wake + bake | dope kitchen

Summary

Cheering Through Life: A Deep Dive into Culinary Arts and Personal Journeys

Episode Title: wake + bake | dope kitchen
Release Date: April 14, 2025
Host: Avery Woods
Guest: Nicole from Dope Kitchen

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of CHEERS! with Avery Woods, host Avery sits down with Nicole from Dope Kitchen to explore the intersections of culinary creativity, personal growth, and lifestyle choices. Over a casual yet insightful conversation, they delve into Nicole's journey as a content creator, her personal experiences with sexuality and sobriety, and share a delightful cooking session featuring Eggs Benedict with a unique twist.

---

Nicole’s Journey into Content Creation

Nicole opens up about her path to becoming a full-time content creator, highlighting the challenges and triumphs along the way.

Nicole [06:10]: "I started because I was bored at the beginning of the pandemic. I was depressed and crashing out like everyone else. So I decided to bake my grandma's homemade ricotta pie... I filmed myself and put it on my personal Instagram story."

She recounts how a spontaneous TikTok post led to a surge in followers, eventually propelling her to take her passion seriously once she reached 100k followers.

Nicole [07:02]: "My friends all encouraged me to post it to TikTok... I started making content consistently, and once I hit like 100k followers, I decided to take it seriously."

---

Personal Life and Coming Out Story

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on Nicole's personal journey, particularly her experiences with her sexuality and relationships.

Nicole [11:19]: "I started exploring in my mid to late twenties... I had a threesome with a hot Italian man and a 6 foot 3 Dutch woman. And that confirmed it for me. I am gay."

Nicole shares the emotional and psychological challenges she faced while coming to terms with her sexuality later in life, emphasizing the impact of her trip to Europe as a catalyst for self-discovery.

Nicole [14:36]: "I was in a new country, I was just gonna have fun and explore and just try new things. So I had a threesome... And that confirmed it for me."

Her relationship journey is equally compelling, detailing the rapid progression from meeting her girlfriend on a camping trip in Alaska to moving in together within months.

Nicole [16:01]: "We moved in together pretty quickly, like four and a half months after dating."

---

Sobriety from Alcohol and Embracing Cannabis

Nicole and Scott discuss their experiences with alcohol and cannabis, highlighting the benefits of choosing sobriety.

Nicole [20:38]: "I decided to quit alcohol one day and never looked back... Cannabis started to take a bigger role in my life too."

She elaborates on her reasons for cutting back on alcohol during the pandemic and how cannabis became a healthier alternative for social comfort and personal well-being.

Nicole [22:03]: "I took my weed pen to every bar I went to, and it was still my way of feeling a little less than normal, but fitting in in a way that didn’t make people uncomfortable around me."

Nicole also acknowledges her girlfriend's journey to sobriety, expressing pride in her partner's achievements.

Nicole [22:49]: "She was an alcoholic, so she had to quit just to save her own life... She’s been sober now for over four years."

Scott mirrors these sentiments, sharing his own transition from alcohol to cannabis and the positive effects it has had on his life.

Scott [23:42]: "I went to three months without alcohol... When I discovered weed, I was like, why am I doing this?"

---

Cooking Segment: Eggs Benedict with a Twist

The heart of the episode features a hands-on cooking session where Nicole guides Scott through making a gourmet version of Eggs Benedict, complete with homemade English muffins and a Hot Sauce Hollandaise.

Making Homemade English Muffins

Nicole showcases her culinary skills by preparing homemade English muffins, emphasizing the satisfaction of creating something from scratch.

Nicole [05:14]: "I made those. Aren’t they beautiful?"

Despite initial doubts, the muffins turn out beautifully, adding a personal touch to the breakfast dish.

Nicole [05:22]: "It was my first time making them. I thought I was doing it wrong until they came out."

Hot Sauce Hollandaise

Taking a creative spin on the traditional hollandaise sauce, Nicole introduces her Hot Sauce Hollandaise, enhancing the flavor profile of the dish.

Nicole [05:54]: "We’re going to make the hollandaise. It’s a creamy sauce, perfect over eggs Benedict."

Scott expresses his enthusiasm for the creamy sauce, appreciating the added kick it brings.

Scott [05:05]: "Oh, I love creamy sauce."

Poaching Perfect Eggs

The duo demonstrates the art of poaching eggs, with Nicole sharing tips to achieve the perfect texture.

Nicole [11:49]: "Crack one into there and that’s what we’re going to use to lower it into the boiling water."

Scott’s attempts add a humorous touch, highlighting the challenges of cooking while high.

Scott [12:09]: "I don't know why my egg cracked like that. That's so embarrassing."

Plating and Presentation

The cooking session culminates in beautifully plated Eggs Benedict, blending culinary expertise with personal flair.

Nicole [35:38]: "We’re going to put this back on to the English muffins. This is our Canadian bacon."

Scott marvels at the final presentation, eager to taste the culmination of their efforts.

Scott [35:03]: "Whoa. Stunning. Oh, my God."

---

Favorite Recipes and Cooking Tips

Beyond the Eggs Benedict, Nicole shares her favorite recipes and cooking experiences, offering listeners valuable insights into her culinary passion.

Nicole [31:58]: "My favorite thing to cook for myself is homemade pasta. I love homemade pasta with pomodoro sauce."

She discusses the intricacies of Italian cooking and her affection for creating dishes from scratch, inspiring listeners to explore their own culinary journeys.

