France - Dessert - Chocolate Macarons

Macarons are my obsession. My friends constantly send me pictures if they ever see something macaron related in a store (and tease me about my emphasizing the difference between macarons and macaroons, which are a completely different, traditional Jewish pastry). My family has caught onto it too and since then I have received macaron pajamas, macaron baking kits, macaron phone cases and pretty much anything else you can think of. I don't know where this obsession came from. I can't even remember the first time I had a macaron. When I went to Paris, I had only a couple minutes on the Champs-Elysées to shop, so I dragged my friend to Ladurée. Unfortunately, we couldn't get in in time and we had to turn around. I was morbidly upset, but luckily got to spend the rest of my euros at the Ladurée in the Paris airport. I bought a box of 16, and it was the best decision ever. They were gone in a couple days. I was in heaven. I have tried making macarons before sophomore year, but they didn't turn out all too well. Here is my attempt to make them again, of course chocolate using this recipe. Enjoy!

India - Dinner - Chicken Tikka Masala

A few days ago, my friends and I went to this amazing Indian café in Wellesley. We got the lunch buffet and the dish that I enjoyed most was the chicken tikka masala. I had never had it before, and was already planning to make it for my senior project. I loved it so much, especially when I dipped their naan in the sauce. I had it over white rice and was full for the rest of the day. Here is a healthier version of chicken tikka masala that I found. The recipe includes veggies, and I incorporated whole wheat rice (even though I like white better oops).

Japan - Dessert - Green Tea Crêpe Cake

In all honesty, I've never really liked green tea at all. I tried my friend's green tea latté once and fought the desire to spit it out. For me, the green tea flavor was way too strong and having it iced made it even worse. That's why I was so hesitant to try out this green tea crêpe cake. Matcha powder (which is flipping expensive from Whole Foods) is present in both the pastry creme filling and the actual crêpe, so I was scared to have that overwhelming green tea flavor. Boy was I wrong. I found myself slabbing the pastry creme onto the flopped crêpes and having them as a mini dessert. The texture is so light and airy, as is the green tea flavor, so you get the essence and not a punch of matcha powder to the face. This recipe made the process super easy, and I've adapted it below to how I worked it out.

Greece - Lunch - Pita Bread

My favorite kind of food that isn't dessert is anything with carbs, especially bread. I love bread. A lot. There are so many different kinds and can be used in so many different ways. Nothing is better than bread to soak up the juices from meat at Christmas or Easter, or just warmed up and eaten straight. Unfortunately, bread isn't the healthiest option ever and there are many fad diets that discourage you from eating bread at all. A great, healthy solution to this is using whole wheat flour in place of bleached, white flour. Whole grain flour is full of nutrients and fiber, and it still retains that bready goodness that we all love. In Greece, Pita bread is traditional and used in lots of meals. I found this lovely recipe that makes the whole bread making process super simple! Use this as a base for pizza, sandwiches and as a dip into hummus or even salsa.

Greece - Breakfast - Greek Easter Bread

Another recipe that I discovered from my resident Greek friend is Greek Easter bread! This may be traditional for Easter, but I'm having no problem eating it right now at midnight as I'm writing up this post with a little bit of honey drizzle. My brother just came in and tore off a giant chunk for himself, and I got the nod of approval. I can't wait to eat it for breakfast tomorrow morning and share it with all my friends. Here is the recipe I followed, so you can share it with your loved ones! I'm going to grab some more...

Japan - Dessert - Japanese Cheesecake

I have a lot of friends and family who are gluten free, whether by necessity or by choice, and I always make sure to find gluten free recipes that are also delicious. Gluten free creations are often seen as flat, tough and sometimes inedible. In my experience, if you do a little research and buy the right ingredients, gluten free can be just as good or even better as recipes that use gluten products. This gluten free recipe that I followed is for Japanese cheesecake. Japanese cheesecake is a combination of the classic New York style cheesecake and sponge cake, using a meringue base to create a fluffy yet creamy cake. I hope this satisfies your tastebuds, whether you're gluten free or not!

