Kat Lieu
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muckrack.com/kat-lieu Freelance Food Writer and Author
Articles by Kat Lieu
Kat Lieu’s Easy Pumpkin Scissor Cut Noodles
CuisineAsianBudgetSeasonalApplianceCooking StyleHigh-FiberHigh-ProteinPan FryOne-Pot or PanMashupBig BatchStove TopKid-FriendlyDinnerThanksgivingHealthyComfort Food These pumpkin scissor-cut noodles are one of the most satisfying weeknight dinners you can make from scratch — no pasta machine, no rolling pin, just scissors and a pot of boiling water. The pumpkin-tinted dough comes together in minutes and gets snipped directly into the pot for chewy, rustic noodles with character.
How To Prevent Your Matcha Whisk From Growing Mold
Rinse your bamboo matcha whisk with water after use and store it on a whisk stand to prevent mold growth. Avoid washing your bamboo whisk with soap or in the dishwasher to prevent damage, as the tips can easily break. Mold can develop in bamboo whisks if they are not properly air-dried, so it's important to keep them in a well-ventilated area. Do you love making matcha at home but worry your bamboo whisk will eventually grow mold? After all, it is constantly wet.
How To Prevent Your Matcha Whisk From Growing Mold
Making matcha at home is incredibly satisfying, but it won't be fun if your whisk grows mold. We spoke with an expert to learn how to care for ours. Do you love making matcha at home but worry your bamboo whisk will eventually grow mold? After all, it is constantly wet. Well, fret not, because we spoke to Jee Choe, a tea sommelier and the founder of the blog Oh, How Civilized, and uncovered how to prevent your matcha whisk from growing mold.
If You Have A Sleeve Of Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter, And Chocolate, You Have Easy 30-Minute Cookies
If You Have A Sleeve Of Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter, And Chocolate, You Have Easy 30-Minute Cookies Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock Are you craving homemade cookies but don't have much time? Or perhaps the thought of making cookies from scratch frightens you. Well, either way, fret not. We have just the tip for you to make delicious cookies with just three ingredients and 30 minutes.
If You Have A Sleeve Of Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter, And Chocolate, You Have Easy 30-Minute Cookies
Are you craving homemade cookies but don't have much time? Or perhaps the thought of making cookies from scratch frightens you. Well, either way, fret not. We have just the tip for you to make delicious cookies with just three ingredients and 30 minutes. All you'll need is a sleeve of Ritz crackers (or similar crackers), some peanut butter, and melted chocolate to make impressive-looking and tasty chocolate-covered cookie sandwiches.
Why Recipe Blogs Always Seem To Lie About Times
Ever try a recipe you found online, only to discover it took way longer to make than the blogger promised? Whenever that happens, it feels like recipe blogs are lying about prep and cook times, doesn't it? Well, as the founder of recipe blog Modern Asian Baking and the author of three cookbooks, I can assure you that it's usually not deception but more about how subjective time in the kitchen really is. More often than not, it is unintentional when the times on recipe blogs are inaccurate.
Why Recipe Blogs Always Seem To Lie About Times
Ever try a recipe you found online, only to discover it took way longer to make than the blogger promised? It can sometimes feel like recipe blogs are lying. We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Ever try a recipe you found online, only to discover it took way longer to make than the blogger promised? Whenever that happens, it feels like recipe blogs are lying about prep and cook times, doesn't it?
The 2-Ingredient Appetizer I Make for Every Party Original
Credit: Simply Recipes / Kat Lieu After seeing a friend eat a bagel smothered with cream cheese and topped with kimchi, this cookbook author knew she had to try the combination herself. I decided to turn it into a simple, delicious party dip by mashing chopped kimchi into softened cream cheese, but it also works as a spread on bagels or toast. Each bite is creamy, rich, and tangy, with a slight heat that kicks in at the end.
