If you’ve been following along for a while now, you probably know that in addition to cooking, we are major book addicts. We both love to escape into a good story and while our book tastes do diverge a little at times, we often read a lot of the same books and both love to hear about what others are reading.
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Hey folks, July was a BUSY month (I feel like I say that frequently, this adulting thing is HARD). But with a mind towards gratitude let’s stop for a minute and talk about five great things from July!
Fourth of July fireworks in Crosslake
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Life has been a bit of a whirlwind lately and my time in the kitchen has been a little limited, much to my dismay. I love to try new recipes and typically aim to try 1-2 each week. I’m still working away at my #52weeksproject (and will post an update later this summer), and while my recipe trials have slowed down in recent weeks, my list of recipes I am itching to make just keeps growing. I’ve got new cookbooks peppered with post-it notes, recipes pulled from magazines, and blogs and pins saved to my computer. Now I just need to find some time to cook – and some hungry people to eat all of that good food. This Friday Five is all about the Summer Recipes I Can’t Wait To Try!
It’s grill season and I’m absolutely itching to give these Grilled Gorgozola Potatoes a try. Carbs and cheese? It’s a guaranteed winner.
Oat milk is all the rage with the cool kids these days. Here’s how to make your own.
Another grill recipe I think sounds fantastic? Browned Butter Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon “Toast” Brioche Crumbs. I’ve grilled peaches before (check out our recipe for Grilled Peach and Arugula Salad) but I love the idea of the toast crumbs to add texture and a whole other level of flavor!
I’m always a fan of a one-pot recipe. This One Pot Pasta Primavera with Summer Veggies and Ricotta looks awesome and easy!
Coffee Caramel Ice Cream Pie. It’s basically all of my favorite things in one single recipe. The Vanilla Bean Blog always gets it right and I’m certain this recipe will be a new family favorite.
Watermelon is everywhere right now and so fresh and delicious. I’m planning to give these Mezcal Margarita Watermelon Wedges a try next weekend.
How refreshing and perfect for summer does this Smoky Grilled Chicken with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce sound?
I love a great summer side dish and this Thai Cucumber Salad sounds fantastic.
Hot Honey Butter Bath Corn. Um…what? This one could be a sweet corn game changer.
Are you looking for another new recipe to try? Why not give our Spinach Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing a shot? It’s easy and full of flavor.
What recipes are on your summer to make list? Leave us a comment below!
The end of May brings graduations aplenty! Graduations from every kind of school from high school to college to professional school (shout out to all of the new doctors and lawyers out there!)! So many great celebrations and milestones. But for milestones you need gifts. And of course…we have recommendations! Read on for our Gifts for Grads!
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It’s Friday! Finally. Right?
After a long and busy week, I am so ready for this weekend. Lane and I are heading up to her cabin for a fun filled girls weekend of recipe testing, food photography, and all around fun. It’s going to be a great time! I spent the morning pouring over my pages of recipe notes and ideas and then running to Trader Joes for all the things we are going to need for our weekend cooking extravaganza. My groceries are temporarily tucked away and shortly I’m going to pack up my weekend gear, but before I do, I wanted to share a few of my favorite things from around the web this week. It’s a quick little list, but one I hope you enjoy when you get some time. Grab some of our Lemon Cardamom Monkey Bread (pictured below), a good cup of coffee, and pull up a chair. Here are The 5 Things You Need to Read This Weekend…
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Spring is in the air. And I’m not sure I’ve ever been so grateful for our loyal audience here at With Two Spoons. So many thoughts and plans swirling around as we plan for the future of our little brand. And as always, when thinking about the future I like to invoke a little creativity! So where I am finding inspiration?
Stay tuned, because if I’m finding inspiration…
YOU CAN TOO!
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Well, this is definitely a little out of the box here on With Two Spoons, but I thought it might be fun to switch things up a little this week and talk about something completely not food related. I’ve never been much of a girly-girl per se, but I have always had a bit of a weakness for great skin and body products. My bathroom closet sometimes resembles a graveyard of unused bottles and tubes (so much stuff to try – and so many failures! Whoops!), but my vanity drawers are usually filled with so good they are used to the last drop favorites. These favorites change from time to time, but I do have stuff I always return to again and again. Friday Five this week is all about my Current Skin Care Favorites. 
