Welcome to another freezing Friday in Chicago. I work 4 blocks from home, and still – the commute dread is REAL. My California blood ain’t made for this arctic weather. But I know too well that complaining about the cold only makes it worse. So I turn to steamy eats and drinks to warm me up and improve my mood on these gloomy days when I have the shivers from my head to my toes. Healthifed […]

How are your New Year’s resolutions coming? Personally, I am type A and easily overwhelmed, so I focus more on weekly goals/resolutions. Who knows what’s going to be happening in my unpredictable world months from now, so it’s one step at a time over here. 2016 is rough for us all in many ways. Slowing down is in order. Rather than work, work, work. Always rushing towards the next thing. Let’s live in the here […]

Unlike the first few years of the blogging, the goal of this blog in 2016, was to create a style, and establish a brand to attract an audience. My food is approachable, fresh, seasonal, plant-based, and always delicious. Inspired by the seasons, my time in Italy, and my love for produce, coconut, and avocados. Among many other things! 2017 goals: I want you to get to know me outside of a few blog posts a […]

Oh my gosh, my lovely followers. Never ever did I think I would post cake recipes regularly. Yet, here I am sharing another one – Date-sweetened Pumpkin Tres Leches! I’ve realized it’s all about finding the right flour blend and butter/egg replacers. Once I did, any intimidation around baking cakes disappeared. Now I have the same basic formula that I can adapt and tweak with each new cake recipe, depending on the flavors I want […]

Optimal flavor, color, and texture are all requirements for what I consider an excellent meal. The flavor aspect has always come naturally to me, and with practice, I have improved on achieving an enticing color palette and a variety of textures in a dish. It’s trial and error, so patience is key. Sometimes all these components come together beautifully on the first attempt, like this Zoodle and Rotini Saute with Red Pepper Sauce. This pasta […]

When you really want to knock the socks off of your less-than-healthy friends and family who demand the most sugar-filled, butter laden holiday desserts (and always manage to steer clear of your kale salad and raw pecan pie), you make Bourbon Butterscotch Custard Pie! Because who doesn’t want their dessert spiked? And who can resist the sweet buttery flavor of butterscotch? Or custard? And to be truthful, the holidays are just cold, dark, sad winter days if […]