Almond Pudding with Lychee When I was a child, my mother used to make this for me whenever I wasn’t feeling well. Asian medicine believes in a balance of yin and yang forces in our body; in other words, there is a hot and cold, a negative and positive.…
[Read More]
Healthy Smoothies- Autumn Apple Smoothie What speaks more lusciously about autumn than sweet apples and spices? This healthy smoothies recipe results in a naturally sweet drink, making it perfect for breakfast time or an afternoon dessert. Talk about getting your day’s nutrients in one glass! If…
[Read More]
Avocado Ice Cream Sandwich Avocado is hugely popular throughout Asia, predominantly as part of a dessert or milkshake. It’s no surprise then that several Asian countries produce avocado ice cream. It’s creamy, luscious and yes, you can actually taste avocado. While this ice cream is…
[Read More]
Baked Apple Cups- A Twist on Traditional Apple Pie Apple pie is one of my all-time favorite desserts but I wanted a presentation and texture that was a unique offspring of the classic. Though this dessert takes a little effort and time, the end result…
[Read More]
Banana Bite Fritters aka Asian Fried Banana Every Asian nation seems to have its version of this classic dessert and who wouldn’t love warm bananas wrapped in a crisp exterior drizzled with sweet condensed milk? Here’s my twist on this ever popular banana fritter, aka…
[Read More]
Banana Coffee Ice Cream Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? In this case- have your ice cream and eat it! Using very ripe bananas in this recipe will give you a naturally sweet ice cream to yield a no added…
[Read More]
Basic Frozen Yogurt Recipe- Healthy Desserts Unlike when making ice cream, you might start with 4 cups of cream and milk and end up with 6 to 7 cups of ice cream because of churning and incorporating air into the mixture, when making frozen yogurt,…
[Read More]
Blueberry Chia Pops- Healthy Popsicle Recipes With hot summer months, everybody loves a cold, refreshing popsicle so I spend a lot of time developing healthy popsicle recipes. What better way to indulge in a treat than to have a popsicle made of all good-for-you ingredients…
[Read More]
Brandy Hot Chocolate Ok, so I had a sip of this decadent brandy hot chocolate as a child. I didn’t know there was brandy in it and by the time my neck grew warm, my parents and grandparents were too late to stop me. Ok,…
[Read More]
Best Healthy Desserts- Cantaloupe Popsicles It’s important to note that in this recipe, I used this nifty little tool for popsicles called Zoku Classic Popsicle Maker. If you’re not familiar with Zoku, I strongly urge you to check them out as making popsicles will not…
[Read More]
Chilled Mango Custard with Chia Seeds Few things in life give me as much pleasure as creating recipes that are both good for my parents and that they will fall in love with. Believe me, given their recent propensity towards sugar-laden desserts, this is no…
[Read More]
Chocolate Ice Cream with Red Wine Salt I wasn’t a big fan of good old chocolate ice cream until I began discovering some of the top chefs’ twists on a classic childhood favorite. It’s common knowledge that chocolate and salt pair very well. In fact,…
[Read More]
Chocolate Strawberry Popsicles- Healthy Popsicle Recipes For all of my healthy popsicle recipes, I used one of my favorite kitchen gadgets- the Zoku Popsicle Maker, which makes 3 regular sized popsicles. If you’re not familiar with Zoku popsicle makers, you should definitely check them out as they…
[Read More]
Coffee Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream Frosting Coffee and Mocha are hugely popular flavors in Asian desserts, particularly in variations of cakes. Here, I take those same aromatic flavors to create robust Coffee Cupcakes paired with a decadent Mocha Buttercream Frosting where the balance of sweetness…
[Read More]
Crepes with Banana Flambe Contrary to popular belief, crepes are actually very easy to make even in a pretty bare kitchen as long as you have a non-stick skillet and butter. It does require a bit of time but this is a dessert that never…
[Read More]
The Best Chocolate Cheesecake Ever You love cheesecake? You love chocolate? This is one of the best cheesecake recipes you’ll ever come across! This easy chocolate cheesecake will have family and friends begging you to tell them where you bought it and you can bask…
[Read More]
Deconstructed No-Bake Banana Cream “Pie” Ever since I had my first Banana Cream Pie with my father when I was a little girl, I’ve always loved that lightly sweet, creamy dessert so famous across America. As much as I love baking, there are times when…
[Read More]
Easy Almond Cake with Mango Buttercream Frosting It’s no secret that I have an obsession with incorporating fresh fruits into desserts, finding interesting ways however I can. This light and easy Almond cake is so addictive with its moist texture and fragrant aroma. Pairing it…
[Read More]
