I had been in need of some inspiration lately. I'd been itching to try something new and cook with a new ingredient but my mind was blank, until last week when I was at William Sonoma. I was simply walking around, admiring their beautiful kitchen products, when I came across their spice rack. It isn't an extravagant spice collection but it is exclusive. As I browsed the collection, my eyes and heart were immediately set on the bottle of French Lavender. Ohhh man...so many ideas came rushing to my head! I grabbed the bottle and as I made my way to the register, the first thing I decided to make was Lavender Shortbread Cookies. I love shortbread cookies...so buttery and soooo good! They're not too sweet and they have a hint of coarse salt in every bite...ahh soo good. I need to keep reminding myself to eat just one per day because they have a high fat content...all that butter.
Read MoreVegan Polenta Crusted Eggplant
"Eww...eggplant..so mushy...eww," said young Karishma. "Hmm...how can I make eggplant not so mushy," said "chef" Karishma.
I used to HATE eggplant as a kid. Whenever my mom made anything with eggplant, I used to pick it out because I didn't like the texture. But lately I've been giving it another chance and I actually don't mind it at all. I made this when my mother-in-law was in town back in April (yes, this is a very late post). She loves trying new things so this gave me an opportunity to create a new recipe.
Read MoreKale Chips
I have been obsessing over Kale. If you haven't seen it already, watch the video of my Kale and Quinoa salad. I've had Kale in many forms...salads, sautéed with a poached egg over it, kale and lentil soup, Indian entrees, smoothies and many more. Kale is considered one of the best super foods. It is loaded with anti-oxidants (prevents cancer), iron, Vitamin A (good for eyes and skin), Vitamin C (boosts our immune system) and Vitamin K (for healthy bones and protects against certain cancers). It is low in calories, has no fat and it is high in fiber.
Read MoreBanana Bread
We had a farewell potluck at work for one of our Travel (temp) nurses, Katie. She is originally from the Midwest but she wanted to explore the West coast so she worked at our hospital for 3 months and now she is in Southern California. Katie is super sweet and she is an excellent nurse. I wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.
I had never made Banana Bread before so this was the perfect opportunity to try it. Of course, I went to Smitten Kitchen to look for a recipe and found the perfect one. This recipe is easy and incredibly flavorful.
Read MoreGarlic Hummus with Warm Toasted Chickpeas
I love hummus. It is a great snack and makes a great appetizer. You can serve it warm pita bread, toasted pita bread, pita chips or veggies. I always get the grocery store version or eat it at restaurants but I tried making it home and it is super easy. I made it again as an appetizer when we invited some friends over for dinner and it was definitely a crowd pleaser.
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