---

Stoner Snacks and Healthy Eating

The conversation shifts to the topic of snacking while enjoying cannabis, with both sharing their preferred healthy options.

Nicole [24:19]: "A really simple one that doesn’t involve much cooking is just a yogurt bowl. The textures and the crunch and the fruitiness and the creaminess of the yogurt."

Scott adds his favorites, blending sweet and savory for the perfect munchies.

Scott [24:37]: "I love popcorn when I’m high... I do kettle corn and ranch seasoning. It’s the elite combo."

Their exchange highlights the balance between indulgence and health-conscious choices, catering to diverse taste preferences.

---

Balancing Athleticism and Lifestyle Changes

Nicole reflects on her transition from being a competitive athlete to embracing a more relaxed lifestyle, discussing the mental and physical adjustments involved.

Nicole [30:02]: "I competed in weightlifting for like two years, and then I switched over to powerlifting... It’s been a bit of a mental struggle going from being competitive and training really hard to just training to take care of myself."

She acknowledges the loss of discipline and community that came with stepping away from intense training, yet finds peace in her current routine.

Nicole [31:08]: "I sometimes feel like such a loser by not going to these big fun events anymore, but I’m ready to be comfortable in my own home."

---

Conclusion

This episode of CHEERS! with Avery Woods offers a multifaceted exploration of personal growth, culinary passion, and lifestyle choices. Through candid conversations and a shared cooking experience, Avery and Nicole provide listeners with inspiration to pursue their passions, embrace their true selves, and make mindful choices that enhance their well-being.

---

Notable Quotes

• Nicole [06:10]: "I got so stoned while doing [my grandma's ricotta pie], and I filmed myself and put it on my personal Instagram story."

• Nicole [11:19]: "I am gay. Whoa. Yeah."

• Nicole [20:38]: "I decided to quit alcohol one day and never looked back. Cannabis started to take a bigger role in my life too."

• Nicole [31:58]: "My favorite thing to cook for myself is homemade pasta."

• Scott [35:03]: "Whoa. Stunning. Oh, my God."

---

Connect with Nicole

For more of Nicole’s delicious recipes and travel guides, visit her blog at dopekitchen.com or follow her on Instagram @Dope_Kitchen.

---

Thank you for tuning into CHEERS! with Avery Woods. Until next time, cheers to living your best life!

Transcript

[Avery Woods]

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[Scott]

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[Avery Woods]

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[Scott]

What a great job I have because this morning I woke up, I put on sweatpants and I came to my favorite chef's house. House got high because it's the week of 4:20 and now I'm getting a meal made for me by Nicole from Dope Kitchen. Hi Nicole.

[Nicole]

Hey.

[Scott]

I love your content.

[Nicole]

Thanks.

[Scott]

And I also love marijuana.

[Nicole]

Me too.

[Scott]

I'm floating in a different dimension right now.

[Nicole]

Me too. And I will try to make a nice meal that grounds us again.

[Scott]

So what's your ideal wake and bake situation?

[Nicole]

If I'm explaining my ideal scenario, I'm outside and someone's cooking for me.

[Scott]

Your apartment could not be gay in the Best way, though, like, that's right up my alley, and it's just so you. And I feel like that's kind of a new thing. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Yeah. I mean, I've always been super into color, but, like, the whole gay part of me is very new. I did not explore my sexuality at all until, like, my mid-20s.

[Scott]

What's a stoner snack that shouldn't work? Like a combo that shouldn't go together but does?

[Nicole]

Okay. A PB and J with Cheetos in the middle.

[Scott]

Oh, I'm trying that.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Avery Woods]

Hi, welcome to Cheers. I'm your host, Avery Woods.

[Scott]

What a great job I have, because this morning I woke up, I put on sweatpants, and I came to my favorite chef's house, got high because it's the week of 4. 20, and now I'm getting a meal made for me by Nicole from Dope Kitchen. Hi, Nicole.

[Nicole]

Hey.

[Scott]

How's it going?

[Nicole]

I'm doing pretty good.

[Scott]

Thanks so much for having me in your house.

[Nicole]

Of course. Thank you.

[Scott]

I love your content.

[Nicole]

Thanks.

[Scott]

And I also love marijuana.

[Nicole]

Me too.

[Scott]

And the reason I started smoking marijuana, I'm so glad you asked, is because when I had kids, it gave me really bad insomnia. And so my friend showed me gummies, and it helps me sleep. You showed me some fucking Bill Nye the Science Guy contraption outside, and you're like, have you ever seen one of these? And I said, no, and then you gave it to me, and I'm floating in a different dimension right now.

[Nicole]

Me too. And I will try to make a nice meal that grounds us again.

[Scott]

Yeah. Okay. So what's your ideal wake and bake situation when it comes to both marijuana and eating?

[Nicole]

I like to wake up, go outside, smoke my Bill Nye the Science Guy science experiment, enjoy the sun a little bit, go for a nice walk, and then just find breakfast as I stumble around the neighborhood. That's my wake and bake.

[Scott]

So you'll walk around and you'll buy something. Oh, so I'm making you cook for me?

[Nicole]

Yeah, for sure, for sure.

[Scott]

When you wish you were out getting food. Okay.

[Nicole]

On a typical Tuesday, though, I'd probably make myself a bacon, egg, and cheese. You know what I mean?

[Scott]

God, that's right up my alley.

[Nicole]

But if I'm explaining my ideal scenario, I'm outside and someone's cooking for me.

[Scott]

Okay, so you sent over some food food ideas and wanted me to choose, but specifically next to one, you said it was your favorite.

