Episode 375: A Conversation with Mother–Son Authors Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji of Heartland Masala
Release Date: 11/13/2025
Episode 376: Running the Race of Writing a Book with Running Coach & Author Michele Pettinger
Cookbook Love Podcast
Today on the show, I’m joined by Michele Pettinger, a certified running coach, fitness nutrition specialist, and functional nutrition counselor. As the owner of P3Running, Michelle blends run coaching with nutrition education for athletes of all ages, helping young runners understand how food supports performance, recovery, and long-term well-being. However, before we begin, I'd like to share a free resource with you. If you are a food, nutrition, or culinary pro and you want to share your expertise in a published cookbook, one thing a publisher will want you to have is a platform. This is...
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Episode 375: A Conversation with Mother–Son Authors Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji of Heartland Masala
Cookbook Love Podcast
In today’s episode, I’m pleased to welcome mother–son cookbook author team Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji, authors of Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen. Before we dive in: If you are ready to start your own cookbook project with clarity and direction, is available for a few more days. This resource provides a structured path to begin organizing your recipes, shaping your stories, and moving toward a publishable cookbook. Details are linked in the show notes section below. Heartland Masala is a vibrant, richly illustrated celebration of Indian home cooking, written...
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Episode 374: From Recipes to Revenue: How Writing Fuels our Life and Business
Cookbook Love Podcast
What begins as a handwritten recipe or a note in the margins of a cookbook can become the seed of something much bigger. In today’s episode, we explores what every writer needs to write and how your words can do more than fill a page. They can feed both your readers and your business. You’ll also hear about a free resource to spark your creativity: 👉 a guide packed with ideas to help you transform your recipes, writing, and creativity into meaningful income. If you’ve ever wondered how to bridge your love of cooking and writing into a business, this episode is your invitation to...
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Episode 373: Navigate the Cookbook Publishing Industry
Cookbook Love Podcast
Hi everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Last week, we talked about the traditional publishing team and the real benefits of working with a publisher — how editors, designers, and marketers help bring a cookbook to life. This week, I’m sharing Part 1 of my three-part Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass, called Navigating the Publishing Industry. In this first session, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges cookbook writers face — figuring out how to navigate the publishing world. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t know where to start.” ...
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Episode 372: The Power of a Traditional Publishing Team
Cookbook Love Podcast
✨ Before we get started, an exciting announcement! ✨ Are you a food, nutrition, or culinary professional dreaming of publishing a cookbook? Right now we are in the middle of our Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass. In this free masterclass, we are discussing the shortcut most aspiring authors miss — how to publish your cookbook without writing your book first. You’ll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now and follow the exact steps to land your first book deal. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch this on-demand class (like Netflix)! 👉...
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Episode 371: Food Preservation and the Modern Pioneer Pantry with Mary Bryant Schrader
Cookbook Love Podcast
✨ Before we get started, an exciting announcement! ✨ If you’re a food, nutrition, or culinary professional dreaming of publishing a cookbook with a traditional publisher, join me for the Publish Your Cookbook event starting Monday, October 20, 2025. In this free training, you’ll learn the shortcut most aspiring authors miss — how to sell your cookbook concept before writing the entire manuscript. You’ll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now and follow the exact steps to land your first book deal. Don’t miss this opportunity! 👉 Register...
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Episode 370: Sharing Lebanese Baking with Maureen Abood
Cookbook Love Podcast
✨Before we get started, an exciting announcement ✨ If you’re a food, nutrition, or culinary pro and you dream of being published by a traditional publisher, I want to invite you to my upcoming Publish Your Cookbook event where you will learn the shortcut most aspiring authors miss when publishing their cookbook. You’ll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now, and the exact steps to land your first book deal. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss. Head to to register for the event. Today I’m joined by award-winning author Maureen...
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Episode 369: The Value of an Email List to a Cookbook Author
Cookbook Love Podcast
Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I’m excited to talk to you about one key tool in the life of most cookbook authors, and that’s an email list. Part of the reason I want to talk about this is that there is a misconception that we have to chase publishers and agents. But what I’ve found to be true in my own life, in the lives of my students, and in the lives of the authors I’ve talked to on the show is that publishers and agents are looking for a food, culinary, or nutrition expert like you. And how will they find you? That’s exactly what we’re going to...
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Episode 368: True North Cabin Cookbook with Stephanie Hansen
Cookbook Love Podcast
Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I’m excited to have an interview with Stephanie Hansen. Stephanie is the host of the Emmy-award-winning TV show “Taste Buds with Stephanie”, blogger at Stephanie's Dish, and radio host of The Weekly Dish and author of True North Cabin Cookbook Volume Two: Seasonal Recipes From a Cozy Kitchen. Stephanie hails from Minnesota and spends her summers entertaining in her cabin on True North Island in Minnesota. Today on the show, we talk all about cabin cooking and entertaining, Stephanie’s seasonal favorite recipes to welcome...
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Episode 367: Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Cookbook Author
Cookbook Love Podcast
Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. I just finished enrolling new students into Cookbooks on KDP and wanted to share something with you based on my conversations with aspiring cookbook authors. When I talk to successful cooks, bakers, dietitians, chefs, and others who have a ton of kitchen experience to share, I hear them say things like: “I don’t have time.” “I’m not techie enough.” “Do I need an audience first?” “I’m not a dietitian”. But underneath those words is something we all face, what I call Doubt Soup. In this episode, I explore how...
info_outlineIn today’s episode, I’m pleased to welcome mother–son cookbook author team Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji, authors of Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen.
Before we dive in: If you are ready to start your own cookbook project with clarity and direction, The Creative Cookbook Blueprint is available for a few more days. This resource provides a structured path to begin organizing your recipes, shaping your stories, and moving toward a publishable cookbook. Details are linked in the show notes section below.
Heartland Masala is a vibrant, richly illustrated celebration of Indian home cooking, written from the heart of the American Midwest. Rooted in both tradition and diaspora, the book blends recipes from Punjab, Bengal, and throughout India with the lived experience of a family that has called Kansas City home for decades. In this conversation, we explore:
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Inspiration — How Heartland Masala was born from years of Joyti teaching, family heritage, and the desire to preserve Indian home cooking in a Midwestern context.
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Process — Their collaborative mother–son workflow, recipe testing, adapting regional dishes, and shaping the book’s structure.
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Storytelling — Why they included essays, cultural notes, culinary history, memories, and narrative elements to deepen the reader’s connection to Indian food.
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Legacy & Impact — What they learned from writing across generations and what they hope the book will contribute to readers, family, and culture.
The book features beloved classics such as Saag Paneer and Vindaloo, lesser-known gems like Bengali Murgh Rezala and Anglo-Indian Spiced Liver Toast, as well as inventive new creations, including Masala Brussels Sprouts and Spiced Watermelon. Jyoti and Auyon even include a handful of cocktail recipes, adding a playful touch to the collection. Their work is a testament to the richness of Indian cuisine, the power of family collaboration, and the vibrant interplay between heritage and place.
Things We Mention in This Episode: