mellow melon salad / August 12, 2015 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

we celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago, not with some blowout dinner or glasses of bubbly, but in a sea-breezy field on a couple of adirondack chairs with 2 crisp beers, just me and frank, and our pup, Quint. we had kind of intended to do nothing since we're planning to take a celebratory trip later on in the year, but going back to where we got married, where this whole lindsey and frank thing started turned out to be the best way to ring in the occasion. we stopped by the farm on long island where we got married , had lunch at our favorite spot, and then took Quint for his first (and very apprehensive) swim in the ocean!

it was great reliving that day with similar sights and smells, but with my life partner and all that has come to mean in the past 2 years. it was almost like looking back on that day and thinking about how long ago it felt, how much we were babies then, but also feeling that nothing has really changed. they say the first year of marriage is roses and cupcakes. however, year 2 felt a bit more like that as our first year married was a lot of figuring out some of the dynamics of what being married meant to us as individuals, and finding compromise and balance within that.

excited for year 3? heck yes! for i feel as though these past couple of years, through the arguments and good times, we continue to accept differences, learn each other's language a bit better, and be fiercely in love with one another - flaws and all!

and now i'm going to awkwardly shift gears to this salad! there's a great deal of flavor and texture highlighted in this salad, all while keeping it super light on preparation time. the corn is lightly charred for a bit of smoky flavor, while the squash is peeled into noodles giving the salad some movement and texture. this is a cool and soothing salad, with a sweet and savory flavor, perfect for hot summer days!

big hugs!

mellow melon salad (v + gf)

while i use melon wedges here cantaloupe would be just as delicious, as would watermelon. the leopard melon indicated in the ingredients list is not so easily accessible, and can be substituted for cucumber, as it has a similar taste and texture. this is great served as a side to any meal, or as a hydrating snack during the day.

| serves 4-6 |

dressing

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon thyme leaves
3 teaspoons maple syrup
1 small shallot
salt + pepper

salad

half of 1 leopard melon (or 1 small cucumber)
2 medium summer squash
2 ears of corn, shucked
2/3 cup grape or cherry heirloom tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 teaspoon chopped mint
1/2 teaspoon chopped lemon thyme
salt + pepper
half of 1 cantaloupe or honeydew melon, cut into wedges
a small handful of mint flowers

green cantaloupe + snow leopard melon | dolly and oatmeal

method

place dressing ingredients in a mini food processor and blend until emulsified. taste and adjust seasoning. store dressing in a lidded jar in the refrigerator until ready to use.
prepare an ice bath and set aside. peel the skin from the melon (or cucumber) and cut in half lengthwise. using a mandolin, shave each half of the melon and place the pieces in the prepared ice bath to crisp, about 10-15 minutes. drain the melon and place on dishtowel to dry.
using a julienne peeler (or a mandolin) peel each side of the summer squash until you reach the seedy center. place strands in a large serving bowl and set aside.
over a gas top stove, light a burner to a low flame. one at a time char the corn cobs rotating with tongs to evenly cook the corn. set aside and allow corn to cool. once cool enough to handle, stand the corn upright; use a large knife to cut the kernels from the cob. repeat with other ear of corn and place kernels in the bowl with the squash.
to the bowl, add the tomatoes, leopard melon, parsley, mint, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. remove the dressing from the refrigerator and give it a good shake. drizzle a few spoonfuls over the squash noodles, then taste and adjust, adding more dressing if needed.
slice the cantaloupe or honeydew melon into even wedges, then cut the flesh from the skin. plate wedges and top with the summer squash noodles and mint flowers.

enjoy!

more summer recipes

raw veggie + ginger rice bowl w/ sriracha tahini

pickled corn succotash salad — pickled corn succotash salad

sunday suppers - a gathering / July 28, 2015 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

sunday suppers - a gathering | dolly and oatmeal

this past weekend my husband and i had the pleasure of hosting a light taqueria feast on martha's vineyard in celebration of karen mordechai's sunday suppers cookbook. i've been a fan of karen's work for years; from the charming gatherings she hosts in her brooklyn studio, to the array of stunning recipes and photos on her blog, and as of last year her sunday suppers cookbook. the compilation of gatherings and recipes in her book are not just beautifully organized but inspiring; nudging you - ever so gently - to take the plunge and host a gathering of your own. her recipes are breezy, but not in the sense that they're just thrown together, rather they're simple, refreshing, and delicious. karen's aesthetic is more than appealing, so when she asked if i wanted to host a gathering i jumped at the opportunity.