[Nicole]

Yes.

[Scott]

And that's what we're making today.

[Nicole]

Exactly.

[Scott]

So tell Everyone, what you're making me.

[Nicole]

Today, we're making eggs Benedict with a hot sauce hollandaise, because nobody likes a bland hollandaise. And last night, I don't even know what hollandaise is. Oh, it's like a creamy. That creamy sauce over.

[Scott]

Oh, I love creamy sauce.

[Nicole]

Last night, because you were coming over.

[Scott]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

I wanted to do something kind of special, so I made homemade English muffins.

[Scott]

No, you didn't.

[Nicole]

Yes, I did. Aren't they beautiful?

[Scott]

You made those?

[Nicole]

I made those.

[Scott]

Those are gorgeous.

[Nicole]

It was my first time making them.

[Scott]

Really?

[Nicole]

To be honest, I thought I was doing it wrong the whole time until they came out.

[Scott]

Like, they're gorgeous.

[Nicole]

Thank you.

[Scott]

Oh, I can't wait to eat them.

[Nicole]

Hell, yeah.

[Scott]

I'm starving. Okay, let's get started.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

Am I helping or is this, like, for sure, dude? Just want to make sure.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

Like, let me roll up the sleeves real quick.

[Nicole]

Yeah. Okay. Let's clear this cutting board of all my stuff. Stuff.

[Scott]

Yes. She has so many beautiful ingredients, and they were laid out perfectly. Perfectly.

[Nicole]

Okay, so the first thing we're going to do is make the Holland Days.

[Scott]

Okay.

[Nicole]

So hold on. I forgot to get one thing out.

[Scott]

Holland days is a cream sauce for those that didn't know. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Let me just fill this real quick.

[Scott]

So, Nicole, while you're prepping that, tell me how you got into this. When did you start content creation and.

[Nicole]

What were you doing before I started content creation? How many years ago now? Five years ago.

[Scott]

Okay.

[Nicole]

On April 13, 2020.

[Scott]

We're almost at an anniversary.

[Nicole]

We're at the anniversary. And I started because I was bored at the beginning of the pandemic. I was depressed and crashing out like everyone else.

[Scott]

As everyone was.

[Nicole]

Yeah. And I just needed something to do to get my ass out of bed. So I decided to bake my grandma's homemade ricotta pie. We're Italian.

[Scott]

Did you hear that pronunciation?

[Nicole]

And I got so stoned while doing it, and I filmed myself and put it on my personal Instagram story.

[Scott]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

And my friends all encouraged me to post it to TikTok. At first, I was very resistant, and then I was just like, you know what? Fuck it, let me do it. Can I swear?

[Scott]

Yeah, absolutely. You can swear. We're talking about smoking marijuana.

[Nicole]

That's true. This isn't a family friendly show, let me tell you. So. Oh, by the way, we're melting butter. That's what we're starting with.

[Scott]

We're melt some butter.

[Nicole]

Um, anywho, I just. Yeah, I filmed myself, posted it on TikTok and it kind of exploded. And it took me a little while to get consistent with making content, but once I got to like 100k followers, I was like, let me maybe take this seriously.

[Scott]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

And it's been so much fun ever since. What did you do before I worked in media. Hold on, I'm gonna move around real quick.

[Scott]

You're mic'd up, girl. You can go.

[Nicole]

That's right. I worked in media. I was a project manager for a media company that focused on food and travel content.

[Scott]

Oh, so like exactly.

[Nicole]

Very similar. Yeah, very similar to what I am doing. And I was kind of able to juggle both for a couple years until I got really burnt out. And yeah, now I'm a full time content creator.

[Scott]

Am I cracking one of these? Let me help you.

[Nicole]

Oh, this is what happens when you're stoned.

[Scott]

Are we doing no yolk?

[Nicole]

So I need the yolk in the big bowl. So that's for the egg white.

[Scott]

Don't worry, I got this.

[Nicole]

You got this?

[Scott]

Yeah. I'm an expert. Oh, fuck.

[Nicole]

Did you do the same thing?

[Scott]

No way. Okay, okay, okay, okay.

[Nicole]

Oh, perfect.

[Scott]

There we go. That's so, so cool. In this big bowl.

[Nicole]

Yes, in the big bowl.

[Scott]

Yep, I got it.

[Nicole]

Perfect. You saved the day.

[Scott]

You know, it's giving Martha Stewart energy.

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[Scott]

Okay, got it.

[Nicole]

Okay, I'm gonna pop this in the microwave. We need melted butter. Do you want a whisk for me?

[Scott]

I would love to whisk for you. Give a whisker a whisk.

[Nicole]

No whisk.

[Scott]

Yeah, you know, I was confusing that with is my whisker robot for my cats. Have you ever had a self cleaning litter box? Life changing. No, this is not sponsored.

[Nicole]

Hell yeah.

[Scott]

Okay, okay.

[Nicole]

Just whisk it hard for like a solid minute.

[Scott]

I'm. I'm so sore from Pilates. I'm okay for a minute.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

It's gonna get so fluffy.

[Nicole]

Exactly.

[Scott]

Who taught you this recipe?

[Nicole]

I think I looked it up on the Internet years ago and then I just kind of tweaked it to the way I like it. But here's the thing. So with hollandaise recipes, when you look them up online, they're made for like 12 people. Oh, we're two people.

[Scott]

Yeah. Well, we could probably eat for 12 though right now.

