Broke and Cooking

The best things often happen out of sheer necessity, or like I've said before, laziness :) I grew up being told that boiling vegetables took all of the nutrition out of them, and so as I got older and started to cook for myself, I started cooking vegetables this way.

My absolute favorite way of preparing salmon is broiling. I only recently discovered this method over this past year or so. As my kitchen in my Hong Kong apartment is simply equipped with a hot plate, microwave, and toaster oven, I have really learned some new cooking techniques.

I live for simple recipes. Being able to throw a few ingredients together to create something special and tasty is my type of cooking, haha. Chia pudding is so incredibly easy to make, and its versatility makes it even more appealing. Check out my Raspberry and Mint Chocolate Chia Pudding recipes!

Grapefruit is available year-round, but reaches peak season starting around Christmas, thru April. This zesty citrus has really climbed to the top of my list of favorite fruits. I love them in Palomas, summer salads, or as a simple breakfast or snack.

Ok, so I'm never buying store-bought hummus again! I've always heard about how easy it is to make your own hummus at home, but haven't ever given it a try. I recently got a blender during a pretty epic White Elephant, and have been so excited to blend everything.

I've teamed up with With Hemp, a company which specializes in spreading awareness about hemp through new media, and distributing high quality hemp goods online and offline. If you haven't ever tried hemp seeds, I urge you to give it a try!

One thing I actually do really miss about the States are Trader Joe's snacks. They have the best snacks!! One of my favorites are Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips!! TJ's and Stacy's make them, and now you can make them at home for much less :) I can inhale an entire bag of these, which can definitely get expensive lol!

Classic Banana Pudding is decadent and ultra comforting. Whether it's made with Nilla wafers or Chessman cookies, real homemade custard, or instant vanilla pudding, it all ends up being absolutely delicious. Another addition to today's recipe is a little trick that will take the worry out of making homemade whipped cream for special events.

These baked pears are the quickest way to indulge in some holiday goodness. Anyone can make them - just 5 minutes of prep and 25 minutes in the oven (I made them in my toaster oven!). Beautiful fresh pears are drizzled with a quick mix of honey and vanilla extract, and sprinkled with cinnamon, your favorite granola, and crushed walnuts.

The smell of hot chocolate is so comforting to me. It reminds me of my childhood. When it comes to breakfast, my family has always been about waffles. What is it about wanting what you don't have, even when it comes to something as simple as breakfast?

Uploaded by Stephanie Jung on 2016-11-21.

Uploaded by Stephanie Jung on 2016-11-13.

I love Fall!! Hoodie weather, the holidays...and food. Roasted veg, casseroles, pie, roasts, baked fruit...mmm!! Some of my favorite comfort food is made during the Fall and Winter months. Overnight Oats are a Pinterest favorite, and make busy weekday mornings a little easier.

Speaking of the holidays, this week's recipe is a simple and cozy side dish that is wonderful for this time of year. Roasting vegetables brings so much depth of flavor to the party, and also gives each piece of pumpkin a nice toasty edge.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Whether you like to celebrate or not, I think we can all agree on one thing - chocolate. Mug Brownies are hugely popular on Pinterest, so I decided to see if it was actually as good as everyone makes them seem.

Hong Kong is a food paradise - a mix of world class high end restaurants, modern fare, and local eats. Cha Chaan Tengs (tea-houses) are where Hong Kongers can satiate their appetites at virtually any hour of the day.

Ooooh these are little rolls of magic! Lately I've become obsessed with enoki mushrooms. The bouncy texture, how easy they are to cook, and the way they soak up whatever flavors surround them. They are dirt cheap, and you can toss them into virtually any dish.

Garlicky, cheesy bread is pretty undeniable. Cauliflower crust is one of the most surprisingly delicious low carb, gluten free substitutes for bread. The cauli crust comes out fluffy and flavorful, and will wow your family - they won't know the difference :) I love dipping these cheesy breadsticks into marinara.

I'm going to let you in on one of my tried and true 'recipes', which is totally just a little trick I've been doing since high school whenever I'm really lazy and REALLY hungry. I love chicken wings - and here in Hong Kong, grocery stores sell bags of frozen mid-joint chicken wings.

The flavor of cauliflower is mild, and a bit sweet and creamy - it acts as a canvas for whatever . Roasting this veg is glorious, and let's face it; everything is better with cheese!

Breakfast might seriously be my favorite meal of the day. I love eggs, cereal, oatmeal, crepes, omelettes, blintzes..pancakes...waffles.........and I'm salivating. Breakfast has an endless options and one of the great ones is the almighty breakfast sandwich! Sometimes there is nothing better than hearty, toasted bread holding together savory breakfast goodness.

Uploaded by Stephanie Jung on 2016-09-03.

The first time I ever had Beef Stroganoff was during lunchtime in middle school. I had tried a bite of my friend Ari's lunch and couldn't stop thinking about how delicious it was. You could say that I've been food obsessed since forever, haha :) I love the creamy, robust sauce that's jam-packed with tender mushrooms and beef, and how it clings to al dente egg noodles.

Sweet Potato Toast is amazing!! It's so vibrant and colorful, and is a nutritious alternative to your regular wheat toast - not to mention it's paleo and gluten free! There are endless topping options, and today I'm sharing some yummy ideas with you to get you inspired.

A bright, zesty corn recipe that can be enjoyed as a dip or summer salad. Golden brown kernels of corn, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, black beans, and cilantro come together in minutes, and are mixed with a zippy little Honey Lime Vinaigrette dressing. The flavor of this dip is robust, earthy, and super satisfying.

Now these are a tall stack that you won't feel guilty about! Who knew that a quick mix of oats, ripe bananas, and eggs would make a satisfying alternative to regular pancakes? Music: www.bensound.com

Have you ever had Boston Market's cinnamon apples? Oh my god. When I was a kid, I lived for them. They're basically just the filling of a delicious apple pie - sweet, tender apples in a warm cinnamon sauce. Once in a while, I crave them, and a few weeks ago I decided that I'd try to make a batch!

Ch-ch-ch-chia :) I know you've heard me rave about chia seeds since forever, but rightfully so! They are an absolute nutritional powerhouse - an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, iron, protein, and calcium. The craziest thing about itty bitty chia seeds is that they are FULL of fiber.

Ok, I think we can all agree that everything...everything is better with bacon. Crisp, salty, fatty delicious bacon. BBQ season is here and grilling fruit is definitely one of my favorite ways to celebrate summer. The caramelization of the fruit is really delicious with the flavor of the bacon, and adding a simple reduced balsamic vinegar makes this the easiest appetizer ever.

With summer heating up, Frozen Yogurt Bark is a fun alternative snack for your family. It takes minutes to put together, and once it's frozen, all you've gotta do is break up the yogurt into pieces of 'bark'! This recipe is a great activity for kids to get involved in the kitchen.