MOMPRENEUR OF THE MONTH: LAXMI HIREMATH, LAXMI'S DELIGHTS

We love to feature great Mompreneurs whenever we get the chance because we know how much hard work goes into being one; it truly takes talent to juggle motherhood and a successful business while keeping your sanity in-tact.  This month, we are featuring Laxmi Hiremath, founder of Laxmi's Delights.  Are you a Mompreneur? We'd love to hear your success story and feature you on Tastybaby.com.  Email us your story!

Today, flaxseed may be the rage in the American market, but I have been eating it my entire life. My mother often called it the "gold powder".

Photo credit:  Bozena Budzynska

I was looking for ways to create something nutritious and scrumptious for my children's school lunches. I developed the idea of combining flaxseed with other appetizing ingredients to make mouthwatering flaxseed spreads. I used it as a spread for Indian whole-wheat flatbreads (chapatis) and toast. When I packed chapatis smeared with Flaxseed Spreads their friends often traded their turkey sandwiches. It's a favorite with all their PBJ sandwich-loving friends. So I made it a point to have some extra chapatis in the lunchbox. When they visit our house the youngsters are quite content to use the flaxseed spreads on bread toast, waffles, biscuits and even cup cakes!

When I found guests both adults and children at my home were gobbling the Flaxseed Spreads with crackers, breadsticks, spreading over artisan cheeses, or eating right off the spoon, I decided to create a line of Organic Flaxseed Spreads in 3 intriguing and exotic flavors: 

• Golden Flaxseed Spread with Dates and Orange Juice^TM, NASFT sofi^TM Award    Outstanding New Product 2007 Finalist
• Lemony Flaxseed Spread with Ginger and Honey^TM,
• Savory Flaxseed Spread with Sun-dried Tomatoes^TM

Our Golden Flaxseed Spread with Dates and Orange Juice was awarded Outstanding New Product 2007 Finalist by the prestigious NASFT. Flaxseed by itself is bland in taste but as a Spread it’s a Home Run! It’s nutritious, satisfying and absolutely delicious. Many are using our Organic Flaxseed Spreads as a healthy alternative to peanut butter, jam and mayonnaise. The Spreads are the only kind on the market.

How it all started

Two decades ago when I first came to America, I did not know much about cooking. In my new home in Columbus, Ohio, I rolled up my sleeves and tried to replicate what I had seen in my mother's kitchen, she was my role model.

I used ingredients that were readily available in local markets and began experimenting.

The first of those experiments – handmade cabbage rolls stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes – won the recipe a spot on the local newspaper's food pages. As a hobby I continued to share recipes every week. A few readers also called to check whether I had written a cookbook. I was flattered and determined to generate a collection of recipes. Ultimately, my adventures in spicy experimentation led to the publication of my cookbooks.

The dance of spices I witnessed in my mother's kitchen as she expertly used the plethora of spices in preparing the seasonings is what I have brought to the American table. "The Dance of Spices" published by John Wiley & Sons, is a compilation of my most favorite recipes and my personal stories in conquering one of the finest cuisines of the world. 

Over the years, in conversation and in various media, I have offered reliable, authentic recipes to my readers, listeners, and viewers. I have done that extensively in the food pages of the San Francisco Chronicle, in Gourmet, Bon Appétit, Sunset, Vegetarian Times and Fine Cooking among other publications and on television and radio shows such as KGO. 

My bachelor’s degree in chemistry has helped me a great deal in innovating recipes. My   forte in balancing tastes and harmonious flavors and passion for food ultimately led to the creation of a line of boutique specialty foods and the birth of Laxmi's Delights. Our other products include scrumptious, sweet, spiced walnuts, pecans and peanuts. Perfect for snacking and sprinkling everywhere from salads to gorgonzola cheese and pear slices, or serving with a cocktail, these sweet-spicy, crunchy nuts are made of all natural ingredients, in small batches, and without preservatives. 

Two decades later, I have made the transition from not knowing much about cooking to an innovative chef, skilled teacher, accomplished food writer and produced award winning organic gourmet foods. This is all due to the encouragement from the people and consumers like you.

Here is my favorite quote by our own, Oprah Winfrey – "You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more."

It helps me keep innovating.

Please visit our website www.laxmisdelights.com for product information. On another note, please support your local, family owned small businesses, and local farms.