Seaweed in sorbet? Yup, you read that right! Irish sea moss is a superfood that is traditionally used in Caribbean culture as a drink mixed with sweetened condensed milk, but it works just as well in a fruity sorbet! Sea moss grows in the Atlantic coast of the British Isles,   Read More ...

What’s easy to make, gluten-free, and vegan? Peanut butter apple bites! Try them out for your next party! Ingredients: 5 apples 1 16oz jar of peanut butter (be sure to choose one with no added ingredients!) 3 tbsp Honey 2 tsp Cinnamon 1 handful Craisins   Instructions: Preheat oven to   Read More ...

After my Baked Apple Roses were a big hit at the Staff Bake-Off last year, I decided to enter the ring again with another croissant dough recipe. Try these adorable pops at your child’s next birthday party or bake sale! Serving size: 30 pops Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes Total   Read More ...

Who says bruschetta can’t be sweet? Here’s the sweet and minty dessert I made for a classical house party at my neighbor’s apartment. It was a bit hit among the musicians and music-lovers!           Ingredients: 1 baguette 2 cups raw almonds 2 tbs honey 1 16oz   Read More ...

I took part in the annual Staff Bake-Off, and made these baked apple roses. There were voted a “favorite” by my colleagues! Try it for your next bridal shower, girl’s night, or simply as a nice surprise for a friend! Serving size: 12 roses Prep time: 45 minutes | Cook time:   Read More ...

Use your leftover cranberries from your Thanksgiving cranberry sauce for this sweet and tangy pie cranberry/apple pie! Ingredients: 2.5 cups whole wheat flour 2 tbs chia seeds 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda   ½ tsp baking powder ⅓ cup brown sugar ¼ tsp sea salt ¾ cup oats ¾   Read More ...

Cranberry is one of my fave Thanksgiving dishes. But did you know that just one slice of Ocean Spray cranberry jelly or ¼ cup of cranberry sauce contains 24 grams of sugar? That’s 6 sugar packets! So this year, I’m choosing not to mask the cranberry with loads of sugar.   Read More ...

I’m taking part in a HeartSmarts course taught by a New York Presbyterian Hospital nurse, where we discuss the science behind the heart’s function and how to keep our heart pumping strong. We’re learning to cut back on our sweet and salty cravings, but there’s one thing we don’t have   Read More ...

It’s time for fall treats! The local cafés and grocers are bringing out their fall faves. But let’s be careful about which pumpkin treats we put our hands on. The Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks has 380 calories, 14g of fat and a whopping 50g of sugar. That’s more than   Read More ...

This past weekend, my big sister and I got our hands dirty in the kitchen to prepare for our mama’s 60th birthday celebration. It was a historic moment for my sister, as it was her first time baking in her 20-odd years. Nonetheless, she successfully made my Fig Bar Crumble,   Read More ...

What is rhubarb? Rhubarb is a vegetable with edible stalks and poisonous leaves. They look similar to a celery in appearance, but red in color. It’s composed of 95% water, which makes it super low-calorie. It’s often used in pies and jams, combined with other fruits. 4 reasons to eat   Read More ...

Pears contain a good amount of pectin, a water-soluble fiber, which helps keep our cholesterol levels in check. It’s also rich in dietary fiber–just be sure not to skip out on the skin! Pears are also a good source of antioxidants, vitamins C and E. Antioxidants helps our body fight   Read More ...

What’s low in calories and high in nutrients? Grapefruit! Just half a grapefruit meets 64% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Especially for those trying to bring down the scale, it’s a great way to get your nutrients in without pounding on the calories. It’s also great in regulating   Read More ...

Figs are an ancient fruit thought to be first cultivated in Egypt. They’re a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps control our blood pressure, and a good source of dietary fiber, keeping us fuller for longer. What’s not to love? These bars are sweetened with fresh Medjool dates,   Read More ...

Fall is chestnut season. It’s been a tradition in our family to go chestnut-picking each fall, and this year, we got a record number of chestnuts–321! My mom makes chestnut rice out of them, but I proposed something new this year. Continuing on the matcha stream, we decided to try   Read More ...

My suitemates and I hosted a potluck party to showcase foods and desserts from our various cultures. I made a sweet Japanese appetizer called inarizushi, which is sushi rice wrapped in tofu skin. My friends made Indonesian Perkedel Kentang (potato patties), Egyptian hummus, Guyanese fried vegetables, Italian chicken parmesan, and   Read More ...

Growing up in a Japanese household, matcha was a staple item. We had it in the form of green tea each night with our dinner. The green tea powder is also used as flavoring in a lot of our pastries such as matcha cookies, cakes, and rice cakes with red   Read More ...

Invited to a dinner party but have limited time to make a dessert? This recipe is perfect for moments like this! In just 30 minutes, you’ll have delicious cookies all your friends will enjoy! Serving size: 28 cookies Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 1 cup and   Read More ...

There’s a reason why quinoa was named a superfood! The tiny grains are a complete protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids. It has twice the fiber content of all other grains, which helps regulate the digestive system, reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s also rich in iron, magnesium,   Read More ...

