Food By Ayaka -

Instant Pot 粒あん (Japanese Red Bean Paste)

Happy 2020 everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful start to the new year. This year was one of the first that my mother and I didn’t attend a party with おせち料理 (osechi-ryori), or traditional Japanese New Year foods. In the past, we would get together with our local Japanese friends and participate…

Vegan Hot Cocoa Cookies

Is anybody else experiencing the post-Christmas blues? The holiday was so wonderful and relaxing that I don’t want to return to reality. Fortunately, I have a bit of time left until I have to return to classes. Plus, I still have leftover holiday food to enjoy! This year, I purchased the Field Roast Celebration Roast…

Christmas Tree Rice Cereal Treats (Vegan/Gluten-Free)

Is the holiday season really the most wonderful time of the year? That depends. If you’re a kid, then December can truly be magical. However, if you’re a senior in high school, like me, December is actually pretty dreadful. Midterm exams go right up until winter break, essentially ruining the time that should be spent…

Banana Bread Donuts With Maple Glaze (Vegan)

Everybody knows what to do when bananas go brown: make banana bread. But is that really the only use for overripe bananas? Isn’t there anything else you can make with them? Yes, there is! Banana bread donuts are my current obsession. They’re quicker to make than banana bread, more portable, and well… they’re donuts! Who…

Vegan Zucchini Walnut Cake With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Back-to-school season is upon us, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. Although I’m sad that summer is coming to an end, I’m also ready to get back to having a daily routine. Last week, I began my senior year of high school, and so far all is well. College applications and…

Creamy Homemade Cashew Milk

Have you noticed how much the dairy-free milk industry is growing lately? More and more Americans are buying vegan milk alternatives or ordering non-dairy options at their favorite coffee shop. The crazy thing is that most of these people aren’t vegan, nor are they lactose intolerant. A lot of people are purchasing milk alternatives…

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (Gluten-Free/Vegan)

Every generation has certain foods that remind them of their childhood. People who grew up in the 80’s remember eating Smurf Berry Crunch cereal for breakfast. 90’s babies ate Trix yogurt. As someone who was born in the 2000’s, I can confidently say that Quaker chewy chocolate chip granola bars were one of the…

Fudgy Vegan Brownies

There are a lot of weird vegan brownie recipes out there. Black bean brownies, sweet potato brownies, and even zucchini brownies all exist… and they’re actually pretty good. However, sometimes you just want a good old-fashioned chocolate brownie. Something fudgy and sweet, with no secret ingredients. That’s where recipes like this one come in! Unlike…

Healthy Maple Almond Butter Granola

Granola is one of those foods that’s definitely worth making at home. It requires minimal effort and can be made in huge batches, enough to last for weeks at a time! Plus, you can customize the flavor and ingredients if you make it yourself. Store-bought granola is often filled with refined sugar, unhealthy oils, and…

Vegan Mango Coconut Mousse

During the summer, I hate turning on the oven. It makes the house way too hot, and it’s honestly just not worth it. I prefer eating cool, refreshing meals like salads, sandwiches, and wraps! The same goes for dessert: I’d so much rather have something cold than go through the trouble of baking something. My…