Cooking Confidence, One Recipe at a Time
For nearly 25 years, “America’s Test Kitchen” has helped home cooks approach recipes with confidence, curiosity, and a little humor. Co-hosts Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster have tested thousands of recipes on camera and in the test kitchen, uncovering what works — and what doesn’t — so you don’t have to. We caught up with the pair to talk about their own early experiments in the kitchen, the trends they love (and those they don’t) and their advice for making cooking less stressful — especially during the holidays. What’s the first dish you remember making? Bridget: One of the first things I ever made on my own was lemon meringue pie. I loved it — and still do. But my little brother booby-trapped the kitchen with string tied between cabinet handles. I didn’t see it coming, tripped and the pie went flying. Years later, we laugh about it — but at the time, I was not amused! Julia: I was about six when I baked a baguette from a Julia Child cookbook while my mom rested upstairs. I’d baked bread with her before, but this time I did it myself — impatiently waiting for the dough to rise. That moment shaped how I think about cooking: Follow the steps, but be curious. What advice do you have for cooks who feel intimidated? Bridget: Find the small victories. Pick a simple recipe and make it a few times until it becomes second nature. And sharpen your knives — it’ll make everything easier. Julia: Get a good instant-read thermometer. It removes all the guesswork about when food is done. What’s one trend you’re loving right now? Bridget: Low-waste and batch cooking — it’s what my family always did. Julia: Prep-ahead cooking. It makes weeknights easier and helps cut down on food waste. What are your best holiday cooking hacks? Bridget: Plan ahead and freeze what you can — pie dough, gravy, anything. And remember, you don’t have to make everything yourself ! Julia: Stock the freezer with soups and stews. A big Dutch oven and stackable containers are lifesavers. “America’s Test Kitchen” hosts Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster share their earliest cooking memories, kitchen hacks and holiday sanity-savers.
From pie mishaps to perfectly tested recipes, Bridget and Julia remind us that confidence in the kitchen comes from patience, planning and plenty of practice. And remember: You can watch “America’s Test Kitchen” throughout the busy holiday season on Saturdays on TPT 2, or stream it anytime on the PBS App.
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