Joe Bastianich Says This Is The Biggest Seafood Pasta Mistake To Avoid
If you're making seafood pasta, this dish, like any one of our 11 delicious shrimp pasta recipes, be sure to follow the advice from Joe Bastianich first. In an exclusive interview with Mashed, Bastianich reveals the biggest seafood pasta mistake to avoid: Not properly emulsifying the sauce. He explains, "If the sauce is not emulsified, if there's not enough starch, if, like in a linguini and clams, it's too watery.
Kat Lieu's Baked Frozen Sweet Potatoes
BudgetCooking StyleHigh-FiberAir FryerStuffedNo Bake DessertsMashupBig BatchStove TopFreezer FriendlyKid-FriendlyDessertsAppetizersEasyHealthyDairy-Free These baked Japanese sweet potatoes are the cozy, caramelized side dish you didn't know you needed — and the secret is freezing them first. A simple technique, pre-freezing, breaks down the starches inside the potato, resulting in an ultra-creamy, naturally sweet interior and deeply caramelized skin after roasting.
Add One Simple Topping To Popeyes' Chicken Sandwich For A Kick Of Extra Flavor Original
Add One Simple Topping To Popeyes' Chicken Sandwich For A Kick Of Extra Flavor KDC-1/Shutterstock Sweet Heat Sauce, which we covered in Tasting Table's ranking of Popeyes sauces, is predominantly sweet with a kick (as its name implies), similar to Thai sweet chili sauce. You won't, however, encounter much tang. The sweetness comes from honey, and the heat from red peppers, which kicks in more toward the end. Popeyes itself describes the sauce as having mild heat.
The One Ingredient Upgrade A Former NFL Star Uses To Elevate Ranch
Did you know there's one ingredient that can take any ranch sauce from good to great? Former NFL player and Food Network host, Eddie Jackson — who launched Ranch Roster, a lineup of ranch-inspired recipes on theranchroster.com, on September 25th, 2025 – revealed the secret: MSG.
The Only Way I’m Reheating Rice From Now On Original
Credit: Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock A few years ago, I had to make dozens of onigiri (Japanese rice balls) for a cooking demonstration at my son’s school, and the only way to pull it off was to cook the rice the night before and reheat it the next morning. The steamer and my rice cooker’s “reheat” function both work well, but they’re slow processes. There’s also the stovetop method, but I find it fussy.
The Color Mistake You Shouldn't Make When Painting Your Kitchen
Planning to remodel or re-paint your kitchen soon? Well, before you get started, note there's a color mistake you should avoid when painting your kitchen — using dark colors. Why's that, you ask? Well, it's good to use dark colors, like black, dark gray, or dark browns when you're designing a cave. Or if you have the resources and budget to build a highly-modern kitchen with great lighting, both artificial and natural. Otherwise, dark paint and colors don't work as well in a typical kitchen space.
The Right Way To Store Hot Sauce
Have you ever wondered what the right way to store hot sauce is? I did — especially after recently finding a year-old bottle of sriracha tucked away in a cabinet. As a cookbook author, I have brave taste buds, and luckily for me, that bottle was still good. It turns out that vinegar-based hot sauces, or those with higher acidity, won't spoil quickly if you store them at room temperature, away from the sun. The acidity in the hot sauce serves to prohibit mold and bacterial growth.
The Spicy Pasta Sauce Alternative Made With One Condiment And Some Butter
The Spicy Pasta Sauce Alternative Made With One Condiment And Some Butter jwonghl/Shutterstock We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Looking for an easy meal upgrade? Fans of Buffalo chicken, rejoice. You can add spice to your pasta with butter and one condiment — and the condiment is none other than Buffalo sauce. The sauce can be store-bought — like the Truff Buffalo Hot Sauce or any of the 12 supermarket Buffalo sauces Tasting Table ranked in the past — or made from scratch.
