Boosting your "Food IQ", beating inflation, and recipe testing fast and flavourful favourites. Mary and Matt, the Kitchen Confession creators, discuss what's inspiring their culinary adventures this winter. Plus, Mary serves up an amuse-bouche for Season 3 of her AMI-tv docuseries "Dish with Mary."

Preena Chauhan is all about spices. She and her mother, Arvinda, have been teaching Indian cooking classes for decades and in the duo's newly released book "New Indian Basics," they aim to teach people how to cook liberally with spices and gain confidence cooking exceptional Indian meals at home. With recipes like Aloo Methi (fenugreek potatoes), Cardamom Barfi (milk fudge), and Maple Tandoori Salmon, "New Indian Basics" bridges traditional techniques and recipes with local ingredients and little hints of Canadiana.

Known in college as a tater-tot-toting poutine fiend, Carleigh Bodrug's friends were surprised to hear that she'd started a blog called "Plant You" about plant based, healthy cooking. Since then, Carleigh published the Plant You Cookbook and launched a meal planner app, all to help plant-curious people make the switch to healthier food with delicious, practical recipes. She tells us about her journey and shares her favourite "scrappy cooking" tips for reducing food waste and beating soaring grocery prices.