Plant-Based Recipe: Delectable Roasted Fuyu Persimmons

 

Delectable Roasted Fuyu Persimmons

Pic. 3

Pic. 2

Pic. 1

Fuyu Persimmons

Delight in the sweet flavors of the season with Fuyu persimmons. This non-astringent variety can be enjoyed while firm and delivers a honey-like taste that is both rich and mild. Perfect for adding a festive crunch to salads or desserts like tarts and galettes, they also make a healthy and satisfying snack.

For a surprising and delicious side dish this Thanksgiving, roast some Fuyu persimmons. The addition of warm spices transforms this firm fruit into a soft, delectable treat that everyone will enjoy!

So, let's get started with the recipe!

Ingredients (serving size 4):
4 Medium Fuyu persimmons
1/2 Tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 Tsp. ground cardamom
1/2 Tsp. smoked sweet paprika
1/4 Tsp. sea salt
1/2 Stick melted sweet butter
1 Tbsp. chopped toasted pistachio 
A dash of unsweetened cocoa powder 

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a bowl mix all the spices and sea salt.
3. Wash, dry persimmons, cut off and discard the tops and bottoms of the persimmons.
4. Slice the persimmons horizontally into ½ inch slices, brush each sides with melted butter, sprinkle each slice generously with the spice mixture and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, pic. 1.
5. Roast them in the oven until the tops of the persimmons turn slightly brown and are tender, about 10-12 minutes, pic. 2.
6. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 15 minutes. 
7. Arrange them on a platter, garnish with chopped toasted pistachio and a dash of cocoa powder, pic. 3.  

Happy Roasting!

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Bread Recipe: Savory herbes de Provence & Olive Oil

Savory herbes de Provence Olive Oil Bread

 Perfect Crust

 

Beautiful Bread

Perfectly Baked  

 

Culinary Gift 

Experience the joy of baking this No-Knead, aromatic, rustic Herbes de Provence Olive Oil Bread that elevates any meal, from a simple dip with olive oil & fig balsamic vinegar to a complement for hearty soups, fresh salads, and rich pasta or roasted vegetable dishes. 

Spread, Pesto & Tapenade: You can also enjoy this delicious bread with a creamy plant-based cheese, olives and radishes (healthy snack), with Savory Artichoke Pesto or Pistou de Roquette  (arugula pesto), avocado and tomato (quick lunch), Romesco Spread, Red Pepper & Green Ollive Tapenade and much more.

So, let’s get started with the recipe!

Prep time: 15 minutes

Bake time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

1 Cup cornmeal flour
1 Cup oat, chickpea or millet flour (the combination of cornmeal flour and any of these flours will turn the bread into a wonderful texture)
1 Tbsp. baking powder 
1/2 Tsp. sea salt 
1/2 Tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. dried herbes de Provence
1 Tsp. flax seeds
2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds
1/3 Cup and 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 
1 cup unsweetened oat milk  
1 Tbsp. additional pumpkin seeds and 1 tsp. black sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions:

Get Ready: Preheat your oven to 375°F.

Prep the Pan: Grease a 9 x 5 inch baking pan with 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil and set it aside.

Combine Dry: Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl until well combined.

Add Wet: Pour in the almond milk and olive oil. Mix with a fork until you have a very thick, pourable batter.

Pour & Spread: Transfer the batter to the greased pan and smooth the top evenly.

Add Toppings: Sprinkle pumpkin seeds and black sesame seeds over the top.

Bake: Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown and baked through.

Cool Down: Remove from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.

Remove & Slice: Run a knife around the edges to loosen the bread, then flip the pan upside down to pop it out.

Enjoy: Slice the bread on a cutting board and serve.

This wonderful bread, when paired with your own personalized packaging and labels and a jar of any of the spread, pesto and tapenade mentioned above makes for delightful and delicious culinary gifts.

Happy Baking!

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Make Buyers Fall in Love: 3 Steps to Staging Your Home

 

Greetings Sellers!

Strategic home staging and minor enhancements are a vital component of a successful real estate sale. These efforts, such as cohesive decor and fresh paint, are not only a sound financial investment but also instrumental in forming a positive, emotional connection with prospective buyers. By enabling buyers to visualize the property as their own, a professionally staged home can reduce its time on the market and command a higher sale price.

Key advantages include:

A strong online presence: With nearly 90% of buyers starting their search online, staging makes photos, videos and marketing materials more attractive and compelling, generating more interest.

Increased perceived value: Staged homes tend to create a more positive impression, which can lead to better appraisal values. They appear well-cared-for and move-in ready, which can also help buyers overlook minor property flaws.

Faster and more lucrative sales: Data shows that staged homes sell faster and often command higher offers than those that are not.

Emotional engagement: By creating a warm, appealing, and well-defined space, staging removes the guesswork for buyers, allowing them to form an emotional attachment to the property. 

