In this episode of Your Friend in Food, I’m joined by Sarah Bond, creator of Live Eat Learn, nutrition scientist, cookbook author, and the mind behind some of the most dependable plant-forward recipes on the internet.

We talk about everything from her first chocolate-chip-cookie triumph to the unexpected life lessons learned from an exploding eggplant. Sarah shares stories from her years living in the Netherlands, the comfort foods that kept her grounded, how seasonality shaped her palate, and why ranch dressing became a lifeline abroad.

She also breaks down how Marry Me Chickpeas went wildly viral, how travel fuels her creative well, why mushrooms deserve way more love, and what it really took to design her spiral-bound cookbook of reader favorites.

If you love food memories, practical creativity, or recipes that make vegetables shine, this conversation will make you smile.

In this episode:
Falafel Sheet Pan Recipe → https://www.liveeatlearn.com/sheet-pan-freezer-falafel/
Sarah’s Cookbook → https://shop.liveeatlearn.com/products/eat-100-easy-vegetarian-recipes-you-ll-make-again-and-again
Live Eat Learn → https://www.liveeatlearn.com/

When Nashville native Marsha McDougal started Maple Jubilee, she wasn’t just sharing recipes — she was redefining what comfort food could mean.

In this episode of Your Friend in Food, Sandie Markle sits down with Marsha to talk about growing up in a southern kitchen, the health journey that reshaped her cooking, and how she’s building a bridge between soulful flavor and mindful eating.

We talk about:Food memories that anchor us in family and placeHow a health diagnosis inspired her new approach to soul foodHer time developing recipes at Budget Bytes
The balance between comfort, culture, and care

Recipes in this episode:

• Magic Cookie Bars (Hello Dollies): https://maplejubilee.com/magic-cookie-bars/

• Sausage Balls: https://maplejubilee.com/sausage-balls/

Listen to more episodes of Your Friend in Food wherever you get your podcasts — where every meal tells a story.

From her first taste of mangú and tres golpes to her journey as a content creator, Belqui of Belqui’s Twist shows how food can be both comfort and connection.

In this episode of Your Friend in Food, host Sandie Markle talks with Belqui about growing up Dominican, the role of food in family and culture, and how her recipes reflect both tradition and creativity.

Food, family, and stories — it’s all here.

In this episode of Your Friend in Food, Sandie Markle sits down with Giangi Townsend of Giangi’s Kitchen to talk about how food can be a source of comfort, creativity, and connection. Raised in a French and Italian household, Giangi shares her unexpected journey into cooking, how she started blogging for just two friends, and the recipes that still bring her back to herself.

From the crispy rosemary potatoes that remind her of home to the milk rice that once soothed her grandmother, Giangi’s story is a beautiful reminder that the simplest dishes often carry the most meaning.

What does legacy taste like?

In this episode, Chris De La Rosa shares how Caribbean food shaped his identity and how he's helping others connect to theirs.

You'll hear stories about family recipes, food myths, and the quiet magic of cooking what you know. It’s about more than spice; it’s about history, memory, and home.

In this first episode, I’m going solo and sharing my own food story.

From growing up in a Haitian home where my mom did all the cooking, to unexpectedly working in food tech, helping build recipe platforms and apps.

I talk about how a single baked ziti recipe (and a very bad photo) sparked a major career shift, why I consider myself a lazy perfectionist in the kitchen, and how food stories, big or small, can shape who we are.

If you’ve ever been moved, comforted, or changed by a meal… this one’s for you.

Welcome to Your Friend in Food, a podcast about the personal stories behind recipes and the people who carry them. Meet your host, Sandie Markle, who shares how years of working with food creators led to a deeper question: what’s the story behind the recipe?

It’s not about going viral, it’s about meals that matter. This is the first step in a new kind of food conversation.