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Classic creamy baked mac and cheese, with a shortcut you’ll use over and over again! The base is just 5 ingredients and there’s no roux or separate sauce. Finish it off with some extra cheese and panko, then a quick bake to melt the top and toast the crumbs. Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese from TheCookful. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Baked Mac and Cheese Homemade Mac and Cheese (Stovetop) Evaporated Milk Mac and Cheese The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

This easy one-pan ground beef and zucchini skillet is fast and full of flavor. The Italian seasoning, red wine vinegar, and Parmesan make it more delicious than you’d ever expect for such an easy 20-minute dinner. Recipe: Ground Beef and Zucchini from COOKtheSTORY. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Ground Beef and Zucchini Beef and Rice Recipe Shrimp and Rice Recipe Chicken and Rice Recipe Instant Pot Rice The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

Today’s episode feels extra special because later today Marty and I are going live on YouTube for the very first time, and it all traces back to a conversation I had over a year ago. I’m talking with Sharla Kostelyk from FreezerMeals101.com, whose live cooking demos and her Freezer Meal community really got me thinking about what you, my listeners, are actually looking for.    So yes, Sharla was one of the inspirations for our new COOKforTWO.us community and I am so grateful to her. Today I'm sharing our conversation about how Sharla came to adopt freezer meals as a lifestyle and started her blog. Honestly, this conversation was a revelation for me. I thought I knew what freezer meals were, but it turns out I really did not. There’s a good chance you’ll be surprised too. We talk about what freezer meals actually are, why they're different from leftovers, and how this way of cooking can save time without sacrificing flavor. She also walks us through one of her favorite recipes, a Mediterranean chicken sheet pan freezer meal that is incredibly easy and packed with flavor. And be sure to come see me and Marty live on YouTube at 2:00pm EST today, Saturday, January 31st. Go to the COOKtheSTORY youtube channel @cookthestory1059 or TheCookful.com/c42live to watch. Sharla's Links: Blog: FreezerMeals101.com Membership to Freezer Meals 101 Club YouTube: @FreezerMeals101 Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner Christine's links: Marty's Favorite: Kotlety Mielone (Polish Meat Patties) Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Email Me! [email protected] Subscribe to the Podcast Join the ROTD Facebook Group, TikTok, or Instagram Websites: CookTheStory.com and TheCookful.com Christine’s Newsletter The All New Chicken Cookbook (#ad)

Looking for an easy homemade mac and cheese that’s creamy and comforting without extra steps? This 5-ingredient stovetop version skips the roux and comes together right in the pasta pot. And, it’s all ready in 20 minutes. Recipe: Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese from TheCookful. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Evaporated Milk Mac and Cheese Creamy Cream Cheese Mac and Cheese Live Cooking Demo, all are welcome! Saturday, January 31st at 2:00pm EST over here The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

This classic Polish comfort food is like mini meatloaves. They’re pan-fried and have a crisp dark crust, but are tender and moist inside. I learned to make these the way my boyfriend Marty grew up eating them in Poland. Recipe: Traditional Polish Kotlety Mielone from COOKtheSTORY. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Traditional Polish Kotlety Mielone The COOKforTWO Live Cooking Demo! Creamy Cucumber Salad with Dill The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

Super Bowl snacks just got a lot more interesting. Chef JRob, the "rockstar chef" who's been on Ciao House, Food Network’s Chopped, Food Network’s Iron Chef Showdown, and Fox’s Master Chef, is here to share fun, crowd-pleasing ways to turn duck into game-day favorites. In this episode, we talk about why duck is far more versatile than most people think, how to make it feel approachable even if you have never cooked it before, and which flavors and formats make the most sense for Super Bowl-style food. And before we get into all of that, I have a quick announcement at the top of the episode about something exciting happening next week, including how you can join in and ask me your cooking questions live. Chef JRob's Website @chef.jrob on Instagram @tastyduck on Instagram Chef Justin Robinson on Facebook RockstarKitchen on Pinterest @chefjrob on TikTok Youtube Tasty Duck Kosher Duck Italian Sausage Duck Burger Recipe (but use ground duck instead of the sausage) Duck Carnitas Duck Gumbo Recipe Video Chef JRob on Ciao House Christine's Links: Christine on Youtube (this is where the live cooking demo will be on Saturday January 31st, 2026! Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs COOKforTWO! Email Me! [email protected] Subscribe to the Podcast Join the ROTD Facebook Group, TikTok, or Instagram Websites: CookTheStory.com and TheCookful.com Christine’s Newsletter The All New Chicken Cookbook (#ad)

Slow cooked with 13 types of beans, this bean soup recipe makes a filling bowl of healthy and comfort. Recipe: Delicious Bean Soup from COOKtheSTORY. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Delicious Bean Soup The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

Looking for an easy spaghetti and meatballs recipe with big flavor? Italian sausage in the meatballs seasons the sauce as they cook, so you need fewer ingredients and less effort, but you get all the delicious taste. Plus, it’s ready in 20 minutes. Recipe: Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs from TheCookful. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs Pork and Beef Meatballs How to Bake Meatballs Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

