For great cooking inspiration, I listen to podcasts from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper from American Public Media  http://www.splendidtable.org/episodes.  I’ve been listening to the show for years, starting before podcasts, when I had to be in front of a radio on Sunday afternoons so that I could catch the show.  Lynne is such a charming host (I’m one of her many fans.  I got to meet her at a live event in Columbus – she’s just the same in person), and the show is so packed with education and inspiration, that I can listen to each podcast multiple times before I glean all of the information.  I recommend pouring a glass of wine, starting the show, and getting a good hour of cooking done on a weekend or late night.  Cheers!

What I listen to while cooking or cleaning up comes down to one factor — whether or not my kids are in the room.  If they are in the room, I don’t usually have anything on since this is the time they usually seem possessed, and I can’t add to the craziness with any other stimuli.  If they are not in the room, I really enjoy listening to NPR and catching up on the day’s events.  If I need some pick-me-up/get-me-through-until-the-kids-are-asleep music then I’ll play one of my Pandora stations.  I also have Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers on standby as a great option for a big clean up job (a great recommendation I heard on a radio show).