PUNCH OF PASTEL

Today I'm bundled up inside with -40 windchill outside (brr)! But, looking at the pastel hued Australian home of Interior Stylist, Emma O'Meara, has me feeling like Summer is right around the corner! The style of it is so fittingly described by Emma...

"IT'S MY TAKE ON AUSSIE-MEETS-SCANDI WITH SPLASHES OF MID-CENTURY PALM SPRINGS VIBE."

I love the unexpected use of cedar shingles on such a modern structure. And, of course the pop of color in the bubblegum pink door.

Architectural details like a sliding barn door and painted stairs are kept feeling sophisticated by maintaining some of the natural details like black iron and natural wood.   It's also so fun to see something like a barn door shown other than in a farmhouse style!

What a light filled kitchen! Imagine cooking breakfast with the sun streaming in! And, flinging open the patio doors on a beautiful night to entertain a few guests. 

The open living and kitchen area feels light and airy with the raw plywood ceiling above. I also love the collection of smaller rugs strewn about, including an animal hide, which adds additional warmth.

The dining room has the most "Palm Springs" of a vibe to me. White metal chairs look like they almost belong on a patio, but are brought up a notch with a mix of candy colored round velvet cushions. The composition of art on the wall, including the now iconic Kate Moss "Life is is a joke" print, is displayed in an interesting way. The geometric light above the table could be reconstructed by the plethora of DIY light projects around. And, how cute is the trio of pineapples on the table??! 

A bumped out half wall eliminates the need for a headboard and creates a ledge for artwork and a string of pearl plant. Collected vintage bedding from the thrift shop could re-create the eclectic bedding ensembles in both bedrooms. 

I've been so excited to see nods to 80's bathrooms appear all over in design lately! If you haven't gotten around to replacing the original tile and fixturing in your home, or just purchased a home that hadn't been updated, well you're in luck! Switch out a few accents like lighting, the mirror, or maybe the vanity and you'll feel like you have an all new modern space!

On the back patio is where you'd find me most days I imagine with a cold drink in hand lounging in a chair! The round astro turf rug is such a fun addition! And, adds some greenery where a small yard might lack. 

A closer inspection of the above photo draws my eye to the palm looking plant in the corner and brings me back to reality of the blustery weather outside. I have the same plant by my window, but it is not standing 4' tall and full of lush leaves. It sadly misses it's warm Atlanta weather and has lost most of its leaves. However, I am hopeful with the new leafy growth I see emerging, that it is embracing the cold just like I. Every time it has snowed this Winter, I have ran outside to play like a child. And, have welcomed in cold like today as an opportunity to make some soup and craft. I am confident the optimistic colors in Emma's home would be even more punctuated with a view out to a porch covered in windswept snow. 

What do you think? Are you inspired lately to inject some color into your home after what has been years of very neutral spaces?

All photos Nikole Ramsay via Homes to Love.

RECYCLING 101

Image via City of Newcastle, WA

We all want to take our part in treating our home (earth) well. We've begun using reusable straws, finding alternatives to plastic storage for our food, and recycling. In recent years, I've gotten into a lot of conversations with people about how to recycle - Whether you need to wash the food out and peel the labels off, whether all plastic and paper is recyclable, etc. I did some research to answer some of these same questions I was having myself!

In the 90's, what is known as single stream recycling began being implemented. And, by 2012 almost all collectors were using this method. The goal was to encourage more people to participate in recycling by making it easier for them (allowing all types of recyclable items to be put into one single bin vs. needing to separate your paper into one bin, your plastic in another, your glass in another, and so on). Other advantages of the single stream method are that less space is needed to store multiple recycling bins, further increasing participating. And, it is easier and cheaper for the recycling to be collected since the waste haulers don't need to come multiple different times to collect, or have a way to separate the items in the truck.

There is limited data, and therefore research, on recycling, however, the benefit of getting more people to recycle may have been overtaken by the cost - On average, about 25% of the stuff we try and recycle is too contaminated to go anywhere but the landfill. For the past 25 years, much of what was left of the paper, metals, and plastic that were able to be separated and baled, we had been sending to China instead of recycling it on our own. However, beginning in January 2018, China refused to take any more unless it is 99.5% free of contaminants. It was never never a good solution to off-load our recycling to China. But, now that cities are faced with the task of coming up with solutions here at home, in some places the recycling we're separating out is going to the landfill. Some other cities in the US (as well as other countries) are switching to dual-stream collection. 