The Spicy Pasta Sauce Alternative Made With One Condiment And Some Butter
Looking for an easy meal upgrade? Fans of Buffalo chicken, rejoice. You can add spice to your pasta with butter and one condiment — and the condiment is none other than Buffalo sauce. The sauce can be store-bought — like the Truff Buffalo Hot Sauce or any of the 12 supermarket Buffalo sauces Tasting Table ranked in the past — or made from scratch. In that case, make a batch of Susan Olayinka's flavorful Buffalo sauce. Either way, your dish will be delicious.
Baked Potatoes Are 10X More Flavorful And Filling With A Scoop Of This Popular Dip Original
Baked Potatoes Are 10X More Flavorful And Filling With A Scoop Of This Popular Dip Tatiana Volgutova/Shutterstock Ever make baked potatoes and wish they were more flavorful and filling? The next time you want to transform basic baked potatoes, add a scoop of buffalo chicken dip to amp up the flavor. You can grab a tub of the dip at the supermarket or make it yourself for an easy way to add protein to your meal.
Order In-N-Out like Dolly Parton for a classic fan-favorite packed with flavor
While Dolly Parton's favorite fast food burger was the Whopper, she also liked ordering an In-N-Out burger off its "not-so-secret" menu. In 2011, Parton told interviewer Ryan Fox a funny story about how much she loves her burger Animal Style — and how she convinced her bashful husband, who thought it was a risqué term, to order it that way, too. To order like Parton, simply ask for any burger made Animal Style.
Order In-N-Out Like Dolly Parton For A Classic Fan-Favorite Packed With Flavor
Order In-N-Out Like Dolly Parton For A Classic Fan-Favorite Packed With Flavor Kevin Winter/Getty Images While Dolly Parton's favorite fast food burger was the Whopper, she also liked ordering an In-N-Out burger off its "not-so-secret" menu. In 2011, Parton told interviewer Ryan Fox a funny story about how much she loves her burger Animal Style — and how she convinced her bashful husband, who thought it was a risqué term, to order it that way, too.
Order In-N-Out Like Dolly Parton For A Classic Fan-Favorite Packed With Flavor
While Dolly Parton's favorite fast food burger was the Whopper, she also liked ordering an In-N-Out burger off its "not-so-secret" menu. In 2011, Parton told interviewer Ryan Fox a funny story about how much she loves her burger Animal Style — and how she convinced her bashful husband, who thought it was a risqué term, to order it that way, too. To order like Parton, simply ask for any burger made Animal Style.
Order In-N-Out Like Dolly Parton For A Classic Fan-Favorite Packed With Flavor
While Dolly Parton's favorite fast food burger was the Whopper, she also liked ordering an In-N-Out burger off its "not-so-secret" menu. In 2011, Parton told interviewer Ryan Fox a funny story about how much she loves her burger Animal Style — and how she convinced her bashful husband, who thought it was a risqué term, to order it that way, too. To order like Parton, simply ask for any burger made Animal Style.
The Best Wine Choice For A Classic Beef Bourguignon Dish Original
The Best Wine Choice For A Classic Beef Bourguignon Dish Lisovskaya/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Thinking of making a classic beef bourguignon dish this week, but unsure of what type of red wine to use? Wine pairing advice can feel intimidating, especially when a recipe simply calls for red wine without specifying what kind to use. Well, fret not, because we have an answer for you from an expert.
Rice Cooker 15-Bean Soup
Cooking StyleComfort FoodBudgetSoupsOccasionAsianDifficultyDietaryApplianceHigh-FiberHigh-ProteinUnder 1 HourUnder 45 MinutesOne-Pot or PanMashupBig BatchSlow CookerWinterFallKid-FriendlyDinnerEasyVegetarianVeganHealthyDairy-Free This Rice Cooker 15-Bean Soup is the ultimate low-effort, high-reward weeknight meal — just soak your beans overnight, toss everything into your rice cooker, and let it do all the work.