Greece - Dinner - Pastitsio

Before this senior project, I didn't really know that much about Greek culture except what I watched in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Mamma Mia, 300, Clash of the Titans, Troy and Disney's Hercules. I went to my resident Greek friend and asked what I should make for dinner. She immediately said pastitsio, which I discovered is essentially Greece's lasagna. There are many different versions of pastitsio depending on which Mediterranean culture you're cooking for (Italy, Greece, Malta, Cyprus and Egypt all have their own versions). We're going to stick with Greece for this project, but feel free to research and explore different recipes! I used this one, which I adapted below.

France - Dessert - Gâteau Chocolat

When I was in Paris, I had the most amazing chocolate cake for dessert. Since then, I have been searching for recipes to try and recreate it. This recipe is one of my attempts, taken from a cooking blog of a French mother and cook. Classic chocolate cake is my go to birthday cake or pick me up food. It's amazing just by itself, or topped with whipped cream and fruit or powdered sugar. As you can tell, most of my dessert recipes are chocolate. I was born loving chocolate, and I don't see myself changing anytime soon. There's more to come, but for now try this one!

India - Lunch - Garlic Naan

I always knew that I wanted to try and make naan one day, but I never knew it would be this easy! Naan can be made in a variety of ways, but the recipe that I followed gave it a garlic, whole wheat twist. I was so happy with how it turned out. It was the perfect dinner side bread, and I know that it will be a nice breakfast, lunch or afternoon snack. Naan is very versatile. I know that I can eat the leftovers with hummus, cooked veggies, and cheese. In the future, naan would make an amazing pizza crust or sandwich bread (just open up the top and stuff it!). Click "Read More" to follow the steps to make your own naan.

France - Dinner - Coq au Vin

I chose to do two dinner recipes for France because in France it is traditional to serve a three course meal consisting of an entrée, main course and a dessert. French onion soup was my entrée, so coq au vin is my main course. Coq au vin is a dish of chicken braised with red wine, lardons and mushrooms. When searching for recipes, in my mom's extensive cookbook collection, I came across a vintage copy of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, which was given to my mom after it's owner, my grandmother's cousin Ellen, passed away from cancer. The book was found in her house, and it was stuffed with little mementoes from the time period, including a Time Magazine cover with Julia Child on it and a handwritten family recipe for French croissants. It was so lovely to enjoy this meal and toast her with my family, and I hope you can give it a try!

Spain - Dinner - Vegan Paella

My family never really got into Spanish food (we basically have Italian food every night), so I relied on my friends' recommendations when asking what I should make for my senior project. Paella was one of the first dishes that came up, and I butchered the pronunciation at first but figured it out eventually (who knew two L's make a Y sound? I guess I knew because of the word tortilla...). This dish I created following this recipe is so healthy and delicious, using vegetable stock and all kinds of good fruits and vegetables. It was fun and easy to make and made the whole house smell good. Enjoy!

India - Dessert - Strawberry Kulfi with Chocolate Shell

Before researching for this senior project, I didn't even know what kulfi was. Honestly, I had never really had much Indian food at all, but anything with the word ice cream in it sounded good to me. I wasn't sure how this recipe would turn out, but I'm so happy with it. Traditional kulfi calls for cardamom pods and pistachio, but because my dad is allergic to nuts and I couldn't find any cardamom pods and don't have a mortar and pestle to crush them, I omitted them from the recipe I followed. I chose a strawberry recipe because my favorite flavor, chocolate, goes perfectly with it. I made this healthier, self hardening chocolate shell I've made countless times before to harden on top of the kulfi, and it worked perfectly and tasted delicious. Here is my recipe!

Japan - Dinner - Sushi

When I was in third grade in Connecticut, we did a project on Japan, and my mom came in and made sushi for our whole class. I don't think I had any then because I immediately wrote off sushi as disgusting since it was made out of seaweed, but I really should have had it. I had sushi for the first time in the fall, and I fell in love and now crave it weekly. Homemade sushi, I think, can be so much better than restaurant made, and it's a lot cheaper. We made about eight rolls with all our ingredients, which added up to maybe $40. At a restaurant like Takara, eight rolls could cost you $80! Here is how I made my sushi. I didn't follow a recipe, so I will try and explain how to make it the best that I can!