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I am so excited about the Friday Five this week! Today I get to share my obsession-COOKBOOKS! And I’m going to tell you my five must have favorite cookbooks. And best of all, we have a cookbook GIVEAWAY-just in time for you to plan your Cinco de Mayo party! Keep reading and enter to win below!
Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi
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If you’ve been following along with our Instagram or Facebook this week, you might have noticed that both Lane and I are down in the beautiful state of Arizona enjoying the desert sun and warm weather. As it is spring break for many schools right now, the airport was filled with kids and families when we traveled last week. As I prepare to fly back home this weekend, I’ve been thinking about the things I frequently rely on to make traveling with young kids just a little bit easier. This week’s Friday Five is all about Traveling with Young Kids.
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It’s finally HERE!!! After what has felt like the longest winter in Minnesota history, spring finally, finally arrived in Minneapolis this week. The snow is beginning its slow melt and the first 60 degree day of the year is in the forecast for early next week. I am over the moon excited about it all. While we can’t quite put away the winter gear yet (anyone else remember last year’s APRIL snowstorm?? Ugh.), I’ve ditched my heavy parka for a lighter coat and my trusty winter boots have been set aside for my favorite wellies. The change of seasons always gets me excited about new things to do, read, wear, and listen to so I thought I’d share what’s on my radar for this spring in our Friday Five: Spring Things. 
Creamy Vanilla Fruit Dip – A Perfect Early Spring Recipe!
01. Spring Reads
I’ve been doing a ton of reading lately and man, have there been some great books out there this year! So far I’ve loved this one, and this one. I just started reading The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly by our good friend Rebecca Ansari and it is absolutely delightful. If you haven’t had a chance to grab it yet, definitely hit up your local bookstore or order a copy online. You won’t regret it! And, I’m happy to report, after a few unsuccessful tries at audiobooks (which Lane loves and swears by) I’m currently listening to Michelle Obama’s Becoming and it’s fantastic. I love hearing her tell her own story. What a treat.
02. Podcast Obsessions
This spring has also brought a bit of a podcast kick for me. My recent podcast binges have been courtesy of our friend Tracy, who told me all about some great podcasts while we were on our recent Ojai trip. She got me hooked on The Smartest Person in the Room and 10 Things To Tell You. I love the idea of learning about things from people who really know their stuff. The series on bias was particularly great and really pushed me to think about things outside of my own comfort zone. Thanks for the recommendation, Tracy!
03. The Perfect Spring Boots
We’ve been reveling in the warmer temps this week and heading outside for a walk or ride around the neighborhood with the kids after dinner. With all of the melting snow, my all time favorite wellies have been earning their keep in my closet once again. They are a bit of an investment, but I can tell you, after almost 5 years of steady wear (year round!), these are still going strong and are totally worth it. I wear them all the time and can’t recommend them enough.
04. New Recipe Inspiration
My #52weeksproject is still going strong over here and I’ve already had a handful of huge recipe successes (along with some minor failures – more on that in a future post). Part of the fun of the project is scouring the internet and my stash of cookbooks to find my next week’s recipe to try. Lately I’ve filed away the recipes for these Sourdough Crackers with Olive Oil and Herbs, this Persian Herb and Chickpea Stew with Rice, and these Hot Cross Buns, perfect for the Easter holiday! Have you tried any must make recipes this year?
05. My Salad Dressing Obsession
Of course, I’m always a fan of making your own salad dressing, but lately I have been absolutely obsessed with the Lemony Herb Vinaigrette from Salad Girl. My husband laughs at me because I basically buy a bottle a week – just for me! I love that they are a local company and all of their dressings are organic, gluten free, and don’t use any cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Four of the dressings are also vegan. You can get them in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores here in the Twin Cities, or buy them online. FYI: I’m not being compensated in any way for writing about them. I just honestly love their product and hope you will, too!
Bonus: If you’re looking for an easy early spring recipe, check out our Creamy Vanilla Fruit Dip. It’s perfect with those spring strawberries!