Pantry Power: Everyday Gourmet Cooking for All
Welcome to a fresh episode of 'At Home' - the podcast where we dive into the heart of everyday home cooking.
Joining me at the kitchen table I have a very special guest: John Kanell.
A former maths teacher turned YouTube personality, John is known for his simple, practical recipes designed for busy families, inspired by his mum's experimental cooking and fuelled by the diverse culinary influences of his Mexican, Greek, and French Canadian heritage.
John's cooking (and baking!) philosophy is all about curiosity, learning through doing, and staying flexible.
In our conversation he shares his insights on involving children in the kitchen, hosting stress-free dinners, and creating everyday meals that feel special yet doable. He also shares tips for turning leftovers into something exciting and the magic of a well-stocked pantry.
We discuss his new cookbook, his take on super easy, minimal effort meals, and the importance of ‘meal-maker’ ingredients, and he also shares his best tips for versatile baking projects.
Whether you're looking to simplify weeknight dinners or add more flair to your cooking, I think John's unique blend of practicality and creativity offers something fresh for everyone - no wonder his Youtube channel is so wildly popular!
Join us as we uncover the secrets to home cooking with flair and style with the one and only John Kanell!
tasty morsels
01:30 Best ingredients: Love, practicality, and experimentation.
05:36 Recipes are just guidelines.
08:55 The importance of curiosity.
13:45 Start early, prep ahead, make it easy for yourself.
15:56 Organize your pantry and add some variety.
19:02 The secret to perfect cakes: use a scale and don't over mix.
23:05 Dill, spanakopita and other Greek flavours.
24:36 Streamlining old family recipes for busy home cooks.
29:51 Variations and substitutions to suit your taste.
32:24 The tricks of food photography.
35:26 Seasonal eating.
the best bit
"My mom taught me a lot of things. But when I think about it, what she really taught me was to be curious."
get cooking
Three ideas for taking action in your own kitchen, inspired by the conversation.
🍅 Spend some time organising your pantry. Stock up on "meal makers" like dressings and sauces ready to enhance simple meals or leftovers. This will make your cooking both more efficient and more creative.
🍅 Find pockets of time to prep your dinner in advance. You could marinate meat, chop vegetables, or make the dressing to save time come mealtime, when time is short and you are tired.
🍅 Select a versatile baking project, like his "build your own cupcake" recipe. Experiment with different flavors and add-ins, and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something special yet manageable.
connect with John Kanell
instagram: @preppykitchen
connect with Katerina
community: No Recipe Club
instagram: @intuitive.cook
youtube: @intuitivecook
additional links
Original music by Colin Bass.
About your host
Katerina Pavlakis
Intuitive cook & irreverent kitchen coach
Growing up in 70s Greece, cooking - and eating - at home was simply normal. Shopping at farmers' markets, drooling over recipes, grinding spices, and animated conversation over dinner are some of my fondest memories. This is where I honed my cooking intuition. I'm here to help you find your way back to a simpler, more joyful way of cooking.
To bring intuition into your kitchen too, start here!
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