Garlicky pasta with smoked salmon, red onion, and dill

I feel I'm on a roll with these pictures (no pun intended..you know, camera roll..anyone? :-) )

When you have a quick and easy base like garlicky, buttery pasta, a variety of delicious and satisfying meals is at your fingertips.

In the case of this dish, it took little more than preparing the pasta, and assembling the salmon, onions, and dill, before a fantastic and vibrant dish was mine for lunch last weekend.

Feel free to use this as a go-to base for quick weeknight suppers – all you need are a vegetable and a protein to complete the meal. 

Kale and a fried egg are great options – easy to prepare and loaded with nutrients. Or you can do sautéed green beans and sausage of your choice. How about an easy microwaved sweet potato (mixed with some oil or butter and a dash of cinnamon), quick pickled cucumbers, and roast chicken? Or green beans and roast chicken and potatoes. I can go on - pick whatever vegetable and protein suit your fancy, or whatever you happen to have on hand!

For a light lunch or side dish, just add the salmon, onion, and dill (plus some good extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice) following my instructions below.

Garlicky, buttery pasta:

-8 ounces dried fusilli pasta, cooked in plenty of salted water, drained. I recommend fusilli for its corkscrew shape that maximizes the absorption of the delicious oils, butters, and spices we’ll be mixing it with. There is nothing like these wonderful ingredients clinging to every nook and cranny of the pasta. It also looks pretty :D

-1 tbsp olive oil

-1 tbsp butter

-generous shake of red pepper flakes

-1/2 tsp black pepper

-about 1 tbsp dried parsley (fresh would be wonderful here too – just make sure it’s very finely chopped)

-4 cloves of garlic, finely minced – try to take care of this step first, or at least with enough time to allow the minced garlic to sit for at least 5 minutes before you mix it in.

After you’ve emptied your pasta cooking pot of the freshly cooked pasta, turn the heat to low, and add the olive oil and butter to the pot. Immediately add the hot, drained pasta, spices and herbs (except the garlic), and stir together to coat. Turn off the heat, add the garlic, and mix to combine and evenly distribute the garlic. Voila – your base is completed!

**To make the dish pictured above, simply add for each serving 4 ounces of flaked smoked salmon, about 2 tbsp of finely chopped red onion (I soaked mine in a little bit of rice vinegar, to help take off some of the pungency and sharpness), and about 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill. Mix it all together, and top it off with a drizzle of your best extra virgin olive oil and a splash of fresh lemon juice. Mix again and enjoy your refreshing and zesty dish!

Almost spring - bok choy and carrot sauté

Hey look, a picture! ;-)

I really love vegetables. Growing up, vegetables took up the biggest part of my plate, and my mother prepared all different kinds of veggies in different ways. It doesn’t hurt that the cuisine from my parents’ region in China focuses heavily on freshly prepared vegetables with flavors ranging from delicate and subtle to bold and zesty.  I ate all different kinds of wonderful greens, shoots, tubers, fruits, roots, etc - always eager to explore the endless variety with my parents. I loved anything green and crunchy, and nothing was more delicious or exciting to me than a plate filled with colorful veggies.

I’m thankful for the way that my parents ate and continue to eat now, and for managing to stay true to their roots in a new country while also incorporating local flavors and produce into their diets. I attribute my sense of culinary adventure to the way my parents raised me and for sharing their love of food with me – one of the best and many gifts they’ve given me. It helps me stay grounded and calms me after stressful and busy days, to be able to come home and prepare a meal full of healthy and delicious veggies, and knowing that it’ll sustain and nourish me as I prepare for whatever comes next.

That’s something I hope I can share with you too, to provide inspiration and ideas for preparing healthy and satisfying meals. It really is something quietly empowering and refreshing, to be able to do this for yourself and for the people you love. What better gift can you give to yourself and your family than good health and a happy, satisfied tummy and palate? I think the answer to that would comprise a pretty short list J

In this spirit, I’d like to share this recipe with you. It’s inspired by a salad of Chinese napa cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and shredded grilled chicken that my mom makes and which my brother and I basically shovel into our mouths (we may also fight for the last bits but you didn’t hear me say that :D). She quickly sautés the cabbage and carrots to mellow out their flavors, while still maintaining their crispness and bite, and adds a dressing made of Chinese black vinegar, pressed garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil. It is divine and I’m telling you that you feel your health levels increase as you eat it (like in video games, haha). Seriously though, it’s one of my favorite hot-weather foods, and I wanted to try making a cold-weather version of it.

