Orange, Almond, and Olive Oil Cake
There comes a time when you come to understand the red flags that your body uses to get your brain back on track. In college, pulling all nighters was no big deal. Coffee sweetened with Coke for extra caffeine? No problem. High sugar content late night drinks? Bring it on. Hung over? A Sunday morning [...]
Bourbon and Chocolate Cherries
I can’t lie to you guys. 2011 was quite the blogging fail, on my part. For the past week or so, I’ve been walking around, lounging in my house, and chatting at bars about how I needed to write something for this post.
Apple, Cheddar, and Caramelized Onion Tart
Washington, DC, is a bit of a late bloomer: Fall is only really hitting the district as we speak. Yes, the fall I’ve been longing for since the heat wave in June. The fall that carries a breeze, the fall that tints foliage into my favorite color (orange), and the fall that finally satisfies you [...]
Scenes from New York
Being a New Yorker runs deep in my veins. Perhaps, that’s why I feel so at home there. But perhaps, it’s because of the wonderful friends I have there.
English Muffins
I have a confession to make. I am not a morning person. Definitely. Not. Me. Weird, right? I know. I used to think all bakers were morning people, too. Sorry. I was wrong. I’m one of those girls that has to set an alarm at 6 AM to wake up sometime between 7:30 and 8. [...]
Second Thoughts, and Third Thoughts
My spring trip to California worried me. I flew out there for my little brother’s graduation in late May. Desperately in need of a vacation, I was sleep deprived, hungry for personal relaxation, and looking forward to seeing familiar faces.
Banh Mi, and a Happy Picnic
It seems like the only time I really get to blog these days is when I find time on vacation. How sad is that? I really wish it wasn’t so difficult to find time to do everything I love. But then again, I do love a lot of things.
Change Is a Comin’
And so it begins: I have ventured into the fantastical scientific world that surrounds sourdough bread.
Best Dressed
Washington is such a small place. Sometimes I say I love it, and sometimes I say I hate it… but I’m pretty sure I just love it.
From Last Night
Sometimes, we make sacrifices. Give and take, push and pull, exchange or return. We all do it. After all, what would life be without change? Boring. Duh.
Summer in the City
There’s something special about spending Independence Day in Washington, DC. Granted, this is only my second time spending the holiday in the nation’s capital, but I feel there is a certain breed of patriotism that meanders its way into the hearts and minds of my fellow Washingtonians. Perhaps it’s the effect that living and breathing [...]
Unwinding.
It’s been a gorgeous weekend in Los Angeles – but, like most vacations, this one isn’t nearly long enough. I visited my childhood ocean, hung out with my brothers, and reunited with the best friends that any college could have ever introduced me to.
Roasted Asparagus, Leek, and Feta Frittata
Apparently, I apologize a lot. It’s funny, because I really don’t apologize that much in real life. Mostly because… I’m perfect. Just kidding. I’m definitely not perfect. But just for that, I will say this: I am not sorry for having not posted in a couple of weeks. Why? Because I’m busy as hell. Anyway, [...]
Gardening, Step One: Composting
Back when I was a teenager (and probably way cooler than I am now), my dad repeatedly forced me to observe his progress on the compost pile he started in our California backyard. Naturally, I was beyond grossed out at the sight of the steaming five-foot mass of vegetable peels, raked leaves from our yard, [...]
An Asparagus and Parmesan Tart
Clementines are known for many things, the most famous of which include cuteness, seedlessness, and easiness to peel (importance descending in that order). I can vouch for the first one, and the first one only. I ate three clementines today, all within about five minutes, and encountered seeds and could not avoid clementine rinds creeping [...]
Adventures in Breadmaking: Focaccia
Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog post. To be honest, I haven’t done very much since then… I’ve been telling myself that the metabolism from running thirteen miles more two weeks ago would carry me through. My leftover shin splints did not help with the laziness. And my body definitely cannot handle this carbohydrate [...]
Spring Forward.
Looking back on what I wrote one year ago, my rocky love affair with East Coast weather has brought out the best and worst of my emotions with the same charm that a tumultuous relationship kicks your ass.
Cute Girl Discount, and a Chocolate Tart
I could probably still drive the route from my parent’s home in Los Angeles to my Santa Barbara beach houses of choice with my eyes closed. No, I wasn’t allowed to have a car while I was in college in Santa Barbara – that was a strategic move on my parents’ part in bribing [...]
Bogotá, Colombia
I’m back! And because I know you were all desperately wondering, my trip to Bogotá was adventurous and beautiful (as expected). I wrote my omelette blog from the airport, and did not sleep a wink on either flight — I was just too excited. And as beautiful and exciting as Bogotá was (is), I am [...]
Flippin’ Omelettes
Breakfast — how I love thee. But my bed fools me into loving slumber more. I hit the snooze button about ten times every morning. Getting to an office less than a mile from my house by 9 AM shouldn’t be that much of a challenge, but it truly is. I know I say this [...]
What I Can’t Live Without: Za’atar and Haloumi Cheese
It has taken me ten months, but I’ve finally stumbled upon a market that carries Haloumi cheese. Yes. Ten. Months. I’ve written about my slight integration into Arab culture before. It started with the language classes, deepened with friendships, and snowballed into a giant cultural chasm when I was sucked into a Lebanese dance performance [...]
Blueberry Muffins
Hello, world. It’s been a while, for which I apologize. Life has been hot, humid, and busy. I’m leaving my job at the federal government! It has occupied almost a year of my life, and the vast majority of my post-undergraduate career. And I’m moving into the non-profit sector, for an international development organization that [...]
Creamy Spinach Vodka Sauce and Sautéed Chicken
I spent the past few days at the beach — happily so, since Washington has proven unable to supply weather suitable to foster my addiction to running (see previous beach running entry here). It was beautiful, active, and as expected, it brought back my memories of growing up in sunny Southern California. It’s funny, really [...]