This month we’re talking about Eatable Gifts because no matter what holiday you celebrate—and even if you don’t celebrate any—it's a great time of year to share food with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Receiving is great, but giving is even better; neuroscientists have taken images of people’s brains that show that when they are generous, the pleasure and reward centers light up. These are the same parts of the brain that light up when you do well on a test. So whether you’re making a gift or sharing one of our books, you're not only delighting the recipient, you’re also getting a little jolt of pleasure yourself.

Besides hearing from listeners like YOU, this episode features chef Ana Sortun and sixteen-year-old entrepreneur Te’Lario Watkins.

Try out this Month's recipe: Cinnamon Toast Granola.

Follow us on Instagram for your chance to win whole library’s worth of books: The ChopChop Family Cookbook, I Made This: Snacks, Eatable Alphabet Kitchen Activity Cards, a 1-Year Subscription to ChopChop Magazine, 1 back issue of ChopChop Magazine, and 1 issue of Benjamin: The Smart Money Magazine for Kids, AND Ana Sortun’s book Spice, and Te’Lario Watkins book Te’Lario’s Amazing Mushroom Farm. Wow, that’s a lot of books.

To hear your voice on the show please email questions, recipes, jokes and thoughts to podcast@chopchopfamily.org

Find more at Chopchopfamily.org and follow us @chopchopkids

Squash is an incredible vegetable (fruit)! They come in a dizzying array of colors, shapes, sizes and types. They have been grown for thousands of years and are grown on every continent except Antarctica. In this episode we find out the origins of the word “Squash,” learn from Chef and Author Abra Berens, and take a trip to visit Dawn and Cassius Spears on Ashawaug Farm. Listen in for some great tips on growing, cooking, and eating this fantastic food.

To hear your voice on the show please email questions, recipes, jokes and thoughts to podcast@chopchopfamily.org

Find more at Chopchopfamily.org and follow us @chopchopkids

Want to learn even more about apples? In this BONUS episode we share the whole interview with Amy Traverso, the author of the Apple Lover’s Cookbook. Sally and Amy cover a whole bushel of extra info about Apple varieties, how to choose an apple and some fun apple history!

To hear your voice on the show please email questions, recipes, jokes and thoughts to podcast@chopchopfamily.org

Find more at Chopchopfamily.org and follow us @chopchopkids

Does an Apple a day really keep the doctor away? What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?

This week we are talking about the second most popular fruit in the United States, the one with the most varieties, the most unique names, the most colors and textures and flavors. Fall is apple season and it’s time to make a pie, or a crisp, or just bite right into a crisp Delicious, or Spitzenberg or Jonamac or Pippin. Our Guests include Amy Traverso, author of The Apple Lover’s Cookbook and Emily Weinstein from New York Times Cooking and Food. Tune in to hear more and learn about this fabulous fruit.

Try out this Month's recipe: Fall Apple Crunch.

Music in this episode includes modified versions of: "Strange Italian Song" by Juanitos, "Into Toast Squares" by Mole, and "Cheesy Radio Ballad" and "Jazzy Inquisitors" by Lisa Hammer.

To hear your voice on the show please email questions, recipes, jokes and thoughts to podcast@chopchopfamily.org

Find more at Chopchopfamily.org and follow us @chopchopkids

This month is all about Beans. Green beans, dried beans, canned beans, bean soup, and so much more! Beans are an ancient crop that come in thousands of different varieties, and some have really cool names, shapes and amazing colors.

We talk with Steve Sando, the Founder and CEO of Rancho Gordo, who grows the most beautiful and amazing heirloom beans, and Mandy Bond from JackRabbit Beans, one of the oldest bean companies in the US. We also hear from Farmer Emily Makrez about growing beans, and of course there will be jokes, facts, recipes, and lots of fun! Listen to find out how to win Steve Sando’s new Bean Book.

Music in this episode includes modified versions of: "Oxforf by Night" by Koi Discovery, "Into Toast Squares" by Mole, "Montmartre" by Jahzzar, "Strange Italian Song" by Juanitos, and "Cheesy Radio Ballad" by Lisa Hammer.

To hear your voice on the show please email questions, recipes, jokes and thoughts to podcast@chopchopfamily.org

Find more at Chopchopfamily.org and follow us @chopchopkids

Coming at you this month is the ubiquitous Corn. We dive into Masa, tortillas and tacos alongside lots of jokes, interesting facts, and recipes for this beloved grass. We also share an awesome segment all about the science of Popcorn from "But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids", produced by Vermont Public and hosted by Jane Lindholm. Plus, tortillas in space???

Use code CHOPCHOP10 at Masienda.com for 10% off any of their delicious masa through the rest of 2024, and follow us on Instagram @chopchopkids for a chance to win your very own tortilla making kit!

Music in this episode includes modified versions of: "Strange Italian Song" by Juanitos, "Into Toast Squares" by Mole, "Fastest Man on Earth" by Jahzzar, and "Cheesy Radio Ballad" by Lisa Hammer.

To hear your voice on the show please email questions, recipes, jokes and thoughts to podcast@chopchopfamily.org

Find more at Chopchopfamily.org and follow us @chopchopkids

Announcing the all new ChopChop Podcast. Leaping off the page and into your ears we will be bringing you the same sort of family friendly, kid focused cooking and kitchen information you love in our magazines, newsletters and books! Look out for Kitchen Cash, Fun Facts, exciting interviews and kids telling us all about food. Hosted by Harry Rosenblum (Feast Yr Ears Podcast, Time for Lunch Podcast) and Sally Sampson (Founder of ChopChop Family) the show will take you on a ~30 minute adventure in food every month.

Here's the Recipe for One Ingredient Banana Ice Cream. Stay tuned for next month's episode all about Corn!

Thanks to Lisa Hammer, Juanitos, and mvrassli for the music in this episode.

To hear your voice on the show please email questions, recipes, jokes and thoughts to podcast@chopchopfamily.org

Find more at Chopchopfamily.org and follow us @chopchopkids