Avocado Peanuts Pesto, A Nutty, Creamy Pesto Twist

Happy New Month, lovelies! Can you believe it’s already August? We’ve officially survived the beginning of the second half of the year and here we are, stepping into a brand new month filled with fresh possibilities. There’s something about turning the calendar page that feels like a small reset, a chance to recommit to the things that bring us joy, like creating and sharing delicious food. I know I haven’t been posting as much recently, but with this new month, I’ve decided to shake things up a little. Inspiration has a funny way of sneaking up on you, and when it does, you’ve just got to run with it. So I thought, why not give this month a theme? A thread that ties all my recipes together and challenges me to think creatively. After tossing around a few ideas, the answer was right there in my fruit bowl: avocados.

Chili Black Pepper Potato Soup with Bold Flavor in Every Spoonful

If you're craving a bowl of cozy comfort with a bold twist, this Chili Black Pepper Potato Soup is it. Creamy potatoes meet the heat of chili and the bite of freshly cracked black pepper in this hearty, warming soup. Perfect for chilly nights or when you just want something filling, flavorful, and easy to make. I love a bowl of warm soup to keep me cozy and cuddled. It's almost like getting a hug from the inside out. Potatoes are generally hearty, so add to that coconut milk and some heat from the red chilli and you have a match made in a bowl. I had so many potatoes in the house and I realized the only thing I have yet to make them with is soup. I have come to realize that soup is not just one of those remedies for colds or even for when you are sick.

This Rich Creamy Shells Pasta is a Smooth, Cheesy Comfort in a Bowl

Looking for the perfect weeknight comfort food that’s quick, indulgent, and ultra-satisfying? This Rich Creamy Shells Pasta is your answer. With tender shell pasta coated in a velvety, cheesy cream sauce, this dish brings warmth and luxury to your table in under 30 minutes. Whether served as a main or a side, it’s bound to become a go-to favorite. It's been a while since I cooked a pasta dish so I thought why not go with pasta shells. I love this type of pasta because it has the added advantage of holding the ingredients inside their shells, so you always get that extra sauce stuck in between the hollow spaces. I also love cooking with pasta shells because they kind of remind me of the ocean. Which I haven't been to in a really long time. The last time I ever visited an ocean was when we were in primary school for a class 8 school trip when we were younger. It was a trip to Mombasa for a week. My best days were those spent collecting shells, which I would then tightly squeeze against my ear to hear the ocean breeze.