My first valentine

For as long as I can remember, my dad has given me and my sister each a rose (and my mother a bouquet, of course) every Valentine’s Day. The roses given each year are his way of trying to show us lo...
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Baked cauliflower, easy & cheesy

Ovens have been a point of contention throughout my culinary exploits. I shudder to bake or broil, often sticking to the Pillsbury easy-bake chocolate chip cookies or assembling the dish for others to...
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This two-ingredient Japanese cheesecake recipe is nothing to Bi-scoff at

When it comes to cooking, I am often a creature of simple mind: I see a viral, low-effort, low-stakes recipe, I go ahead and try it. This inclination has led me to some of the best (tanghulu, oh my) a...
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Trader Joe’s vegetable soup dumplings: easiest vegetarian snack ever

As a vegetarian, it’s easy to be envious of my meat-eating counterparts with the number of options available to them in every cuisine, at every restaurant. Many a time I’ve wished to indulge in Ko...
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Quick & Easy Peanut Noodles

Peanut noodles are an obsession of mine that I continue to come back to (aka most days of the week). I’ve previously shared a recipe for fiery-peanut noodles, but sometimes I crave a more subtle pea...
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Getting zesty at the Goleta Lemon Festival 2025

In my opinion, the Goleta Lemon Festival (September 28-29) is the most creative response to the old adage, “When life gives you lemons.” Tracing back to the 1990s, the festival has a rich history ...
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Tanghulu: the refreshing crunch you need this summer

My friends and I often love to whip up some cool and cute desserts we’ve seen on the internet. We’ve tried the viral frozen Sprite gummies, frozen sour grapes and many more I can’t recall but th...
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On The Menu Digital Map


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Green chili grilled cheese

My biggest issue is spice. Specifically, the lack of it in so much of what I eat. My dad told me when I was younger, even to this day actually, that if I keep going down this path, I’ll burn off my ...
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Spanish Queen olive-basil pizza

My family has been obsessed with pizza since long before we came to this country. As a little girl, my mom often made Indian-style pizza with paneer, Amul cheese and a sizzling mix of Indian spices. W...
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Oh-so-good onion pasta

For maximum enjoyment, and especially if you haven’t seen “Holes,” I suggest you cook this recipe with your family and settle down for a whimsical summer evening of sweet onions and surreal stor...
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Zucchini & Tofu Pasta

After surviving the last grueling finals week of junior year, I came home eager to start my summer of rest and relaxation. Throughout the year, I had noticed that my cooking incorporated too many proc...
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Sink or swim: what to eat before you dive into your next drink

I did my research, and here are some foods/drinks I’ve found that can protect your digestive system and equip you for a long day/night of drinking.
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Jave: the best breakfast you’ll have

Every weekend that I visit home, a couple things are certain: one, I’ll be forcefully woken by 9 a.m. no matter how many movies were watched the night before, and two, jave will be served for breakf...
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Chocolate covered strawberries: sharing your love this Valentine’s Day

This is how I was taught love — as something to be shared, filling hearts and bellies alike, the kind of contentment you feel when someone you adore enjoys their favorite foods, feeling full just wa...
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