[Nicole]

For sure, dude. So I developed my own that was made for like one or two people, so that's what I'm doing.

[Scott]

So you're gifted. You're genius.

[Nicole]

Yeah, for sure.

[Scott]

I also want to talk about the fact that at 32 years old, you came out.

[Nicole]

Yeah, that was.

[Scott]

Which is kind of nuts and recent and also amazing.

[Nicole]

Okay, so we can take it back to childhood.

[Scott]

My arm is literally going to fall off.

[Nicole]

Oh, yeah, you're good. Sorry, I forgot to stop you.

[Scott]

Holy shit. My tricep was literally cramping like Charley horse.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God.

[Scott]

We're a bad combo. I think we're dangerous.

[Nicole]

Okay, okay, so while. While that boils, we're going to get started on some poached eggs too.

[Scott]

I love poached eggs.

[Nicole]

Crack one into there and that's what we're going to use to like lower it into the boiling water.

[Scott]

Okay.

[Nicole]

Do you poach eggs?

[Scott]

I love. Yes. That's my favorite way to eat them.

[Nicole]

Me too.

[Scott]

My kids love them too. I don't know why my egg cracked like that. That's honestly so embarrassing. It looked like my 3 year old did it.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God.

[Scott]

Okay, so while we're doing that, I need to talk with you about this because your apartment could not be gay in the best way though. Like, that's right up my alley. And it's just so you and I Feel like that's kind of a new thing. Yeah.

[Nicole]

Yeah. I mean, I've always been super into color, but, like, the whole gay part of me is very new.

[Scott]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

So when I was a kid, I remember feeling like I didn't quite fit in with my friends who were, like, boy crazy by 13. But I didn't really know why, and I didn't think that it was maybe the fact that I'd actually liked girls. Sure. So I did not explore my sexuality at all until, like, my mid-20s. So throughout high school, I never really had crushes on boys, didn't really care to date. In college, that's when I started to get, like, really close to my straight female friends. And if they, like, got a boyfriend or started hanging out with someone else, I did that, like, toxic behavior of just, like, being pissed and jealous because I didn't realize that I was, like, treating our friendship as if it was a relationship. And when I was no longer, like, the center of their world, I felt, like, totally broken. And I didn't. It took a long time for me to confront that behavior and realize that maybe it's because I'm actually in love with women and not straight at all. So, yeah, it was pretty hard for me to go through the process of confronting my sexuality and trying to understand why I was so afraid of dating women or why I didn't even consider that I could date women. But I started kind of exploring in my mid to late twenties. I only went on a few dates and I just got so scared. So I kind of ignored that part of my sexuality for a long time. And it wasn't until I was like, 31 years old, I got on Field, the dating app for, like, open relationships. And I started kind of hanging out with girls a little bit more. And then I took myself on a trip to Europe. And that was when I was 32 and decided that in a new country, I was just gonna have fun and explore and just try new things. So I had a threesome with a hot Italian man and a 6 foot 3 Dutch woman. And that confirmed it for me. I was like, holy shit. Oh, I am gay. Whoa. Yeah. So I kind of went from zero to 60.

[Scott]

But Scott's mouth, his jaws to the floor because he's like, that's literally my dream.

[Nicole]

I was 32. I felt like I had a lot of catching up to do, and I was just, you know, in a foreign country. I felt like I didn't have to be so afraid of, like, being with a woman. I just felt like it was my time to explore. I can never talk to them again. Never see them again.

[Scott]

Yeah. Also, I feel like sexuality is way more openly accepted in Europe, where, like, people don't look at others naked and think anything of it. Like, that's why the TV is so different. Like, it's very much embraced there. So I'm sure it's much more common for things like that to happen and you probably felt more comfortable.

[Nicole]

Yeah, it was a lot of fun.

[Scott]

Good for you.

[Nicole]

I came back to LA in, like, June of 2023. After that, after that trip, and I had a plan of, like, getting back on those open relationship dating apps and finding straight couples who have a, like, woman who's bi, curious. And my whole plan was to just sleep around LA having threesomes and just, like, exploring my sexuality with other women who are kind of, like, questioning their sexuality. But in a sense, space that felt familiar to me, which was like, a straight relationship. And I didn't even get to do that because I met my girlfriend, like, two months later and we. You hauled so fast that Scotches told.

[Scott]

Me that term recently.

[Nicole]

Oh, you've never heard that?

[Scott]

No, I never heard of that.

[Nicole]

Wow.

[Scott]

But I literally was thinking about all my friends who are lesbians or, like, in a lesbian relationship or couple to have done that, and I was like, wait, that makes so much sense.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

So how quickly after you met her were you like, yeah, this is it.

[Nicole]

Like, I had an immediate feeling when I met her. Just looking at her, I was like, this girl's gay. She's cute. I need to, like, learn her situation. And so we ended up getting really close on that trip. We just hung out all the time. Oh, we met in Alaska. Did I mention that?

[Scott]

Oh, no. On a trip.

[Nicole]

So we met on a camping trip in Alaska, which is literally the gayest thing a lesbian could do.

[Scott]

I love it.

[Nicole]

Yeah. So we met in this, Like, I travel with a group of women and I host trips for women to get out in nature. So she just signed up for one of my trips, and the moment I met her, I just was so attracted to her, and there was something about her energy that I needed to learn more about. So we spent a lot of time together, just the two of us. That trip. We hiked together ahead of the group so that we could have some alone time. We just spent so much time getting to know each other deeply, and I didn't realize that she was flirting with me the whole time. Yeah, she. She started flirting with me a lot more, and it became a lot more obvious. That there was a strong connection there. And by the end of it, we were hooking up in a tent and period. Yeah. Honestly, she came to visit me a week later, and it was just the most incredible nine days I've ever spent with one person. So we haven't let go ever since.

