asian-inspired risotto

i recently experienced a bit of a culinary adventure when i volunteered to bar tend a private dinner party for a personal chef friend of mine.  among learning how to make a martini on the fly and tasting fresh black truffles for the first time, i got an invaluable little tip from someone who actually went to culinary school.  apparently, when making risotto it helps to fry the raw rice in the oil with your garlic and onion before you add water... Read More

parsnip purée topped with almond parmesan

before this year i didn’t know what a parsnip was.  it looks a bit like a blond-colored carrot that gets much wider at the top, and it tastes a bit like a carrot too!  but it has a clean fresh note to it as well, which really creates a bright flavor in any dish you add it too.  this dish is so incredibly simple, with just a few ingredients because the flavors of the parsnip really shine on their own. this classic dish much resembles mashed... Read More

farmers’ market find: flowering tea!

the market isn’t all about fruits and veggies.  i’ve been talked into buying my weight in hummus, found really great imported olive oil and fair-trade maca, people even give massages at some farmers’ markets.  there are all sorts of artisan vendors, it varies so much from market to market. i worked at the new sunday los feliz farmer’s market a few weeks back, and my stand was set up next to a classmate of mine with a tea... Read More

coconut and oat pancakes

i’ve been eying this recipe by orangette for a while now, and finally attempted something similar.  instead of buttermilk to soak the oats in i knew i could use thick and slightly sweet coconut milk, so i tossed in a little shredded coconut while i was at it.  it all soaks in the fridge for a few hours, which makes the oats swell up and get incredibly soft, sticky and chewy. instead of egg, the vegan baking standard of flax eggs hold up quite... Read More

roasted fennel over couscous

fennel is an interesting vegetable.  when eaten raw i find it to have a celery-like texture with a hint of licorice – which is not my favorite flavor.  but like most vegetables, when roasted the flavors mellow out and gain a toasty and buttery quality.  i don’t roast the stems because i find them quite stringy, but i do save some of the fuzzy greens to chop up and season the bulbs with while they cook.  afterward, they’re dressed... Read More

sweet and salty seedy nut bars

sometimes inspiration will carry me to the kitchen to bake something, but when i open the cupboards the ingredients are dismal.  i wanted to make granola bars but as i eyed the most discouraging amount of oats i had ever encountered, i thought it might not happen.  just then i spied small amounts of different seeds and nuts all over the cupboard, so instead of sulking away empty-handed, i got a little creative. i toasted them all up in a dry frying... Read More

garlicy turnip, kohlrabi and purple yam topped with fried sage leaves

i’ve been listening to the splendid table a lot lately, which is an awesome weekly radio show about cooking that you can download as a free podcast.  in one of the episodes the host, lynne rossetto kasper, very quickly mentions making something like this for dinner that week.  she commented on how easily it was and how buttery it tasted without actually having any butter in it. and that is definitely the case.  the veggies are sauteed up... Read More

veggie pot pie

i used to be obsessed with chicken pot pies when i was younger, the small microwavable kind.  now that i’m all grown up and can make them for myself, i prefer to enjoy a slice of a full-sized pie, piled high with tasty veggies in a savory gravy sauce, surrounded by a crispy homemade crust with spices baked right in.  i packed this dish with lots of rich, deep, savory flavors – from cumin, black pepper, liquid aminos and a bit of red... Read More

light potato leek soup

the skies have been overcast most days here, which is LA’s version of winter i guess.  on days like these only one thing comes to mind – soup.  if it’s accompanying dinner or my stomach is a little upset, it’s nice to reach for something lighter.  like this classic, which features a rich, flavorful broth stewed with fresh oregano and thyme, and made slightly thick by pureed potatoes. Read More  Read More