Whether or not your city has single-stream collection or has (or is moving to) a dual stream collection, what is most important is the quality of the recycling you are putting out. Remember we spoke about how roughly 1 in 4 items placed in a recycling container is actually not recyclable through curbside programs? This significantly raises the costs to process the recycling and in some instances makes the recyclables now trash, even if some of the load is not contaminated. For examples, Waste Management says, "when food or liquids are placed in a recycling container they will ultimately saturate tons of otherwise good paper and cardboard that they come into contact with. When paper and cardboard loses its quality, it also loses its ability to be recycled. It becomes trash." Waste Management also shares a lot of this is because, "Products and packaging have become more complex. This complexity has in many ways altered consumers' understanding of what they think is recyclable. More and more, non-recyclables are finding their way into single-stream containers - things like plastic bags, organic matter (food, liquid, and yard waste), rubber hoses, wires, and low-grade plastics." 

I found this fantastic resource listing out the most common contaminants to recycling and how to avoid them...

1) PLASTIC BAGS - Plastic bags and items made from their plastic material (i.i. shrink wrap, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, newspaper bags, trash bags, etc.) are the worst recycling contaminator of all. Keep them out of the bin to save the sorters at your local recycling facility a huge amount of extra work while also saving their machines the hassle of getting clogged. Helpful hint! - Drop your plastic bags (if recyclable) off at the grocery store collection bins (specific for just bags) so they are still recycled, but don't contaminate any other recyclables.

2) FOOD WASTE - Otherwise recyclable items quickly become garbage when they carry the remnants of the food they once held. Some great examples of food waste contamination can be found in paperboard take-home boxes full of food and the recyclable jar/can that hasn't been emptied or rinsed out. 

3) LOOSE SHREDDED PAPER - While shredded paper is not considered a contaminant as a whole, loose shredded paper can cause many recycling issues. When shredded paper is mixed in with non-shredded paper, it is difficult to recover for recycling. To fix this, keep it in a separate paper bag that is clearly marked. 

4) BRIGHTLY COLORED PAPER - The problem with brightly colored paper is the analogy of the red-sock-in-the-white-load. That paints a pretty good picture of what happens when brightly colored paper manages to spoil a batch of good paper recycling. If you tear the colored paper in question and you see white in the center it is recyclable. If the color dye goes all the way through then you're unfortunately out of luck.

5) SOME BEVERAGE CARTONS - Some municipal programs accept beverage cartons as recyclable while others might not. When in doubt you have two options - Check with your specific municipal recycling program's manager to find out if the carton is on their 'yes' or 'no' list or add the cartons to your recyclables since they are easy to separate out. 

6) THE WRONG PLASTICS - Some recycling programs might accept plastics #1-7 but the final rejection is decided at the sorting facility. Rejection of plastics usually comes down to the type of plastic being recycled and what it once contained. Food containers are usually ok. Containers that once held non-food items should be checked to determine the type of plastic it's considered. For instance, the most common recycled plastics are #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE). Plastics #3 through #7 are sometimes recyclable. To see if your item is one of the above mentioned locate the chasing arrows symbol (usually on the bottom of the bottle). 

7) HAZARDOUS WASTE - Containers for paint, automotive fluids, or pesticides must be disposed of separately or, for some facilities, cleaned out before they can be recycled. Check with your local recycling and/or household hazardous waste program manager to determine the methods necessary to make sure these items can be recycled.

8) BIO-HAZARDOUS WASTE (AND DIAPERS) - If you are trying to recycle something that has any human fluid on it, don't. Syringes, needles, diapers, and any other sanitary product are not recyclable and can be potentially dangerous to handle.

9) FROZEN FOOD CONTAINERS - The shiny, exterior coating that those boxes have to prevent freezer burn actually prevents the paper from being recyclable.

10) UNRINSED OR METAL-CAPPED GLASS - Before you recycle that wine or beer bottle, give it a quick rinse. The excess liquid can contaminate other papers in the recycling and render them non-recyclable. Metal caps on glass containers simply need to be put in the bin separately from the containers they top.

This list also outlines in more detail the do's and don't for each type of material...

