Site Content
Recipes
Ideas & Opinions
Recipes
Everything from desserts to ethnic entrees to soothe your cravings.
Reviews
Ideas & Opinions
Recipes
Music, movies, clothing, and anything else under the sun.
Ideas & Opinions
Ideas & Opinions
Ideas & Opinions
My outlook on life and suggestions on how to have a more positive attitude.
Recipes!
TikTok Peanut Butter Cookies
Easiest Overnight Chia Pudding
Easiest Overnight Chia Pudding
The 5 ingredient peanut butter dessert you didn't know you needed!
Easiest Overnight Chia Pudding
Easiest Overnight Chia Pudding
Easiest Overnight Chia Pudding
My number one dorm room staple!
Thanksgiving Roasted Veggies
Thanksgiving Roasted Veggies
Thanksgiving Roasted Veggies
The most flavorful and delicious roasted vegetable recipe. Super easy to make, and perfect for Thanksgiving or all year round!
IG: @Kailas_Kitchen_
Thanksgiving Roasted Veggies
Thanksgiving Roasted Veggies
Gallery of the various baked goods that can be found (and bought) on our Instagram page! 100% of the proceeds go towards the Westside German Shepherd Rescue in Los Angeles!
Reviews
Fine Line Album Review
Fine Line Album Review
Fine Line Album Review
Review and ranking of the second studio album by the one and only Harry Styles. The essential addition to your quarantine playlist.
AE Jeans Review
Fine Line Album Review
Fine Line Album Review
I have tried dozens of American Eagle Jeans so that you don't have to, and here are my top five favorites.
Ideas & Opinions
A Love Letter To My High School Self
5 Snacks You Should Try To Eat Everyday
5 Snacks You Should Try To Eat Everyday
A reflection of one year after graduation and how to deal with change.
5 Snacks You Should Try To Eat Everyday
5 Snacks You Should Try To Eat Everyday
5 Snacks You Should Try To Eat Everyday
Some simple healthy snacks that I highly recommend for a more balanced and nutritious diet.
TikTok's 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Are they actually good?
Just like everyone else on the planet right now, I have developed a severe addiction to TikTok, and being stuck in quarantine is definitely not helping the situation. While scrolling through my "for you" page, I stumbled upon a peanut butter cookie recipe and decided to save it for a rainy day. As I continued scrolling, I saw about three more people make the exact same recipe. I was hesitant to try it because I'm not the biggest fan of peanut butter cookies and quite frankly, the recipe seemed too good to be true. Five ingredients? No flour? There's no way this is going to taste good. Well...let's just say I was wrong and I will start giving peanut butter cookies a chance because these are delicious.
Also, since I saw several people make this exact same recipe, I have no idea who came up with it, but as soon as I find out I will be sure to give them credit.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp baking powder (baking soda works too)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)
Directions:
- preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
- whisk the brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and baking powder in a medium sized bowl until combined.
- incorporate the chocolate chips until evenly distributed within the batter.
- I used a non-stick cookie tray, but if you do not have one of those, you can just line any oven-safe tray with parchment paper.
- the dough will be a bit sticky and ooey gooey, so you may not want to use your hands when rolling them into balls. I would recommend using an ice cream scooper or any type of kitchen spoon to form the balls of dough and transfer them onto the parchment paper/cookie tray. The size of the cookie is completely up to your preference, but keep in mind that the bigger the cookie is, the longer it will take to bake evenly.
- bake for 10-20 minutes, depending on the strength of your oven. My oven does not get very hot, so mine ended up taking the full 20 minutes.
- You'll know the cookies are done when you can stick a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean. They should be a golden brownish color and the top layer would have reached a delicate crisp.
- Although it is very tempting to dive right in, they will taste much better after having 5-10 minutes to cool off and harden a little bit (they will still be soft don't worry). This way they won't fall apart when you try to eat them.
- ENJOY! :)
This recipe makes about a dozen cookies.
Instagram: @Kailas_Kitchen_
Overnight Chia Pudding
If you're looking for a quick breakfast meal prep, look no further than this overnight chia pudding!
Ingredients for pudding:
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Suggested toppings:
- berries
- honey/maple syrup
- nuts
Directions:
- In a small container, combine the chia seeds, almond milk, and vanilla extract together and stir until there are no clumps.
