Coco in the Kitchen

Treats for the whole family!

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Welcome!

Hi, there. I’m so glad you stopped by. This blog is my creative outlook. I don’t intend to make millions nor achieve fame and immortality here. What began with the genuine excitement of sharing delicious recipes I’d found has evolved into what I hope is a family heirloom to be enjoyed by my Daisy, niece and nephew, along with future generations.

I love hearing from my readers who have tried a recipe and loved it. I also appreciate constructive criticism and made modifications to improve the taste and form of the dishes.

Composing a blog post take a lot of time and care. The photos are the first struggle. Getting the lighting right, featuring the perfect details aren’t always easy to achieve. Perhaps I’m just too picky, but I do hope you enjoy what I put together here for you.

Meet the gang!

Me, in a Nutshell

If you’re anything like me, you’re curious about the face behind the words.

I’m going to share some of my favorite bits about beauty, fashion and home decor with you, but also a few things about who I really am.

I’m actually pretty lazy. I work hard only because we can’t afford a butler.

My favorite kitchen gadget is a plumber’s torch.

I don’t like sharing my chocolate, unless I really like you.

Grocery-shopping is my exercise regimen.

Your stilton is safe with me, but your parmesan isn’t.

Real Fossil is better than fake Gucci.

I’m a breast-cancer survivor. Here I am, getting my hair done for the first time since finishing treatment!

I kiss my daughter too much, but she doesn’t complain that much.

I am nuts about shoes and I buy them for people I love.

I’m Armenian, born in Iran, raised in the States.

The kitchen is my favorite room in the house.

All photos and content, including the logo on this site are my own original work. I don’t have staff.

Daisy inspired the logo for my site, which I created using MS Paint.

I love Massive Attack, Albinoni, J Majik, Sting and the Chipmunks Christmas album.

If I ever won the lottery, I would travel the world over and over again.

Gigi, The Quiet Man, The Taming of the Shrew, Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding are my favorite movies.

Favorite reading material: Magazines and other people’s blogs

Some of my Favorite Things

Here are a few of my fav things. These are not sponsored, but items that I really have and use at home. Periodically new items will pop up. So, keep an eye out and tell me about some of your favorite things.

I love jewelry, especially those with sentimental meaning. Most days, there are two necklaces wrapped around my neck: One is an orchid pendant that Shawn got me for my 40th birthday. Along with the orchid, I wear another pendant depicting a mother and baby with the Indian OM symbol. My father gave it to my mother and she passed it onto me on my first Mother’s Day. I carry my loved ones with me everywhere I go with these two special tokens.

Coco Fashion

My theory about fashion is that every woman has trademark beauty that is all her own. Wear whatever makes you happy and compliments your figure, regardless of current trends, haute designers and magazine features. A women who is comfortable in her clothes radiates confidence and happiness. That is what amounts to real beauty, at any age.

I wear what I like. Red shoes are my trademark and the first pair I had were a pair of Swedish clogs when I was a little girl. You could hear me coming from a mile away, which alerted my grandmother to whatever mischief I had or was about to perform!

I still wear red shoes, currently a pretty pair of patent heels.

The pearl white Hello Kitty bowler is my every-day bag, especially because it has plenty of room for diapers, wipes, crayons, coloring books and snacks for my little blue-eyed beauty.

Coco Beauty

Every woman is uniquely beautiful. What makes her most alluring is her confidence and trademark smile. One of the most important items in a beauty arsenal is water. We just don’t drink enough of it. Water is crucial to circulation, hydrating the body, carrying nutrients to cells and removing toxins. Keep a tall glass of ice water handy all day and enjoy refreshing sips.

If I’m in a rush, I’ll slap some blush on and grab my keys. Sometimes I like bright red lipstick (L’Oreal British Red with liner), but, if I do that, nothing goes over my eyes. Eyeliner, mascara with red lips make me look like the wife of a mob boss. I often go with the that 1960’s look with big, bold eyes and barely-there lips.


