So, I set out the other night to make a crostata, but let’s just say I don’t seem to be at that level in my baking prowess yet. In my understanding, a crostata is supposed to have a nice, firm, flaky, golden brown crust… and, well, mine didn’t.

In good news, though, it tasted great. And it ended up looking exactly like something else I like a lot—pizza.

So if you too want to try dessert pizza, here’s all you need: about 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries, 1 small sliced apple (optional), 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon water, enough pie dough for 1 small pie (use your discretion), 1-2 tablespoons chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon milk, and a little bit (not more than a tablespoon) of brown sugar, oats, and flour. 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 »

Making pita bread from scratch… is it even possible? Is it even worth it? Fortunately for you and me, the answer to both questions is a resounding YES.

To me, these little breads are almost like magic. You roll them flat as pancakes, then they puff up and fill with air. How does it happen? I have no idea, but I’m glad it does.

For two pita pockets, you’ll need ½ cup flour (all-purpose or wheat works), 1 teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon rapid-rise yeast, and 2 tablespoons water.

In a small bowl, mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and water. The water should be around room temperature—just make sure it’s not way too hot or too cold. It’s OK if the dough hardly comes together—you’re going to knead it, and it will absorb more flour when you do that.

In the bowl or on a flat work surface, knead the dough for about 5 minutes. You may need to add more flour as you go along to keep the dough from getting too sticky. When you’re finished, shape the dough into a ball, and put it back in the bowl. Read More »

Rice Krispie treats turn me on. They’re easy, they’re delicious, and you can get away with calling them “breakfast”…

If you’re like me, and enjoy sugar first thing, try this recipe out for a morning snacker. Any excuse to eat dessert for breakfast is a good excuse to me, and thanks to Snap, Crackle and Pop…8:30 AM is going to taste just a little bit sweeter.

DIRECTIONS: Read More »

Sometimes you just need a little something sweet. I feel that way often—well, almost every night, if we’re going to be honest.

Most of the time I don’t have anything sweet on hand, but sometimes I spend a few minutes (and yeah, that’s really all it takes) making something homemade, like this tiny apple crumble pie. It’s delicious and easy, easy, easy.

Here’s what you need: a few walnuts (5 or 6 will do), a tablespoon of brown sugar, ½ tablespoon flour, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, a sprinkle of salt, a tablespoon of butter, about a teaspoon of lemon juice, one small- or medium-sized apple (any kind is OK, but generally, the tarter the better), a tablespoon of white sugar, a tablespoon of apple cider/juice, a generous sprinkling of cornstarch, and about a 2” diameter ball of pie dough.

You won’t usually have that amount of pie dough just lying around, but I like to make a full recipe’s worth of dough, stick it in the freezer, and just pinch off what I need whenever I feel like making a tiny pie.

First, slice your apple and mix it with the lemon. Read More »

It wasn’t until around a year ago that I really started to pay attention to the things I ate. And I took on my new knowledge of what’s nutritious, how to lose weight, and how to really exercise…well…kicking and screaming.

I was always that bitch with the really fast metabolism who didn’t gain weight. I’d come home and go from eating a can of Pringles to an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s–easily. I never was bigger than a size 7, however, I did slowly become more concerned with being healthy. So what if I could eat a bucket of lard for dinner? That didn’t mean it was doing my health any wonders or that I felt GOOD after one of my binges.

Plus, I didn’t think it’d kill me to be a little smaller if losing weight did end up being the outcome of the diet change. Now that I’ve been a size 3 for about nine months, I’ve learned that a lot of girls who ask me how I stay small believe a lot of bullsh%t diet myths. Read More »

“My diet starts tomorrow…right after I devour this pizza, plate of chicken tenders, and a six pack of beer today”

How many times have you been in this situation in college or heard one of your friends say they are going to start eating healthy at a certain time in the future? Everyone always assumes that one more greasy, fatty meal won’t make a difference. But now, researchers are proving that you are only as healthy as your last meal.

One cheeseburger can do damage to your health, reports Time. “Just one high-fat, high-sugar meal can trigger a biochemical cascade, causing inflammation of blood vessels and immediate, detrimental changes to the nervous system,” explains a study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

But, wait, don’t worry, there’s also some good news published in this study! Read More »

Whatever you do, do not not NOT go out to a Mexican restaurant if you decide to do The Detox Diet.Toward the end of my mostly uneventful week 2, I met with a friend for dinner and went with every intention of eating plain chicken and lots of vegetables. But as someone who hates lettuce (really, it can’t possibly be food), I was tempted by grilled chicken with pineapple salsa.

The menu didn’t tell me that the meal would come with rice, beans, and vegetables and enough of it to serve three people, but it’s also my fault for not asking what exactly my meal would be comprised of.

Also, I was totally weak so when my friend ordered guacamole, I had to try some, especially she after insisted that it was the best in New York City. And I can’t say that I’ve sampled Mexican across Manhattan, but it was really damn good.

But not nearly good enough to deal with what followed. Read More »