How To Select The Best Frozen Pizza, According To An Expert
Kat Lieu Sat, September 26, 2026 at 9:35 PM EDT 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Frozen pizzas with fewer additives are recommended by expert Tony Gemignani to ensure a better quality pizza. Simple ingredient lists on frozen pizzas allow for easy customization at home by adding favorite toppings or additional cheese.
How To Select The Best Frozen Pizza, According To An Expert
Frozen pizzas are convenient and great to keep in the freezer for when you don't have time to make pizza from scratch, or don't want to leave the house. However, we've always questioned if we're picking the best store-bought frozen pizzas. Luckily, we got some tips from an expert, Tony Gemignani, a 13-time World Pizza Champion and chef owner of Tony's Pizza Napoletan in San Francisco. Gemignani tells us to first check the label on the packaging and peruse the list of ingredients.
Why You Shouldn't Prepare Your Caesar Salads Too Far In Advance
Craving Caesar salad this week and want to prep it ahead of time? We don't blame you. Meal prepping can be game changing when your days get busy. However, you may want to reconsider prepping Caesar salads (and other salads) ahead of time, according to cookbook author Molly Baz. Baz recently partnered with Amazon to create family-friendly, nutritious meals for under $50, so she knows a thing or two about making your meal plan work for you.
Why Cream Soda Is The Perfect Mixer For Bourbon Lovers
Cream soda is the perfect mixer for bourbon due to its sugary flavor that complements the sweet notes in the spirit, making it an ideal choice for crafting cocktails. Cream soda's sweetness and refreshing qualities balance out the rich and strong flavors of bourbon, creating a delightful contrast in cocktails. When mixed with cream soda, bourbon can evoke flavors of butterscotch and sassafras, creating a cocktail reminiscent of a delicious ice cream float.
Ube Steamed Buns
Cooking StyleComfort FoodBudgetBreads & PastriesAsianBakery GoodsOne-Pot or PanMashupBig BatchKid-FriendlyDessertsBreakfastAppetizers5 Ingredients or Less These soft and fluffy ube steamed buns are light, pillowy, and infused with the subtly sweet, nutty flavor of ube. An overnight poolish helps develop the dough’s flavor while giving the buns an airy, tender texture.
2 Of America's Best Diners Are Tucked Away In New York Original
2 Of America's Best Diners Are Tucked Away In New York Alan Currie/Getty Images It's no surprise that you can enjoy breakfast at diners in every major U.S. region — along with lunches and dinners served at these typically 24-hour eateries. After all, the fascination Americans have with diners has not died down since their inception during the 1800s.
2 Of America's Best Diners Are Tucked Away In New York
When exploring the many diners found around New York State, these two are well worth visiting for extraordinary food and cinematic settings. It's no surprise that you can enjoy breakfast at diners in every major U.S. region — along with lunches and dinners served at these typically 24-hour eateries. After all, the fascination Americans have with diners has not died down since their inception during the 1800s.
Better with Fish Sauce Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cooking StyleComfort FoodBudgetCookiesPicnicAsianDifficultySeasonalApplianceMother's DaySpecial OccasionOne-Pot or PanMashupBig BatchSummerSpringBakingKid-FriendlyDessertsThanksgivingChristmasEasy The unexpected ingredient that will take your chocolate chip cookies to the next level is fish sauce! Just a slash adds deep, caramel-like savoriness to every bite of these chewy cookies.
Add 3 Teaspoons Of This Pantry Staple To Pot Roast For Extra Flavor (It's That Easy) Original
Add 3 Teaspoons Of This Pantry Staple To Pot Roast For Extra Flavor (It's That Easy) Bhofack2/Getty Images Ever make a pot roast and wish it tasted more flavorful and restaurant-worthy? Well, there are a few different secret ingredients that will change your pot roast forever, but for one of the easiest ways to up the flavor factor, it takes just three teaspoons of a pantry staple: granulated beef bouillon.
