May 12, 2019

Sunday Dialogues: Turtle Shell

Is it something that makes me, me, or is it a result of growing up in the same house for 13+ years? I don't know when it all started; I just know it felt a lot worse when I left Emory.

If you tap on my shell, you'll quickly realize, as it cracks and disintegrates before your eyes, just how much of a facade, a cold front, a defense mechanism, it all is. Really and truly, I'm fragile as heck.

May 2, 2019

Shayla in Spring

It’s mighty fine being a dietetic student. Most of your closest DPD buds are transfers, definitely share your love for science, will spend 9+ hours preparing to feed 811 people with you, and are drop dead GORGEOUS. Lucky lucky me. 

April 21, 2019

Travel Guide to Santorini

Santorini - it's white, it's blue.

Chances are, you've seen photos of the sun setting over a cave house-studded caldera. And if you have, there's an even greater chance that Santorini is on your list of places to visit one day. That was true for me and my family. Despite wanting to plan a more restful vacation, we couldn't not squeeze in a stop at Santorini. In other words, I was going to see that sunset.

Here are my recommendations if you're planning a trip to Santorini:

March 31, 2019

Journey to Fira, Santorini

The journey to caldera began on a frigid January evening in New Jersey. Twenty hours later, we stumbled along the hilly streets at midnight, en route to the only (and soon-to-be-favorite) gyro shop open. 

March 3, 2019

Curried Lentil Soup with Garlic-Butter Naan

My friend Gabby sent me a few photos of the spring that's blossoming on Emory's campus in Atlanta. I'm still stuck in soup weather, so here's yet another vegetarian-friendly, lentil soup recipe that'll hopefully make you feel all warm & fuzzy inside - even on a busy weeknight! 

February 24, 2019

Minimalist Baker's Lentil Fesenjān (Pomegranate Walnut Stew)

One of my Spanish professors this semester is visiting from Argentina, where they're currently experiencing summer, and I gotta give her kudos for braving Cornell's winter. She arrived a week before our -20*F days! When the sun's rays finally peaked out and kissed our window, she jumped up to celebrate. Profesora comes in everyday with a weather report (in Celsius, of course), and I always leave her class with a cheshire cat grin plastered on my face. She's incredibly accomplished, so sitting next to her in our small class of 6 students keeps me in awe. No matter how regular our conversations before class are, I marvel at how personable she is - she, too, loves walks in nature, and you bet your bottom dollar I gave her a list of "bucketlist" places to visit during her semester here. 

The recipe I'm sharing in this blogpost is adapted from Minimalist Baker's Vegan Lentil Fesenjān. Dana, the mastermind behind Minimalist Baker, couldn't have titled her blog more appropriately. Minimalist Baker's brand is marked by its simple, fuss-free and feel-good recipes. I, on the other hand, tend to further minimize recipes out of laziness or frugality, so here's my take on Dana's Fesenjān. I've also rearranged some cooking steps to help maximize this stew's depth of flavor.

This flavorful-while-simple recipe makes me think of my wonderful professor - someone who's renowned in her field, well-rounded (I've never taken a physics class and here I am, recalling thermodynamics and "entropy" from previous P-Chem units, in a contemporary Spanish literature and art class), and pure genius, but at the very core, is wonderfully human and down to earth. Esta receta es para ti, Profesora! 

February 17, 2019

NowForager's Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

Sweet treats and good friends, they're all you need!

Back in December and January, my two friends, Sophie and Nikki, were initiated into the world of baking homemade muffin through this spiced pumpkin muffin recipe. I don't kid when I say that they were natural pros; all I did was talk as they measured and mixed. These muffins were so good that Sophie's boss, a chef on West Campus loved them! 

February 3, 2019

An Evening at Cargot Brasserie

Food unites nutrition, agriculture, and the culinary arts, three of the things in life that make me tick. 

Two years ago, I sat in my communication professor's office telling him about my lofty dreams to combine photography, writing, and food into a project that's bigger than my blog. But what's the name of this job that I can work towards? Who's looking for someone to do this? 

January 20, 2019

9-11 Memorial Museum and The Frick Collection

11 am or so: The skies were clear blue, cloudless and bright. My doll jostled inside my oversized Tweety bird backpack with each bouncing step my 3-year-old feet took. Preschool ended early and abruptly. Our teachers shuffled quickly to steer us to the entrance of P.S. 128. I was the last to be picked up; it must have taken some time for the school to contact Mom who then had to call Grandpa at home. My tiny fist in his leathered hand, we rounded past our favorite corner pizzeria. Tugging on 爷爷's sleeves, I pointed to a thick, charcoal puff condensing above the distant skyline. "What is that?" Oh, it's probably a small fire somewhere. Don't worry, he patted my hand. I didn't.

January 13, 2019

Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili

A warm chili for your upcoming Superbowl party or any night in with a good book. Throw all of the ingredients into one pot and you're set - cooking can't get any easier. 

January 6, 2019

Sunday Dialogues: Rollercoasters


Freshman year of high school, I developed an inexplicable desire in trying out for the basketball team... Without ever playing basketball (or any team sport for that matter). Sure, I could shoot free-throws, but could I handle the fast-paced aggression of a game? Would I voluntarily take a charge from someone twice my size? My piano teacher, fretting over the fingers she was priming for competitions and exams, had some choice words for my new interest. Regardless, I pioneered ahead and mysteriously found myself playing as a shooting guard/small forward.

Our head coach, B, was a loud, intimidating force. He would later become my AP Calculus teacher (and I the token victim of his teasing as involuntary teacher's pet), but I didn't have to wait until senior year to learn math from him. B taught me a lot, but I apply one lesson most often, perhaps because I've had to scramble between classes within 15 minutes: the quickest, most direct way to get somewhere is a straight line.

December 30, 2018

The Places I've Called Home


I've been a gypsy for most of my life, flitting from one community to another.

December 23, 2018

Ithaca Through the Seasons: Fall 2018

One last fall in Ithaca, and the leaves didn't disappoint. 

December 16, 2018

Autumn Portraits: Liz


Minutes before class started, I asked glanced over at my buddy, Liz, and asked sheepishly, "Hey Liz, do you want to do a little photoshoot with me? It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so..." 

60 minutes of fun and 100+ photos later...

December 9, 2018

Smitten Kitchen's Oat and Maple Syrup Scones with Maple Almond Butter Drizzle

My mom taught me to never show up empty-handed, so when the Eggleston's invited me over, I knew I needed (and wanted!) to bring something to show my appreciation. 

December 2, 2018

Sunday Dialogues: On Becoming

Looking into her eyes, I tighten the arms wrapped around my knees. Her hair got longer and the creases on her forehead have deepened, but little else has changed. No... She hasn't changed at all. Seeds of betrayal and disappointment sprout; my heart recoils in disgust. After everything you've been through.