Cookbook Club

Join us for our farewell episode, where we talk about the process of making the podcast and hear from some of our listeners! Thank you all for listening for the last four years and making this such a fun project for us.Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:Eleven Madison Park granola (NYT)Baked eggs with crushed chickpeas, chorizo and herby breadcrumbs (Dining In)Cinnamon rolls (NYT)Curried chicken salad (Salt Fat Acid Heat)Chicken pelau (Small Victories)Shepherd’s Pie (Whole30)Strawberry summer stack cake (Smitten Kitchen Keepers)Strawberry summer sheet cake (Smitten Kitchen)Strawberry summer snack cake (Smitten Kitchen)Cranberry pear cake (Snacking Cakes)Almond olive oil rosemary shortbread (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)Beef stew (My Kitchen Year)Bacon & Egg spaghetti (Dinner in One)Third Culture Cooking by Zaynab Issa The Michael Scott Podcast Company podcastHome Cooking podcastJoin our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers

Snacks, as Sara says, are a life raft in the chaos of motherhood. Renee has a whole snack system. We have, actually, a lot to say about snacks. Join us!Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:Costco high-protein granola barsThat’s It fruit barsRx barsEpic bars (bison & cranberry)LarabarsPartake brand vanilla wafers or graham crackersChompsWild ZoraGoMacroWhite bean spread (Super Natural Every Day)Hummus (Dinner in an Instant)Goat cheese with za’atar and lemon (Nothing Fancy)Penzey’s buttermilk ranch dressing & dip Honey roasted cashews (Cooking in Real Life)Pizza pistachios (EatingWell)Everything seasoned almonds (EatingWell)Curried cashews (EatingWell)Vegan boards That cheese plate will change your lifeJoin our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next (and last!) cookbook episode (airing 7/9/2025): Ottolenghi Simple, by Yotam Ottolenghi

We’ve had listener requests for Ottolenghi books over the years, and we’ve saved him for out last cookbook episode! We talk about his signature flavors, whether this book is overly simple, and whether we love it.Recipes mentioned in this episode:Gem lettuce with fridge raid dressing (page 37)Curried lentil, tomato and coconut soup (page 52)Roasted eggplant with anchovies and oregano (page 64)Chicken marbella (page 229)Sweet potato fries (page 145)Baked rice with confit tomatoes and garlic (page 174)Spring roast chicken with preserved lemon (page 227)Blueberry, almond and lemon cake (page 276)Plum, blackberry and bay friande (page 274)No-churn raspberry ice cream (page 292)Join our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers

We are revisiting one of our favorite topics: meal trains! After Renee’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, we both learned so much more about meal trains. This is the best way to support people in your world with your cooking skills. Join us for some new tips and ideas.Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:Green smoothies (NYT)Seed crackers with oil-packed tuna, avocado and supremed grapefruit (Health Nut)Eleven Madison Park granola (NYT)Ligurian foccacia (Samin Nosrat)Snacking Cakes, by Yossy ArefiBentgo meal prep containers (Amazon)Spiced chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric (NYT)Cranberry apple cake (Snacking Cakes)Skillet chicken pot pie (NYT)Skillet chicken pot pie (Small Victories)Now & Again, by Julia TurshenStella’s KitchenJoin our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next (and last!) cookbook episode (airing 7/9/2025): Ottolenghi Simple, by Yotam Ottolenghi

A very ambitious and comprehensive guide to pie — from crust technique to decoration to hundreds of unique and interesting flavor combinations — this book from Erin Jeanne McDowell really captured our interest. We talk about the recipes we made, and decide whether this book holds up to the promise.Recipes mentioned in this episode:Striped citrus pieCreamy lemon custard piePeanut butter cream pie with raspberry meringueSweet corn pie with blueberry whipped creamRoasted pineapple piePumpkin pieApple pieCaramel Earl Grey custard pie in a gingersnap crumb crustBlueberry swamp pie with cornmeal crustCitrus sugar pieBirthday cake pieTres leches slab pieOrange vanilla panna cotta pieCreamy mango pieMango pie (NYT)Peanut butter choco-shmallow pieJoin our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next (and last!) cookbook episode (airing 7/9/2025): Ottolenghi Simple, by Yotam Ottolenghi