[Scott]

So where was she? Was she in la?

[Nicole]

No, she was in Baltimore.

[Scott]

Holy shit. She moved here for you?

[Nicole]

She moved here for me, yeah. She was in a place in her life when she could, like, pack up and move and do something totally different with her life. And she had been in Baltimore for 10 years and just really needed a change. So when she met me, it was just kind of, like, easy for her to make that decision and move out here.

[Scott]

That's amazing.

[Nicole]

And then we moved in together pretty quickly. Like four and a half months after dating.

[Scott]

Hey, I was four weeks.

[Nicole]

No.

[Scott]

Yeah. We also got matching tattoos four weeks into knowing each other.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God. Wow.

[Scott]

But that was almost.

[Nicole]

That's your own version of a U haul story.

[Scott]

Yeah, totally. Yeah. The straight version of a U haul.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

Yeah, we are. 10 year wedding anniversary is in 2026. We're planning a vow renewal because we never had a wedding. We got married in a courthouse because we were broke and young. So I was like, I'm finally getting my wedding. But we've been together since I was 18. I'm turning 30 next week.

[Nicole]

Wow.

[Scott]

Isn't that crazy?

[Nicole]

Wait, When's your birthday?

[Scott]

April 19th.

[Nicole]

I'm April 15th. What? Wow.

[Scott]

This is tomorrow. April 11th.

[Nicole]

No way.

[Scott]

We're all a few days. Wait, Jazzy, what's your date? The 5th. April 5th.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God.

[Scott]

Wow. All diamond babies here.

[Unknown]

See?

[Nicole]

Incredible.

[Scott]

We just exude, like, expensiveness. Okay, what'd you just put in? Hot sauce?

[Nicole]

Yeah. So I poured in some butter while it's kind of like cooking over this meat.

[Scott]

Smells incredible.

[Nicole]

Do you want to add in a pinch of salt?

[Scott]

It's so interesting because you have a pot of boiling water for those that aren't watching. You put a bowl on top with some whisk egg yolks, and then you poured in some hot sauce.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

And is it gonna make it fluffy?

[Nicole]

No, it's basically just this nice thick and creamy sauce.

[Scott]

Is that enough?

[Nicole]

Yeah, that's perfect.

[Scott]

Okay, I'm adding salt. Martha Stewart. Just adding a little touch.

[Nicole]

And that's pretty much it. And this can just kind of sit here. We'll poach the eggs.

[Scott]

I'm learning so much right now because I feel like I'm gonna be making this at home.

[Nicole]

Okay. So can you do me a favor?

[Scott]

I will do anything.

[Nicole]

I'm gonna have you crack open these English muffins.

[Scott]

Oh, my God. I don't want to destroy me.

[Nicole]

Here's what you do. Here's what you do.

[Scott]

Okay.

[Nicole]

It's pretty easy. You just stick a fork in, just like that, all the way around. And then once you've made your way back around, just stick the fork in and kind of like pry it open.

[Scott]

Okay. Not her with the tricks.

[Nicole]

And I'm going to poach an egg.

[Scott]

Okay. Another thing I want to talk about is obviously you guys are stoners.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

Because you're Tik Tok, name is Dope Kitchen. And look what we're doing right now. But you. And do you prefer me to call her your partner or your girlfriend?

[Nicole]

You can say either.

[Scott]

Okay. Cuz I know I call her my girlfriend.

[Nicole]

She partner more.

[Scott]

I know some people don't like the term partner, so I just want to be respectful of that. Amazing. You guys love weed, but you're sober from alcohol.

[Nicole]

Yes.

[Scott]

So what's that journey for you?

[Nicole]

So for me, I got, like, super drunk off of one bottle of wine at the beginning of the pandemic, and I had a hangover for two solid days.

[Scott]

Wine is not it for me. No, the hangover is the worst.

[Nicole]

It is the worst. So after that, I was just like, you know what? I don't think I really need alcohol in my life anymore. And it was the beginning of the pandemic. I wasn't going out anyway, so I just decided to cut back drastically. I would limit myself to, like, one or two drinks if I, like, went out to an outdoor bar or something with friends. Yeah, that was kind of working for me until I realized that I was only holding a drink as a source of, like, comfort in a social situation.

[Scott]

Or you felt not in a sense, literally pressured, but it's like a pressure when everyone's drinking and offering you drinks. Yeah.

[Nicole]

And I felt like it was a waste of money, too. Like, why am I spending $60 a week on something that I don't care to be doing? Totally. So I. I just decided to quit one day and I never looked back. I have a few exceptions to when I will drink, and that's like, on vacation, you know, if I'm on a patio in Portugal, I'm gonna have an aperol spritz. Just for the. Just for the vibes. Totally. But other than that, I don't ever drink at home or at parties or anything. So that's kind of where cannabis Started to take a bigger role in my life too.

[Scott]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

I would take my weed pen to, like, every bar that I went to, and it was still my way of feeling a little less than normal, but fitting in in a way that, like, didn't make people uncomfortable around me. Because sometimes people are, you know, uncomfortable. When you say you don't drink, people think, oh, you must have a problem.

[Scott]

Yes. Or that we're judging them.

