Paper Lanterns

The best kind of traditions are those that start organically - like our new family tradition of lighting paper lanterns off the dock at the lake.  The whole town took part over the 4th of July, and it was truly beautiful. 

Plan-Ahead Summer Salad

L and I have been busy.  Crazy busy.  Wishing we had 6 more hours in the day busy.  There has barely been enough time to sleep, let alone plan, prep, and cook a meal.  This weekend I carved out some time to make some meals ahead for the week.  Working a bit ahead helped to make sure a healthy meal was accessible at my fingertips.

With so much gorgeous produce available lately, the market was teaming with inspiration.  I picked up handfuls of spring greens, strawberries, a few root vegetables, asparagus, and peas with hopes of a veg-heavy spring make-ahead meal.  This salad is the perfect early summer dish- fresh, a bit spicy, colorful, and so delicious.  To make sure it lasted through the week, I used two varieties of kale as the base greens.  Kale is a great salad addition- it can hold up to salad dressing, keeping the crunch and not getting soggy  in the fridge for a few days.

Plan-Ahead Summer Salad
(Serves 4, or dinner for one person for 4 dinners!)

Ingredients
1/2 lb waxy Potatoes (such as red potatoes or fingerlings)
1/4 lb Asparagus
2 slices Bacon
1/2 bunch (about 1 cup) Red Kale
1/2 bunch (about 1 cup) Tuscan Kale
1 small handful Sorrel
1/2 cup Shelled Spring Peas
1 small handful Breakfast Radishes
1/4 tablespoons chopped Chives
2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
Juice from 1/2 Lemon
2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt, Pepper

Directions
1.  Start by roasting the potatoes.  Preheat the oven to 375F.  Cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast for 15 minutes or until crispy.
2.  Cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces.  Heat a skillet over medium heat.  Sauté asparagus with a bit of water (a tablespoon or two, enough to create some steam) until tender.  Run under cold water or put in an ice bath after cooking.
3.  Cut bacon into strips.  Saute in a dry skillet over high heat until crispy.  Drain on a paper towel, and reserve.
4.  Wash and tear kale and sorrel into bite-sized pieces.  Shell peas, thinly slice radishes, and chop chives.  Combine in a large bowl.  Add potatoes, asparagus, and bacon, mixing to combine.
5.  Make dijon vinaigrette: whisk together dijon, lemon juice, vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper.  Pour olive oil in a steady stream while whisking.  When well combined, pour over vegetable mixture.
6.  Toss well and enjoy! Immediately, or as needed.
7.  Relish in the deliciousness of in season produce :)

Mac & Cheese Duel

Mac and cheese.  Such an important benefit of life.  There are many versions out there - but the Merrimint sisters set out to see who could do it better.  Lauren always makes Pioneer Woman's fancy macaroni for Christmas, but that's a very special one.

Here's each of our takes on the classic - sister macaroni duel!  Whose version would you recreate?


Lauren: I opted for a classic, Martha's Macaroni and Cheese as found on Smitten Kitchen.  It celebrated sharp white cheddar and gruyere, and was finished with a delicious crispy top.  Served with steamed veggies & side greens, it's as classic as it gets.

Martha's Macaroni and Cheese

(I halved this recipe)
Click here for recipe


Stephanie:  This weekend, P and I went to a fabulous new (to us anyway) spice shop in Old Town, a lovely and quaint neighborhood of Chicago.  We found an amazing dried porcini-infused sea salt.  In dire want to test out our new loot, we decided to build a mac and cheese dish off of it.

Our final product- a gorgonzola and cheddar béchamel, wrapped around al dente penne topped with porcini sea salt and white truffle oil.  A tad rich? yes.  Luxurious? definitely.  Amazing? there aren't even words.  We opened a light and crisp bottle of white and made the most of this Monday.

