As much as I love to cook, I’m also a huge fan of takeout—and takeout Asian cuisine is no exception. I spend a lot of time at my beach house in the summer, and when I get home on Sunday evening, my first thought is, “What’s for dinner?” I’m usually not in the mood to get back in the car and venture to the … Continue reading honey teriyaki steak stir fry
New Jersey has this bad habit of getting excessively warm and then cooling down again. It’s like Mother Nature can’t decide whether or not she wants the AC on. For the past few weeks, temperatures have been anywhere from a warm 80 to a cool 55 (today happens to be 90, but don’t worry, it will be in the 60s again by the weekend). Anyway, … Continue reading caprese sandwich with homemade basil-walnut pesto
One of my all-time favorite dishes is fish and chips. There’s nothing like munching on beer-battered cod dipped in tartar sauce while sitting out at a beach bar overlooking the ocean. Luckily, that’s life when you’re at the beach, which is where I happen to spend every summer. But during this time of year, it’s hard to get that fish and chips fix, and even … Continue reading grilled salmon topped with garlic spinach & Asiago
I try my hardest to love chicken, but it’s not easy. I can’t explain what my beef is (no pun intended), but unless it’s fried, I don’t want it. But I get that fried chicken isn’t exactly the healthiest option, so sometimes I have to channel my creativity and create a grilled chicken recipe that even I would eat. This stuffed grilled chicken is filled … Continue reading stuffed grilled chicken in white wine & garlic sauce
Yes, this is the third macaroni and cheese recipe on the blog. But the reason for it is simple: it’s the world’s best mac and cheese. Self-proclaimed, of course. My previous recipes were a unique beer-bacon mac and cheese and a healthy Greek yogurt mac and cheese. But this one is just an original, thick and creamy mac and cheese recipe that everyone in the … Continue reading thick & creamy macaroni and cheese
The beginning of fall means just that: the beginning of fall. Long gone are those sweltering summer days where I’d step outside and suddenly feel like Olaf in that scene from Frozen where he stands in front of the fireplace a little too long. Instead, I can finally preheat my oven without feeling guilty about the escaped heat raising the house’s temperature a few degrees. … Continue reading crispy garlic kale chips
I grew up visiting the Jersey Shore nearly every weekend in the summer. And no, I wasn’t partying with Snooki. I have a lot of family down in South Jersey, and everyone knows that summertime is when South Jersey is at its best. Fresh fruits, fresh veggies, and, of course, fresh seafood. Crab cakes, lobster, tender scallops; you name it, the shore’s got it. But … Continue reading baked stuffed cod
Nothing against romaine lettuce, but I have always been a fan of arugula salad. The weather in New Jersey has been nothing shy of sweltering these past few days, and a crisp salad is perfect for those times when it’s just too hot to turn on the oven—or put in a lot of effort to cook a large meal. Tangy blue cheese and sweet apples … Continue reading arugula salad with crisp apples and blue cheese
I have always been a lover of pasta. It’s the Italian in me. On the contrary, I have always been a hater of store-bought pasta sauce. It’s the Italian in me. When I go to a restaurant, the first thing I look for on the menu is the pasta section (most restaurants don’t actually have a pasta section, so it’s an automatic five stars for … Continue reading creamy tomato alfredo chicken penne
When I was younger, the best part about going to a baseball game was the scent of greasy burgers and hot dogs that wafted my way with every breeze. There’s just something about a stadium dog—it’s like every bite is a taste of summer. Since I’m not a serious burger eater, every family barbecue calls for some tasty grilled dogs. My favorite part about this … Continue reading cheesy cheddar chili dogs
simply delicious. 