PAPER AND CARDBOARD
DO's

• corrugated cardboard (boxes)
• magazines
• office paper
• newspapers
• paperboard (cereal boxes)
• paper cardboard dairy/juice cartons (in limited areas only)
• unsolicited direct mail (even window envelopes are ok)
• phone books

DON'TS

• waxed paper
• food contaminated paper (such as a cheese-encrusted pizza box)
• mixed metal and paper (like stapled paper - just remove the staple and the paper can be recycled)

METALS
DO'S

• aluminum cans
• foil and aluminum bakeware
• steel cans and tins (rinsed-out soup cans, veggie cans, coffee cans, etc.)
• wire coat hangers
• empty aerosol cans

DON'TS

• food-contaminated metals (like a half-eaten can of beans - rinse out the beans and the can is good to recycle!)
• automotive parts
• plumbing parts
• paint cans with wet or dried-on paint (inquire how to properly dispose)
• electronics (inquire for how to properly dispose)

GLASS
DO'S

• clear glass (rinsed mayonnaise containers, pasta sauces, pickle jars, etc.)
• brown amber glass typically used for beer
• green bottles typically used for wine

DON'TS

• any glass contaminated with stones, dirt, and food waste
• ceramics, such as dishwater, ovenware, and decorative items
• heat-resistance glass, such as Pyrex
• mixed colors of broken glass
• mirror or window glass
• metal or plastic caps, corks, or lids
• crystal
• light bulbs (inquire how to properly dispose)
• cathode-ray tubes found in some televisions and computer monitors (inquire how to properly dispose)

PLASTIC

One important thing to keep in mind as you recycle plastics is cleanliness is essential. One dirty product, or one with food waste still in it, can contaminate an entire bale containing thousands of pounds of collected plastics. Some municipalities accept all types of plastic. Others accept only containers with certain numbers stamped on them. Still others accept only products with specific resin codes that also are bottles (having a neck that's narrower than the body).

TYPICAL DO'S

• Make sure it's clean!
• Products labeled #1 and #2 are widely accepted at recycling facilities. These typically include soft drink and soda bottles, plastic from cereal boxes, containers for salad dressing, vegetable oil, and peanut butter, oven-ready meal trays, butter and margarine tubs, and containers for laundry detergent and some household cleaners.

TYPICAL DON'TS

• Municipalities differ on whether to accept products labeled with #4 and #5. These typically include squeezable bottles, bread wrappers, frozen food bags, dry cleaning bags, yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, some straws, and prescription bottles.
• Plastic grocery and produce sacks are commonly, but not always, made from plastics #2 and #4. Do not put these with your curbside recycling. These bags are often collected at barrels at grocery stores.
• Products labeled with #3, #6, or #7 are less often accepted for recycling. These typically include window cleaner and dishwashing detergent bottles, some shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, plastics used in most blister packs, disposable coffee cups, polystyrene, plastic egg cartons, aspirin bottles, and compact disc cases.

And, back to the big question of whether labels need to be removed...they do not! The high heat in today's recycling technology will burn away labels and glue. The only reason you might want to remove the labels is to recycle the label themselves! Those can go in the bin with your other paper recycling. And, an even better option is to reuse the containers instead of recycling it!

LENTIL SOUP

On cold winter days such as these, it's nice to stay inside and enjoy a warm pot of soup. Most types of soup come together quickly, are inexpensive, and fill the house with a wonderful smell! This lentil soup is a keeper. I didn't bother slicing the spinach, throwing the leaves in whole to wilt instead. And, topped with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, which is a healthier way to mimic sour cream, it thickens it up nicely. All it needs is a loaf of bread straight out of the oven to soak up the juice!

Lentil Soup

Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped

1/4 c olive oil
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried basil
1 - 14.5 oz crushed tomatoes 
2 c dry lentils
8 c chicken broth
1/2 c spinach 
2 tbsp vinegar
salt to taste
ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1) In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. 

2) Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender.

3) Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.

4) Stir in lentils, and add water and tomatoes. 

5) Bring to a boil.
6) Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour.
7) When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts. 
8) Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired.

HEALTHY ZUCCHINI BREAD

We always had a garden growing up - with sweet peas, zucchini, carrots, rhubarb...  I would pick fresh vegetables straight from the earth, wash them off under the spigot, and pop them in my mouth.  The zucchini was baked into bread, it seems almost daily.  I loved to bake bread!!  I don't remember who's recipe I used when I was little, but when my neighbor gifted me the hugest zucchini I've ever seen from her friends garden a few weeks ago, I went to my moms blog to search for a zucchini bread recipe.  

AND, IT'S A KEEPER!

I feel like it is so hard to find one that is a bit more healthy that is still sweet and moist.  And, this is it!  Zucchini is in season from June through August in most parts of the country so we're ending peak season.

