Just J.Faye

Hiking & Other Adventures

Peach Almond Butter Shortbread Bars

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I know it’s September, but it’s still summer and it’s still hot. We should still be eating peaches every single day for every single meal: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, dessert.

Are we on the same page with this? I hope so, because I have a dessert for you. These beauts are peach almond butter shortbread bars.

peach almond butter shortbread bars

Let’s dissect.

On the bottom is buttery shortbread acting as a strong base to hold the other delicious layers. It’s a simple crust made of butter, powdered sugar, flour, just a little bit of vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt.

Next is a layer of almond butter. This acts as a shield to protect the shortbread from getting soggy from the peaches. Not to mention, almond butter is amazing on approximately everything. I made my own by pulverizing almonds with a little bit of sea salt and maple syrup in my food processor, but you could totally use store-bought almond butter here.

Finally, we pile on peaches that have been roasted with maple syrup and brandy. They are juicy and delicious and perfect in every way; the real stars of this recipe. The brandy is totally optional, but really why would you skip it?

peach almond butter shortbread bars

And hey, let’s just add a dollop of sweetened whipped cream on there as well. It’s summer and we should live a little before settling into fall.

peach almond butter shortbread bars

I kept these bars in the fridge and the shortbread crust stayed strong and crispy for days (3 to be exact). There was no sogginess in sight, which is excellent, because I’m sure we can all agree that soggy crust is the worst. The mix of the shortbread with the creamy almond butter and the juicy peaches is a textural experience for your mouth. Your taste buds won’t be sad about it.

They tasted good cold and they tasted good heated up. They tasted good morning, afternoon, and night. I can say this all with confidence, because I did all the research.

peach almond butter shortbread bars

So go run to the grocery store and buy all the peaches and enjoy every single last minute of summer.

Oh and while you’re at it, a few more peach recipes: browned butter ginger peach blondies, bourbon peach crisp, and fruit & coconut water ice pops.

peach almond butter shortbread bars

Peach Almond Butter Shortbread Bars
 
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Serves: 9 bars
Ingredients
  • 3 medium ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
  • 4 tablespoons maple syrup (separated)
  • 1 tablespoon brandy (optional)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup dry roasted almonds
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F. Take two pieces of parchment paper and place them perpendicularly in an 8x8” baking pan. Leave some overhang so that the bars can easily be lifted out of the pan.
  2. Place the sliced peaches on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and one of brandy (optional), then sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Set aside.
  3. In the large bowl, cream together the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and the flour. Mix until incorporated. Then press dough into the prepared pan.
  4. Place both the shortbread and the peaches in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. The rim of the shortbread should be lightly browned.
  5. While the peaches and shortbread are baking, add the almonds, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and the sea salt to a food processor. Process until smooth and creamy. Be patient as this can take up to 10-15 minutes depending on the strength of your processor. You can also use store bought almond butter.
  6. Allow the shortbread and peaches to cool slightly, then spread a layer of almond butter on the shortbread. You’ll want to make sure everything is covered. Then add the peaches.
  7. Cut, serve, and enjoy! I added a dollop of sweetened whipped cream to mine, because yum.

peach almond butter shortbread bars

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Cucumber Watermelon Salad

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Oh hey.

Hi.

I’m back.

cucumber watermelon salad

I went on vacation to Peru.

Vacation = no work.

Vacation = no blogging.

Vacation = chilling in Cusco, hiking the Inca Trail, freaking out over Machu Picchu, and walking around Lima.

One day some day soon I will tell you all about it.

BUT FIRST, this cucumber watermelon salad.

cucumber watermelon salad

If cucumber watermelon salad doesn’t scream summer to you, then I don’t know what does.

Ice cream, maybe?

Probably, but let’s scream about salad too.

cucumber watermelon salad

I made this salad when a couple of girlfriends and I went to Red Barn Farm for pizza night. It seems like it was forever ago, but I still remember how delicious this salad (and that pizza!) was.

The sweetness of the watermelon is balanced out with peppery arugula and salty feta cheese. Then there is the cucumber for a nice crunch and the herbs for an extra fresh surprise. Go ahead and double it. Maybe even quadruple it.

Plus, it’s beyond easy to throw together, especially if you take the lazy route and buy the pre-cut watermelon. No one will judge you!

I won’t anyways.

