I first discovered Sohla El-Waylly in the early days of the pandemic, when Bon Appétit Test Kitchen videos were all the rage. She was by far my favorite contributor to that series, and now that she’s promoting her own cookbook and recently became a mom, this was the perfect time to catch up with her.
So today, we talk a bit about “Start Here,” the A to Z guide that took Sohla 3 years to write. She also shares her go-to meal when she doesn’t feel like cooking – a surprisingly common feeling for a recipe developer.
But we actually spend more time talking about the ups and downs of new mom life: balancing work and parenthood, sharing childcare with a partner, and the unpleasant realities of post-birth recovery that both of us felt woefully unprepared for. (Why don’t they tell you about this stuff?)
We also get into:
* What it’s been like to bring a baby and a 500-page book into the world almost simultaneously
* How she prepared for postpartum mental health challenges
* Lies we were told about breastfeeding and postpartum weight loss
* The toy her 5-month-old is obsessed with, that Cash was also obsessed with
* Family members buying impractical baby clothes (buttons… in the back?)
* Discovering free stuff to do with kids in New York
* Her forthcoming podcast
* Her egg, steamed rice, and greens recipe
Links:
* Get the chicken soup + masa dumplings reeipe from Sohla's new book here: https://whattocook.substack.com/p/sohla-el-waylly-helps-you-conquer
* Fisher-Price Kick & Play mat
* John Legend performing the Kick & Play “purple monkey” song (IYKYK)
* GAP vintage soft classic jogger pant
* Magnetic Me onesies
* Sohla’s History Channel TV show, Ancient Recipes
* Sohla’s New York Times bylines
* Her newsletter, Hot Dish
* Sohla’s book: Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook
* Her book tour dates
Sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter here! whattoocook.substack.com
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whattocook.substack.com/subscribe
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.