Things I Heart In This Moment

I always love hearing about stuff people are into.  Anything!  Anything at all!  Favorite snack, favorite Starbucks drink, favorite lipstick, favorite pen, favorite book, favorite wine...you get it.

Here's my list of favorites currently:

Purple gladiolas.  I can't get enough!  I get them at Trader Joe's or Fred Meyer's and they are on my table every week.  They are my $5 splurge and I encourage you to get some.  Post haste.

The Love Letter.  I love this movie *almost* as much as my Nora Ephron staples (You've Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle).  Kate Capshaw is stunning in what appears to be zero make-up, it takes place in a pretend town called Loblolly By The Sea, and Tom Selleck is in it sans mustache.  Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

Also; the soundtrack is a winner!

What's a blog post by Lindsey without a snack or two, eh?

Tzatziki sauce.  It's that creamy cucumber sauce that comes on gyros at carnivals and I am hooked.  After years of trying I finally had a decent crop of dill this year so I commenced to making this dip and I eat it on almost everything.  I've also taken to making dill bread with the recipe you will find if you click right HERE. One piece toasted with an egg over medium makes the perfect breakfast.

Tzatziki Sauce:

3 small containers of plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup (more or less) of fresh chopped dill
1/2 - 1 cucumber with the seeds removed (cut in half length-wise and scoop out with spoon)
3 heaping tbsp of sour cream or mayonnaise.  I've used both, low-fat, non-fat versions of each and all are delicious.  Pick your poison.
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Handful of Feta if you're feeling froggy.

The only two requirements for this dip are that you drain your yogurt (dump into a sieve lined with a paper towel or cheese cloth, cover, and set in the fridge over a bowl for a few hours) and do the same with your cukes.  I chop mine, sprinkle them lightly with sea salt, and drain them in a sieve over a bowl for a few hours.  These two steps give you the creamiest sauce that won't get weird and watery after a few days.

Mix it all up tasting as you go and add what you think it needs.  Then call me and tell me everything you're eating it on.  You're welcome.

BB Creams.  I've been on the BB Cream band-wagon for a few years now and I highly recommend it.  It usually has an SPF and acts as a primer, concealer, foundation, and sunscreen all in one.  With minimal coverage!  My skin tends to break out once a month (ahem) and I notice that it seems less since I'm using BB Cream.  I've been partial to Missha brand in #21 for a few years now but have recently tried Loreal's Magic BB Cream and like it too.

Find the Missha HERE.

I just buy this one at Target.  Holla back if you try it and let me know what you think.

Date nights in the park with this dude.  I've taken to keeping a quilt in the back of my rig for impromptu dates to the park.  Perfection.  Living in a town with a gorgeous shady park on every corner is everything it's cracked up to be.  Our favorite for lounging is Laurelhurst.  We sit next to the "leash-off" area and make friends.

Well, I do.  Wicket and Eric not so much.

Mojitos.  My girlfriend Josie whipped these up a few times at her house and I'm digging them big time.  Here's the general recipe for her magical Mojitos, adjust to your tastes as necessary.  Also; serve in a Mason jar.  That's how she does it and I'm not one to mess with a good thing.

Josie's Magic Mojitos:

Simple syrup
Club soda
Limes
Fresh Mint
Rum (a dum dum)

Josie makes her syrup infused with limes and mint which is just lovely.  Here's how I did it and it was pretty damn close to her's.

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
A few springs of fresh mint
A few wedges of lime

***I double this recipe so as to not run out too soon.  Because that would be tragic.

Simmer ingredients gently on the stove until sugar melts.  Remove mint and limes and pour syrup into a Mason jar to stick in the fridge.

To make the cocktail:

Muddle a few springs of mint and a wedge of lime in your cocktail shaker (or mason jar with lid)
I pour a 5-count of rum and a 3 count of the syrup into the shaker with a few ice cubes.
Shake vigorously.
Pour into clean Mason jar and add club soda to taste.  I don't fill the jar all the way without tasting a few times to get it perfect.  I also go heavy on the lime because lime is my jam.

Take this perfect cocktail to your patio and toast to Josie for inspiring us.  It has to be done.

I guess that's it for now.  Summer in Portland is proving to be divine!  We're getting into grilling in the evenings for dinner, drinks on the patio, good music in the background, and cool breezes.  Come visit!