Would you believe me if I told you I only just started to enjoy chai tea this year? I’m way late on the bandwagon. I was first introduced to chai by way of Starbucks, and it was so syrupy sweet and overwhelmingly cinnamon-y. From then on, I steered clear of chai, assuming that it always comes pre-sweetened and flat in flavor.

Why is fried rice so dang gooood? There is something about eating it that immediately brings me home. My family didn’t even make fried rice that often, but I know it’s coming when the fridge would get sparse and there’d be a lone bag of frozen vegetables in the freezer.

Every summer, I find myself with an abundance of beautiful, picked-at-their-peak fresh produce combined with the unbearable heat and humidity that turns my kitchen into a sauna. And every summer, I spend most of my time standing in front the AC in my bedroom, making dashes to the kitchen just to throw a quick meal together that requires minimal effort. Oh the glamour of New York living. I want to eat all the fresh things, but I also can’t be bothered to stand over the stove for more than 15 minutes. This fresh tomato sauce fits the bill perfectly!