MN Mondays: Minneapolis, according to WSJ.

{Illustration by James Gulliver Hancock}

 

 

Even though this article has been making its way around Facebook and Twitter since Friday, I finally got around to reading it this morning. While there have been several, some not-so-great city guides and travelogues published about the Twin Cities lately (remember this genius advice to visit Potbelly's at the IDS on Saturday morning?!?), the Wall Street Journal's Ultimate Weekend in Minneapolis really hit all the spots.

 

Tilia, Mill City Farmer's Market, Butcher & the Boar, Lake Harriet...really, this article just tugged at my heart. It's about time that everyone else learns what we Minneapolitans already know: our City of Lakes has it all.

 

If you're planning on visiting Minneapolis for the first time, lived there all your life, or are coming back home for some time this summer, take a look at this list. You won't be disappointed.

 

Thanks, WSJ, for getting it right!

 

P.S. More fun in MN, but in wintertime! Never too early to plan ahead...

We're still here!

Almost melted, but still here. Kind of like this painting of this beach - everything starts to get blurry and all you can see is a hazy outline of what's in front of you...but like I said, I won't complain. I'll try to keep telling myself that. We'll be missing this in a few short months.

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We've adapted by turning the bedroom (the only room with a/c) into the everything-room: we turned the dresser into a buffet table/wine rack, some of the living room furniture has been brought it, anything to stay cool. We've got our priorities set.

This weekend (in a few hours, actually), we're off to MN - the last time we're there before we leave to GET MARRIED! I can't believe how this summer has flown by. I'm so excited to see my sister who's been in NY for the last few weeks, cuddle with the pup, catch up and celebrate with some lovely ladies at my bachelorette party, and of course, soak in as much family time as possible. They are our favorite people, after all!

In the kitchen: zucchini salad.

Or, to go with a different title, "Cooled." Yes, we finally installed the A/C (fine, Andrew did, but I helped). I feel bad for complaining because we promised during this last never-ending winter that once the temperature reached above 50 and even if it climbed to 90 we would keep quiet and not whine about how hot it was...but my level of tolerance was quickly dwindling in this humidity. So I feel only slightly, kind of, a tiny bit bad for complaining. 

Before today, we only had the ceiling fan in the living room so the rest of the apartment missed out on any cool air that it might provide; this meant the kitchen was especially rough. This salad, though, hit the spot for dinner after a hot day: it's refreshing, crisp, and light, the perfect summer side. And if you have a mandoline, it's done in no time, meaning you get out of the kitchen that much faster. 

Raw Zucchini Salad, via Michael Ruhlman. 
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2 zucchini 

2 tsp. salt, plus more to taste

1 Tbsp. minced shallot

1 garlic clove, minced

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 Tbsp. olive oil 

1/4 cup slivered almonds 

Black pepper

Cut the zucchini thinly on the bias, julienne, or use a mandoline slicer. Put them into a colander and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Toss, then add the second teaspoon of salt. Let stand for 10-20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the shallot, garlic, and lemon juice. 

Taste the zucchini; if it's too salty, briefly rinse the squash under water and pat dry. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini with olive oil, then add the shallot mixture. Add almonds, and season with pepper (and more salt/lemon juice, if necessary). 

Serve chilled and stay cool! 

In the kitchen: strawberry hand pies.

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It's almost July 4th, which means it's time for grilling, picnics, and fireworks! I've always loved going to see fireworks; we went every year when we were little (over time, the fireworks for the 4th have been overtaken by the those for the Minneapolis Aquatenniel, but that's a post for another day). This year, we'll be taking in Shorewood's festivities: there's a parade that goes down our street, a jazz band concert, and of course, fireworks over the lake. 

A few weeks ago, we were flipping through Bon Appetit's latest issue and found these perfect little pies. We used strawberry jam (homemade - thanks, Andrew!) instead of the blueberries, but I think any summer fruit would work just as well. And they were lovely! The recipe makes 6 hand pies, which is perfect for the two of us - enough for dessert, then breakfast and a snack the next day. 

Since we'll be spending most of the day outside tomorrow, we figured these pies would be an easy dessert to accompany our Fourth of July picnic that Andrew's already started preparing. Side note: I do have quite an amazing and talented fiance who, last night, made BBQ sauce, pickles, pickled red onions, strawberry jam for the pies...AND dinner, and then prepped the pork for grilling. Eat your hearts out, girls! My major contribution was making the dough the other day...I know. Huge help. 

Strawberry Hand Pies, adapted from Bon Appetit. 
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1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Strawberry jam (for a quick berry filling, quarter hulled strawberries and toss with 1 tsp. lemon zest, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, and 1/4 cup sugar; leave to sit until the juices run) 

1 egg, whisked with 1 tsp. water

Sugar, for sprinkling 

To make the pie crust: 

Pulse dry ingredients in a food processor. Add butter, and pulse until all ingredients are combined, with a texture of course meal. Add 1/4 cup ice water and continue to pulse until dough comes together, adding more water if dry. Form into a square, cover with plastic, and chill in the fridge for at least two hours. Let the dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling. 

(Note you don't have to use a food processor - I usually don't, and just incorporate the butter with a pastry cutter). 

To make the pies: 

Preheat oven to 375. Roll out dough on a floured surface to a 15x12-inch rectangle. Cut into 6 rectangles. Brush edges of rectangles with water. Spoon some berry filling in bottom half of each rectangle. Fold over the dough and press edges to seal. Place pies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with sugar. Cut slits in tops.

Bake hand pies, rotating halfway through, until the dough turns golden, about 35 minutes. Transfer pies to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature...at room temp, they taste like a much (MUCH) better version of strawberry pop-tarts! 

These will be the perfect sweet treat for our picnic. Oh, and I think maybe we need this to start. 

Happy (almost) Fourth! 

Showered.

I can't find words to express my love and gratitude for all my friends and family who were at the shower this weekend. It was perfect (no rain!). My aunt's home looked amazing, as usual, with gorgeous flowers everywhere. She, my mom, and my sister outdid themselves with all the work they put in to making the day so beautiful. You ladies are all incredible, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Here are some photos of the day; some are mine, most were taken by friends, and all are absolutely lovely.