BUT, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GET A FEW LOAVES IN!!

Zucchini Bread

Makes: 2 loaves

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1/2 c oil

1/2 c applesauce

1 c sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 c grated zucchini

2 1/2 c flour (I used 1 1/2 c unbleached all-purpose flour + 1 c whole wheat pastry flour)

1/2 c oatmeal

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 325.

2) Grease and flour 2 small loaf pans (4 1/2 x 8 1/2).

3) Beat eggs. Add oil, applesauce, sugar, vanilla, and zucchini. Mix together. Add dry ingredients.

4) Pour into loaf pans.

5) Bake for 1 hour (or until a flat toothpick inserted comes out clean). Note: I like to underbake my bread slightly so it is more moist.

CHICKPEA CURRY SALAD SANDWICHES

I love the internet, pinterest, instagram, blogs...  

BUT, I HAVE A LOVE FOR PAPER MAGAZINES AND BOOKS EVEN MORE.

So, yes I still tear pages from magazines and cook from them or collage them in my many binders of inspiration.  I tore this recipe for Chickpea Curry Salad Sandwiches from Parade magazine and whipped them up this past weekend.  They were a welcome change from all of the avocado toasts I have been addicted to the past year or two.  Although, I felt they needed a dash more flavor from an additional green onion.  What do you know, when I went to the original recipe from Sarah Britton's in her cookbook, Naturally Nourished, the only variation was two green onions vs one! 

I MIGHT BE GETTING GOOD AT THIS WHOLE COOKING THING!

The recipe below is the original from Sarah Britton.

Chickpea Curry Salad Sandwiches

Makes: 8 to 10 sandwiches

Ingredients:
6 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp curry powder
1 1/2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
fine sea salt
freshly ground pepper
3 cups (2 15-oz cans) cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 oz raw pecans (approx. 1/8 cup)
3 tbsp raisins
1 stalk celery
2 spring onions
6 to 8 slices whole-grain bread
crisp lettuce or sprouts
sliced red onion or shallots (optional)

Directions:
1) Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, curry powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.  Season with more salt, if necessary.
2) in a food processor, pulse the chickpeas to roughly chop them - do not overprocess or you'll end up with chickpea puree.  You can also do this step by hand.
3) Chop the pecans and raisins, then dice the celery and onions.
4) In a large bowl, combine the chopped chickpeas with the dressing.  Add the pecans, raisins, celery, and onions and fold to combine.  Season with salt.  Enjoy the salad on bread with lettuce and onion slices, if desired.

MODERN FARMHOUSE STYLE

So what exactly is this modern farmhouse style that everyone seems to be aspiring to (#housegoals)??  

I'LL TRY AND BREAK IT DOWN HERE, AS WELL AS LIST THE TOP ESSENTIALS FOR CREATING THE LOOK.

The architectural style of a farmhouse has been around since the early 1800's.  Farmhouses were found in rural areas, typically on the same piece of land as a field of crops and barns filled with animals.  With a wave of interest in slow living, less is more, and wholesome food served around the family table, it's no wonder people would look back at a simpler time for inspiration. 

WHAT MAKES A FARMHOUSE "MODERN" ARE THE MORE CONTEMPORARY DETAILS THAT ARE MIXED IN LIKE BLACK WINDOWPANES, METAL ROOFING, AND SLEEKER LINES.

via Feldman Architecture

via Modern Farmhouse Design

via Villa Boreale

THINK PAST JUST A WHITE EXTERIOR.  THE FRESHEST FARMHOUSES ON THE BLOCK ARE POPPING UP IN BLACK, AND EVEN NAVY BLUE!

via Kate Johns

via Serene Real Estate

WHETHER IT'S ON THE FRONT OR BACK, ALL MODERN FARMHOUSES MUST HAVE A SPRAWLING PORCH.

via The Faux Martha

via Three Twenty Co

via J Taylor Designs

Joanna Gaines certainly brought the farmhouse look to the forefront with the popular HGTV show Fixer Upper, but many of the elements she incorporated were more rustic with distressed finishes and shiplap.  

VINTAGE DETAILS HAVE EVOLVED WITH BOHO ACCESSORIES LIKE KILIM RUGS, LOTS OF GREENERY, (PARTICULARLY OVERSIZED VASES FILLED WITH EUCALYPTUS), AND GEOMETRIC LIGHT FIXTURES.