- Let the mixture sit on the counter for about five minutes, then once again stir it again until there are no clumps.
- Put the lid on and refrigerate overnight.
- Enjoy in the morning with your toppings of choice
This makes about 2 servings, so I typically meal prep this every two days to maintain freshness.
Thanksgiving Roasted Vegetables
Let's Get Started!
Quarantine has gotten me very into baking, which you can check out on my Instagram @Kailas_Kitchen_, but I started taking a Zoom culinary class recently, which inspired me to begin dabbling in the art of cooking as well. As Thanksgiving rapidly approached, I claimed the responsibility of preparing the vegetables - a classic Thanksgiving staple. With very little experience under my belt, I decided to fully commit and give it all I've got. Needless to say, the result was FANTASTIC, and I know consider myself to be a culinary genius ;)
Feel free to substitute in or swap out any of the veggies for your favorites, these are just what I used :)
This recipe serves about 8-10 people.
Ingredients:
- 3 yellow squash
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 3 sweet potatoes
- About 10 Brussels sprouts
- garlic salt
- powdered thyme
- rosemary (dried)
- brown sugar
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- soy sauce
- honey
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and wash all of the chosen vegetables.
- Cut both ends off of the yellow squash and cut the rest of it into circular slices. You can also cut each circle slice in half, depending on however big you wish to make them (note: they will shrink a bit when they cook, so keep that in mind when cutting). Repeat for the rest of the squashes.
- Cut pieces off of the head of cauliflower (we will be using the entire thing). Cut each piece in half, or however big/small you wish to make it. Cauliflower cooks rather quickly, so I wouldn't recommend cutting them any smaller than the pieces of squash.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into cubes. The easiest way to do this is to cut in vertically down the middle, then into thick strips, then cut the strips into cubes. The sweet potatoes will take the longest to cook, so in order to ensure everything cooks evenly, I would recommend cutting them into about 1/2 inch cubes.
- If you are using small Brussels sprouts, cut them in half. If they are bigger, cut them into fourths, but make sure the base is included in each piece, or else they will fall apart. Look at the image to the right for reference on which direction to cut. Make sure you always cut parallel to the direction of the stem/along the center.
- Combine all of the cut veggies in a large bowl, so we can begin to season them!
- Add about 3-4 TBSP of olive oil, 1/2 a TBSP of balsamic vinegar, a splash of soy sauce, a TBSP of brown sugar, and a drizzle of honey.
- Mix well so that every veggie is coated, and then add garlic salt, dried rosemary, and powdered thyme to taste. Continue to mix until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Lightly oil a large cookie tray (or two medium sized ones), and evenly distribute the veggies all along the tray. Try your best not to pile them on top of each other, because if you do, the ones on top will take longer to roast than the ones on the bottom.
- Bake for about an hour at 400 degrees F, or until the veggies begin to brown and the sweet potato is soft. After about 30 min, open the oven door and flip/mix around the veggies to the best of your ability with a spatula. This will ensure that all sides cook evenly. USE OVEN MITTS, THE TRAY WILL BE HOT!
- However long you choose to cook them for depends primarily on how well done you like your veggies, but I would recommend leaving them in the oven until you can easily stick a fork into one of the sweet potatoes. Also, feel free to taste one of the veggies if you are struggling to decide whether or not to take them out of the oven - BUT BE CAREFUL, THEY WILL BE VERY HOT!
- Once you remove them from the oven, let them cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to a serving dish.
- Serve and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, send me your thoughts and tag me in your photos @Kailas_Kitchen_ so I can cheer you on and applaud your awesome creation!
