The Kitchen Counter - Home Cooking Tips and Inspiration

Show Update October 2023

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Show update for The Kitchen Counter Podcast, October 2023.

Gazpacho

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I share a recipe for one of my favorite refreshing summer dishes: gazpacho. Coming from the south of Spain, gazpacho features fresh...

A Sour Taste

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Vinegar has been around thousands of years, and it is one of the most important sources of acid to a home cook. Even though it's common, it can be a b...

Smorgasbord June 2023

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's smorgasbord episode we talk about foxes in the backyard (that is not a euphemism), and upcoming travel to New Orleans & Cajun Country. Need...

Butcher on the Block with Matt Moore

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we visit with author Matt Moore about his new book "Butcher on the Block: Everyday Recipes, Stories, and Inspirations from Your Loc...

Cast Iron with Ashley Jones

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode Ashley L. Jones, author of Skilletheads: A Guide to Collecting and Restoring Cast-Iron Cookware joins me to discuss cast iron's r...

Any Portobello in a Storm

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we dive into the kingdom of mushrooms. We look at the common mushrooms you'll find at the grocery store, how to select, store and...

From Dough to Slice with Eidref Laxa

18 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we welcome Eidref Laxa, host of the "What's Good Dough" podcast. We talk pizza, and how home cooks can increase their chances of su...

Smorgasbord February 2023

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's Smorgasbord episode I talk about Momofuku and A-Sha noodles. Are egg prices getting you down? Consider using aquafaba in your baking to str...

Chatbots in the Kitchen

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today's show we have a very special guest who joins us for a conversation about artificial intelligence chatbots in the kitchen. World-famous chatb...

Mulligatawny

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fragrant, warm and spicy, luscious and creamy; It's everything you want in a bowl on a cool, damp winter evening. Raid your pantry and you can have th...

Black Cod with Sena Sea

04 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we welcome back Rich and Sena Wheeler of Sena Sea to talk about black cod, a.k.a. sablefish. This deep ocean fish is silky, rich, a...

Thanksgiving 2022

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Thanksgiving is just around the corner here in the U.S., so it's time dust off our pie pans and figure out our turkey plans. On today's episode we sta...

Halloween 2022 - The Fridge at the End of the Street

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Halloween special is back! Once again Chris joins me in the dining room and we do a tasting of a wide variety of snacks (we use that term loosely ...

Smorgasbord October 2022

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's Smorgasbord episode we take a look at the delicious combination of Vietnamese caramel sauce and brussels sprouts. Then we learn how to make...

Let's Cook: Masoor Dal

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hot days give way to cool evenings as the season transitions from summer to autumn. It's the perfect time for a light comfort dish. Today we are headi...

Introduction to Canning

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Preserving food by canning can be an extremely rewarding pursuit. It can also seem complicated, mysterious, or even a bit scary to anyone who has neve...

Knives Out

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Knives are the workhorses of the home kitchen. No matter what you plan to cook, chances are a knife will be involved in the preparation of your meal. ...

Let's Bake: Madeleines

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

These buttery sponge cakes masquerading as delightful shell-shaped cookies are one of my favorite sweets. Madeleines are perfect with a cup of tea or ...

Let's Cook: Mofongo

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we head into the kitchen with some essential Caribbean ingredients to make one of Puerto Rico's signature dishes. Mofongo is a comf...

Rice Time

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Long-grain, short-grain, brown, white, black and red. Converted or minute? The rice section in your typical grocery store has a wide variety of rice a...

Let's Cook: Johnny Cakes

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It seems practically every culture in the world has come up with their own version of fried dough, from Akara of West Africa to the Zeppole of Italy. ...

Smorgasbord May 2022

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's smorgasbord episode we talk about flavored oils, review Elizabeth Williams' great new book "Nana's Creole Italian Table," and take a look a...

All In for Olives

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Olive lovers unite! On today's episode we go deep, and I mean really deep, into the bitter fruit that has been revered for millenia. I'm joined by fel...

In Search of the Perfect Sear

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode Christine Pittman from Cook the Story and the Recipe of the Day Podcast stops by the show to talk about one her favorite cooking te...

Cooking Burnout

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

No matter the skill or passion a home cook has, at one point or another they will have to wrestle with burnout. Maybe exhaustion has set in and you do...

