Sandi’s Tiny Kitchen

11/27/2025

Soup season is in full swing! What are you hungry for?

Happy Cooking!

11/20/2025

Daikon: the unsung champion of Asian comfort food 🤍
Mild, juicy, and tender when cooked. Swipe to find out more!

Bonus: Daikon recipe ⤵️
https://sandistinykitchen.com/daikon-napa-cabbage-soup-with-shiitake/

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11/18/2025

Daikon Napa Cabbage Soup with Shiitake

I’ll happily call it soup season any time of the year, but it feels especially right when the days get colder. This Daikon Napa Cabbage Soup with Shiitake is everything I crave on a chilly day! Light, nourishing, and full of umami from fresh shiitake mushrooms, it's the kind of soup that warms you from the inside out. The Napa cabbage and daikon simmer into tender sweetness, and if you'd like, a few cubes of tofu make it even heartier....

Warm up with this Asian-style Mushroom Napa Cabbage Soup with Daikon, packed with shiitake mushrooms and tender veggies.

11/12/2025

When you think of Indian cuisine, you might imagine a long list of spices—turmeric, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cloves, and more. But what if I told you that you could achieve bold, authentic flavor with just five jars of spices instead of ten?

You can always add more spices for depth and complexity, but there’s beauty in keeping it simple and still capturing the essence of Indian cooking. This recipe is a family recipe from my in-laws—one my husband grew up eating, which I have also made regularly for the past ten years. High in protein, easy to make, packed with flavor, served nicely with naan, roti, or rice.

To make this Spicy Dal, you will need:

5 cups water plus extra
1 tsp sea salt plus extra
½ lb chanal dal or yellow split peas
3 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion chopped
4 cloves garlic chopped
1 tsp finely chopped ginger
1 Roma tomato chopped
1 to 2 green chili peppers chopped
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground cumin powder
¼ to ½ tsp cayenne pepper or to taste
½ tsp regular or smoked paprika
¼ tsp garam masala
Black pepper to taste
1 tsp dried oregano optional
¼ tsp corriander powder optional
¼ tsp fennel seeds optional
A pinch of black mustard seeds optional

The full recipe is on my blog 🔗:

https://sandistinykitchen.com/spicy-chana-dal-recipe-indian-lentil-curry/

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11/12/2025

Suppose you're craving a cozy and flavorful Indian lentil curry. In that case, this Spicy Chana Dal recipe is the one to try. Made with just five simple spices: Turmeric, cumin, cayenne, paprika, and garam masala. This classic Indian dish is a satisfying vegetarian dish that's high in protein and full of flavor. Whether you enjoy it with rice, naan, roti, or on its own, this easy recipe brings home-cooked goodness to your table....

Learn how to make Spicy Chana Dal with just five simple Indian spices. A healthy, protein-packed lentil curry that’s comforting and full of flavor.

11/07/2025

Not all pork chops are the same! Here are the 3 most common cuts you’ll find at the store — loin, rib, shoulder (aka blade) chops. Each cooks a little differently, and knowing the difference can make or break your dinner. Save this post for your next pork night! 🍴

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11/04/2025

If you’re into easy one-pot pasta recipes, you’ve got to try this mini pot pasta with cauliflower! I call it a mini pot pasta because you can make it in a saucepan as small as 1.5 quarts. The portion is just right as a side dish or a cozy main for two. The cauliflower adds a fresh, light flavor that makes this pasta absolutely irresistible....

Make this easy one-pot cauliflower pasta in under 20 minutes! A small-batch, cozy meal for two — fresh, flavorful, and made in one small saucepan.

10/29/2025

Making congee doesn’t need to be complicated. I like keeping it simple. I pick a protein, then add my favorite toppings and condiments, and now I got myself a comfort meal.

Save this post or share it to someone who loves congee! You can find congee recipes in my reels, or comment CONGEE and I’ll send you a link.

Happy Cooking!

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10/24/2025

New favorite dinner spot alert 🚨

I tried the tasting menu at Twin Tails in Columbus Circle, and it was so good (and so much food). We even took home leftovers, which never happens after a tasting menu. The dinner took longer than expected (because it took so much time to eat 😂), so we had to run to Lincoln Center for our show!

First time seeing the LA Dance Project perform, and it was such a stunning performance and a perfect way to end the night.

My recommendations from Twin Tails ⬇️

🔸 The Grand Appetizer
🔸 Grilled Branzino
🔸 Shaking Beef
🔸 Vietnamese Mocha Souffle
🔸 Ube Crème Caramel (This one is my FAVORITE!)

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10/10/2025

Never get tired of this!

07/17/2025

It was our final day in Mendoza, with a flight back to Buenos Aires later that afternoon. We also had one last appointment after lunch. We had every intention of keeping track of time (our lovely guide, Paola, runs a tight ship), but the moment we stepped inside Bodega Alta Vista… we didn’t want to leave.

There’s something special about this place—maybe it’s the charming garden where guests can picnic, the cozy grill at the heart of their restaurant, Restaurante Assemblage, or the quiet touch of France woven throughout the winery. Whatever it was, it made us feel right at home.

Bodega Alta Vista is a French family-owned winery known for its single-vineyard Malbecs. Their vineyards—located in Mendoza and Cafayate—allow them to produce high-quality wines that reflect the land, the terroir.

Restaurante Assemblage, their on-site restaurant, offers a refined, five-course pairing experience with estate wines, sparkling wines… and even cognac. Very French, indeed. And another fun fact: The winery was once owned by one of the best Champagne houses, Piper-Heidsieck.

Thanks to winemaker Adrián, we squeezed in a quick tour of the underground cellar and other parts of the winery right before dessert. Paola was probably checking her watch when we got up and left our table! (She was amazing - she made sure we made it to our final tasting and the airport.) Getting a behind-the-scenes look at where all the hard work happens tied everything together. One for the books.

A big shout-out to Marcia and everyone at .altavista and . Thanks for the warm hospitality—and for making our last meal in Mendoza so memorable. ✨

07/05/2025

Just some good ole 4th of July hot dogs and burgers on the Jersey Shore ☀️🏖️

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