Lavender Design + Cuisine: April 2020

Monday, April 20, 2020

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!

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Saturday, April 11, 2020

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!

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

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!

Growing a garden of joy, healing, and positive energy is easy. You can cultivate these vibrant herbs and flowers in an outdoor garden, patio containers, kitchen pots, or even wall-mounted mason jars. They reduce stress, enhance emotional well-being, and provide instant visual pleasure.

🌿 Healing Herbs & Sacred Blooms

Lavender: Promotes profound relaxation. Lavender aromatherapy eases anxiety, depression, insomnia, and headaches. As a culinary ingredient, its intense flavor notes elevate both sweet and savory dishes.[1]
Rosemary, Sage, Basil, Thyme, Oregano & Lemon Verbena: Boosts digestion and physical wellness. These savory herbs are packed with vital minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties. Their therapeutic aromas actively induce happiness.
Rose: Attracts love and heart-centered energy. Keep live roses thriving in your garden and prune dead blooms quickly to maintain positive flow. Organic dried rose buds and leaves create a soothing tea that reduces stress and acts as a natural sleep aid.
Lily: Restores emotional balance and security. Lily aromatherapy helps alleviate depression and inspires feelings of exuberance. Placing lilies in your bedroom fosters serene tranquility and restful sleep.

Begin creating your personal sanctuary today. Simply plant a small container with a few colorful flowers and sensory herbs to instantly welcome healing energy and happiness into your home.

Happy Planting & Gardening!

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Saturday, April 4, 2020

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!

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Curating the Bathroom: The Art of the Spa Sanctuary

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 critical sanctuary for restoring your body and mind. Whether you are soaking in a bathtub, enjoying a steamy shower, or practicing a simple washing ritual, this space cleanses your physical environment and renews your personal energy.

You can easily transform this room into a tranquil home spa using practical Feng Shui and high-velocity decluttering techniques. Here is your step-by-step curation game plan:

Step 1: The Absolute Purge

Empty every single cupboard, basket, shelf, and vanity drawer. Be completely ruthless with your items:

The Six-Month Rule: Discard any product, tool, or brush you have not physically touched in the past six months.
Clear the Expirations: Throw away expired makeup, nearly empty shampoo bottles, and old toiletries without guilt.
Safe Medicine Disposal: Audit your medicine cabinet and remove expired pharmaceuticals. Drop them off safely at a designated local community collection site rather than throwing them in the trash.

Step 2: Categorize and Sort

With your storage surfaces completely bare, group your remaining essentials into clean, logical categories:

Consolidate everyday essentials like cosmetics, hair care, and first-aid into distinct piles.
Grouping your items visually before putting them back ensures your future storage layout remains perfectly effortless to maintain.

Step 3: Natural Chemical Detox

Put on your gloves and deep-clean the space using entirely natural, plant-friendly ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. Avoid harsh, toxic chemical cleaners; while they may save time up front, they leave behind toxic synthetic residues that disrupt the calm, biophilic atmosphere of a luxury home spa.

Step 4: Map the Storage Ritual

Involve your entire household in designing the final organization plan. Work together to assign a permanent, dedicated home for every category. Tailor the physical placements directly to everyone's exact morning and evening routines so the layout functions seamlessly for the long term.

Once your curation ritual is complete, reward your hard work. Unwind and reset your spirit with a warm, restorative lavender aromatherapy bath. You have earned it!

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook