Alfredo Sauce

April 27, 2025

Ingredients

amount	ingredient
2 T	butter
1 clove or ¼ tsp	garlic or garlic powder
1 cup	heavy cream
1 cup	Parmigiano-Reggiano, blended or shredded
to taste	salt
to taste	black pepper
to taste	red pepper flakes^*
1 handful	arugula or spinach, chopped^*
5	sundried tomatoes, chopped^*
1	lemon juice, fresh^*

^*optional

Process

in a saucepot on the stove, gently melt butter and add garlic; cook until fragrant, a minute or two
add heavy cream and parm
add salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes; simmer gently as sauce thickens
add greens and sundried tomatoes
when sauce thickens to desired consistency, turn off heat, add lemon juice and stir

If adding to pasta, set pasta to boil before starting the sauce and add it to the saucepot along with a little bit of pasta water once done. Stir to coat thoroughly and serve.

Notes

if the sauce is too thick, thin with milk or water (whatever you have on hand)
can also use milk or half and half if you don’t have cream, but may have to cook down longer to thicken

optional add-ins

Add whatever you have on hand, like:

parsley (fresh or dried)
white pepper
arugula
spinach
kale, finely chopped
sundried tomatoes

better than takeout ○ freezer friendly ○ italian ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ quick ○ sauce ○ vegetarian

Banana Peanut Butter Oat Bars

December 31, 2024
Credits

Recipe adapted from Sammi Brondo.

Ingredients

Makes 9 square bars

amount ingredient
3 bananas, very ripe
¼ cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla paste
1¼ cup oats
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp baking powder
½ cup chocolate chips

Process
```
preheat oven 350º F
```
1. grease a loaf pan (with butter, spray oil, or regular oil) or trim parchment paper to fit
2. mash bananas, add peanut butter, vanilla; mix
3. add oats, salt, baking powder; mix
4. fold in chocolate chips
5. pour mixture into prepared pan
```
bake ~30 minutes
```
1. let cool, then cut into bars
Notes
- I used natural peanut butter, but you can use whatever you have on hand
- quick cooking or rolled oats work best
- could try swirling through some jelly/jam (untested)
Oven // Recipe // Sweets

baking ○ better than takeout ○ dump and go ○ low effort ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian

amount	ingredient
3	bananas, very ripe
¼ cup	peanut butter
1 tsp	vanilla paste
1¼ cup	oats
¼ tsp	salt
½ tsp	baking powder
½ cup	chocolate chips

Chana Pulao

July 5, 2024

Credits

Recipe adapted from Tea for Turmeric.

ingredients

amount	ingredient
300g	rice, basmati
2 cups	water
40g // 3 T	oil
1	onion, medium, sliced
1	tomato, small, quartered (optional)
2½ tsp	salt, divided
3 cloves	garlic, minced
⅓ piece	ginger, minced
2	bay leaves, small
½ tsp	black peppercorns, whole
1″	cinnamon stick
1	cardamom, black, small
5	cloves, whole
1 tsp	cumin seeds
½ tsp	black pepper
15oz	chickpeas, cooked (chanay)

process

wash rice, set aside to soak 30 minutes

mode: sauté
heat: high

add oil, onions, bay leaves and 1 tsp of the salt; brown the onions
add ginger, garlic; sauté 2 minutes until fragrant (deglaze with a splash of water, as needed)
add tomato, removing skins as they come loose (optional)
add whole spices along with the rest of the salt, mix well; add chickpeas
drain rice, add to instant pot along with the 2 cups of water

pressure: high
time: 5 minutes
release: 5 minutes natural release

open pot, fluff rice; serve

notes

optional additions / changes

can add peeled and chopped potatoes at the same time as the chickpeas
can add ½-1 green chili like Serrano, slit several times
can use 15 oz of cooked and frozen chickpeas, or a 15oz can, drained

See the freezing guide for tips and information on freezer-safe food storage.

Instant Pot // Mains // Recipe

better than takeout ○ desi ○ freezer friendly ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ pakistani ○ rice ○ vegetarian

Simple Raita

June 2, 2024

For when you don’t have the ingredients or can’t be bothered to make shahi raita.

