As I fly back after a long Thanksgiving weekend, I feel inspired to post not about the food (though there was plenty!) but about what I’m thankful for. I spent four wonderful days with my future in-laws, meeting dozens of new faces and old. The entire time, I was embraced and surrounded by love. With… Read More What I’m Thankful For In 2016
I was brainstorming cake ideas for an event and realized I’ve never had a banana cake! The idea of a lighter banana bread covered with fluffy, decadent buttercream frosting was an instant winner. I knew I had to make it…and add salted caramel for good measure. Banana dessert is actually a recently acquired taste for me. I… Read More Banana Cake with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
Salted caramel and I are good friends. I love it in pretty much every sugary sweet dessert. It’s my favorite ice cream flavor and topping. My favorite candy is sea salt caramel. And any combination of salted caramel and dark chocolate is a hit with me. You can imagine my excitement when I finally decided to make… Read More Easy Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
Last month, I hosted a wine & cheese night and ended up with copious amounts of leftover cheese and baguettes. Lucky me! I had one of those lightbulb moments and decided to make assorted mini grilled cheese sandwiches. Now baguette bread is not the ideal medium for grilled cheese as the irregular and large pores allow… Read More Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
I had a grand total of one birthday party as a kid and it was a joint celebration months ahead of my actual birthday. I’m also not one to expect extravagant gestures. Having said that, it does feel nice to be spoiled once in a while. My birthday this year was all that and more,… Read More Surprise Birthday Trip – Dinner at Alinea 2.0 and Drinks at The Aviary
Summer is my favorite time at the farmers market. It’s the season of fresh berries and stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots). Lately though, something else has been catching my eye – the humble corn. I didn’t think much of corn growing up, but I have to credit Mr. A for helping me appreciate this plant. His… Read More Sweet Corn Salad with Tomato, Parsley, and Mint
Now that we are solidly in the second half of 2016, I’ve been reminiscing about the previous six months. With all the travel, change, and excitement, it feels like a full year already! One of my favorite days was a sightseeing car trip along the north coast of Taiwan. I’ve been to Taiwan about six times… Read More A day trip along Taiwan’s north coast
After a long holiday weekend, I try a little harder to eat healthy. You know how that goes. The bloat from salty food, beer, and general indulgences gives you that extra push to eat “clean” for a bit. At least for a day or two, right? Okay maybe just breakfast. I truly believe breakfast is the most… Read More How to Make Perfect Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Sweet potatoes are a staple snack in Taiwan and many other Asian countries. During my trip to Taiwan last month, I was reminded of just how beloved this tuber was. I grabbed a roasted sweet potato at a 7-Eleven, and it was creamier and sweeter than any I’ve had in the US. The sweet potato is enjoyed as a… Read More Roasted Honey Butter Sweet Potatoes
It’s funny that cilantro, aka Chinese parsley, was my least favorite ingredient growing up. I would literally run away from the kitchen when I smelled my dad cutting the fresh herb. It was that pungent to me. Like beer, wine, and cheese to name a few, this was definitely an acquired taste. Cilantro was hands down… Read More Roasted Cilantro Lime Cauliflower
