the beauty thrifter is in + a giveaway alert!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by highplainsthrifter

This week over on Beauty Bets, I had the privilege of working with Sally Beauty Supply to do a quick how-to featuring Ion products and tools. In it I share a new super-fast way to get “I just had my hair in braids all day waves” as well as some awesomely affordable Ion product picks. If that’s not enticement enough, there’s also a pretty rad BEACH VACATION giveaway going on in conjunction to the post. If I wasn’t disqualified from entering, believe me I’d be ALL OVER IT. My girl Bets has all the details…please do go check it out, enter and WIN.

xoxo,

Meghan

Photo by: Sara Montour.

an ode to grandma’s dressing room

Posted on March 27, 2013 by highplainsthrifter

Today over on the Etsy blog, I shared a few pretty ideas for building a vintage-y vanity area, inspired by my beautiful Grandma Mary (pictured above) and the nook where she used to get ready. With inspiration coming equally from Naples, Florida, circa 1977, and femininity’s golden age of the 1940s and 1950s, the curated collections of dress, decor and details were SO fun to put together. If you have a minute, please do check it out!

xoxo,

Meghan

guest post: summery quinoa salad recipe

Posted on June 4, 2012 by highplainsthrifter

Hey dearies, happy Monday!

To kick off the week, I’m turning the blog over to the lovely Jen Cortez, co-owner of The Hive Salon and blogger behind Midwest Vaygun. I asked Jen to share one of her favorite healthy dishes with us this week and the menu she came up with sounds downright divine, especially considering my recent barbecue bender in Kansas City. I’ve really been scaling back on the amount of meat I eat since my trip, and this protein-packed quinoa salad would be the perfect for toting to work for lunch. I hope you enjoy!!

xo, Meghan

Summer is closing in on us fast, and with the soaring temps comes one of my most favorite things—outdoor eating! The only problem is that picnics and barbecues are often filled with repetitious staples. I believe you can only have so much potato salad, right? I love Asian cuisine, but far too often my love of far-eastern goodness takes a back seat in the summer (except for those nights where take-out is the only retreat from a hot stove, or hotter backyard) for more seasonal fare. I decided to put an end to the monotony of usual summer stamples by “summer-izing” some of my favorite Asian flavors. These are perfect for bringing to any outdoor get together!

Cold Quinoa “Fried Rice” Salad with Tofu

Quinoa doesn’t harden when cold like most rice varieties, making it great for chilled salads. although mangoes and avocados aren’t traditional in fried rice, their textures and flavors compliment the spicy and salty flavors of the quinoa and add extra heft to the dish.

What You Need

1 1/2 c. quinoa, rinsed well
2 1/2 c. water
1 20-ounce block Wildwood Tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large mango
2 avocados
1 bundle scallions
2-3 t. Sriracha hot sauce
3 T. gluten-free soy sauce
1 1/2 t. palm sugar, or regular sugar
2 t. fresh ginger, grated
1 T. coconut oil
1/2 c. loosely packed Thai basil and cillantro
bean sprouts, peanuts, and limes for garnish

Begin by bringing the water to boil in a tall pot. Add a few pinches of salt and the quinoa. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until all of the water has been absorbed, this should take roughly 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork. Spread the quinoa out on a cookie sheet and pop into the fridge to chill, or the freezer if needed ASAP.

Next, take the tofu and place in on a lightly oiled cookie sheet and pop it into your toaster oven *if you don’t have a toaster oven you can use the regular oven but you’ll really heat your house up. otherwise, you can pan fry the tofu if you don’t mind the extra oil. Crank your toaster oven onto it’s highest setting and bake the bejeezus out of it, or until golden brown and lightly crispy. Place the tofu with the quinoa to cool it down.

Halve and pit the avocados and the mango and cube before tossing into a large, portable bowl that has a lid. Thinly slice the basil, cilantro, and scallions and add them to the bowl as well.

Now you can go ahead and whisk together the soy, ginger, sriracha, sugar and coconut oil (melt first if needed).

