Author: YINANDYOLK

Miso Braised Pork Belly Noodles

Valentine’s Day is near– it’s a faux holiday that makes us single folks feel bad. It’s not my favorite day of the year BUT lots of places make these incredible Valentine Day’s desserts and I always like to treat myself to a couple things. I am my own sugar momma.

However, dinner is a completely different story. Last year, Leili and I did Galentine’s Day and it was a complete disaster trying to book a reservation. We had dinner at 5:30 because we waited until last minute to look. This year will be different. (more…)

February 5, 2015
Brown Butter Banana Nut Muffins

I’ve been in serious hibernation mode lately.

And I’m here to tell you that that’s totally okay. It’s okay if you’d rather binge watch Friends on Netflix instead of going to that dinner-thing this weekend, or you just want to take a long, glorious nap instead of going out with those friends you don’t talk to that often anyway. ’Tis the season to cozy up and stay out of the cold. Join me, won’t you?

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January 31, 2015
Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup

January is traditionally the coldest month in New England – anything above freezing is welcoming. During this frosty month, I usually turn to soup for comfort and it never disappoints. There is something magical about the ritual of sitting down to a hot bowl of steaming soup, especially if it’s got noodles in it. Just in time for the big storm.

I truly believe the classic chicken noodle soup is the one soup to rule them all. If I had to be committed to one soup for the rest of my life, this would be it. I’m using the homemade chicken broth I talked about earlier in this recipe. Homemade broth is incomparable, but if you are in a rush and just need a quick fix, then I suppose you could use the store-bought. (more…)

January 26, 2015
Chicken Broth

I couldn’t write this post fast enough because I’m so excited to get to the recipe after this one. I’m making chicken noodle soup! Now, can you feel my giddiness? Before we get to the good stuff, I feel it’s important to introduce the most important foundation of chicken noodle soup: the broth.

Be warned, this is neither the most intriguing nor the prettiest recipe, but I can guarantee a lot of flavor and a happy tummy. Chicken broth is so versatile and this recipe could be used for many other dishes and soups to come.

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January 21, 2015
Ginger Scallion Wings

So the REAL winter is here. I was sure the winter vortex was going to bring White Walkers through the streets of Boston at those freezing temperatures. And if you didn’t get that Game of Thrones reference, please do yourselves a favor and go catch up before the new season starts. I won’t judge and you can enjoy binge watching while nibbling on these wings.

Another big event is just coming up – it involves beer, dancing, and touchdowns. See, I don’t follow football or usually watch the Super Bowl, but I do enjoy the food that surrounds this great American holiday. To me, it’s enjoying delicious bar food in the comfort of your own sweatpants. These ginger scallion wings are great for feeding others and yourself.

The wings are so easy to make and the sauce can be prepped ahead of time. Bonus: It also warms up the entire kitchen to distract you from the bitter wind chills outside. (more…)

January 15, 2015
Green Banana Fruit Smoothie

Okay, so I know this smoothie is green, but before you run from the room screaming, just check out all the goodness I’ve put in here for you.

We’ve got bananas, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, pineapple, orange…and maybe just a bit of broccoli and kale.

Broccoli for fiber (it’s important), and kale because I love you.

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January 10, 2015
Mushroom and Leek Quinoa

Happy 2015!

I’m sure you guys are bombarded with New Year’s resolutions and what not. It’s almost impossible not to feel the pressure from our social media newsfeed. Meanwhile, I’ve been indulging in Netflix marathons. I’m only human.

To lessen my guilt of binge watching everything, I have made this dish to guide me onto the path of fitness inspiration. This quinoa recipe is made with roasted mushrooms, sautéed leeks with garlic, and toasted almonds – all wonderful ingredients to nourish a new you. The mushrooms taste similar to crispy pork skins after roasting them – a trick I learned from a chef. The garlicky leeks are amazing and I could eat these all day.

This dish also helps me miss summer less – these are ingredients I’d buy weekly at the farmers’ market. Since the days are slowly getting longer again, consider this post my countdown to springtime.

This is a delicious way to start the New Year with no compromise on taste. (more…)

January 5, 2015
Sea Salt Caramel Hot Chocolate

Guys, it’s almost the end of the year and I’m sure resolutions are being drafted up. But before we commit to those good habits, let’s have one more splurge and indulge in something decadent. We deserve it, don’t we?

Leili and I love the marriage of salty and sweet – Leili is kind of a mega-girl fan of that coupling and that’s an understatement. So naturally, this hot chocolate with salted caramel fits the bill. And since it’s so close to the New Year, why not add some Bailey’s to it and be merry?

This recipe is very similar to the hot chocolate we used to make at the cafe we worked at. It is made with ganache and steamed milk – I won’t go too in depth with ganache since Leili already covered that in the chocolate truffles recipe. I use two different types of chocolate since it was all I had but it comes out to about 67% cocoa. Use the chocolate you like, but keep in mind that the caramel is rather sweet and if you’re adding Bailey’s, well, then good for you.

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December 28, 2014
Dark Chocolate Truffles

I’m a sucker for Christmas music. From Nat King Cole to Mariah Carey, Christmas music gives me the warm and fuzzies. It throws me back to blurry childhood memories of coming in from the cold after a vicious snowball fight and eagerly tumbling over my siblings to get to the first cup of hot cocoa. It reminds me of that fresh pine smell and the way beautifully thick snow crunches underfoot. This time of year is filled with nostalgia, and I’m a fan.

So I don’t waste any time when it comes to getting pumped for the holidays. Although I usually wait for the Thanksgiving dishes to be cleared, this year I couldn’t resist from listening to some Christmas songs in early November. This was not too appreciated by the people on the bus listening to me hum a little too loudly, nor by my boyfriend, who is the Grinch reincarnate. But I don’t care. The past few days have had me in a cookie baking frenzy as I try to wrap up all my holiday gifts, and I couldn’t have done it without the help of Bing Crosby’s familiar soothing voice reminding me that I’ll be home for Christmas.

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December 23, 2014
Hazelnut Buttercrunch Toffee

I may love chocolate, but I’m not a candy fan. Jelly beans, sour gummies, hard candies, lollipops, Swedish fish…they just don’t do it for me. Cookies, brownies, cakes, mousses, and flaky pastries are more my thing…can you tell I’m a baker? I do have a HUGE sweet tooth, but candy is usually way too sweet for me. Or, at least that’s what I thought until last weekend, when I tried English toffee for the first time.

Two words: Butter. Crunch. Say it with me. Buttercrunch. Crunchy, buttery buttercrunch.

I never thought I’d be one to like toffee; I always thought of it as old lady candy. Or maybe I’m thinking of taffy?

But after trying one bite I was converted. I believe my first words after it graced my tongue were “MMM BUTTERY”. It was not a stick-to-your-teeth caramel nor a painful-to-chew candy. It had a light, pleasant crunch and melted in my mouth after one bite (yeah, there was also chocolate on there – so it was officially better than brittle). This, my friends, was a candy game changer.

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December 16, 2014