I hope you try it out and become as obsessed with it as I am!

cucumber watermelon salad

Cucumber Watermelon Salad
 
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This cucumber watermelon salad is perfect for summer picnics! It's light, refreshing, and super easy to throw together. It can easily be doubled or quadrupled to feed a crowd!
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 2 cups watermelon, cubed
  • 1 small cucumber, diced
  • 2 large handfuls arugula
  • 2 ounces feta cheese
  • ½ cup fresh mint and/or basil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Serve and enjoy!

 

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Summer Bucket List Things

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2015 Summer Bucket List

Now that Memorial Day has passed, it’s officially summer. That’s how it works, right?!

It’s time to spend as much time outside as possible and soak up every single minute of the nice weather and the long days (with the proper SPF, of course) before winter strikes again.

In order to take full advantage (because summer always moves by way too fast) my friends and I created a “summer bucket list” to capture all the things we want to do. I thought it would be fun to share the list. Here’s what we have so far:

  • Go to a movie in the park. We’ve done this the last couple of summers and it is always a lot of fun. Just keep your fingers crossed that the mosquitos aren’t out in full force! Check out the Minneapolis schedule here.
  • Visit a Pizza Farm. I’ve wanted to go to a pizza farm ever since I first learned about them two years ago. This will be the year!! If you’re not familiar with a pizza farm, it’s basically a farm where they make their own pizza with fresh produce from their gardens. Bring wine, beer, sides, silverware, and blankets to make a picnic out of it! Amazing, right? My friends and I are going to go check out Red Barn in a couple of weeks.
  • Do lawn bowling at Brits. Because lawn bowling is so much more fun on a roof.
  • Have dinner at Spoon & Stable. Spoon & Stable is a new restaurant that opened up in Minneapolis. I’ve heard such awesome things about it. I mean, it received a James Beard nomination for best new restaurant for crying out loud. Making reservations is tricky. I guess we don’t have to go this summer, but might as well add it to the list.
  • Bike and go wine tasting in Stillwater. Stillwater is a cute little town with a bunch of wineries, breweries, and boutique shops. It’s only a 20ish minute drive from Minneapolis, so it’ll be a fun day trip with the girls. Minnesota obviously isn’t known for its wine, but that doesn’t mean we can’t go taste it.
  • Go to a Twins game. I’m not a huge baseball fan or anything, but I like going to the games with friends, grabbing a beer and hot dog, and hanging out at the stadium. It just feels like such an all-American summer activity.
  • Do yoga in the park. My friend Meggan (AKA: The Yoga Garage) hosts a yoga class by Lake of the Isles every Wednesday night at 7:00. The season opener is June 10. I’m excited to finally go to a class!
  • Have a picnic. Because it’s summer and picnics are necessary.
  • Bike to Sea Salt. We did this once last summer and it was such a blast, so we definitely wanted to do it again this year.
  • Go paddle boarding followed by food and drinks at Tin Fish or Bread & Pickle. There are always so many people paddle boarding around Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet, but we’ve never gone before! A friend and I attempted to do this once or twice last summer but each time it was too windy. It will happen this year! Plus, I still have not eaten at Tin Fish, which is just ridiculous.

A couple extras on my personal summer bucket list:

  • Do an Endless Summer Trail Race. Ever since doing my first trail race in April, I’ve been wanting to do another one. I’ve heard great things about this series (along with its post-race pizza, beer, and soda!) and am finally planning to register for one this summer. Hopefully the 7 mile on July 14!
  • Grill. I think I’ve used the grills at my condo building twice in the last 3.5 years. They just scare me a little bit and it’s such an event to haul everything down and back up. BUT, I’m going to try to force myself to do it more. Or at least once.
  • Go to ‘The Jabin’ as much as possible. I love my family’s cabin (and my family) so I want to spend as much time as I can up there.

As you can see, most of these involve doing fun things outside (primarily eating or doing something active) that can’t really be done in the winter. This list will help keep me (and my friends) accountable to do all the summer things!

I am SO EXCITED to have such a fun and awesome summer!!

PS- Do you have a summer bucket list? What’s on it? Am I missing anything on mine?

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Pudding-Wiches

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These pudding-wiches are a blast from the past, bringing me right back to my days at summer camp.

pudding-wiches I was talking to my mom a month or so ago and we were brainstorming snacks to bring to our family reunion (which starts today!!!). She mentioned pudding-wiches and I thought, “OMG! PUDDING-WICHES!!” I had forgotten all about them.

