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…

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…

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…

Oil-Free Black Bean Dip

The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and you know what that means: snacks! If you’re anything like me, there’s only two reason to watch the big game, and neither of them has to do with football. The first reason to watch the Super Bowl is the commercials, which are always quite entertaining. The…

Rosemary Cornbread Muffins (Vegan/Gluten-Free)

I feel like cornbread is the underdog of side dishes. Many people favor biscuits or dinner rolls over cornbread, saying that cornbread is too dry and bland. However, I’d like to make an argument in favor of cornbread. When prepared correctly, it has a delicous buttery flavor, with just a hint of sweetness. Adding different…

Coconut Berry Acai Bowls

In an ideal world, I would wake up every morning, go to the gym, do my hair and makeup, pick out a cute outfit, and stop at a healthy café for breakfast, all before starting my day. That would be great, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, real life doesn’t usually allow for this kind of a morning…

Pecan Crescent Cookies (Gluten-Free/Vegan)

Growing up, shortbread cookies always had a special place in my heart. Every time we would fly to Japan, my mom would allow me to buy some Walker’s shortbread at the airport, so I could eat it as a snack on the airplane. I don’t know if you’ve ever had Walker’s shortbread, but it’s not…

Chocolate Cupcakes With Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream (Vegan/Gluten-Free)

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? Is it vanilla? Or chocolate? Or strawberry? Personally, I’ve always been a mint chocolate chip type of gal. Sure, the classics are great, but nothing will ever beat the cool, refreshing taste of peppermint in my mind. Shamrock shakes, candy canes, peppermint patties… I love it all! In…

Moroccan Spiced Roasted Baby Carrots

I love eating raw carrots, but I have always hated cooked carrots. They just always seem mushy and too sweet, especially the honey-glazed carrots that are served at Thanksgiving. Unless it’s dessert, I do not want any added sweetness in my foods. Marshmallows and brown sugar on sweet potatoes? Gross. Regular roasted sweet potatoes? Delicious!…