Organic bok choy is well-priced and fresh at my local Whole Foods, and giant bags of organic carrots are ridiculously cheap there. I had both in my fridge several weeks ago, and also a plump red onion sitting on my counter. It was time to experiment J

I cooked the carrots first with plenty of garlic and spices, until they became sweet and tender but still plenty toothy. I added soy sauce and the stalks of the bok choy and red onions, letting them sweat and soften a bit before finally adding the bok choy leaves. They get just enough heat to wilt and turn a brilliant green, and a final helping of minced garlic ensures there is plenty of flavor.

This dish is crunchy, juicy, flavorful, and judging by the number of times I’ve made it since then, and N’s response each time, quickly being established as a favorite and a go-to. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do – happy cooking!

Bok choy and carrot sauté:

-1 head of bok choy cabbage – washed, with stalks separated from leaves, and cut into finger-sized pieces. You can quickly tear the leaves a couple of times, or chop them as well. Just make sure to maintain some uniformity of size for your stalks and leaves – they don’t need to be the same size, and I prefer my leaves to be about half a palm sized, just make sure your stalks are pretty uniform and your leaves as well.

-6-8 small-medium carrots, peeled, and cut into finger sized sticks (about 4-5 total cups. Load up the veggies!)

-½ red onion, cut into thin ringlets

-2 tbsp olive oil (not extra virgin, just regular will do you here)

-4 cloves of garlic, chopped, portioned into 4

-¼ tsp sea salt

-¼ tsp black pepper

-½ tsp dried red pepper flakes

-pinch of turmeric and Old Bay

-soy sauce to taste

In a skillet, heat oil, spices, and ¼ of your chopped garlic on medium high heat (tending more towards the medium), until garlic begins to sizzle slightly and become fragrant. Add the carrots, stir to combine, and cover. Let cook for about 7 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally. Add soy sauce to taste (I end up using about 1-2 tsps), stirring with the carrots. Then add the bok choy stalks and onion, and another ¼ of your garlic, stir it all together, and cover. Let cook for about 2-3 minutes – you want the onion to retain as much of its color as possible. Add the bok choy leaves last, along with the rest of your garlic, stir to mix all together, turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for a few minutes. This will allow the leaves to wilt without overcooking and for the garlic to incorporate with the rest of the veggies.

Serves 2 as a main course (I would suggest some quinoa and a fried egg to accompany), and 4 as a side (may I suggest some delicious garlicky and buttery pasta with sausage?).

Essentials, Part 2 (Shoes!)

**Update - As it turns out, even though I started this post last weekend at my parents' home, I'm finishing it up and posting it today from mine. And forget what I had said about end of winter - we had a nice 4 inches of snow on the first day of spring yesterday! It's melting fast though with the warmer temperature today, and honestly, it's quite beautiful and cheery. No complaints here :)


Hello again! It's a very blustery, almost-end-of-winter and almost-spring type of day today, complete with pearly gray clouds that cast a silvery glow on the outdoors scenery. I'm typing this from my parents' home, where I'm visiting for a weekend, and thought I'd take advantage of the down time to share my thoughts on shoe essentials.

Before I start though, let me put a disclosure out there that I am a girl who truly loves her shoes. I may even be obsessed - there, I've said it! Just in case I may start to sound a little crazy - at least now you'll know why, and you have been warned. :)

All kidding aside though, I really believe in the power of shoes to make or break an outfit. Visually speaking, even though shoes account for a fairly small proportion of your overall look, their impact is significant given their placement. If you think about it, looks are basically comprised of a base (top and bottom), with outer edges being the accessories that go on the head/neck, hands, and feet. These parts really stand out, so you can see their ability to really finish off a look.

This means that shoes are one part of your wardrobe where I believe one should never scrimp. Not only because of their visual power, but also because of the beating that they take. They support us the entire time they're on our feet, and there are few things worse sartorially than a pair of uncomfortable shoes. It's tempting to go for less expensive, trendy shoes that won't break the bank and to buy more of those. After all, there is a ton of variety out there, which is a big part of shoes' appeal - you can go crazy (and some designers really do, IMHO). In any case, I feel a case of 'gimme all the shoes!!' coming on :D

Rather than dropping hard-earned money on shoes that won't last beyond one season, and which are uncomfortable or poorly made, I urge you to consider building a shoe wardrobe of your essentials - the ones you can reach for over and over, that will carry you through a multitude of occasions while looking good and staying comfortable. You don't need to spend tons of money and run out to buy all the Louboutins and Choos that you see! There are lots of great, well-priced options out there that will keep you looking sharp without being too hard on your bank account.

