In the Kitchen with Angelina Huang

My Background and Journey

My journey to who I am today started in St. Louis, Missouri where I was born and raised. I am blessed with two very supportive parents who have always encouraged me to explore what our world had to offer. At age six, I stepped on the ice for the very first time and discovered my love for the art of figure skating. Fast forward to twelve years later, I am now best known for my career as an elite figure skater, earning the notable titles of the 2017 U.S. National Novice Ladies Champion and a two-season member of Team USA. Figure skating is a very demanding sport, and because of that active lifestyle, I learned the importance of nutritious foods. I discovered my passion for the culinary arts and along with it, the world of food photography and styling. This inspired me to start a healthy food blog on Instagram, @athleticrecipes, where I now share my unique, nourishing recipes to help others take a step towards a better lifestyle. This food blog, my figure skating training, as well as being a full-time undergraduate student tend to keep me very busy, but I love it all and with a positive outlook on what the future has to offer me, I enjoy every second of it!

 
My Aspirations

I love to dream big and set significant goals for me to reach. One of my life goals is to use my creative abilities to better both myself and others. To start, I believe my food blog is an outlet for me to do that. Being a professional athlete, I need to be very mindful of taking care of my mind and body. Food and nutrition are crucial factors in keeping a well-balanced and nourished routine, and while I am able to help myself, I can also use my culinary skills and creative talents to share my recipes in hopes to inspire others to take a step towards a healthier lifestyle. In anything I do, I hope to be able to take this mindset to build a strong, improved community!

 

 

What is a Bento Box to You?

My bento box is my blank canvas. It’s an invitation to be creative and use my culinary abilities to create something that is both nourishing for the soul and the body. I love packing up my delicious creations to take on the go with me. After a hard day of work, studying, and training, opening my bento box is like opening a present. It’s so nice to be welcomed with a beautiful package full of tasty treats and opening my bento box has become one of my favorite parts of my day!

 

What do you pack in your TAKENAKA Bento?

When deciding on what goes into my bento, I turn to the vibrant colors and fun designs of the bento boxes. They inspire me to use fresh ingredients to develop recipes that are both health-conscious and delicious. Today, I filled three bento boxes with nourishing fuel to get me through my busy day. In my periwinkle Bento Bowl, I packed my main meal, adding in handmade noodles topped with a flavorful, aromatic stir fry with clamshell mushrooms and garlic chives. I love to snack, so I choose to dedicate my pistachio green Bento Bite Dual for a day’s worth a delicious snacks. Into it, I packed an assortment of roasted nuts, raw broccoli florets, and fresh mandarins. It’s a refreshing variety of tasty treats to enjoy throughout the day! 

Last but certainly not least, I assembled a bright raw perilla leaf salad in my new and now favorite box, the Bento Box in ELEMENTS, part of the new POKETO x TAKENAKA collection! The vivid, colorful pattern inspired me to use only raw ingredients. With that in mind, on the fresh perilla leaves, I added avocado topped with toasted sesame seeds, edamame beans, homegrown microgreens, and purple kohlrabi slices. I served it with a homemade black vinegar dressing. Each ingredient is an essential element of the dish, creating a beautiful blend of flavors!

 

What is your favorite part of our boxes?

I love the elegant, minimalistic design of the bento boxes. They fit in with any setting I’m in, whether I am enjoying a lunch with my friends or out hiking through the stunning mountains of Colorado. The vibrant colors and fun patterns have turned into a conversation starter! When I pull out my bento from my bag, everyone’s eyes are drawn to the beautiful boxes. It’s such a great thing to connect over, and I love being able to share the delicious goodies that I packed in them!

 

MUSHROOM STIR FRY WITH GARLIC CHIVES

Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 7 min
Total Time: 12 min
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:

4 oz garlic chives

4 oz beech mushrooms

5 cloves garlic, minced

½ tsp sesame oil

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp oyster sauce

¼ tsp white pepper, ground

toasted sesame seeds for garnish

cashews for garnish

 

Instructions:

1. Heat sesame oil in a skillet over high heat. Add in minced garlic and stir until browned.

2. Add in garlic chives and allow to wilt (2-3 minutes).

3. Add in mushrooms, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and white pepper. Stir to combine. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Garnish with sesame seeds and cashews and serve immediately while hot.

 
 

 


Instagram : @athleticrecipes