Recipe: The Best Whole Roasted Cauliflower

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Cauliflower is one of those foods that can be anything from a duty food, the kind you have to force yourself to eat, to the most delicious thing on the table. This recipe is definitely the latter!

My taste testers said it was the best cauliflower they've ever eaten in their lives and, all humility aside, I must agree. It's crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and sooo flavorful throughout. Here's the recipe!

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Recipe: Thai Asparagus Soup

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While winter is when you crave stews and soups, a light green soup can also make a lovely dinner on a brisk summer night. Here's a flavorful thai asparagus soup that's delicious, healthy, and easy to whip up. It beats the canned stuff any day!

Thai Asparagus Soup

Serves 6

* 1 large onion, chopped

* 3 Tbsp. canola oil

* 3 Tbsp. minced lemongrass

* 3 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger

* 3 pounds asparagus, trimmed (take about one inch off the bottom of the stalks)

* 0.5 tsp. black pepper

* salt, to taste

* 1.5 c. canned coconut milk

* 5 c. canned vegetable broth

* 0.5 tsp. fresh lemon juice

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Recipe: Avocado Cornbread

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As longer-term blog readers know, I've recently shifted away from being 97% food, 3% lifestyle to being mostly life focused and blogging about everything from modeling to startup life to staying sane post surgery.

But, guys, I love baking (cooking, too, but to a lesser degree), so we're not getting rid of recipes entirely. Especially when my late night kitchenventures result in something as millennial brilliant as avocado cornbread.

Avocado. Cornbread. It's sweet, savory, carby, and full of smooth, creamy pockets of avocado - like (healthier) butter already chillin' in your cornbread, just waiting to create a flavor explosion in your mouth. Mmmmmmm yeah.

You're welcome.

Avocado Cornbread

A 9" round cornbread

* 1 c. stone ground cornmeal

* 0.5 c. all purpose flour

* 1.5 tsp. baking soda

* 0.5 tsp. sea salt

* 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

* 2 tsp. cumin

* 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter

* 2 Tbsp. honey

* 2 small ears of corn (cut the corn off the husk, throw out the husks - should be ~2 c. of corn kernels)

* 1 large avocado, cut into small cubes (~1.5 c.)

* Juice from a small lime (~2 tsp.)

* 1 c. buttermilk

* 1 large egg

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Recipe: Chipotle Creamed Corn

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Corn is one of America's favorite vegetables! 

...even if there's some argument around whether it should be counted as a vegetable or a grain. Still, most of us love it!

Creamed corn is a classic American comfort food side dish. I'm all for the classics, but mixing it up is fun.

Especially if you're pairing creamed corn with a milder main dish, like the Norwegian broiled cod pictured above (called Torsk, recipe coming soon), mixing it up with something a little spicier can be fun. 

Ta-da! Chipotle creamed corn brings a spicy twist to traditional creamed corn. It's a great way to change things up and the recipe, below, is easy to follow and quick enough for a weeknight dinner!

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December Degustabox Review

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Once again, I can't believe it's already a new month - but I'm thrilled, because it's my favorite month! Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday and so all of December and the holiday season is my favorite time.

Everyone is cheerful and tries a bit harder to be kind. The streets twinkle with bright lights and cheerful decorations. And the air is full of the intoxicating scent of holiday flavors!

I can't wait to get started on my annual Christmastime baking madness, but in the interim, I was really excited to open this month's Degustabox. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know Degustabox is a subscription service that delivers a big box full of full-sized new foods (10-15 of them) to its subscribers. I was hoping for a box full of Christmas-themed and holiday-flavored delights, plus a few things to cook holiday dinner party entrees and sides with or bake Christmas cookies with! 

Here's what I found in the box:

December Degustabox Unboxing

To start, there were no overtly Christmassy products. That was a tiny bit disappointing for me, because I love Advent Calendars, Spekulatias cookies, holiday spiced things, and dark chocolate peppermint bark. But it was probably a decision on their part to honor that not all their customers celebrate Christmas and I respect that. Especially since the products they included can all definitely be used for Christmassy things!

To start:

Wise White Cheddar Popcorn is gluten free, whole grain, air popped, and a smart snacking choice for holiday parties! The season is full of holiday parties and snacks are a must, but it's nice to keep them on the healthier side, so that we don't get sluggish and bloated as the season progresses. These are a happy medium between carrot sticks and greasy chips!

No holiday season is complete without baking, but not everyone is a baker.

These Pillsbury mixes are easy enough for everyone and I like that they're a little more natural - no colors, preservatives, or artificial flavors! That doesn't mean, of course, that buttercream frosted white cake is healthy, but it can be part of a healthy diet. 

It's great that you can use them to make cupcakes, too. It's perfect for non-bakers who want to bake something sweet to bring to a holiday party or the last day of school before break!