@Kailas_Kitchen_
Classic Cheesecake
Dairy-Free Banana Chocolate Cake
Blueberry Chocolate Chip Scones
Blueberry Chocolate Chip Scones
Dairy-Free Banana Chocolate Cake
Blueberry Chocolate Chip Scones
Dairy-Free Banana Chocolate Cake
Dairy-Free Banana Chocolate Cake
Dairy-Free Banana Chocolate Cake
Tiramisu
Russian Napoleon Cake
Dairy-Free Banana Chocolate Cake
Russian Napoleon Cake
Russian Napoleon Cake
Russian Napoleon Cake
Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes
Russian Napoleon Cake
Russian Napoleon Cake
Vanilla Meringues
Cinnamon Swirl Marble Cake
Cinnamon Swirl Marble Cake
Cinnamon Swirl Marble Cake
Cinnamon Swirl Marble Cake
Cinnamon Swirl Marble Cake
Chocolate French Macarons
Cinnamon Swirl Marble Cake
Chocolate French Macarons
Mini Lemon Cupcakes
Pumpkin Pie with Candied Walnuts
Chocolate French Macarons
Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Pumpkin Pie with Candied Walnuts
Pumpkin Pie with Candied Walnuts
Pumpkin Pie with Candied Walnuts
Pumpkin Pie with Candied Walnuts
Pumpkin Pie with Candied Walnuts
Harry Styles "Fine Line" Album Review
12. She
This song is definitely on the more mysterious side, and would make a killer addition to the soundtrack of literally any spy or action movie. The track just has a general cryptic vibe to it in the best way possible, and don't even get me started on the 2 minute guitar solo at the end. This man is a legend, breaking down all the barriers and I just can't get enough.
11. Treat People With Kindness
Harry's iconic catchphrase! To be totally honest, when he released the track list, I was most excited to hear this one because I had absolutely no clue what it was going to sound like. It is very unique and different, and I love the way it flows with the rest of the album. TPWK has pretty much become my catchphrase and you'll find it in all of my social media bios. I love Harry so much, but one of the things I love most is that of all the messages he could be spreading, the thing he communicates to his fans more than anything else is to be kind, and I just love that so much. It speaks volumes about his character.
10. Lights up
Do you know who you are? This iconic number was the first single off the album and I still vividly remember the mental breakdown I had at 9pm when I watched the countdown and debut of the song on youtube. This is one of those songs that makes you think about life in ways you normally wouldn't. If anything, it has encouraged me to start living a little more. The music video is iconic as well, so definitely check it out if you haven't already.
9. Sunflower, Vol. 6
Even though I still don't understand the "Vol. 6" part of the title, I just go with it at this point. I absolutely love the rhythm of this song and his voice massages the melody beautifully. Harry's voice does this stunning runs from low to high, then back down. Nobody else sounds like him, he is unique in literally every sense of the word.
8. Fine Line
Angels sang when I played this song for the first time. It really shows off Harry's voice and how high he can sing. The lyrics are so meaningful and they will touch your soul. This is the perfect song to listen to in the rain or when you want a minute alone. I could not think of a more fitting song to name the album after because it really summarizes the overall essence and vibe of the album. The music is also beautiful, Harry has one of the most talented bands I have ever heard.
7. Cherry
I. Love. This. Song. Personally, I think it has some of the greatest lyrics Harry has ever written. It feels so raw and vulnerable. It's about an ex girlfriend that he misses, but it feels like so much more. It is definitely one of the most poetic songs on the album. One of my favorite lyrics on the album is from this song. "There's a piece of you in how I dress, take it as a compliment." You can tell Harry really dug deep in this song, and I am so grateful he shared it with us.
6. Adore You
ICONIC. Literally everything from the lyrics, to his vocals, to the music video is perfect. The music video was more like a short film and I have watched it an embarrassing amount of times. The message of the song and the video is just so relatable and it can be interpreted in so many different ways. Harry really is a king and I definitely adore him ;)
5. Canyon Moon
I'd say this is the catchiest song on the album and I never want it out of my head. Last week I choreographed a dance to this song for my dance class and I had the best time. It is such a fun song and I could literally play it forever and it will never get old. This should be the song of the summer.
4. Watermelon Sugar
Probably the most confusing song on the album, but definitely a personal favorite. I am well aware that Harry was using substances when this song was written, which explains a lot, but I just love the general vibe of it. Definitely a weird song, but I love the music and the beat, the lyrics are fun too. Even though it's very out there, I think it ties in with the rest of the album very well because it serves as the loose, ice breaker song. I think every album needs one of those.
3. To Be So Lonely
You can't write a song with a reference to The Notebook and not expect it to instantly land in my top three. I love this song for so many reasons. The music is simple, but lyrically there is so much to unpack. This song is always on repeat in my house. It really just depends on your taste, but I think this song is a lyrical masterpiece.
2. Golden
Everything about this song is perfect. There is not one verse I do not love with all my heart. This reminds me of One Direction but with a twist. Imagine if Harry wrote the entire Four album, that's what this sounds like to me. Pretty much, what I'm trying to say is that this song is a masterpiece and Harry has really blessed our ears with this one.
