ON THIS WEEK’S episode of Dinner SOS, test kitchen director and host Chris Morocco is joined by Michele Norris, journalist and host of Your Mama’s Kitchen podcast, to answer our listeners’ cooking questions. On her podcast, Michele and her guests explore how the food and culinary traditions of our youth shape who we become as adults. She’s chatted with the likes of chef and cookbook author Samin Nosrat and former first lady and author Michelle Obama.

Michele describes a past dinner emergency of her own, from early on in her relationship with her husband when first cooking for her now mother-in-law, in which she served scalded collard greens—proving that even Peabody Award–winning NPR greats are not immune to kitchen disasters. Michele and Chris discuss dishes that are fine to let sit out for hours without worrying about food safety (Michele claims fried chicken is actually very good cold and Chris suggests this recipe for Broken Lasagna Salad) and main courses that can be made ahead and are still very impressive (Chris goes in a chicken direction with this Cast-Iron Roast Chicken With Crispy Potatoes or Slow-Roast Gojuchang Chicken, while Michele leans into a pork shoulder roast or a hearty soup like a fish stew or gumbo).

They also answer questions on ideas for back-pocket dinners like homemade pizza and the best practices for hosting brunch (Michele and Chris opt to order dim sum for a crowd, but also give the idea to spruce up a fruit salad with lime or tajín). Listen now to hear more hosting tips from Chris and Michele and be sure to check out Michele’s podcast, Your Mama’s Kitchen, to dive deep on the meals that make us who we are.