If you really can't be trusted in the kitchen (or don't have the time or desire to bake) you're also covered.

Chips Ahoy! Cinnamon Sugar Thins are a new crunchy cookie from our long-beloved Chips Ahoy! They're cinnamony, with delicious white chocolate chips studding them throughout, and are a great thing to bring along to a holiday party. Perfect for when you're invited to a holiday party at the last minute!

If your crowd isn't into sweets, try these whole grain crackers:

Good Thins Oat & Flax are natural crackers where whole grains are the first ingredient! They're low in sugar, free of partially hydrogenated oils (surprisingly common in salty snacks) and free of high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors.

Top them with peanut butter and a chocolate kiss, cream cheese with cranberry jam, hard cheese and cucumber, etc. for an easy party snack. They're also great plain!

If you're looking for a jam for your crackers, look no further.

Smucker's new Fruit & Honey jams, which feature fruit sweetened naturally with honey, are another delicious inclusion in this month's Degustabox. The Strawberry Jalapeno jam is delicious and I love the spicy kick!

I also love that they're sweetened with honey instead of sugar and colored with vegetable juice instead of artificial dyes.

When you're out and about, buying Christmas presents, you'll need some sustenance.

Kala Beans are high in protein - they're roasted fava beans with seasoning and they're delicious!

The Kala Beans are my hands-down favorite in this month's Degustabox.

Speaking of holiday gifts, the Loacker cookies make great gifts for foodies!



That is, if you can bear to part with them. The Coconut flavor is my favorite - creamy milk chocolate and a rich coconut filling layered with crispy cookies!



But what if all the parties, overlapping with the seasonal stress and the fact that it's flu season, end with you in bed with a sore throat?

Ricola lozenges are my favorite when I'm feeling off. I love that they're natural, I love their less-medicinal taste, and I love that these honey herb lozenges do more than just fight your current sore throat - they also support your immune system and help fight against fatigue, so you feel better going forward. It's the perfect offense and defense pairing!

I also always love honey when I'm under the weather.

Honey Acres Honey Straws come in more flavors than I knew honey could come in! I love that they're easy and clean to open - just pinch and pop, no smeary, sticky lids - and perfectly portioned for a sweet pick-me-up or to squeeze into a cup of tea!

And finally, because girl can't live on sweets and holiday cheer alone, there's an Urbane Grain Ancient Grain Blend ready-cup in every Degustabox this month!

I got Beef Burgundy, which is a three-minute pasta and protein meal that you can prepare in just three minutes with a microwave. So easy and convenient!

What are your favorite holiday treats? 

What are you looking forward to the most this holiday season?

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November DegustaBox Review

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Happy November! I can't believe that it's already November 2016 - this year flew by. But no complaints here, because the holiday season is my favorite time of the year and we're right on the cusp of it again!

...I may already have started listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies. I may have started in mid-October, but shhhh. 

Anyway, a new month means a new Degustabox! If you haven't seen one of my earlier unboxings, here's why Degustabox is a great foodie gift (make a note for upcoming gift-giving!) or a fun subscription service to try new things yourself! Every month, Degustabox delivers a big box full of full-sized foodie finds (10-15 of them) to subscribers. The element of surprise makes it so fun!

And who doesn't like getting a package in the mail?

Each box comes with an information sheet telling you a bit about the products inside. I think that's a great touch, because it's fun to read a little bit about your food and how it's typically enjoyed!

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Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan

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Do you know what's an easy, flavorful weeknight dinner that's a crowd-pleaser and a family-pleaser? 

Eggplant parmesan with angel hair pasta!

Some like a little extra spaghetti sauce with their pasta, so make a little extra and save it to serve on the side. Other than that, it's straightforward and simple and makes great leftovers! Read on for the recipe.

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Review: Hak's Paks

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When you're working full-time and juggling some pretty time-consuming side things, having time to cook healthy meals can be a challenge! 

Luckily, Haks' One Pot Cooking Sauces make it easier to juggle busy weekday schedules with cooking healthy meals at home. Eating out every night isn't cost-effective at all! 

I tried Hak's Paks in three flavors: Chipotle Bourbon, Caribbean Jerk, and Korean BBQ.

I like that the ingredients lists are pretty short and natural. No crazy chemicals or unnecessary artificial colors or flavors. All Hak's Paks are all-natural with no-GMOs, no preservatives, and no gluten.

 Cooking Fast, Easy, and Healthy:

Hak's Paks make cooking really easy. Just boil a pound of veggies, meat, fish, tofu, etc. and pour the contents of the Hak's Pak evenly over the boiled base. 

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September Degustabox Unboxing!

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Degustabox is my favorite monthly subscription service! Every month, like a surprise care package from an in-the-know-foodie friend, a big box full of full-sized new treats (10-15 kinds!) shows up on my doorstep! 

