French Potato Salad

I have a confession, and after I share this I hope we can still be friends. The last time I mentioned this in a group, I got the "bless her heart" stare, so here it goes. I am not a fan of Southern potato salad. I love almost everything about the South, but the mayonnaise and egg ridden potato salad is not on that list. I've been politely tasting small dollops at picnics for years, and have yet to find one that I like. I find that most taste bland. However, I wholeheartedly stand behind chicken salad, bourbon, peaches, boiled peanuts, and my cast iron skillet. 

When my mom made this potato salad over July 4th weekend, I was smitten. It tastes like potatoes, though the combination of herbs, olive oil, champagne vinegar, and a little mustard really make the potatoes shine. I tried this out on Josh's family last night, and it was a hit at the table, so much so that I'm going to adopt this recipe as my new house potato salad. In Ina's cookbook on the following page, you can doll this salad up with green beans, tuna, capers, tomatoes and onions to make the Provencal Potato Salad, but trust me when I say it is amazing just like this. 

I also made Ina's peach and raspberry crumble with South Carolina peaches. With all this Ina talk this morning, I've included a picture of my Barefoot Contessa cookbook collection on my dining room shelves, and yes I modeled my dining room table and settings after her barn. Ina is fabulous and she is my domestic role model! If you glimpse that set of Moscow Mule mugs hiding in my basket, just know that they will be put to good use this October when I can once again enjoy an evening cocktail. I already have a ginger mint julep with fresh pineapple on my radar! 

French Potato Salad

from Ina Garten's The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

1 pound small white boiling potatoes
1 pound small red boiling potatoes
2 tablespoons good dry white wine
2 tablespoons chicken stock
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 tablespoons good olive oil
1/4 cup minced scallions (white and green parts)
2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves

Drop the white and red potatoes into a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until they are just cooked through. Drain in a colander and place a towel over the potatoes to allow them to steam for 10 more minutes. As soon as you can handle them, cut in 1/2 (quarters if the potatoes are larger) and place in a medium bowl. Toss gently with the wine and chicken stock. Allow the liquids to soak into the warm potatoes before proceeding.

Combine the vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Add the vinaigrette to the potatoes. Add the scallions, dill, parsley, basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

Happy 4th of July, friends! If you are wondering why I haven't posted many recipes lately, it is entirely my husband's fault! He has been grilling like a mad man, and has spoiled me with chicken thighs, pork tenderloin, ribeyes, corn on the cob, and foil packets. We have really enjoyed dining "al fresco" and the back deck is set up with tiki torches and a wireless speaker for good music. 

This week, I made these jalapeno cornbread muffins to compliment his barbecue chicken thighs, and they were perfect for summer time and easy to freeze. I'm going to give you a little tip on how to make these extra delicious - cut up a cube of cheddar and drop it into the middle of each muffin before baking. I made a few that way by accident with the larger chunks of cheese that didn't grate well, and those muffins were the best of the batch. 

Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

from Damn Delicious

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon honey

2 jalapenos, seeded and diced

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray; set aside.

- In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking soda and salt.

- In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, butter, sugar, eggs 

  and honey.

- Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist. Add jalapenos 

  and cheese, and gently toss to combine.

- Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tray. Place into oven and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until 

  a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

- Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Instagram Favorites

The best thing about picking up photography and investing in a decent camera (I have a Canon Rebel T2i) is it has changed the way I see the world. I have become aware of beautiful light, especially at dawn and dusk, and am always looking for beauty in the outside world. I notice small things now like the color of a cherry tomato and the tiny fingers of a baby. Photography has also taught me to slow down, be quiet, and observe the world around me.

This week, there were just too many amazing photos on Instagram, so I made a photo collage and a quote collage. Wishing you all happy week!

 

this week's favorites from

• tracyshutterbean {a pimm's cup with roasted strawberries and basil!!}
• thevuvobandit {for mama, she loves sweet old trucks}
• fitfluential {watermelon pizza!}
• smpliving
• cabotcheese 
• lunchpailsandlipstick
• womenshealthmag
• yogainspiration

Virtual Book Club

I finished this book in three days, and just could not put it down! I rarely take my Kindle around the pool when I'm going for a dip with kids around, but I made an exception today if that tells you anything about this book. A couple people even asked me what I was reading because I was laughing out loud! I gave it 5 stars on goodreads and highly recommend it. 

Next up:

Instagram Favorites

This weeks favorites are brought to you from 

• littlecoal {becoming my favorite photographer on Instagram - truly amazing!}
• kingarthurflour {swooning over those nutella and strawberry crepes}
• williamssonoma
• thesmitten

The bottom right photo is dazzling. I look at it almost every day. There is something about the ocean, and sky, and that green umbrella that is just beyond beautiful. 

on marriage...

Josh and I are very fortunate to have folks in our lives that give us advice and encouragement on the challenges and joys of marriage. My grandma Shirley was the one who taught my mom to always put your husband first, which my mom shared with me before my wedding day. My dad taught me to support each others dreams, and he has quietly encouraged my mom in taking up oil painting and made custom frames for her best pieces. 

Josh's uncle Mike has also helped us a great deal. He frequently gives Josh tips and sends him little stories. His emails are honest and funny, and he's gently warned Josh that I will be a "little hormonal" at times in pregnancy and that he should be loving and patient with me. He won me over with that one. He recently taught us that love is the willingness to do anything for a single smile. 

Mike and his wife Tammy have been married for decades and have two amazing boys. Tammy is battling cancer again the third time, and you can imagine their emotions as they prepare for treatment. The other night, Mike found a way to make her smile when she feeling down. This was so sweet I've been thinking about it all week, and had to share. 

Mike turned his man shed into a concert hall. He wired some big speakers in there, pulled a chair into the middle, got Tammy out in that chair and then blasted her favorite Queen album. Now, you hear lots of stories of love, but to me that is real love. Doing something crazy just to see your favorite person in the world smile. He said after hearing a few of her favorite songs, she was laughing and dancing. We needed to be reminded this week that marriage is about little acts of love, so thank you Uncle Mike. 

Virtual Book Club

In the midst of being "busy" - moving, unpacking, traveling, and working, I have pushed aside one of my favorite activities. I miss reading. I miss getting lost in a book, staying up late to finish one more chapter, and babbling to Josh about the story line. Today, I am putting myself on a summer reading program! One book a week. Here is a photo of my new reading corner - it houses the new Best glider I'm breaking in, a Bose bluetooth speaker, two great windows, and a ceiling fan whirring down on me. 

I'm starting with Tell the Wolves I'm Home. 

Summer Reading List

• The Pecan Man
• The Husbands Secret
• The Vacationers
• We Were Liars
• Looking for Alaska

Any books I should add to my list?