THE MARCH RECIPE

Making the most of the in-between

This March looked very different from last year’s when I was pulling regular all-nighters in preparation for the launch of Third Culture Cooking—so glad that’s over. I’m in a different kind of transition phase right now, and as I try to maximize my last few months without a child, I’m prioritizing cooking and developing new recipes, spending uninterrupted time with close friends and family, and getting ready intentionally and slowly. All things I imagine will look very different in the coming months. March was a good start and I hope to continue through April.

A quick note: I hope to keep this newsletter free for as long as possible, so it would mean so much to me if you supported my work by ordering my cookbook, Third Culture Cooking, which features 100+ flavorful recipes that reflect my third culture perspective. Find signed copies here. Now, on to ‘the recipe’...

TORTELLINI IN FRIZZLED ONION BROTH

I’ve been impatiently waiting for New York Times Cooking to publish this recipe I submitted a few months ago. Frizzling the onions (deeply browning them over a higher heat) instead of caramelizing them (deeply browning them low and slow) like you would in a traditional french onion soup really saves on time and results in a flavor that is more assertive than gentle, which plays well next to hearty premade cheese tortellini. Video walkthrough here.

BANANA CREAM LATTE

The video I shared for this recipe uses matcha, but I’ve been really enjoying it with a double shot of espresso as of late. I recently upgraded to a big girl espresso machine (more on that below), and have slowed down on the matcha making while I enjoy my new toy. All of the flavors in the banana milk (banana, dates, cardamom, vanilla, and salt) are just as delicious paired with coffee.

FROZEN BLUEBERRY + WALNUT YOGURT PARFAITS

I could write an entire piece on the unfussy snacks quietly eaten at the mosque after iftar during Ramadan (next year). One night, toward the end of the month, I sat next to my friend’s mom and watched her make a yogurt cup topped with walnuts to have during the program. It was smart: protein on protein, good fats, and just assembly—fast and filling.

Her simple sehri inspired this breakfast that has become a regular in the rotation since, especially for mornings on the go. I usually pull the foil seal off a Siggi’s strawberry rhubarb cup (this flavor is particularly delicious, and the cup has a wide surface area perfect for topping), give it a stir, cover one half of the top with walnut halves + pieces (I’ve also done pecans and shelled, lightly salted pistachios), cover the other half with frozen blueberries, and top the whole thing with a generous drizzle of local honey (helps with my pollen allergies). The result is way more than the sum of its parts: creamy cold yogurt, crunchy walnuts, cold jammy blueberries, and honey that slightly hardens against the chill of the blueberries, making it almost chewy and caramel-like. Addicting.

TK02 + DREAM COOKER

I am not one to collect appliances. I rarely add to my collection which up until now has consisted of a cordless mini chopper, electric beaters, an immersion blender, a Vitamix, a stand mixer, and a drip coffee maker. For a recipe developer that’s pretty light, right? For what it’s worth, I’d recommend all of those products in a heartbeat.

March saw the addition of a pressure cooker in the form of the Our Place Dream Cooker and an espresso machine from Terra Kafe. I’m not too sure how I lived before these. The pressure cooker has been sustaining my bone broth addiction in a fraction of the time. I also made enough bolognese to feed 12-16 in a single pot. Next on the list is the short rib recipe from Third Culture Cooking in it and play around with slow cooker recipes in general, for both postpartum and beyond.

As far as the TK02 goes, it brews an impressive shot of espresso with the right beans, and its performance so far (I’ve had it about 2 months) rivals the likes of the built-in Miele and Bosch coffee systems I’ve used at family members’ homes. During the week, I mostly brew a double shot for the aforementioned banana cream lattes. Weekend mornings call for cappuccinos, and my husband has been loyal to an iced cortado with 2 sugar cubes.

You can shop my other kitchen favorites here.

CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE

Both my parents and my husband’s immediate family live in close proximity to us so Eid feels like a marathon, always running from one house to another and juggling our attendance at extended family parties. This year things were much calmer than usual, and we had Eid breakfast at my mom’s house and Eid dinner at my sister in law’s. She made her biryani (the recipe is on page 108 of Third Culture Cooking), and the intimate setting inspired a more thoughtful approach to Eid gifting: on our way from New Jersey to Long Island, I stopped at Chanel Beauty and picked up a lipstick tube for all the ladies in attendance and the lip + cheek tint for my nieces—each neatly packaged into the cutest micro Chanel shopping bag for gifting. I resisted purchasing the lip + cheek tint for myself, but couldn’t pass up the lipstick after swatching the creamy, buildable formula. What started as just a cute, luxe gift idea has turned into a new favorite. I can feel Chanel Rouge Allure in 209 ‘Alter Ego’ becoming my signature lipstick.