We like veggie burgers, but have we cooked that many? Turns out, this episode sent Sara down a rabbit hole of making veggie burger recipes and they are tricky! Renee weighs in with her favorite store-bought veggie burger options and we have some clear winners to recommend.Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:The Ultimate Veggie Burger (NYT)Black bean burgers (NYT)Really awesome black bean burgers (Serious Eats)Best Veggie Burger (Love & Lemons)Sweet potato, quinoa, spinach and red lentil burger (NYT)White bean burgers (NYT)Beautiful burger buns (King Arthur Flour)Multigrain veggie burger (Grains for Every Season)Vegetarian black bean burger (Ultimate Veg)Beet & Pinto burger (America’s Test Kitchen Vegan for Everybody)Join our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 6/11/2025): The Book on Pie, by Erin Jeanne McDowell

My Everyday Lagos is a critically acclaimed cookbook that brings West African cuisine to western audiences. Specialty ingredients, spice mixes and unusual techniques set this book apart for us. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:Bon Appetit article featuring Yewande KomolafeMom’s Sunday chickenOmo Tunde’s spice blendJacobsen salt tinsCitrus tonicFermented grain bowlsStewed sardinesCoconut milk caramelsJoin our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur Amazon storefrontOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 6/11/2025): The Book on Pie, by Erin Jeanne McDowell

Breakfast for dinner is a favorite weeknight hack for our families. You can take it in a hundred different directions, make it dead easy or make it fancy. Here’s our favorite recipes and hacks to make this fun meal!Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:Multigrain pancake (Super Natural Every Day)Sour cream pancakes with roasted blueberries (Small Victories)Almond flour pancakes (King Arthur Flour)Cuisinart Belgian waffle maker with pancake plates Waffles (NYT)Simple yeasted waffles (NYT)Waffles (Kid in the Kitchen)Dutch baby (NYT)Dutch baby (Grand Central Baking Book)Crepes (Canelle et Vanille)Italian roasted potatoes (Nigella Lawson)Sheet pan full English breakfast (Dinner in One)Leek and red potato frittata with goat cheese and dill (Cooking in Real Life)Sweet potato quiche (Dinner in French)Pasta frittata (NYT)Joi plant-based milksShakshuka (Dinner in an Instant)Artichoke shakshuka (One Pan and Done)Sheet Pan Suppers, by Molly GilbertGreen shakshuka with avocado, chile & feta (Dinner in One)Huevos rancheros (Ama)Huevos rancheros (Smitten Kitchen)Baked eggs with crushed chickpeas, chorizo and bread crumbs (Dining In)Join our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 5/14/2025): My Everyday Lagos, by Yewande Komolafe

This book is our first foray into the Chrissy Tiegen food universe, and it was a surprise to us — Renee enjoys Chrissy’s sense of humor and family-friendly dishes, Sara loves some of the fun treats and umami hacks. Recipes mentioned in this episode:Peanut butter and potato chip seven-layer bars (page 238)Two-berry crumble with HBO crumble (page 22)Orange chicken fried chicken sandwiches (page 161)Meatloaf Wellington (page 141)Sourdough Jack hamburger helper (page 68)Shortcut khao man gai (page 170)Spicy sausage pasta fagioli (page 120)Crispy chicken caesar wedge salad (page 129)Chicken tikka masala with “garlic naan” pita (page 188)Broccoli salad with creamy cashew dressing (page 93)Frosted circus animal cookies (page 240)Join our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur Amazon storefrontOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 5/14/2025): My Everyday Lagos, by Yewande Komolafe

We deeply love the magic that happens when you combine whipped egg whites with sugar. Join us as we fall down the rabbit hole of meringue treats, including one of our favorites, the pavlova.Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:Salted lemon cream pie (Sweet Enough)Vanilla meringues (NYT)Marshmallowy meringues (Salt Fat Acid Heat)Strawberry pavlova (NYT)Cookies-and-cream pavlova (NYT)The best pavlova wreath (Food52)Pull-apart pavlova wreath (Simply Delicious)Roasted rhubarb pavlova with pomegranate molasses (Sweeter off the Vine)Mary Berry’s baking bible Join our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 4/16/2025): Cravings: All Together by Chrissy Tiegen

This cookbook brings the unique perspective of an entire family — a collaboration between parents and young adult children with personal stories, family history and some delicious Chinese recipes. Renee went for some weeknight-friendly easier recipes and Sara took on a big baking project.Recipes mentioned in this episode:Cantonese steamed fish (page 211)Mapo tofu (page 250)Chili oil wontons (page 87)Ultimate chili oil (page 275)Shredded potato & carrot salad (page 74)Fast sizzled cucumber salad (page 73)Beef and broccoli (page 194)Milk bread (page 284)Red bean pineapple buns (page 287)Char siu roast pork (page 173)Char siu mini bao (page 29)Lazy veggie noodles (page 115)Eggplant with garlic sauce (page 231)Join our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur Amazon storefrontOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 4/16/2025): Cravings: All Together by Chrissy Tiegen

