The Spicy Stiletto

    Wednesday, May 15, 2013

    matcha muffins

    Every time I’m back in LA, I always make sure to stop by Urth Caffee Read the rest of this entry »

    Tuesday, May 7, 2013

    spicy chicken stir-fry

    A stir-fry is probably one of the easiest things you can learn to make. Read the rest of this entry »

    Tuesday, April 30, 2013

    samosa mexicana

    I always feel a certain sense of nostalgia come Cinco de Mayo.  In elementary school, we used to get Cinco de Mayo cookies and decorate colorful tissue paper… just a few of the cherished memories from this holiday.  The little things.

    In recent years though, my colorful crafts and cookies have long been replaced with tequila-induced nights, New York priced tacos, and a few more hangovers than I like but still I am always up for celebrating.

    These past few weeks I’ve been trying to come up with a recipe for Cinco de Mayo — Tacos?  Tortilla soup?  Burritos?  Predictable.  Perhaps Mexican cookies?  Horchata?

    My notebook was filled with scribbles of ideas and I was on the brink of giving up, but somewhere between uninspired and a plate of Indian food, Samosa Mexicana was born.  A mexican-inspired filling of spicy shrimp, creamy avocado, black beans, and corn, tucked  inside a crispy spring roll wrapper and topped with some fresh salsa.  Maybe one of my favorite recipes till date…

    Okay, so you’re probably thinking these are really hard to make or maybe you’re slightly intimidated, but that’s why you have me!  I’ve broken down everything for you to try these step-by-step.

    Trust me, the end results are worth it.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    Tuesday, April 23, 2013

    my (current) big salad

    Elaine [Benes] had hers, and I have mine.

    I’m well aware that you’re all probably are probably masters in salad making, so even though I’m not introducing something groundbreaking today, I thought I’d share my current favorite simple mix of greens.  It’s spring after all, and that means tightening up the waistline a bit and consuming inordinate amounts of whole foods, no?

    Lately, it’s been all about a mix of crispy pea shoots and julienned carrots with spinach, and most importantly toasted these flavorful black sesame seeds.  Discovered them freshly toasted at the farmers market a few weeks ago and absolutely love the taste it adds to my more acidic homemade vinaigrettes.

    Anyone else try them yet?  Share your favorite salads with me below!

    Tuesday, April 16, 2013

    chocolate covered macaroons

    My boyfriend and I have recently been on the pursuit to creating a healthier lifestyle.  It’s not like we’re unhealthy to begin with — we mainly cook fresh, seasonal, organic  produce, and our diets are low in white carbohydrates, refined sugars, and other things that fall into the processed category — but it’s always worth taking steps to improving oneself.

    One of the hardest parts for me, aside from avoiding the (salt and vinegar) chips aisle, has been cutting back on chocolate.

    I have a major sweet tooth.  Yes, just me.

    However, rather than completely eliminating chocolate from my diet, I just decided to embrace it in a gluten-free form and in small doses.  In this case, drizzled over these macaroons.  A quick pick-me-up treat that satisfies my chocolate sweet tooth.

    Read the rest of this entry »