Excited to stage your home? Here’ s How We Work: Three Steps to Success

Step 1 - One Hour Consultation

A $350, one-hour consultation offers an initial assessment of your home. Afterward, clients can receive a custom-designed plan for decluttering, organizing, and interior design, with pricing dependent on the home's square footage. 

Step 2 – Recommendations & Implementations: Services encompass comprehensive home decluttering, organization, and cleaning.  

Step 3 - Interior Design:  Beyond aesthetics, Feng Shui is about creating a feeling – a feeling of positive energy and harmony that makes a house a home. By applying strategic interior design enhancements, incorporating existing furnishings, artwork, and natural elements like fresh flowers and plants, we'll cultivate this positive energy throughout your space. This thoughtful approach will ensure that your home feels incredibly welcoming, drawing in buyers who intuitively connect with its harmonious and positive atmosphere, giving it a distinct advantage in the market.

Staging Home for Sale Fees:

Up to 1,000 SF: $1000.00
Up to 2,000 SF: $2000.00
Up to 3,000 SF: $3000.00

Let's create a strategic plan for your home sale. Contact me today to schedule a consultation, and be sure to include your agent for the best possible results.

Happy Selling!

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Plant-Based Recipe: Cranberry, Orange & Cardamom Chutney

Cranberry Orange Cardamom Chutney

Christmas in a Jar

This decadent cranberry chutney is the perfect concoction of sweet and tart cranberry sauce with aromatic floral hints of cardamom spice and orange. It's a wonderful condiment that you can enjoy all-year-round and not just during the holiday seasons. It beautifully compliments roasted-caramelized root veggies such as rainbow carrots, fennel, golden beets, parsnips, celery root and Delicata squash!

You can also enjoy it with yogurt and granola, gelato, waffles, crepes, scone, toasted bread of your choice with shaved plant-based white chocolate, as filling for mini tartlets with crushed salted pistachios, as appetizer with plant-based goat cheese crostinis and fresh thyme leaves, in grilled cheese sandwich, sweet & savory gin cocktail and much more, just use your culinary imagination and have fun with it! 

It makes a beautiful and delicious culinary present too - Christmas in a Jar! 

So let’s get started with the recipe!

Ingredients (makes a small-medium size bowl or two 8 oz. jars)

3 Cups fresh organic cranberries
2/3 Cup fresh orange juice
1/3 Cup diced candied orange 
1/2 Tsp. ground cardamom  
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. grand marnier 

A few orange rinds and a dash of ground cardamom for garnish

Instructions:

1.  In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients, bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer over low heat until the cranberries start to pop, 5-7 minutes. 

2.  Let the mixture to simmer for additional 5-10 minutes over low heat until it thickens. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 30 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with a sprinkle of ground cardamom and a few orange rinds.

3. Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend before serving. 

Enjoy & Happy Holidays.

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

The Magic of Mediterranean Herbs & Spices

Mediterranean Herbs 

Mediterranean Spices

DIY: Upcycled Herbs & Spices Rack

Historically used for seasoning, herbs and spices have evolved from their ancient purposes to become a cornerstone of modern food preparation. While herbs derive from a plant's leaves and spices from its roots, bark, or seeds, they are used together to enhance a dish's flavor, color, and visual artistry. In contemporary cooking, these ingredients are essential for creating appealing and diverse food experiences.

Mediterranean cuisine is renowned for its diverse array of herbs and spices, which are often used to reduce or replace the need for salt and sugar. These ingredients are used both individually and in blends to add amazing flavors to food.

Common Mediterranean herbs and spices:

Herbs: Basil, bay leaf, dill, fennel, garlic, lavender, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, and thyme are popular choices.

Spices: Cumin, coriander, black pepper, cloves, saffron, sumac, and turmeric are also frequently used.

Blends: Some of these, like sumac, are mixed with other ingredients to create popular blends such as za'atar, which typically includes thyme, oregano, and sesame seeds.

Examples of use: For instance, organic savory herbs like dried and fresh marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and oregano can be used to flavor foods as a salt substitute. Similarly, the blend herbes de Provence can be used to add flavor while minimizing salt. To replace sugar and sweeten desserts like tarts, galettes, compotes, marmalades and syrups, organic culinary lavender and cardamom can be used.

To maintain maximum flavor, herbs and spices should be stored in tightly covered glass jars in a cool, dry place away from heat sources like the stove. While ground spices last for about 3 months, whole spices can stay fresh for up to 6 months. For red spices, such as paprika and red pepper, refrigeration helps them maintain their color and extends their flavor. To ensure peak freshness, it is best to buy smaller quantities of organic herbs and spices from the bulk section of a natural food store and replenish them as needed, rather than purchasing large amounts that can lose potency over time.

Happy Cooking & Baking! 

