Sausage Stir-Fry

This quick and flavorful stir-fry is perfect for busy days. Using pre-cooked chicken sausage—such as the pineapple-flavored variety from Costco—adds a subtle sweetness that pairs nicely with the savory Asian-style sauce.  Serve it over hot steamed rice for a simple, satisfying meal.

Ingredients:

• 3 chicken sausages, sliced into 1-inch rounds
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup white onion, sliced
• 1 cup frozen stir-fry vegetable mix

Stir-Fry Sauce ingredients:

• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• A pinch of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.  Add the minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant.

2. Add the sliced onion and frozen vegetables.  Stir-fry for 5–7 minutes, or until the vegetables are heated through and slightly tender.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until smooth.  Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir well to coat.

4. Continue cooking for another 1–2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.  Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Serve hot over steamed rice.

Cilantro Pesto

• Pesto is one of the easiest ways to elevate everyday cooking.  A spoonful can brighten meatballs, add depth to grilled fish, or become a quick marinade for chicken or vegetables.  While store‑bought pesto is convenient, it can be pricey — and making your own at home is both economical and customizable.  With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can create a vibrant cilantro pesto that fits your family’s taste and budget.  Inserted through new it is Cooking isn’t difficult; it simply takes a little curiosity and the willingness to try recipes that bring joy to your table.

  Ingredients:

  2 bunches

  Fresh cilantro (Aldi is a great option)

  1/4 cup lemon juice

  1/2 cup roasted walnuts

  4 cloves of garlic.

  1 tsp salt

  1/4 tsp black pepper

  1 cup quality olive oil

  1/3 cup

  Grated Parmesan cheese

  Directions:

  Wash the cilantro thoroughly and pat dry to remove excess moisture.

  Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor.

  Blend until smooth and well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.

  Transfer the pesto to a glass jar with a tight‑fitting lid.

  Refrigerate and use within several days for best flavor.

   

  Quick Tips for Serving Pesto:

  • Toss with warm pasta for an instant sauce.  Add a splash of pasta water for creaminess.
  • Use as a marinade for chicken, fish, or shrimp (15–30 minutes is enough).
  • Stir into salads by mixing pesto with lemon juice or olive oil.
  • Spread on toasted bread or sandwiches for extra flavor.
  • Mix into warm rice or quinoa to create a fragrant herb side dish.
  • Add a spoonful to soups like chicken soup or vegetable soup for depth.
  • Coat roasted vegetables right after they come out of the oven.
  • Drizzle over tacos or burrito bowls, especially fish or shrimp tacos.
  • Stir into scrambled eggs or omelets for a bright, herbal note.
  • Turn into a dip by mixing with yogurt or mayonnaise.

  Stir into scrambled eggs or omelets for a bright, herbal note.

Sweet Potato Muffins

I make these sweet potato muffins every fall—they’re soft, naturally sweet, and full of cozy flavor.  Adapted from a pumpkin muffin recipe, this version has a deeper, richer taste that sweet potatoes do beautifully. They’re also a wonderful way to use up leftover sweet potatoes.  You can easily customize them with nuts, dried fruits, or your favorite spices.

 Ingredients:

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup mashed cooked sweet potato

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup coconut milk

1 large egg

1 cup self-rising flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1/3 cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).  Grease a 6-cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.

Blending the wet ingredients:

In a blender, combine the mashed sweet potato, egg, sugar, olive oil, and coconut milk.  Blend until smooth.

Mixing the dry ingredients:

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, chopped nuts, and raisins.

Combining:

Pour the blended mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently fold together until just combined—do not overmix.

Filling the muffin cups:

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup about 3/4 full.

Baking:

Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cooling:

Let the muffins cool in the pan briefly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips & Variations:

Add a pinch of nutmeg or ginger for extra warmth

Swap raisins for dried cranberries or chopped dates

Use honey or coconut sugar for a more natural sweetness

For a healthier twist, substitute part of the flour with whole wheat flour

 

Soft, fragrant, and lightly nutty – these muffins are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or a cozy afternoon treat.

White Beans and Tuna Salad

This simple Spanish-inspired salad is one of my favorite quick meals—light, nourishing, and full of protein and fiber.  Most kitchens already have the essentials: a can of tuna and a can of white beans. Using high‑quality tuna packed in olive oil makes the flavors richer, but water‑packed tuna works too; you’ll just need a bit more olive oil to bring everything together.