I'd never even heard of many of the products before and, in two months of deliveries, I've already discovered some new favorites.

New Foodie Finds: 

Can we start with my favorite one? Good, because I am. 

Let's have a moment of silence to honor this amazing bar, which came to its delicious demise right as the mid-afternoon energy slump hit at work. I'm learning a lot at my new job and I need to be fully alert and fueled to do so! 

I was ravenous on Thursday and paired this with a granny smith apple for a satisfying, well-rounded snack that powered me through the rest of the work day and until I got home for dinner at 7! So yummy.

It's oaty, whole-grain, the perfect amount of sweet, and so good. I normally hugely favor snack bars with chocolate in them (or that are entirely chocolate-based) but I didn't miss the chocolate in this at all. I'd love to eat this as a work snack every afternoon!

Next up is a childhood favorite:

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Blue Cheese Crusted Filet Mignon with Cabernet Reduction

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Whether it's a dinner party, date night, a birthday, or just a wear-high-heels-and-have-perfect-posture Tuesday, sometimes breakfast for dinner or a simple pasta dish doesn't cut it.

This blue cheese crusted filet mignon with cabernet reduction is loved by all of my taste testers, spanning three generations and many different food preferences, and it's a pretty dish perfect for any fancy evening in!

I'm not going to pretend that this is 'quick and easy' as you should definitely give yourself a solid hour to prepare this dish along with the sides (I recommend mashed potatoes and garlic spinach), but the big smiles and rave reviews are well worth the effort. Read on for how to make a restaurant-quality steak dinner at home!

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Recipe: Savory Zucchini Pancakes

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I'm visiting my family in Germany before I move into my new apartment and start my new job in Boston next week!

In addition to frolicking in the fields, polishing up my mini-golf skills, being amused by my suddenly sassy tween sister, and enjoying seeing my loved ones after a year apart (!), I'm working on a ghostwriting project. While everyone is at work and at school, I write. Since writing means no commute, I have more time than the others and, since I also love cooking, it only makes sense that I'm in charge of lunch this week!

So, what do you do when a friendly farmer neighbor gifts you a massive tree trunk of a zucchini?



You make savory zucchini patties! What's a savory zucchini pancake? It's a cheesy, veggie-packed patty full of vitamins, minerals, and veggie goodness! It's somewhere between a latke and a potato pancake, but with zucchini instead of potatoes.

Read on for the easy and delicious recipe! It's a meat-free meal that my kid, adult, and grandmother taste testers all enjoyed.

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Recipe: Jalapeno Cheddar Bread

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I love baking bread! While I'm a total wuss when it comes to spicy food, many of my friends love a little fire in their food. This bread is savory, just the right amount of cheesy, and has a jalapeno kick (but not so much that you cry when you eat it).

This loaf is flavorful, moist with a good texture, and makes grilled cheese sandwiches, croutons, and savory sandwiches. It's also a nice gift loaf or nice to bring along to a picnic or potluck! Read on for the easy-to-follow recipe.

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How To: 5 Tips for Cooking for One

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There are so many benefits to cooking your own food, at least now and then.

 - You learn and practice a handy life skill
 - You know what is in your food
 - You set the cleanliness and food safety standard for how your food is prepared
 - It's generally at least a bit cheaper
 - It's fun!

There are more, but this post isn't about sellilng anyone on the benefits of cooking at home over eating out all the time. Most people already know that cooking, at least now and then, is a good idea. But with our busy lives, sometimes finding time is tricky!

When you cook for a family, it's easy to cook in a way that's both time efficient and money efficient. When you're cooking for just one person, it's a lot harder to cook in a way that makes sense. If you aren't careful, cooking for one can be a lot more expensive and wasteful than eating out. That undercuts the point of cooking!

Here are my top tips to save money and time while having fun cooking for a one-person household! Cooking doesn't have to take a lot of extra time or be inconvenient, even for the busiest person.

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What Being a Hobby Baker Is Like

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I love baking! Baking is so fun, makes my apartment smell cozy and inviting, and can make others happy, too. I've also had the opportunity to work with some cool companies on recipes.

But being a hobby baker has its trying moments, too, just like anything else. Here's what you don't see in the cheerful recipes and pretty food photos!

When you're asked to bake cookies for an event, but they need to be sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and whatever the other latest food trend is:

When you're elbows deep in flour and someone tries to join in on your solo baking project:

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Top Ten Kitchen Essentials

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Every time I move or even just cook in someone else's kitchen, I am reminded of what a huge difference a well-stocked kitchen is!

Fortunately, I've never been anywhere near this desperate.

If you're still moving a lot, don't cook that often, or don't want to spend a lot on kitchen supplies, you can get away with skipping some of the fun extras, like food processors and rice cookers, as long as you have these ten kitchen essentials!

1) Cutting Board.