Plant Based Italian with Alice Carbone Tench

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode my friend Alice Carbone Tench stops by to talk about her approach to plant-based Italian cooking, her love for peperonata and other...

The Art of Artichokes

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Spring is around the corner so it's time to shift our focus to some of the seasonal produce that will be soon be heading our way. March through May is...

Smorgasbord February 2022

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's smorgasbord we talk about the Sumo Citrus, cooking with bacon grease, and making an easy sauce with dried chiles. We also hear from our fri...

The Root Cause

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we dig into the wide world of root vegetables. We'll explore the difference between the varieties of root vegetables, including tub...

Smorgasbord January 2022

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to 2022! On today's smorgasbord episode we talk about preserving lemons, recipes from Africa, and cooking prompts to get our creativity flowin...

Happy Holidays 2021

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are deep into December, which means we are in full on holiday mode here at TKC headquarters. What better way to enjoy some holiday podcast goodness...

Essential Eggs with Lisa Steele

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show fifth-generation chicken keeper and all-around egg expert Lisa Steele joins me to crack open the essentials that every home cook sho...

It's All Gravy

20 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's almost Thanksgiving in the U.S. It's a big day for home cooks--maybe the biggest. While there are already a thousand articles, podcast episodes, ...

Demystifying Your Freezer with Andrew Zimmern

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, award winning chef, writer, television personality Andrew Zimmern stops by to talk about every home cook's love/hate relationship ...

Let's Bake: Caramel Apple Galette

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's Fall and there are apples a-plenty. One quick trip to the local orchard yielded more apples that I honestly know what to do with, and we eat a lo...

Breaking Bread with Sarah Gonzalez

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Gonzalez stops by The Kitchen Counter today to talk about her excellent new baking cookbook "Baking with the Bread Lady: 100 Delicious Recipes Y...

Around the World in Four Flavors

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes you just need some new flavors to put to work in your regular cooking routine. On today's episode we take a quick trip around the world to l...

Smorgasbord September 2021

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's smorgasbord episode we take a look at the difference between bananas and plantains, talk about my favorite pan for college students, freezi...

Rum with Bryan Dias

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show my friend Bryan Dias of the NOLA Drinks Show stops by to talk about that most Caribbean of spirits: Rum. It would be easy to get los...

Smorgasbord August 2021

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's Smorgasbord episode I check in with Tejal Rao of the New York Times on her new Veggie newsletter project, share some S'mores Blossom Cookie...

Let's Cook: Jerk Pork

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The beginning of August officially signals the dog days of summer here in Oregon. While there are fewer prettier places this time of year, I do find m...

Test Cook: Beyond Meat

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show I sit down with my brother Randy and we compare notes on our test cook of three popular Beyond Meat products: breakfast sausages, Ho...

Flavors of History with Max Miller

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I love food and cooking, and I love history. It's my lucky day because Max Miller is stopping by the show to talk about how he recreates historic reci...

Talking Food with Mark Bittman

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show Mark Bittman stops by to talk about his fantastic new podcast "Food with Mark Bittman." We also hit upon a range of other interestin...

Basics of Brining

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Summer is coming, and along with that, grilling season. Everyone who has ever tended the fire in a backyard cookout knows that it's a fine line betwee...

Smorgasbord May 2021

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's Smorgasbord episode we check out a great Chili Colorado recipe, share some listener questions, talk about the great book (and Netflix serie...

Emulsions and Vinaigrettes

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we tackle one of the fundamental concepts in cooking: emulsions. A good emulsion is the the key to dozens of common recipes includi...

Copper River Salmon

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, Sena and Rich Wheeler of Sena Sea return to teach me all about the that most magnificent of red-fleshed fish, the Copper River Sal...

Show Announcement May 2021

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A quick update on The Kitchen Counter Podcast joining the Nitty Grits Podcast Network.

Come On Over with Jeff Mauro

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff Mauro stops by the show today to talk about his new cookbook "Come On Over" and share tips for cooking for a crowd. We also had a lot of fun talk...

Smorgasbord April 2021

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's smorgasbord episode we head down to New Orleans to talk with Liz Williams at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, pick up a couple of tip...