since i was up on martha's vienyard i thought that hosting the gathering there be a great opportunity to utilize some of the island's vibrant vegetables and fresh fish. the day of gathering started early as my husband and i drove to the other side of the island to purchase our fish from our favorite market, larsen's, where we picked up that morning's catch: halibut. next, it was on to beetlebung farm for my favorite herbs and greens, then a quick stop at the west tisbury farmers market for tabor house farm's red and white onions; our morning concluded at the morning glory farm in edgartown to purchase some of the most tender and sweet tomatoes, a handful of organic avocados, and a bunch of freshly plucked radishes. the rest of the afternoon was spent prepping, figuring out how to cook in the kitchen of our rental house, and setting the table for our guests.

we enjoyed an early supper as the sun started to set and the day became cool again. we talked and laughed and swapped stories about our day, and importantly shared a good meal with sun-kissed faces and happy smiles.

the menu

fish tacos w/ avocado crema

tortilla soup

pickled red onions

guacamole

pico de gallo

sea salt chelada

chocolate and tequila

more recipes

beet tacos w/ beet green salsa verde + pickled onions

raspberry-currant yogurt crumble cake (gf + df) / July 21, 2015 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

raspberry-currant yogurt crumble cake (gf + df) | dolly and oatmeal

if you've read a bunch of posts here then you've probably heard me go on and on about my summers spent on martha's vineyard. this year it's a shorter trip, but we're here on this magical island and that's all that matters! a whiff of the salty air, the fishy but welcoming fragrance of the fish markets, the sweet smells of the rosa rugosa bushes that line shores of every beach, and the hefty amount of sea mist that rolls through the beach grass just as the sun sets. the majesty of this island never gets old; it's as though i see it with new eyes each time i deboard that ferry.

i'm making it a short post today, we're trying to get as much time in with the fam and pups before we head back to brooklyn. but before i go i wanted to share this fruity crumb cake. it's a riff on a basic coffee cake but more berry-centric, with less cinnamon-y flavor. i happened to get up to stone barns just in time for their raspberry harvest and bought as many cartons of those sweet gems as i could carry. and while i typically shy away from using raspberries in baking (frank and i usually eat them all up before i can do anything with them), i had quite a bit leftover and was trying to clean out the fridge a bit before we left. i also had currants that i had picked up a few days prior and thought that the sweet raspberries and tart currants would be perfect in a cake situation! turns out it was one of my favorite things ever. so much so, that i made another cake with leftover blueberries the next day for my brother :)

this cake (in my opinion) is the perfect amount of sweet/tart that invites you to eat it with breakfast, as a afternoon treat, or perhaps as a light dessert. the crumble also has that essential balance of sweet/salty with a hint of cinnamon, hitting those traditional coffee cake notes. it's definitely a hit around here, perhaps it will be a new favorite in your kitchen as well :)

wishing you all cool summer breezes! xo

raspberry-currant yogurt crumble cake (gf + df)

feel free to substitute whatever berries you have on hand. if they're a larger berry i would suggest cutting them to the size of a dime or penny for even baking. i prefer to use this unsweetened cultured coconut yogurt, but 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk with 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice works just as well.

| makes one 8-inch round cake |

crumb topping

1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup monkfruit sweetener
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
big pinch of fine sea salt
1/4 cup melted coconut oil

cake

1 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup oat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 large eggs
1/4 cup sunflower oil
2/3 cup coconut sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened non-dairy cultured yogurt (i use this coconut yogurt)
1 1/2 cups mixed raspberries and currants

method

preheat the oven to 350°F, oil an 8-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper; set aside.
make the crumb topping. with a fork, whisk together the flour, cinnamon and salt; drizzle in the coconut oil and maple syrup and mix until crumbly, then add the almonds and mix to combine once more. cover with cling wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
make the cake. in a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside. in another large bowl, use an electric mixer on low to beat together the eggs and oil together; then add the sugar and vanilla; mix on low until combined. add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat on low until combined, then add 1/3 of the yogurt and beat on low until combined; alternate between the two until fully incorporated. gently fold in 1/2 the berries and currants; turn batter out into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula. evenly distribute the remaining berries over top of the cake. remove the crumb topping from the fridge and use your fingers to break it up a bit; evenly distribute crumbs over top of cake.
bake for 50-60 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. remove from oven and place on a rack; let cool completely before removing the sides of the pan and serving.

enjoy!