India - Breakfast - Mango Lassi

When I was brainstorming recipes with my friends, I was told I have to make mango lassi for breakfast and that it would completely change my life. I was not lied to. Making this smoothie like yogurt and fruit concoction was so easy and the end result is so delicious and healthy! It's perfect for a hot spring or summer day as a breakfast or afternoon snack. I had mine lying in the sun on my back porch. Even though they are widely available here in the US, making it yourself allows you to know exactly what's in it and what you're putting in your body. Here's how you can make yours (I adapted from this recipe).

Spain - Lunch - Tortilla Española

When I went to Madrid, we went to this little café called Emma's. It was about 12:00, so we were the only ones there since the Spanish eat lunch so much later than Americans. The café had just opened, and the waiters seemed a little weirded out that we were there, but we ordered anyways. After our meal, the owner, whom we befriended, gave us free Tortilla Española. I didn't know what it was at the time, but it was delicious and I ate every bite. Recently, I went to a café in Cambridge with some friends and one of them got Tortilla Española. As soon as I saw it, I knew that's what I was served in Spain! Here is my recreation, using this recipe. 

Japan - Breakfast - Japanese Pancakes

Before researching recipes for this project, I had never heard of Japanese pancakes before in my life. I was skeptical at first, but was blown away by how good they taste. Japanese pancakes are very different from traditional American pancakes. They are taller, sweeter and have a texture very similar to a crumpet. Even without the egg rings the recipe calls for, the pancakes are still very thick and need to be cooked all the way through, but I highly recommend the egg rings, or cookie cutters in my case, they make the pancakes so cute and stackable!

Spain - Dessert - Flan de Café

I've never had flan before, but I've always wanted to try it, so my senior project provided the perfect opportunity. After following this recipe, I had coffee flan! Coffee is one of my favorite flavors to incorporate into baking, and it's so easy. Just add a little bit of instant coffee or espresso, or Kahlua, and your final product will have a little kick to it.

Spain - Breakfast - Chocolate con Churros

When I first went to Spain, everyone in our group got churros! They're so crispy and delicious, especially when dunked in chocolate sauce. Unfortunately, they are not very healthy because they are fried in oil. I found a great recipe for baked churros here, which take out the frying step and instead have you put them in the oven to bake. It took me a few tries to perfect, but the end result was incredible. If you want to have traditional churros, just follow the same steps but instead of baking them, fry them at 350 degrees in oil until they turn golden brown and crispy!

France - Dinner - French Onion Soup

When I had dinner at the oldest restaurant in Paris, À La Petite Chaise, they served me French onion soup as a starter. I had had Panera's French onion soup before, but nothing compares to the warm, gooey goodness that I ate that night! Since then, I have sampled French onion soups whenever I can, so it was a no brainer to include it as a part of my senior project. This recipe was so simple to follow and turned out very well. If you have extra at the end, I love to put the onions in between a French baguette with extra cheese and a little bit of the broth for a French onion soup sandwich!

France - Breakfast - Croissants

When I went to France for the first time, I had croissants every morning for breakfast! They, along with crêpes, coffee and macarons, are available virtually on every street corner in Paris. Even though nothing can compare to an authentic Parisian croissant, homemade ones are a perfect substitute and a lot cheaper than a plane ticket to Paris. I've always wanted to try and make croissants myself, but the meticulous preparation French food requires always scared me off; however, this recipe I am following breaks down the process very well, and even though it still takes a long time (give the whole process a full day and the next morning), the end product is so worth it. Bon chance et bon appetit!

