Perhaps just a decade ago, the dominant theory was that food likes and dislikes were learned. But genetic research is changing the game, proving that what you like and dislike may actually be part of your DNA.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of three dozen cookbooks and more than 20,000 original recipes. This is our food and cooking podcast, part of our passion for all things culinary.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[00:56] Our one-minute cooking tip: Rent a tablescape!

[04:15] Are your food preferences written in your DNA? We're talking about the latest genetic research and how your likes and dislikes may be part of your very biological makeup . . . and how you can actually learn to override your own DNA.

[18:44] What’s making us happy info this week: vegan chocolate creams and kasha varnishkes.

Chocolate coconut macaroons. Not almond cookies. But very simple cookies loaded with coconut and almost fudgy at the center. A true treat. And we're making them in our kitchen for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK.

Hey there. We're veteran cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough. We've written and published three dozen cookbooks with more on the way. We've developed over 20,000 original recipes in the past twenty-five years. This is our podcast about food and cooking, our passion. We're happy you've joined us!

Here are the segments for this podcast episode:

[00:55] Our one-minute cooking tip: Always use kosher salt for brines and marinades.

[03:12] We head to the kitchen and make simple chocolate coconut macaroons. Here's the recipe:

Heat the oven to 350F/175 C fan or convection.

Line an 18 x 13 inch/46 x 33 cm baking sheet with parchment paper.

Beat 4 room-temperature large eggs, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until soft peaks form.

Beat in 1 cup/200 grams granulated white or caster sugar in small increments until it's all been added and you can't feel grains of sugar between your (clean) fingers.

Remove the beaters and fold in one 14 ounce/400 gram package of sweetened, shredded coconut.

Then fold in 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons/75 grams unsweetened cocoa powder until well combined.

Drop by heaping, spiky tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before enjoying.

[14:57] What’s making us happy in food this week: jammy oat bars and dried pears.

Let's talk condiments. Our fridge is full. Yours should be, too.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, veteran cookbook authors who have written and published three dozen cookbooks (and are working on yet another). This is our podcast about food and cooking, our passions in life. We're so happy you've joined us.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[00:45] Our one-minute cooking tip: high on the stove vs. low heat in the oven.

[03:45] Let's talk about condiments . . . and why your fridge should be as full as ours.

[17:13] What’s making us happy in food this week: Calabrian passata and high-fiber pasta (without being whole-grain pasta).

Hey there. We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough. We've written three dozen cookbooks for seven New York publishers (not counting two knitting books for Bruce and a memoir for Mark). We're excited to share our passion about food and cooking with you.

We're headed into the kitchen to make some irresistible jammy oat bar cookies. We've got a one-minute cooking tip about storing cheese. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

[00:57] Our one-minute cooking tip: wrap cheese in fresh plastic wrap every time you open it.

[02:46] We're making jammy oat bar cookies. Mark has been taking these cookies to his literary seminars all this year. Lots of Cather and Faulkner with lots of cookies. You can't beat that.

Here's the recipe:

Jammy Oat Bar Cookies

Heat the oven to 350F (175 C—no convection or fan)

Line a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33-cm) baking pan with parchment paper.

In a stand mixer, beat at medium-low speed until creamy and light (about 5 minutes):

• ¾ pound (3 sticks or 340 g) unsalted butter, cut into small
• pieces
• 1 cup (215 grams) packed dark brown sugar
• ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar

Beat in 1 large egg until smooth.

Stop the mixer and beat down the inside of the bowl, then

beat in 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Beat in 2¼ cups (285 grams) all-purpose or plain flour, 2 1/4 cups (200 g) rolled oats, and 1½ cups (175 grams) toasted walnut pieces, just until the flour is incorporated.

Press about two-thirds of this dough into an even layer in the prepared baking pan. Spread with 1½ cups (480 grams) jam, preserves, or marmalade (do not use jelly!) and dollop the remaining dough in small bits on top, pressing them gently into an even layer with some jam showing through.

Bake until set and browned, about 45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before turning out and slicing into bar cookies.

[15:19] What’s making us happy in food this week: pretzels with grapes (!) and quince paste.

Vegetable pancakes? What an easy lunch, snack, or even dinner! Mark's been cooking much more vegan fare lately, so this recipe is one that he's now made countless times: a richly stocked vegetable pancake, sort of based on Korean vegetable pancakes (yachaejeon or 야채전), but packed with more vegetables and able to withstand many substitutions, based on the types of vegetables you like. No roots, all quick-cooking vegetables, please. And all cut to matchsticks or shredded through the large holes of a box grater. But then you're good to go.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of three-dozen cookbooks (with a new one due to our publisher within the next month). We love to share our passion for food and cooking with you. Thanks for coming along with us.

If you'd like to see our latest cookbook, check out THE LOOK & COOK AIR FRYER BIBLE here.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[00:45] Our one-minute cooking tip: Toast whole spices in a dry skillet for more flavor.

[03:58] Let's make vegetable pancakes!

Here's the recipe:

Thinly slice, shred, or turn into matchsticks all of the following: 1 carrot, 1 small peeled onion, 4 or 5 shiitake mushroom caps, and 1 medium fresh jalapeño, stemmed and cored. Also shred or cut 1 medium zucchini into matchsticks, then squeeze these dry over the sink to get rid of excess moisture.

