This is a too-long-delayed “role models” post! I’m picking this series back up by highlighting an amazingly talented young woman, Sunisa Lee. I never knew who the Hmong people were until my first day of freshman year in college. That’s when I met my dear friend Kou who has been a pillar of friendship for…
Author: vnp1210
Hitting Refresh
For many people around the world, 2020 became a time to re-evaluate, reset, and delve into creative outlets. For others, it was a time to figure out how to survive (in more ways than the obvious). I fell into that latter group for sure. Though I am grateful for the countless ways in which my…
My 2020 Audiobooks
I’m posting this a bit late, clearly, but 2020 was…you know. Sadly, this list is much shorter than previous lists, but I am cutting myself some slack because, well, you know. I am hopeful that 2021’s book list will be far more robust! This book has gotten much attention in the self-help world. I thought…
Ultra Healthy Oatmeal
Here we are, nearly five full months into 2020, and it is my first post for the year! Between having baby #3 and dealing with the pandemic, things have been interesting to say the least. I have been on maternity leave for nearly 10 weeks now, and I wanted to share a “recipe” for one…
My 2019 Audiobooks
This is my fourth year using Audible! I love seeing other people’s book lists, so the reason I have done these end-of-year posts is to hopefully inspire interest in the books on this list. This year, I thought I would include a list of my 5 favorites to start off with! Here are my previous…
Kerala Egg Roast (Mutta Roast)
This is another favorite recipe using only a few ingredients and even fewer Indian spices. I could have sworn I had this post up already, but when I went to find it, I couldn’t! The difference between this dish and a traditional egg curry is that there is much less liquid gravy. The onions in…
Puttu
Today I’m sharing another favorite Kerala breakfast dish (I know – every dish is “favorite” for me, but that’s because Malayali food is life). This was my first time making it, and once again I was pleasantly surprised by how simple it was! This version is made with wheat flour (gothambu puttu), but it’s also…
Simple Moru Curry (Kerala Spiced Yogurt Curry aka Kerala-style Kadhi)
Pretty much every Indian knows what kadhi is — a version of a spiced yogurt curry that is delicious to pour over rice as a flavorful sauce. The Kerala version is called moru curry or kachimoru. As with most Kerala recipes, the special ingredient in our version is coconut. This recipe is extremely simple and…
How to Crave Salad
Years ago, a salad was probably the last item on a menu I would order and the last thing I would want to make/eat at home. However, I do not recall salads being as versatile, nutritious and delicious as they are now! You definitely need to be careful not to load your salads with unhealthy…
One Year in Charleston
“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.” James Baldwin Today, May 25, 2019, marks exactly one year since we moved to Charleston. The entire move was a total whirlwind, to say the least. I had just delivered our second daughter, and exactly two weeks (!!) later, we moved to Charleston. We…
Carrot and Green Onion Thoran
Here is another simple, healthy, and easy recipe for thoran, a ground coconut-based vegetable side dish common in Kerala cuisine. What I love about thoran is that you can use any of your favorite vegetables; the base of the recipe stays the same! This is one of my favorite combinations, not only for the yummy…
How I Use My Fitness Tracker
If you have read my previous fitness posts (linked below) or follow my IG stories, being active is a very important part of my life. My love of exercise actually began in medical school over a decade ago. It was an outlet for me which helped my mood and gave me a way to manage…
pen . paper . storm 