Easy Banana Flambe with Coconut Ice Cream Here’s what I’ve learned from years of entertaining at home- you have to have basic ingredients on hand at home at all times and you’ll never be in trouble with unexpected guests or a difficult dessert that went…
[Read More]
Easy Blueberry Scones When I think of England, I think of scones and the truly fantastic bakeries over there have long held secret recipes that are a little more complex than I’m willing to tackle for those times when I just feel like simple homemade…
[Read More]
Espresso Bean Ice Cream Those of you familiar with me know that I’m a coffee connoisseur who has had the fortune of traveling the world in search of the best cups of coffee. From coffee plantations in Indonesia to cafes in Brazil to coffee roasters…
[Read More]
Best Fusion Recipes- Fig & Paneer Pizza This recipe is borrowed from my friend Monica Bhide, who is a highly successful cookbook author and speaker. Monica is one of the kindest, most talented people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and her recipes have won…
[Read More]
Fresh Apple Butter I first came across apple butter in Savannah, Georgia during a wonderful afternoon tea where freshly baked scones were served with this delicious concoction I’d never had before. I asked the proprietor of the tea house what it was and she was…
[Read More]
Fresh Strawberry Buttercream Cupcake It happens to me every summer without fail- a warm afternoon rolls around where restlessness sets in and nothing sits right. And then I realize that all I want to do is be in the kitchen and create something outrageously yummy.…
[Read More]
Frozen Cantaloupe in Strawberry Wine While this is no doubt a fantastic and easy fruit dessert for summertime, it’s also great year round as a palate cleanser or healthy, light dessert. Incredibly easy to make, the natural sweetness of the fruits and vibrant colors make this…
[Read More]
Healthy Chocolate Milkshake I’ve always strongly believed in listening to our body’s natural cravings and satisfying them properly to avoid unhealthy binges. About a week before “that time of the month” I often find myself craving chocolate and milk- a signal that my body is…
[Read More]
Iced Matcha Latté a.k.a Iced Green Tea Latté It’s hard to tell by now whether Matcha Latté a.k.a. Green Tea Latté actually existed in Japan first and was brought around the world or vice versa. After all, dairy products traditionally were not consumed in large…
[Read More]
Iced Mocha- Healthy Coffee Drinks Unbeknownst to many people, Mocha is not actually the blended coffee drink (typically with chocolate and milk) that has become ubiquitous across America and Asia. Mocha is in fact a type of coffee bean with a characteristic bold and slightly…
[Read More]
Kahlua Chocolate Brownie If you have family or friends who are chocolate lovers, this moist, rich Kahlua Chocolate Brownie will send them over the edge. Every time I’ve made this, it runs out faster than any other dish on the table so make sure to…
[Read More]
Layered Coconut Cake- Best Coconut Cake Recipe This is the best coconut recipe derived from memories of a cake my mother used to buy for my sister and I when we were kids in Southeast Asia. The layered cake was perfectly moist laden with layer upon layer…
[Read More]
Lemon Bundt Cake with Mascarpone Frosting Makes 1 8-inch Bundt Cake Ingredients 2 sticks (1/2 lb, 225 grams) + for greasing unsalted butter at room temperature 2 cups sugar 4 eggs at room temperature 3 cups all purpose flour + 2 tablespoons for dusting 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking…
[Read More]
Lime Mint Sorbet Popsicles The first time I made these for family and friends, they went crazy over these lollipop sized bursts of juiciness. It’s tangy, refreshing and minty with a tinge of savory. It’s summer dessert perfection and a respite from any warm day.…
[Read More]
Lychee Creamsicles- Easy Popsicle Recipes There’s nothing quite like the delicious burst of juicy lychees, especially during hot summer months. This past year I’ve become obsessed with creating healthy and easy popsicle recipes to make eating dessert guilt-free. This is one of my very favorite easy…
[Read More]
Lychee Ice Cream- Easy Ice Cream Recipes One of my all time favorite summer fruits is lychee, that sweet, aromatic fruit from Asia with a slightly rough reddish exterior. Since childhood Lychee Ice Cream has been a staple in my family’s household, a delicious, naturally…
[Read More]
Lychee Watermelon Granita Hot tropical days are perfect for indulging in this sinless fruity dessert. Lychee Watermelon Granita is incredibly easy to prepare and is a huge hit with children and adults. There are two versions of this non-fat, low calorie granite; one for kids…
[Read More]
Mango Coconut Ice Cream- Easy Ice Cream Recipes Like most other Asian countries, Thailand integrates a lot of fruit into its national desserts. Mango is of course one of Thailand’s greatest exports. Numerous types of the juicy fruit abound in Thailand. For easy ice cream…
[Read More]
