They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but how do we find ourselves there? Join host Liren Baker in the Kitchen Confidante podcast, a side dish to the recipe blog, Kitchen Confidante, as she explores the food journeys of passionate chefs, food writers, photographers, recipe developers, artisans, bloggers, and more! Learn how they got their starts and what fuels their taste and inspiration!
Subscribe on all podcasting apps, rate & review on iTunes and Apple Podcasts! Follow us on social media at @kitchconfidante
Episode 142: In the Mood to Bake with Alex George: Nostalgic Desserts, Riffing & More
If you grew up loving treats like Kudos Bars, Italian Rainbow Cookies, and chocolate chip cookies, you’re going to have a lot of fun with this conversation. I’m chatting with Alex George, the self-taught baker and creator behind Lily P. Crumbs, about her new cookbook, In the Mood to Bake: Extraordinary Treats from Lily P. Crumbs.
Alex takes the nostalgic desserts we remember from childhood and gives them a homemade twist, while sharing her approach to “riffing”—playing with recipes and making them her own. We also talk about Alex’s journey into baking and the very personal challenges she faced while writing this book.
It’s a conversation about nostalgic desserts, creative baking, and the joy of making something delicious from scratch. And, of course, we talk about what makes the perfect chocolate chip cookie.
Follow Alex on Instagram @lilypcrumbs (https://www.instagram.com/lilypcrumbs/), and learn more on her website, lilypcrumbs.com (https://lilypcrumbs.com/cookbook/).
Episode show note: https://kitchenconfidante.com/in-the-mood-to-bake-alex-george (https://kitchenconfidante.com/in-the-mood-to-bake-alex-george)
16 Sept 2026
Episode 141: Better than Grandma’s — with Justin Ellen of Everything Just Baked
For many of us, baking with a grandparent is a wonderful core memory. And for Justin Ellen, the baker and cake artist behind Everything Just Baked, his love of baking started at a young age with the grandmas in his life. That early passion has taken him from nostalgic homemade desserts to show-stopping custom cakes for celebrities and major brands.
His new cookbook Better than Grandma’s is filled with nostalgic cakes and desserts inspired by the kind of baking that brings people together — banana pudding, apple fritters, baked Alaska, and more. The book is also a tribute to Justin’s three grandmothers who each played an important role in his life and love for baking.
In this episode, we talk about what he learned from his grandmothers, some of his favorite baking tips and techniques, and how that little boy with the KitchenAid mixer grew into the accomplished baker he is today.
Learn more about Justin on Instagram, @everythingjustbaked, and learn more on his website, everythingjustbaked.com (http://everythingjustbaked.com).
4 Sept 2026
Episode 140: Love What's On Your Plate: Finding Joy in Seasonal Cooking with Stephanie Valentine
When we think about eating well, it is easy to get caught up in rules, trends, and the latest nutrition advice — but Stephanie Valentine reminds us that good food isn’t about restriction — it’s about finding joy in what’s on our plate.
Stephanie is a nutritionist, recipe developer, and the author of Love What's On Your Plate: Finding Joy in Seasonal Cooking. In this episode, we talk about the inspiration behind her book, why growing even just a few herbs can change the way you cook, and the nutritional wisdom woven throughout its pages. Whether you're looking for fresh seasonal inspiration or simply a reminder that healthy eating can be both delicious and deeply satisfying, you'll love this conversation!
Learn more about Stephanie at https://svliving.com (https://svliving.com) and follow her on Instagram: @s.v.living (https://www.instagram.com/s.v.living)
Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/love-whats-on-your-plate-stephanie-valentine (https://kitchenconfidante.com/love-whats-on-your-plate-stephanie-valentine)
Who has been a guest on Kitchen Confidante Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ellen Kanner
Meathead Goldwyn
Jessica Merchant
Morgan Bolling
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
19 ratings
Spotify
4.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
89
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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