The best facial scrub comes right from the kitchen! Just before bathing, mix a tablespoon of ordinary white granulated sugar and a few drops of olive oil. Allow the steam from the shower to moisturize your face for a few minutes, then rub gently over your cheeks, chin, nose, forehead. Rinse and wash with a gentle facial soap for a fresh, clean look.

beauty
Don’t waste beaucoup bucks on fancy high-end beauty products that promise the Fountain of Youth.

Neutrogena makes top-notch products without the highbrow price tag. Mom got me into Rapid Tone Repair recently and I just love it, because it nourishes my skin, helps it repair and heal. Follow with a light moisturizer like Clinique’s Moisture Surge to feed thirsty skin. Keep up with this routine and in about a week, you’ll be surprised at the beautiful face staring at you through the mirror.

Matte foundation looks so lovely, but I don’t seem to do well with having it all over my face. Applied only under my eyes and the shadowed areas between the bridge of my nose and eyes brightens my whole face.

I have light olive complexion and have learned which shades compliment me best. Nude-toned lipstick is my favourite if I want to showcase the eyes. When I’m not wearing any eyeliner or shadow, brick-red lips add just the right amount of colour to my face.

Rose water is a natural, refreshing facial toner. I keep a bottle in my bathroom caddy with cotton pads. Before bedtime, I wash my face, then apply rose water. The cooling effect and fragrant scent give me sweet dreams.

Paloma Picasso is my signature fragrance since I was in my teens. The warm, spicy scent is so enticing. More recently, I have found Signorina, which has a more delicate and sophisticated scent.

Coco Home

Our home is a comfortable environment with mostly Eastern effects. Persian rugs, a bronze Shiva, books about cooking and art, copper items, wooden kokeshi dolls, bronze Daikoku, a burlap piggy, kilim pillows, clay Buddha, botanical metal objects are among the many things you’ll find around our place. The only room that doesn’t fit that theme is our bathroom, which is rather dated. We are planning an overhaul, all based around some beautiful Persian, patterned tiles and a large, open, walk-in shower made from just one shower glass panel. That’s the idea anyway! We are always changing things and renovating different rooms. My favourite tips are moving furniture around, as that can make a room feel brand new, and redecorating (even if it is just one wall, for example adding a feature wall). We often have Cumbria Painters coming into our home to paint the walls different colours. I love pinterest and as soon as I set my heart on a design, I always want to change our current decor. Painting the walls different colours means that I don’t have to change any of belongings but makes the room feel brand new, but it hasn’t stopped me considering more major works like having Graceland Window Installation in the living room. I’ve not followed through on it yet, but maybe one day!

The Old Dutch copper mugs with the brass handles are a recent obsession. I’ve always loved the warm glow of copper and cannot resist anything (teapots, I’m crazy for teapots) made of copper. I spent most of the night at my cousin’s wedding reception talking about how much I loved my mug more than the drink that it contained. My sister finally bought one for me and it’s everyone’s fav at the house, especially Daisy.

The drafting desk is such a beauty. It is from Cost Plus World Market. I got it for Shawn’s birthday as I wanted him to have a cool desk and assembled it all by myself. We bought some cheap office furniture to go with it and we’re now so happy with our home office. The desk is the pice de rsistance. Antique Depression era glassware, colourful German, Japanese and American pottery are gifts from my parents that make the table so uniquely beautiful and every meal extra special. Making flowers arrangements is always relaxing. Fresh blooms bring life to any room.

We love traveling and visiting friends, but coming home is always a treat. It is a happy refuge that we have made uniquely our own.

Request a Recipe

If you have any questions, are looking for a specific recipe you’d like to me feature or just want to say “Hi,” I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or write to me at coco [at] cocointhekitchen [dot] com.

Keep healthy.
Be happy.
Stay beautiful.

Search for a RECIPE here!

About Coco

Welcome to Coco in the Kitchen! I am a proud Wife and Mommy cooking up some delicious meals and treats for my family. Follow along and collect some great dishes inspired by my Armenian roots and chocolate cravings! Get to know me more...

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GARAM MASALA is key to many Indian recipes. I'm GARAM MASALA  is key to many Indian recipes. 

