Three Cheese Ziti with White Cheddar, Gruyere, & German Butterkase

There are probably millions of different mac 'n' cheese recipes in the world. Seriously. Cheese & pasta is one of those glorious combinations that you can switch up in so many different ways, creating delicious version after delicious version. So, today isn't about having The Perfect Recipe. It's about experimenting. Don't close the playbook on mac 'n' cheese just yet and call it game-over.

I recently came across a German cheese, called Butterkase, and knew instantly that I wanted to melt it into a rich, creamy sauce for some pasta. Butterkase is a semi-soft, cow's milk cheese, so it's smooth, creamy, and mild. (As my sister so eloquently put it, "Not too funky.") This cheese turned out to be a perfect addition to baked ziti!

Orzo & Brown Rice Salad with Shrimp, Basil, & Cherry Tomatoes

I've been on a rice salad streak lately. It started with a Mango-Cucumber concoction and now brings us to this combo of orzo and brown rice. (I've even got another rice recipe for later this week!) While grocery shopping a few days ago, I came across a bag of brown basmati and suddenly felt the urge to bring one home. This was weird for two reasons: 1) We don't eat brown rice often in my house...like...ever. And 2) That's because the Filipino in me will always crave white rice.

However, I find myself thoroughly enjoying the balanced flavor and texture of brown basmati rice. It's not as coarse or chewy, but still nutty and has a hearty bite. The fragrant flavor expected of basmati is also there. Paired with orzo pasta, it's the perfect foundation for a rice salad! This one is loaded with shrimp, fresh basil, and sweet cherry tomatoes!

Turkey & Asiago Meatballs with Mushroom-Tomato Ragout

My childhood was filled with Filipino food all day-everyday. In our house, it was longanisa for breakfast, adobo for lunch, then kare-kare for dinner. And dessert? Sliced mangoes or a few scoops of ube ice cream.

Whenever we had food from other cuisines, such as American or Italian, it was usually from a restaurant. (The first time that I ever ate macaroni and cheese was when I was 13...at a buffet.) My mom and I didn't start cooking many non-Filipino recipes together until I was a lot older. (Credit: The Food Network Boom. Seriously.) Then, my curiosity and appetite only grew when my home-ec class introduced me to foods like chili, caramel apples, and fudge. The fun part about cooking on my own now is that I get to dabble in a little bit of everything. Culinary school and my time spent traveling have only made that curiosity and appetite to learn grow even more.

Today, it's all about a couple of classics: meatballs & tomato sauce. As much as I love sticking to my Filipino and Pacific Island roots, and as much as I enjoy fusion dishes, it's always nice when I get to cook hearty, traditional comfort food from other cuisines. This is the kind of recipe that involves some serious love & labor over a hot stove...lots of sauteing, simmering, and stirring with wooden spoons. And, when you really think about it, there are many cultures all around the world that can relate to this. So, for something a little different yet still so familiar...Turkey & Asiago Meatballs with Mushroom-Tomato Ragout!

San Francisco: The Farmers' Market Lightning Round & A Bowl of Pappardelle

The other weekend, my mom made plans with my Auntie Mel to go into the city and shop around the farmers' market.

When I caught wind of this, obviously, I couldn't let her go without me. That would just be crazy.

It ended up being San Francisco: The Farmers' Market Lightning Round. I tagged along with my my parents, aunt, and uncle, and we hit not just one, but three markets that day! You can call me crazy, but I have no problem getting up at 6 on a Saturday morning for a farmers' market. And you know what? It was absolutely worth it. Gorgeous weather, gorgeous views, gorgeous produce, and a gorgeous bowl of pasta at the end of the day? Check, check, check, and check. Using all market-bought ingredients, I came up with an extremely simple and easy recipe for Romanesco & Pappardelle! It was a perfect way to end a day of walking around the city, shopping, and soaking up the sunshine.