BEST BITES: CURRANT + LEMON MUFFINS

Today's recipe includes an AWESOME ingredient I've actually never baked with before, but have always loved: CURRANTS!

Growing up in Minnesota, we had wild currants grow on bushes near our house. My sister and I would pick them and eat them right on the spot. I was so excited when I found them at the farmer's market recently! They're tart and tangy and pop when you bit into them- kind of like a hybrid between and cranberry and a pomegranate seed:

I decided they'd be perfect to bake with, so I threw them into one of my usual muffin recipes with lemon and they turned out EXCELLENT. Half the batter was in mini muffin tins, half was in regular- both were eaten equally between family and friends :)

Here's what you need to make it happen:

- 1 1/2 cup fresh currants- washed, and destemmed! If I had had more I would have put even more in!

- 1 lemon: both zest and juice

- 1 cup skim milk

- 2 large eggs

- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

- 1 cup granulated sugar

- 4 teaspoons baking powder

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 3 cups all-purpose flour

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 and line your muffin tins with liners. 

Step 2: Combine your dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Step 3: Mix together your eggs, milk, and oil, and add to the dry mixture

Step 4: Stir in your lemon juice and zest, and gently mix all together with a spatula. I don't like using a mixer for muffins, they always end up kind of tough!

Step 5: Fold in your currants carefully so they don't all burst open!

Step 6: Fill your muffin cups 2/3 full if you want them to have a slight cap, or a little more full if you want the dramatic muffin top look (yes, I said muffin top!).

Step 7: For mini muffins, bake for 20 minutes- for regular muffins, bake for 25-30 (until lightly golden brown)

Step 8: Serve to your family/friends and enjoy!

 Personally, since the fruit is smaller, I think these were a lot better in a mini muffin form- each bite evenly guarantees some currant in it!

Have any of you ever baked with currants before? 

Tell me what you've made, I'd love to try the recipe!

xo, lp

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For more recipes, go HERE!

RAINBOW DRESSES FOR SUMMER

Commercials may be telling us it's back to school season, but weather.com keeps telling me it's still SUMMER!

The forecast this week is mid-80s, which means there's still plenty of time left for summer dresses- and the best part? Retailers are bring out new fall goods, so most of them are on sale!

So whether you're someone looking for a bright yellow dress or a slightly calmer navy dress- this guide is 100% for you. Pin it or share it with a friend- shopping (even virtually) is better that way, isn't it?

SHOP ORANGE DRESSES  //   SHOP YELLOW DRESSES

SHOP GREEN DRESSES //  SHOP BLUE DRESSES

SHOP NAVY DRESSES //  SHOP PURPLE DRESSES 

SHOP PINK DRESSES //  SHOP CORAL DRESSES

Okay, now tell me which of these dresses you love!

I'm all about Row 3, 2nd from the left!

xo, lp

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for more things in rainbow order, go here!

LIFE LATELY: ALL THE SUNFLOWERS. ALL OF 'EM.

I'm about to say something that I know I'll get yelled at for admitting:

I'm ready for fall.

I love pool time and all that jazz- but early fall is the best! I'm kind of ready for scarves and boots and chilly fall air that smells like leaves. Yes, leaves. 

Since the Midwest seasons are like clockwork, I know it's all coming soon - so here's what's good about summer lately:

#1: Okay, so the flowers ARE a pretty solid part of summer..a part that I'll miss in fall! Love this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

#2: Another thing I'll miss about summer is the fun shoes- need a vote on these pink wedges (yay or nay?)

#3: Okay, maybe I'm already talking myself out of fall coming...because now that I think about it...summer has been pretty great. This weekend we went to Pope Farms Conservancy to see the acres full of sunflowers...so. so. so. gorgeous:

#4: In other flower news, I recently stumbled across Lauren Bamford's "Locals" series. She takes local flowers and puts them in cans of local beers where she found them. Simple, but cool! See the series HERE. 

#5: This week's recipe is a perfect ode to the summer Farmer's Market- we found currants a couple weekends ago and I made THE best muffins. I mean I know I'm biased, but guys, they're GOOD.

What have you been doing to enjoy the last bits of summer?