You can shop my other beauty favorites here.

DONNI TAFFETA PANTS

I wore these pants 4 days in a row and all throughout Eid weekend, so there’s no question on whether or not they deserved a spot on this list. They’ve been saved to Locker for about a year, and I kept trying to get my hands on the ‘Blossom’ colorway to no avail. I took it as a sign, and went with this muted green called ‘Oregano’ that feels more like a neutral (read: wearable). Oddly enough, it’s since been removed from their website entirely; I presume it’s because it now shows up in the gingham version. This chartreuse-y shade is very cool and the silver is interesting yet versatile.

They are surprisingly lightweight and very striking. If the price tag wasn’t similarly striking, I’d already have bought them in the black. I’m 8-ish months pregnant in this photo and wearing a size large, which I feel confidently will continue to fit me postpartum. They’re styled three different ways here, but my favorite way to wear them right now is just with a t-shirt and my camo-calf hair Belgian shoes.

You can shop my other kitchen favorites here.

MELISSE NEW YORK

The algo brought me to this brand via Instagram Reels. They’re handmade in New York City and released in limited drops. I got my hands on this one early on and love the colors and textures, but each subsequent drop has been just as interesting. I highly recommend keeping an eye on their Instagram if you’re looking for a fun, unique, and unfussy spring/summer bag.

You can shop my other kitchen favorites here.

GUESTS ON EARTH ALL PURPOSE CLEANER

I’m always looking for natural, “non-toxic” (often just a marketing term for lower-toxicity alternatives) everyday cleaning products; it’s hard to find ones that work just as effectively. My favorite brands to date are Homecourt (for the fragrance enthusiasts), Branch Basics (most complete system and probably the “cleanest”), Koala Eco (well tested for antibacterial strength), and now, Guests on Earth, which is a strong contender if you’re looking for something casual, well-designed, and sustainable. I have yet to try their dish soap, but I’m enjoying using the all-purpose cleaner spray to wipe down my kitchen surfaces after cooking. I’ll also be washing the baby’s clothes with their laundry detergent since it seems like a good option for sensitive skin.

You can shop my other kitchen favorites here.

GAP FOR SPRING

I’m amazed by the way their Easy Pant has held up wash over wash, and so the GAP obsession continues.

It took a while but I’m officially too big for half my wardrobe—the other half was oversized and now fits. I did a bit of panic buying in March during one of their sales; sometimes it seems like everything is always on sale which really does motivate checkout. I generally prefer not to shop like that, but I’m happy with all my purchases and the buys should take me through my due date next month (5 weeks left- how?!) and beyond.

The cotton sweaters are breathable and perfect paired with a white t-shirt peaking through underneath; I got black and baby blue in this fit, and the light pink in this one. These drawstring-waist black jeans work very well under the bump; I ordered these as well, but preferred the clean look of the true black pair and ended up returning. I also bought another pair of these buttery yoga pants in the same size as pre-pregnancy (M). I pull the fold over my bump and the stretch means they fit well and offer a decent amount of support.

You can shop my other closet favorites here.

GINA BRUNO’S LATCHING ON

I was first introduced to Gina via Frank’s House, the parlor floor of a beautifully renovated brownstone she owns that’s available to rent as a venue or studio. We shot this feature story there back in my BA days. Since, Gina and I have kept in touch mainly via Instagram, and it’s been lovely following her journey as a culinary entrepreneur and new mother. Her daughter is now two years old, and this new event series allows mothers to get together and learn from each other + experts while navigating motherhood. The first (of hopefully many) was focused on navigating the fourth trimester and how to properly feed yourself and your baby. She, Sophia Roe, a lactation consultant, an infant feeding specialist, and a postpartum nutritionist talked us through their experiences and recommendations for that often-isolating, overwhelming time in a new mothers life (can’t wait!!). Even as someone with what feels like a million mothers in their life to look to for advice, I found the session so informative and empowering, and it was great being able to connect with other mothers in the area. Gina’s Instagram is the best place to keep up to date on these kinds of events.