1. Falling
I don't think this one even requires an explanation. There is no reason for the entire world not to be obsessed with this song. This is what you listen to if you are seeking a good cry or something to get you in touch with your emotions. If I were to audition for The Voice, this is the song I would sing. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard and I was full on sobbing when I listened to it for the first time. This is the song I belt out in the shower and when I am home alone. It is definitely worth your time, so if you are going to listen to any Harry Styles song, it should be this one. There are not enough words in the english language to express the perfection of this song. In conclusion, Harry Edward Styles has done it again.
AE Jeans Review
I tried 9 pairs of American Eagle pants so that you don't have to. Here are my top 5 :)
Not a sponsored post, I just love AE's clothing and I know it can be difficult to find the perfect pair of pants, so I wanna help! Also, AE is probably one of the most size inclusive stores I have shopped at, and I think it is very important to support brands who aim to create fashionable clothing for everyone. Let's get into it!
1. Skater Jean
I think I literally own five pairs of AE's skater jean. When I tell you I am literally obsessed, I promise I am not being dramatic. I have never found a style of jean that fits so perfectly. If you are like me and you can never find a pair of jeans that properly fit your thighs and your waist, these are the solution. For once I do not have to wear a belt to hide gapping in the wasit because these jeans fit in all the perfect ways. 10/10 recommend.
2. 90's Boyfriend Jean
If you are looking for comfy streetwear jeans that you can wear out to lunch but are also comfy enough to go to the library and grind for five hours afterwards, look no further than the 90's Boyfriend Jean. I will say, I have not been able to find a cute pair that are not totally shredded though, so just beware that if ripped jeans are not your thing, you may not find a pair of these to invest in.
3. Mom Jean
Yummy. That is the best way to describe these jeans. The material is amazing and they hug your body in all the right ways. So cute and so comfortable and they can easily be dressed up or dressed down. I am a very big fan.
4. Cargo Pants
Yes. Buy them. I own about four pairs of AE's cargo pants and I will say, they all fit a bit differently. Personally, I prefer their low and mid waisted cargos simply because I feel as though many of the high waisted ones are too baggy in the front. In my experience, the best high rise one is the "Stretch Super High-Waisted Baggy Wide Leg Pant"
5. Track Pant
Okay before anyone comes for me, I know these are not jeans, however I am absolutely obsessed with them and I thing everyone and their mother should buy a pair. They are so cute and so comfy you will literally never want to take them off. Trust.
A Love Letter To My High School Self
If I could go back to the first day of senior year and talk to the girl that I was then, I would tell her that I am proud of her and that everything is going to be okay. I was so sad on that day because I feared it was the beginning of the end, and although I hate to say that she was right, all good things must come to an end. I learned who I could trust and who I could not. I learned that ripping off the bandaid slowly really only causes you more pain and is harder for people to watch. I learned that people who are meant to be in your life will find a way to get there. Through what some may call a couple of unorthodox circumstances, I met some of the greatest friends I have ever known. The kind of friends you could hang out with every single day and never get bored of. The kind of friends who will randomly come pick you up because they are bored and they want to see you. The kind of friends who will always show up for you when you really need them. Acknowledging head nods in hallways turned into late night drives and talks in my kitchen until two o'clock in the morning. Friends who drove to my house in the middle of the night and picked me up because I was home alone and scared. Friends who formed bonds with my family and who trusted me and confided in me, and me to them. We graduated in the spring and spent the entire summer together. Graduation parties and dinners turned into wandering around London at night, exploring museums in Italy, clubbing in Paris, shopping in Germany, hiking in Switzerland, and trying to make sense of the unusual place that is Amsterdam. Together we braved senior year, graduated, and got to explore parts of the world that we had never seen before. But just as I feared, all things must of course come to an end. The sadness I felt the week leading up to my moving to college was unparalleled to anything I had ever felt in my entire life. I was scared to move and I was sad to leave the people that I love. Now, I have just completed my first year of college and I was sad to leave my little college town for the summer. If this past year has taught me anything, it is that life is a series of fleeting moments. In every phase of life you are going to meet new people and be in a different circumstance. The key is to try to enjoy every moment while you are living it, as opposed to being sad over the thought that one day it is going to be over. The truth is that everything must eventually come to an end, that is simply the cycle of life. If you spend so much time worrying about the future, you are just going to find yourself dreaming about the past and wishing you would have enjoyed it more. Life is such a beautiful thing because there are constantly new people for you to meet and new places for you to experience. You owe it to yourself to live every moment to the fullest. Enjoy today and save your worries for tomorrow until 11:59pm. A good friend once told me: “life moves on, are you going to move on with it?”