Anyone out there secretly ready for fall too?

xo, lp

*PSST: For more photos of all the flowers, find me on Instagram! @lpodlich

MIXED BERRY SORBET! (how to make sorbet without an ice cream maker!)

You guys. Today's recipe rocks:

When I was in New York a couple months ago, I had the most magical sorbet at Eataly- and I decided it was high time to try and recreate it.

The problem? I don't have an ice cream maker.

I mean, I'm fine with this, because honestly, in our apartment, we don't really have room for it...but it kind of sucks when you get all up in Pinterest and see tons of awesome recipes for frozen goodies!

That's where Martha steps in. Ohhh Martha. She's my girl. I found a recipe for a Peach Sorbet that didn't require an ice cream maker- so I followed it loosely, subbing berries for peaches.

IT. WORKED! 

The outcome? Smooth, fruity, tangy sorbet. Michael even gave it 2 thumbs up.

(please note the ridiculous reflections of me taking these pictures in the spoons!)

What you need to make it happen

- 2 cups frozen mixed berries (I used blueberry/raspberry/blackberry)

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

-1/2 cup water

- 3 teaspoons lemon juice

- pinch of salt

- optional mint for garnish!

How to make it happen (based off THIS Martha recipe)

- Step 1: Dissolve your sugar into the water fully and mix with lemon juice and salt

- Step 2: Add your fruit and liquid mixture to your blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

- Step 3: In order to not have endless seeds in your sorbet (if you're making berry sorbet), you'll want to pass this pureed mixture through a mesh strainer. Just hold the strainer over a bowl, pour the mixture in, and using a spatula, push it through! The smooth mixture with end up in the bowl, and the seeds will get caught in the mesh. It'll totally look like ya killed something in your kitchen (see photo proof below) - but it's worth it!

- Step 4: Freeze (duh!). Once frozen, scoop out and serve in small bowls (with an optional mint garnish!) 

 It looks like there's seeds in the bowls below- but it's just some of the dark skin from the blueberries!

I added a lot more lemon juice than Martha because I'm more of a tangy-fruit person instead of a sugary-sweet-fruit person. If you're the latter, feel free to use less lemon juice!

Have you ever made sorbet before?

If so, let me know what flavors you used- I'd love to try more out!

xo, lp

*psssst: for more dessert recipes, go HERE!

* double pssssst: for more pretty pictures, go HERE!

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Don't forget to Pin this on Pinterest to make it later, or to share with your friends!:

LIFE LATELY: BACHELORETTE PARTIES & SPOON REFLECTIONS

This weekend was PERFECT.

There. I said it.

Michael and I drove back to MN so I could be at my friend's bachelorette fiesta. We've been friends since kindergarten, so there was no way I was going to miss it! We spent the whole time at her family's cabin at the lake- enjoying drinks and sunshine and a ridiculous amount of "remember when...??" storytelling. It was perfect weather, perfect company- just right for the soul :)

Here's what's good lately:

#1: Like I said, perfect weather! Look at that blue sky!

#2: It wasn't too shabby at sunset, either....

#4: I'm still deciding what I'm going to wear to her wedding (at the end of August)- and I've been eyeing these gorgeous Yumi Kim dresses. The floral patterns on these are just beyond!

#5: Another day, another awesome jewelry find. I actually had my first Rocksbox ever that I DIDN'T love. It had 2 necklaces in it that weren't me at ALL, which was a pretty big bummer since the last box I got was so good I kept all 3 pieces! Luckily the 3rd one in this box was one I loved- this delicate Gorjana gold long necklace below. I shipped the box back right away, and the new one will already be here today :) I know I normally gush about RB, but thought I'd keep it really by saying that they don't always hit it out of the park- but everyone is allowed an off-day, right?

(if you're still curious, you can get a free month trial with free shipping by using "beautyandbeardxoxo" as a code at checkout!)

#6: Tomorrow's recipe is SO. GOOD.  I noticed, however, while I was editing these images- that I foolishly had captured myself in the reflection of the spoons! AH! Thank goodness I was wearin' clothes, y'all. Oy. 

So what's new, people?

Anyone have a vote on which Yumi Kim dress I should get?

xo, lp

(i share on instagram A LOT, so if you're lookin' for more B&B, go here!)