Pea and mint pesto

My favorite flavor combination of this year? Peas and mint, no doubt! For someone who hated peas as a kid, it's kind of funny that I now can't get enough of them, but it's true! If you need any proof, check out my Minty Pea Soup or my Pea & Mint Risotto, which were both big hits this year. The combination of peas and mint is technically a spring thing, as this is the season when peas are rife in the markets. But luckily for us all, frozen peas are available year-round and we almost always have a bag in our freezer.

Corn and pomegranate chaat

Ever since I read about them in Greek mythology as a kid, I have been intrigued by pomegranates. This fruit native to Iran, which today is cultivated primarily in the Middle East, Central and South Asia and the Mediterranean, is just so beautiful! Filled with hundreds of beautiful red arils or seeds on the inside, pomegranate just has a regal quality. I don't know if it's because of its legendary origins or the elegant dishes in which it is often found, but pomegranate - whether it's the actual seeds, the juice or pomegranate molasses - is always special. Pomegranate is also known for its health benefits, apparently reducing risk for heart disease and blood pressure.

Creamy, spicy corn soup

No doubt about it, I LOVE corn. In pretty much any shape or form - on the cob, creamed, corn tortillas, tortilla chips, tamales, curries, grits, polenta - you name it! One of my favorites has always been corn soup - particularly zesty, creamy ones. There are few things that I find more comforting, warming and easy to throw together in a flash than a soup such as this. And in the midst of the craziness in which I currently find myself  (more on this coming soon!), it's food like this that both my body and spirit crave.