Air Fryer Burrito

I found these Momofuku sesame miso ramen noodles in the supermarket while looking for a new easy lunch option. The packaging promises 12g of protein, a flavorful sauce, and a generous serving of noodles. That sounds like a meal by itself, but I decided to make it less boring by tossing in some greens and smoked salmon I needed to use up.  The cooking steps took a bit longer than I normally spend…

I’ve been experimenting with ways to get the same healthy, flavorful food with less effort, as usual. Here are three ways I’ve cut down on my prep and cooking time. One: Sheet pan “fried rice” It’s not the traditional recipe but it involves a lot less time in front of the stove, and a lot less clean up. This is the recipe I followed, though I substituted tofu for the shrimp. The basic concept…

It’s nearly summer but I’m still craving hydrating and filling soups rather than salads for lunch. I searched for easy soup recipes and found this list. The recipes I’ve tried so far are fast and inexpensive. The prep is usually emptying cans into a pot, with some minimal chopping. I tried Simple Tortellini Soup first, and finished it to the last drop. The warm tomato-y broth with cheesy pasta,…

I got to visit Lisbon, Portugal recently and ate a lot of terrific food there. Top of the list: everything at Gunpowder, an Indian fusion tapas restaurant that my colleagues introduced me to. I liked it so much that I went back a second time. The tuna fish croquettes, bread with burnt onion butter, and aloo chaat (both sweet and spicy) were my favorite starters.  The tandoori chicken and sea…

I avoid peeling and chopping garlic whenever possible. The same goes for ginger. It just takes forever, makes my hands smell, and adds what feels like an extra step to weeknight dinner recipes. I can usually get already minced garlic in a jar, throw in a few spoonfuls, and move on. The other day, though, I couldn’t find any at the store. I could only find a tube of garlic paste or purée. I used a…

I make this with Trader Joe’s turkey meatballs, but I suspect that it would work with any frozen cooked meatballs. These are a bit big and the package recommends microwaving them for 4 minutes. I put 6 in a glass container and cover them with a microwave-safe lid. Once they’re hot, I set them aside to cool and put a piece of lavash on a plate. I add any other toppings that I want to warm up…

I’ve been looking for easy ways to prep a filling breakfast for the week and landed on baked oatmeal and sheet pan pancakes. For the baked oatmeal I adapted Downshiftology’s peaches and cream version in the cookbook (there’s also a berry version on the website). I prefer a banana and chocolate flavor, so I mash 1-2 bananas in with the wet ingredients. I also replace the almonds with pecans and…

I don’t really enjoy shelf-stable applesauce. It’s usually either liquidy or sugary, and tastes more like processed apple juice than apples. On the other hand, making homemade applesauce can be a chore. It’s a multi-step process of mashing and cooking to achieve soft but flavorful apple mush. Inspired by Cookie + Kate’s easier method, here’s my low effort applesauce routine: Buy at least three…

Here’s a roundup of recipes I tried recently that I really enjoyed. They’re from Nourished by Nic and Downshiftology. 10-Minute Air Fryer Breakfast Cookie This is quick to make, filling, and tastes a bit like caramelized banana when I let it burn slightly on the top. My batter is goopier than pictured in the recipe, so I use a silicone mat in the air fryer basket. Stuffed Pepper Soup I made…

I looked for a gluten-free but bread-like side for Thanksgiving this year and found this Paleo Cornbread. I didn’t realize it until I was shopping for the ingredients, but there’s no actual corn in this cornbread. It’s paleo and grain-free, so it’s actually “faux-cornbread.” But it tastes like cornbread! Maybe that’s because cornbread is more like cake and less corny than I thought. Here’s how it…

I recently traveled to the Boston, MA area and Providence, RI to enjoy the autumn foliage, visit some bookstores and museums, spend time with family, and of course, try new food. Here are my favorite food finds from the trip: Tea-Do (Boston) Onigiri and bubble tea are two of my favorite things, so it was fun to find a place that serves both. The bubble tea menu is extensive and you can get…

I’ve made yogurt in the Instant Pot before, but as I mentioned in that post, it can be time-consuming. I decided to look around for an easier method for making yogurt at home, and found posts on Reddit about EasiYo, a low-effort yogurt maker from New Zealand. It looks like a big thermos and works with powdered milk. You mix the powder with water in a container, close it up, and then place it in…

Here’s a quick roundup of what I cooked last week: Nori bread This is actually “Pumpkin Seed Bread with Greens and Nori” from Amy Chaplin’s Whole Food Cooking Every Day. The gluten-free dough is made from brown rice, pumpkin seeds, oats, and kale — which is what gives it this green color before baking: Then you mix in crushed toasted nori. I also sprinkled in some furikake seasoning. I toasted…

This recipe was inspired by “Gnocchi alla Sorrentina” in Rosie Kellett’s In for Dinner, which I reviewed here. I used Trader Joe’s gluten-free cauliflower gnocchi instead of potato gnocchi, and air-fried them instead of boiling them. The result is as “luxurious and comforting” as the original, but gluten-free. I was surprised by the soft pillowy texture of the gnocchi after baking. The only…

I recently needed to make a salad to take to a holiday dinner, and I stumbled across this Apple Walnut Salad recipe. I decided to adapt it for the arugula and red lettuce that was ready to harvest from my countertop garden. I also broke it down into components for maximum portability. Salad: 2-3 small bunches arugula 1 head of lettuce 3/4 cup chopped walnuts Cheese of your choice, for…