Some people like to get at least two cutting boards (one for meat/fish and one for produce/grains), but at least one good cutting board is absolutely necessary! I can't imagine how one could possibly cook without one, unless everything is pre-prepared (and buying only pre-chopped ingredients is such an expensive, wasteful, and packaging-heavy way to cook).

I highly recommend wooden cutting boards, because then you know there are no icky chemicals rubbing off into your food. If you take good care of your wooden cutting board(s) it/they can last forever!

2) Knife Set.

Good knives are expensive and are so, so, so fun too cook with. But if you're on a budget, moving a lot, live with roommates, or just don't cook enough to justify the cost to yourself, a cheap knife set from Ikea will do (that's what I have at the moment, since I live with roommates, and I make it work).

3) High-Speed Blender.

VitaMixes are obviously the dream, but their $400-$800 price tag is far from ideal. Unless you're making cream soups, produce-packed smoothies, nice cream, dips, or homemade nut butters everyday, I recommend the Ninja system.

It has its quirks and limits, but I've been pretty happy with mine for a few years!

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My Top 10 Favorite Baking Hacks

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I love baking and have been baking for as long as I can remember!

I could bake every day and be the happiest girl in the world (assuming we can temporarily ignore the food waste and cost of ingredients for this happy hypothetical).

My friends and family know me as a good baker now, but that wasn't always the case. I've had my fair share of kitchen disasters and near disasters!

I promise that's not my photo (it's cooking, not baking, anyway) and I have never set pasta on fire. But seriously - how do you set pasta on fire?

I'm also confused by this election, but that's a different topic.

The good thing about (mild) kitchen disasters is that they can be great learning experiences! Read on for some of my ten favorite kitchen hacks - some picked up from books and fellow bakers over the years and others learned the hard way!

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Recipe: Avogolemono Soup

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Greek food is one of the most popular cuisines and for good reason. There are so many great flavors in Greek food!

I shared a spanakopita recipe a while ago (if you haven't tried it yet, do it!) and today we're continuing our Mediterranean culinary adventures with a delicious, simple to follow avogolemono soup recipe!



The tart flavor of lemon works wonderfully with the creamy (from eggs) soup base for a fun spin on chicken soup! It's warming, flavorful, features simple ingredients, and makes a great starter or side to a full Greek meal.

Alternately, you can add a little more chicken to the soup and pair it with warm, freshly-baked pita bread for a light meal. Read on for the recipe!

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Five of My Favorite Kitchen Hacks

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It's the first Tuesday into Lent and several of the people I know who celebrate Lent (Catholic and not - some just like the practice in gratitude and simplified living) are giving up eating out for the holiday, or even just eating dinner out on weeknights.

All joking aside, it doesn't have to be difficult to eat at home more.

Read on for five of my favorite kitchen hacks to help make eating in easier, quicker, and all-in-all more convenient!

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How to Make the Most of A Long Weekend!

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It's MLK Day weekend and, while the holiday doesn't generate the same enthusiasm in most as the recent holiday season did, it's still a nice three day weekend and a great break after readjusting to the 5+ day work week that makes most of our lives. Getting back into the swing of things after a long vacation can be tough!

It's easy for a weekend (or even a long weekend) to fly by before we even really realized that it arrived. Here are some fun ways to make the most of this long weekend and really enjoy it!

Have at least one cozy evening in with a book and a movie.

This can be lovely with a loved one or a good friend, or all by yourself. We all need some tranquility and it's important not to skip unwinding over the weekend. That way, we're all rested for the new week!

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Recipe: Irresistible Cheesy Bread

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It's that time of year! Happy (almost) Thanksgiving, everyone!

While a lot of us host Thanksgiving celebrations, or celebrate a family Thanksgiving at home, it is also not uncommon to attend a Thanksgiving dinner that someone else is hosting. My family is strewn all around the world and the same is true for many of my fellow New Yorkers!

Attending someone else's Thanksgiving dinner can be a lot of fun. You get to dress up, spend time with some awesome people, and not have the stress of hosting the dinner yourself. That said, it's important to be a good guest. Definitely bring with a host gift and/or a contribution to the dinner!

But what if you know nothing about how to pick a good wine (guilty) and dessert has already been claimed, so you can't bring along an award-winning pecan pie or my classic pumpkin pie? Never fear!

A side dish (or appetizer, depending on how off-schedule the turkey roasting itself is running) is always appreciated.

A dinner bread is especially appreciated, because if it doesn't get eaten at the actual dinner, your hosts can use it for their post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches!

This irresistible cheesy bread is a real winner. Everyone always loves it, it's pretty easy to make, the strongly flavored asiago cheese makes it a slightly gourmet (or at the very least, grown up) tasting bread, and asiago cheese is the only ingredient that you may not already have in your kitchen!

Read on for the yummy recipe!

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