Lavender Design + Cuisine: 2022

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Plant-Based Recipe: Apple Frangipane Gateau Basque

Sliced Apple Frangipane Gateau Basque

Apple Frangipane Gateau Basque

Pink Lady Apples

Delectable Apple Frangipane Gateau Basque from the Iparralde (French Basque Country in northern Spain) made with gorgeous Pink Lady Apples and garnished with plant-based white chocolate, freeze dried raspberries and pistachio, definitely my version of the Gateau Basque.

This lovely gateau is the ultimate holiday dessert to delight every guest at your Thanksgiving and Christmas table.

So, let’s get started with the recipe!

| INGREDIENTS |

2 Medium size Pink Lady apples
1 1/4 Stick melted unsalted plant-based butter
1 1/2 Cup spelt white flour
1 Cup almond flour
1 1/3 Cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 Tbsp. orange zest
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 Tsp. organic culinary lavender finely chopped
2 Tbsp. Grand Marnier (optional)
3 Tbsp. Crushed dried freeze raspberries
3 Tbsp. Chopped plant-based white chocolate
3 Tbsp. Chopped salted pistachios

A 9-inch Springform cake pan
Parchment paper

| INSTRUCTIONS |

1. Preheat oven to 375°F

2. Thinly slice Pink Lady apples to 1/5" thick with a mandoline, then toss with 1 tbsp. lemon juice to prevent browning.

3. Line a springform pan with parchment paper, brush it generously with melted butter and sprinkle the bottom with 1 tbsp. sugar.

4. In a medium bowl combine spelt white flour, almond flour, baking powder, lavender and whisk 3 times.

5. In a small bowl combine orange juice, zest, 1 stick melted butter, grand marnier and whisk a few times.

6. Combine the wet and dry ingredients by whisking lightly until just mixed.

7. Arrange overlapping sliced apples in a circle on the pan bottom, pour the batter over the apples, spread it and bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes, until light golden.

8. Once the tart is out of the oven, give it a 30-minute rest on a cooling rack. To remove the gateau from the pan, first unfasten the springform clasp and carefully separate the parchment paper from the edges. Place a serving plate over the gateau, flip it over, and peel the parchment off the base. Return it to the cooling rack for another hour to finish cooling before garnishing with crushed freeze-dried raspberries, chopped pistachios, and white chocolate.

Enjoy your lovely gateau with coffee, espresso, tea or a dessert wine.

Happy Baking!

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

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

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Simple & Practical Decluttering and Organizing Tips for the Dining Room

Dining room is a crucial part of the home that symbolizes strength, power, unity and a community with family and guests.

If you find that you or your family don’t really like eating at the dining table, try to refresh the space into something that makes everyone feels good.

The fact is if a dining room (or any other room in your home) is not used regularly, it can easily become cluttered with a variety of items.

There are many benefits to decluttering and organizing your dining room and below are just a few:

1. To encourage family dinner, interactions and conversation.

2. To have a place to work from home (if you don’t have a home office desk).

3. To have a place for children to do homework (if they don’t have a desk).

4. To be able to host meals on holidays.

5. To be able to throw more dinner parties in your home.

6. To make an organized home for items you regularly use in the dining room such as tablecloths, napkins, placemats, candlesticks and candles.

Finally, dining room brings people together and makes better foods choices possible.

Happy decluttering, organizing, healthy & delicious eating and enjoyable gathering with family and friends.

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!

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

3 Simple & Practical Kitchen Feng Shui Tips!

Vibrant Kitchen

Basket of Beautiful Lemons

Aromatic Fresh Herbs

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Whether it’s doing homework with children or preparing meals, almost everyone (guests included) gather in the kitchen. When the energy in the kitchen is positive, families are more inclined to want to eat at home and will enjoy better health and relationships as a result.

If your kitchen has been stagnant for too long, is burdened with clutter, or needs a serious cleaning, by all means make a point of revitalizing it.

Get Started Today! Apply these 3 simple and practical Feng Shui enhancements to your kitchen and watch your relationships, health, and wealth enhanced in amazing ways:

Tip 1 - Make cleaning a habit to improve health and prosperity. One of the most important things you can do for your kitchen is to keep it clean, clutter-free and organized – and the 3 areas that need it most are the pantry, freezer and the refrigerator. Why? This is where food, a symbol of health and wealth, is stored. Get rid of everything that is completely out of date.

Tip 2 - Clear off countertops to energize your health, hence your life. It sounds counterintuitive, but when you have countertops that are covered with items such as small appliances, dishes, loaves of bread, bags of chips, or stacks of bills, it doesn’t inspire you to cook. On the other hand, when you have a kitchen with clear counters graced with a basket of beautiful lemons and a jar of aromatic fresh herbs, it just makes you feel like cooking.

Tip 3 - Discard damaged items to promote good energy in your foods. Start by decluttering your kitchen cabinets and drawers (one at the time, no need to tackle them all at once, pace yourself, so that you’ll have something to do daily). Hanging onto dented pots, pans and utensils, cracked or chipped dishes, glasses, cups; stained napkins and tablecloths and damaged kitchen appliances such as toaster, mixer, etc., ‘because they’re still good,’ gifts or for sentimental reasons, cause clutter, negative energy, not good for your health and well-being. Discard them all.

Happy Revitalizing Your Kitchen!

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!