My First Self-Published Cookbook!

2020 has been challenging, stressful, upsetting, disappointing… all the things! And in the back of my mind, in addition to the swirling thoughts of living through a global pandemic, I was wondering: when is the right time to get this cookbook out into the universe?

What a lot of us have learned this year is that maybe there is no “right” time for anything, but now felt as right as ever to share this passion project that has been a LONG time coming. After 2+ years of talking, thinking, cooking, eating, baking, re-working recipes, taking photos, and writing/assembling, it’s finally available for everyone!:

How to Adult: The Newlywed Cookbook ©

This concept came to life when I made the original version of this cookbook as a wedding gift for close friends. I quickly realized that it would make a wonderful, unique off-the-registry gift for any newlyweds! One of the things I love most about food and cooking is how it brings people together - you can learn a lot about a person by the way they operate in the kitchen!

Cooking is also something that I feel many people, like my fellow millennials, either love or hate with no in-between. I want to change that! We love to joke - and complain - about everything that “adulting” requires of us, such as taking care of ourselves on a daily basis. This book’s collection of recipes was curated to demonstrate that cooking doesn’t need to be complicated or take a long time to be delicious (and healthy!).

From meal prep ideas to sweet treats, this book is a great gift for the novice who loves to follow recipes to the letter, as well as for the seasoned cook who loves to improvise.

You can buy How to Adult: The Newlywed Cookbook © here!

*Through December 31, 2020, $10 from every book purchased will be donated to Full Heart Full Bellies, an organization in the Bronx (NYC) feeding food insecure children and those impacted by COVID-19.

PB&J Baked Oatmeal

I don’t like going out for brunch, but I love to cook brunch. It’s easier to make than dinner, especially for a crowd, and consists of lots of fridge and pantry staples you like already have on hand.

One such staple: oats. Add ‘em to banana bread, soak ‘em for overnight oats, or make baked oatmeal, an unfussy brunch dish that looks super impressive… it’s basically oatmeal that you bake and cut into squares.

I’m a sucker for anything peanut butter and jelly flavored, so this seemed like the perfect way to experiment with these flavors I love so much.

Here’s what you need to make PB&J Baked Oatmeal - makes 9 ½-cup servings:

• 2 cups rolled oats (not quick-cook)

• ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 2 cups almond milk

• 1 egg

• 2 TBS melted coconut oil + 1 heaping tsp for greasing baking dish

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• Smooth peanut butter

• Jam of your choice (I went with raspberry)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease an 8x8” baking dish with coconut oil and set aside.

Mix dry ingredients - oats, coconut, cinnamon, baking powder and salt - in a large mixing bowl. Add in wet ingredients - milk, egg, coconut oil and vanilla - and use a whisk to thoroughly combine.

Pour oat mixture into the baking dish and tap dish gently on the counter to evenly distribute the oat mixture. Using a spoon, spoon 9 dollops of jam - about 1 tsp jam each - evenly on top of the oats (3 x 3). Then spoon 9 dollops of peanut butter - about 1 tsp peanut butter each - evenly on top of the oats and swirl together gently (see picture above for reference).

Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown on top and the edges are a little crispy. Serve hot. If making in advance, cook for 30-35 minutes, and put back into a 350-375 degree oven for 5-10 minutes before ready to serve.

Serves 5-6 hungry brunch guests.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Banana bread is one of my all-time favorite treats. I like my banana bread to eat more like a cake, rather than bread - makes it feel so much more indulgent - and I hope you feel the same way.

And, it’s dairy-free and gluten-free.

AND, it’s been taste-tested and approved by hungry brunch friends.

ANNND, I’ve decided to add this to the cookbook. Yep, I’m that generous.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this chocolate chip banana bread:

• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil + a little extra to grease bread tin

• 1/4 cup maple syrup

• 2 eggs

• 3-4 medium-sized very ripe bananas, mashed

• 1/4 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup almond flour

• 3/4 cup oat flour

• 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats (not quick cook), plus more to sprinkle on top

• 1/4-1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (or chocolate chips of your choice)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a bread tin with enough coconut oil to coat the entire tin, including the sides! I usually melt about a teaspoon of coconut oil, pour into the tin, and spread with a paper towel.

In a large bowl, whisk melted coconut oil and maple syrup until combined. Add eggs, and whisk again until combined. Add in bananas, milk, baking soda, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon, and whisk until completely combined.

Add almond and oat flours, as well as oats, and using a spatula, carefully fold mixture together until all ingredients are incorporated. Add in chocolate chips, and fold again with a spatula until the chips are dispersed throughout the mixture evenly.

