Food By Ayaka - Page 2 of 8 -

Orange Cupcakes With Fresh Orange Buttercream (Vegan)

When you think of fruity desserts, what fruits come to mind? Apples, bananas… maybe berries? I’d be willing to bet that lemon is somewhere on that list. From lemon bars to lemon meringue pie, the classic yellow citrus has come to be very popular, and for good reason! It provides a tart freshness that just…

Vegan Sweet Potato Gnocchi With Cherry Tomatoes

Have you ever heard of gnocchi? It’s a potato-based pasta that originated in northern Italy. I first tried during my middle school years, when I went on a European tour with my school’s choir. We didn’t visit Italy, but we were served gnocchi at one of our group dinners in Slovakia. I was hesitant to…

Vegan S’mores Tartlets

We may be in quarantine, but I’m still excited for summer. So what if I won’t be making any beach trips or attending any concerts? There’s plenty of summer activities I can participate in alone. Soaking up the sun, backyard campfires… don’t forget about s’mores! Nothing screams summer more than the combination of toasted marshmallows,…

Blueberry Banana Pancakes With Blueberry Sauce (Vegan)

With the coronavirus quarantine going on, many people are sharing productivity tips for working at home. They say you should get up early, exercise, then stick to a strict work schedule. That’s not really my style. I see this time as an opportunity to step back from life and relax a little. In fact, my…

Spicy Sesame Peanut Noodles (Vegan/Gluten-Free)

Hello everyone! So much has happened since my last post, namely the coronavirus pandemic. Here in Ohio, we have been in quarantine since mid-March. It looks like I’ll be finishing my senior year of high school from home! Though this whole situation is quite scary, it’s also an opportunity to take a step back from…

Tempura Green Beans With Soy-Lime Dipping Sauce

I was a picky eater as a kid. Foods couldn’t be touching on the plate, salad had to be dressing-free, and condiments other than ketchup were off limits. Despite my mom’s best efforts to get me to try new foods, I was set on eating French fries and PBJ sandwiches for the rest of my…

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

What is your favorite type of cookie? Are you a classic chocolate chip person? Or are you a double chocolate lover? Better yet, are you one of the rare oatmeal raisin fans? Personally, I answered yes to all of the above. I rarely meet a cookie that I don’t like! However, there is one cookie…

Crispy Ginger Sriracha Tofu

Tofu has a reputation for being soggy, bland, and downright disgusting. This used to offend me, as I grew up in a Japanese household where we ate it everyday! However, after seeing how Americans try to eat tofu (straight out of the package, with no seasoning, and sometimes even raw), I understand why they may…

Vegan Taiyaki (Japanese Fish Shaped Waffle)

Are you team pancakes or team waffles? I like pancakes for an everyday breakfast, but waffles are definitely my go-to for special occasions. They seem more like dessert to me, probably because of waffle cones for ice cream, plus the rise of Hong Kong-style bubble waffles in NYC. Speaking of which, what is with those…

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…