Toss the chilled quinoa and tofu with the rest of your prepped ingredients, and fold in the dressing. Taste and adjust to your preference. Sprinkle with with crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, and lime wedges. Serve with spicy grilled pak choy.

Spicy Korean Grilled Pak Choy

Feel free to swap out the pak choy for larger bok choy or another bitter green, like broccolini.

What You Need

1 lb. pak choy/baby bok choy
4 T. gluten free soy sauce
2 t. tamarind paste
1 T. sesame oil
3 T. rice wine vinegar
2+ T. garlic chili sauce

Rinse the pak choy and cut in half length wise. Whisk together remaining marinade components, taste for heat, and pour over the pak choy. Marinate up to a full day. Grill vegetables until tender, basting occasionally with leftover marinade. It was raining when I last made this so I used my cast iron grill pan, but I think it tastes best when it’s made outdoors.

Get more of delicious vegan recipes like this over on the Midwest Vaygun!

guest post: thrifting with kids–tips & tricks from moms

Posted on June 9, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

This past Memorial Day, Mary and I went on a thrifting binge, and at it seemed like at every (crowded) store we stopped at, we encountered children of all ages in various stages of meltdown-dom: Some were crying, others were screaming, a few were in full-out tantrum mode.

After my headache subsided, I started thinking…how on earth can you keep your sanity as a thrifting-loving mama?

So, I called on some experts: Mom pals of mine who love to thrift, rummage and flea. As a non-mom, I loved hearing what works for them, and have definitely filed away some ideas for (way far away) future use. For the lovely mamas out there reading, I hope you find their tips helpful!

Thrifty Mama #1: Andrea

In addition to being a treasured friend, my girl Andrea is as close to a domestic Wonder Woman as you can get. Besides being an amazing cook, her beautiful home is full of sweet vintage finds; spoils from her many jaunts to the flea market with her man, Jason, and their five-year-old Hank. Here are some of her tips…

Start ’em young: We bring (and when he was younger, brought) Hank everywhere; thrifting, antiquing and in the summer, to flea markets almost every weekend. “Don’t touch!” was something he learned at a very, very young age!

Bribery works: Find something your kids enjoy getting and use that as a reward. We can get Hank to do almost anything for a toy car, and flea markets and thrift stores are loaded with them. If he behaves, he knows he can pick out a few and that works like a charm for us. Thrift stores also have a lot of kid’s books, so he looks through those while he’s in the cart, giving us time to look around. Now that he’s older, and starting collections of his own, it’s really fun watch his vintage collection grow, and seeing what oddities he picks out.

Keep ’em comfy: We like to go to flea markets pretty early in the morning on the weekends and sometimes Hank doesn’t want to go just because he’s tired. We found if we bring along his wagon, so he doesn’t have to walk, he’s much more apt to want to come along…willingly!

Know your child: When they’re young it’s easier to lug them around everywhere in their carrier, but as they get older, you have to work around their nap schedule and moodiness. You can sometimes coax them into going, but there are days they just want to be at home. The more fun you make it and the more often you go, the more they’ll enjoy it.

Mom #2: Kara, Golden Age Design

My mom took us garage sale-ing every Thursday growing up—I remember peering out the hot backseat of the car, looking for…who knows what! From a young age, she instilled in me the wisdom that things don’t have to be new to be special. Now I have my own munchkin and he not only has one parent who has a passion for vintage, but two! (Poor guy.) The most important thing I’ve learned is if my little man isn’t happy, no one is happy, so I’ve come up with some ways to make the thrifting experience enjoyable for all.

Snacks! A hungry kid usually isn’t a gas to be around, so I make sure I have plenty of yummy goodies stashed in my purse. Some favorites? GoGo Squeeze Applesauce (best invention EVER), Annie’s Bunny Fruit Snacks, Cliff Fruit Twists, organic baby carrots and a good ole standby, raisins. If we need to each lunch on the road, Subway is a good place to stop. Whole wheat bread, veggies, milk and apples make a thrifting mom rest a little easier.