Five Things You Should Try To Incorporate Into Your Diet
It can be extremely challenging to find foods that are both good for you and tasty. I am a big snacker, but I also like to practice a healthy lifestyle. It's okay to reach for that cookie or that bag of chips every once in a while, but I have been on a mission to find healthy ways to soothe my cravings between meals.
Before I begin, let me preface this by saving that I am not a nutritionist or a dietary expert of any kind. This is just what I know from doing research, and what I have found works for me. You should still be eating 3 meals a day and drinking lots of water. These snacks are not meal replacements, and obviously don't eat them if you have any allergies or sensitivities :)
1. Walnuts
Walnuts are very rich in antioxidants and will add a nice crunch to your salad, yogurt, oatmeal, or just on their own! A few years ago my grandfather made me promise him that I would eat a few raw walnuts everyday. I did not question it, I just listened because why not, but recently I have been doing some more research, and there are so many health benefits I had no idea about. Walnuts can reduce inflammation, support weight control, and they may even reduce risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers. As great as this sounds, do not overdo it! Walnuts are great, but just like any other nut, you should not have more than just a few everyday because excessive nut consumption may cause acne or dehydration.
2. Lemon Water
I remember reading online that drinking warm lemon water every morning on an empty stomach promotes weight loss. I was obviously skeptical at first, but I decided to try it anyway and I definitely got some results. Aside from that, there is a great source of Vitamin C from the lemons which everybody can probably benefit from right about now. Lemon water is also good for your skin and your digestion. If you find it to be too sour to drink, I found that adding cinnamon can help. Cinnamon is also very good for you, but in my experience, eating it everyday worsened my acne. Take that with a grain of salt however because that really just depends on your skin type and how acne prone you are. Lastly, interestingly enough, I also learned that the citric acid in the lemons may help prevent kidney stones!
3. Fruits
This probably seems like an obvious one, but there is a reason we were all encouraged to eat fruit when we were children. The levels of potassium in fruit are known to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. I have created a habit of replacing unhealthy snacks with different fruits, and I promise at the end of the day you will feel so much better physically and emotionally. If you're opting for some crunch, grab an apple. Sweetness? Go for the berries. Sour? Grab a pomegranate or grapefruit. There are so many kinds of fruit, you just need to find which ones you like best and you'll be more inclined to eat them. Blueberries are one of my personal favorites, and I recently found out that they are proven to reduce DNA damage, meaning that they may help protect against aging and cancer. Another great one is bananas because they contain a mineral called Manganese, which is good for your skin, and the high levels of potassium are good for your heart and blood pressure. These are just a few examples of why you should definitely make a point of including fruit in your diet. It is probably the most important item on this list.
4. White Tea
I first became acquainted with white tea because my high school Hebrew teacher would drink it everyday in class. I was big into herbal teas, but I had yet to try white. I remember she and I were having a discussion about the benefits of white tea versus green tea. Both are great for you and are known to promote weight loss, but she was giving me so much new information on this foreign tea which I had honestly never heard of. I went home that night and did some research, and she was absolutely right, so that weekend I went to the grocery store and bought a box. White tea is rich in antioxidants, helps protect your teeth from bacteria, has compounds that are believed to help fight cancer, and it may protect against skin aging. I would even go as far as to call it the healthiest tea because along with containing all of these benefits, it is also the least processed tea.
5. Avocado
One of my personal favorites. Avocados are high in calories and contain quite a few healthy fats, so they may not be the best food for weight loss, but I would still recommend incorporating them in your diet. Again, I am not a professional, but I would recommend eating half an avocado on a daily basis, whether in sandwiches, on toast, in a salad, etc. Avocados are rich in nutrients, contain lots of potassium, and are loaded with fiber and antioxidants. Avocados are also known to be good for your heart, your digestion, and even your vision.