Stir in a large bowl 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose or plain flour, 1/4 cup (28 grams) cornstarch or corn flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 cup (240 ml) water.

Add the vegetables and stir until well coated and combined.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, then swirl in a little toasted sesame oil. Add the vegetable mixture and spread it into an even pancake. Cook until golden, even browned, about 6 minutes. Use the courage of your convictions to flip the pancake, then continue cooking until golden-brown on the other side, about 6 minutes. Slide the pancake out onto a cutting board.

As it cools, whisk together an easy dipping sauce: 1 tablespoon (15 ml) toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) soy sauce, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) unseasoned rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon agave syrup or granulated white sugar, and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) red chili oil.

Cut the pancake into pie wedges and serve with the dipping sauce on the side.

[18:50] What’s making us happy in food this week? Mushroom ketchup and a men's game dinner.

Hey there. We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scabrough, veteran cookbook authors with three dozen cookbooks under our belts and years writing magazine features and being columnists for those very magazines, including COOKING LIGHT, EATING WELL, and weightwatchers.

This is our food and cooking podcast. We've got a one-minute cooking tip about people who want to help you in the kitchen. We're talking about to make sure an internet recipe works . . . and how to look for decent recipes. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week: Bonchon Chicken and veal marengo.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:33] Our one-minute cooking tip: how to handle people who want to help in the kitchen.

[06:38] How to make online recipes work . . . or make sure they work.

[18:47] What’s making us happy in food this week: Bonchon chicken and veal marengo.

Hey there, we're veteran cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of three dozen cookbooks (NOT including those ghost-written for celebrities--now there's a story!).

In this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK, we've got a one-minute cooking tip about tasting food through the process of cooking. We're taking on some of the most common cooking myths. We can't believe they're still around! And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

We take apart 101 cooking myths in our book, LOBSTERS SCREAM WHEN YOU BOIL THEM AND 100 OTHER MYTHS ABOUT COOKING. If you'd like to get your hands on a copy, click on this link right here.

[00:54] Our one-minute cooking tip: taste what you're cooking during the process of cooking, not just at the end (but be safe!).

[04:20] We're taking on some of the most common cooking myths.

[18:14] What’s making us happy in food this week? "Drunken" rice noodles )with chicken and basil) and Fresno chilis.

Hey there. We're veteran cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough. Together, we've written three dozen cookbooks . . . with more on the way. We've sold almost 1 1/2 million copies and tested/developed tens of thousands of recipes. This is our food and cooking podcast!

In this episode, we've got a one-minute cooking tip about music and cooking! We're making a great recipe for fudgy vegan recipes. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:43] Our one-minute cooking tip: Music can make cooking and even eating better!

[05:53] We're making fudgy vegan chocolate brownies.

Here's the recipe:

Position the rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350F/175C. Line an 8-inch/20-cm baking pan with parchment paper.

Melt 2 1/2 ounces/80 grams dark chocolate (70 - 79% cocoa solids).

Stir in 1 1/4 cups or 250 grams granulated white sugar or caster sugar (by weight not volume). Stir in 1/4 cup or 60 milliliters olive oil; 3 tablespoons or 62 grams molasses or (better yet) black treacle; and 1 tablespoon or 15 milliliters vanilla extract. Finally, stir in 2/3 cup or 160 milliliters unsweetened almond milk.

Now blend these in a SECOND bowl: 1 cup or 120 grams all-purpose or plain flour; 3/4 cup or 62 grams unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon baking powder; and 1/4 teaspoon table salt.

Stir in the flour mixture, then stir in 1/2 cup or 56 grams chopped shelled walnuts. Scrape and spread every speck into the prepared pan.

Bake until puffed and set, about 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

[18:54] What’s making us happy in food this week? Nori and wasabi chili crisp and Luden's cough drops.

Hey there. We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough and we've written three dozen cookbooks, plus more on the way. We're veteran food writers and we love sharing our passion about food and cooking with you.

If you'd like to check out our latest book, THE LOOK & COOK AIR FRYER BIBLE, with over 700 photographs for 125 recipes, click on this link right here.

On this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK, we'll give you a one-minute cooking tip about grating cheese. We'll tell you when to scrimp and when to save at the supermarket. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week: Chinese ribs and red-oil dumplings.

Here are the segments for this podcast episode:

[00:43] Our one-minute cooking tip: how to grate cheese more effectively.

[03:12] Our notes on when to skimp or splurge at the supermarket.

[17:31] What’s making us happy in food this week: Chinese ribs and red-oil dumplings.

Hey there. We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough. Together, we've written three dozen cookbooks (working on #37 right now) and we've sold almost 1.5 million copies of our books.

We're delighted you're joining us for our adventures in food and cooking. In this episode, we offer a simplified version of more traditional Cantonese dish: a spicy pork dipping sauce (almost a ragu) for raw vegetables. We've got a one-minute cooking tip about easy, cheesy dumplings. And we'll tell you what's making us happy in food this week.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[01:00] Our one minute cooking tip: how to make easy, cheesy dumplings for chilis and stews.

[03:04] We're making warm a coconut curry pork dipping sauce for vegetables. Think of this as our easy take on a traditional Cambodian dish--or better yet, a spicy, Asian-inspired pork ragu that you can drag all sorts of raw vegetables through for a fun and tasty dinner.

[16:42] What’s making us happy in food this week: satsuma oranges and old-school chicken soup.