Food for Body, Mind, and Spirit

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Sept 20^th Recipes Start Here

Sept 20^th Podcast

Link to Buzzsprout Podcast

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Making Memories: At Every Celebration

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There’s something special about gathering around a beautifully arranged board of food; the colors, the textures, the laughter as everyone shares it together. In her newest book, Celebration Boards: 50 Creative Boards to Turn Any Occasion into a Celebration, bestselling author and entertaining expert Maegan Brown (better known as The BakerMama) shows us that those joyful moments don’t have to wait for big holidays or milestones. This fourth book in her beloved series continues the fun, festive trend she helped popularize. It offers approachable, family-friendly boards, which we can’t wait to make and try. In our conversation, Maegan shares the love she expresses in her creations, and we’re excited to give you a closer look at four of her newest boards; just in time for those autumn get-togethers too.

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Maegan Brown – Cookbook Author

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Maegan’s approachable style, time-saving shortcuts, and eye-catching presentations have helped make food boards a must-have centerpiece for modern gatherings. In Celebration Boards, she expands the possibilities with interactive meal boards, festive brunches, desserts, cocktails and mocktails, kid-friendly creations, and creative spreads that turn simple ingredients into unforgettable moments around the table.

From holiday traditions and birthday parties to family dinners, book clubs, game nights, brunches, and backyard gatherings, this volume brings fresh inspiration for even more occasions. Every board features stunning full-page photography, easy-to-follow assembly instructions, practical prep-ahead tips, and accessible ingredients that make impressive entertaining surprisingly simple.
Inside, you’ll discover 50 brand-new boards.

The book is available through Amazon. Barnes & Noble, and other fine bookstores through out the country.

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Fall Mood Board

What Maegan says about  this idea: “Celebrate the cozy flavors of autumn with this abundant fall board. A baked Brie centerpiece, nestled among pumpkin-shaped bowls of seasonal dips, sets the stage for an inviting spread of fruits, cheeses, meats, and sweet fall treats. It’s festive enough for a party, yet simple enough to bring a little autumn magic to any gathering.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Fall Mood Board

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BBQ Baked Potato Board

What Maegan says about this idea: “This cozy, crowd-pleasing board is loaded with both russet and sweet baked potatoes, smoky BBQ meats, and all the classic fixings. The perfect rustic feast for family dinners, casual gatherings, or game-day spreads, everyone builds their own ultimate BBQ baked potato just how they like it! It’s a fun, interactive meal that tastes like a backyard BBQ . . . and no grill required.”

pdf for Copy of Recipe – BBQ Baked Potato Board

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Halloween Ghost Board 

What Maegan says about this idea: “Bring a little BOO-tiful fun to your Halloween gathering with this playful Ghost Board made entirely from white, black, and orange treats. It’s easy to assemble and even more fun to serve. No tricks, just treats!”

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Halloween Ghost Board 

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Turkey Sandwich Board

What Maegan says about this idea: This is a festive, fun, and low-stress way to serve Thanksgiving flavors to a crowd—no carving knife required! Built in the shape of a turkey, this slider board makes a big visual impact while being easy to prep and serve. It’s perfect for Friendsgiving, a casual family gathering, or to make Thanksgiving leftovers feel fresh.”

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Turkey Sandwich Board

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Sept 6^th Recipes Start Here

Sept 6^th Podcast

Link to Buzzsprout Podcast

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Food That Lives On

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Sharing Traditions
In the mountains of Lebanon, there is a house called Beit Trad and food is never just about sustenance. It is a memory made edible, a quiet thread that carries stories from one generation to the next. Sarah Trad’s new book, A House in the Lebanese Mountains: Recipes & Stories from Beit Trad, invites us into that world. It is a place of light, generosity, and the enduring pleasure of gathering around a table.