The kitchen was always the center of a farmhouse and that's where the focus remains with an open floor plan to the living area.  

CLASSIC DETAILS LIKE WHITE SUBWAY TILE, A DEEP SINK, AND OPEN SHELVING ARE KEY TO GETTING THE FARMHOUSE LOOK. 

And, notice the dark punctuations in the wood and countertops?  That contrast is necessary in order to keep the look feeling sophisticated over shabby chic. 

via patticakewagner

via Jenny Komenda

via Home Life

via Jean Stoffer Design

So, what do you think?  Is the modern farmhouse here to stay?  What trends do you see emerging that will continue to evolve the modern farmhouse style?

RHUBARB COCONUT CRUMBLE BARS

Rhubarb is a perennial that can keep coming up each Spring for up to 20 years.  But, these are stalks from the same plant I gathered from when I was little... 

STILL ABUNDANTLY PROVIDING OVER 30 YEARS LATER!

My mom so carefully wrapped them with water to keep them fresh on the drive home.

If you've never had rhubarb, it is slightly sweet and tart at the same time, perfect for pies, bars, and jams.  

SO YOU WOULD THINK IT'S A FRUIT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A VEGETABLE!

You can also pair it with more savory foods, but I baked it up into a typical crumble and it turned out oh so good!  

 

Total time: 1 hour (15 minutes prep / 45 minutes baking)
Serves: 24

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour, divided
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups fresh rhubarb, diced (approx. 6 stalks)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Directions:
1) In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour and the confectioners sugar.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Pat into a lightly greased 9X13 inch baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
2) In a large bowl, combine sugar and remaining flour.  Add eggs.  Stir in the rhubarb, walnuts, and coconut.  Pour over Crust.  Bake 30-35 minutes longer or until set.  Cool on a wire rack.  Cut into bars.

The above recipe was adapted from Taste of Home's rhubarb dream bars.  I cut the sugar down by a 1/2 cup and they were still plenty sweet so next time I would trim it down even more!  It also called for sweetened shredded coconut, but definitely go for unsweetened.  There is absolutely no reason for all that extra sugar and junk ingredients.  Bob's Red Mill unsweetened shredded coconut is literally just "natural unsulfured coconut," nothing else.  Whereas other brands that make sweetened coconut have a ton more sugar to start with, typically are sulphured, and have preservatives and chemicals to maintain freshness.  Wondering what the difference is between sulfured and unsulfured?  Sulfur dioxide is added as a preservative and to stop fruit from turning brown.  Most information you'll find will say sulfur is fine to consume, but since the World Heath Organization has set the daily acceptable intake for a 2 year old to half a dried apricot, I am staying away!  And, even if you don't believe that sulfur dioxide causes any health issues, isn't it always best to opt for food as close to its natural state as possible?  Especially when there is a natural option so readily available.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU DECIDE TO GROW YOUR OWN RHUBARB, OR MAKE A SWEET TREAT WITH THIS FUN VEGETABLE!

warm white bean salad with arugula pesto and preserved lemon

My family has grown quite significantly over the years, from five in my immediate family to now brother-in-laws as well as seven nieces and nephews between my two older sisters.  When I was in college and my sisters were newly married and later young mothers, we started doing a secret santa gift exchange to save money and unnecessary purchasing.  My cousin would draw names and email each of us the one (adult) person we were to buy a gift for, and over Thanksgiving when we were typically all able to get together we would go around in a circle and open them.  With just one person to focus on, it opened up a lot of time (and fun) to find the absolute perfect gift.  I still have the custom skull high top Converse sneakers with pink laces my brother-in-law got me.  After quite a few years of doing a secret santa, we all decided we missed a little the joy that comes from gifting to others, and decided to open up the possibilities a bit.  However, we didn't go back to buying gifts for everyone.  Instead, for Christmas as well as for birthdays, mothers day, fathers day, and the like, we would purchase if it was within our means and we happened across something perfect throughout the year, but no obligation.  So, a present might come on your birthday in August or a present might randomly show up in June when you were least expecting it.  Oh what more fun!  This is what happened a few months when a box was unexpectedly leaning up against my door upon arriving home.  I opened it to find a copy of "Dinner: Changing The Game" by Melissa Clark.  Had this been shipped to me by mistake?  No, the address is correct.  Is there a note inside?  Nope.  Hmmm.  One of my sisters had texted a few days prior to double check my address, so I texted her.  Bingo.  A good friend of hers had said the cookbook was amazing and had been getting rave reviews so she bought one for herself and for me.  How thoughtful.  And unexpected.  And something we can now share as sisters.  All Summer long, we've been communicating back and forth with which recipes we have tried, how they turned out, and what the next ones on our list are (she was surprised I listed the Warm Squid Salad, but I'm sticking to my guns!).