[Nicole]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So that was my journey. And then my girlfriend has a much more like, personal and serious journey then. Not that mine isn't serious, but she has a very personal journey with alcohol. She was an alcoholic, so she had to quit just to, you know, save her own life. So she. I'm very proud of her. She's been sober now for over four years.

[Scott]

Amazing.

[Nicole]

And her dog Jax has never known a day when she was on Earth as an alcoholic. So we. We love him so much for that.

[Scott]

That's so sweet. Yeah, I. It's funny because I feel like that is a big thing with me is since I discovered weed, I don't feel the need to drink. And I took a long period. I think I was completely sober from alcohol for about three months. Because I got to a point where every single night after my kids went down, that was, like. My reward is, like, I would sit with my husband, have a glass of wine, and then it turned into two glasses of wine. Cause I didn't feel anything. And then I'd wake up with these headaches. I was really puffy. And then when I discovered weed, I was kind of like, well, why am I doing this? Like, why am I drinking? So I went to three months without alcohol. I even went to Vegas for, like, our group friends trip. And I didn't drink any alcohol, but I had. I felt fine. Holy.

[Nicole]

Okay, we've got poached eggs, hollandaise, bacon. Let's make a little side salad.

[Scott]

Hokay.

[Nicole]

I love adding veggies to my breakfast.

[Scott]

Me too. It makes me feel so skinny.

[Nicole]

Hell yeah.

[Scott]

Well, here's my issue is that when I get stoned, I don't want to eat anything healthy, and I don't have the energy like you do. So I go grab a handful of Cadbury eggs because I'm obsessed with them, and then I'll just eat the whole bag.

[Nicole]

Yeah, you gotta have healthy snacks on hand. What's your.

[Scott]

What's your favorite healthy snack?

[Nicole]

I mean, a really simple one that doesn't involve much cooking is just a yogurt bowl. The textures and the crunch and the fruitiness and the creaminess of the yogurt. Like, texture is a really important thing to me when I have the munchies. Yum.

[Scott]

That's actually so valid because I love popcorn when I'm high.

[Nicole]

Oh, hell yeah. Yeah, you can dress up some popcorn.

[Scott]

Yeah, I do kettle corn and ranch seasoning. It's the elite combo.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

You ever had that?

[Nicole]

No, but that sounds like a stoner snack. Girl, that for sure does.

[Scott]

I like that. Casperry eggs if I'm feeling crazy. Swedish fish from Trader Joe's.

[Nicole]

Oh, yeah, those are.

[Scott]

That's my dad's favorite snacks. Anytime he comes, I buy like five bags for him. He's my angel on this earth. So we're putting lemon on their arugula.

[Nicole]

Yeah. Let me get the good olive oil.

[Scott]

And this is a side salad.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

Oh my God.

[Nicole]

Just super simple lemon and olive oil. And then you want to give that a little toss. You can use your hands if you want, or you can just use.

[Scott]

I got my ring on.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

Oh, this is all you do that.

[Nicole]

Delicious Parmesan and tomatoes.

[Scott]

It looks so fresh. Where's this arugula from?

[Nicole]

Fons. Oh, yeah. Awkward.

[Scott]

I thought you were going to say like somewhere fancy. Lawn, you know, Everyone here shops there. I'm sorry. They're not gonna catch me dead paying $9 for a glass water bottle. Yeah, no, that's crazy.

[Nicole]

I spent like $40 on lunch the other day, which to me is a little too much. No, I missed the days when I could spend like 17 on lunch and be okay.

[Scott]

No, I'm not gonna lie. That Haley Bieber smoothie has me in chokehold.

[Nicole]

Really?

[Scott]

You ever had it?

[Nicole]

No.

[Scott]

Oh my God. It's incredible.

[Nicole]

But I haven't had it. Almost like out of an act of resistance.

[Scott]

Yeah, unfortunately it's like $24 and it's not paying that so good.

[Nicole]

Okay, maybe I'll.

[Scott]

I think you should try it at least once.

[Nicole]

I'll try it once. Yeah, but otherwise I'm not spending that kind of money consistently.

[Scott]

You ever have the crispy rice with spicy tuna?

[Nicole]

They have that.

[Scott]

Oh my God. It's the best you'll ever have.

[Nicole]

Really?

[Scott]

It's in a pre made like tray in the sushi section and it has fresh avocado on top. It's so incredible.

[Nicole]

No way.

[Scott]

Yeah, it's like $26.

[Nicole]

Oh, of course.

[Scott]

It's like that. And the Hailey Bieber smoothie. You're looking at a $50 lunch. That's insane.

[Nicole]

Yeah, that's a bit much.

[Scott]

That's also insane. That salad, it's so easy.

[Nicole]

Like three ingredients. That's four.

[Scott]

I'm gonna buy this. I do Walmart delivery. You ever done that before?

[Nicole]

I don't live close enough to a Walmart, but is it good?

[Scott]

Yeah, it's a hundred dollars a year for unlimited delivery straight to your door as much as even 365 days a year. I swear I sound like a walking Walmart ad because I'm so obsessed with getting my groceries there. But anyways, I'm going to order this tonight.

[Unknown]

If you've been having your McDonald's sausage McMuffin with an iced coffee from somewhere else, now is a great time to reconsider.

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[Scott]

What's a stoner snack that shouldn't work like a combo that shouldn't go together.

[Nicole]

But does okay a PB&J with Cheetos in the middle.

[Scott]

Oh, I'm trying that.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

Crunchy or crunchy?