We’ve talked about pasta recently, but in this episode, we dig into noodles. From noodle soups to a range of Asian noodle dishes, we talk about the delicious things we like to make. Just try to listen to this on without your mouth watering.Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode:The Kitchn guide to Chinese noodlesVietnamese rice noodle salad bowl (Vietnamese Food Any Day)Ever-Green Vietnamese, by Andrea NguyenUmami garlic noodles (Vietnamese Food Any Day)Sesame brown butter udon noodles (NYT)Pressure cooker miso chicken ramen with bok choy (NYT)Pressure cooker beef pho (NYT)Perfect instant ramen (NYT)Peanut butter noodles (NYT)Gochujang butter noodles (NYT)Super simple ramen (Japanese Cookbook for Beginners)Bulgogi with noodles (Maangchi’s Big Book of Korean Cooking)Noodle soup with kimchi seasoning (Maangchi’s Big Book of Korean Cooking)Join our Cookbook Club!Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshowE-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.comFind Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragrayOur sponsors: Dropcloth SamplersCook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 3/19/2025): Woks of Life, by the Leung Family

Lidey Heuck’s recipes are classic — maybe to a fault? For Sara, this book has been a weeknight workhorse, and Renee loves the inventive flavor combinations. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Blueberry muffin sugar cookies (page 108) Honey-roasted cashews with a kick (page 33) Baked crap dip with sweet corn and Old Bay (page 41) Coconut creamed corn (page 182) Kale salad with gouda, honeycrisp & walnuts (page 50) Little gem salad with avocado goddess dressing & pickled red onions (page 65) Raddichio salad with pear, cornbread crumbs & muffins (page 77) Shaved carrot salad with creamy sesame-ginger dressing (page 54) Spiced sweet potatoes with pecans & pomegranate seeds (page 177) Avgolemono-ish chicken noodle soup (page 74) Cider-glazed sausages with caramelized apples & fennel (page 87) One-pan chicken meatballs with red sauce & spinach (page 84) Creamy polenta (page 162) Oven-baked polenta (NYT) Red potato and leek frittata with goat cheese and dill (page 245) Lidey bars – vegan date & almond bars (page 246) Peanut butter & ginger cookies (page 190) Lemon rosemary olive oil cake (page 221) Rainbow sprinkle ice cream cake (page 213) Spicy paloma punch (page 22)Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our Amazon storefront Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 3/19/2025): Woks of Life, by the Leung Family

We love pie! In this episode, we dig in to savory pies that run a wide gamut of influences and flavors. Sara talks about the tamale pie of her youth, Renee used her precious postpartum support time to make a steak & mushroom pie, and we deem pies perfectly worthy of dinner. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: Tamale pie (Simply Julia) Kale and mushroom pot pie (Simply Julia) Pasta alfredo (Cook for Love) Shepherd’s pie (Linda McCartney’s Family Kitchen) Shepherd’s pie (Whole30) Steak, ale & mushroom pie (goodFOOD) Samosa pie (NYT) Chicken pot pie (America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book) Chicken pot pie (Small Victories) Chicken pot pie (Salt Fat Acid Heat) Skillet chicken pot pie (NYT) Deep dish broccoli quiche (Smitten Kitchen Keepers) Sweet potato & bacon quiche (Dinner in French) The Book on Pie Everything bagel hand pies (Simply Julia) Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our Amazon storefront Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 2/19/2025): Cooking in Real Life, by Lidey Heuck

This memoir with recipes is an unusual cookbook — it follows the year after the folding of Gourmet magazine, when Ruth Reichl was left reeling and found her way through that transition through cooking and food. We talk about the wide variety of recipes, mixture of prose and recipes, and whether we liked the things we made from this book. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Khao man gai Borscht salad Cider-braised pork shoulder Thomas Keller roast chicken Food cart curry chicken Roast leg of lamb with fresh mint sauce Chicken liver pate Beef, wine and onion stew Tart lemon tart Gingered applesauce cake with caramel Linzer torte Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our Amazon storefront Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 2/19/2025): Cooking in Real Life, by Lidey Heuck