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Top 2 Benefits of a Portable Kitchen Island!

 

Top 2 Benefits of a Portable Kitchen Island:

 

1.       More Counter Space - Kitchen islands give you more counter space for meal prep as well as space. Islands create a separate workstation that is great for giving you the functional workflow you need to be totally satisfied with your kitchen.

 

2.      Room for Additional Seating- Having an island allows your friends and family to gather in your kitchen comfortably while you make food or have a glass of wine. It’s also a great spot for your kids to do their homework while you make dinner, or for them to sit and help you bake cookies during the holidays. 

 

Whether you're planning to re-design your kitchen or just want to add an additional food prep space or sitting area, a portable island such as this simple and beautiful table not only is cost effective, but also something that you can easily accomplish yourself, since it doesn’t require any kinds of constructions. 

                                                                                                                                         

Happy Cooking!

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

The Magic of Herbs Garden!

Culinary Herbs

Herbs Garden

Elevate Your Cooking with a Home Herb Garden!

Fresh herbs turn simple meals into gourmet dishes, making a kitchen garden a total game-changer. It’s a low-effort, high-reward project that works for beginners and experienced gardeners alike, thriving in pots, raised beds, or small sunny spaces. 

Here is how to get started:

Selecting Herbs

Choose the herbs you love to eat. Start from seeds or buy starter plants for a faster harvest. Top choices for your kitchen garden include: 

Classic: Basil, Parsley, Chives, Thyme, Oregano

Aromatic: Rosemary, Sage, Marjoram

Refreshing: Mint, Lemon Verbena, Coriander, Dill

Unique: Tarragon, Fennel, Culinary Lavender 

Harvesting Herbs

The secret to a productive garden is to harvest often—the more you cut, the more the plant will grow! To ensure the best, most intense flavor, harvest leaves before the plant begins to flower. 

Culinary Uses

Savory: Enhance pasta, salads, and meats with basil, chives, thyme, marjoram, and oregano.

Sweet/Floral: Add lavender or rosemary to shortbread, cakes, or berries for a unique twist.

Drinks: Use mint and lemon verbena for refreshing teas, cocktails, and mocktails. 

Growing your own herbs ensures a fresh, aromatic supply year-round, allowing you to easily enhance your cooking and baking.

Happy Herb Gardening and Cooking! 

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Elevating Your Bedroom Sanctuary

 

Transforming your bedroom into a clutter-free, romantic sanctuary is the ultimate Valentine's Day gift to yourself. It promotes peaceful rest, deepens connections, and balances your room's energy.

Here is your quick, step-by-step space curation guide:

• Clear the Distractions: Remove electronics, desks, books, and synthetic plants. Keep the space dedicated solely to rest and romance.
• Balance Your Nightstands: Place identical nightstands and matching lamps on both sides of the bed to maintain equal relationship dynamics—even if you are single.
• Command the Room: Position your bed against a solid wall with a clear view of the doorway, but not directly in line with it. This provides security and balances your chi.
• Curate Tranquility: Choose calming wall tones like soft lavender or light blue. Splurge on high-quality, nourishing textures for your sheets and duvet covers.
• Invoke the Senses: Welcome sensuality by appreciating everyday sensory details—the scent of lavender, the feel of soft sheets, or a warm coastal breeze.

Most of all, be awesome and love yourself without limits!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Plant-Based Recipe: Savory Carrot Hummus

Velvety Chickpea & Carrot Hummus

Culinary Gift: 

Velvety Chickpea & Carrot Hummus in a jar

Velvety Chickpea & Carrot Hummus: A vibrant, nutrient-dense dip featuring roasted rainbow carrots, creamy chickpeas, and aromatic garam masala. This versatile, kid-friendly hummus pairs beautifully with crackers, lavash bread, pasta, or flatbread with arugula and pear. Perfect as an artisanal homemade gift too!

So let's get started with the recipe.

Ingredients (serving size 2):

4 Rainbow carrots (medium size)

1 Cup cooked chickpeas  

1 Garlic clove peeled  

1/3 Tsp. garam masala spice

1/4 Tsp. Sea salt

2 Tbsp. Olive oil

1 Tbsp. Meyer lemon juice

1/2 Tsp. Meyer lemon rinds

Step 1: Prepare the carrots by trimming, peeling, washing, and chopping them into 2-inch pieces.

Step 2: Toss the carrots with 1 tbsp. olive oil and sea salt. Roast on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 400°F for 20 minutes, then let them cool for 30 minutes.

Step 3: While the carrots cool, drain and rinse the chickpeas.

Step 4: Combine the roasted carrots, chickpeas, garlic, 1 tbsp. olive oil, Meyer lemon juice, and garam masala in a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step 5: Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with extra olive oil, garam masala, and lemon rinds. 

Happy Cooking!

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

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook

Copyright © 2021 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.