A few of my childhood summers (maybe 3 or so?) I would spend a week at Camp Croix with my siblings, best friends, and our camp counselor mothers. It was always the highlight of the summer. We would make crafts, play softball, tetherball, and nukem (a version of volleyball where you catch and through the ball), canoe, swim, have campfires, sing songs, go to Bible study, put on plays, make new friends, and all those other fun camp activities. So, so fun.

Oddly enough I ran into one of the girls that I met at summer camp one time during an intern event at General Mills. It had been 10 years since we had seen each other, but I have a creepy knack for remembering people (never forget a face!). Isn’t that a crazy coincidence!?

Anyways, the cafeteria would serve these pudding-wiches as dessert or a snack. Then after getting home from camp my mom would whip up a batch or two to keep in the freezer. We would always crave them and then think of fun summer camp memories as we ate them. Plus, pudding-wiches are a super simple and delicious snack to keep on hand and eat when the mood strikes.

pudding-wiches After my mom had mentioned them I decided that I needed to make them immediately. So I did.

Pudding-wiches are essentially graham cracker sandwiches with a filling of chocolate mousse (chocolate pudding + Cool Whip).

Get out your crackers.

pudding-wiches Get our your mousse.

pudding-wiches Dollop on the mousse. Top the sandwiches.

pudding-wiches Freeze for a bit and then wrap in plastic wrap.

pudding-wiches Store in your freezer and eat as your heart desires.

pudding-wiches So that’s it. Nothing fancy or complicated. Just simply delicious.

I have the day off of work and am heading up north in a few hours to celebrate another Dummer Family Reunion. It will be my grandpa, his two brothers, and all the families that stem underneath them. We have the reunions about every three years in various states (Oregon, South Dakota, Colorado) across the country. It is always a great time and this year will be no exception. I love that our family takes the time and money to get together every couple of years to celebrate and actually enjoy our time together.

I don’t remember if my mom actually decided to make pudding-wiches for the reunion or not, but she did text me that she made 3 batches of s’more cookies, 2 batches of salted caramel oatmeal cookies, and a big pan of bars. Plus there will be my Great Grandma Lilian’s German potato salad, burgers, brats, beans, and so many other delicious things. It will be a delicious weekend. Good thing I’m scheduled to lead morning boot camp.

pudding-wiches

Pudding-Wiches
 
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Graham cracker sandwiches filled with chocolate mousse. A great summer time snack!
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 24 graham crackers
  • 8 oz container Cool Whip
  • 3.9 oz box chocolate instant pudding mix
Instructions
  1. Make the pudding according to package directions. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, fold the Cool Whip into the pudding. Place in the freezer for 15-60 minutes to firm up (optional).
  3. Split graham crackers in half. Dollop a large spoonful on half of the crackers. Top with the other half of the graham cracker to create a sandwich. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
  4. Wrap individual pudding wiches in plastic wrap and keep in freezer until ready to eat.
Notes
I made my sandwich is batches, making about 8 at a time. This way I could freeze a small amount before making more and stacking them in the freezer.

It’s funny how food can give you such nostalgic feelings. Every time I eat one of these my mind shoots straight back to those summer camp days. It was like the prime of my awkward stage. I’m so glad I (for the most part) am past that. Because, yikes. Those pictures are a bit painful to look back on.

pudding-wiches

 

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Summer Chopped Salad with Garlic Scape Hummus

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This is my first year joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). I am a few weeks in and I absolutely LOVE it. A box of fresh, locally grown vegetables every week? Yes, please.

These veggies. They are just so beautiful.

summer chopped salad with garlic scape hummus My friend and I are splitting a half-share from Stone’s Throw Urban Farm, which is the perfect amount of produce. Every Tuesday one of us stops by the beautiful micro-farm located right in the middle of a little neighborhood south of Minneapolis. They have a u-pick herb garden where you can load up on fresh herbs. It’s amazing. Mint, basil, oregano, chives, lavender, thyme. Jeez. I now put herbs on everything.