We are privileged to share four recipes from this beautiful book: simple Peas and Carrots, a comforting Beef Stew, a fragrant Bulgur Pilaf, and a bright Lemon Lentil Soup. Each one reflects the spirit of a home where traditions live on through the act of cooking and sharing. Here we are bringing it to yours.

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Sarah Trad – Author and Owner of Beit Trad

Sarah Trad is the founder of Beit Trad, an eighteenth-century Lebanese family home reimagined as a boutique guesthouse. With a background spanning clinical psychology, hospitality, wellness, and social innovation, she brings a uniquely holistic perspective to the art of living and hosting. Beiti Beitak means “my house is your house” in Arabic. This is the story of the house of Sarah Trad―hostess, designer, mother―in a book capturing the enigmatic spirit of the Levant.

This book opens the doors of a family home in the Lebanese mountains that was transformed into a welcoming guesthouse, offering authentic insight into Lebanese hospitality and traditional home-cooked recipes. It shares the history of the house and the intimate story of a family. Lebanon and the Middle East are continuously in the news because of violence, war, and financial crisis – A House in the Lebanese Mountains offers a different angle.

Beit Trad offers the best cuisine to be found in the Levant. The home’s interior is light, airy, and fundamentally theatrical, drawing on Eastern aesthetics, accents from the souks of Damascus, finds from the flea markets of Beirut, and a touch of Western decor to enrich the Levantine character of the house.

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Recipes from Beit Trad

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 Beit Trad – Green Peas and Carrots
A simple but flavorsome vegetarian stew served with rice and crisp vermicelli.

About the Recipe by Sarah Trad – This simple but flavorsome stew appears very regularly in Lebanese households because it mainly uses common pantry ingredients. While Lebanese stews usually feature some type of meat, the one we make at Beit Trad is vegetarian.

 Beit Trad – Green Peas and Carrots

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Beit Trad – Hearty Beef and White Bean Stew
A robust stew with tender beef and creamy white beans in a rich tomato sauce.

About the Recipe by Sarah Trad – This robust stew combines tender beef with creamy white beans in a rich tomato sauce, making it a filling meal that will satisfy any hearty appetite. Whether you use butterbeans or another large white bean variety, the key to this stew’s deep flavors lies in proper seasoning and slow cooking. It’s a perfect comfort dish for any season, and tastes even better if made a day or two ahead.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Beit Trad – Hearty Beef and White Bean Stew

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Beit Trad – Bulgar and Tomato Pilaf
Serve as a light main or side dish.

About the Recipe by Sarah Trad – This was one of my mom’s favorite dishes. There are many variations on a bulgur and tomato pilaf, with some cooks adding vegetables such as chopped zucchini or eggplant; our version includes chickpeas sautéed with onions and spices. We like to serve ours with a fresh tomato, onion, and parsley salsa, while some prefer a dollop of thick yoghurt. We approve of both!

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Beit Trad – Bulgar and Tomato Pilaf

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Beit Trad – Lentils and Lemon Soup
A very lemony Beit Trad favorite soup.

About the Recipe by Sarah Trad – Ask any Lebanese person what their favorite soup is and they will tell you it’s this one: lentil soup with Swiss chard and lemon. We make ours very lemony at Beit Trad! Like all soups and stews, it tastes even better the next day.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Beit Trad – Lentils and Lemon Soup

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Links to 2025 Monthly Programs

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January 2025 Program – Sweet Dreams/Sleep Expert -Dr. Beth Malow

February 2025 Program – Discover a Medical Pharmacist – Sylvia Ezra

March 2025 Program – Dining by Rail/Rail Historian – James D. Porterfield

April 2025 Program – Recipes with Love – UMMA the book /Sarah Ahn

May 2025 Program – It’s Party Time! Whittaker Inn

June 2025 Program – Farmer Lee Jones with Charlie Trotter Pop-up Dinner

July 2025 Program – Six Sisters Stuff – 30 Minute Meals

Aug 3rd – Podcast – Sizzling Steaks – RPM Steakhouse-Scotty Gelband 

Aug.17th -Podcast – Discover Soulful Indian Recipes, Heartland Masala book & Sangita Handa Home Cooking

