The Empty Nest Kitchen

Cooking, Culture, and Connection with Paula Mohammed

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Paula Mohammed from In My Kitchen with Paula. Paula and I share a love of good food, connection, and exploring different cultures. Paula told me all about how she started In My Kitchen back in 2018 to bring people together and celebrate traditional recipes. We also talked about her podcast, where she shares amazing culinary stories from cooks all over the world. One of my favorite parts of our chat was hearing how online cooking experiences unexpectedly took off during the pandemic—and how food continues to be such a powerful way to connect. We got into everything from the joy of learning from passionate home cooks, to navigating cultural appropriation in the kitchen, to dreaming up future online classes we’d love to co-host. I can’t wait for you to hear this one—it’s all about food as a bridge, and the magic that happens when we gather around a meal. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:12 Paula's Podcast Journey 02:20 Cultural Connections Through Food 03:33 Challenges and Pivots 05:34 Exploring Iranian Culture 08:10 Food as a Cultural Bridge 21:17 Building Connections Through Virtual Classes 23:11 The Joy of Cooking Together Online 25:51 Acts of Kindness and Culinary Stories 29:38 Cultural Appreciation in Cooking 36:16 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement You can find Paula at www.exploreinmykitchen.com [http://www.exploreinmykitchen.com] pod on all major platforms:  inmykitchenwithpaula IG:  @inmykitchenpaula * Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen [https://www.instagram.com/theemptynestkitchen] and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen [https://www.facebook.com/emptynestkitchen] * Learn more about Menopause Meal Plans [https://emptynestkitchen.com/join] * Sign up for my FREE 10 Essential Tools for the Empty Nest Kitchen [https://affable-truth-33850.myflodesk.com/rydibhdy1b]

The Empty Nest Reset: Finding Your Fall Kitchen Rhythm

As the seasons change, it's time to reset your kitchen and life for fall. This week you'll find practical tips for getting back into a cooking rhythm. From pantry refreshes and meal planning to setting routines and embracing small wins, this episode is packed with advice to help you enjoy cooking again. It also touches on mindset practices to make cooking a pleasurable experience. Don't miss the upcoming free Mediterranean masterclass on September 18th for more tips and inspiration. 00:00 Welcome to Fall: Embracing Change 00:47 Adjusting to an Empty Nest 02:17 Finding Your Cooking Mojo 03:22 Practical Kitchen Tips for Fall 03:43 Pantry Refresh and Meal Prep 09:37 Exploring New Recipes and Mindset 10:40 Meditation and Mindset Shifts 13:45 Planning and Rhythm for the Fall 14:30 Join the Mediterranean Masterclass Register for the September 18 masterclass by clicking here: EmptyNestKitchen.com/masterclass [https://emptynestkitchen.com/masterclass] * Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen [https://www.instagram.com/theemptynestkitchen] and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen [https://www.facebook.com/emptynestkitchen] * Learn more about Menopause Meal Plans [https://emptynestkitchen.com/join] * Sign up for my FREE 10 Essential Tools for the Empty Nest Kitchen [https://affable-truth-33850.myflodesk.com/rydibhdy1b]

Small Bites: Summer on a Plate

Let's talk about the importance of eating seasonally and locally! From making simple no-cook sauces to grilling the perfect seasonal vegetables, you'll find insights to make your kitchen a place of joy and discovery.  00:00 Welcome to the Empty Nest Kitchen 00:25 Seasonal Cooking: A Journey Through Summer 01:17 The Importance of Eating Seasonally 01:58 Restaurant Tips for Seasonal Eating 04:12 Fun with Figs and Kitchen Gadgets 05:14 Creating Delicious Seasonal Dishes 06:06 Splurging on Quality Ingredients 07:19 Simple and Flavorful Cooking Techniques 09:04 Appreciating Seasonal Produce 09:47 Join the Empty Nest Kitchen Community 10:44 Masterclass and Final Thoughts * Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen [https://www.instagram.com/theemptynestkitchen] and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen [https://www.facebook.com/emptynestkitchen] * Learn more about Menopause Meal Plans [https://emptynestkitchen.com/join] * Sign up for my FREE 10 Essential Tools for the Empty Nest Kitchen [https://affable-truth-33850.myflodesk.com/rydibhdy1b]

Small Bites: Garlic Girl Summer

Join me in the Empty Nest Kitchen as I share expert tips and techniques for cooking with garlic. From selecting the perfect garlic bulbs to using raw and roasted garlic in various dishes, we'll covers it all. Learn how to store garlic properly, the benefits of different garlic forms, and even get a sneak peek into my mini course 'Just Add Sauce'. Discover how to bring out the best flavors from this magical ingredient and enhance your culinary skills. 00:00 Welcome to the Empty Nest Kitchen 00:34 The Magic of Garlic 02:14 Choosing and Storing Fresh Garlic 03:57 Alternatives to Fresh Garlic 06:31 Using Raw Garlic 08:29 Roasting Garlic for Deeper Flavors 10:22 Experiment with Garlic 10:40 Join My Mini Course 11:14 Conclusion and Farewell Find more information on Just Add Sauce: The No-Cook Mediterranean Fix [/store] * Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen [https://www.instagram.com/theemptynestkitchen] and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen [https://www.facebook.com/emptynestkitchen] * Learn more about Menopause Meal Plans [https://emptynestkitchen.com/join] * Sign up for my FREE 10 Essential Tools for the Empty Nest Kitchen [https://affable-truth-33850.myflodesk.com/rydibhdy1b]

Small Bites: Gettin' Figgy With It

Let's dive into the excitement of fig season with a joyful celebration of fresh figs. From tips on selecting the perfect figs at the store to storing them properly, you'll learn how to make the most of these delicate fruits. Discover a variety of delicious ways to enjoy figs, including making fig jam, pairing them with cheese, creating a fig salad, and even making a fig pizza or flatbread. This episode is packed with creative ideas and culinary tips. Join the fig appreciation and share your culinary creations using fresh figs! 00:00 Introduction to Fig Season 00:30 Personal Fig Tree Journey 01:29 Selecting and Storing Fresh Figs 03:02 Delicious Fig Recipes and Pairings 04:34 Creative Fig Dishes 07:14 Final Thoughts and Fig Ventures * Follow Christine Van Bloem on Instagram @theemptynestkitchen [https://www.instagram.com/theemptynestkitchen] and on Facebook @emptynestkitchen [https://www.facebook.com/emptynestkitchen] * Learn more about Menopause Meal Plans [https://emptynestkitchen.com/join] * Sign up for my FREE 10 Essential Tools for the Empty Nest Kitchen [https://affable-truth-33850.myflodesk.com/rydibhdy1b]