Let's Cook: Butter Chicken

10 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I get back into the kitchen for a "Let's Cook" episode! This will be my first time cooking Butter Chicken. I've had it several times at Indian R...

Sobremesa with Josephine Caminos Oría

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I welcome Josephine Caminos Oría, author and founder of La Dorita Cooks, to talk about her new book "Sobremesa: A Memoir of Food a...

Eat This Book with Stacy Michelson

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show I welcome food journalist and artist extraordinaire Stacy Michelson to talk about her super-cool new book "Eat This Book: Knowled...

Pesto

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's show I welcome back Eatsperience Madrid co-founder and cooking coach, Isotta Peira, to talk about a recipe that is near and dear to her hea...

Empanadas

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I welcome my friend Jairo back to the show to talk about one of his newfound labors of love: empanadas. We focus on the Colombian style of empan...

Making Cheese at Home with Kate Johnson

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Johnson, cheesemaking guru and founder of The Art of Cheese, joins us today to give us all the basics for making your own cheese at home. Learn a...

Smorgasbord February 2021

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's smorgasbord episode we tackle a couple of Instant Pot questions, I share my new favorite pie crust recipe, and I talk about the new giveawa...

Taking Smart Risks in the Kitchen with Natasha Ho

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show, Natasha Ho, master-trained chef and founder of The Well-Traveled Palate, stops by to chat about a perennial hot topic for home coo...

Hummus

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show we are traveling to the Middle East to explore one of the most iconic and culturally significant dishes of the region: hummus. Chick...

Smorgasbord January 2021

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Welp. We made it to 2021. Should you be cooking at home in 2021? Uh, yes. Yes you should. Time for a smorgasbord! For complete show notes on this epis...

Let's Bake: Cinnamon Rolls

19 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Let's hop into the kitchen to do a little baking today. One of my favorite special occasion treats is homemade cinnamon rolls. With the holidays upon ...

Fusion Cooking with Eatsperience Madrid

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On today's show I welcome Eatsperience Madrid co-founder and cooking coach, Isotta Peira, to talk about fusion cuisine for home cooks. Isotta and I ha...

Smorgasbord November 2020

15 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We are knee-deep in comfort food season here at the Kitchen Counter, so I am going to chat about an oft-requested recipe, chicken pot pie. I also know...

The Monster Demands a Sandwich

25 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for another Kitchen Counter Podcast Halloween special! Let me ask you a question: what's the weirdest sandwich you've ever eaten, or even he...

Cooking Fish with Sena Sea

23 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fish lovers rejoice! Rich and Sena Wheeler of Sena Sea join me on the show to give their best tips for cooking up salmon, black cod, and halibut. They...

Smorgasbord October 2020

10 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode we are touching on several topics in true smorgasbord form! We've got instant pot, tomato soup, an update on the Halloween episode,...

Veggies Don't Bite with Sophia DeSantis

26 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I am joined by Sophia DeSantis, the force behind the Veggies Don't Bite website, cookbook author, and self-proclaimed "Sauce Queen....

Fresh Homemade Pasta with Local Aromas

04 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Grab some semolina flour and dust off your pasta rollers, today we are diving into fresh homemade pasta, Italian style! Valeria and Benedetta Bianchin...

Let's Cook Scrappy with Joel Gamoran

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show I welcome Chef Joel Gamoran, one of the nation's most well-known sustainability-focused chefs and food scrap user extraordinaire! Jo...

Let's Cook: Quiche

31 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we tackle that staple of brunch menus everywhere: quiche. Listen along for tips on blind baking pie crusts and how to turn out a rich, custardy ...

Let's Cook: Pie Crusts

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is the first part in a "Let's Cook" series. The theme? You guessed it! Recipes that use a pie crust. So naturally we should begin at t...

7 Tips for Grilling Chicken

30 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Grilling season in nigh upon us. Let's turn our attention to that most finicky of grill fare: chicken. Versatile and popular but easy to mess up, chic...

Let's Cook: Chicken Marsala

09 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the kitchen! Today I am doing a live cook-through of Chicken Marsala. This version is easy and quick, and you can even pull it off on ...

Basics of Bread

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Friend of the show Sander Camps stops by to talk about how to set yourself up for success when it comes to baking bread. Sander shares some great tips...

