean eating.”

What’s for dinner this week? All kinds of stuff slathered in carrot ginger dressing.

The latest in Joy’s renovation saga involves neighbors complaining about the noise. Joy made them a “make good baked good.” Joy made her neighbors her mom’s nut bread, recipe below. Marisa favors this applesauce loaf for such occasions. What quick goodies do you all make to say “thank you” or “I’m sorry”?

Friend-of-the show Kristin Donnelly blog a list of her top “Cooking Secrets of Adulthood.” Naturally we wanted to weigh in with our own. (What are yours?)

And finally, at the market, we are buying raw nuts. (Use them in nut bread!)

If you like what you hear, make sure to subscribe! Bonus points if you rate us or leave a review. Follow us on twitter @localmouthful and help us spread the word about the show.

Nut Bread

Makes five 3-by-5 inch mini-loaves

1¼ cups whole milk

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2½ cups all-purpose flour

3½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped

Preheat the oven to 350°. Coat five 3-by-5 inch loaf pans with oil or nonstick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, sugar, egg, and vegetable oil. Stir well to blend. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk well.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the nuts, and then divide evenly among the prepared baking pans.

Transfer to the oven and bake until the loaves are light golden brown on top and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center, about 20 to 30 minutes.