Skip the plane ticket! Sophie Sadler is here with the homesick cook’s answer to Germany’s most surprising street food: homemade döner kebab, right down to making the bread. Sophie specializes in German cooking on her blog Dirndle Kitchen, and in this episode we talk about how döner, while not traditionally “German,” is so woven into everyday life in German. We discuss the real-deal components that make döner taste like the ones she remembers and Sophie walks us through building that classic döner experience at home, from the seasoned meat to the creamy sauce and fresh toppings, with homemade bread that seals the deal.  In this episode, I also share why I love 3 day meal plans and how they can make your week go more smoothly, easily. Join COOKforTWO and get our new flexible 3-day meal plans! Sophie's Website: Dirndle Kitchen Sophie's Döner Kebab Recipe Sophie on Instagram: @dirndle_kitchen Sophie's cookbook: German Home Kitchen Ground Beef and Mushroom Skillet Evaporated Milk Mac and Cheese Email Me! [email protected] Subscribe to the Podcast Join the ROTD Facebook Group, TikTok, or Instagram Websites: CookTheStory.com and TheCookful.com Christine’s Newsletter The All New Chicken Cookbook (#ad)

For this roasted broccoli recipe broccoli stalks are roasted whole to end up with a sweet caramelized outside, soft inside. It’s seriously the best broccoli recipe ever! Recipe: Whole Roasted Broccoli from COOKtheSTORY. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Whole Roasted Broccoli Lemon Butter Broccoli The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

One of my family’s favorite cozy dinners, this skillet brings ground beef, mushrooms, and rice together in one pan for a delicious, stress free meal with almost no cleanup. Recipe: Ground Beef and Mushroom Skillet from COOKtheSTORY. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Ground Beef and Mushroom Skillet How to Use Dried Mushrooms Ground Beef and Rice Skillet The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

Forget about chasing the loudest food trends! In 2026, the real movement is quieter, more personal, and a lot more meaningful. Mike Kostyo of Menu Matters is back to kick off the new year, and this time he's zooming out. As a Trendologist who studies what we're eating now and what we'll be eating later, Mike explains why the next wave of food culture is less about viral ingredients and more about authenticity, intention, and connection. Think smaller batch, clearer sourcing, and brands choosing what truly fits them instead of jumping on every bandwagon. I've got to say, I'm pretty psyched! In this episode, we talk about how consumers are craving food that feels real, where it comes from, who made it, and why it exists. We also discuss how this shift shows up in restaurants, grocery stores, and home kitchens, and what it means for how we cook and eat week to week. Mike also shares one of his favorite breezy weeknight dinners that fits perfectly with this mindset. Fish en papillote is simple, flexible, and quietly elegant, letting ingredients shine without a lot of fussiness. It's proof that cooking well doesn't have to be complicated to taste great. If you're curious about where food culture is heading next and how to bring those ideas into your own kitchen, this conversation will leave you inspired and grounded heading into the year ahead. Mike's Links: https://www.menumatters.com LinkedIn: @MrKostyo Instagram: @menu.matters Christine's Links" Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins Baked BBQ Chicken Legs Our Recipe of the Day Facebook Group Email Me! [email protected] Subscribe to the Podcast Join the ROTD Facebook Group, TikTok, or Instagram Websites: CookTheStory.com and TheCookful.com Christine’s Newsletter The All New Chicken Cookbook (#ad)

Looking for deeper flavor in your baked BBQ chicken legs? Pull the skin back before seasoning and then let the high heat take care of the rest. Instructions are given for delicious skin-off chicken legs as well. Recipe: Baked BBQ Chicken Legs from TheCookful. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Baked BBQ Chicken Legs Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs Crispiest Baked Chicken Drumsticks Youtube Video For Skinning Raw Chicken Drumsticks BBQ Grilled Chicken Thighs The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

Need a quick protein for dinner? Chicken tenderloins cook in the air fryer in about 10 minutes and don’t need a breading, just simple seasoning for flavor and color. They’re juicy, fast, and perfect for busy nights. Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins from TheCookful. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: #ad Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins Air Fryer Chicken Tenders The All New Chicken Cookbook Here's the Recipe Of The Day podcast episode page with all of our recipe links, and you can subscribe to the show there too. Join my COOKforTWO Community here! Follow me on social media TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest Newsletter: CookTheStory.com Websites: COOKtheSTORY.com and TheCookful.com Have a great day! -Christine xo

Forget the idea that meal planning has to be rigid or boring. Angela Pittman is here with a real-life, flexible approach that makes weeknight dinners easier and more delicious, especially when school and routines kick back in. Angela has been a professional in the food industry for decades, and she's also my sister-in-law! With all of her cooking skills, and practical life skills, she has figured out how to plan meals in a way that actually works for her busy family. In this first episode of the new year, it's time to get back into our routines and this episode will help. Ang also shares her delicious homemade tomato sauce, that is also a great way to never waste fresh veggies. Links: Quarry Oaks Golf Course Garlic Brie Pork Chops and Sauerkraut Email Me! [email protected] Subscribe to the Podcast Join the ROTD Facebook Group, TikTok, or Instagram Websites: CookTheStory.com and TheCookful.com Christine’s Newsletter The All New Chicken Cookbook (#ad)