My sister first introduced me to matcha during a visit to San Francisco🍵🌉. I still remember us sitting on the floor of a tea shop, sipping our drinks. I know some people say it tastes grassy, but I love matcha.

After countless attempts to make it at home, I had never quite nailed the café-level iced matcha—until my sister discovered 1998.homecafe’s Earl Grey syrup. I’ve made that syrup for her three times and even quadrupled the recipe. More recently, I tried their Lavender Syrup Recipe and I am also a huge fan.

If you're also into matcha, here are a few lighter, fun recipes to check out:

• Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls Recipe 🍫

• Matcha Banana “Ice Cream”🍌

• Matcha Granola from Make it Japanese: Simple Recipe for Everyone🥣

• Matcha (Green Tea) Soda 🥤

• Strawberry-Matcha Sorbet 🍓🍵

I’m grateful my sister introduced me to matcha (especially as a non-coffee drinker), and even more grateful for how she always cheers me on—taste testing, encouraging me, and being my number one fan.

She also convinced me to get back on social media📱, so I’m now sharing recipes and highlights on Instagram, with links included there too. More to come!

Recipes Made So Far This Year:

Goal: To try seven new recipes each week 🗓️, aiming for 365 this year!

Number of Recipes Made This Week: 14 ✅ (Week 21) + 14 ✅ (Week 22)

Number of New Recipes Tested as of 6/1: 315

Weeks Achieving Seven or More New Recipes: 22 out of 22

This Week’s Recipe Test Summary

Impress Someone🌟

Lavender Vanilla Matcha Latte + Lavender Syrup Recipe – 1998.homecafe 💜🍵 I’ve made 1998.homecafe’s Earl Grey syrup before and my sister is obsessed with it—so I had to give this lavender version a try. She still thinks the Earl Grey one is better, but I love this one. This one will definitely surprise anyone you offer a homemade matcha to.

Would Make Again 👍

Meera Sodha’s Naan – NY Times Cooking by Meera Sodha🍞
I love ATK’s homemade naan recipe, but it needs an overnight rise. This one is now my go-to when I only have an hour or two.

Quinoa Carbonara – Molly on the Range: Recipes and Stories by Molly Yeh 🍳🌾
For all the gluten-free folks—this is a cozy, creamy alternative to traditional carbonara. It’s comforting. H wasn’t into it, but I really enjoyed it.

Classic Tart Frozen Yogurt – Ninja Test Kitchen🍦✨
I was a huge fan of the froyo craze in high school. Yogurtland and Pinkberry were the spots. Classic tart was always my go-to. I looked up this recipe out of nostalgia, and it’s a winner. Shared it with my cousin, added toppings, and it was so good. 

Would Not Make Again 👎

These didn’t hit the mark for me, but recipe testing is super subjective. Some were just okay, some were good but not memorable, and a few I didn’t enjoy at all. Rather than breaking each one down, I’m just listing them here.

• Quick Ramen Noodles with Mushrooms – Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi 🍜

• Deep Green Pasta – The Farm Table by Julius Roberts 🌿🍝

• One Pot Pasta – Mealtime with Mummy 🥄🍲

• Tomato, Mozzarella & Pesto Panini – Barefoot Contessa At Home by Ina Garten 🍅🧀

• Artichoke Houmous – Greekish: Everyday Recipes with Greek Roots by Georgina Hayden 🧄

• Roasted Chicken Thighs With Cauliflower and Herby Yogurt – NY Times Cooking by Yossy Arefi 🍗

• Pressure Cooker Lentil Soup With Sausage – NY Times Cooking by Sarah DiGregorio 🥣

• Baked Chicken Wings – Healthy Recipes Blog 🍗

• Green Pesto Rice – Table Manners: The Cookbook by Jessie Ware and Lennie Ware 🌿🍚

• Chipotle Parmesan Sweet Corn – Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips by Ina Garten 🌽🧀🌶️

• Banana Almond Flax Smoothie – NY Times Cooking by Martha Rose Shulman 🍌

• Gochujang Caramel Cookies – NY Times Cooking by Eric Kim 🍪🌶️

• Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – NY Times Cooking by Millie Peartree 🍪🧈

• Pumpkin Biscuits With Honey Butter – NY Times Cooking by Yossy Arefi 🎃🍯

• Cranberry-Orange Scones – NY Times Cooking by Yossy Arefi 🍊

• Roasted Apricot and Buttermilk Sherbet – Unknown 🍑🍦

• Pumpkin Pie Smoothie – Rachael’s Good Eats 🎃🥤

• Basic, Great Chocolate Chip Cookies – Food52 by Tara O’Brady 🍪🍫

• Earl Grey Crème Brûlée (single serving) – Moments of Sugar 🍮

• Pumpkin Mousse – NY Times Cooking by Craig Claiborne and Pierre Franey 🎃🍨

• Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies – NY Times Cooking by Yossy Arefi 🎃🍪

• Roasted Chicken Thighs With Hot Honey and Lime – NY Times Cooking by Vallery Lomas 🍗🍯🍋

• Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream – Love & Lemons 🍨

• Green Smoothie – Love & Lemons 🥬🥤

I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or any recipe requests you might have. Just respond directly to this email.

See you next week. Keep cooking! 👋 

Vale from ValeCooks