After the hemorrhage of the holiday season, we are ready to get back to simple cooking in the evenings, with a budget-friendly spin. We focus on cleaning out the freezer/pantry, maximizing protein and using our yummiest budget-friendly recipes. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: White bean dip (Super Natural Every Day) Lentil soup dip (Simply Julia) The Everlasting Meal, by Tamar Adler Super Natural Every Day, by Heidi Swanson White beans & cabbage (Super Natural Every Day) Miso curry delicata squash (Super Natural Every Day) Green lentil soup (Super Natural Every Day) Curried red lentils with coconut milk (Small Victories) Pureed winter squash & lentil soup (NYT) Red lentil soup with lemon (NYT) Creamy lentils (Indian Instant Pot) Stewed chickpea, zucchini & peppers (Simply Julia) Roasted chickpeas (NYT) Spaghetti with garlicky breadcrumbs & anchovies (NYT) I Dream of Dinner, by Ali Slagle Dinner in One, by Melissa Clark Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 1/22/2025): My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes that Saved my Life, by Ruth Reichl

This cookbook from Martha Stewart alum Jess Damuck rides high on crunchy California hippie vibes. Whole wheat baked goods (yikes), smoothies and salads rule this book, which we liked and disliked in almost equal measure. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Tuna, Avocado and Grapefruit with Seed Crackers (page 129) Test Kitchen turmeric tonic (page 74) Morning glory muffins (page 50) Morning glory muffins (NYT) Savory brown rice porridge with greens and soft egg (page 54) Creamsicle smoothie (page 70) Peach and burrata caprese with hot honey (page 176) Crispy rice and salmon bowl with quick pickles and greens (page 111) Sweet potato bread with miso tahini butter (page 240) Whole wheat sesame challah (page 262) Buckwheat brownies (page 244) Simple Any-stone-fruit cake (page 254) Marian Burros’ plum torte (NYT) Black bean tostadas with avocado and crispy leeks (page 91) Very good vegan chili (page 103) Mushroom “carnitas” tacos with citrusy radish slaw (page 232) Lemony kale salad with crispy chickpeas and avocado (page 183) Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 1/22/2025): My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes that Saved my Life, by Ruth Reichl

By listener request, some ideas for gifts for yourself or the other cooks and foodies in your life. We discuss the best gift exchange gifts we’ve received, thrifting for treasures and buying more than one of your favorite spatula. Recipes and resources mentioned in this episode: SNL: Christmas morning (YouTube) Strawberry huller (Amazon) Renee’s Amazon storefront Mason jar juicer lid (Amazon) Thermopro probe thermometer (Amazon) Get it Right spatulas Figmint mini rubber spatulas & mixing bowls with lids (Target) Hydro Flask insulated bowl (Amazon) Fly by Jing chili crisp Olympia Provisions Jacobsen salt Raaka chocolate Sugarpine Drive-In sundae sauces Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 12/25/2024): Health Nut, by Jess Damuck

Discovered by Renee at Book Larder in Seattle, this book is a baking book celebrating flavors and treats from Denmark, Norway & Sweden. We both loved creating these treats that were outside the normal things we bake — a perfect book for the baking season! Recipes mentioned in this episode: The Life-Changing Loaf of Bread (My New Roots) Sprouted rye bread (page 198) Cardamom-scented apple and pear snacking cake (page 76) Rye chocolate chunk cookies (page 60) Waffles with kefir & cardamom (page 179) Raspberry squares (page 57) Cinnamon buttons (page 224) Caramel slices (page 47) Brown sugar “focaccia” cake (page 81) Royal party cake (page 100) Soft bun dough (page 110) Cinnamon knots (page 113) Saffron rusks (page 64) Buttermilk “soup” with cardamom rusks (page 103) Rye crispbread (page 175) Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsor: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 12/25/2024): Health Nut, by Jess Damuck

It’s that time again! The super bowl of the cook’s calendar. We talk about not making it a one-woman show, our plans for Thanksgiving this year and strategies for keeping it together during this food and family-filled holiday. Recipes mentioned in this episode: Cranberry curd tart (NYT) Mango pie (NYT) Vegan mushroom gravy (NYT) Carrot pie (Six Seasons) French onion stuffing (NYT) Pecan pie bites with gravy (NYT) Jennie’s Chicken Pelau (Small Victories) Chicken and black-eyed pea chili (Now & Again) Chickpea stew with coconut and turmeric (NYT) Join our Cookbook Club! Our Instagram, @cookbookclubshow E-mail us: cookbookclubshow@gmail.com Find Renee and Sara on Instagram: @hipchickdigs and @realtor_saragray Our sponsors: Dropcloth Samplers Cook along with us! Our next cookbook episode (airing 11/27/2024): Scandinavian from Scratch, by Nicole Accettola