It’s currently 12:06AM. I had an assignment due earlier for Nutrition Assessment and got that submitted. Finished all my rounds on call in residence for the night and praying it stays quiet until 8am. I’m currently lying on the couch in my suite’s lounge – which, despite the permanent butt indents and slight lumpiness from years (maybe decades?) of use, is pretty comfortable. I haven’t made a blog post in a while (because life is busy) but here are some hot life updates and brain dumps for my 19 email subscribers. This is going to be a little chaotic since I’m usually asleep by now. Why am I w ..read more

It’s already Chinese New Year 2021 at the time of writing (in China, at least – there’s still 10 minutes to go before midnight here in Ontario, Canada). Year of the Ox! It’s probably my favourite holiday of the year, with traditions including dumplings from scratch (even the wrappers!), watching 春节联欢晚会 (chūn jié lián huān wǎn huì; an annual broadcasted new year’s gala of singing, skits, magic, etc.), red pockets, and many other delicious foods. [Skip to: 8 Chinese New Year Traditions to Remember] Something new I noticed this year was that this celebratory atmosphere of excitement and love and ..read more

If you’re just looking for a recipe for a delicious Harvest Kale and Sweet Potato Salad, click the “Jump to Recipe” button above to skip my life update! If you’re a loyal reader or friend that wants to read about my recent goings-on, keep on reading. Fall Comfort Kitchen @PJ’s Restaurant This kale and sweet potato salad dish was originally adapted by myself and my friend/classmate Serena Tam for our Restaurant Operations Management course. In a typical (non-COVID) year, we would be running our restaurant event in-person at our student-run teaching restaurant on campus. Instead, this semest ..read more

So, you’re making your own sourdough starter. Or maybe you’re in between loaves. But you find yourself with a growing container of sourdough discard that you can’t use for bread yet. You’re hungry — in need of a quick meal or snack with complex carbs & protein. I present to you one of my favourite breakfasts: the Sourdough Discard & Egg Pancake. (Honestly, I’m not sure what to call it. “Sourdough Discard & Egg Pancake” was the most descriptive and least weird one I could come up with. If you have a better name, let me know. It’s still delicious though.) Before we jump in, Pin this ..read more

I first made healthy black bean brownies a few years ago, when I first got into healthy baking alternatives. (I think it was this OG recipe by Chocolate Covered Katie.) However, I done goof’ed a little and didn’t rinse my beans enough … They came out more like savoury bean bars than the promised fudgy dessert! Alas, today I provide you with my own *aesthetic* take on this gluten-free dessert. But don’t worry — those beautiful almond butter swirls may look complicated and fancy, but they take zero skill and about 10 seconds to get right. Before we jump in, make sure to Pin this image to Pinte ..read more

Today we’re learning how to make your very own sourdough starter from scratch! After doing my own research (with a good deal of trial and error), I’ve decided to share my own method that involves the least hassle whilst preserving accuracy. Ready to make your own sourdough starter? Pin this image to Pinterest so you have it saved for later, and let’s go! What’s a sourdough starter? What is a sourdough starter in the first place? Essentially, it’s a combination of flour and water that has been allowed to ferment. The fermentation process allows the small amount of wild yeasts & bacteria ..read more

How can we easily create a balanced plate for healthy meals? Whether you’re a student that’s just learning to cook for themselves, trying to recover from disordered eating, or simply looking for an easy way to slap together a healthy meal, this “plate formula” can be incredibly helpful to make your meals more intentional and structured. Recently, I’ve been working on some research projects that concern Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) around the world. In other words, food guides! The plate-style or pie-chart presentation of food guides is one of the more common ones across different coun ..read more

These vegan chocolate chip coffee cookies are soft, chewy, delicious, and gluten free! Made with freshly ground coffee, almond butter, dark chocolate, and flaky sea salt, they sure deliver when it comes to flavour. Plus, they’re naturally sweetened with maple syrup — no refined sugars here! (Well, maybe in the chocolate. ;)) Though they may be healthier than your classic brown butter chocolate chip cookie, you’d never be able to tell. They’re still deliciously sweet and oh-so-satisfying. Plus, you only need one bowl! No electric mixer needed. No folding wet into dry, or realizing you forgot t ..read more

Ready to learn about 5 key food photography first steps you need to elevate your work from amateur to food blogger (or even pre-professional)? Get out a sticky note and a pen and get ready to jot these down. Before we get into it, be sure to Pin this image to Pinterest to have it saved for later! Plus, it helps this post to reach more people and help more aspiring food photographers. To my #1 fan(s). Thank you all for your continued support — it honestly means the world to me when you all read my posts. Blogging Update: July 2020 Three months ago, I purchased my domain and WordPress w ..read more

These honey lemon thyme muffins are so soft and delicious! Packed with lemon flavour and infused with thyme, the buttery crumble topping adds a perfect finish. I’m really proud of the photos I took for this recipe! My main goal for my food photography right now is to improve my composition (and to embrace negative space). Scroll through the photos below, and let me know if you can see me using leading lines, organic curves, the rule of odds, geometry, framing, and layering. Before we get to the recipe, Pin this image on Pinterest so you have it saved for later! (Plus, it helps me out to share ..read more