France - Breakfast - Spinach and Gruyère Quiche

When I first went to Paris and had my first dinner, I had quiche as my first course. Since then, it's been one of my favorite meals. I get it every time I see it on a restaurant menu, and really enjoyed making my own for my family. You can put whatever you want in your quiche, but personally I love to put cheese, onions and spinach in mine. Quiche can be for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner depending on what you put in it, so you can just use the egg mixture as a base. I used this recipe, which made the whole process very simple, but if you wanted to have quiche spur of the moment, just use a ready made pie crust.

Italy - Dessert - Chocolate Gelato / Affogato al Caffè

In my hometown in Connecticut, there used to be this little gelato shop right next to our favorite Italian restaurant. When I was little, I went there and had gelato for the first time! Needless to say, my life was changed forever. Being a chocoholic (it runs in the family), I got chocolate gelato. I've always wanted to make my own, but having no ice cream maker discouraged me to try. I found this recipe from food.com and decided to give it a try for my senior project. To finish, I made my gelato into affogato al caffè, which is espresso poured over a scoop of gelato. When I was in Washington D.C. this fall, I had affogato for the first time and fell in love. I hope you do too!

France - Dessert - Chocolate Meringue Cookies

I added this recipe to my repertoire after making the gelato. I had 5 eggs worth left of egg whites, and my mom said I could make meringue cookies. Growing up, we always had coffee meringue cookies lying around the house, and once in a while my mom would give me one as a treat. You can make any flavor out of the meringue base, but because I am a chocoholic, I decided to do chocolate (adapted from this recipe). If you want, add some espresso powder for mocha, chocolate chips or just have them as plain vanilla! I'm sure lemon juice would make a nice lemon meringue, along with other fruit extracts. Meringue cookies are so, so easy to make and super fun to. I love whipping them up and seeing the peaks form. The photos don't do them justice!

Italy - Dinner - Mushroom Three Cheese Quinoa Risotto

Pasta is by far my favorite thing to eat, but it's full of carbs and not very healthy (I still have it every friday night religiously with my family, often with my mom's homemade red sauce). But on other nights, quinoa is a nice substitute for pasta, including risotto. If you don't know, quinoa is the only grain that has protein and can be used in a variety of ways. It's also very high in fiber, is gluten free and is loaded with good antioxidants and minerals. I followed this recipe by Mark Bittman from The New York Times for a very yummy dinner!

France - Lunch - Brie Apple Honey Crêpes

I've always loved French food, especially crêpes. My friends and I are constantly scouting the greater Boston area for crêpe places, and we haven't been disappointed. The only problem is, they aren't the healthiest option. Several years ago, I discovered this recipe from the fitness blogger Blogilates that makes the crêpe batter so much healthier and cheaper! I love this recipe for breakfast and lunch, and you can fill it with anything you like. For lunch, we're going to fill it with brie and apples, one of my favorite combinations.

Italy - Lunch - Pomodoro alla Maresi

One summer in New Jersey, my mom and I were inspired by a family friend's use of burrata in a dinner we had together. If you've never heard of burrata, you're not alone. That dinner was the first time I had it! Burrata is essentially mozzarella balls stuffed with ricotta cheese. Our friend put the burrata on tomato slices with balsamic and basil, and it was delicious! We decided to take her recipe and give it a Maresi twist. My mom (whose name is Estella Maresi, hence Pomodoro alla Maresi) invented this recipe off the top of her head the next day, and it has become one of our summer favorites. This recipe tastes best when using fresh produce, but those are hard to find at this time of year.

Italy - Breakfast - Espresso Biscotti & Honey Vanilla Latté

To kick off my senior project, I'm cooking for the culture that inspires my family cooking the most: Italy. 

Italian cuisine is characterized by its simplicity, valuing the quality of the ingredients over elaborate preparation. In the summer, my mom and I would always go to an Italian grocer called Joe Leone's in New Jersey. We would sample everything and go home with bags of cheese, wine, chocolate, vegetables and various meats. The one food that I loved to sample the most were the sweets, including biscotti. Combined with my favorite drink and a key Italian ingredient, coffee, biscotti is an amazing breakfast option! Though it may not be the healthiest, it's a great morning pick me up, especially since this recipe stuffs it with extra espresso powder and chocolate colored espresso beans.