Sept 7th – Podcast – From Trotter’s Legacy to Your Table: A Culinary Tribute

Sept 21^th Podcast – Vegan Goes Italian – Vegana Italiana – Chef Tara Punzone

Oct 5th Podcast – Koji Experience – Jeremy Umansky, Rich Shih, Koji Alchemy book

Oct 19th Podcast – Cake Time is Bake Time – Dorie Greenspan’s book, Dorie’s Anytime Baking.

Nov 2nd Podcast – Part 1 Magic Moments with Dorie Greenspan, Dorie Greenspan’s World Peace Cookies, Gloria Goodtaste’s “Around-the-World” Peace Cookies

Nov 9th Podcast –Holiday Recipes Start Here – Part 2 Trending Thanksgiving Recipes

Nov 16th Podcast – Holiday Recipes Start Here: Part 3: Celebration of Native American Recipes – Rooted in Fire -the book , Pyet DeSpain

Dec 7th Podcast – Elfie’s Christmas Cookie Adventure

Dec 21st Podcast – Heritage Holidays – Weaving Stories Through the Generations

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Links to 2026 Monthly Programs

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Jan 4^th 2026 Podcast – Flavorful Mocktails by Ryan Castelaz, Family Friendly Mocktails Drinks

Jan 18th 2026 Podcast –A Secret Peek into Fine Dining, Korean Style at Charlie Trotter’s Guest Chef Series Vol.10

Feb 1st 2026 Podcast – Chocolate Lovers Delight, Love of Chocolate book, Phillip Ashley Chocolatiers

Feb 15^th 2026 –  Madagascar, Emmanuel Laroche Author, A Taste of Madagascar, GG Inspired Recipes

Mar 1^st 2026 – Filipino Food, Kasama Michelin Starred Restaurant, Cebu Filipino Food

Mar 15^th 2026 – Nashville Chefs Come North, Trevor Moran Locust, Interesting Recipes

April 5^th 2026 – Traditional Recipes, Modern Twists – Erik Anderson Michelin Starred Chef

April 19th 2026 – A Mother’s Love on Every Plate. Gus Constantelles Book – A Greek Mom’s Recipes

May 3rd 2026 – Mother’s Love on Every Plate -Part 2, Greek Food at Acropolis Restaurant

May 17th 2026 – Retro Recipe Favorites – Part 2, GG’s Recipes

June 7th 2026 – Flashback Favorite Recipes – Part 2, GG’s Recipes

June 21st 2026 – From Professional Kitchens to Family Tables, Chef Gavin Kaysen, Mentor to Upcoming Chef Talent

July 5th 2026 – James Beard Honorary Dinner- Chef Recipes, James Beard Recipes, At Home James Beard Inspired Recipes

July 19th 2026 – Basket of Summer Flavors – Favorite Recipes

August 2nd 2026 – Michelin Starred Magic at Home, Chef Trevor Teich, Astor Club. Claudia Restaurant and Charlie Trotters Influence

August 16th 2026 – Appalachian Roots to Culinary Heights, David Breedan, At Home Recipes.

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Internet Podcast

‘Tune into the Buzzsprout podcast of Gloria Piantek- Food for Your Body, Mind, and Spirit episode airing at 3: 00 PM ET- Sunday – Sept 20th “On Demand” at your convenience.

Log into our Sept 20th Program.

• Hear from experts about various trending topics.
• Learn how to make delicious recipes.
• Listen to our monthly 3:oo PM ET on 1st & 3rd Sundays of every month for the internet podcast from your computer as well as “On Demand” for our previous podcasts.
• Share your ideas, suggestions, and recipes with us’.

Gloria Goodtaste⁺⁺

**That is the name some of my friends call me. My real name is Gloria Piantek.

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