Over the weekend, I flew to Atlanta to surprise my sister for her bridal shower. As my sister is the opposite of a bridezilla, she made it clear that I was not required to go after planning her bachelorette party in New Orleans. And because she had already generously let me off the hook, it was […]
Cooking & Entertaining
Spicy Quinoa, Kale & Chicken Salad
During the work week, I am obsessed with efficiency. Therefore, I try to cut out as many time-sucking chores as I can — including the tedious task of choosing a new Seamless lunch order. Instead, I’ll become obsessed with one item — and order it every single day for the next two months. Some may call […]
The Pragmatist Cooks: Squash Blossom Soup
You guys know I love cooking with flowers. (See my last foray into floral cuisine here.) So when I visited the Union Square farmers markets last weekend, I was delighted when I saw hundreds of squash blossoms for sale. These delicate flowers are scrumptious and scarce, thanks to the blink-and-you-miss-it late-summer season. Typically, the blossoms are stuffed […]
Would You Grill in a Dress?
Whenever I visit my parents, I find myself “parenting” my parents a lot. Mostly, I critique their dietary choices — particularly my mother’s disdain for lettuce and my father’s fondness for mid-morning brownies. So when I visited over July 4th, I made it my mission to cook a somewhat balanced BBQ dinner. (No frozen e-coli patties allowed.) […]
The Food I’m Loving Lately
Normally, I cook a large portion of my weekly meals. But lately, I’ve had zero time to cook — and since I’ll be traveling to New Orleans, Mexico and Chicago over the next few weeks, things are about to get even crazier. So, here’s how I’ve been feeding myself lately. It’s a combination of local discoveries and new […]
Food You HAVE to Try: Vol. 1
There’s a unique kind of elation when you’ve discovered a new favorite recipe or restaurant. In the past few weeks, I’ve made several such discoveries, including a sublime and simple soup and two low-key, chic and affordable NYC eateries. Here are my current foodie recommendations: 1. Dairy Free Watercress Soup This watercress soup came from Hemsley + […]
How We Transformed Our Kitchen for $200
I always think it is interesting to contrast how one dresses with how they decorate their homes. In many instances, there is a stark difference — a minimalist may be secret hoarder and a prepster may eschew a nautical motif to indulge her secret yen for Japanese zen. My apartment is more crammed than my personal style may indicate. […]
Edible Style: The Liquid Lunch
Within the past few years, my diet has changed drastically. My weekly menu is 90% vegetarian, 10% Chipotle steak-bean bowls (no rice, duh). If I had known this five years ago, I would have been horrified and promptly muffled my sorrow in a Wendy’s bacon cheeseburger. It’s hard to pinpoint the defining moment that prompted […]
Lentils & Flowers: A Chic, Easy Dinner
I’m always on the hunt for what I call the “dinner unicorn” — a great, easy, plant-based dinner that takes no time and looks impressive enough for company. It’s been a years-long search, but I think I’ve found a contender: a tweaked version of Bon Appetit’s Spiced Black Lentils with Yogurt and Mint. And believe […]
Munchery: Better Than Seamless?
As I’ve discussed previously, I view food as being undeniably intertwined with personal style. There are some of us content to eat Spaghetti O’s from a can. (No shame — a decade ago, that was me.) But there’s an element of pride that comes with looking your best, and the same emotions come into play when […]