The One Recipe That Got Savannah Guthrie To Start Cooking (2024)

If you know Savannah Guthrie, ​​you know the "Today" coanchor is all but lost in the kitchen. Or at least she was, until recently. Now, after hosting eight episodes of "Starting From Scratch"—a digital series featuring professional chefs who teach Savannah how to cook—she’s going back to the basics, gaining serious confidence in the kitchen, and cranking out new-to-her recipes for family and friends. Most notably, one recipe she makes more than any other.

Guthrie is the first-ever Allrecipes magazine cover star (appearing on the front of the Fall 2023 issue on newstands August 23; see the sneak preview on the "Today" show here), so we sat down with her to discuss her mission to learn how to cook, starting from scratch. She told us how she went from cooking zero to kitchen hero (or at least a 2 out of 10, in her own words) and shared the go-to recipe that got her there.

The One Recipe That Got Savannah Guthrie To Start Cooking (1)

Q&A with Savannah Guthrie

Allrecipes: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Savannah Guthrie: I grew up in Tucson and now live in New York City with my husband, Michael; my daughter, Vale (9); and my son, Charley (6).

AR: How did "Starting From Scratch" get, well, started?

SG: The Today show has been trying to teach me to cook for years. When you cook on TV, everything is prepped, and you kind of just dump ingredients together and stir them on-air. Of course, that’s
not actually cooking—and the things that intimidate me are the basic techniques. So in "Starting From Scratch," I focus on the basics. (It actually might be the most boring show for real cooks, but beginners will learn a lot.) Stick with me and together we’ll learn how to try something new in the kitchen.

AR: What would you rate your cooking skill level now?

SG: On a scale of zero to 10, I give myself a 1 to 1 1/2. Possibly a 2. But I started at zero, so I’m counting my progress!

AR: Who is your favorite person to cook for?

SG: My husband—because he’s so appreciative. It makes him unreasonably happy to see me try to cook. He’s a very good cook, and he loves to cook, so he really marvels when I’m in there trying. (Meanwhile, my kids are my toughest critics.)

AR: What’s always in your fridge?

SG: The staples: eggs, bacon, milk, orange juice, cucumbers. (My kids do not like to eat vegetables, but they tolerate cucumbers.)

AR: What inspired you to learn how to cook?

SG: My kids! I wanted to be able to make a few meals they would actually eat that are both healthy and delicious.

AR: Which recipe do you make that you kids like the most?

SG: Pancakes, but mostly because we put chocolate chips in them. I make them so often, I practically know the recipe by heart. (Get the full recipe here.) There are a few other things I’ve made that my extended family likes, but kids are much harder to please. My kids are at the ages where it’s all about the trifecta of chicken fingers, burgers, and pizza. (Ironically, that’s my idea of good living, too. I don’t need fancy food.)

The One Recipe That Got Savannah Guthrie To Start Cooking (2)

View Recipe

AR: What would you choose for your last meal on Earth?

SG: A big cheeseburger, French fries, and a chocolate milkshake. I love a milkshake more than is reasonable.

AR: What are your favorite cuisines?

SG: I love Mediterranean food: chicken shawarma with some good hummus and tzatziki sauce, or a gyro. And I love Mexican food, which makes sense because I grew up in the Southwest.

AR: Who inspires you in the kitchen?

SG: Al Roker. He loves to cook, he’s so inventive, and he’s always trying something new. He’s unafraid.

AR: What is your go-to snack?

SG: I make chocolate energy balls to snack on when I need a bite of something sweet. They have oats, nut butter, flax or chia seeds, and chocolate, of course. My husband will eat them all if he finds them, though, so I have to hide them.

AR: What's one great dish you’ve learned on "Starting From Scratch"?

SG: Marcus Samuelsson (of Red Rooster Harlem) taught me how to make a sweet potato gratin. It’s amazing and was my contribution to my family Christmas dinner last year.

AR: What's the best tip you learned on "Starting From Scratch"?

SG: Ayesha Nurdjaja (of NYC’s Shuka and Shukette) taught me how to make hummus, then use the back of a spoon to add a swoosh and a little olive oil and some spices. It makes me look legit.

AR: Sweet or Savory?

SG: Definitely sweet! I love ice cream, cookies, brownies, milkshakes—I really only eat dinner to get to dessert.

The One Recipe That Got Savannah Guthrie To Start Cooking (2024)

FAQs

How did Savannah Guthrie get famous? ›

Guthrie joined NBC News in September 2007 as a legal analyst and correspondent. Between 2008–2011, she was the White House correspondent. In 2010 and 2011, as co-anchor of the MSNBC program The Daily Rundown, Guthrie became the co-host of Today's third hour with Natalie Morales and Al Roker.

