Hello my friends, and welcome back to the podcast! Today is a very special day, as in lieu of a regular podcast episode, WE’RE HAVING A PARTY. I gathered together five of my very favorite past podcast guests, who are all acclaimed food writers, cookbook authors (and fellow Substack publishers), for a festive—and seriously fun—holiday special, featuring: , , , , and .
In the show, we dive into our favorite holiday traditions, childhood memories, the recipes we love to make, our favorite desserts (find out who makes all the cookies and who prefers just eating them), how we navigate the busy season, Chanukah, recipe failures, Lunar New Year, and more. The episode is also packed with recipe inspiration, from menu ideas, to serving suggestions, to desserts, and more. In fact, we’ve all shared a favorite holiday dish, which I’ve featured below.
Each of us has a different approach to the holidays and the traditions we uphold (or discard). Whether you’re a tradition renegade like Hetty and Ellie, or more of a traditionalist like Sarah and Andrea (or somewhere in between, like Lukas and I), there’s no right or wrong way to do the holidays, just a way that feels best to you.
Whether you listen or watch this special episode while cooking, resting, walking, or traveling, I hope it provides some joy in the weeks ahead. Also, if you missed any of my past episodes with the guests, I’ve linked to them below!
From my heart to yours, I’m wishing you a wonderful holiday and New Year. I’ll be back with a new newsletter (and recipe) on Friday, but the podcast will go on break until after the New Year, with the next episode airing on January 7th (hold tight, because it’s a really good one).
Finally, just a reminder that this is an ad-free podcast that’s funded entirely by you, my dear listeners. If you enjoyed this holiday special, you can support this work by sharing it with your friends and family, leaving a comment, rating the podcast in your podcast app, or by becoming a paid subscriber. Your financial contributions of just a few dollars a month make all of this possible. My deepest, heartfelt thanks. ❤️
You can listen to (or watch) today’s episode right here, or, better yet, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or You Tube.
xo, Nicki
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Holiday Recipes & Newsletter Links
Ellie’s Minestrone Soup |
Hetty’s Hazelnut Potato Gratin |
Sarah Copeland’s Cranberry Almond Bundt Cake |
Andrea’s Persimmon Pecan Lettuce Wraps |
Lukas’s Spinach & Blue Cheese Phyllo Pie |
Nicki’s Gingerbread Trifle |
Past Episodes with Guests
Thank you for being here and for listening! I’m so grateful for you. This ad-free podcast and newsletter couldn’t happen without community support, and if you find the work valuable, consider going paid. Paid subscribers have access to the full recipe archive, community threads, bonus content, and other fun perks (including discounts on my one-on-one sessions). You can also support this work by giving a gift subscription (you can start the subscription on the date of your choosing). Big hugs, and thanks! ❤️
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