No More Boring Meatballs: Apricot & Curry Meatballs with Rice Salad Inspired by Washington Post

Do you love meatballs but are tired of the same recipe you've been using for years? Well, then you are going to love my recipe for Apricot & Curry Meatballs with Rice Salad.

A while back I saw a recipe for Apricot-Studded Meatballs With Lemony Couscous on Washington Post and printed it out for a rainy day. Rainy day, in this case, was the day when I had very little inspiration to cook, but

Do you love meatballs but are tired of the same recipe you've been using for years? Well, then you are going to love my recipe for Apricot & Curry Meatballs with Rice Salad.

A while back I saw a recipe for Apricot-Studded Meatballs With Lemony Couscous on Washington Post and printed it out for a rainy day. Rainy day, in this case, was the day when I had very little inspiration to cook, but

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Perfect Meatless Monday Meal: Cappellacci Pasta with Broccoli Rabe & Meyer Lemon Juice

I love carbohydrates. Bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, give it all to me!! When I was shopping at Home Goods earlier this month, I saw a bag of pretty Cappellacci shaped pasta and decided to pick it up. Paired with broccoli rabe, Meyer lemon from Limoneira and a few other simple ingredients, this is a perfectly beautiful and delicious dish for Meatless Monday or any day of the week.

I love carbohydrates. Bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, give it all to me!! When I was shopping at Home Goods earlier this month, I saw a bag of pretty Cappellacci shaped pasta and decided to pick it up. Paired with broccoli rabe, Meyer lemon from Limoneira and a few other simple ingredients, this is a perfectly beautiful and delicious dish for Meatless Monday or any day of the week.

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Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway: Day 7. OXO Products & a Recipe for Marinated Sauteed Tofu

You guys! We are in a home stretch of the Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway. Who knew blogging every day for 8 days in a row would be a bit tiresome? But I'm not a quitter...well, at least in some aspects of my life.

Today you will have a chance to win two fun sets of products from OXO. Are these two sets essential to being an awesome cook? Well, no. BUT they are adorable, fun, and easy to

You guys! We are in a home stretch of the Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway. Who knew blogging every day for 8 days in a row would be a bit tiresome? But I'm not a quitter...well, at least in some aspects of my life.

Today you will have a chance to win two fun sets of products from OXO. Are these two sets essential to being an awesome cook? Well, no. BUT they are adorable, fun, and easy to

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Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway: Day 6. Nudo Olive Oil Set & A Recipe for Raw Brussels Sprouts Salad

We are 3/4 of the way through the Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway. Have you checked out the previous five days? Go for it! You still have a chance to win some fun products from some of my favorite companies.

Day 1: Greeting Cards from Social Print Studio
Day 2: Kallari Chocolate
Day 3: Bonne Maman Jams & Le Creuset Jam Jar
Day 4: Lindsay Olives
Day 5: Sabra

Today I bring you a recipe for

We are 3/4 of the way through the Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway. Have you checked out the previous five days? Go for it! You still have a chance to win some fun products from some of my favorite companies.

Day 1: Greeting Cards from Social Print Studio
Day 2: Kallari Chocolate
Day 3: Bonne Maman Jams & Le Creuset Jam Jar
Day 4: Lindsay Olives
Day 5: Sabra

Today I bring you a recipe for

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Book Recommendation: Anne Willan's One Souffle at a Time & A Recipe for Count Rocco's Minestrone

Last month I received a preview copy of Anne Willan's One Souffle at a Time. I have to admit that I had no clue who Anne is, but was interested in finding out. After all, there are very few books that tell a real person's story and include recipes that I will say no to....well, I could not really get into Dearie, but that's another story.





I absolutely loved Anne's memoir. I would

Last month I received a preview copy of Anne Willan's One Souffle at a Time. I have to admit that I had no clue who Anne is, but was interested in finding out. After all, there are very few books that tell a real person's story and include recipes that I will say no to....well, I could not really get into Dearie, but that's another story.





