Shaking beef, also known as “Bò lúc lắc”–meaning sautéed dried beef–is a French-inspired Vietnamese dish that my entire family loves. The Vietnamese name translates to “shaking beef,” which is the main cooking method for this incredibly easy and tasty dish. Historically, beef was once considered a luxurious delicacy in Vietnamese cuisine. Beef was often reserved […]

I have not been shy about my love of salads. I am, however, an admitted salad snob. My husband agrees. I like my salads to taste good and to look good. Appearance matters. Making a salad look appetizing should not be that complicated: vegetables in their natural states are inherently pretty, given the variety of […]

This is a Havana cocktail and I love this drink almost as much as I love the song Havana by Camila Cabello.  A rum-based drink that is served “up,” this is smooth and fruity from the very first sip.  The trick to this tropical beauty is the pineapple-flavored rum I used to kick up the tropical […]

The Muffuletta is one of the greatest sandwiches ever created, yet sadly many have never heard of it. The Muffuletta is a New Orleans classic, created in 1906 by a local grocery owner named Salvatore Lupo. Lupo, an attentive man, watched as Sicilian farmers would come to his store, The Central Grocery & Deli, and order an […]

Some things will never change. Even after 11 years of living in Northern California, I still consider myself a New Yorker. And so when this time of year arrives, I think of corn–the kind of colorful, sweet, cobs of corn that were plentiful on the south fork of Eastern Long Island, where I have spent […]

15-year-old Lily Riccio is my featured Changemaker this month. This high school sophomore is doing her part to help shatter barriers and bring down glass ceilings across industries. Lily launched her digital platform, Power of Girl, in April 2017.  It is an inspirational website that she developed to empower young women. Power of Girl features […]

Day 5 of my smoothie week concludes with another easy, tropical-inspired dairy-free smoothie packed with nutrients to keep you energized throughout the day (or weekend). This is my pineapple-peach turmeric smoothie, and it is delicious. I can’t say this is my favorite of the 5 smoothies I’ve posted this week, but I may be slightly partial […]

Smoothie Week recipe #4: a cranberry-orange creamsicle smoothie that’s completely addictive. Ever had a creamsicle as a kid? If you were a fan like I was, you are in for a treat with this cranberry-orange creamsicle smoothie that hits the nail on the head in the nostalgia department. In developing this recipe, I just had […]

Day 3, meet my blueberry-mango antioxidant smoothie. This is a more classic fruit smoothie packed with antioxidants. We already know the power of the mighty blueberry, but the addition of mango and coconut milk takes this fruit smoothie to a new level. With a subtle tropical essence, this fruit-forward smoothie is a great go-to any […]

For my 2nd post of Smoothie Week, I developed this tasty and satisfying Fall-focused, pear-oat almond smoothie. Even though it is not quite Fall, I am a bit obsessed with this smoothie right now. This is a great, go-to breakfast smoothie that is smooth, filling, and loaded with nutritional value. No time for a hot […]

The end of Summer is approaching, Fall is almost here, and back-to-school time is at hand for many families. After a long summer filled with indulgences, it’s to get “back on track“.  With that in mind, I am declaring this week “Smoothie Week” on Simmer + Sauce. This week, I’ll be posting a new easy, […]

I’ve always wanted to enjoy sake. I have tried it warm and cold, over the years, but never loved it. Friends always said, “Drink the really good stuff and you will love it.” They were wrong. Straight-up sake always struck me as too medicinal. For me, hard alcohol is always tricky.  Even when it’s the […]

Unless you’ve traveled to Peru, chances are you have never tasted chicha morada. I have Erik Burmeister to thank for introducing me to this delicious Peruvian specialty. Chicha morada is a non-alcoholic Peruvian beverage made from purple corn called “maiz morado“.  “Chicha” is common in South and Central America–it is a fermented (alcoholic) or non-fermented […]

My thoughts on pies are no secret: I’m not a huge cooked fruit person, I say this yet I still enjoy a pie on occasion, especially a good one.  This year, I decided to play around with an easy pie-like type of dessert—fruit hand pies or as my older son calls them, “personal pies”.  I […]

Nothing says summer to me like chilled soup. As I mentioned in a post last year, my family lives on gazpacho. I make my quick gazpacho year-round, as it is a family go-to even when the weather turns California cold.  In the summer, I make double batches. Any time of year, it is a wonderful, healthy go-to snack […]