I'm going to need it to make @karancooks 's chicken Tikka with Makhani ( butter chicken ) sauce!

It's available in ground form at many eastern grocers, but, like all ground spices, can quickly lose its essence. 

It's wise to buy whole spices, then, dry-toast them to release their natural oils before grinding them yourself! 

This Rx is from @manjulaskitchen .
#spices #indianfood #chicken #dinnertonight
I'm a coffee girl. No doubt. I wake up mostly fo I'm a coffee girl.

No doubt.

I wake up mostly for that divine cup of @lavazzaofficial every morning. 

But,tea is well embedded into my DNA.

For centuries,  tea has been a prized commodity and set the scene for casual gatherings, romantic ceremonies, and even a subculture.

The word CHAI literally means tea, and it's one shared between the Indian and Persian people. In later days, however, it has gained special meaning,  referring to black tea perfumed with exotic spices, the combination of which varies greatly. 

As drinks are strictly a matter of personal taste, why not design your own? 
 
Today, I'm infusing my usual Ahmad Earl Grey, which contains bergamot, an orangey citrus, with the following:

*cinnamon 
*cardamom
*cloves
*makrut/kaffir lime leaves (or lemongrass)
*rose petals
*mace (or nutmeg)
*star anise (not a fan, but being adventurous)
*black peppercorns (which I forgot here)
*vanilla

The double-decker teapot setup is a technique of slow-brewing typical in Persian (or Persian Armenian) households. It mimics the samovar. A small teapot holds leaves and sit atop a larger vessel that contains just water. A very gentle flame heats the water below, the steam of which slowly warms the leaves above.

It takes some patience to brew like this, but, an afternoon nap deserves no greater reward. 

Try my recipe and let me know what you think. 

#chai #tea #spices #recipe #cinnamon #vanilla #afternoontea #Indian #Persian #hye #armenian
I'm experimenting with shaping choc chip cookies t I'm experimenting with shaping choc chip cookies tonight. 

Ice-cream scoops of dough turn out differently whether they're shaped into balls, flattened or flattened with a little extra ball of dough on top. 

Here's my Rx. Let me know which you like besr. 

Toasted Milk Powder Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Makes 18 big cookies
375F 10 mins

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups flour
4 Tb milk powder, toasted 
1 punch coarse sea salt flakes 
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 sticks butter, melted
2 eggs, @room temp
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups choc chips

#recipe #chocolate #cookies #chocolatechipcookies
Stroganoff just got easier! #creamofmushroom #be Stroganoff just got easier! 

#creamofmushroom #beef #stroganoff #dinnertonight #frenchfries
Overcast mornings call for some extra snoozing. 🐾 

🇬🇧 pillows hand-sewn by @camilledumasdavis.

Dragon illustration by @justingerardillustration

#wirefoxterrier #terrier #mutt #dogsofinstagram #rescuedog
Chiles en Nogada ready! #wishyouwerehere #dinnert Chiles en Nogada ready! 
#wishyouwerehere #dinnertonight #mexicanfood #Chiles #chilesennogada
Roasting poblano peppers on the stove top! #gass Roasting poblano peppers on the stove top! 

#gasstove #Roasting #peppers #poblanos #nofilter #foodphotography
Chiles en Nogada tonight! Recipe @cocointhekitchen Chiles en Nogada tonight! Recipe @cocointhekitchen.com. 

#mexicanfood #chiles #dinnertonight
Trying something new with my garlic tonight. Mashi Trying something new with my garlic tonight. Mashing the cloves with a mortar & pestle!

I've gotta tell ya-Its so therapeutic! Plus, all the natural oils come out, so this should be delicious. 

#garlic #cooking #newtrick #kitchenhacks
Dinner tonight is CHILES en NOGADA! Olé!

Nogada is the Spanish word for nut tree, which refers to the walnuts in the sauce. Charred green poblano peppers are stuffed with picadillo, which is ground meat flavored with seasonal fruit, cinnamon, raisins, almonds then the whole thing is dipped into an egg batter and fried.  The final finish with a walnut cream sauce, fresh parsley and pomegranate seeds hails the colors of the Mexican flag.