Dolly Parton's Favorite Dessert Is An Old-School Southern Classic
Dolly Parton always exuded Southern charm, and one of her favorite foods was an old-school Southern classic that suits her image down to the ground. We love how much Parton adored banana pudding. Her favorite version came complete with banana slices and old-school vanilla wafers. According to Parton, her mother made the best banana pudding.
Erin Napier's Budget-Friendly DIY Trick Makes Any Kitchen Cabinets Look Like Wood
There's a kitchen trend on its way back, according to Erin Napier, the co-star of HGTV's "Home Town," and that's having natural wooden cabinets. Depending on the wood you choose, installing wood cabinets can set you back anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000. If you don't have the budget to replace your existing cabinetry, Napier shares a budget-friendly DIY trick makes any kitchen cabinets look like real wood.
Sauvignon Blanc Vs Chardonnay: Which Is Better For Beginners? Original
Sauvignon Blanc Vs Chardonnay: Which Is Better For Beginners? Sam Edwards/Getty Images For beginner wine drinkers, it may feel daunting when asked to choose a white wine. You can't go wrong with one of two popular choices, sauvignon blanc or chardonnay. However, both have their own distinct highlights, which is better for beginners? To help you decide, we consulted David Kravitz, the beverage director for The Group Hospitality.
Give Classic Tomato Sandwiches A Japanese Twist With One Balanced Seasoning Original
Give Classic Tomato Sandwiches A Japanese Twist With One Balanced Seasoning Robynmac/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. While one can argue a classic Southern tomato sandwich doesn't need any upgrades, this three-time cookbook author, whose titles include "Modern Asian Kitchen," begs to differ. See, with the addition of an Asian pantry staple, you can give any tomato sandwich a delicious Japanese twist.
The Better Way To Enjoy Apple Cider? Make It Dirty
The Better Way To Enjoy Apple Cider? Make It Dirty Chas53/Getty Images While we love enjoying homemade and store-bought apple cider every time autumn comes around, sometimes we can't help but wonder if there's a better way to enjoy this fruity beverage. What if we make a dirty version of the drink, inspired by dirty sodas? Dirty apple ciders, with different variations, appear to have taken the Internet by storm.
The Better Way To Enjoy Apple Cider? Make It Dirty
Kat Lieu Tue, September 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Dirty apple ciders, inspired by dirty sodas, have become a popular trend on the Internet, with various variations available. The drink can be customized to suit individual preferences, with options to adjust sweetness levels, add warm, spicy notes, or create a more decadent version with ice cream and whipped cream.
Crème Brûlée Japanese Sweet Potatoes
CuisineAsianJapaneseEggsDifficultyDietaryMealSeasonalApplianceCooking StyleBakery GoodsMashupFallBakingSnacksDessertsEasyGluten-FreeComfort FoodFrench Japanese sweet potatoes are our vessel for transforming the classic French custard, crème brûlée, into an extraordinary, not-too-sweet dessert. Purple-skinned Japanese sweet potato is roasted until tender, then hollowed out and filled with a silky miso-kissed custard — no ramekins required.
The Bread Etiquette Rule French Diners Know That Tourists Often Miss
The Bread Etiquette Rule French Diners Know That Tourists Often Miss Ali Waxman/Getty Images Did you know there's an international dining etiquette rule we should all be following when we're visiting France? It involves bread, and it's an unspoken rule that tourists often miss. See, in America, when we dine out, we usually get bread and butter before our main courses arrive. After all, bread, in American restaurants, serve as an appetizer or side dish.
The Bread Etiquette Rule French Diners Know That Tourists Often Miss
Did you know there's an international dining etiquette rule we should all be following when we're visiting France? It involves bread, and it's an unspoken rule that tourists often miss. See, in America, when we dine out, we usually get bread and butter before our main courses arrive. After all, bread, in American restaurants, serve as an appetizer or side dish. In most casual cafes and bistros across France, however, bread serves as an edible utensil.
