Ingredient Inspo: Nian Gao with Trader Joe’s Rice Cakes

I usually buy rice cakes at my local Asian market, but I want Trader Joe's to keep stocking Asian ingredients along with the pre-made frozen meals. So I picked up a bag of Trader Joe's rice cakes a couple of weeks ago. I made the Nian Gao from The Woks of Life, adding a red…

ByMichelleMarch 20, 20230Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Japchae

Let's just agree upfront: fresh, homemade japchae is almost always gonna be better than anything from a package. But if you've never had it before, or you don't have an Asian or Korean market near you to buy sweet potato noodles, Trader Joe's Japchae isn't bad. First up, it's in the frozen section. I…

ByMichelleSeptember 14, 20210Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Gochujang Vegetable Stirfry

I was excited to see Trader Joe's getting into gochujang. The red chile paste is a staple of Korean cooking and just as Trader Joe's has dabbled with sriracha, I can't wait for gochujang to show up on Trader Joe's shelves (fingers crossed). Trader Joe's Gochujang Vegetable Stirfry seems to be its first go at…

ByMichelleSeptember 24, 20200Comments

Main Course Recipes

Chicken Stirfry with Asparagus, Sugar Snaps and Red Bell Pepper

Sponsored Post This stirfry is a fast and easy way to get dinner on the table. The key is to prep all your ingredients first. Look for fat pencil sized asparagus spears to ensure they don’t cook faster than the rest of the vegetables. Finally, have a serving platter ready to go. You don’t want…

ByMichelleMay 6, 20200Comments

Book Reviews

What’s Cooking: Vibrant India by Chitra Agrawal

Vibrant India, Chitra Agrawal's ode to South Indian vegetarian cooking is due out on March 21 from Ten Speed Press. You might know Chitra from her blog, ABCD's of Cooking, or her condiment line, Brooklyn Delhi. In the book, she's sharing a collection of quick vegetable stirfrys, salads, chutneys and pickles, rice dishes and hearty vegetarian stews. I've…

ByMichelleMarch 9, 20170Comments

Cooking Recipes

MADE: Serious Eats’ Kung Pao Chicken

Good Chinese takeout is one of those things you take for granted if you live in a big city. Sweet and sour pork, almond chicken and beef and broccoli are just a phone call away. Move out to the 'burbs and you may only have one or two choices, including Panda Express. Luckily, there's Serious…

ByMichelleMarch 10, 20160Comments

Ingredient Inspo: Nian Gao with Trader Joe’s Rice Cakes

We Tried Trader Joe’s Japchae

We Tried Trader Joe’s Gochujang Vegetable Stirfry

Chicken Stirfry with Asparagus, Sugar Snaps and Red Bell Pepper

What’s Cooking: Vibrant India by Chitra Agrawal

MADE: Serious Eats’ Kung Pao Chicken

Book Review: A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

26 New Asian and Pacific Islander Books for your 2026 TBR