We were staring at each other. A gigantic bag of broccoli, sweet potatoes, onions, Brussels sprouts and zucchini and I, separated only by the glass of the supermarket freezer. I knew we were meant to be. Last weekend, I fell into the magic Costco and got only a little swept away – and for good… Continue reading Cozy Chickpea Mash with Roasted Veg (GF + V)
Category: Recipes
Qi-Rice: Jeweled Sweet Sticky Rice with Dried Fruits and Peanuts (GF + V)
In March on a qigong retreat, I experienced one of the best desserts of my life, made by none other than Master Lu. It wasn’t cake, nor cookies, nothing like that. This was a beautifully jeweled sticky rice. I probably ate three cups of it in one sitting – no joke. I was so enthralled… Continue reading Qi-Rice: Jeweled Sweet Sticky Rice with Dried Fruits and Peanuts (GF + V)
Hazelnut Snacking Cake w/Dark Chocolate Ganache (GF + V)
I miss my bro being home. I miss his pranks on my dad, I miss him driving me places, and I sometimes even miss the buzzing of his 3D printer developing his newest creation. However, one of the things I miss the most is making him desserts. And since he’s 6’3” and still growing, he… Continue reading Hazelnut Snacking Cake w/Dark Chocolate Ganache (GF + V)
Melanzane al Ragù: Two Italian Dishes, Married (GF + DF)
In my family, we’re always trying to find ways to reinvent our vegetable dishes. On one hand, one of my nonna’s signature side dishes is thinly sliced eggplant, oven-roasted, with touch of olive oil, salt, and thyme. On the other hand, my nonna’s ragù (with meat) is extraordinary. So, why not combine them? I… Continue reading Melanzane al Ragù: Two Italian Dishes, Married (GF + DF)
Nonna Tina’s Pomodoro (GF + V)
This summer, I fell in love with tomatoes. Admittedly, I may have eaten too many tomatoes, from the giant ones in Seville to the sun-dried ones in Sicily. So, when my Spanish teacher came to my grandmother’s house for dinner with a bag of fresh tomatoes, we had an idea: to make tomato sauce. My… Continue reading Nonna Tina’s Pomodoro (GF + V)
Nobu-Inspired Lunch Bowl (GF + DF)
If you go to NYC, you’ll see how many “bowl” restaurants there are: Chipotle, Naya, Inday, Pokeworks… the list goes on and on. And the line goes on too… To be honest, I’m tired of paying almost $20 per dish when I can make it myself with higher-quality ingredients in the comfort of my kitchen.… Continue reading Nobu-Inspired Lunch Bowl (GF + DF)
Nonna Tina’s Sure Hits: Minestrone (GF + V)
I’ll admit: I’ve been avoiding Nonna Tina’s minestrone for years. It never looked appetizing. While its visual appeal hasn’t changed, I gave it a try last week and understood why everyone else loves it so much. It’s grounding and comforting, easy to make, and easy to clean up. You have your carbs, protein, veg, and… Continue reading Nonna Tina’s Sure Hits: Minestrone (GF + V)
My Favorite Frittata Bagel (GF + DF)
I’m a sucker for a New York Sunday morning. A nice walk alongside the Hudson river, with a bagel to finish it off. Except … I like the idea of getting a bagel, more than the bagel itself. The long lines, confusion, and sometimes bland bagel don’t tempt me. And somehow, I always end up… Continue reading My Favorite Frittata Bagel (GF + DF)
Italian Sauce-venture: Vegan Bolognese (GF + V) [ESP translation]
Since my goal is to be fluent in Spanish, all my posts will be translated to Spanish by me! This past year, I’ve been blessed by living with my grandparents – who are super cooks. In college, I didn’t eat as much Italian food, but now that I’m back in my nonna’s culinary embrace, I’m… Continue reading Italian Sauce-venture: Vegan Bolognese (GF + V) [ESP translation]
Nonna Tina’s Budino di Mandorle (GF + V)
This Easter, I finally tried my nonna’s budino di mandorle. Budino di mandorla, or almond pudding, is a naturally gluten-free and vegan dessert in Italy. And it happens to be one of my grandma’s specialties. Admittedly, the gooey texture of it never tempted me when I was young. But this time, I tried it, and… Continue reading Nonna Tina’s Budino di Mandorle (GF + V)