Most weekends we go to an Indian buffet that we love in Cambridge.   I always salivate over the creamy  kheer in the large bowl being scooped generously by the patrons into delicious globs held by tiny overflowing cups.  Finally I decided to make a kheer that I too could enjoy.  Many may disagree and it's all good but white rice has little nutritional value for me so I used quinoa instead for my  recipe.  Plus I figured Gabrie...

I think that a healthy breakfast can taste like dessert.  Or dessert anytime of day can be healthy in general if made with the right ingredients.  I am almost certain you will agree with me when you see what this parfait is made of, especially since it is completely sugar-free but sweetly satisfying. You can make this parfait with blueberries or strawberries. And you can also make it in any glass or dish instead of a jar. Ma...

I have been home under the weather for a few days and really wanted something special for breakfast. Saturday was rainy and we were all hanging out in the loft so it was a perfect time to bake.  I had all the  baking ingredients I needed and a couple of fuji apples, all perfect for what I had in mind. I thought an upside down cake would be perfect because I wanted the top to be caramely and gooey.  We all know about the pineap...

I am crazy about dark chocolate, nuts and coconuts.  So why not put them all together?  My local Whole Foods makes chocolate covered clusters that you can buy in bulk for about $18.99 a pound.  I know it's expensive but this is because the mix includes sprouted nuts, raisins, blueberries, coconut bits and chocolate.   I figured why not try to make my own home version with a good dark unsweetened chocolate and about two cups of w...

Lucuma ice cream was my  favorite as a child living in Peru.  And mango everything was everyone's favorite.  I was shopping at a different Whole Foods in the suburbs of Boston last week and I came across lucuma powder.  I was skeptical at first but I bought it anyways.  It was pricey at about $14 a bag but I couldn't resist hoping for a taste of my childhood.  Thankfully I wasn't disappointed.  Lucuma is a tropical fruit nat...

Edamame is a favorite side dish/snack that I serve my family a few times a week.  My husband and toddler both love it and I am overjoyed that my little one is getting protein and fiber while having fun picking the beans from the pods.  We eat edamame plain mostly but when I want spicy, salty and garlicky, seasoning these babies is the way to go.   Best part is that you can make edamame in a few minutes without thinking too much a...

There are few ingredients that I love more than chocolate.  And anything with pure cocoa powder just gives me sweet chills.  My life is filled with cravings for different tastes and today I was anxious for this healthy yet rich raw chocolate tart.  I saw a recipe at my local Whole Foods made by one of their recipe specialists and I couldn't resist. Best part about this recipe is that it is naturally sweetened with dates.  The wal...

Dulce de leche was one of my favorite desserts growing up in Peru, although there we called it manjar blanco or white delicacy.  There are actually different types of dulce de leche and they come in a range of  shades from white to deep brown depending mostly on how long you cook it. Dulce de leche is really nothing more than milk and sugar cooked for a long time with thickener added.  But the invention of condensed milk was revo...

Making these adorable spring cookies was a successful family affair.  It was still chilly outside on Sunday morning so instead of running out to the playground we decided to make cookies.  John and I were excited but Gabriel beamed once he realized that the step-ladder his daddy brought over was meant to facilitate a first class engagement with the goings of the kitchen countertop.  All the ingredients were ready to go bu...

What to do with blueberries when they are about to expire?  Exactly. Make blueberry muffins.  And the same goes for apples. Just mix it all in a batter, bake and voila! And where can a girl get a to die for melt in your mouth muffin or cupcake that is both vegan and gluten-free?   I strive for my kitchen to be one of those places, although sometimes I really want someone else to bake for me.   Erin McKenna's bakery BabyCakes ...