Pour batter into the greased bread tin. Even out the top with the spatula and bang the tin (gently) on the counter a couple of times to release any air bubbles. Sprinkle the top with some extra oats.

Bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes, until the middle is set and a toothpick/knife dipped in comes out clean. The edges of the bread will brown before the middle, so don’t worry. Let bread cool slightly before taking out of the bread tin.

UPDATED: Spicy Beef Ragu

Great recipes lend themselves to dishes that end up almost exactly the same each time. That’s my goal with the #howtoadultcookbook - to provide recipes that can be relied upon time and time again to create delicious meals.

In order to make that a reality, I’ve revisited every recipe in the book and made it again, and in the process, have adjusted some recipes, whether its ingredient amounts, cooking time, or cooking method(s). My hope is that you can depend on these recipes, while also making them your own in your own kitchens, in true #ninaknowsfood form.

Here’s the updated spicy ragu recipe:

• 2 TBS olive oil (for cooking)

• 2 large cloves garlic, finely diced

• 1 large shallot, finely diced

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)

• 1/2 TBS red chili flakes

• 2 tsp whole fennel seeds

• 2 tsp ground Italian seasoning

• 1 tsp ground smoked paprika

• 1/4 cup white wine of your choice

• 1 14oz can unseasoned diced tomatoes

• 1/4 cup water

• Salt & pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup frozen peas

In a large sauté pan over low-medium heat, heat olive oil until shimmering. Add garlic and shallot, and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.

Add ground beef and cook until just browned. As meat is browning, add in red chili flakes, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, and s&p. Stir to combine. If there's a lot of fat in the pan, remove with a spoon.

Once beef is browned, add in white wine and let liquid reduce by half. Once liquid reduces, add in diced tomatoes and water. Stir to combine completely.

Lower heat to low, cover, and allow ragu to simmer for 20 minutes.

When done simmering, turn off heat and take the pan off the hot burner. Add in frozen peas and stir to combine. The peas will thaw almost immediately.

Serve hot or let ragu cool completely before storing in the fridge or freezer.

Grab & Go Protein Balls

All of us prioritize the time in our days differently. Whether you make time for meals or not, these little guys most definitely have a place somewhere in your day. They can be breakfast on-the-go (PERFECT for after that morning spin or yoga class) or they can be a mid-afternoon snack when you’re feeling snack-y. Or both, I’m not judging. In fact, I’ll be so proud of you for getting some healthy fiber and protein into your day.

Protein Balls*:

• 1 large banana, mashed

• 1/3 cup peanut butter

• 3/4 cup rolled oats (not quick cook)

• 1 TBS hemp seeds

• 1 TBS chia seeds

• 1 TBS dried goji berries

• 1 TBS mini chocolate chips

• 1 TBS maple syrup

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup + 1 TBS unsweetened coconut flakes, separated

Method:

On a large plate, pour 1/2 cup coconut flakes and shake carefully to make an even layer. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, and mix with a large spoon or spatula to thoroughly combine. Refrigerate mixture for 10 minutes to let it set.

Using a 1 TBS measure, scoop and roll mixture gently in your hands to create each ball, and roll in coconut flakes until evenly coated. Repeat, and line balls on a cookie sheet. When done, refrigerate balls for 15 minutes.

You can eat right away, or you can pack them away in the refrigerator or freezer. They’ll keep in the fridge 2-3 days, and you can store in the freezer for 1-2 weeks.

*This recipe was developed in partnership with Ilana Broad.

How To Make Meal Prep Not Suck

A friend and I were recently talking about how we feel like all we do at the backend of the week is grocery shop, cook, and clean. We were swapping stories over how often we clean our bathrooms and how we feel like our food never lasts long enough in the fridge.

This concept of “adulting,” made popular by millenials, can be cheeky and used to poke fun at my generation that feels personally victimized by simple life responsibilities. However, if you haven’t read this article about millennial burnout yet, go read that and come back to this after.

With that being said, I’m all “how-to-adult” in the best way possible, always thinking about I can maximize my time and effort. While I love to cook and have learned to find joy in the mise en place-ing of it all, it’s taken time to get here. However, I’m confident that I can inspire at least one person reading this post to shift how they think about meal prepping.

Let me back up and answer the question, why meal prep? At the most basic level, it takes the thought out of what you’re going to have for breakfast/lunch/dinner during the week, so you can focus on other important things: your partner, your job, your side hustle, your friends, your family.