What is Savannah Guthrie's annual salary? ›

In her capacity as a key figure on NBC's “Today” show, Guthrie earns a considerable salary of $8 million per year, reflecting her invaluable contributions to the network's flagship morning program. Her dedication and expertise have solidified her position as one of the most respected journalists in the industry.

Does Savannah Guthrie cook? ›

Now, after hosting eight episodes of "Starting From Scratch"—a digital series featuring professional chefs who teach Savannah how to cook—she's going back to the basics, gaining serious confidence in the kitchen, and cranking out new-to-her recipes for family and friends.

What happened to Savannah Guthrie? ›

Throughout 2023, the lawyer was absent from the series multiple times, leading her colleagues to fill in for her at the news desk. In February 2023, she was sidelined from the show after contracting COVID-19. That summer, Savannah flew to Los Angeles to attend Taylor Swift's Eras tour with her daughter, Vale.

How did Savannah Guthrie lose weight? ›

The longtime broadcast journalist revealed in the 2023 fall issue of Allrecipes that she eats a very low calorie meal every day. "Embarrassingly, I eat [the exact same thing] for lunch every single day of the week," Savannah shared about the turkey bacon, cheddar and egg white sandwich from Starbucks.

Where did Savannah Guthrie start her career? ›

Savannah Guthrie got her start in television at NBC affiliates in Missouri, Arizona and Washington, D.C. Guthrie earned a law degree at Georgetown University and became a legal correspondent, first for Court TV, then NBC.

Who is the highest paid news anchor? ›

1. Sean Hannity. Sean Hannity, a stalwart at Fox News as host of "The Sean Hannity Show," earns an estimated $45 million at the broadcast network and has an estimated net worth of $250 million. Born in New York City, Hannity's broadcast career dates back to the early 1980s in Alabama and Georgia.

What is Hoda Kotb's salary on the Today show? ›

How much does Hoda Kotb make per year? When Kotb first signed her deal to co-anchor TODAY, she made $7 million per year. She's likely gotten a raise since then, though the specifics of her annual salary in 2024 aren't publicly known.

What is Al Roker's yearly salary? ›

What is Al Roker's annual salary? Al Roker's annual salary with TODAY is a whopping $10 million a year. His most recent contract with NBC was a five-year, $50 million contract. Roker does have additional income each year depending on the other projects he undertakes, like Broadway shows and writing books.

What does Savannah Guthrie have a degree in? ›

Guthrie received a B.A. in journalism from the University of Arizona, graduating cum laude in 1993. She was a member of the Arizona Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi. Guthrie received a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2002.

Does Savannah Guthrie have a tattoo? ›

Both the stars opted to get a design representing their families in individual ways. Guthrie got the words "all my love" inked horizontally across her forearm. The dainty tattoo was done with a single needle to keep it light and thin.

Did Savannah Guthrie cut her hair? ›

Savannah Guthrie is showing off her new haircut! On Monday, Feb. 6, the TODAY co-host posted a few pics of her new look on Instagram Stories and shared that TODAY hairstylist Kelly O'Neill is the brains behind the do.

Why did Savannah walk off the Today show? ›

"It's her kids' first day of school, so best of luck to Vale and Charley." Kotb chimed in, "Yeah, happy first day!" Guthrie isn't the only Today show mom who stepped away to take her kids on their first day of school.

What eye surgery did Savannah Guthrie have? ›

In July 2020, Guthrie had surgery to remove a cataract, which was a complication resulting from her retinal detachment surgery, she told Ellen DeGeneres. Guthrie said on Instagram at the time that she had a “major improvement” in her vision following that operation.

How many children does Savannah Guthrie have? ›

Detailing that she was "so delighted and overjoyed" to have her two kids — daughter Vale, 9, and son Charley, 7, whom she shares with husband Michael Feldman — Guthrie continues, "I'm so grateful, but I'm always mindful of talking about that too, because we all have moments in our lives where we don't feel that the ...

What is Guthrie famous for? ›

He is best known for his folk ballads, traditional and children's songs, and improvised works, often incorporating political commentary. Woody Guthrie is closely identified with the Dust Bowl and Great Depression of the 1930s. His songs from that time period earned him the nickname “Dust Bowl Troubadour.”

How old was Savannah Guthrie when she had Charles? ›

Guthrie also went through two rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) before welcoming her second son, Charley when she was 44 years old.

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