Probably my favourite way to come up with dishes is by making use of ingredients I already have in hand. While I’m very focused when I prep and cook, before I’m ready to get in the kitchen, I’m often found in a super enthusiastic, semi-chaotic, ultimately exhausting state: fresh produce, pretty Pinterest photos, new techniques, ideas from friends- you name it, they all to blame. When however I am trying to come up with an easy lunch or dinner recipe on the spot and having to rely on what’s available right there, right now, that’s often when more concrete, realistic inspiration strikes. Limited to specific ingredients and with the a little help from fresh herbs and spices, I’m inspired to combine everyday staples in new ways. The result is not always a showstopper (hell, sometimes it’s not even edible), but sometimes… sometimes it ends up becoming your new favourite dish, like this vegetable couscous with crunchy sumac chickpeas. [READ MORE]