Ingredients

amount ingredient
— yogurt
— black pepper
— cumin seeds
— salt

Process

Crush the cumin between your palms and mix it (along with the rest of the spices) into the yogurt. Thin with milk to desired consistency.

Notes

All amounts are to taste; it’s not that serious.

Accompaniments // No Cook // Recipe

cold ○ condiment ○ desi ○ low effort ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ pakistani ○ quick ○ sauce ○ vegetarian
Creamy Garlic Dip

March 21, 2024
Credits

Recipe adapted from Don’t Go Bacon My Heart.

Ingredients

amount ingredient
120g mayo
120g sour cream
1 T white wine vinegar
1 tsp parsley, dried
1 tsp oregano, dried
1 tsp garlic, minced
pinch sugar
pinch salt

Process
- mix all ingredients together in a bowl
- cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving
Notes

The covering and chilling is actual pretty vital to this recipe, although it’s tempting to skip the step. If you eat it right away, the flavors will feel off and disjointed, maybe too sweet or too tart. But once it’s had a chance to meld together in the fridge, everything becomes much more cohesive.
Accompaniments // No Cook // Recipe

better than takeout ○ cold ○ condiment ○ dump and go ○ low effort ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ quick ○ sauce ○ vegetarian
Mint-Infused Sweet Condensed Milk

February 27, 2024
Credits

Recipe adapted from Serious Eats.

Ingredients

makes 535g (~19oz) of condensed milk

amount ingredient
910g milk
170g heavy cream
195g sugar
~⅛ tsp salt
4-5 mint sprigs, fresh

process
1. wash mint, leaving the leaves on the stem for easy removal at the end; snap off any excess stem length
2. add all the ingredients to the shallowest pot you have or a straight-sided frying pan
3. cook on medium heat until sugar is dissolved, then reduce to a simmer and cook down the mixture for ~45 minutes, stirring regularly to avoid burning/scalding
4. remove mint in the last 15 minutes or so of cooking, or whenever you feel they’ve given up their flavor; better to do this before the mixture really thickens up in the end, so you lose minimal product
nutrition

whole recipe (535g): 1,873
per 100g: 350 calories

notes
- a wide, shallow vessel will allow for more surface area and quicker evaporation
- mixture may look like it’s hardly thickening for the first half hour or so, just keep to the instructions, and it will begin to come together in the end
Base Ingredient // Recipe // Stovetop

calories calculated ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ vegetarian

amount	ingredient
—	yogurt
—	black pepper
—	cumin seeds
—	salt

amount	ingredient
120g	mayo
120g	sour cream
1 T	white wine vinegar
1 tsp	parsley, dried
1 tsp	oregano, dried
1 tsp	garlic, minced
pinch	sugar
pinch	salt

amount	ingredient
910g	milk
170g	heavy cream
195g	sugar
~⅛ tsp	salt
4-5	mint sprigs, fresh

Quick Moroccan Chicken

January 25, 2024

Credits

Recipe adapted from G-Free Foodie.

Ingredients

amount	ingredient
1½ lb	chicken breast^*
4	dried figs, halved and destemmed
4 oz	tomato sauce // marinara sauce
¼ cup	onions, chopped
1 tsp	garlic, minced
2 T	apple juice
1 T	olive oil
1	bay leaf
½ tsp	thyme, dried
¼ tsp	salt
¼ tsp	black pepper
to taste	harissa paste // hot sauce (optional)

^*frozen is fine!

Process

place all ingredients in Instant Pot

pressure: low
time: 10 minutes
release: 10-15 minutes natural release

Notes

I used frozen, thin chicken breast directly, without thawing first
It made a fair amount of soupy sauce, which I used to make couscous
- to do this, replace ½ the water used for the couscous with the sauce / liquid from this recipe
pictured below: recipe paired with couscous, hummus, and pickled onions.