Sweet, Savory, Social with Risa Magid Boyer

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chef Risa Magid Boyer stops by the show to talk about baking sweet treats at home! As owner and operator of Vanillamore, Chef Risa is the perfect pers...

Let's Cook: Shrimp Etouffee

20 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I was craving some Cajun comfort food so I decided to tackle a favorite for this Let's Cook episode: Shrimp Etouffee. Don't let the roux-making step i...

Your Starter Kitchen with Lisa Chernick

19 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the show I welcome Lisa Chernick, author of "Your Starter Kitchen: The Definitive Beginner's Guide to Stocking, Organizing, and Cooking in Yo...

Stay at Home Cooking

19 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

My brother Randy stopped by the show to swap some easy recipes to prepare while being stuck at home. Since we were both under a "stay at home" order d...

Smorgasbord April 2020

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who is ready for a little smorgasbord? Today I tackle some listener questions, talk about the proper way to wash your fruits and veggies, and share a ...

March 2020 Show Update

27 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hi Everyone. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk with you about the crazy times in which we find ourselves living, and how we are getting along her...

Let's Cook: Colcannon

09 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are tackling a traditional Irish peasant dish, colcannon. At its most simple this dish is made with potatoes, cream, butter, and cabbage or k...

Kitchen Questions February 2020

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in as I address more listener questions! Topics include: Searching for Grandma's special recipe When to use cornstarch or flour to thicken sau...

Let's Cook: Semolina Gnocchi

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join me in the kitchen as I make semolina gnocchi. Sometimes called Roman Gnocchi (gnocchi alla Romana) it's an easy dish to master. Rich and creamy, ...

Smorgasbord January 2020

26 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Talking points for the January 2020 Smorgasbord include: The top five most popular episodes from 2019 What you can expect to hear on this show in 202...

Five Tasks Your Instant Pot Makes Easy

12 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Instant Pots and other pressure cookers can make life so much easier for a home cook. You can find countless recipes online, but here are five basic u...

Let's Cook: Potatoes Au Gratin

17 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Potatoes Au Gratin are a luxurious and delicious side dish for your holiday and other winter gatherings. Although the dish can seem intimidating, it i...

Eight Tips for Surviving Holiday Hosting

17 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year. Holiday get-togethers of all shapes and sizes are upon us. Are you hosting this year? Let's look at some tips to make your hos...

REPLAY: Ten Tips to Avoid Turkey Trauma

17 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, I thought it would be good to resurface an episode from 2017 on how to conquer that finicky holiday turkey...

Creature from the Snack Lagoon

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Boo! It's time for the third annual Halloween special of the Kitchen Counter Podcast. What else can I say? Enjoy! For complete show notes on this epis...

Let's Cook: Pork Fried Rice

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Let's head back to the kitchen for another "live cooking" episode featuring everyone's favorite takeout staple: fried rice. For complete show notes on...

Form, Function and Flavor

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I often get requests to talk about ingredient substitutions when it comes to cooking and baking. On one hand, that's a pretty easy ask, what with list...

Let's Cook: Shakshouka

27 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today's live cooking episode finds me in the kitchen making the popular Northern African spiced tomato stew and egg dish. For complete show notes on t...

Pudgie Pies

27 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Stoke up the campfires and grills, today we are diving into pie iron goodness with the authors of Pudgie Revolution: Pie Iron Cookin' for Food-Lovin' ...

More Kitchen Questions

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I tackle some more listener questions! It's a wide ranging show with topics including good pub appetizers, favorite uses for fresh tom...

Smorgasbord July 2019

30 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On today's smorgasbord episode I talk about kamodo grills, the HerbRally Podcast, pudgie pies, and cooking with nuts. Listen on for all the smorgasbor...

New Orleans 2019 Recap

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in North America (or the world, for that matter). Listen in live from the Bourbon O Bar on the corner of ...

Intro to Air Fryers

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Air fryers are the hottest kitchen gadgets going, but what are they and how do they actually work? Is it possible to make deep-fried foods with a tiny...

Bonus: New Orleans Day 1

14 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Day one of our 3.5 day tour of New Orleans kicks off. Randy and I do a super-short recap of everything we ate in our quest to cross off 23 bucket list...