published May 10, 2024 When I think of Chinese food, one of the first dishes that comes to mind is sweet and sour pork. It’s an iconic meal that uses both classic Chinese cooking techniques and widely loved Cantonese flavors. And it’s all about the sauce! Once wrapped in a savory marinade, stir-fried to a crispy golden perfection, the juicy pork is tossed in a sugar and vinegar sauce with ketchup for extra tanginess and thickened with cornstarch....
I’m not talking about psycho killer chopping. Not like body parts of anything. (Netflix = Dexter marathons). Can you tell i’ve been vegging out on the couch all weekend? I’m talking about chopping veggies. Relaxing. Letting the mind wander a bit with I get everything together for this simpl green coconut curry. Wandering back to my childhood days where I ate carrots by the bucketful. Probably the only kid on the block that did....
I cannot believe that January has already been sneaked by us and we are in the second month of the New Year. I am still referring to the year as New Year because I am yet to get a hang of writing 2015. The way days are passing by, I should soon be practicing to write 2016. This first week’s theme for this month’s Blogging Marathon is accompaniments served in restaurants....
We polished off 50 sugar cookies in like, 3 days. I’m still deciding if I’m more embarrassed or amused by that fact. But when you have cut out sugar cookies with buttery, delicious rims, soft centers, and a quick, fuss-free sugar cookie frosting all put together, it’s easy to lose count of how many cookies you’ve consumed in a day. If you’re skeptical that the sugar cookie will hold up in the oven if you’re using a particularly ridge heavy cookie cutter, the answer is, it will....
published Aug 05, 2024 Gavurdagi salatasi is a tomato salad named after Gavur mountain in Southeast Turkey. It’s prepared with fresh, wholesome produce (tomatoes, onions, and peppers) and topped with crunchy walnuts. It’s a great solution to an overproductive garden, and I love it because it’s so simple and easy to prepare. It’s also topped with thick, mildly sweet pomegranate molasses that I combine with olive oil and other seasonings to make a tangy, fruity dressing....
Growing up in Russia, tea has been a drink of choice for as long as I can remember. It has just as central place in Russian culture as it does in England, a cup of comfort at any time of the day. I grew up on the assumption that Russian tea tastes like any other tea, and only had realised the incredible diversity that is out there when Brad brought me a full kilo of Darjeeling tea as a gift from Nepal almost 20 years ago!...
It’s official that I, along with the rest of the world it seems, am banana bread obsessed. I already have a ‘fancy’ Marbled Banana Bread Recipe up on my site and quite a long list of banana bread inspired treats (check the related recipes section below!). This recipe, though, is a simple and classic vegan, gluten-free chocolate chip banana bread. With just 10 ingredients and a simple process, this bread is one of my ultimate go-to’s, and after lots of experimentation, I hope you’ll agree that the texture is perfect....
5-Minute Single Serve Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake If you need a single serving vegan dessert recipe that will satisfy your mid-afternoon (or late night) sweet tooth craving with little effort and time needed, then let me introduce you to this vegan chocolate mug cake recipe. This vegan mug brownie/cake has a slightly firm crust on the top with a soft, fudgy middle. Made even more decadent with an optional stuffing of peanut butter or chocolate for ultimate decadence....
Creamy Vegan Pasta Bake with Mushrooms and Spinach Next time you’re in the mood for something carby and comforting, ditch the traditional tomato-based baked vegan pasta for a creamy blended cauliflower one. The result is this cozy, comforting, and wonderfully nutritious vegan pasta bake. With your choice of pasta, veggies (I used spinach and mushrooms), and even dairy-free cheese, this vegan pasta casserole is super versatile and a simple family favorite that you’ll return to time and time again....
