Vegetable Tempura with Vegan Dipping Sauce

Looking for an easy dinnertime recipe? This restaurant-quality Japanese vegetable tempura takes just 30 minutes to make and is a great way to use up those leftover veggies–with a delicious twist!

In this time of quarantine, there are many things that I surprisingly do not miss. For instance, I don’t miss having to change out of PJs for actual-people-clothes when there’s daylight outside. I don’t miss having to spend an extra $150 a month on gas, or passing out on my couch immediately after getting home from a long day at work, or forgetting my lunch at home and wolfing … Read more

DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies

Enjoy the comfort of a classic DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie at home! This official, iconic recipe offers the perfect chewy texture and taste that I savor every time I check into a DoubleTree hotel.

Growing up, it was very easy to decide where we wanted to stay when we traveled. My brother and I were real high rollers: we liked Travelodge for the Sleepy Bears’ Den kids’ room, (which came with a free stuffed bear you could take home). We appreciated a good stay at the Circus Circus in Las Vegas, since our rooms were just a hop away from … Read more

30-Minute Flourless Chocolate Cake for One

This flourless chocolate cake is rich, fudgy, and perfectly served with a scoop of French vanilla ice cream. It takes just 30 minutes from start to finish and serves one hungry chocoholic–ideal for a cozy evening spent indoors or as a cute single-serving date night dessert.

No flour on the grocery store shelves, no hapless friends or coworkers on whom I can foist, unlimited time to bake at home. What’s a girl to do during COVID-19 quarantine?

I’ll tell you what she’s to do. She’s going to make this unbelievably rich, fudgy 30-Minute Flourless Chocolate Cake for One, shove … Read more

Social Distancing “Coronavirus Cupcakes”

‘Riddikulus!’ he shouted, and they had a split second’s view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great ‘Ha!’ of laughter, and the Boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.” -Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

In Harry Potter lore, Boggarts are amorphous magical creatures who can change shape at will and materialize into your greatest fear incarnate; the only way to defeat them is through laughter. J.K. Rowling always knew that the best way to find light in a potentially scary situation was to make light of … Read more

7 Gluten-free Recipes to Get You Through Social Distancing

How’s the social distancing been treating you guys so far? As recently as last month, I had never even heard the term “social distancing,” but this abrupt new guideline has translated into a LOT of spare time in my apartment, which suddenly feels as tiny and constricting as a Victorian corset. So naturally, I’ve begun doing what I always do when I’m stuck at home, stressed, or grappling with the existential reality of a worldwide crisis: Baking. Lots of it.

Of course, chances are many of your grocery store aisles have been swept clean by panic-goaded herds of … Read more

Better-for-You Banana Bread

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MazolaHeartHealth #CollectiveBias

For Heart Health Month this February, I partnered up with Mazola Corn Oil to create a better-for-you version of one of our (and soon to be your) favorite snacks: banana bread! In case you didn’t know, Mazola® Corn Oil is an all-purpose, cholesterol free cooking oil that is a smart heart-healthy* choice for your family. *See Mazola.com for more information on the relationship between corn oil and heart health. It has a variety of uses, including baking, grilling, sautéing, … Read more

Honey Fruit Waffle Parfaits

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #VansFoodsWaffles #vansfoods #CollectiveBias Sometimes I do silly things: for instance, signing up for my second half-distance triathlon, which will be coming up in May (eeks! remember when I used to joke about this being a real thing?). And then sometimes I do incredibly smart things: say, making the best post-training snack EVER in the form of these Honey Fruit Waffle Parfaits.

The toughest part about training for a long-distance sport isn’t the time. It isn’t the energy, or the ten workouts … Read more

Drama-Free Cinnamon Rolls {Using a Bread Maker!}

It’s a new year featuring dramatic lighting, dramatic photos, and–you got it–these absolutely drama-free cinnamon rolls (made with a bread maker)!

Whether or not you own a bread machine, the only thing you need to know about them is this: they are legally, certifiably authentic products of WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY. If there’s one thing I always dread making from scratch, it’s bread–in small part because the zombie toast in the video game Overcooked 2 is really terrifying, but mostly because I suck at it. Overkneading, underkneading…Every crime against dough that you can ever imagine has been committed in my … Read more

4-Ingredient Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake

Hey guys, check out this insanely fluffy awesome 4-ingredient Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake I just made!

Ohhhhhh yeah, I could watch this on repeat all day. Anybody else?

In my last post, I shared how to make this vegetarian-friendly Japanese Tofu Katsu Curry since (surprisingly) I found real veggie options tough to come by during our two-week trip. But let’s be honest: it didn’t really matter because I spent most of my time stuffing my face with adorable sweets and fluffy Japanese cheesecakes like this one instead!

The first cheesecake that I tried in Japan actually came from a rest stop … Read more

Japanese Tofu Katsu Curry

This Japanese Tofu Katsu Curry is the perfect vegetarian-friendly comfort food. Made in only 30 minutes, this dish makes a great bento lunch, too–if you have any leftovers from dinner, that is!

Guys, I have a serious problem. I just got back from Japan last week and am DYING to try every single Japanese recipe I can think of!

The versatility of Japanese cuisine is, simply put, extraordinary. From classic dishes such as shrimp tempura udon and sushi to beautifully reimagined adaptations such as matcha (green tea) mille crepe cake or this 3-ingredient Japanese cheesecake, there is no doubt … Read more