Category: Lunch/Dinner

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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]

For Christmas day, I was tasked with making a vegetable dish for my family’s dinner. Post-Christmas Eve, I anticipated that I would be slightly in a coma still. I wanted something that was a fun accompaniment – light, seasonal, and just a bit snazzy. Protein wise, this salad pairs amazingly with poached chicken, turkey, white… Continue reading Snazzy Shaved Salad (GF + V)

Inspired by the dynamic duo of Dr. Roizen and Chef Jim at the Cleveland Clinic, where I interned last summer, I’m embarking on a mission to introduce culinary medicine in an accessible way – through social media. Every Friday, I’ll be sharing a “Functional Foodie” recipe as part of my job as Patient Care Navigator at… Continue reading Functional Foodie: Kitchari (GF, V option)

Inspired by the dynamic duo of Dr. Roizen and Chef Jim at the Cleveland Clinic, where I interned last summer, I’m embarking on a mission to introduce culinary medicine in an accessible way – through social media. Every Friday, I’ll be sharing a “Functional Foodie” recipe as part of my job as Patient Care Navigator at… Continue reading Functional Foodie: Cozy Red Lentil Soup (GF + DF, V option)