Author: Lily

Happy Friday! Here’s the latest Columbus restaurant news: At long last, after being closed since a car crashed into it in January, Mezcla is reopening on Friday, June 5. The modern Mexican spot is owned by chef Garrett Talmadge, and originally opened in April of 2025. The Columbus nonprofit Local Matters announced that they will begin winding down operations over the coming weeks. It was founded by Michael Jones and Noreen Warnock in 2008, and has featured a number of programs in food education, advocacy, food rescue, and more over the years. They cited changes in critical funding as the…

This tofu pad thai is a vegan take on the classic Thai noodle dish, made with tender rice noodles, golden tofu, crunchy veggies, and a tangy-sweet tamarind sauce. The sauce is perfectly balanced: not too sweet, not too salty, and packed with that signature pad thai flavor. It’s fresh, satisfying, and way easier to make at home than you might think. Serve these rice paper dumplings with tofu pad thai for an easy vegan takeout-style dinner. Friends, if you’ve been let down by homemade pad thai before, this recipe is about to change everything. The secret? Real tamarind. So many…

Mediterranean orzo salad with crunchy veggies, briny feta, fresh herbs, and a zesty Greek-style dressing. This easy recipe tastes even better the next day—perfect for make-ahead lunches and cookouts! Photo Credits: Miriam Novoa My Trip to Greece Inspired this Orzo Salad Recipe This simple orzo salad recipe was inspired by a summer trip to Greece, which essentially mandates a twice-daily Horiatiki (Greek Salad). I was a little too hungry to call that dinner, so I quickly boiled orzo pasta and tossed it right in.  Not only was it a flavorful, fresh, and feel-good meal, I also happily enjoyed the leftovers…

Oil-free Black sesame cookies are chewy, nutty and delicious. They need 1 Bowl, some almond flour, creamy tahini and sticky-sweet dates for amazing flavors and textures The black sesame is a beautiful addition to cookies, adding a great nutty flavor and crunch. Black sesame is trending, so I decided to use it in these fabulous cookies. I use my almond flour cookie dough that you all know I love, because you don’t need any extra bowls, any whipping up of butter and sugar and all of that. No extra equipment, and they come together in about 15 minutes. One of…

Welcome to another month of Cook With Sam Club! 💛 I polled you and asked what recipe should be June’s challenge and everyone voted: Vegan BBQ Sheet Pan Dinner. And I am so excited about it!! It’s smoky, hearty, and everything cooks together on one pan. BBQ tofu bites, crispy potatoes, and a rainbow of roasted veggies all glazed in sticky, caramelized BBQ sauce. It’s the kind of meal that feels like summer on a plate. 🌽🫑 Whether you’re firing up the oven for a weeknight dinner, doing some summer meal prep, or just craving those smoky BBQ vibes without…

You’ll love this comforting one-pan chicken orzo recipe, prepared Greek-style! Chicken thighs and orzo bake together in a flavorful mixture with garlic, bell peppers, and tomato. Easy and satisfying! Photo Credits: Mark Beahm Greek-inspired Chicken Orzo is a Family Favorite! Chicken dinners are always a hit at my house. This chicken orzo recipe is one of my girls’ favorites!  As a busy home cook and working mom, I’m always up for healthy one-pot dinners. Cooking chicken with a grain or pasta in the same pot is a recipe for success. You keep in all the flavor and have fewer dishes…

Potatoes are one of those versatile vegetables that seem to regularly make their way onto every dinner table. Creamy potato soup is a cold weather classic, but it can feel too heavy for hotter summer months. Dill potato salad with dill pickles though is the perfect summer side dish. The Humble (White) Potato I’ll admit that I haven’t created a ton of recipes with potatoes. I more recently started eating them after sticking mostly with sweet potatoes while I was healing from autoimmune disease. Even though they don’t always get much love, regular potatoes actually have some impressive nutrition.  The…

As if we didn’t need more reasons to visit Metsi’s in the Short North, they’ve just launched a new spring and summer drink menu that features five takes on the Aperol spritz! Available all summer long, the menu gives you five different approaches to the beverage, from the more classic Sogno that’s augmented with grapefruit, to the spicy and margarita-adjacent Watermelon Fresno, to the shot-and-a-beer Spaghet. Here they are in order: Sogno Hugo Strawberry Basil Watermelon Fresno Spaghet The Sogno is great if you prefer a more classic style of the spritz. The Hugo is clean and refreshing; I enjoyed…

Key Takeaways Weight loss includes losing water, muscle, and fat, and not just body fat. Fat loss focuses specifically on reducing excess body fat while preserving lean muscle. Sustainable fat loss supports better energy, strength, metabolism, and long-term health outcomes. A physician-guided approach can help improve fat loss while protecting muscle mass and preventing rebound weight gain. When most people begin a health journey, they focus on one number: the number on the scale. But medically speaking, there is a major difference between weight loss and fat loss, and understanding that difference can completely change how you approach your goals.…

It only takes about 20 minutes to prepare this pistachio-crusted salmon. The crushed nut coating is a flavorful way to upgrade this easy salmon recipe for a stunning, but simple, weeknight dinner. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm A Naturally Gluten-Free Crusted Salmon Upgrade A blend of chopped pistachios, lemon, Dijon mustard, garlic, cumin, and honey adds irresistible flavor to this salmon recipe, plus the satisfying gluten-free crunch and textural interest I’m looking for. Pistachios and salmon may not seem like an intuitive pairing at first. But pistachios have a buttery, woody flavor that matches salmon’s richness. Best of all, while it…