I live in the most diverse neighborhood in the U.S. in a studio apartment with a tiny kitchen–35 square feet to be exact.

I grew up with an ungodly amount of kitchen appliances  and the smell of sweet potatoes wafting into my room at four in the morning thanks to parents in the food industry. An interest in food was almost mandatory in my household and while I’ve resisted for a while the inevitable has happened–the siren song of the kitchen has won.

I have a limited budget and a finicky belly–some foods just are a no go. I’m lactose intolerant and can’t eat soy and prefer mostly plant-based meals.Therefore you will notice that many of the foods on this blog are special diet friendly and often are at least one of the following: gluten free, diary free, soy free, vegan or vegetarian.