At first this whole CSA thing was slightly overwhelming. I had to read up on cleaning and storing vegetables to make sure they stay fresh. Luckily The Kitchn came to the rescue with their Guide to Storing Fruits and Vegetables. Every Tuesday evening I have drying produce scattered all over my counters. It’s kind of a beautiful disaster. Also, I tend to do my meal planning and grocery shopping on Sundays, so the Tuesday pick-up throws me off a little bit, especially when I don’t know what I will be getting in that week’s box. But then I got over all of that.

summer chopped salad with garlic scape hummus The awesome thing about joining a CSA is that it has exposed me to vegetables that I wouldn’t normally purchase, like fennel, and also some that I never even heard of, like tat soi. It’s been so fun to experiment with these different things. I have been trying to challenge myself with new recipes, but a lot of the time I just end up sautéing them, which is still super delicious. Not complaining.

One of the really fun vegetables to play with is garlic scapes. Have you heard of them before? They are essentially the stalks of garlic plants and are swirly and green. Really pretty. They are kind of like a combination of garlic, green onions, and asparagus. You can do lots of fun things with them: throw them in pasta or stir fry, grill them, blend them into pesto, etc. I decided to make this week’s bunch into hummus. It was a great idea. Chickpeas, garlic scapes, some lemon juice, salt, and pepper all blended up. Super simple. Super tasty.

summer chopped salad with garlic scape hummus I decided to take this hummus and dump it on a summer chopped salad with cucumbers, red peppers, yellow squash, and grilled chicken breast. It was another great idea.

summer chopped salad with garlic scape hummus This week I also received a bunch of fresh dill. I have never purchased or used fresh dill before and, let me tell you, it is a game changer. Dill is strong and packs in a ton of flavor. I love it. So, so much. I mixed it with some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice for a simple vinaigrette to top my salad.

This salad. Oh man. It makes me super happy. It’s fresh, bright, easy to prepare, full of flavor, and very good for you. Oh, and it’s delicious.

summer chopped salad with garlic scape hummus Feel free to sub the vegetables with anything you have on hand!

Now go get your hands on some garlic scapes and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Summer Chopped Salad with Garlic Scape Hummus
 
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Utilize all the fresh summer veggies by throwing together a chopped salad. The star here: garlic scape hummus.
Author:
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
Garlic Scape Hummus:
  • 1 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 3 garlic scapes, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic
  • Lemon juice from 1 ½ lemons
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette:
  • ½ cup olive oil (check other blogs for ratios)
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • Lemon juice from ½ lemon
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Summer Chopped Salad:
  • 7-8 cups mixed greens (I used a mix of romaine, spinach, and kale)
  • 2 grilled chicken breasts, cut into ½” pieces
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1 large cucumber, chopped
  • 1 large yellow squash, chopped
Instructions
  1. To make the hummus: place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process until it reaches desired consistency.
  2. To make the lemon dill vinaigrette: combine all ingredients in a mason jar, shake well.
  3. To assemble the salad: combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, mix it up, and divide between 2-4 bowls. Add a dollop (2ish tablespoons) of hummus and a few drizzles of the vinaigrette. Serve and enjoy!

summer chopped salad with garlic scape hummus

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Bourbon Peach Crisp: A Dad Dessert

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I feel like it’s not truly summer until you bake and eat (or just eat) your first fruit crisp of the season.

bourbon peach crisp #recipe I wanted it to really be summer, so I made one.

Yes, I know technically the real first day of summer is next week. I’m a little ahead of the game. BUT after a lonnggggg winter full of too many below zero days I think I (and the rest of Minnesota) deserve summer just a few days early.

Totally 100% fair.

Also, I wanted to bake a dessert for my dad for Father’s Day and I feel that fruit crisps are good dad desserts: simple and fuss-free, also delicious without being super sweet or too rich.

Plus, peaches? The epitome of summer.

bourbon peach crisp #recipe I planned to meet my parents at our cabin this weekend. We would hang out all weekend, maybe do some work on the cabin, and celebrate Father’s Day on Saturday evening. We would grill, drink wine and beer, and I would bake this delicious bourbon peach crisp. We would invite over our neighbors (we have the best cabin neighbors), chat, laugh, and have a grand ole time.

Sounds like a great plan, right?

Right.

bourbon peach crisp #recipe This plan for the most part happened. Actually, it all happened. However, my dad wasn’t there to enjoy it. Why? Because he got sick yesterday morning and had to stay at home. Super sad. Also, it was cold and rainy all weekend.