It can save you money. Let’s do some quick math: if your sweetgreen salad costs $15, and you’re getting that salad for lunch every day, that’s $75/week. I spent $60 on my grocery shop this week (a lighter week, as I wasn’t stocking up on a lot of pantry staples), and it went into lunches and dinners for at least 4 days this week, plus some meals for the freezer, plus some fresh produce, as well as a few canned items that I will use for future dishes. That nets to less than $8/meal this week!

It can make you healthier. Meal prepping allows you to know exactly what’s going into your food and how it’s being prepared. This is game-changing. You can control the amount of oil, the amount of salt, adding everything you want and leaving out everything you don’t. Eating whole foods and a variety of these whole foods is key, and something I strive for during my meal prep.

OK, so what can you do to take the dread out of meal prep?

1. It sounds simple, but, plan ahead - do your recipe research during the week! I love the NYT Cooking app and Instagram to find inspiration

   • Look for recipes that require one pot, which will always save time

   • Look for recipes that require stewing/simmering, which means you’ll be able to walk away while your dishes are cooking

   • I like to choose two recipes that require a lot of the same ingredients, but are different enough so that I won’t get bored during the week(s) of eating the same thing, e.g. my personal favorites right now: spiced chickpea stew and coconut curry lentil stew

   • Plan to freeze at least one or two containers of whatever you make so that your freezer will have a variety of items to choose from on weeks where you’re traveling or otherwise don’t have time to meal prep

2. Make a very detailed grocery list - even down to the ounces or cups of dry ingredients you’ll need. You can buy in the bulk section of the grocery store to save money, not buy more than you actually need, and will save time during cooking as you’ll have the exact amount ready to go

3. Spread your grocery shopping out over more than one day - avoid the Sunday scaries! You can buy canned goods on Saturday on your way back from yoga, and grab fresh ingredients on Sunday after brunch with friends… less time in the store each time, less to carry each time

4. Prepare your storage containers ahead of time - make sure you have enough to hold all of your delicious meal prep. Have them out and ready when you’re done cooking!

   • Label ahead of time, if you’re going to freeze some for later - I like to put the date it was frozen and what’s in the container

5. On your meal prep day of choice, spend time doing your “mise en place,” which means prep all of your ingredients before you start cooking

   • May sound counterintuitive to spend more time before you get started, but it will ultimately 1) save time during the actual cooking process, and 2) allow you to focus on your recipe in the moment

6. Clean up as much as possible while your dish(es) are cooking

7. Meal prep isn’t just for dinner - expand your horizons and prep breakfast, too! I love making chia seed pudding (recipe below) for a grab-and-go nutrient packed breakfast for after a morning workout

8. Shift your mindset - aside from all the physical prep you’re doing, do some emotional prep. Think, “I’m doing this because I have respect for my time this week, and I want to create delicious, healthy meals that will make me feel great inside & out.”

9. Invite a helping hand - this will save time prepping your ingredients, plus it goes along with shifting your mindset to make meal prep into a desired activity rather than a chore

Chia Seed Pudding (1 Grab & Go Serving)

• 3 TBS chia seeds

• 1/3 - 1/2 cup milk of your choice (less milk = more thick pudding)

• Mason jar with lid

• Toppings of your choice - sliced banana, peanut butter, cinnamon

Pour chia seeds and milk into the mason jar, and secure lid. Shake until chia seeds are thoroughly shaken up with milk. Take off lid, add toppings of choice, re-seal lid and keep in fridge overnight.

Fiesta Tempeh Wraps (The Runner Up!)

Remember that Instagram poll from last weekend? No? That's OK. I was having some serious takeout cravings but decided to take to the kitchen instead! The beef lettuce wraps won (see the previous post for those delightfully colorful morsels) but I want to help out my non-meat-eaters too!

Here's what you'll need to make my fiesta tempeh wraps [makes enough for a single meal & lots of leftovers!]:

Fillings:

• 2 TBS olive oil (split; for the pan)
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 2 small zucchini squash, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, diced finely
• 1 tsp cumin, split
• 1 tsp smoked paprika, split
• Salt to taste
• 1 8-ounce package unseasoned tempeh, sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces (see picture for reference)
• Refried black beans (I bought a 15-ounce can refried black beans and what I didn't use, I put into tupperware for meals during the week)

Toppings:

• Sliced radish
• Sliced avocado
• Chopped cilantro
• Sliced lime

Wraps:

• Any kind you want! I used 2 Siete almond flour wraps per meal—you can find these at Whole Foods or small health food stores

Method:

In a large skillet or sauté pan over low-medium heat, heat 1 TBS olive oil. Add red onion, zucchini, garlic, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika, and salt. Cook until the onion and zucchini are soft, about 5-7 minutes, depending on the strength of your burner. When the onion and zucchini mixture is cooked (soft and almost caramelized), transfer into a bowl and set aside. This makes about 1 1/2 cups cooked zucchini.