It’s the perfect recipe for days when you don’t have much time but still want something wholesome.  It also pairs beautifully with a sandwich for a complete meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can of tuna
• 1/2 cup red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup black olives, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley or mint
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Zest and juice of 1 small lemon
• 1/4 cup good-quality olive oil

Directions:

1. Drain the tuna and place it in a large bowl.  Add the white beans and black olives, gently tossing to combine.

2. Add the red onion, parsley or mint, black pepper, lemon zest, and lemon juice.  Mix lightly so the beans stay intact.

3. Adjust to taste: add more lemon juice for brightness, olive oil if dry, and salt as needed.

4. Adjust the seasoning:

o    Add more lemon juice for extra brightness.

o    If the salad seems dry, drizzle in extra olive oil until the texture is right.

o    Add salt to taste.

5. Refrigerate before serving to let the flavors meld.

 

Tips:

You can add cucumbers, lettuce, or cherry tomatoes.

Destiny or Choice?

Throughout history, many people have believed that a person’s destiny is predetermined and that we simply follow a path already laid out for us.  This raises a question that has long troubled humanity: Can destiny be changed?

What truly determines the course of our lives — our successes, failures, joys, and sorrows?  Are these shaped by external circumstances, or by a hidden force within us that we have yet to recognize?

In Eastern philosophy, human destiny is often explained through three elements: Heaven – Earth – Human (Thiên – Địa – Nhân).  These three factors are considered the foundation of one’s fate.  When we understand them correctly, our entire perspective on life begins to change.

To understand this more clearly, let us start with the two elements that are most familiar and easiest to recognize: Human and Earth.

Human — the inner factor

Human (Nhân) refers to who we are internally: our personality, health, behavior, habits, and the way we respond to life.

From our daily routines and lifestyle to our patterns of thinking and decision-making, all of these form the inner core of who we are.  This is the first foundation influencing our life’s direction.

Earth — the external environment

If Human represents the inner world, then Earth (Địa) represents everything surrounding us: our environment, work, relationships, social position, home, family, friends, and reputation.

In other words, Earth is the overall context in which we live — the opportunities and challenges that life places before us.

Heaven — the most mysterious element

Once we understand Human as the self and Earth as circumstance, the remaining element is Heaven (Thiên) — often viewed as the most mysterious and important factor.

Many people associate “Heaven” with God or a supernatural power capable of controlling destiny.  But is this truly the original meaning?

If we trace the word back to ancient Eastern characters carved on oracle bones, we find that the symbol for “Heaven” resembles a human head.  This suggests a different interpretation:

Heaven is not fate imposed from above, but the way humans think — the habits of the mind.

When this becomes clear, everything changes

If Heaven represents our patterns of thought, then the key to changing destiny lies within our own hands.

Imagine life as a triangle:

At the top is Heaven — our way of thinking.

At the two lower corners are Human (who we are) and Earth (our environment).

 

From the top of the triangle, our thinking influences both our character and our circumstances.  Destiny, therefore, is not a fixed road, but a path formed by the repeated patterns of thought we carry every day.

 

For example:

If a person constantly believes they are inadequate or destined to fail — that is Heaven.  Over time, they act timidly and lack confidence — that is Human.  As a result, they miss opportunities for growth or advancement — that is Earth.

Simply changing one’s thinking plants new seeds that gradually transform both the self and one’s circumstances.

A Buddhist perspective: The mind as the root

This idea resonates strongly with an important teaching in Buddhist philosophy: the mind is the root of experience.

The mind functions like a lens through which we perceive the world.  The external world may not change much, but our experience of it depends on the state of our mind.

This does not mean thoughts can magically alter physical reality.  Rather, it means:

What we experience in life is shaped by the condition of our mind.

For example:

If we view the workplace as a battlefield of competition, we naturally become defensive, which in turn creates tension in the environment.

If we see it as a place for cooperation and shared growth, we become more open — and that openness gradually influences the atmosphere around us.

The world itself may remain the same, yet our inner experience becomes entirely different.

So what is destiny?

Perhaps destiny is neither completely predetermined nor entirely random.

Destiny is the result of how we think, how we act, and how we relate to our circumstances each day.

When the mind changes, actions change.

When actions change, circumstances begin to change.

Destiny, then, is not something we must submit to – it is something we are quietly creating, moment by moment.