Dinner Chats at 9 AM

It’s the Super Bowl of cooking! In this episode of Dinner Chats at 9 AM, Liz and Jenabeth kick off their two-part Thanksgiving special by tackling turkey and gravy. From dueling family cook-offs to masterclass gravy hacks, they share the lessons learned from decades of holiday meals. You'll get straightforward advice on sizing your bird, mastering simple flavorings, and getting your gravy prepped days ahead to cut down on Thanksgiving Day stress. Grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair as we gear up for the delicious season ahead. Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped makethis possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com 

Hostess gifts, potluck strategies, and party etiquette—oh my! With the holiday gathering season just around the corner, Liz and Jenabeth dive deep into the art of being a great guest and an effortless host. First, Jenabeth shares her food adventures in New Orleans, from discovering authentic muffalettas to enjoying line-worthy, perfectly light fried chicken and almond-glazed beignets at Willie Mae's. Then, Liz admits to a weeknight meal planning misstep involving ambitious homemade chicken tikka masala (and why simmer sauces win next time). Finally, the hosts dish on non-disruptive hostess gifts, transporting hot dishes safely using cooler hacks, handling the generational shift of bringing your own alcohol, and how hosts can give clear, specific assignments to avoid five pumpkin pies on the table. Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped makethis possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com  

In this festive Halloween episode of Dinner Chats at 9 a.m., Liz and Jenabeth share their latest kitchen adventures—from Liz’s happy accident with extra-soft baked apple crisp to Jenabeth’s game-changing techniques for creamy homemade hummus and red pepper muhammara. Then, the hosts dive into nostalgic Halloween memories, including classic party games, haunted house food props, and family traditions. They round out the show with practical party and pre-trick-or-treating food ideas—from batch apple cider punches and cozy chili bars to easy comfort classics like lazy lasagna and festive, sprinkle-covered desserts. Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped make this possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com 

 This week on Dinner Chats at 9 AM, Liz and Jenabeth kick off the episode with an unexpected double-focaccia moment: Jenabeth breaks down her sweet Apple Fritter Focaccia, while Liz shares her experience making a savory Puglia-style Potato and Garlic Focaccia from a Milk Street cookbook. Then, with the holiday entertaining season right around the corner, the hosts dive into their best strategies for easy, stress-free appetizers. They discuss why less is often more when it comes to pre-dinner bites, how to lean on store-bought staples like puff pastry, jams, and cheeses, and tips for assembling stunning grazing boards. From vintage throwbacks like "crabbies" and rye bread bites to warm spinach dips and easy puff pastry tarts, Liz and Jenabeth share their favorite quick-assembly crowd-pleasers that keep host stress low and main course appetites intact.  Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped make this possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com 

Roast chicken is the ultimate kitchen rite of passage, and Liz and JB are sharing their foolproof methods. They cover everything from overnight salting and room-temperature prep to roasting hot at 425°F in a preheated cast iron skillet, knowing when to spatchcock, and using an instant-read thermometer to eliminate guesswork. Plus, they share their favorite pairings—from comforting rice and broccoli to Ina Garten’s famous chicken on bread with arugula salad—and creative ways to repurpose leftovers into slow-cooker stock and puff pastry pot pie. Before diving into the main event, Liz recaps her sister’s butter-themed 40th birthday party featuring a compound butter board and a St. Louis gooey butter cake, while JB shares culinary highlights from a business trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring Tanzanian food, duck and dumplings, and a surprise Red Sox bar. Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped maket his possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com 

Grab your blender and a cozy seat! In this episode of Dinner Chats at 9 AM, Liz and Jenabeth dive headfirst into the wonderful world of smoothies. From freezer staples and sneaky veggie hacks to tropical flavor combinations and game-changing smoothie add-ins, they share everything you need to whip up the perfect morning blend. Plus, Jenabeth reviews a fantastic blackened red snapper dinner in Milton, Massachusetts, Liz chats about small-batch ice cream at Walnut Beach Creamery, and the duo shares what’s been on their minds lately—including cottage cheese protein pancakes and microcurrent fruit and vegetable cleaners. Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped make this possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com 

As the air turns crisp and the season officially shifts to fall, we are diving headfirst into our favorite culinary transition: what’s fresh, vibrant, and waiting for you at the local farm stand. In this episode, we’re talking all things harvest—from picking crisp eating apples at the orchard and baking German apple cakes to obsessing over tender delicata squash, farm-fresh root veggies, and the absolute magic of a warm apple cider donut. Plus, we share a few easy weeknight hacks, including a summer-to-fall riff on eggplant parm straight from the farm stand, and take a virtual trip to a historic Cambridge butcher shop that once served as Julia Child’s personal neighborhood stop. Whether you're planning your weekly family menus, stocking up your root cellar for winter, or dreaming about your next great culinary adventure, pull up a chair and join us!  Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped makethis possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com  

We’re back from summer break and kicking off the fall season by jumping across the pond!In this episode, we’re reminiscing about our work trip to London together back in November2022. From navigating the stunning food halls at Harrods and stumbling into a historicKnightsbridge pub with a literal dumbwaiter, to marveling at the sheer energy of BoroughMarket, we're serving up all our favorite culinary highlights and travel mishaps. Plus, staytuned for what we've been eating this week, including a backyard Brazilian feast and asteak-cooking triumph, along with our thoughts on the fascinating CNN specialTop of theWorldabout Windows on the World. Hit subscribe so you never miss a weekly drop!Instagram@dinnerchatsat9amFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9amThank you to our friends and family who helped makethis possible!Theme Music by: Chris SmithShow Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com

Liz and Jenabeth are back to kick off the "other new year" with a deep dive into all things lunch! After catching up on seasonal summer eats—from Liz’s multi-use Pesto Trapanese to Jenabeth’s late-night French butter and bread feast—the hosts talk through practical strategies for back-to-school meal prep. They discuss the magic of bento boxes, the essential thermos pre-heating trick, and easy work-from-home lunch assemblies. Plus, stick around for a hilarious "cheesecake disaster" birthday story and a trip down memory lane featuring nostalgic school lunches, deli orders, and retro sandwich favorites. 10 Fun Episode Titles Snack Plates, Pot Roast Sandwiches & Bento Box Hacks Dips, Dumplings & Nostalgic Sandwiches What's for Lunch? Bento Hacks, WFH Bowls & Childhood Favorites  Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped makethis possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com 

Fire up the griddle—or is it the grill? This week, we're diving headfirst into one of our absolute favorite foods: classic, no-fuss burgers! We’re breaking down our essential rules for burger construction, from why an 80/20 beef ratio reigns supreme to the exact melty cheeses, toasted buns, and simple toppings that make all the difference. Plus, we share our favorite nostalgic roadside burger joints, a killer buffalo chicken patty recipe, and a few delicious food adventures from our recent travels. Grab a cold drink and come hang out with us!  Instagram @dinnerchatsat9am Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DinnerChatsat9am Thank you to our friends and family who helped makethis possible! Theme Music by: Chris Smith Show Branding By: Melissa Cercone, melissacercone.com