Entertainment! The iPhone has been life-changing. There are so many great educational apps sure to impress your little one. I have a 2.5 yo and here are his favorite games: Tozzle, LunchBox, BabyFirst. Another way I keep him content is bee-lining for the toy section at the thrift store. I let him pick out a toy he gets to play with while we’re there and he’s usually thrilled. (I always keep Wet Wipes in my purse to give his selection a little bath before he gets his paws on it.) Also, before I go out for the day, I make sure the car is plum full of toys and books. We listen to the Current and do lots of car dancing. Keeping the car ride light and fun, especially if you’re garage sale-ing and making lots of in and out stops, is key.

Essential Gear! (1) Sunglasses. For some reason L thinks it’s really cool to wear his while mom and dad are wearing theirs. (2) Layers. The day can easily turn from 65° to 85° without much warning. Keeping kids cool + comfortable is always a plus. (3) Our BOB jogging stroller has been a life saver when we’ve hit the flea markets. It’s easy to maneuver, L is comfy in it and you can hang bags on it. Win, win, win.

Mom #3: Mary Beth, Top Drawer Vintage

One of my favorite activities, pre and post-parenthood, has been thrifting! I could go on and on with reasons why I love thrifting, but I’d rather give you some tips I’ve learned about shopping with my 15-month-old son, David.

My #1 Rule: Don’t set your kids up to fail! Work around your child’s schedule and take them out when they have a full tummy and are well rested. If nap time is at 1:30, thrifting anytime after 12:30 seems like a rotten way to spend a wind down.

Include your kids in your thrifting experience: Point out all the different items, colors, price tags! Let them understand why it makes you happy and why it is exciting. Help your kids learn from their time out of the house and interact with them so they can not only just be your shopping buddy, but a fun experience you can have together.

Timing is everything: I prefer shopping in the morning because that’s when I have the largest chunk of time, but that can vary day-to-day. (Going in the morning also allows me to take advantage of the slow times at the thrifts.) By the time David gets up from his afternoon nap around 4 p.m., we have a smaller window before it is dinner time. After David’s afternoon nap is a perfect time for a walk—possibly to a garage sale? (When we garage sale I often go on Thursday mornings to avoid the rush of the weekend.)

Are you a thrifty mama? If so, what are some of your secrets to success?

xo,

Meghan

guest post: spring vegetable soup

Posted on April 25, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

Hey dearies, happy Monday!

I’m so lucky to have a handful of fabulous guest bloggers popping in throughout the week while I’m getting ready for Mighty Swell. To kick things off, here’s Libby, from one of my favorite daily reads, pinkshirtsandcarwrecks. Her veggie soup recipe is just the thing to get us all back to healthy, seasonal eating after a weekend full of Cadbury eggs and jelly beans. Don’t tell me I’m the only one with a sugar hangover!

xo, Meghan

Hello everybody! I’m Libby from pinkshirtsandcarwrecks and am honored to help Meghan out while she gears up for Mighty Swell! I thought since spring is teasing us I’d help coax it along by making a fresh spring vegetable soup. Creamy Celery Soup is delicious and delicious, not to mention healthy! My version is adapted from this recipe from Martha Stewart. Here’s how to make it.

1. Wash and chop these vegetables: 1 bag/bunch of celery, a few small red potatoes (peeled), one large red onion, three cloves of garlic and one bunch of white asparagus (chop off bottoms – these are too stringy, even when blended in the soup!).

2. Melt a knob of butter in a large pot/4-quart saucepan over medium heat and add vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and cook until soft. These veggies smell so wonderful cooking! I added asparagus in because it’s in season right now, but you don’t have to if you don’t want. You can add more potato, too, if you like.

3. Add six cups chicken or vegetable stock (or water, but stock makes it more flavorful) to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat back down to medium and simmer (uncovered) until veggies are very tender—fork test them in 20 minutes.

4. Now the fun part! Puree the soup until smooth using your immersion blender (I love this handy kitchen tool! It makes this into a one pot meal. You can pick a cheap immersion blender up at Target—or even Walgreens!—for under $20). Add juice from half a lemon, re-season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. You can also use a regular blender, but you’ll have to work in batches and do more dishes. Read Martha’s recipe for tips on this step if you’re using a stand alone blender.

