This Valentine’s Day, I would love to share my favorite recipe for homemade candy. This dark chocolate bar is studded with candied orange peel, garnet-colored cherries, and crystals of black sea salt. These decorations are very pretty to look at, and taste delicious together. It also has a crispy interior, reminiscent of a Krackle or […]
The BEST Way to Make Eggnog: Vegan. The “Bah Humbug” from Hinoki & the Bird
I became obsessed with this recipe after finding it in the LA Times last year. It comes from the bar at Hinoki & the Bird, an upscale California restaurant with a Japanese bent. First of all, it’s gorgeous. It’s a beautiful pale pink and it’s garnished with a Christmas-y sprig of burnt rosemary and a […]
A Bright Winter Lunch: Crunchy, Creamy, Lemony Italian Tuna Salad with Fennel
This is the first time in years I’ve eaten tuna salad because I usually avoid both of it’s defining elements; canned tuna and mayonnaise. A “tuna salad” can be fresh and sophisticated if you use Italian-style tuna packed in olive oil, and toss it in a bright vinaigrette. Here, I layered flavorful Calabrian tuna with […]
A Stunning Holiday Dessert for All: Cranberry Almond Tart with Maple and Orange
It’s highly satisfying to see a pretty dessert come together and this tart is no exception. This health-conscious recipe achieves a crust reminiscent of shortbread (with no butter); a sticky, gooey fruit center (with no refined sugar); and a fluffy, cakey almond topping (with no flour). The warm flavors of maple, almond and vanilla contrast […]
Two Cool Cucumber Salads for Lazy Summer Days
The temperature in SoCal has been hovering around 95º for a month. Suffice it to say, it’s salad weather. Both of these salads combine Persian cucumbers with summer fruit and salty cheese, with delicious results. The first recipe comes from Kismet, a favorite Middle Eastern restaurant here in LA. Homemade labneh becomes a creamy base […]
A Sweet Recipe for Valentine’s Day: Blood Orange Poppy Seed Muffins with Coconut Cream Frosting
For this year’s Valentine’s Day treat, I took advantage of winter citrus and made a batch of blood orange poppy seed muffins. These muffins have a moist crumb and are delicious on their own, but to add a little indulgence, I whipped coconut cream with a touch of confectioner’s sugar and vanilla bean. Let the […]
