Plant-Based Recipe: Savory Artichoke Pesto

Artichoke Pesto, Capers, Heirloom Tomatoes, 
Olives  & French Radishes Crostini

Artichoke Pesto with  Crusty Seeded Baguette

Artichoke Pesto in a Jar as a gift

Savory Artichoke Pesto in Food Processor

You'll love making and enjoying this Savory Artichoke Pesto—it’s the ultimate versatile kitchen staple! Elevate everything from pasta, risotto, polenta and soups to pizza, paninis, crepes, and veggie tarts. Perfect for entertaining, it pairs beautifully with crostini, crackers, and flatbreads topped with olives, capers, and fresh greens.

Savory Artichoke Pesto 

Prep time: 15 mins
Yields: Approx. 1.5  cups

Ingredients:

1 cup Almond slivers (lightly toasted)
1 bunch fresh cilantro (stems removed, roughly chopped)
2 Garlic cloves, peeled
1 jar (6.5 - 8 oz.) marinated artichoke hearts, drained well
1 Meyer lemon, juiced and zested
1/2 cup plant-based grated Parmesan cheese (Optional, for savory depth)
1/3  cup high-quality olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt (adjust to taste)

Optional: 1/2 tbsp. capers (for extra tangy bite) 

Instructions:

Prep: Toast almond slivers in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.

Drain & Dry: Thoroughly drain the artichoke hearts and press them in a colander to remove excess oil/brine.

Process Base: In a food processor, combine the artichoke hearts, capers, toasted almonds, garlic,  cilantro, lemon juice and sea salt. Pulse until coarsely chopped.

Emulsify: With the processor running on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is combined but still has texture. Next, add the Parmesan cheese and lemon zest. Pulse 3-4 times to incorporate, keeping it chunky rather than puréed.

Adjust: Taste and add more salt or lemon if needed.

Store: Transfer to a jar and top with a thin layer of olive oil to keep it green. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

This wonderful pesto makes a delicious foodie gift that everyone will love!  

Chef Ellie Lavender 
Plant-Based Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
Event Caterer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information
on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes and special events!

Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

A Step-by-Step Plan to Declutter & Organize Your Garage!

 Clutter-Free & Organized Garage

Cluttered & Disorganized Garage

Did you know almost 60% of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park their cars there or have room for only one car? It’s not easy to get rid of stuff we don't need or use, but it’s more convenient and much easier to put them in the garage and deal with them later, which will contribute to small or massive clutter! 

If you’re ready to take on the task of decluttering, organizing and tidying up your garage, now it's the perfect time to do it, rather than later. So, let’s get started!

Step 1 - Declutter and Let Go

Depending on the size of your garage and the amount of clutter, choose a full day or a full weekend for decluttering and organizing your garage.

1. Make decluttering your garage a family project by including family members (including kids), relatives and even a few close friends. This will help speed up the process. Plus, they are not as attached as you are to the stuff in your garage and they can motivate-help you to get rid of them.

2. Get some boxes and label them as donate and sell. Next, bring your garbage & recycling bins into your garage, go through every single items, keep what's essential and put the rest in your garbage & recycling bins, donate and sell boxes. This will accelerate your decluttering process, instead of piling what you don’t want somewhere in the garage and then sorting them out afterward.

Letting go - A good tip for judging which items to let go of is to ask yourself one and only one question: Have I used this in the past one year? If your answer is no, then it’s time to get rid of it. 

3. Pack up donated boxes in your car and drop them off at the nearest donation center as soon as possible.

4. Set aside items you plan to sell at an upcoming yard sale, online, or local consignment stores. If you are planning to have a yard sale, schedule it soon.

Step 2 - Organize What’s Left

Once, you are done with decluttering your garage, it’s time to organize it. First, figure out how much space your car(s) will take and then work with what’s left by placing items in spaces based on their types and uses.

Frequently Used: Keep items that you use frequently, such as shopping bags and pet leashes within easy reach – perhaps on hooks by the door.

Items Used Together: Create zones for groups of things such as auto care, gardening, and sports equipment so that like items are stored together.

Bulkier Items: Use the two back corners of the garage to store bulkier items such as a lawn mowers.

Rarely Used: Place rarely used items, such as holiday decorations or snow tires, on higher shelves of sturdy shelving units.

Tools and Bicycles: Tools such as shovels and rakes and bicycles are best stored by hanging on the wall.

Important to keep in mind: If you’re using cardboard boxes as storage containers, you might want to seriously consider investing in some plastic bins that will keep insects and rodents from taking up residence in your house.

Step 3 - Keep it Tidy

Once you’re done with all of that, you’ll have a clutter-free garage that is organized nicely. The next step is to make efforts year round to keep it that way.

Keep floor space as free as possible.

Spray for pests from time to time to keep insects at bay.

Sweep and hose down the floors regularly to get out dirt.

And the most important step of all: Repeat at least once a year to purge what’s no longer wanted or needed.

Happy Decluttering & Organizing!