Make Any Taco Bell Order 2X More Filling With This Cheap Ordering Tip That Adds Protein
Make Any Taco Bell Order 2X More Filling With This Cheap Ordering Tip That Adds Protein Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images Ever order food from Taco Bell and wish you felt fuller after your meal? Well, here's a Taco Bell ordering tip for you to make your meal twice as filling and satisfying. The best part? This cheap hack will set you back about 50 cents per serving and it will give your meal a quick protein boost.
Make Any Taco Bell Order 2X More Filling With This Cheap Ordering Tip That Adds Protein
Adding refried beans to your Taco Bell order can make your meal twice as filling and satisfying for only about 50 cents per serving. Refried beans can be added to almost any savory item on Taco Bell's menu, with tacos and quesadillas benefiting the most from this customization. By incorporating refried beans into your Taco Bell order, you can boost protein and fiber content, making it a potentially healthier option compared to other fast food chains.
Julia Child's Last Meal Was One Of Her Favorite Foods, A Classic French Dish
Have you ever wondered what culinary legends ate for their last meals? A bit of morbid curiosity doesn't hurt. One of Julia Child's 14 favorite foods of all time — French onion soup — was her very last meal before she died at 91. For about a month, she had been experiencing kidney failure and ate meals her assistant cooked for her. It just so happened that the meal she ate before she died in her sleep was French onion soup.
Black sesame and miso add an Asian spin to Rice Krispie Treats
I make these Black Sesame and Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats, excerpted from my book “108 Asian Cookies,” with my mother in mind. The cookbook “108 Asian Cookies” by Kat Lieu. (Voracious via AP) Growing up, I ate my fair share of Rice Krispie Treats because they were one of the few Western sweets my mom made over and over again. Maybe it was because they were so easy to make and helped her feel a little closer to the typical mothers we saw on American sitcoms and primetime TV.
Black sesame and miso add an Asian spin to Rice Krispie Treats
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Kat Lieu For The Associated Press I make these Black Sesame and Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats, excerpted from my book “108 Asian Cookies,” with my mother in mind. The cookbook “108 Asian Cookies” by Kat Lieu. (Voracious via AP) Growing up, I ate my fair share of Rice Krispie Treats because they were one of the few Western sweets my mom made over and over again.
Kat Lieu uses black sesame and miso for an Asian spin on Rice Krispie Treats
In her book "108 Asian Cookies," Kat Lieu shares a recipe for Black Sesame-Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats. She was inspired by her mother, who loved making traditional Rice Krispies Treats. Lieu throws in an Asian twist by adding the black sesame seeds and sesame paste to the classic marshmallows, butter and Rice Krispies. She also adds red miso. Optional freeze-dried strawberries or haw flakes add extra flavor.
For The Most Flavorful Boxed Brownies You've Tasted, Add This Powder To The Bowl (It's Magic) Original
For The Most Flavorful Boxed Brownies You've Tasted, Add This Powder To The Bowl (It's Magic) Alvarez/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The way to my husband's heart is often through his tummy, and what his tummy loves is decadent homemade brownies. For over a decade now, I've baked that wonderful man these sweet treats, usually from scratch. When authoring my third cookbook, "108 Asian Cookies," I had to test a few different brownie recipes.
Scrambled Eggs Are 10X More Flavorful When You Add This High-Protein Seasoning Original
Scrambled Eggs Are 10X More Flavorful When You Add This High-Protein Seasoning Tatiana Volgutova/Getty Images Ever make soft and fluffy scrambled eggs, but wish they were more flavorful at serving time? Instead of adding more salt and pepper, try adding a high-protein seasoning that may not be in your pantry yet. This seasoning is none other than nutritional yeast, or nooch, a vegan food additive made from deactivated fungus, and it comes in flakes, powder, or granule form.
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