Baked Eggplant with Miso

The other day, I went out to meet a friend for dinner. Last time we saw each other, I was freshly pregnant with my first. Needless to say it was time for us to catch up. We met at a tiny little Japanese restaurant out in San Francisco, in the Castro. 4 tables. 1 window.

Happy Birthday, Cucee

It all started a year ago. A pan, a camera, a laptop, a recipe, a couple of locally grown rainbow carrots and a few pieces of fresh chicken.. That is how the first Cucee post, “Sesame Chicken of Our First Date“, was born. My love for cooking, a desire for self expression, and a need

Grilled Chicken Salad with Mangoes

I get so excited when people, who try my recipes, tell me how much their families enjoy them.  I get very emotional when I learn that Cucee inspires my readers to cook more and to cook healthy. What a rewarding feeling it is to hear a friend enthusiastically share a story of how she made

Beet and Orange Soup

I love bold colors and I am not afraid to use them! We had our rooms painted deep orange, buttercup yellow, brick red and silver metallic long before colorful walls became chic in California. My pre-kids car was of a dazzlingly crimson hue and my husband’s yellow Z3 stood out in traffic jams. Peek into

Warm Mezze Hummus

It is not rocket science that eating healthy is a lot harder when you are traveling. Finding Michelin-rated restaurants that serve healthy five-star dishes is often “mission impossible.” Especially if you are dining outside of California. Coming back from vacations is somewhat bitter-sweet for me. A flight home is often accompanied by nostalgia… and a

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

I am Cucee Sprouts and I am proud to be a Sprouts. I come from a family of many distinguished vegetables and I can trace my roots all the way back to the early days of farming, to the time of Sprouts Senior. This is Sprouts Senior, named Brussels, the first member to be recorded

Caramelized Roasted Figs with Baby Greens and Honey Vinaigrette

This summer salad is a hit at every gathering. It’s one of my most requested recipes.  Slightly tangy vinaigrette truly compliments the sweetness of the caramelized figs. Caramelized Roasted Figs with Baby Greens and Honey Vinaigrette Top 5 recipe on FoodBuzz Adapted from FoodNetwork.com Ingredients 4 small fresh black mission figs, stemmed Extra-virgin olive oil

Moroccan Red Lentil-Bean Stew

Last weekend, I took my friends on a culinary journey to Morocco. No suitcase required. Only a plate and a wine glass. Napkins and utensils — optional. My husband and I experienced Moroccan food on our last vacation. The number of exotic delicacies that we came across was a bit shocking (even a little intimidating).