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)
Brush and Believe: A Watercolor Self-Affirmation Card Workshop
This summer when I was in Spain, I read a book about manifesting called Mind Magic (2024) by Dr. James Doty. A neurosurgeon by training, Dr. Doty explores the neuroscience behind manifestation. In simple terms, manifestation is about conditioning your mind to recognize traits and opportunities linked to your future state of being. On the… Continue reading Brush and Believe: A Watercolor Self-Affirmation Card Workshop
Stories of Encounters: The Pizzaiolo and Gluten-Free Medical Student [Italian Translation]
In 1994, at 21 years old, my mom met an Italian professor, Luisa, during her study abroad in Milan. Luisa would grow to become not only one of my mom’s favorite teachers, but close family friend. Now, 30 years after they first met, Luisa is helping me improve my Italian. Below is a story I… Continue reading Stories of Encounters: The Pizzaiolo and Gluten-Free Medical Student [Italian Translation]
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)
Qigong @ the Met: Merging Meditation with Art
This Sunday, I had the beautiful opportunity of leading a qigong experience for the Hope and Heroes staff and participants at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC). Qigong is an ancient meditative movement practice based on the flow of qi, or energy, to restore balance to the body. To learn more about past experiences with… Continue reading Qigong @ the Met: Merging Meditation with Art
Try This: Stream of Consciousness Writing
I’m not quite sure where I heard this, all I know is that it stuck with me: “Embrace the consciousness that is trying to make its way into your life.” This year has brought its fair share of twists and turns. At least it has felt like a twisty-turny year, when compared to the plans… Continue reading Try This: Stream of Consciousness Writing
These are Sevilla’s Best Cafe con Leche
When I saw patients at my medical office who spoke Spanish, I wanted to be able to connect with them in their mother tongue. So, last October, I took my first Spanish class and fell in love with the language. As I improved, I saw patients feel more at ease in my presence and content… Continue reading These are Sevilla’s Best Cafe con Leche