Picnics have been synonymous with all my childhood memories — from potluck parties to picturesque picnic spreads with my parents. I can recall countless afternoons spent lounging on chequered blankets, surrounded by baskets and coolers filled with delightful treats, and close company to bring it all together.
Read MoreFor me, comfort food comes from a small, rusted cart located in the alley of a busy street in east Asia. In Taiwan, the night is reinvigorated by the hustle and bustle of the night market. Located across Taipei, and in each municipality, these markets overflow with the smell of fresh Taiwanese dishes, the multicolored lights of street carts and stores, and the dimmed chatter of vendors and passersby. There is something strangely comforting about the night market’s environment, with crowds of people gathered and enjoying the night under the neon glow of restaurant signs and lanterns.
Read MoreCreating this cupcake recipe has been a journey spanning 10 years for me. I have made a total of 7 different versions of this recipe; some with pudding, some without milk, and even some with lard. It certainly serves as a solid reminder that baking is a labor of love. All along the way, I had friends and family joyfully agree to be my testers. These cupcakes can be the crowning glory of your party contributions, as they were mine. Most importantly, they are the perfect decadent comfort food to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Read MoreA world away from this Ithaca snowstorm, South East Asia offers comfort foods which are nourishing to the heart, playing an integral role in building community. For me, comfort is found in being jostled by my infinitely many cousins, aunts and uncles around a large table while heaping bowls of singang, a delicate tamarind based Filipino broth with eggplant, okra and commonly shrimp or Bibingkang Malagkit, a coconut sticky rice dessert topped with a broiled coconut caramel, are fought over.
Read MoreAs part of the Bangladeshi diaspora, I have had the privilege of indulging in both American and South Asian desserts. The aromatic taste of cardamom and rosewater brings me back to my childhood when I would eat shemai (vermicelli pudding) after coming home from the masjid on Eid mornings. My mother would stand over the stove for hours, stirring boiling milk and infusing spices and sugar into a dessert she knew would be devoured in less than a day. As I found my way into the kitchen over the past few months, I admired the time-saving methods of many Western desserts, mainly the ease of baking cakes.
Read MoreAlthough notorious among college students for its instant noodle Indomie Mie Goreng, Indonesian cuisine has so much more to offer than just a 12-inch packaged, dried noodle dish. Indonesia arguably curates the most aromatic and spice-laden foods in the world – dishes that take beyond five minutes to cook and require more than just a pot of boiling water.
Read MoreBefore returning home for breaks, I mentally compile a list of restaurants I want to visit. This summer, however, home wasn’t the same. When I returned to Atlanta in March, it dawned on me that not only would I be unable to visit these places to be reminded of old memories, but we also could not return to make new memories. A few weeks prior to Mother’s Day, my mom approached me and requested that I replicate her favorite meal--rigatoni with sausage and pink sauce Novo Cucina.
Read MoreSundubu Jjigae is my version of chicken noodle soup. It is not the soup itself that gives me comfort, even though the heat and spiciness envelop me like a warm hug when I feel sad. Rather I am calmed by the series of events required to make it, which remind me of home.
Read MoreDuring a quarantine-induced quest for new dishes to attempt, I encountered a recipe for cornmeal pancakes. Being the life-long pancake enthusiast that I am, I could hardly wait to make them the coming morning and declared my plan to my parents. When I awoke the next day, I hurried downstairs, eager to bring my dream into fruition. Stepping into the kitchen, I was halted by the sight of my dad with a spatula in hand and pancakes sizzling on a pan—my cornmeal pancakes on a pan, to be precise. I felt robbed of a momentous opportunity.
Read MoreWhether I slept for twelve hours or four, the sound of sizzling butter on a Sunday morning would wake me up instantly. In most households, the smell of butter can mean almost anything, but in my family, Sunday mornings and melting butter can only mean pannkakor, or Swedish pancakes. Paired with powdered sugar or jam (lingonberry and raspberry are the most common), these pancakes bring sweetness and a sense of joy, to even the groggiest of mornings.
Read MorePeople yelling over each other in Cantonese, frenzied fingers pointing at carts passing by, and roast ducks on spits set the scene: a Sunday morning at my local dim sum restaurant. I never thought the chaotic environment would be something I took for granted, but when the pandemic forced dim sum restaurants to close, I found myself continuously longing for just one more visit, even willing to sit through the hour-long lines. I missed the anticipation of waiting for a table, the hurried stamps on my bill, and the reveal of plates of har gou, siu mai, and cheung fun under bamboo steamer lids. But most of all, I missed my pineapple buns, and the warm sweet scent I never failed to miss wafting towards me from the incoming dim sum cart.
Read MoreHailey shares her recipe for Paletas de Arroz con Leche, rice pudding ice pops, a perfect refresher for a hot summer’s day!
Read MoreThink indulgence. Think sweetness. Think of your ultimate guilty pleasure. What comes to mind? For me, it's the timeless brownie sundae. Thin, fudgy slices of rich brownies stacked atop of one another, topped with a scoop of classic french vanilla ice cream, with a drizzle of dark chocolate ganache to finish it off. There is nothing quite as decadent as a chocolate brownie that, with each bite, leaves you wondering: why dessert isn’t the only meal of the day?
Read MoreGrowing up, I absolutely loved sweet and spicy things. I found this spicy hot chocolate recipe a long time ago and decided to make it into a cookie. Have fun with the sweet and spicy flavours!
Read MoreI have something to admit; I am not a big fan of cake. With a few exceptions, I find most cakes to be dry, too sweet, and without an interesting texture. But that does not stop my friends and family members from filling my refrigerator with these spongy desserts. Because of my strong fear of wasting food, I found a way to upcycle these dried week-old cakes into a rich, moist, and boozy dessert.
Read MoreGood bread is one of the most comforting foods that bless this Earth. A hearty rye bread makes me feel especially cozy and inspires nostalgia for my time spent in Germany, which consisted of eating ridiculous amounts of bread in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes. My German mother may not be a baker, but I’m always reminded of home when I eat Mestemacher rye bread.
Read MoreBeets are winter's sweethearts. They wait patiently on the shelf throughout summer and fall for their chance to shine in both flavor and nutritional value. Their high yield and long shelf-life make them highly accessible and versatile. They've brought comfort to many western households throughout history.
Read MoreDid you know that tiramisù means "cheer me up" in Italian? Why don't you cheer your self up with this simple tiramisù recipe by our Culinary Director Trin Kitisoontornpong. Guaranteed that you will have a chance to taste an authentic creamy tiramisù without breaking your wallet. This recipe came from the Russo family from Bologna.
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