Shaina Olmanson's Blog, page 7

Cranberry Orange Dark ‘n’ Stormy Cocktails

A cranberry-infused rum Dark ‘n’ Stormy with orange bitters for a holiday twist on this classic cocktail recipe.







Ah, November, with your howling wind and barren trees, brown grass rolling across the landscape as we wait for a blanket of snow to change our color palette from browns and greens to greys and blues. Soon my world will be in black and white, signifying the end of harvest and the beginning of the holidays.

For years this was the time of month that I would find out I was expecting, ri...

Thyme and Tea Rubbed Flank Steak with Gremolata

A recipe for flank steak first marinated in black tea and lemon, then rubbed with tea leaves and thyme, grilled, and then topped with a fresh gremolata.






The six of us packed into the car, we head off for a few hours of family bonding. We pull into the downtown, slowly creeping through weekend traffic and the Sunday morning brunch crowd. Stop light. Pedestrian. Train. Searching for a parking spot.


Pulling our coats close, we walk a few blocks, the children rushing ahead to push the walk buttons,...

Smoky Butternut Squash Soup with Seared Kielbasa and Toasted Brussels Sprouts

Butternut squash soup gets an upgrade with smoky paprika, a bit of cayenne, and a hearty helping of seared kielbasa sausage and golden brown brussels sprouts on top.








September gave us a proper Minnesota send-off this weekend with temperatures creeping back into the 80s. Everyone in the state ran to their lake homes or headed for the Lake Superior shoreline where they proceeded to recline in a lawn chair with their eyes closed in a desperate attempt to capture the moment to carry with them into...

Ginger Almond Fig Cake {Gluten-Free}

A recipe for a gluten-free, almond flour cake dotted with figs and ginger.






In August I spent a good deal of time being upset by the lack of figs in my life. I even went so far as purchasing them in Grand Marais when I came across them at the co-op there and then packing them in my cooler and carrying them the 250 miles home. I was desperate for them, a drug I needed to complete my summer.

My children ate them halved with a drizzle of honey, sometimes with a handful of nuts. These things seemed...

Purslane and Soba Noodle Salad

A bright cold soba salad recipe with plenty of crunch from purslane, daikon radishes, bean sprouts, and fresh garden cucumbers. This salad wants to be front and center on your end-of-summer dinner table.







Confessional. These photos are some of my favorites of the summer. I threw the salad together and took them on the floor in my kitchen while frantically trying to pack last-minute things for the Boundary Waters, already late to pick up my eldest son from camp and to meet the rest of my family...

Lamb Kofte: The Make-Ahead Cook

Spiced ground lamb is cooked kebab style in this kofte recipe and served with a creamy yogurt-garlic sauce.






All day I’ve been rushing, my breath slightly faster than should be normal, trying to calm the racing thoughts. I’m attempting to pack in more than is possible while the kids are off at their learning institutions for the first day of the new school year.


I glance at the time; I’m down to counting minutes before they arrive. A client’s project waits on the counter for its chance in the su...

Peach Raspberry Paletas {Ice Pops}

Peaches and raspberries blend in these peach melba ice pops to make a perfect fruit paleta with a coconut water base.






In the other room, there is a pet toad the size of a thimble that has escaped. I think. It is possible he has dug himself a hole, but some gentle probing suggests otherwise. This is not the first time he has scaled the walls of his prison-like enclosure to seek freedom beyond. My boys are running through the neighborhood with their friends, uncut hair trailing behind them. One...

What You Actually Need to Pack No-Waste, Eco-Friendly School Lunches

A simple guide to packing a no-waste lunch: what you really need and what you don’t.

No-Waste School Lunch Necessities

Walking through the aisles of major retailers it’s easy to feel inundated with the sheer amount of options available when it comes to packing food for your child to bring to school for lunch. With so much on the market, how do you know what you’ll actually use, what will hold up, what won’t leak, what the kids can open, and what’s worth the price tag? This is a list of the basi...

Lemon Balm Watermelon Green Iced Tea: Cold Brew

A hint of lemon balm and a healthy amount of sweet watermelon in this recipe turn ordinary green iced tea into a refreshing summer cooler.






It was finally hot. The kind of heat where you get out of the shower and by the time you’re done toweling off, you’re covered in a thin layer of sweat. It’s the type of air that is thick in your lungs, hangs in front of your face in waves, blurring your view of the green grass and the weed-filled garden.


Though, in my world where air conditioning is a luxury...

Thyme Roasted Radishes with Champagne Honey Vinaigrette

A recipe for roasted radishes with fresh thyme and parsley and a simple dressing of champagne vinegar and raw honey for a scintillating summer side.






I want summer to feel a certain way. This way involves warm breezes that blow through my house, my kids playing contentedly outside together, plenty of time for bike rides to the ice cream shop, lingering on walks around the lake, journaling in the grass, and reading on blankets outdoors.


Instead, summer feels like toomuchtodo-andafinitenumberofday...