Nathaniel Lee 
Here in San Diego, I have the luxury of having delicious Mexican food available at my fingertips. Whether you are chowing down on tacos at 2 in the morning or grabbing a burrito on your lunch break, Mexican food is an integral part of the San Diego experience. Key to that experience is Pico De …
Did you know pinto beans are the number one bean in the U.S. and Mexico? This was news to me, as they typically have a bad rap for being known to only be good for refried beans and chili. I’m a fan of pinto beans, so I was glad to hear this fun fact about …
When it comes to my pantry, staple items you’ll find are flour, sugar, dried pasta, rice, beans, and tomatoes. What do these things all have in common? They are cheap and last for years. The challenge with these items is how to turn them into something more appetizing than their humble beginnings in a box, …
Have you ever bought a clamshell of cherry or grape tomatoes only to find you never use them all? This happens to me all the time, so rather than constantly throwing them into salads for the next 5 days, I prefer to turn them into a fresh, spicy pasta sauce. What Makes a Good Spicy …
This oven baked chicken breast recipe, while one of the simplest on my site, is one of the most important ones to me. When it comes to learning how to cook and how to understand food, there is so much I can learn from something as simple as a piece of oven cooked chicken. My …
If you had to name a deliciously cool and refreshing rum cocktail, you’d probably be thinking of the mojito. Today I’ll be breaking down the mojito into its classic components and then adding in a little twist to enhance the flavor in this lavender mojito recipe. What is a Mojito? The classic mojito is made …
As summer fades and fall and winter settle in, I get really excited because it’s a sign that squash season is beginning! When it comes to the holiday season, the most popular dish in my family has to be this roasted butternut squash recipe (or BNS as I call it at home). Squash is so …
For the longest time, precision cooking had only been available to the top professionals at the fanciest restaurants. Within the past few years, there has been an explosion of precision cooking or “sous vide” technology that has emerged. Why does this matter? Now, you can replicate the most perfectly cooked dishes with minimal effort and …
A delectably sweet and rich White Russian cocktail makes one of the best nightcaps, especially when served ice cold. What is a White Russian? A White Russian is a cocktail made up of vodka, coffee liqueur (most often Kahlua), and cream served over ice. As with many cocktails, the origin and exact make-up of the …
“Smash” style cocktails include some of the most popular drinks today, like Mojitos and Juleps. Smashes can also be done with other cocktails, which is what I’m going to do! Today I’m doing my take on a maple bourbon smash with the added twist of smoking it. Don’t worry, you don’t need to have a …
Sweet and tangy flavors are a common pairing, especially on meats. When it comes to making chicken, one of my go-to methods for flavoring it is with a pineapple teriyaki sauce. It’s simple to make, adds moisture to the chicken, and allows me to pair quite a few side dishes with it. What is Pineapple …
Some call them chickpeas some call them garbanzo beans. Either way you reference them, they are a staple of European and near east cuisines. One of the most ubiquitous forms of chickpeas is hummus (also called hommus or houmous). What is Hummus? Hummus is a Levantine (near east) dip made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic, …