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Cooking Like a Pro

Cooking Like a Pro

By: Chef Cal and Christa DeMercurio
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About this listen

Hey Food Fans!

We're Chef and Mrs Chef, a husband and wife duo, bringing you the basic kitchen SKILLS and unveiling *top chef SECRETS* for cooking like a PRO! Whether you're looking to impress your family and friends or simply enjoy your time in the kitchen, transform your dinner routine into a culinary adventure with tips, tricks and tasty insights.

Make food so good, you want to stick a fork in it!

Culinarily Yours, ❤️
Chef Cal & Christa DeMercurio

© 2025 Cooking Like a Pro
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Episodes
  • 033: How to Make Potato Salad Mrs. Chef’s Way – Plus Tips on Scaling, Prep, & Anti-Inflammatory Cooking
    Jul 3 2025

    Text Christa!

    Welcome to Cooking Like a Pro with Chef Cal and Mrs. Chef, Christa DeMercurio! In this episode, we’re breaking down the secrets of scaling recipes, prepping like a pro, and making potato salad the Mrs. Chef way—with bold flavors from infused oils and tangy vinegars, using less mayo, and way more love. Plus, we explore anti-inflammatory ingredients and salads that bring health and flavor to the same plate.

    🔪 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • The real reason you need a kitchen scale (and what "tare" means)
    • How to scale any recipe for 2, 20, or 200—starting with just one serving
    • A game-changing trick for lighter, more flavorful potato salad
    • Tips for building anti-inflammatory salads using everyday ingredients
    • Why celery might be your new unsung hero in the kitchen
    • Explore global food traditions with African one-pot dishes like Jollof rice

    Let's Connect!

    I'm Christa DeMercurio. I started as a stay-at-home mom who relied on cookbooks, measuring everything and following recipes to the letter. But watching my chef husband move effortlessly in the kitchen, I knew there had to be a better way.

    So, I learned—studying his techniques, practicing his methods, and mastering the strategies that keep professional kitchens running smoothly. Over time, I became confident, capable, and free from recipes controlling my cooking.

    I’m here to help you do the same. On Cooking Like a Pro, together we share everything you need to cook with confidence, save time and money, and actually enjoy being in the kitchen—without the stress and frustration.
    P.S. I still reference cookbooks and internet recipes too!

    ❤️Culinarily Yours, Christa DeMercurio (Mrs. Chef)

    Email: christa@culinarilyyours.net

    Website

    Text Me!

    Leave a Voicemail

    📸 INSTAGRAM | 📺YOUTUBE


    Show more Show less
    34 mins
  • 032. Fixing Salty Soup, Tasting Like a Pro, Home Garden Dilemmas
    May 22 2025

    Text Christa!

    In this episode of Cooking Like a Pro, Chef Cal and Christa tackle three kitchen essentials:

    🧂 Salt Fixes – How to rescue an over-salted dish
    😋 Flavor Tasting – How to taste food like a chef
    🍓 Garden Game Plan – Whether planting a garden this year is worth the effort

    You’ll learn practical ways to fix seasoning mistakes, how to identify flavor components and build your palate, and what’s really worth growing in your backyard. Whether you're cooking from scratch or shopping smart, this episode is full of pro tips to boost your kitchen confidence.

    Let's Connect!

    I'm Christa DeMercurio. I started as a stay-at-home mom who relied on cookbooks, measuring everything and following recipes to the letter. But watching my chef husband move effortlessly in the kitchen, I knew there had to be a better way.

    So, I learned—studying his techniques, practicing his methods, and mastering the strategies that keep professional kitchens running smoothly. Over time, I became confident, capable, and free from recipes controlling my cooking.

    I’m here to help you do the same. On Cooking Like a Pro, together we share everything you need to cook with confidence, save time and money, and actually enjoy being in the kitchen—without the stress and frustration.
    P.S. I still reference cookbooks and internet recipes too!

    ❤️Culinarily Yours, Christa DeMercurio (Mrs. Chef)

    Email: christa@culinarilyyours.net

    Website

    Text Me!

    Leave a Voicemail

    📸 INSTAGRAM | 📺YOUTUBE


    Show more Show less
    22 mins
  • 031. Chicken Piccata, Pan Sauces, Dense Bean Salads
    Apr 29 2025

    Text Christa!

    Get ready to fire up your culinary curiosity because the latest episode of Culinarily Yours’ Cooking Like a Pro podcast just went live! This week, Chef Cal and Christa DeMercurio (aka Mrs. Chef!) serve up a flavorful chat all about chicken piccata, mastering pan sauces, getting creative with leftovers, and making cooking a true family affair.

    Here’s what you’ll learn when you tune in:

    5 Keys to Level Up Your Cooking:

    1. Pan Sauce 101
      Discover how to capture every bit of flavor with deglazing and learn the basics of making a killer pan sauce (spoiler: stop washing away those tasty brown bits at the bottom of the pan!).
    2. Chicken Piccata, Step by Step
      Find out how to make perfectly juicy, evenly cooked chicken piccata—plus simple tips for thickening and finishing your sauce just right.
    3. Intuitive & Mystery Box Cooking
      Learn how to trust your palate, freestyle with leftovers (hello, spaghetti Bolognese remix), and get creative without a recipe using “intuitive cooking” tricks.
    4. Family Cooking Projects
      Bread, homemade ice cream, pasta, pickles, butter—Christa and Chef Cal share activities that get the whole family involved (and happy to taste test!).
    5. Dense Bean Salads
      Dive into the viral “dense bean salad craze” and how to whip up healthy, protein-packed salads that last all week… with a quick work-friendly lunch you’ll want to try.

    Let's Connect!

    I'm Christa DeMercurio. I started as a stay-at-home mom who relied on cookbooks, measuring everything and following recipes to the letter. But watching my chef husband move effortlessly in the kitchen, I knew there had to be a better way.

    So, I learned—studying his techniques, practicing his methods, and mastering the strategies that keep professional kitchens running smoothly. Over time, I became confident, capable, and free from recipes controlling my cooking.

    I’m here to help you do the same. On Cooking Like a Pro, together we share everything you need to cook with confidence, save time and money, and actually enjoy being in the kitchen—without the stress and frustration.
    P.S. I still reference cookbooks and internet recipes too!

    ❤️Culinarily Yours, Christa DeMercurio (Mrs. Chef)

    Email: christa@culinarilyyours.net

    Website

    Text Me!

    Leave a Voicemail

    📸 INSTAGRAM | 📺YOUTUBE


    Show more Show less
    30 mins
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