Wild Wednesdays - Ranch Water Refresh

It is hot. Blazing. Scorching. It feels like some of the only physical touch I get these days is from the constant bead of sweat sliding its way down from my clavicle to my belly button, never mind the rivulets that stream down my legs. No jeans are safe. Pit stains are a fashion statement. The humidity is simultaneously laughing at us while being at 1000% and so thick it feels like we’re drowning.

So we’re tired. Hot and tired. Which means we need something easy, refreshing, and light.

This is a slight take on the Ranch Water Cocktail, I’m not reinventing the wheel because at this point in time I simply cannot, but hopefully this does the trick for ya.

Wild Wednesdays - Rustic Peach Galette

I just returned from being back home in Minnesota where the days are long, the time feels short, and someone is always in the kitchen! The farming and nostalgic recipes are rearin’ to be used so this pairing I created for Nashville Box Club, but one that uses my mom’s tried and true recipes!

Memories of her hands making this same dough, rolling it out, being in the kitchen. The pies cooking and radio on blast. Calling out to my Dad that it was time for supper after the 5 o’clock whistle blew.

The easiest pastry that can be used in multiple ways, this one as a galette. Don’t worry, she’s never been a lobbyist for the sugar board so this is minimal on added sugar and utilizes the natural flavor and juices of the fruit! Enjoy with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and you’re set.

Wild Wednesdays - Summer Flower Rolls

Part of Wild Wednesdays is the permission to try something new and guess what, you don’t even have to be good at it.

I’ve never made any kind of spring roll or egg roll, until I go through the process it can seem intimidating and then once the steps are strode though I usually wonder where it has been all my life (remember how LONG it took me to even try making a martini because the simplicity of it was mountainous in trepidation?!)

These Summer Flower Rolls are insanely easy, if you don’t have access to edible flower, ask around! Just make you know if they have been sprayed or not. For this recipe I used pansies, bachelor buttons and yarrow, with some garnish of the little white daisy ones that I wouldn’t recommend only because they are super bitter!

And, as you can see by the lack of my skills, they don’t have to be perfect or show worthy, they just have to make it from the plate to your mouth. Feel free to substitute with other things that you might have in your fridge or want to try!

Just do it.

State of Wonder Margarita

If you have deduced anything about me, one of things is the propensity to take things too far, deep cut through the layers (usually, hopefully in the best way).

I started messing around with these flavors partially inspired by Ann Patchett’s book, “State of Wonder”, and my friend and amazing business coach Tiffany Napper asking me to be a part of her first JOY Session. Something a little wild, full of flavor, steeped in wonder….

So, while I can get all existential and in my feels and ruminate on literally everything in the Universe, I will keep those thoughts to myself and give you this amazing drink for the hot weekend we’re about to have. And pro tip? Use the Rose Aleppo Salt from Sip’n Bite for your glasses because it is * chef’s kiss * a game changer.

Cheers!

Wild Wednesdays - DIY Floral Ice

It’s hot, it’s muggy, everything and everyone is sweating. So much so that I feel like I’ve sweat past lives out onto the sidewalk while trudging to my destination in hopes of some cool relief.

Since we’re already going to be throwing ice into any drink we can, why not make it pretty?!

Find some edible flowers (ask friends/neighbors/etc if you don’t have any!), also use an app to identify and make sure you have the right ones, some varieties have sub species that are so similar but one is edible and one is not!

Buy some silicone ice trays - W+P Design has some good ones, Amazon of course, just follow your heart.

Fill the trays halfway with water. Add the flowers, let freeze for at least two hours, then take out and fill with ice cold water to the top. This way the flowers stay in the middle for that dramatic effect you want and won’t float to the top!

Et voilá! Spice up your 7th glass of water, your 5 o’clock cocktail or your kid’s lemonade.

Wild Wednesdays - Savory Summer Peach Dish

Now that the heat has arrived in Tennessee, the craving for fresh, juicy, crisp anything is real. I’m talking light summer meals because we’re already uncomfortable sweating through every inch of clothing we are wearing, don’t want to add overstuffed and bloated to that equation also. 

So check out this Savory Summer Peach Salad (?), I guess it is a salad but also maybe not, gonna give it the ability to be whatever it wants in this life. While this can be seen as more of an appetizer, if you want to make this your full meal, just add some meat like prosciutto and maybe some bread to help soak up some of the juices or even make your own small bites crostini. Add a glass of wine or a spritz and you quite literally have the perfect situation.

Enjoy!

Wild Wednesdays - Summer Supper Pt 1

Even with the weather being finicky and throwing us some serious shade (and cold), there have been enough brighter days to hold onto the beautiful fact that Spring is here and Summer is coming. Which makes me even more excited to eat outside basically every day and spend as much time as possible outside.

Last year during the throes of Covid, I got into playing with different grilled sandwich recipes and this one turned out to be one of my favorites, and when paired with the super easy Mediterranean-type salad it makes it complete. Cook together or make separately for a crowd!

So, pour yourself a drink, open the windows and let the summer roll around you as you make this delicious meal!

Pro tip: wait to add the fresh herbs if you are transporting to a friend’s house, adding them when you get there will look total baller and it will save the herbs from wilting too much in the salad!