With the pan still over low-medium heat, add the remaining 1 TBS olive oil to the pan. Place tempeh slices in the pan, close to each other but not touching. If it doesn't all fit, no worries, you can repeat the cooking process with remaining tempeh.

Cook on one side for 3-4 minutes until browned, then with a pair of tongs, flip each slice over and cook on the other side for 3-4 minutes until browned. Add remaining 1/2 tsp each of cumin and smoked paprika, and salt to taste. When tempeh is browned on both sides, transfer to a plate and set aside. 

Now it's time to prepare the wraps! Place two wraps on a plate. Spread 1 TBS refried black beans on each wrap, leaving room around the edges. Add as much or as little zucchini mixture on to the wraps as you want, or you can have it on the side. Add 2-3 slices of tempeh to each wrap, and top with sliced radish, avocado, and cilantro. Squeeze wedge of lime over wraps to finish them off!

What's awesome about these wraps is having all of these different components that you can use to make different meals... try breakfast-for-dinner wraps with refried black beans, scrambled eggs, and zucchini; or a deconstructed taco salad with sliced tempeh, refried black beans, avocado, and radishes served over greens. The possibilities really are endless!

The Instagram Poll Has Spoken: Spiced Beef Lettuce Wraps

Me again, emerging from the heat wave that took over NYC last week and feeling motivated to spend time over a hot stove/in a hot little kitchen. After the most amazing day exploring Brighton Beach & Coney Island yesterday, all I wanted to do was bring back that fresh, summer feeling back into my meals. 

I took to Instagram to see what you wanted to see & eat—I offered one vegan option and one not-vegan option, and while the non-vegan option won, I'm still going to provide both recipes!

I'm not vegan—I've found that eating some quality meat & fish is best for my body & for feeling my best—but I do try to eat lots of plant-based meals during the week. But, not this week ;)

*Update July 2020: In an effort to use more inclusive language, I have removed some elements of this recipe including specifying the ingredient “grass-fed and finished beef.” This beef option may not be accessible for everyone, nor is it necessary to cook and enjoy this dish. I aim to have my recipes be accessible for everyone, no matter their access or lack thereof to certain ingredients. I also want to share that many of my recipes are inspired by Asian cuisines. I use many spices that originate in Asian cuisines - namely ginger, chilis, turmeric, coriander - and I am in awe of their versatility in so many different types of dishes. For this recipe in particular, I acknowledge that lettuce wraps are a common dish found in Chinese and Thai cuisines in particular, and my recipe is inspired by the many lettuce wraps I’ve eaten over the years. I will continue to review the recipes on this blog to make sure I am using inclusive language, both as it relates to the ingredients and how I was inspired to create the recipe.

Here's what you'll need to make these beef lettuce wraps with sweet & spicy slaw:
[makes 3-4 servings, if you're measuring about 1/2 cup beef per person, or ~4oz]

Beef Filling:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 4-5 green onions, chopped

• 1 garlic clove, chopped

• 1 TBS coconut oil

• 1/2 tsp ground coriander

• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

• 1 tsp Sriracha [or more to taste]

• Salt & pepper to taste

Sweet & Spicy Slaw Topping:

• 1 cup shredded carrots [I bought pre-shredded, it's so much easier]

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced jicama

• 1-2 large radishes, thinly sliced

• Juice of 1 small lime

• 1 TBS tamari [or soy sauce]

• 1 tsp Sriracha

• 1 tsp maple syrup

Lettuce Wraps:

• Romaine hearts or butterhead lettuce - these provide the “wrap” or “cup” to hold all the filling!

Method:

In a large sauté pan or skillet over low-medium heat, sauté green onions and garlic until soft, about 2-3 minutes. Add in ground beef, and break it up with your cooking spoon [I like to use wooden spoons] so that it can cook evenly in the pan.

Add in spices, Sriracha, and salt/pepper to taste, mixing it in with the beef to make sure it's thoroughly combined. Continue to break up the meat as it cooks. It will take about 10-15 minutes, depending on your stove top, to get the meat completely browned & cooked through. 

While the beef cooks, you can prepare the slaw ingredients. In a small mixing bowl, add in all slaw ingredients and toss with tongs or a spoon to coat evenly. Make sure you taste it—you can add more Sriracha or more maple syrup, depending on how spicy or sweet you like it!