Melissa's goal with "Dinner" was to help us figure out what to make for dinner without falling back on what we've eaten before, to give choices and help expand the way we think about dinner so cooking it becomes "one of the most satisfying and loveliest moments of the day."  She provides a list of ingredients to keep on hand and the history and uses behind them in the front of the cookbook.  The list can seem a little daunting as they're not all your average pantry staples (sumac, kimchi, and thai red curry paste to name a few).  But, I poured over this cookbook for hours the first day totally immersed in how attainable Melissa made incorporating these ingredients into anyone's arsenal.

The first recipe I made from "Dinner" was the Warm White Bean Salad with Arugula Pesto and Preserved Lemon.  I was drawn to it because it seemed like a nice light salad for Summer, but also because it would teach me how to make a version of pesto, which I could translate later for many other dishes if it became part of my "arsenal."

Most of the ingredients I had on hand, and the others I quickly scooped up from the local supermarket...except for the preserved lemon, lemons that have been pickled in salt and their own juices.  I hunted all over the store to no avail.  Check back tomorrow for more info on how to make your own preserved lemon, in no time at all!

Total time: 20 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

6 to 8 cups arugula

1/3 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 1/2 tbsp chopped preserved lemon

1 garlic clove, chopped

1/4 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste

3 cups cooked white beans, rinsed and drained

fresh lemon juice to taste

freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 to 3 tbsp thinly shaved shallot or red onion (optional)

Directions:

1) In a food processor or blender, combine 2 packed cups of the arugula with the almonds, cheese, preserved lemon, garlic, and the 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Process or blend until everything is finely chopped.  With the motor running, blend in the 1/3 cup olive oil.  

2) Warm the beans in the microwave for about 1 minute, or in a small pot on the stovetop for about 2 to 3 minutes.  The beans should be warm to the touch, but not hot.

3) In a medium bowl, toss the arugula pesto with the warm beans, and adjust the seasoning to taste.

4) In a large bowl, toss the remaining arugula with lemon juice, a drizzle of olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.  (If you're unsure, add the seasonings a little at a time, tasting as you go, until you like it.  Be generous with the black pepper.)  Arrange the arugula salad on a large platter, and spoon the beans on top.  Sprinkle the shaved shallots over the beans, and serve.

LIBERTY OF LONDON COLLABS

Liberty of London was started in 1875 when Arthur Lasenby Liberty borrowed 2,000 pounds from his father-in-law to open a store selling ornaments, fabric, and works of art on Regent Street.  He quickly repaid the loan and bought neighboring properties to meet the demand for carpets and furniture and began collaborating with many British designers, "determined not to follow existing fashion but to create new ones."  Housed in a 1924 mock-tutor building on Great Marlborough Street, Liberty designs and manufacturers fabrics, accessories, fashion, and homegoods and has continued to collaborate with designers over the years including Yves Saint Laurent, Nike, Dr. Martens, Manola Blank, Uniqlo, and Superga.  There are a few exciting new collaborations this month from Anthropologie, JCrew, Topshop, and Nike.  Here are my top picks!

J.Crew One-Shoulder Tie Dress in Liberty of London Claire-Aude Floral

J.Crew Tie-Waist Skirt in Liberty of London Delilah Cavendish Tana Lawn Floral

J.Crew Bandana in Liberty of London Poppy and Daisy Floral

J.Crew Ruffle Hem Midi Dress in Liberty of London Wiltshire Floral 

J.Crew Lace-Up Back Dress in Liberty of London Thorpe Floral

Topshop Liberty of London Bardot Crop Top and Flower Shorts

Anthropologie Candles in Liberty of London prints

Anthropologie Quilt in Liberty of London Strawberry Thief

Anthropologie Edlyn Sofa in Liberty of London Feather Bloom

Anthropologie Edlyn Bench in Liberty of London Feather Fan

Anthropologie Wallpaper in Liberty of London Charlotte Floral

Anthropologie Tamsin Dining Chairs in Liberty of London Paradise Garden, Peacock Orchid, and Strawberry Thief

Anthropologie Dinnerware in Liberty of London Mabelle Floral