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…