When the beef is done cooking, turn off the stove and take the pan off the heat to let the mixture cool a bit [you can simply move the pan to another burner]. Rinse your lettuce and pat dry with a paper towel [no one likes a soggy wrap].

Lay down a couple of pieces of lettuce on your plate, fill with beef & top with slaw, and garnish with black sesame seeds or any other topping—you can try avocado, chopped cashews, or more Sriracha and tamari!

Hungry yet? Raise your hand if you can't wait for dinner tomorrow!

Rainy Day? Ravenous? Ragu!

I'm all about keeping things simple when it comes to cooking, and this dish is no exception. After a long day at work, all I wanted to do was curl up on my couch and binge How To Get Away With Murder (I wait 'til the full seasons are on Netflix, no spoilers!). It was also a Monday, and ugh, Mondays.

But sometimes, adulting requires you to do things you don't want to do, so I rolled up my sleeves and got into the kitchen. And it was soooo worth it! This ragu is quick—30 minutes, and I actually mean it—and is great over pasta, farro, or just some greens.

Here's what you'll need to make my Spicy Ragu (serves 1-2 for dinner, with leftovers):

• 1 lb 80-20 ground beef ("80-20" refers to fat ratio; preferably grass-fed, grass-finished—healthier & better for the environment!)
• 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 1 TBS red chili flakes (give or take, depending on your spice-tolerance)
• 2 tsp each of fennel seeds, dried basil, oregano
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 cup white wine of your choice
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1/4-1/2 water, if needed
• Olive oil for the pan
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1/2 cup peas, frozen or fresh

Instructions:

In a large saute pan (1-2 inches deep), heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and shallot to the pan, and cook until soft, about 1-2 minutes.

Add ground beef and cook until just browned, about 5-7 minutes. If there's a lot of fat in the pan, you can scoop it out, but there shouldn't be too much if using 80-20 beef. Add in diced tomatoes, all spices, white wine, salt and pepper, and combine completely. Cover, lower heat to low-medium and let sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir once in the middle of this time, and add water to thin the sauce, if needed. You can also add wine instead, if you prefer!

After the sauce is done simmering, turn off the heat, and stir in spinach & peas. The spinach will wilt very quickly, and the peas will retain their firmness and color. Serve immediately, or let cool completely before storing to refrigerate/freeze.

The Ultimate Breakfast Hack: Frozen Fruit Baked Oatmeal

I try to buy local, in-season produce when I can, but last-minute plans and little energy after a long day of work and a post-work yoga class can easily sabotage my efforts to use fresh produce in the proper amount of time. While exaggerated, that meme of the avocado that's ripe at 6:00pm and rotten at 6:02pm explains my frustration of buying and using fresh produce, especially fruit!

Life hack? Stock up on frozen staples for future meal-prep ease! Buy frozen fruits like berries, and veggies like peas and broccoli florets. I love adding frozen berries to smoothies and frozen peas to any stew-like dish I make. Frozen produce helps make meal prep easier because you're not running to the grocery store for those select, fresh items. You'll save a little money too, as frozen produce can be purchased at any time during the year, and fresh, out-of-season produce is often quite expensive. 

By no means am I suggesting you replace all fresh fruits and vegetables with their frozen counterpart. Fresh produce, when locally grown and in-season, contains important vitamins & minerals to support health. However, if you're in the middle of a long winter, grabbing frozen produce can help save money and still add some of those vital nutrients into your diet, like vitamin C to ward off that pesky cold.

Here's what you need to make my Mixed Berry Baked Oatmeal (makes 4-6 large breakfast servings)

Wet:

• 1 ripe medium banana
• 2 cups frozen, mixed berries, split into 1 cup portions
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or nut milk of choice)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs

Dry:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8 baking dish with ghee (you can also spray non-stick cooking oil) and set aside.

In a blender or food processor, puree banana, 1 cup frozen berries, maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla until smooth. Pour into a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and whisk until thoroughly combined.

Add in all dry ingredients—oats, coconut flour, shredded coconut, cinnamon, baking powder, salt—and mix until thoroughly combined. Finally, add in remaining 1 cup of frozen berries and mix until they're evenly distributed throughout mixture.

Pour mixture into baking dish, making sure mixture is level. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until edges are slightly browned and middle is no longer soft—you can lightly touch top of oatmeal to determine if it's still "gooey" inside.

Serve immediately for a sweet snack, topped with coconut yogurt or a scoop of almond butter, or store in air-tight containers for your weekly breakfast meal prep. Oatmeal will last 3-5 days in the fridge.