hi, I’m Carmen, the creator behind @notwasabi, where flavor meets real life.

my love for cooking began not in a professional kitchen, but beside my mother, watching her transform humble ingredients into meals that felt like home, like pork dumplings and scallion oil pancakes.

she never measured precisely, just a pinch of this, a splash of that. through her hands, I learned that cooking isn’t about perfection. It’s about joy, connection, and the quiet magic that happens when food is made with love.

but as life grew busier, with long hours at my corporate job and tired evenings that begged for something easy yet satisfying, I began crafting recipes that were fast, healthy, and full of flavor, meals that didn’t just feed the body and provided energy, but nourished the soul and lifted the spirit.

that’s when the 30 minute recipes were created. the ones that saved me on my most hectic days, comforted me on my lowest ones, and became my edible reminder that good food doesn’t have to be complicated.

whether you’re meal-prepping lunches between meetings or winding down with a simple weeknight dinner, these dishes are designed to deliver big taste without the stress.

my philosophy is simple: cooking should be a joy, not a chore. It’s your daily dose of creativity, your love language, your edible therapy, and your secret weapon for a happier, healthier life.

i’m so glad you’re here. let’s make something delicious and make life a little tastier, one simple meal at a time.