6. If you still have a few celery leaves they look pretty for garnish. I highly recommend serving this soup with some toasted slices of fresh baked baguette (I broiled them on a cookie sheet in the oven). I like them plain with butter, but you could rub them with a little garlic and olive oil before toasting—they make the best accompaniment to this spring vegetable soup. The whole thing takes less than an hour and it’s a such a treat for lunch or a light dinner or first course. As Julia Child would say, bon appétit!

In addition to her awesome blog, Libby also runs not one, but two Etsy shops, one for her vintage finds and another featuring her handmade creations. Check ’em out!

sunday soundtrack: ladies to watch in 2011 c/o girl germs radio

Posted on January 9, 2011 by highplainsthrifter

source

Hello, girl (and boy) germs!

I’m back with a new mix for you; this one is a combination of up-and-coming female artists and female-fronted bands (as well as some pretty well-known artists) that will no doubt do amazing things in 2011.

If you’re a hip-hop fan and you don’t know about Psalm One, stop what you’re doing and go to her Bandcamp page. She’s a multifaceted (chemist by day, rapper by night) and prolific lady who self-released three free EPs in 2010. She also holds her own as the sole female artist on the local Rhymesayers label, and will put out a new album this year. We featured her recently as a “Lady You Should Know About” on the Girl Germs blog.

We’re also looking forward to long-awaited releases from Minnesota native Anni Rossi, Eternal Summers, La Sera (a Vivian Girls side project) and Midnight Masses in 2011, and can’t wait for artists with new material to tour.

You’ve probably noticed that ‘90s fashion is back, and a similar phenomenon is happening in music. Laetitia Sadier, the frontwoman of Stereolab has a new solo album, and her band just released one, too. Finally, we almost peed ourselves a couple months ago when we heard Wild Flag existed. Members of Sleater-Kinney and Mary Timony of Helium? Yes, please. No word on an album yet, but in the meantime enjoy this live version of them covering a Standells favorite.

Happy 2011, and don’t forget to stop by the Red Stag Supperclub tomorrow night for TV Party with Girl Germs: Golden Girls. We’ll be showing classic episodes, playing some music for y’all and enjoying some sweet happy hour specials. Hope to see you there!

P.S. Like this soundtrack? Check out last month’s mix by Girl Germs here.

guest post: making whoopie (pies) with lisa

Posted on December 10, 2010 by highplainsthrifter

Whoa, Friday! It’s nice to see you!

If you’re at all like me, by the time the end of the week rolls around, the prospect of spending some leisurely hours in the kitchen sounds divine. Trying a new recipe or two, slow roasting some meat, simmering a big batch of chili—the weekend’s a great time to just mess around, no rushing necessary. If I wasn’t so busy with this, I’d love to spend a chill afternoon, baking up a batch of these. I hope you all have wonderful Fridays!

xo,

Meghan

Making Whoopie (Pies), With Making Electricity’s Lisa

Hello wonderful readers! This is Lisa from Making Electricity and I am so happy to be blogging for Meghan while she is working her tush off to get ready for Mighty Swell—I’ll be bright and early that Saturday morning and I hope to meet some of you local ladies there!

I know that fall has come and gone, but I am still in the thick of my love affair with pumpkin-centric foods. With holiday party season upon us, I thought I would share a recipe for some delicious treats that are super easy to make—perfect for your own party or to bring as a hostess gift—as an extra perk, your home will be warm, cozy and smell like pumpkin cake when you are done make these.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Source: Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

♥ For the Whoopie Pies ♥

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup canola or vegetable oil
3 cups chilled pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

♥ For the Maple-Cream Cheese Filling ♥
3 cups powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

♥ How to Make ♥

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, the dark brown sugar, and the oil together. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine thoroughly. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until completely combined.

4. Use a small cookie scoop or a large spoon to drop a rounded, heaping tablespoon of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.

5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, making sure that the cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cookie comes out clean. The cookies should be firm when touched. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack.

6. To make the filling, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth with no visible lumps, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, then add the maple syrup and vanilla and beat until smooth.