I absolutely loved Anne's memoir. I would

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Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans, Avocado & Feta: Recipe Inspired by The Kitchn

When I saw a recipe for Kale and Black Bean Tacos on The Kitchn, I thought it'd be a great one to make during the weekend and to have as leftovers for the week. But then I changed my mind...well, not entirely. I decided to keep the black beans, the sauce and the pumpkin seeds, but use spinach instead of kale and make it into a side dish instead of tacos. I also added feta!

That's just how my

When I saw a recipe for Kale and Black Bean Tacos on The Kitchn, I thought it'd be a great one to make during the weekend and to have as leftovers for the week. But then I changed my mind...well, not entirely. I decided to keep the black beans, the sauce and the pumpkin seeds, but use spinach instead of kale and make it into a side dish instead of tacos. I also added feta!

That's just how my

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Cheesy Mexican Corn Recipe: Great Side for Lunch or Dinner

I love Mexican corn, but it tends to be a bit messy. Not that there's anything wrong with messy. Sometimes, though, I want something simple and easy. Instead of making Mexican corn on the cob, I cut off the kernels to make this Cheesy Mexican Corn side. You can serve it as a side, a dish on its own or even as a dip.

Make it while the corn is still sweet.

Cheesy Mexican Corn Recipe: Great

I love Mexican corn, but it tends to be a bit messy. Not that there's anything wrong with messy. Sometimes, though, I want something simple and easy. Instead of making Mexican corn on the cob, I cut off the kernels to make this Cheesy Mexican Corn side. You can serve it as a side, a dish on its own or even as a dip.

Make it while the corn is still sweet.

Cheesy Mexican Corn Recipe: Great

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Sriracha Edamame Appetizer: Your Lips Will Be on Fire!

Get ready to spice up your life, or at least bring some heat to your lips, with this Sriracha Edamame Appetizer. This recipe is inspired by my twin Anna's creation. When I was visiting my family in Seattle in June, Anna had a get together with her friends to watch The Bachelorette and made a fun appetizer of edamame cooked in a skillet with soy sauce, sriracha, and a few other things.

This is

Get ready to spice up your life, or at least bring some heat to your lips, with this Sriracha Edamame Appetizer. This recipe is inspired by my twin Anna's creation. When I was visiting my family in Seattle in June, Anna had a get together with her friends to watch The Bachelorette and made a fun appetizer of edamame cooked in a skillet with soy sauce, sriracha, and a few other things.

This is

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Peachy Mango Salsa Recipe Inspired by Diamond Candles

What does Peachy Mango Salsa have to do with candles?? Well, there is a back story to this recipe.

Last month I received an email asking if I'd like to try out one of the Diamond Candles and write about them. I'll be honest: my first thought was what do candles have to do with a food blog? But then I decided to check out Diamond Candles website and found beautiful soy candles with fun names

What does Peachy Mango Salsa have to do with candles?? Well, there is a back story to this recipe.

Last month I received an email asking if I'd like to try out one of the Diamond Candles and write about them. I'll be honest: my first thought was what do candles have to do with a food blog? But then I decided to check out Diamond Candles website and found beautiful soy candles with fun names

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Asian Grilled Eggplant with Black Bean Paste & Ginger

I ♥ eggplant. I use it to make dips, marinated salads, casseroles and even bahn mi sandwiches. A few weeks ago I had a random eggplant sitting in my refrigerator and a craving for something spicy, saucy and grilled. That's how I ended up creating Asian Grilled Eggplant with Black Bean Paste & Ginger recipe.

Asian Grilled Eggplant with Black Bean Paste & Ginger
Serves about 4

Ingredients

I ♥ eggplant. I use it to make dips, marinated salads, casseroles and even bahn mi sandwiches. A few weeks ago I had a random eggplant sitting in my refrigerator and a craving for something spicy, saucy and grilled. That's how I ended up creating Asian Grilled Eggplant with Black Bean Paste & Ginger recipe.