Gorgonzola, Porcini, and Truffle Macaroni and Cheese
(Serves 6)

Ingredients
1/2 lb pasta- I used penne because that is what was in the pantry, but feel free to use your favorite
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups whole milk
a pinch of nutmeg
4 oz mild or medium cheddar, shredded
2 oz gorgonzola, broken into small pieces
1/2 cup panko
1 teaspoon porcini sea salt- an alternative would be to grind dried mushrooms into a powder and mix it in equal parts with sea salt
1 tablespoon white truffle oil
Salt/Pepper

Directions
1.  Preheat oven to 400F.  Boil pasta 2 minutes less than package instructions direct.  Drain and rinse with cold water.
2.  While pasta is boiling, make your roux.  Heat your milk over low heat to warm it up.  Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.  Once melted, add the flour all at once, whisking vigorously to ensure smoothness.  Cook about 3 minutes, ensuring you don't cook so long that it starts to darken.
3.  Add the milk, whisking to create a smooth sauce.  Once well incorporated, add the cheeses and continue to whisk to combine thoroughly.
4.  Season the mixture with nutmeg, a touch of salt, and a decent amount of black pepper.
5.  Mix the cooked pasta into the mixture, stirring gently until completely combined.
6.  Top with panko.  Bake at 400F for 30 minutes, or until the top begins to brown.  Broil for another couple of minutes to get a nice golden color on top.
7.  Remove from oven, and top with porcini sea salt and truffle oil.  Serve and enjoy.

no words. just muffins.

Apple and Oat Muffins
Adapted from La Tartine Gourmande: Recipes for an Inspired Life by Beatrice Peltre

Ingredients
2 large eggs
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons tahini
3 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats, plus more for topping
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 large apple, peeled and grated

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Line muffin pan with 10 muffin liners.
2. Beat eggs with sugar until creamy and airy.  Add tahini, melted butter and mix.
3. Whisk together flours, oats, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  Add to batter, stir to mix just until combined.  Gently stir in apple.
4. Divide into muffin liners, top with a sprinkle of oats, and bake for about 25 minutes until golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.

Best served warm with tea, friends, and a small smear of butter.

friday musings

Do you have fun plans for this weekend? The weather is chilling back down in Chicago, but that's okay.  Our family will be together playing hard in the city, which will definitely make up for it!

Need some ideas of how to pass the time this weekend? Try a few of these!

Tell someone you love how you feel.

Try a new restaurant.

Get crafty.

Learn to make a new cocktail and serve it to your friends.

Get to that interior decorating project that has been on your to-do list forever.

Listen to some old school tunes.

Skip the gym.


Now go make yourself that drink :)

Last Minute Valentine's Day DIY

Happy Valentine's Day! Do you have fun plans for the day, whether it is dinner with your sweetheart, a night in with your very best Valentine (yourself!), wine and Titanic, or a crazy night on the town with your most fun single friends? 

In case you are looking for some special ways to show your loved ones how much they mean to you this Valentine's day, here are some Merrimint favorites.  We love these DIY, quick, and super sweet ideas to spread the love.

1.  On a deck of cards, use a sharpie to write a reason why you love your Valentine on each card.

2.  Cut out construction paper hearts and write reasons your Valentine is special on each.  Sprinkle them through your house, car, etc.

3.  Cut out figures, words, or pictures that remind you of your Valentine from magazines and newspapers, and attach them to a poster to put on the door, fridge, prominent wall, etc. for a fun and lighthearted way to show them you are constantly reminded of how great they are.

4.  Heart shaped pancakes :) 

5.  Write fun love notes on a million post-its, and post them in unexpected places (cupboards, inside the car, on the toothpaste...).

6.  Compile a package of low-cost and frivolous heart-themed items: ice molds, heart-shaped measuring cups, romantic phrase linens, chocolate, anything you can find at the dollar store (or the $1 section at Target!).  Pack it in a box full of pink/red tissue and give it- or send it!- to your Valentine.

7.  Create an original crossword puzzle with reasons your Valentine is special.

8.  Wrap red or pink yarn all over your house, starting where your Valentine will find it and ending with a special treat (see #6).

9.  Of course, a punny card will always do the trick.

We hope you enjoy your day and dedicate it to telling those you love that they are wonderful to have in your life.  We are so happy you are here to celebrate with us- will YOU be our Valentine?

Featuring: The Foundry

Here is a photographic spotlight on a Minneapolis favorite.  The Foundry is an amazing boutique shop, supplying the perfect household items.  Each good is hand picked by the owner (who was also working  the shop whenever we stopped in), and is chosen with great intention and care.  Basically, living in the shop would be like living in Kinfolk (so dreamy).  Though you can't shop the store online, it is full of great inspiration and happiness, so take a wonder over there and see what the shop is all about.  It is the kind of place that makes you breathe deeper, you know?

Hope your week is happy and calm.  We've almost made it to Friday...

Minneapolis, City of Sisterly Love

A few highlights of our sister time in Minneapolis.  It was insanely cold, but we managed to keep warm with shopping and pastries.  And wine.  There is always wine.