Mango with Sticky Rice This is likely one of, if not the most popular Thai desserts outside of Thailand. Sweet, ripe, juicy mango paired with coconut infused sticky rice is as tropical and delicious as it gets. If you’re not familiar with how to cook sticky…
[Read More]
Mini Frozen Chocolate Banana Skewers Remember childhood days spent at carnivals or fairs? One of my favorite parts of going to a place like Disneyland was getting the frozen banana popsicles. Here’s my twist on that childhood favorite, replacing milk chocolate with a healthier but…
[Read More]
Nutella Ice Cream Sandwich Being a kid in Asia meant having access to all kinds of yummy desserts and snacks. The first time I had this Nutella ice cream sandwich was in Southeast Asia, from a roaming street vendor. Hearing ice cream sandwich conjured images…
[Read More]
Pandan Crepes with Raspberry Glaze- Asian Desserts These delicately flavored crepes find their origins in the tropical islands of Indonesia, where the Pandan plant’s vibrant and aromatic leaves are widely used in Asian desserts. Pandan leaves have a gentle but distinctive scent and flavor, often…
[Read More]
Pandan Cupcakes with Lychee Buttercream Frosting If you’re familiar with Southeast Asian desserts, you might have heard of an ingredient called Pandan- an aromatic green leaf that lends a distinctive flavor and sweet scent. When I think of Pandan I automatically think of Indonesia and…
[Read More]
Peach Ice Cream- Easy Summer Desserts I’ve had a peach tree a few times in my life in different homes and few things remind me of warm summer days more than fresh ripe peaches plucked from a tree. My favorite easy summer desserts are those…
[Read More]
Pomegranate Greek Yogurt Pops- Healthy Desserts Healthy desserts don’t get any easier or yummier than these Pomegranate Greek Yogurt Pops. Sweetened with honey, this no processed sugar dessert incorporates antioxidant-rich pomegranate seeds with one of the super foods of the decade- Greek yogurt. Makes 6…
[Read More]
Popcorn Ice Cream One of my top ten favorite chefs in the world is Chef Srijith Gopithinan, who as of the creation of this recipe (summer 2015) is Executive Chef at Michelin starred Campton Place of the Taj Hotel in San Francisco. Several years ago I…
[Read More]
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream This ice cream flavor used to be one of my favorites as a child until I grew up and realized what awful ingredients big name ice cream brands put into it. Remember that weird green hue? It certainly wasn’t from…
[Read More]
Rose Young Coconut- Popular Asian Drinks Asia is well known for exotic cocktails and tropical drinks, many of which use coconuts. With the simple addition of one key ingredient, fresh young coconut is transformed into a refreshing, tropical dessert drink. This recipe works well for…
[Read More]
Rum Cookies’n Cream No Churn Ice Cream As seems to be the case with a lot of recipes these days, the no churn ice cream recipes have made their rounds on trendy food sites, touted as the great new thing in desserts. While I agree…
[Read More]
Salted Caramel & Dark Chocolate Saketini- Chocolate Cocktails For those of you who adore chocolate and the divine combination with salted caramel, this easy chocolate saketini is for you. I use ZERO sugar in the actual cocktail to avoid an overly sweet concoction, instead allowing for the…
[Read More]
Sprinkle Cookies I admit- I’m one of those people who gets easily attracted to fun colors when in a sweets shop, even though I know I’m likely not going to like the goods after I buy them. That’s because most shops make their cookies overly…
[Read More]
Strawberry Water- Easy Flavored Waters While smoothies are a wonderful way to get the nutrients of fruits and vegetables in an easy and quick drink, sometimes you just don’t feel like drinking a thick consistency of a beverage. Sometimes you want a drink that’s as…
[Read More]
“Thai” Donuts I’ve had the blessing to travel throughout Thailand extensively and in all those years, I have never encountered a dessert called Thai donuts. In the 21st century though, in Thai restaurants across the United States there emerged this interesting concoction that restaurant owners…
[Read More]
Tri Color Popsicles It doesn’t get more refreshing, delicious or healthier than this easy fruit popsicle. Perfect for hot summer days when your body craves hydration, a touch of sweetness and something cold. With zero added sugar, your body will love the natural sweetness of…
[Read More]
Tropical Fruit Cheesecake This smooth, creamy cheesecake and crumbly graham cracker crust is a smashing party favorite with its abundance of fresh, tropical fruits. Personally, I don’t think heavy, creamy cheesecake pairs with anything better than absolutely fresh berries and fruits of all kinds. The…
[Read More]
Tropical Fruit with Sugar Salt Dip- Asian Fruit Desserts Not big on heavy sweets and chocolates, Asian desserts have a large spotlight on fresh fruits whether in baked goods or in their raw form. This recipe is so easy it’s error-proof. Don’t be fooled…
[Read More]