Asian Grilled Eggplant with Black Bean Paste & Ginger
Serves about 4

Ingredients

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Super Duper Easy Entertainment Idea: Antipasto Platter or Salad

This past Sunday I invited two friends for brunch at my condo: I needed something that would force me to clean my place. Not even kidding! But of course the main reason was to catch up, eat good food, and drink something boozy and bubbly. My friends were bringing drinks and fruit, and I was in charge of the main course.

I decided on the menu of vegetable frittata with pesto toasts and

This past Sunday I invited two friends for brunch at my condo: I needed something that would force me to clean my place. Not even kidding! But of course the main reason was to catch up, eat good food, and drink something boozy and bubbly. My friends were bringing drinks and fruit, and I was in charge of the main course.

I decided on the menu of vegetable frittata with pesto toasts and

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Dinner in 20 Minutes: Summer Spaghetti with Garlic, Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes & Olives

This past weekend I took a break from blogging. I had no recipes I wanted to create to share with you. I took some photos at brunch with my friend Cecile, but had no plans to write about those, even though the food at Belga was great.

There were no food events, no book reviews, and only two sets of previously taken photographs to edit.

And you know what? It was so relaxing and freeing and

This past weekend I took a break from blogging. I had no recipes I wanted to create to share with you. I took some photos at brunch with my friend Cecile, but had no plans to write about those, even though the food at Belga was great.

There were no food events, no book reviews, and only two sets of previously taken photographs to edit.

And you know what? It was so relaxing and freeing and

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Mayonnaise Free Potato Salad: Cast Iron Potato Salad with Vegetables & Tahini Dressing

I love potato salads, don't you? I usually make my potato salad with mayonnaise, but this time I decided to make a mayonnaise free potato salad: variety is good, yes?

In the Summer I love using small red potatoes in my salads because they cook quickly and don't need to be peeled. For something different, I decided to crisp up the potatoes in an iron skillet after partially cooking them. This

I love potato salads, don't you? I usually make my potato salad with mayonnaise, but this time I decided to make a mayonnaise free potato salad: variety is good, yes?

In the Summer I love using small red potatoes in my salads because they cook quickly and don't need to be peeled. For something different, I decided to crisp up the potatoes in an iron skillet after partially cooking them. This

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What to do with an Eggplant? Charred Eggplant Salad & Childhood Memories

The smell of charred eggplant makes me think of my grandparents. They would always cook a whole eggplant directly on the flame of the gas stove and then mix the flesh of the eggplant with marinated (at home!) tomatoes, chopped white onion and sunflower oil.

Sometime last week I did something similar with my own spin on it and decided to take a few photos not just with my phone, but also with

The smell of charred eggplant makes me think of my grandparents. They would always cook a whole eggplant directly on the flame of the gas stove and then mix the flesh of the eggplant with marinated (at home!) tomatoes, chopped white onion and sunflower oil.

Sometime last week I did something similar with my own spin on it and decided to take a few photos not just with my phone, but also with

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Southwest Sweet Potato Patties

Sometimes my random ideas work out well, sometimes not so much. In the case of these Southwest Sweet Potato Patties, I loved the flavor, but the patties did not really held together well. I'm guessing there wasn't enough of a binder. If I were to make them again, I'd add an egg, panko crumbs or regular bread crumbs. Still, the color, the texture and the spiciness of these were great!

It all

Sometimes my random ideas work out well, sometimes not so much. In the case of these Southwest Sweet Potato Patties, I loved the flavor, but the patties did not really held together well. I'm guessing there wasn't enough of a binder. If I were to make them again, I'd add an egg, panko crumbs or regular bread crumbs. Still, the color, the texture and the spiciness of these were great!

It all

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Perfect Picnic Dish: Bulgur Salad with Vegetables

Whether you need a new picnic dish, a Meatless Monday meal, or just something to take to work for lunch, you will love this Bulgur Salad with Vegetables.