7. To assemble the pies: Turn half of the cooled cookies upside down. Pipe or spoon the filling (about a tablespoon) onto that half. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling. Press down slightly so that the filling spread to the edges of the cookie. Repeat until all the cookies are used. Put the whoopie pies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm before serving.

And, since this is High Plains Thrifter, after all, I thought I’d also share this gorgeous vintage Pyrex casserole dish (with carrier) that I scored at my favorite Salvation Army for 99 cents!

Yummy desserts and beautiful kitchenware—life doesn’t get much better in my opinion. Have a fabulous holiday season, readers!

Best best,

Lisa

guest post: vintage here, vintage there: around the loft with Katie Dohman

Posted on December 9, 2010 by highplainsthrifter

Geez louise, is Thursday finally here?

I’ve been counting down to today, because after work, the set-up for Mighty Swell begins! It’s so fun to see a space go from being empty and bare to a full-on shop, brimming with pretty stuff. Anyway, today on the blog, my stylish pal Katie shows off some of her favorite vintage and thrifted finds that deck out her downtown loft. I love how she and her hubs incorporate thrifted items in a stylish, fun way that’s uniquely theirs. Enjoy!

xo,

Meghan

Vintage Here, Vintage There: Around the Loft with Katie Dohman

Hi there! I am so excited to be here on High Plains Thrifter talking about two of my favorite subjects—vintage and thrifting! It’s my job to shop for a living at Minnesota Monthly and my Scout blog, where I am the style editor, but many times I’m focusing on the newest and latest for my readers. That certainly has its merits, but nothing makes my heart race like vintage and thrift shopping.

My husband and I started vintage shopping together when we bought our loft in downtown St. Paul five years ago. And William and I are always looking for great props for photography for his shops, Oh Dier and on Etsy. I absolutely love the thrill of the hunt. I might set out with something in mind, but more often than not, I’m just excited to see what I might uncover.

Our vintage journey began with a few pieces. One of them was my grandma’s dresser. She had impeccable mid-century taste, and when William saw this stored in my parents’ house, he flipped. We had to have it. Thankfully, my mom relinquished it without too much protest.

Not long after we bought our place, we hit up the St. Paul Retro Loop, looking for furniture to go with our Room & Board Outlet couch and chair Lo and behold, we found this beauty.

This is our real find—the one we still get excited talking about years later. You vintage lovers out there know what I’m talking about: The thing that was too good to be true, so you snapped it up before the shop owner knew what they were doing? We found this vintage, custom-made Lightolier sputnik in the basement of Swank. William and I completely freaked, and the owner at the time sold it to us for what she bought it for, since it needed rehabbing. We took it to Moen Lighting in Uptown to make sure the wiring was safe, and they told us they think it might have been made for a hotel. It’s missing a couple glass domes, so we’re always on the lookout for replacements, but we got it for a song and it makes our house absolutely sing when it’s on.

Two weekends ago, William and I hit the jackpot for Etsy props. We were visiting his grandparents in South Dakota and stopped in thrift shops in Watertown, plus in Hutchinson on our way back. Come to think of it, we’ve done a LOT of vintage shopping lately. I could talk about all my vintage pieces–clothing, furniture, housewares—forever (maybe Meghan will invite us back), so I’ll close things out with a few of our favorite recent finds:

I got these three milk glass vases for 39 cents each in Watertown. You can’t even get a candy bar for less than 50 cents these days! Proceeds (small as they are), went to benefit the Humane Society, one of my favorite places to donate money.

I snagged a whole box full of vintage brass frames. William and I are completely out of wall space, but I know these will make a great collage of photos somewhere, sometime. Plus I got the whole huge box, maybe 20-something frames, for like $15. I’m planning on keeping the models in that front frame. Too good.

Love this emergency light.

We love maps and globes, the older the better. Snapped this one up in Hutchinson for $14.

These colored wooden bowling pins are all over Etsy these days. Love ’em, and paid far less for them in Hutchinson than we would have online.

I I keep my jewelry in this vintage glass goblet-like thing (it looks like collectible Blenko, but I don’t think it is). William keeps his manly accessories in a small Norwegian Emalox bowl (we have several of these in different colors and sizes).