Always keep an eye out for quality - you'll get more for your money this way. For dress shoes, good quality shoes are made of real leather (try to stay away from synthetic leathers), fit your feet well, and are comfortable from the get-go. If you can, look for shoes that have a leather sole. They'll mold to your feet, and you can extend their wear after a few seasons by having them re-soled. For any kind of shoe that you'll be wearing to withstand extreme temperatures, make sure the exterior is durable, and that the soles are sturdy and slip-proof, especially for winter boots you'll want to wear in snow, ice, and sleet.

In terms of the type of shoe - think about what you need for your lifestyle, and find suitable shoes accordingly. If you work mostly in an office environment, you may want to have a few good pairs of office-ready pumps and flats to complement you work wardrobe. If you're on your feet most of the time, comfort really is key, so steer clear of super high heels and opt for shoes with a good, gripping sole, and a cushioned footbed. Find what works best for you so you don't have to worry unnecessarily over your shoes - you want to put them on and get out there to get going!

Here is my list of shoe essentials:

1. Black pumps

I love a good pair of black pumps - they go with many different outfits and add instant polish. I had a trusty pair for several years that were my go-tos for work, interviews, conferences, you name it! They are out of commission now, but I recently replaced them with a pair of black patent leather kitten heels (pointy toe) by Via Spiga. Extremely comfortable and they look great with just about everything I've paired them against.

On the wishlist - a slightly higher heeled pair with an almond toe, and a pair of pointy-toed black suede pumps. Mmm, suede :)

2. Nude pumps

These are great for the spring and summer. My go-to is the DVF Anette pump - wonderfully cushioned and comfortable, with a sleek pointy toed shape. Best part is I got them on eBay, brand new with box, for a tiny fraction of the original price <3

On the wishlist - a pair of Christian Louboutin Simple 85's. I would not complain about having these babies on my feet, oh no! ;-)

3. Black ballet flats

The more low-key version of black pumps :) I have a classic ballerina pair and a patent pair - awesome for running around in jeans, shorts, or casual skirts and dresses.

4. Nude flats

The more low-key cousin of nude pumps - I had a great pair from Madewell that I wore to death over the past three years. Last year I found a pair of J. Crew nude Janey flats, so I'm looking forward to breaking them out this spring!

5. Colorful flats

These really are essentials for me, because I can swap out the black and nude ones for a punch of color. I went crazy for J. Crew Janeys last year - in addition to the nude pair, I also have them in jade green, cobalt blue, and persimmon. They are perfect for my feet, and the little gold heel just takes the whole thing over the top. No regrets there :)

6. Simple sandals in neutral colors

I found a great taupe pair with crystal-embellished heels on yoox.com a couple of years ago, and constantly reach for them in the summer - very comfortable and easy to pair with anything. Looking for a pair of luggage brown gladiator/thong-style sandals, maybe by K. Jacques or Ancient Greek Sandals - the artistry is beautiful on those.

7. Over the knee black leather boots

Nothing worse than cold knees in the winter! I found a wonderful pair by Pour La Victoire three years ago. They fit beautifully, are comfortable, and look sleek with everything I've paired them with. Plus, I'm always thankful for the warmth they impart. They've held up very well (I wear 1-2 times per week in the fall/winter) - the only downside is they can be a slippery since the leather soles are almost burnished with wear now. I'm thinking I'd get these resoled, keep it as a backup, and find a pair with better treads. Or just see how new rubber roles will work out! I'll keep you posted!

8. Party shoes

Oh yes..they sound impractical, but I definitely consider these a must-have. They are the gorgeous babies who will finish up your dressier outfits and complete your fantastic looks. You don't want a pair of overly plain shoes to throw off the overall look of your gorgeous cocktail dress or ballgown. I tend to gravitate towards super shiny metallics here, in a simple shape. I found a pair of beautiful gold sandals on eBay a few years ago, and always reach for those for dressy events. They add just right amount of sparkle and shine.

9. Comfy kicks

For super casual days when you just want comfort! Or for travel - who wants to stand forever in the security line struggling with complicated shoes? I dug up an old pair of black Skechers sneakers, and am wondering why I neglected them for so long. I'm loving the sporty look they add to jeans and a sweater :)

Well, there you have it, my list of shoe essentials! What do you think? Did you find this helpful? I'd love to hear your thoughts and to see what your essentials are - please feel free to share and comment, and hope you have a great weekend!