Instant Pot // Mains // Recipe

african ○ chicken ○ dump and go ○ meat ○ moroccan ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ quick

Chicken Tender Wrap

January 14, 2024

Frozen, breaded chicken tenders and flour tortillas turn into spicy chicken wraps with bold flavor and a pop of bright citrus.

ingredients

amount	ingredient
1	flour tortilla, large, warmed
1 slice	cheese, American (optional)
1 – 2	chicken tenders, spicy
to taste	mayonnaise
to taste	hot sauce
to taste	onions & jalapeños, pickled
to taste	cilantro, fresh, chopped
to taste	lettuce greens

assembly

heat tortilla according to preference (see notes below)
if using cheese, lay cheese on top of hot tortilla and add hot chicken tender on top so the cheese melts easily
layer the rest of the ingredients on top, ending with the lettuce so that you can more easily hold things down to roll without getting your hands dirty
roll up tortilla; it’s not necessary for complete overlap if you’re careful with holding it properly while eating

notes

naturally, all amounts are to-taste so do and use whatever you like
tortilla can be heated any way you prefer:
- stovetop: on a griddle, tawa, comal, or dry frying pan, turning to get nice brown spots and taking it off the heat once desired doneness is reached; do not heat too long or it will become crunchy and not foldable
- microwave: lay tortilla on microwave -safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel, heat until just warmed through; this will yield a soft, pliable tortilla that’s not crunchy at all
- airfryer / toaster oven / oven: heat for a few minutes until warmed through; avoid getting brown spots as it will turn into a giant tortilla chip pretty quickly, especially in a toaster oven or air fryer which works faster than a standard oven
any chicken tender will work, I use a spicy breaded variety and pop it in the airfryer for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through
I use Frank’s hot sauce and find the simplicity of it plays nicely with both the mayo and pickles
for the greens, use whatever you have on hand: iceberg, spring mix, spinach, arugula, celery tops, romaine, etc.

Airfryer // Mains // Meal Ideas // Microwave // Oven // Stovetop

american ○ better than takeout ○ chicken ○ frozen foods ○ fusion ○ meat ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ sandwich

Fresh Pickled Onions & Jalapeños

January 13, 2024
ingredients

amount ingredient
½ onion, red
1 jalapeño
⅛ – ¼ tsp salt
½ lemon, juice of

Process
1. slice the onion very thinly, lengthwise (from pole to pole)
2. slice jalapeño very thinly into coins
3. add salt to taste—not enough to make it salty, just enough to play up the other flavors
4. add lemon juice and massage into the vegetables so that all the onions break up from their nested sections and the lemon juice nicely coats everything
5. rest ~10 minutes until the vegetables lose some of their raw bite
Notes
- can use white onions, but the flavor is better with red, as they tend to be sweeter and better for consuming raw
- I cut my vegetables very thinly; you could make thicker slices if that’s what you prefer and those may hold up better to storing (untested)
- other acids can be used as well, such as vinegars, or lime juice; I find the lemon juice adds the best burst of bright citrus flavor and tang
These pickles are best made and enjoyed fresh, but can be stored covered in an airtight container in the fridge for several days. They will lose some of their snap as the acids continue to work on the vegetables, but will still be tasty.
Accompaniments // No Cook // Recipe

better than takeout ○ condiment ○ dump and go ○ low effort ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ photo ○ quick ○ vegetarian
Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

December 23, 2023
credits

Recipe adapted from Foolproof Living.

Ingredients

Amount Ingredient
1 lemon, zest of
1 clove garlic, grated (about 1 tsp jarred)
2 T lemon, juice, fresh (about ½ a lemon)
3 T balsamic vinegar
3 T olive oil
1 tsp salt, kosher^*
1 tsp mustard
½ tsp black pepper
^* or 1 scant tsp of table salt

Process
1. mix all ingredients together
Notes
- use any kind of mustard you have on hand, I prefer stone-ground, spicy brown, but try out horseradish or others
- I prefer dressings that are acid-heavy, but you could increase the oil ratio if you like
dressing uses
- spring mix salad
- chicken or fish marinade
- glaze for roasted vegetables or grilling
- drizzle over artisanal sandwich bread to hydrate and add flavor
Accompaniments // No Cook // Recipe

dressing ○ dump and go ○ italian ○ marinade ○ one pot pan or bowl ○ quick ○ vegetarian

Ingredients

Process

Notes

optional add-ins

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Notes

Credits

ingredients

process

notes

optional additions / changes

Ingredients

Process

Notes

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Notes

Credits

Ingredients

process

nutrition

notes

Credits

Ingredients

Process

Notes

ingredients

assembly

notes

ingredients

Process

Notes

credits

Ingredients

Process

Notes

dressing uses