[Nicole]

Not the puffs.

[Scott]

Okay.

[Nicole]

You gotta go crunchy.

[Scott]

Have you ever had jalapeno cheetos?

[Nicole]

No, but I'm not like a jalapeno person. Oh, okay.

[Scott]

Jalapeno cheddar Cheetos are our family's favorite. My 6 year old likes them, which is crazy. Like, jalapenos.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

Oh, you're serving up.

[Nicole]

Not quite yet. We need to. I forgot about toasting the.

[Scott]

I was so excited.

[Nicole]

English muffins. We're close, though. We're like minutes away from a good meal.

[Scott]

All right.

[Nicole]

Do you want avocado on your English muffin?

[Scott]

I would love all. Okay. Thank you so much.

[Nicole]

You're welcome. Sirica knife.

[Scott]

You are a competitive athlete.

[Nicole]

For. Yeah, for a good chunk of my 20s, I would train and compete in weightlifting and powerlifting. Both are separate sports.

[Scott]

You know, I didn't know that before. I talked about your legs outside.

[Nicole]

Really?

[Scott]

Yeah. Her legs are toned, you guys.

[Nicole]

They're thick.

[Scott]

Yeah. But, like, that's the best. That's the best way to be.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

You know, thick thighs save lives.

[Nicole]

Absolutely. But, yeah, I competed in weightlifting for, like, two years, and then I switched over to powerlifting, which is such a boring sport. But so, like, so fun to feel strong. Yeah. So I got really strong really fast, and then I just got bored. So now I just, like, you know, lift and work out in a group class setting. But I really miss the days when I used to be an athlete. And it has kind of been a bit of a mental struggle going from being competitive and training really hard to just kind of, like, training just to take care of myself, you know? Like, I really miss how disciplined I was. I miss the community, but my body just can't really sustain that level of training.

[Scott]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

As I enter my mid-30s.

[Scott]

No. I feel that people are like, are you gonna go to Coachella? I said, I can't stay at past 9:00pm yeah.

[Nicole]

No, no.

[Scott]

Like, no. I'm 30, flirty and thriving, and I'm not at Coachella.

[Nicole]

I sometimes feel like such a loser by, like, not going to these big fun events anymore or by not going out. But I just feel like I'm so ready to be comfortable in my own home. Yes. But I. I always wonder, like, do I have fomo? Like, are other people my age going out and having fun? But they are.

[Scott]

But also, I love my nights in. Yeah. We just have different parties and that's okay. I'm so excited to eat that salad. I never thought being in this state, I would crave a salad.

[Nicole]

It's the crunch, the freshness. Yes.

[Scott]

The ingredients.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

That's crazy. Are you guys so jealous right now? Yeah, you better be. What's your all time favorite thing to cook for yourself and eat?

[Nicole]

Wow, great question. I guess homemade pasta. I love homemade pasta.

[Scott]

Like a spicy vodka.

[Nicole]

I could do a spicy vodka. I usually just do, like, a pomodoro sauce, so keep it simple. But I love a vodka sauce or homemade pesto.

[Scott]

Vodka pasta is my favorite thing to make, and my son is obsessed with it.

[Nicole]

Oh, hell yeah.

[Scott]

And even with spicy food, I'm like, if he eats it and eats what we're eating, I don't have to make something separate for him. It's a win.

[Nicole]

Hell yeah.

[Scott]

That looks gorgeous. Guys. We're serving up. We're dishing up the plates. Look at this salad. This is insane. It's giving female version of Gordon Ramsay.

[Nicole]

Oh, wow.

[Scott]

Who's your favorite chef, by the way? Or like, chef that has a cookbook Chef to watch?

[Nicole]

I guess Molly Baz. Or Baz. I don't know how to say her last name.

[Scott]

I don't know who that is. I need to look.

[Nicole]

But I have her cookbook and she's so fun and cute on Instagram.

[Scott]

Really?

[Nicole]

Yeah. I really like her, but she's. She's been, like, in the game, like, way longer than any chef influencer ever has. So she's incredibly talented, really smart, and I really like her cookbook. And check her out.

[Scott]

All right.

[Nicole]

It's hot in here.

[Scott]

That looks incredible, you guys. Avocado on the English muffin.

[Nicole]

Do you have a favorite brunch food?

[Scott]

Yeah. See, unfortunately, I am like either a sweet or a spicy. So what my husband and I do is he'll get something savory, I'll get something sweet, and we'll split. So, like, way to go. Count me in on, like, a cinnamon roll French toast situation with, like, a cream cheese frost.

[Nicole]

Okay. Yeah.

[Scott]

So basically candy.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

And then I also love, like, a spicy breakfast burrito.

[Nicole]

Yeah. Okay. You're in Hermosa beach right now, and if you were to come here on a weekend, you would have to go to this. I think it's a Michelin starred restaurant right down the street, and they do breakfast burritos. You have to order them on Instagram on Wednesdays and pick up Friday through Sunday. This week I'm getting on Friday they have a special that's like a kimchi cheeseburger.

[Scott]

Breakfast burrito right now.

[Nicole]

It's so insanely good.

[Scott]

Oh, that sounds like Barron's. Scott's like, new favorite spot because he's obsessed with breakfast burritos.

[Nicole]

You have to come back.

[Scott]

Okay, we'll do that. That sounds so good. What's the place called?

[Nicole]

Barron's Barons. I'll send you their Instagram, cuz you can only order on Instagram.

[Scott]

Okay. Yeah. Send this for me.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

Smash some avocado.