Ellie Lavender
Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior 
Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!

Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Plant-Based Recipe: Savory Roasted Red Pepper & Green Olive Tapenade

 Culinary Gift

Tapenade Hors D’oeuvres Platter

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Greetings Tapenade Lovers!

This Savory Roasted Red Pepper & Green Olive Tapenade, a flavorful Provençal condiment from southeastern France is traditionally made with anchovies, my plant-based version uses roasted hazelnuts as a substitute and is simple to create using ingredients likely already on hand in your pantry and fridge.

It’s an excellent accompaniment to a variety of dishes. Serve it with crusty breads, baguettes, or gourmet crackers. Get creative by using it as a spread in a panini with cheese, on sandwich breads with mixed greens or arugula, or mix it into pasta salads. It also pairs wonderfully with polenta, roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled cauliflower steak, asparagus, and eggplant, or as a stuffing for Portobello mushrooms. Additionally, a bowl of this delicious tapenade makes for a beautiful center-piece in a plant-based hors d'oeuvres platter. 

So, let’s get started with this simple and delicious recipe!

Ingredient (serving size 8)

1 jar (12 oz.) roasted red bell pepper, drained and chopped. Or you can roast two large peppers, see instructions below
1 Cup roasted skin removed hazelnuts. Or you can roast a cup, see instructions below
1 jar (6.5 oz.) marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 Cup pitted Picholine olives (small green olives, originated in Gard, Southern France)
2 garlic clove, peeled & smashed
1/4 Cup capers (drained)
1 Tbsp. fresh marjoram leaves
1 Tbsp. fresh oregano leaves
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves
1/2 Tsp. pepper corns
1/4 Cup olive oil
1/4 Cup fresh lemon juice & 1 tsp. lemon rinds

Instructions:

Part 1: Preparing the Main Ingredients

Prep and Roast Peppers: Set your oven to 450°F. Cut peppers in half and remove the inner white membrane, seeds, and stalk. Arrange them cut-side down on parchment paper, brush lightly with olive oil, and roast until the skins are thoroughly wrinkled and charred (about 30–40 minutes). After a 30-minute cooling period, carefully peel off the charred outer layer.

Roast and Skin Hazelnuts: Drop the oven temperature to 350°F. Roast the hazelnuts in a single layer for 10–12 minutes until their skins begin to blister. Remove them, cover with a paper towel to steam for a few minutes, then rub vigorously to remove the skins. Let them cool completely for 30 minutes. 

Part 2: Blending and Finishing

Rough Chop Nuts: Use a food processor to pulse the cooled hazelnuts until they are coarsely chopped.

Process Mixture: Add all ingredients except the lemon juice and rinds to the chopped nuts. Pulse until the mixture reaches a coarse consistency.

Final Blend: Incorporate the lemon juice and rinds with three final pulses.

Chill Time: Move the finished mixture to a bowl, cover it, and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours so the flavors can fully meld before serving. 

Savory Roasted Red Pepper & Green Olive Tapenade in a Jar as a Gift - This flavorful condiment  makes a delicious culinary gift for family and friends too.

Happy Delicious Eating!

Chef Ellie Lavender 
Plant-Based Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
Event Caterer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information
on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes and special events!

Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

 

Bring Magical Herbs and Flowers into Your Life!

Garden of Herbs & Flowers

The Language of Herbs

Multi-tiered Herbs Planter for the Patio

Herbs in a large Plant Pot for the Porch 

Herbs in Pots for the Kitchen Counter

Wall Garden: Herbs in Mason Jars

Bring Magical Herbs and Flowers into Your Life!

There are so many magical herbs and flowers with amazing flavors and healing properties that you can grow in your garden or in pots on your kitchen counter and even in mason jars as a wall garden. Below are just a few:

Lavender has amazing healing properties in addition to being a culinary delight. Lavender aromatherapy promotes relation and relieves headache, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Additionally, organic culinary lavender, whether crushed, sprinkled, ground or infused, this flavor-intense herb will indulge your senses, tantalize your taste buds and please your palette.  

Rosemary, Sage, Basil, Thyme, Oregano & Lemon Verbena are beautiful and wonderful enhance flavoring herbs for cooking and baking, which you can grow in pots on your kitchen counter or in your garden. These delicious and fragrant herbs are packed with vitamins and minerals, great for indigestion, in addition to their amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, their lovely fragrance will nourish your senses and induce happiness.  

Rose, this beautiful and fragrant flower holds a tremendous energetic disposition to bring love into your heart. Keep them thriving in your garden and get rid of dead ones quickly! Plus, organic dried rose buds and leaves make a delicious, aromatic and soothing herbal tea, which has sleep-inducing, stress-reducing effects and its anti-inflammatory too.

Lily is nourishing and balancing. It is used in aromatherapy to treat depression as it tends to help in creating a feeling of exuberance and a sense of security. Placed in the bedroom, lilies promote serenity, tranquility and restful sleep.