Plums are a good source of antioxidants, dietary fiber and potassium. A medium-sized plum contains 113 mg of potassium, which aids in managing high blood pressure and protects our heart, reducing the risk of stroke. Plums also contain vitamin C, which helps in iron absorption, development of healthy tissues and   Read More ...

Craving something sweet? Dates might be just what you need! 5 reasons to eat dates: 1. Dates are low in calories, fat and free from cholesterol. 2. Dates are rich in protein, iron, potassium, vitamins and minerals. 3. The high fiber content helps improve digestive function. 4. The natural sugars   Read More ...

Watercress ranked #1 on the list of “powerhouse fruits and vegetables.” A recent study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention journal classified powerhouse fruits and vegetables as foods with an average of 10% or more daily value per 100 kcal of 17 nutrients, including fiber, potassium, protein,   Read More ...

  Cookies with a hint of your favorite tea! My favorites are mango black tea and chamomile tea with chocolate crumbs!         Serving size: 24 large cookies or 30 small cookies Total time: 30 minutes   Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup brown sugar 1   Read More ...

If you thought green smoothies can’t be sweet and tasty, this smoothie will prove you wrong! This is perfect for those who are not kale fans. You’ll get all the rich fiber, iron, vitamins and antioxidants of kale without even tasting it!             Serving size:   Read More ...

Give the French fries and bagged potato chips a break and save yourself some calories by baking your own sweet potato chips! Sweet potatoes are filled with antioxidants, vitamin A precursor, beta-carotene, vitamin C, fiber and potassium. It has 28% more potassium than a banana!             Read More ...

Baking night with my mama! We combined all of our favorite ingredients and came up with these delicious, soft and healthy cookies! Try it for yourself! Serving size: 24 large cookies or 30 small cookies Total time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup brown sugar 1   Read More ...

This original recipe welcomes autumn, bringing in the tastes of pumpkin and ginger, with almonds and dried cranberries for added flavor.               Serving size: 2 loaves Ingredients: 3 cups whole wheat flour 3 cups brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger   Read More ...

For non-dairy eaters like me, kale serves as a great alternative. The leafy dark-greens provide a substantial amount of calcium, Vitamins A, C and K, as well as minerals and antioxidants. When craving potato chips, opt for baked kale chips instead. They’re easy and quick to make!   Ingredients: One   Read More ...

Gelatin is more than just an ingredient in Jell-o and marshmallows. It’s used in many of our daily foods and products. What is it? Gelatin is protein derived from animals—usually cow or pigs—by boiling skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones and is found in various foods, cosmetics and drugs. Original   Read More ...

This rhizome, or underground stem, has many health benefits and is used as a natural treatment for stomachaches, migraines, nausea, and the common cold. Ginger can be consumed in three forms: fresh, dried and juiced. Fresh ginger is known for treating baldness, arthritis, toothaches and even skin conditions such as   Read More ...

We’ve all heard that carrots will keep our eyes healthy. But that’s not all. By growing in deep soil, carrots absorb tons of minerals, on top of the vitamins it holds. Carrots are great sources of Vitamin A, which help with our vision, as well as Vitamin B and beta-carotene,   Read More ...

You don’t have to feel guilty about eating a cupcake anymore! Here’s a healthy cupcake, filled with oats and fruit! Serving Size: 12 cupcakes Ingredients: ¾ cup whole-wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup oats 1 large egg 1 stick butter 1/3   Read More ...

Hearty and filling with a touch of sweetness!  Ingredients: 2 apples 1 cup whole-wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking soda 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 cup oats 1 large egg 1 stick butter 1/2 cup milk 1/3 cup maple syrup 1 tablespoon honey   Instructions: Preheat oven to   Read More ...

The perfect snack if you’re looking for something filling, fruity and healthy!   Ingredients: 1 cup fresh blueberries 2 cups oats 1 cup pancake/waffle mix ¼ cup oil (preferable canola oil, but others will do) 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 tablespoons honey ½ tablespoons cinnamon   Instructions:  1.  Preheat oven to   Read More ...

Well, since I bought that huge bin of oatmeal…. Ingredients: 1 cup fresh blueberries 2 cups oats 1 cup flour (preferable whole wheat flour, but to my dismay, my local A&P did not sell whole wheat flour) 2 apples ¼ cup oil (preferably canola oil) 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3   Read More ...

This original dish is the perfect dessert–It’s not too sweet but sweet enough! Ingredients: •3 apples •5 tablespoons strawberry jam •5 tablespoons brown sugar •3 cups oats •¼ cup canola oil •5 tablespoons lime juice •1 stick of butter •1 ½ tablespoon cinnamon   Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350.°   Read More ...

You can put a fruity touch to your ice cream with this sweet and natural topping! It’s easy and takes no more than 5 minutes!  Ingredients: A handful of blueberries (frozen or fresh) 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon of water   Serving Size: A little container like this: Instructions:   Read More ...