It’s officially fall. The air is feeling crisper, the leaves are changing and girls are dusting off their Uggs.

Which means it’s time to bust out those fall recipes and all things pumpkin.

I’m a huge fan of pumpkin bread; it just tastes like fall. This recipe is my absolute favorite - it’s always moist, it’s the perfect combination of spices, and it’s easy enough that I can do it. So get the oven ready, bask in the scent of it, and then dig in.

INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 3 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1 (16 ounce) can solid pumpkin Read More »

Feel that chill in the air? It’s (finally) Fall, and that means we can all put away the iced lattes and curl up in front of an imaginary fireplace with a good book and a hot beverage.

My personal favorite is mulled cider, which is super easy to make and, when you need that extra kick, goes very nicely with a little bit of rum.

Here’s what you need to get started:

A small saucepan
Apple Cider (the dark brown cloudy kind, don’t use apple juice!)
Brown sugar
Allspice
Cloves
Cinnamon sticks
An orange
Cheescloth
Rum (optional)

You can find Allspice, cloves and cinnamon in the spice section of any grocery store—make sure to buy them whole, not ground or powder! Cheesecloth is a bit harder to find—if you’re stuck, just get yourself a small strainer that has very fine holes. Read More »

Hit up any Chinese or Indian buffet and you’ll notice that a fixture of the line is fried rice — the kind that you can pile on your plate time after time and still enjoy with each new helping. It’s both delicious and addictive.

So wouldn’t it be great if you could make that rice in your own kitchen and avoid shelling out $8 for an all-you-can-eat meal of regret?

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Here’s the good news: you can, and it’s easy. In fact, if you ever have stray vegetables or leftovers lying around (like I do almost… oh, let’s see, EVERY DAY), it’s even easier. Fried rice is incredibly forgiving—you can toss whatever you want in there, and it will still taste great.

So here’s a basic recipe, but feel free to play around with it! Read More »

For the past several years, I seem to have forgotten that couscous existed. My grain options were either pasta or bread, all the time. Then I came across an old recipe of my mom’s that called for couscous. YUM! Definitely worth picking up a box.

The thick, Mediterranean-style sauce in this chicken recipe is full of flavor, and the couscous is great for soaking it up. It would taste a little weird with rice, and the consistency wouldn’t be right with pasta. But with couscous? Delectable.

It serves one, and here’s what you need:

• Olive oil
• 1 chicken breast
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 serving of couscous, either flavored or plain (about 1/3 cup dry)
• 1/3 of an onion, chopped in thin rings or strips
• 1 garlic clove, sliced into very thin circles
• 4-5 baby bella mushrooms, sliced (white mushrooms work, too) Read More »

Moving is one of those experiences that forces you to look at what quantifies your existence in the real world. As I box up books and birthday cards, clothing and toiletries, it occurs to me that my possessions are ideal for a nomadic lifestyle.

Aside from my bed, I could pick up and go at any time to start over in another overpriced, undersized apartment. This feeling is surprisingly liberating in the “world is my oyster” sense. Wee! I can go anywhere! My options are limitless, budgeting excluded!

After rigorously going through my wardrobe and neatening my bedroom, I took stock of my kitchen. I really have nothing to take with me, save for my toaster oven, which was a birthday gift from my roommate and is my favorite appliance of all time. As I lovingly patted the top of it, assuring her that her new home would offer her counter space, I thought how much easier takeout is than cooking. Food out is so much better. Food at home is so… bland.

Why? Because spices are freaking expensive and salt and pepper can only do so much. But really, overall, I could save tons of money if I would stop getting delivery and started grocery shopping. After some serious contemplation, I comprised the following list of spices that must be staples to my future creative kitchen: Read More »

My boyfriend is from Calcutta, and I love the food of his homeland. Fresh vegetables, creamy desserts, spiced curries… I can’t get enough, but unfortunately I don’t really know how to make the stuff.

On the bright side, he was visiting me this past weekend, and we made an amazing chicken and mushroom curry together. This time, I actually paid attention to what he was doing, so I’m doing my civic duty by sharing this recipe so that all of you can enjoy it as well.

To make enough for two, you’ll need 2-3 chicken thighs, half of a large onion, 6-7 large mushrooms, 2 teaspoons garlic-ginger paste or 2 fresh garlic cloves and 1 small piece of fresh ginger, about ¼ cup fresh cilantro, half of a small plum tomato, about ¼ teaspoon of turmeric, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon garam masala (an Indian spice, available at regular and Indian grocery stores), and 1-2 small new potatoes (optional).

To begin, chop up the ehicken thighs roughly into cubes. Read More »