On another note, whenever I make Italian buttercream I always ask myself, “why aren’t I always making this because this is delicious?” Let’s face it: you can’t beat the refined silky texture! Pro Tips on Making the cake layers If you’re not using 6-inch pans, double the recipe for 8-inch pans or triple the recipe for 9-inch pans. Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake....
published May 13, 2022 The Arabic name for zaatar bread is manakish, or sometimes spelled manakeesh. Many enjoy it as a simple, mild breakfast. It has a gentle sweetness and pillowy texture that is easy on the stomach. The dough is very simple and easy to make: the secret to its soft texture and comforting flavor is powdered milk, which may be the only ingredient you don’t already have. In my manakeesh recipe, I’ll show you how to make a robust spice topping made with my curated Zaatar Spice blend, as well as a tangy feta and mozzarella cheese spread....
Today’s post is sponsored by California Walnuts! We are using their delicious walnuts in our spinach pesto! And here we go, it’s time for Spinach Pesto Tortellini Salad! We’re talking about an easy breezy salad situation that is perfect for all those last minute summer get togethers. It’s also THE meal to make on weeknights if you aren’t one of those people that spend your Sunday meal prepping for the week ahead....
Love Mint Flavored Desserts? Then try my Mint Brownies or my Mint Chocolate Mousse! Andes Mint Cookies These Andes Mint Cookies couldn’t be easier! They are made with store bought chocolate cake mix, eggs and butter and scooped into mounded tablespoons. The cookies come out soft, fluffy and fudgey. They are loaded with chocolate flavor. They are awesome by themselves but even better with the andes frosting and peppermint buttercream on top!...
I love recipes like this because you can eyeball the measurements, swap ingredients and pick and choose the cheese and veggies you like according to your preferences. The crust for this pizza is super crispy and is made entirely in a stand mixer so it’s super easy and can even be made in advance and frozen. Make sure to check out all the helpful tips and tricks below and if you’re looking for more delicious pizza recipes for your pizza night check out our Burrata Pizza or Tomato Pizza they’re some of my favorites!...
I love baking and would love to try any different recipe I come across. Baked Apple Roses is one such dessert recipe that I came across on Face book and I knew that I had to make it. I have been baking for a while now, but just recently I have developed this liking towards shaped breads and pastries. This Baked Apple Rose looked so adorable, but is really simple to make....
Looking for more easy potato side dish recipes? Try my Warm German Potato Salad, Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi or my Scalloped Potatoes! Crispy Baked French Fries Fries are one of my all-time favorite comfort foods, and it turns out, it’s actually a lot easier (and healthier) to make them at home! I already tackled making crispy sweet potato fries at home, and so I decided to apply similar techniques to this russet potato recipe....
When browsing through a few cooking magazines during one of my very often long waits in the Haircut place (I have two boys and this is one of my most frequently visited places), I came across the vegetarian baked penne recipe with roasted vegetables. I adopted a few hints from the recipe and modified it to my liking to make this baked vegetable pasta recipe. What I created was one of my kid’s favorite lunch box recipes....
Or take a look at our Persian Herb Frittata if you are itching to expand your culinary horizons! It’s getting warmer and lovelier outside by the minute and I have to admit I am not fully ready for the summer clothes. Not yet but I am on my way. Brad and I have been eating healthier lately hoping to shed extra padding we’ve accumulated over the cold winter months. Eggs for breakfast are always a great option to start the day with a meal that will sustain us for hours....
Love fresh summer recipes like this one? Then you’ve got to try my Zucchini Noodles with Blistered Tomatoes and Pesto and my 15 Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta! Homemade Caprese Crostini with Blistered Tomatoes and Smoked Mozzarella This appetizer sounds a lot more complicated than it is. That’s what I love about it! It’s as impressive as it is delicious. Plus, it comes together in less than 30 minutes. Perfect for family dinners, summer barbecues, or game nights!...
Homemade bread. ??? The smell of caraway seeds mingling with pure Irish butter and aged cheddar and forming a golden crust as the dough slowly rises in the oven for the easiest homemade cheddar Irish soda bread. Definitely not great for baking but rainy, cold weather totally adds to the whole ambience. Let there be a big pot of Irish stew or even my homemade beef and barley soup waiting for you at the end of the rainbow or err, baking time....