Begin to create your own garden of joy, happiness and healing today! You can create it in your existing garden or simply by planting a container filled with colorful flowers and herbs such as lavender, sage, basil or thyme. In addition to visual pleasure and heavenly fragrance, herbs promote and enhance positive energy, joy and happiness. They also provide great distractions, reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being.

Happy Planting & Gardening!

Ellie Lavender

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design
tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!
 
Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Plant-Based Recipe: Romesco Spread

Beautiful Vegan Antipasto Romesco Platter

  

Romesco Spread in a Jar as a Gift

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Originating from the Catalonia region of Spain—specifically Valls in Tarragona—Romesco is a rich, vibrant, and slightly smoky sauce traditionally crafted by fishermen to accompany fish. It is a versatile blend of roasted tomatoes, garlic, nuts (almonds and/or hazelnuts), and olive oil, often thickened with stale bread. 

Elevate your meals with crusty bread, or stir it into pasta, risotto, and soups for a creamy, flavorful boost. It serves as a stellar spread for paninis (particularly with plant-based cheese) or as a pizza sauce. It also perfectly complements grilled cauliflower steak, roasted potatoes, or fried polenta, and adds color to a plant-based antipasto platter. 

So, let’s get started with the recipe!

Ingredient: 

1 jar (12 oz.) roasted red bell pepper, drained and chopped. Or you can roast two large peppers, see instructions below. 
2 garlic clove, peeled & smashed
2 medium tomatoes (any types of red tomatoes) & 1/2 tsp. dried tarragon  
1/2 Cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 Cup red wine vinegar
1/3 Tbsp. pepper corns
1/2 Cup olive oil
1/4 Tsp. sea salt 
1 Tsp. smoked paprika
1 cup toasted slivered almonds 
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice & 1 Tsp. lemon rinds

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 500° F. Cut peppers in half, remove stalk, seeds and white membrane. Place peppers face down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, brush with olive oil and roast for 30-40 minutes, until skins are completely wrinkled and peppers are charred. Remove from the oven set aside to cool for 30 minutes and then remove the charred skin.

2. Lightly toast slivered almond in a skillet and set aside to cool. 

3. Preheat oven to 450° F. Chop tomatoes, toss in olive oil, sea salt and dried tarragon and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

4. Place toasted slivered almonds in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, pic. 1.

5. Add first 9 ingredients (including roasted tomatoes) to the chopped almonds in the food processor, pic. 2, pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse texture, but well blended, add lemon juice & rinds and pulse 3 more times, pic. 3.

6. Transfer to glass jars and refrigerate up to two weeks. 

Enjoy Romesco cold with fresh veggies and crusty bread, or serve it warm alongside roasted vegetables like cauliflower, eggplant, fennel, celery root, or potatoes.

A savory kitchen staple, this versatile Romesco also makes the perfect edible gift for family and friends.

Happy Delicious Eating!

Chef Ellie Lavender 
Plant-Based Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
Event Caterer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information

on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes and special events!

 

Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

4 Simple & Practical Bathroom Feng Shui Tips!

Clutter-Free, Organized & Serene Bathroom

Outdoor Bathtub

Bathing in fresh air, natural scenery, sunlight or

moonlight is simply heaven! 

Lavender Aromatherapy 

The bathroom is a sanctuary for restoring your body and mind. Whether by soaking in a bathtub, enjoying a steamy shower, or simply splashing your face with water, this space offers a cleansing ritual that renews your energy.

Wouldn't you love to have a tranquil oasis at home, a place dedicated to melting away the day's stress and restoring your sense of balance?

Get Started Today. Transform your bathroom into a tranquil spa by applying practical Feng Shui techniques, focusing on decluttering and creating an organized space.

1. Purge - To declutter your bathroom, empty everything out of all cupboards, baskets, and bags. Create a discard pile for any items you haven't used in the past six months, including nearly empty or expired products like shampoo, makeup, and old brushes. Be strict with yourself and remember that these are just products, so don't feel guilty about letting them go. While you're at it, clean out your medicine cabinet, too. Check expiration dates and properly dispose of all expired or unwanted medications at a designated community drop-off site.

2. Sort & Declutter Your Bathroom - After removing all items from your shelves and cupboards, sort them into categories like makeup, shampoo, and first-aid. Grouping things this way will make it easier to organize and store them effectively.

3. Clean Your Bathroom - Put on your gloves and scrub your bathroom to a sparkling finish using natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar. Skip the harsh, toxic products; their chemicals may clean faster, but they leave behind harmful residue that you don't want in your home.

4. Make a Game Plan - Teamwork is key to managing household clutter. Now that the bathrooms are clean and free of unnecessary items, involve everyone in the next step: finding a home for everything. By working together to sort items into piles, your household can create a storage plan that works for everyone's daily routine.

Take a moment for yourself and unwind with a soothing lavender aromatherapy bath. This is not just a treat, but a necessary step to refresh your body and spirit after your great work.

Happy Decluttering & Organizing!

Ellie Lavender
Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

        Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!

 

Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.