[Nicole]

We're going to put this back on to the English muffins. This is our Canadian bacon. I could use more avocado, honestly, but I'm too tired to do that right now.

[Scott]

No, that's okay.

[Nicole]

I'm too stoned.

[Scott]

You have done so much for me today.

[Nicole]

Honestly, there gets. There comes a point in like plating a meal where you really want it to look fancy and be as perfect as possible. But I'm so hungry.

[Scott]

Yeah, no, I feel you, but I don't. I feel the same.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

Those are gorgeous poached eggs.

[Nicole]

Thank you. Hopefully they're not too.

[Scott]

Whoa. Stunning. Oh, my God. No, she does not fuck around.

[Nicole]

Don't fuck around.

[Scott]

No.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

I'm telling you, my poached eggs look like shit compared to that. I need to get your recipe.

[Nicole]

Okay. We're going to bring this back to life with some lemon juice. You want to squeeze a little bit slowly in here.

[Scott]

Okay.

[Nicole]

Okay, perfect.

[Scott]

Did you see that? That was crazy.

[Nicole]

Okay, let me get a little spoon.

[Scott]

Oh, my God. I'm. I hope you realize I'm salivating your mouth right now like insane. I have to take a photo on my phone before. Okay, we eat it. Here's that hollandaise, you guys. It smells like the best breakfast I've never had before. You know what's so funny too is I had no idea what I was. What to even expect because I didn't know.

[Nicole]

Did you not know what eggs Benedict was?

[Scott]

I knew what it looked like, but I've never ordered at a restaurant.

[Nicole]

Really?

[Scott]

My sister loves eggs Benedict.

[Nicole]

Okay, here we go.

[Scott]

Look at this. That's crazy.

[Nicole]

Hell yeah. I'm so excited.

[Scott]

I'm so proud of you.

[Nicole]

Thank you.

[Scott]

I could never do this high. I'm just telling you right now.

[Nicole]

It's a lot of work and I think I did everything out of order, but it worked.

[Scott]

No, you did an incredible job. Okay, what do. How do we eat this? I need to try in the correct.

[Nicole]

Okay. Do you want to go for the salad first? Because you were like, flipping out.

[Scott]

Yeah, yeah. The salad just looks. Are you going to eat with me?

[Nicole]

Oh, yeah, for sure.

[Avery Woods]

Yeah.

[Scott]

I'm like, don't dish me. Look at that.

[Nicole]

A little bit of everything.

[Scott]

So much for my breakfast.

[Nicole]

Oh, my God.

[Scott]

That's incredible. What's your favorite dope kitchen recipe you've ever put out?

[Nicole]

That's so hard. There have been hundreds, so it's hard to pick one. But I would say my favorite video I've ever made is when I was super stoned trying to make French macarons. Oh, I'm terrible at it. It's so hard to learn.

[Scott]

I heard it's really hard.

[Nicole]

Incredibly hard. But it was the funniest video, so I love that. I don't have a favorite recipe, but that's my favorite content moment.

[Scott]

Okay, we have to try these.

[Nicole]

Okay.

[Scott]

This. Eggs Benedict, avocado, Canadian bacon, poached egg.

[Nicole]

Homemade hot sauce hollandaise.

[Scott]

Thank you. Hot sauce hollandaise and homemade English muffins from you.

[Nicole]

Homemade English muffins. Yes.

[Scott]

Okay, hold on.

[Nicole]

Wow.

[Scott]

I'm having a really difficult time cutting for some reason. Apparently I'm new at eating. Oh, my God.

[Nicole]

It's okay. Do you want me to cut it for you?

[Scott]

It looks like I've never eaten in my entire life. Oh, my God. We can never do an interview high again.

[Nicole]

Never.

[Scott]

No, that thing.

[Nicole]

Yeah, you gotta help.

[Scott]

You guys.

[Nicole]

You gotta build that back up.

[Scott]

Holy.

[Nicole]

Wow.

[Scott]

Okay. Finally got a bite. No. Nope.

[Nicole]

It's impossible to pick up this salad.

[Scott]

Wow. You far exceeded my expectations. Not that I doubted you, but this is so good.

[Nicole]

Thank you.

[Scott]

And I know for a fact, even if I was stone cold sober, it would still be just as delicious.

[Nicole]

I'm so glad you like it, because this is my favorite.

[Scott]

We don't want to keep talking in your ears while we eat, but we're really busy right now, so we're gonna finish this. Thank you guys so much for watching, and thank you so much for having me in your house.

[Nicole]

Thank you for coming.

[Scott]

Where can people find you?

[Nicole]

You can find me on Instagram at Dope Underscore, Underscore Kitchen. Tick Tock. Dope underscore kitchen or dopekitchen.com is my new blog with all of my recipes that I'm uploading and a bunch of travel guides so you can check out that as well.

[Scott]

Yeah. Fun.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Scott]

Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. And we're gonna eat this. Cheers.

[Unknown]

If you've been having your McDonald's sausage McMuffin with an iced coffee from somewhere else, now is a great time to.

Reconsider in the Pacific Northwest. It's never too cold for an iced coffee in the morning. Grab yourself a medium caramel, French vanilla or Classic iced coffee for just $2.29. Beverage may cause craving for McMuffin or hash browns. Prices and participation may vary. Cannot be combined with any other offer or combo meal.

Earn a business degree on your terms at Capella University. Our flexpath format is available in select programs and lets you learn on your schedule. A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at Capella. Eduardo.