My mom was sick earlier in the week on her birthday and then my dad got sick Father’s Day weekend. Terrible, terrible timing for both of them. So unfortunate.

I will plan to celebrate his amazing fatherness from afar and catch up with him at a later date… probably over a beers and burgers.

bourbon peach crisp #recipe Despite my dad not being able to join us I still made this peach crisp. Because, peach crisp. It.is.so.good.

First, peaches and bourbon. You just can’t go wrong with this combo.

Second, as I already mentioned, fruit crisp desserts are as summer-y as they get and we could all use some summer in our lives.

Third, it is so easy to make – simple ingredients and simple baking tools. Perfect for cabin baking (our kitchen isn’t fully stocked here).

bourbon peach crisp #recipe

Speaking of cabin baking. How great are our orange countertops? So classic.

Peel and slice peaches. Mix them with some bourbon and maple syrup and throw them in a baking dish. Stir together some flour, oats, brown sugar, spices, and butter. Sprinkle it all over the peaches. Bake for 40 minutes. Pull it out of the oven. Stare at it for a few minutes mentally willing it to cool down just enough to eat. Scoop some on a plate. Top with ice cream. Give your dad a hug and a kiss (or a mental hug and kiss if he is not nearby). Eat and enjoy.

bourbon peach crisp #recipe

Bourbon Peach Crisp
 
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Juicy peaches mixed with bourbon and maple syrup and topped with a delicious, crispy crumble. A perfect summer dessert.
Author:
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
For the peaches:
  • 6-7 peaches
  • 3 tbsp bourbon
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
For the crumble:
  • 1⅓ cup oats
  • ⅔ cup flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp butter
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the mixture until everything is moistened and evenly distributed. You may need to use your hands for this. Set aside.
  4. Peel and slice the peaches and place them in an 8x8” baking dish. Add the bourbon, maple syrup, cinnamon, and a few sprinkles of the crumble mixture. Stir together.
  5. Top with the crumble mixture and cover with foil.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, then bake for an additional 25-30 minutes or until the fruit juices are bubbling and the crisp is slightly brown.
  7. Let cool slightly and serve with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
To easily peel peaches boil them in water for about 30 seconds and the skins will peel off. My mom taught me this trick!

bourbon peach crisp #recipe Also, I just can’t let you go without giving you the top 10 reasons why my dad is the best:

  1. He sends the best texts and emails. Seriously, the best. During my freshman year of college he went through a phase where he sent me daily Anchorman quotes. Then we went through a phase where he sent daily emails to my siblings and me. It started out as Bible verses, then switched to presidential quotes, then switched to dumb things I have said. Now every once in a while I will get a picture text with a quote, signed “just b.lee”. See what he did there? So clever.
  2. He enjoys drinking Hamm’s beer and the occasional pomegranate martini. “Cheers, bitches!”
  3. He is not an outgoing person, but is really good at making small talk with waitresses and cashiers. Since he is more of the strong, silent type my friends growing up were a little scared of him, but now they all love him.
  4. He is the funniest person he knows. He laughs at all his own jokes. Sometimes he’ll laugh at other people’s jokes, but it has to be the right place, right time type of situation. I always laugh at his jokes, because they are hilarious and sometimes not even real jokes!
  5. He is “not about fun”. That is a direct quote. Personally, I think that he is more about fun than not. Especially now that my parents are empty nesters. Maybe have four children running around at home is a stressful fun-suck?
  6. He is a stud and is a pro at “The Body” (AKA Jesse Ventura) strut.
  7. He has been mistaken for Brett Favre, Dennis Quaid, Harrison Ford, and George W. Bush.
  8. He is the coolest farmer ever and grows a pretty awesome moustache during “hunting season.” It always looks good and I tell him this much to my mom’s dismay. Fun facts: our farm has been in our family for over a century. I grew up in the house that my dad did and my parents still live there. However, the house has changed significantly over the years.
  9. He taught my siblings and I the value of hard work, dedication, and persistence. I am very grateful for all of these lessons. They helped shape me into the person I am today. From him I also received my stubborn-ness and inability to be idle.
  10. He is a stand-up man. The best man. My favorite man. I love him and always always will.

bourbon peach crisp #recipe Happy Father’s Day to ALL the amazing fathers out there. Also, a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my grandpa. Another tremendous man whom I love deeply.

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