I am a huge spice wimp. I don’t put chili flakes on my pizza. I love ma po tofu and spicy ‘ahi bowls, but they make me cry. I *never* play the Russian roulette game that is partaking of an order of shishito peppers. (I am always, always, always the... Read More

Last year I made what was perhaps one of my dorkiest and most utilitarian purchases from Amazon.com ever. One paper shredder. One toaster. One book on quinoa. While the shredder is pretty awesome (though the toaster kind of sucks, but at least the button stays down and the toast pops... Read More

We will be missing Shake’s Mom on New Year’s Eve, her birthday, but we have started a new tradition to honor her memory: making her lumpia (Filipino egg rolls, aka “lumpies,” a family term) recipe on New Year’s Eve to share with my family on New Year’s Day. The lumpia... Read More

You’d think that after my last run-in with onions, I’d have the sense not to tackle another onion-dominant dish. Well, it’s not like I’m known for common sense. (Ask my father.) We had an entire jar of Maui Preserved Pickled Onions in our refrigerator (left over from a photo shoot... Read More

I’d like to start this post with an open letter to two dear friends of mine, with whom my relationship of late has begun to go sour: Dear Garlic and Onions, We used to be such good friends. What’s happened between us? When we get together now, it all starts... Read More

For Christmas, my sister-in-law gave me a copy of Plenty: Vibrant Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi. (OK, technically, this was a gift from my brother, too, but let’s be real; if you have a little brother, you know what I mean.) Plenty is a veggie-focused cookbook, although Chef... Read More

For nine years, since the first year we started dating, Shake and I spent Thanksgiving with his family in Hilo. A few years ago, we had to change our annual visit to New Year’s instead, because of his work schedule. But no matter the time of year we visited, for... Read More

I’ve always had dreams of making my own freshly-baked bread. My mom once got a bread maker as a gift, which was fun to play with a couple times, but that’s just not the same as a hand-shaped loaf that conjures up visions of little Parisian boulangeries. But bread making... Read More