Easy Matcha Energy Bites

Meet my new favorite plant-based energy snack. Loaded with oats, almond butter, dates, and a dose of matcha, these bites are the perfect grab-n-go snack to curb my sugar and carb cravings. These raw energy snacks are simple to make, too. Just throw everything into the food processor and blend until pasty. Then form into…

Coconut Matcha Mochi

I made mochi for the first time! It’s been on my recipe wish list for a long time. I’ve been nervous to tackle it because I thought it would be a big process. Turns out, it’s super easy.  Mochi is a sweet Japanese rice cake made of chewy glutinous rice. The key ingredient for this…

Banana Sesame Streusel Muffins

I still can’t believe I got to intern at America’s Test Kitchen. This was a dream opportunity to experience what it’s like to work in the most renowned professional test kitchen on the planet. While most of the ATK internship involves assisting test cooks and supporting the kitchen operations team (lots of mise en place,…

Cacao Coconut Overnight Oats

I was introduced to cacao tea several years back at the World Tea Expo, an annual trade show where tea companies unveil their latest offerings and tea geeks like me get drunk on tea. At the time, the chocolate company debuting cacao as tea explained that the locals on their South American cacao farm would…

Almond Pu-erh Protein Shake

I’m always surprised by the kitchen sophistication of my 14-year-old niece. When we hang out, she often brings a long list of homemade cooking projects she wants to accomplish. Our latest hang-out session included crepes, walnut bread, cardamom buns, granola, seed crackers, and four-bean chili. All of which we tackled over two days. This simple…

Mulled Mandarin Marmalade

(An older post updated December 2018) Mandarins are little bursts of sunshine that appear during the chilly winter months and keep on shining through spring, just before the fruits of summer start to appear. I make this easier-than-ever marmalade recipe every year, often for holiday gifts. The recipients of the homemade goodness always ask for…

Whole Wheat Matcha Almond Waffles

I recently borrowed a friend’s waffle maker, which was a huge mistake because now I want one! Needless to say, I’ve been on a waffle kick. One night we even tried masa harina corn waffles as the base for our taco-like dinner, instead of tortillas. But nothing beats a classic breakfast waffle. Except maybe this…

Rooibos Candied Clementines

Orange-chocolate is my second favorite dessert flavor, next to lemon. I have memories of my dad treating me to Swiss Orange Chip ice cream at Swenson’s as a kid. Anytime I see a Terry’s chocolate orange at the market, I scoop one (or two) up. Set a bag of chocolate dipped candied orange peel in…

Silver Bud Winter Mar-tea-ni

I am a tea addict. I’d probably qualify as a tea hoarder too. I just can’t stop collecting teas! Whenever I see a tea I’ve never tried, one I’ve never heard of, or simply get sucked into a tea’s story, I can’t resist the urge to snatch it up and sip it. Feeding right into…

Tea Roasted Carrot & Farro Risotto

I love fall. The colors that change daily. The cool-in-the-morning, warm-in-the-afternoon weather. The end-of-season farmer’s market fare. And the excuse to start making those comforting, warming one-pot meals. I’m a huge fan of homemade risotto, especially after mastering a Deborah Madison recipe that I turned into a Parsley, Pea, and Green Tea Risotto. But we’ve…

Chai Brined Quick Pickles

I take for granted how easy these little condiments are to make; so easy, in fact, that they hardly seem worth sharing as a recipe. Yet each time I make them, someone inevitably asks, “Will you send me the recipe?” So here you go, someone. The method is simple. Slice up your favorite cucumber super…

Coconut Chai-Chia Chip Cookies

I threw this recipe together on a whim during a recent Denver snow day—the cozy kind of snow day, where your company says you can work from home. My goal was to see if a whole wheat flour cookie could be almost as good as an all-purpose flour cookie. I’m also new to coconut sugar…

PB&J Pu-erh Tea Tart

My resolutions this year have nothing to do with eating healthy. They do, of course, have to do with food. My main foodie resolution this year is to become a better baker. Sure, I’ll work on some “healthy” baking recipes as part of my quest. But let’s be real, the best baking recipes are indulgent…

Horchata “Tea”

I’m skipping the traditional margarita this Cinco de Mayo holiday and opting for a sweet, homemade horchata with a strong and flavorful brewed tea as the liquid base. Also referred to as horchata “tea” in some Latin cultures, traditional horchata is not really a tea at all. It is a kind of infusion, however, which…

Cinnamon Tea Kissed Cookies

Let me introduce you to my new favorite method for infusing tea flavor into anything you’re baking. All you need is butter. Yes, butter. Simply melt the butter you’re using in your next baking project, toss in some flavored tea leaves, let it steep, strain it, and you’re left with a tea-infused butter that will…