Tomato and Eggplant Compote

There's a first time for everything. Our first steps, first kiss, first day of school, first love, first car, first job, first bungee jump, first trip abroad, first time stuck in an elevator for 30 minutes, first oyster, or first bout with food poisoning.
If we repeat an experience, it’s never the same as the first time. It couldn’t be, a repeatable first is by definition an oxymoron.
Then there are those firsts that we would gladly avoid repeating (put being stuck in an elevator and food poisoning on that list for me.)
Sometimes we learn a lesson from our firsts and sometimes we don’t.

Catalan-Style Garlic Shrimp

Cooking is all about making mistakes.
Sometimes you have to test recipes a few times before you get the desired result. Sometimes you just aren’t thinking straight. That was me, this past weekend.
I experienced two major cooking disasters: one involving avocado chocolate cookies, the other one a Chinese beef noodle soup.
I still haven’t recovered from those catastrophes, so I’ll avoid telling you about it.
But not everything has been a failure.
I have finally figured out the perfect way to make at home Catalan-style Garlic Shrimp, just like in Barcelona.

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

Winter is in full swing now and the colder temperatures have descended upon us.
There’s snow, ice, blizzards, and windchill.
Don’t you love it?
No, don’t answer, I already know what you’re going to say. You hate winter, you hate cold, and you can’t wait for spring to arrive.
Fair enough. Not everyone can be a snow-lover like myself.
Still, I think there are so many awesome things you could be doing when it’s freezing outside. Such as sled racing, snowball fighting, even snowman building. How cool is that? (pun intended).

Blueberry Avocado and Chia Breakfast Pudding

This week we’ve learned that weather forecasting is not an exact science. The predicted two to three feet of snow ended up being less than 10 inches of slush.
It’s not the first time (and it’s not going to be the last) that an anticipated snowstorm either does not happen or ends up being far less than advertised — the exact path of a storm is very hard to predict (though nowhere in the news was that point made!)
Perhaps the lesson is not to call something “the biggest snowstorm in the history” and hit the panic button, before it materializes.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand and appreciate the precautions for the worst case scenario.
The response of city officials was determined by the information they were being given by the National Weather Service. Which was that this was going to be a huge storm.
However, next time I suggest using caveats such as “it’s likely to”, “it seems like” or “there’s a chance that” when declaring a natural disaster, before it actually happens.

Cheese Mushroom and Spinach Cauliflower Crust Calzone

It’s time to celebrate, people!
What you ask?
A recipe.
Because there’s a recipe on TheIronYou — posted almost two years ago — that has been viewed, clicked, gawked, and commented on over 350k times to date (I know, right?)
A recipe that has been featured in numerous online magazines and blogs. A recipe that you guys are in love with — almost as much as I’m in love with it. A recipe that I make (almost) weekly, because it’s one of my fave recipes of all time. A recipe that is a total winner.
Which recipe you ask?
**drumroll please**
The cauliflower crust calzone, of course. What else?

Cottage Pie

Sometimes you make a dish so simple and unpromising, you’re wondering why you even attempted it.
Then you taste it and you hate yourself for ever doubting its capabilities.
This Cottage pie is one of those dishes.
A few basic ingredients: ground beef mixed with vegetables, topped with sliced potatoes. Simple.
Then you put it in the oven for about 40 minutes, and what comes out of it is a dish that just sings. A perfect balance of flavours, tasty, everything is perfect.
Just like a good song. A song that hits your nerve and you’re like ‘Oh my god, I love this song’.
You know, one of those songs you keep playing on your iPod, over and over, and never get tired of it.
Like ‘Step’ by Vampire Weekend. One of the best songs ever imo.
When you wrap together some of the most clever lyrics ever written (“Wisdom's a gift, but you'd trade it for youth, age is an honor - it's still not the truth”) with a great tune, you’ve got yourself a perfect song.
And just like a perfect song, this Cottage pie is a perfect blend and balance of flavors.

Raspberry-Grapefruit Smoothie

Another day another smoothie. I’m sorry guys, but I can’t help myself. I’m in the mood for smoothies so that’s what you’re getting.
I’ve made this raspberry-grapefruit smoothie several times and it’s delicious. Fresh, healthy, and well, grapefruit-y.
It’s so good, I had to share it with you.

Fluffy Scrambled Eggs with Avocado and Feta

If I were to pick a food anyone can cook, I’d go with scrambled eggs.

From a 8-year old girl to a 98-year old gramps, everybody can mix a couple of eggs in a bowl, pour them into a quite hot buttered pan, and give them a brief stir with a wooden spoon.
It’s elementary.
However, almost 99% of the world population makes overcooked, dry, and lumpy scrambled eggs.
Scrambled eggs should be creamy, luscious, and custard-like instead. They should slip off your fork into your mouth, be light and creamy all on their own (without the addition of milk, cream or cheese).
Perfect scrambled eggs are amazing in their simplicity. I could eat them forever.
Then of course, if you like them dry, you’re probably more into fried eggs than scrambled eggs. But who am I to judge?

Buffalo-Style Pork Chops

What's watching football without buffalo chicken wings and a cold brew?
Chicken wings (and beer) are to football as oxygen is to mankind, as jelly is to peanut butter, as 1Direction are to teen girls, as bodybuilders are to the dumbbell rack.
One can't exist without the other. It’s a sacred thing.
If you don’t get the importance of eating hot, sticky wings while watching football, well...we can’t be friends.

Avocado Hummus

In its purest form, hummus is a creamy, smooth dip that can be easily used to top just about anything. It might be one of the greatest culinary gift from the Middle East.
America has become obsessed with the rich chickpea spread, and for a reason. It’s not only delicious, it’s also super healthy.
The typical chickpea-garlic-tahini combination is as good as it gets — but why stop there?
Sometimes — just sometimes — I get tired of it. Not to mention, there are so many variations to the standard hummus recipe, it’s fun to play around.