I don't batter-fry mine so they're lighter and healthier, leaving plenty of room for creamy flan (recipe also on my blog).

Grab the recipe @cocointhekitchen.com and cook with me tonight! 

#mexicanfood #stuffedpeppers #chiles #dinnertonight
My cheesecake has another 35 mins to go @ 425F, bu My cheesecake has another 35 mins to go @ 425F, but, DON'T PANIC!
This is why it's called BURNT Cheesecake. 

The outside darkens and turns caramel-sweet, while the inside cooks into a creamy custard. 

It's SO damn delicious,  you won't miss the fruit topping nor the crust. So, it's completely gluten-free without requiring any weird ingredients. 
Just cream cheese, eggs, sugar, heavy cream and vanilla! 

Trust me. See for yourself. Recipe  at cocointhekitchen.com.

#cheesecake #dessert
#glutenfree #flourless #cake
It's cool & overcast here in SoCal. The perfect se It's cool & overcast here in SoCal. The perfect setting for a fragrant cup of CHAI.

There are so many variations. The best thing to do is experiment, not only with the measurements,  but also the ingredients.  See what suits you best and make the tea exactly to your taste. 

Here's a start...
Serves 4
10 whole cloves 
1 piece mace or 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 
6 cardamom pods, cracked 
1 whole allspice berry
4 whole black peppercorns 
3 sticks cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger 
1 Makrut lime leaf or 2-inch stalk lemongrass (optional) 
2 dried edible rose blossoms
4 tsp Earl Grey tea
500ml milk
Honey, to taste 

#chai #tea
Capturing a hummingbird is very difficult. They' Capturing a hummingbird is very difficult. 

They're teeny, move very quickly and refuse to wait for you to run into the house and find your digital camera. 

So, this is the best I could do w my S22. 

God, they're cute, aren't they?

#nature #garden #localwildlife #birds #hummingbird #photography
RANGER COOKIES ! Rx from @happyhappynester Choc RANGER COOKIES !

Rx from @happyhappynester 

Chocolate chip.cookies just got told. 

#cookies #chocolate #chocolatechipcookies #baking #dessert
Making @happyhappynester 's RANGER COOKIES tonigh Making @happyhappynester 's RANGER COOKIES  tonight!

#baking #cookies #rangercookies #dessert #chocolate #chocolatechipcookies
My mother's GARMIR PILAF! Every Armenian and Per My mother's GARMIR PILAF! 

Every Armenian and Persian family has a trademark recipe for "red rice"  flavored with beef, tomato, spices. 

Mom uses an unexpected ingredient to boost the taste. See for yourself at cocointhekitchen.com. 

#garmirpilaf #rice #armenianfood #persianfood #momscooking
Dinner tonight is Parsi Chicken, an aromatic dish Dinner tonight is Parsi Chicken, an aromatic dish with apricots. 

Fleeing religious persecution, Zoroastrian Persians emigrated into India and established the Parsi community. 

This recipe comes from Priya Wickramasinghe's delightful book The Food of India. 

Apricots and free-range chicken are enrobed in a silky sweet-tart tomato sauce perfumed with garam masala. Making fresh garam masala is not required, but highly recommended as store-bought spice mixes quickly lose their essence. 

Grab a copy of this book! 

#indianfood
#chicken #apricot #parsi #garammasala
Free childrens art show @hidekijuku.art ! Stop by Free childrens art show @hidekijuku.art ! Stop by tomorrow 10-4 and meet Okuda San! So many beautiful pieces created by kids.

#ourbrightfuture #localbusiness #art #childrensart #artshow
3 free kittens available to a good home. Please DM 3 free kittens available to a good home. Please DM me if you know someone who'd want them.
SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY,  PLEASE. 

#kittens #cats #freepet #pets #adoptdontshop #rescuecat
Korean style Short ribs. Marinade recipe is in pre Korean style Short ribs.
Marinade recipe is in previous post.

Wish you were here! 

#bbq #kalbi #galbi #shortribs #recipe
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