What a crazy weekend!
Last night I went to sleep with no electricity, and this morning woke to at least two inches of snow on the ground outside. Is this really October??
Thankfully, the electricity returned this morning, and we’re all safe in our undamaged home. However, I know that many across the Northeast are facing downed trees and power lines, so I hope you’re staying safe and warm.
Yesterday, I grabbed brunch with a friend, and while it was raining when we went into the diner, by the time we left, the skies were filled with giant flakes of blinding snow.
And despite the weather, I still had to go to work. At a frozen yogurt shop. Where there were actually customers … Crazy college students!
But despite the dangerous driving and frigid temperatures, it was actually kind of exciting to be a part of this weather phenomenon.
The snow also provided a perfect opportunity to break out the cinnamon and cocoa, flavors that, for me, are synonymous with cold weather.
With midterms in full swing, I haven’t been spending much time in the kitchen these past few weeks. Thankfully, I’m a commuter and live with an amazing mom who has no problem cooking delicious food for me every day.
But oftentimes, cooking serves as therapy. Especially when I need a little time away from my books, and more time to play in the kitchen.
What I enjoy most about cooking is the ability to dream up a mouthwatering recipe in your mind, and actually carrying out that vision to create something tangible and delicious.
I still remember my first taste of apple pie. My mom and I were having dinner at our neighbor’s house, eating an amazing meal on their back porch. My neighbor was the most amazing cook, and spent hours a day on these dinner parties.
Although I don’t remember any of the other courses, I can’t forget that apple pie. Flaky and buttery crust, gooey, warm and just-sweet-enough apple filling, and the creamiest vanilla ice cream on the side.
Yesterday, I was craving apple pie on a perfect fall day, but I didn’t have hours to roll out dough and bake a whole pie. But most importantly I didn’t want to commit to eating a full-sized pie all by myself!
Enter, the mini fillo apple pie:
It’s been a week since fall began, but today is the first day that actually feels like the new season. After days of hormonal, humid and unpredictable weather, it’s finally sunny, crisp and breezy. My perfect kind of day!
And with the temperatures cooling down, what better than a hearty soup to warm you up?
One of the things I miss most about Hong Kong is the hiking. It was Hong Kong’s beautiful trails and amazing natural views that had me hooked.
And especially on the most difficult hikes, the ones that have more uphill than downhill, the ones where I think I’ll never reach the end, those are the ones that I love and appreciate the most.
There’s something amazing about realizing that you just climbed a mountain. You feel empowered and strong, and there’s just nothing that you can’t do.
And the views from the top, wow were they amazing.
Just a couple of weekends ago, I finally got back on the trails again, this time in the Blue Ridge Mountains of central Virginia.
On my college campus, the most popular cafe/restaurant is Au Bon Pain. It’s located in the center of everything, and I always go there when I need a warm drink or a bite to eat.
If you’ve ever been to Au Bon Pain, you know that they sell cups of muesli in the fridge section. Well I finally tried their muesli last week, and it was actually really delicious. And because it was so delicious, I recreated it for breakfast the next day.
Hello and welcome to my blog, The Salty n’ Sweet.
This isn’t my first blog, but it is a completely new space. Unlike my past blogs, this site will focus on recipes, travel-logs, and restaurant reviews, with a few snapshots of my life.
I’m far from an expert in the kitchen, which, I think, reflects many of you out there. So enjoy this taste of my personal journey through the kitchen and into adulthood.
Before we dig in, here’s a little more about me:
1. I was born in Wuhan, China, but moved to the US when I was five. And since then, I’ve moved six times throughout Ohio and New Jersey.
Princeton's ivy-covered walls
Still, I consider myself “from” New Jersey, where I live and study today.
