Hello, there! Welcome to my little corner of the internet, or what I like to call my online kitchen! I'm Sunena, and I am the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind The Sassy Foodie! Here is where I share simple, easy recipes perfect for beginner cooks, or busy schedules. My goal is to bring you recipes that can be made in under an hour - because life is busy enough!
My Inspiration
My inspiration to begin blogging was twofold. Cooking has always been my passion, but as my life got busier, I realized how difficult it can be to stay motivated to get in the kitchen. I started law school in peak-pandemic 2020, and found myself trying to adapt to a new way of life. Doing quite literally everything from home was completely different than what I was used to, and I was finally given the opportunity to pursue a passion of mine and watch it grow!
Being able to pursue my passion for cooking with this website has fuelled my obsession with developing tips, tricks and delicious recipes that are "busy-people" friendly, and my goal is to share those tricks and recipes with you.
One thing that I learned when I started full-time school is that good, easy meals do not need to take hours on end to prepare. I bring to you, recipes that can be prepared and made in under an hour - with lots of shortcuts and tips along the way, to make your weeknights as easy as possible.
I love to recreate classic favourites - especially restaurant copycats (hint - these longhorn brussel sprouts, red lobster brussel sprouts and la scala chopped salad are very popular around here) and new cuisines alike. I also have an insane obsession with my air fryer, and will quite literally try to develop any recipe to work in it too.
Growing up, I was never much of a baker. I have always considered myself more of a "little bit of this, little bit of that" kind of cook. If you bake, you know that is a no-go! My sweet tooth demanded that I teach myself how to bake some of my favorite desserts, though. For that reason, I try to keep my dessert recipes just as simple as all my other recipes - perfect for novice bakers who are just getting their feet wet with baking!
Family Roots
I grew up in an Indian-Punjabi household. I was fortunate enough to grow up with my grandparents, which is where my passion for cooking really stemmed from.
My grandparents owned one of the first Indian restaurants in Toronto with amazing success, but unfortunately closed down many years ago due to my grandfather's health. Despite the restaurant closing down, cooking and food were so central to my life growing up.
My grandfather was always an explorer in the kitchen. Every day he would experiment with different cuisines and dishes, which is where my love for trying different foods likely comes from. He always encouraged me to get in the kitchen and take an interest in cooking - and here we are today!
Quick Facts About Me
- My name is pronounced like "banana" - One of the most common questions I get is how to pronounce my name. It is pronounced sue-nah-nuh, kind of like banana.
- I was a flight attendant for over five years - Before settling into law school, I worked for two large Canadian airlines for over five years. In that time I got to work with some pretty amazing people, travel a good part of the world, and encounter some pretty crazy situations, too!
- I am an only child - No siblings over here! I did grow up super close to my cousins, though. So if you ask me, those are my siblings.
- I can speak 4 languages - I speak English, Hindi, Punjabi & Urdu fluently, and some conversational Spanish too! I guess that makes 5, kinda?
- I am engaged - I have been engaged to my amazing fiancé for just about three years now. We are both students right now, but the wedding is coming up in 2024!
More About Sunena & The Blog
I would be lying if I said I had a crazy awesome background story to match the name of this blog. When I started my food Instagram, and later this blog, I didn't feel like any of the names I had tried were really sticking. I have been told that I can be a little sassy, and well, I definitely like food. Hence, The Sassy Foodie was born!
My absolute favorite la scala chopped salad comes together so quickly, and it happens to be one of the most popular recipes on the website. It is perfectly balanced with protein, veggies, and a delicious vinaigrette too!
I do not develop my recipes to be tailored to any specific diets. It may happen that one of my recipes may be suited for your dietary needs, but I always recommend using your own knowledge and judgement! There are so many great specialized blogs, if that's what you're looking for!
If you have a suggestion, definitely reach out to me at sunena @ thesassyfoodie.com. If it is something that fits my recipe style, you may just see it on here!
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