Borderline Salty

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music give pointers for getting golden brown cutlets, share strategies on veg-heavy dishes that won't heat up your kitchen, and help a caller achieve the ideal crispy-chewy-crunchy-gooey chocolate chip cookies. 

Plus, actress Eva Longoria joins this week’s Total Kitchen Nightmare segment to discuss how cooking mishaps made her a better chef.

This week’s recipe book:

• Ric...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music discuss solutions for achieving perfectly softened buttah, share how they remedy jalapeño hands for…post-dinner activities, and talk through some helpful tips for what to eat (or drink) while dealing with health issues that take solid foods off the table. 

This week’s recipe book:

• In NYC? Check out Parcelle Wine Bar and Heart of Dinner
• Rick’s Cheesy, Meaty Lasagna 
...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music dive into the dos and don’ts of grilling sausage, break down the different ways to store your baked goods, and share the kitchen appliances they think are the most underrated. 

And on the latest No, Thank You, Please, Rick and Carla make a very convincing argument for trying eggplant.

This week’s recipe book:

• In Mexico City? Check out Los Cocuyos
• Carla’s Sorry, I...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music offer sweet and salty snack ideas for your next movie night, share safety tips for using a mandoline, and break down their philosophies around recipe development.

This week’s recipe book:

• Steve Jenkins’ book Cheese Primer
• Check out this cheese paper
• Carla's mandoline recommendation
• Rick’s Totally Easy Tortilla Española with Romesco
• Carla on her love for this perf...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music give guidance on grit-free mussels and clams, tips on making tender corn tortillas, and suggestions on how to cherish expensive, but delicious, caviar.

And this week on No, Thank You, Please, Rick and Carla remind us why tomatoes, especially this time of year, are worth a try.

This week’s recipe book:

• In NYC? Check out Leo Sourdough and Russ and Daughters
• The Espress...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music dream up new summer pastas, give guidance on making creamy oat milk, and explain the difference between fresh garlic and garlic powder (and why you need both).

This week’s recipe book:

• Rick’s dad’s Refried Beans
• Carla’s Swiss Chard Pesto Pasta
• Carla’s Daddy Pasta
• Crunchy Peanut Butter Cup Rice Cakes 

As always, we’d love to hear about your cooking conundrums...

On this episode hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music support callers through how to make perfectly cooked duck, help plan a dinner party with surprise ingredients, and share tips on what to do with all of your extra celery. 

And this time on No, Thank You, Please, Rick and Carla explain why you should warm up to artichokes. 

This week’s recipe book:

• Rick’s Chocolate Birthday Cake
• Andy Baraghani’s The Cook You Want To Be
• Ca...

On today’s episode of Borderline Salty, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music respond to a rant about unsalted butter, discuss the basics of spice cabinet organization, and share tips for how to stretch a limited amount of basil. 

Plus, Stephen Satterfield from Netflix's High on the Hog joins us to share a kitchen nightmare story from his early days in fast-food service. Since we recorded this episode, High on the Hog won a Peab...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music share how they stock their fridges to make the most out of leftovers, discuss baking with hot hands and at high altitudes, and give their rapid-fire advice for getting the crispiest potatoes in the oven.

Also, they tackle a different kind of “oyster” the latest "No, Thank You, Please". 

This week’s recipe book:

• In Charleston, SC? Check out Chubby Fish
• Carla’s Big-Bat...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music share how they keep their kitchens pristine, break down the variables to keep your cream sauces from splitting, and discuss what it takes to plan the perfect party menu. 

Also, the first live Rad Fad/Bad Fad tasting! Rick soldiers through a bite of the latest trend that is under review: fresh watermelon topped with mustard. 

This week’s recipe book:

• In NYC? Check out ...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music give expert tips on making ganache, share their favorite ways to enjoy tinned sardines, and offer advice on navigating the culinary industry.

Also, Carla shares her anti-ziti testimony in this week’s No, Thank You, Please. 

This week’s recipe book:

• Rick’s Chocolate-Dipped Concha Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Carla on “beans, greens, and sardines”
• Carla's How-I-Like-It Tuna Salad...

On this episode, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music discuss deepening chocolatey flavor, finding balance with fish sauce, and handling wet burgers. 

Also, Chef Missy Robbins joins the show to discuss her Total Kitchen Nightmare involving a classic salt-sugar mix-up. 

This week’s recipe book:

• Get your caffeine fix with Rick’s Iced Café de Olla recipe
• Watch Carla make her Mocha Hazelnut Biscotti
• Chef Tu David Phu’s Nước Ch...

On this episode of Borderline Salty, hosts Ricks Martinez and Carla Lalli Music marinate on marinades, share their tips for making whole fish less scary, and welcome a live caller. 

We’ll also hear Carla and Rick’s takes on blood sausage in the latest No, Thank You, Please. 

This week’s recipe book:

• Check out PAI Northern Thai Kitchen in Toronto
• Rick's Mezcal Marinated Fajitas  
• Find Carla’s Not-Scary Grilled Whole Fish in he...

On this episode of Borderline Salty, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music discuss getting to a perfectly textured salsa verde, where to find their favorite peppers, and how to overcome the fear of frying. 

Also, the latest Rad Fad/Bad Fad contender: pasta chips. 

This week’s recipe book: 

• Check out Broadway Restaurant
• Rick’s Salsa Verde o Roja Cruda
• Saltie Is Gone but Their Scuttlebutt Recipe Lives On
• Carla’s Whipped Aioli...

On today’s episode of Borderline Salty, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music weigh in on shrimp heads, how to use up the veggies in your CSA box, and their tips for cooking steak. 

Plus, one of our favorite drag queens, Miz Cracker, joins us to share an egg-cellent kitchen nightmare story. 

This week’s recipe book: 

• Check out the sundae at Thai Diner 
• Watch Carla make Butter-Basted Steak 
• Rick’s Anytime Minestrone 
• Carla...

On today’s episode of Borderline Salty, our hosts Carla Lalli Music and Rick Martinez are together in NYC! 

They catch up IRL about their latest dining experiences and give their very strong opinions about beans. They also weigh in on how much salt is too much salt (spoiler: the limit does not exist!). 

Want to check out the restaurants we mentioned this week? Shout out to Bonnie's!

This week’s recipe book:

• Carla’s Pasta e Fagioli...

On today’s episode of Borderline Salty, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music weigh in on the best ways to use MSG, growing to love nopales, and how to take care of your cast iron skillet, whether it’s been in your family for generations or brand new out of the box! Also, Carla shares a kitchen nightmare story from her days as a personal chef.

This week’s recipe book: 

• Rick’s nopales recipe can be found in his cookbook “Mi C...

On today’s episode of Borderline Salty, hosts Carla Lalli Music and Rick Martinez share helpful techniques for when you’re cooking for one, talk game-changing rice tips, and have an impassioned back and forth about grilled cheese.  

This week’s recipe book: 

• Rick’s Ultimate Beefy, Cheesy Lasagna
• Carla’s Spicy Green Beans and Tofu
• Hetty McKinnon's "To Asia, With Love"
• Carolina Gelen’s Cheesiest Rice Balls

As always, ...

On this episode of Borderline Salty, hosts Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music dig into cooking from memory, chicken livers, and a total kitchen nightmare. The pair also embrace the importance of trying (or re-trying) new foods with the segment “No, Thank You, Please”. 

This week’s recipe book: 

• Rick’s Italian Plum and Almond Cake
• Carla’s Any Berry Galette 

As always, we’d love to hear about your cooking conundrums at ...