Bulgur cooks pretty quickly in salted boiling water and is good for you because it's whole wheat!

There are no specific amounts for this salad: use as much of each ingredient as you wish. Personally, I prefer to have the same amount of

Whether you need a new picnic dish, a Meatless Monday meal, or just something to take to work for lunch, you will love this Bulgur Salad with Vegetables.

Bulgur cooks pretty quickly in salted boiling water and is good for you because it's whole wheat!

There are no specific amounts for this salad: use as much of each ingredient as you wish. Personally, I prefer to have the same amount of

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Beet Salad with Mayonnaise & Walnuts: Russian Recipes Revisited

This Beet Salad with Mayonnaise and Walnuts is one of the easiest and most satisfying Russian salads I've grown up with. I actually almost forgot all about it, but then I made this beet dish from Jerusalem cookbook and thought: omg, the Russian version is sooooo much better. So I had to make it for this month's Russian Recipes Revisited.

Beet Salad with Mayonnaise and Walnuts

{I'm not

This Beet Salad with Mayonnaise and Walnuts is one of the easiest and most satisfying Russian salads I've grown up with. I actually almost forgot all about it, but then I made this beet dish from Jerusalem cookbook and thought: omg, the Russian version is sooooo much better. So I had to make it for this month's Russian Recipes Revisited.

Beet Salad with Mayonnaise and Walnuts

{I'm not

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What to do with Dates: Spinach Salad with Dates, Summer Berries & Almonds

Who wants dates!? If this wasn't a food blog, I bet you'd think I'm talking about the dates of romantic type. Alas, those have been quite rare over here, but there is always hope, right?

Ok, let's get back to the food.

Earlier this month I received four huge boxes courtesy of Bard Valley Natural Delights which contained organic Medjool dates, pitted dates, chili lime date rolls, almond

Who wants dates!? If this wasn't a food blog, I bet you'd think I'm talking about the dates of romantic type. Alas, those have been quite rare over here, but there is always hope, right?

Ok, let's get back to the food.

Earlier this month I received four huge boxes courtesy of Bard Valley Natural Delights which contained organic Medjool dates, pitted dates, chili lime date rolls, almond

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What to do with Leftover Wasabi? Wasabi Potato Patties with Canadian Bacon and Peas

Do you ever wonder "Good lord, how does she come up with this stuff?" I mean really, how many people wake up one day and make Wasabi Potato Patties with Canadian Bacon and Peas?

Ok, I'll tell you.

A few weeks ago I picked up sushi at my grocery store. The trick to hopefully not getting sick from a grocery store sushi is to ask the sushi people to make a combination "plate" instead of picking

Do you ever wonder "Good lord, how does she come up with this stuff?" I mean really, how many people wake up one day and make Wasabi Potato Patties with Canadian Bacon and Peas?

Ok, I'll tell you.

A few weeks ago I picked up sushi at my grocery store. The trick to hopefully not getting sick from a grocery store sushi is to ask the sushi people to make a combination "plate" instead of picking

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Cooking From Jerusalem Cookbook: Pureed Beets with Yogurt & Za'atar

I made the Pureed Beets with Yogurt & Za'atar for the third Cookbook Dinner Club with my friends Cecilia and Julia. Our first cookbook dinner club was based on Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty Cookbook. Our second cookbook dinner club was based on Barefoot Contessa's Foolproof.

For the third get together, we went back to Yotam Ottolenghi and cooked from Jerusalem.








I've been to Israel

I made the Pureed Beets with Yogurt & Za'atar for the third Cookbook Dinner Club with my friends Cecilia and Julia. Our first cookbook dinner club was based on Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty Cookbook. Our second cookbook dinner club was based on Barefoot Contessa's Foolproof.

For the third get together, we went back to Yotam Ottolenghi and cooked from Jerusalem.








I've been to Israel

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