I hope you’ve enjoyed these little peeks into our space!

Best wishes,

Katie

guest post: mary o’regan gets warm & fuzzy

Posted on December 8, 2010 by highplainsthrifter

I’ve got another busy day ahead, and another rad guest blogger lined up for ya. Today, my most fashionable pal Mary spots a warm and fuzzy trend that can easily (and cheaply) be adopted with a quick trip to the thrift. I hope you like it!

Shearling, sure thing?

Hi everyone!

Allow me to introduce myself: I’m Mary O’Regan from fashion blog Art of Wore, here to guest-blog for the day while Meghan prepares to open her second Mighty Swell pop-up shop this weekend (which you should definitely check out!).

I’d like to take this opportunity to write about a trend that’s been in the back of my mind for quite some time.

Source

Shearling. That’s right, the fuzzy fur that served as trim for many a ‘90s jacket. It’s backwith a vengence, appearing all over the fall runways.

At Ralph Lauren…

source

And Barbara Bui, too.

source

It’s all over Etsy, as well, in the form of vintage clothing. Shearling is pretty easy to come by second-hand. I often see it lining jackets, vests and gloves, in both the men’s and women’s sections when I’m out thrifting. Here are some favorites from Etsy.

I’m in love with the above shearling-trimmed trench coat. It looks like something you’dsee on a femme fatale in the 1940s.

But probably my favorite use of shearling appears on shoes. I’m head over heels for these Dolce Vitas.

Dolce Vita “Jagger” bootie

Burberry boot

With this type of look, the higher the heel the better, otherwise you’re verging into dumpy winter-wear. And we all know warmth has little to do with trendiness! Luckily this fad fits in well with cold weather.

So, whaddya think? Is shearling best left in the ‘90s, or are you going to embrace this new furry trend?

That’s all for now!

-Mary

guest post: the rad housewife makes chicken a’la king

Posted on December 7, 2010 by highplainsthrifter

Happy Tuesday, lovelies!

Today’s guest post is courtesy of Mrs. Kate Smith, a beautiful blonde who shares her adventures in stylish domesticity on her blog, The Diary of a Rad Housewife. Kate’s not one to brag, like ever, about anything, but I think her talents in the kitchen are worth some serious horn-tooting. Today, she’s sharing a recipe for a winter comfort-food classic. I hope you enjoy!

xo,

Meghan

The Housewife Queen Makes Chicken A’La King

If there’s one thing I admire about women from yesteryear, it’s their creativity with ingredients. What passed for food back in the day is oftentimes astounding—Velveeta, creamed cottage cheese, Jell-o and pineapple slices were staples, for heaven’s sake. And don’t get me started on what’s in Sherried Beef or Hamburg & Tatertot Hot Dish. But somehow all those dinners were consumed and here we are.

As a vintage cookbook collector, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer up one of my favorite golden oldies during my time as a guest blogger for the high plains thrifter. I’ve modified it quite a bit, but this Chicken A’La King is still the brainchild of Mrs. June Klee, straight from the Women’s Circle Home Cooking “Instant Cooking for People on the Go!” cookbook, circa 1978. Let’s dive in!

Chicken A’La King

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 boneless, skinless chicken thigh
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 c. yellow onion, diced
0.5 c. carrots, sliced and peeled
0.5 c. peas
1.5 c. chicken stock
1 tsp. fresh sage, finely chopped
1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 tsp. celery leaf, finely chopped
Kosher salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. Dice chicken.

3. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan; add the onion and carrots. Saute until slightly softened.

4. Add stock and bring to a boil. Lower heat and add chicken pieces, bringing to a simmer.

5. Add peas, sage, thyme, celery leaf, 2 tsp. of salt and several grindings of pepper.

6. To thicken the dish (as it’s chilly out and you’ll probably want something nice and hearty): make a roux by melting 2 tbsp. of butter over low heat in a small sauce pan. Add 3 tbsp. of flour while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Do not let roux brown. Add 1/3 c. of heavy cream to mixture, stirring vigorously until mixture thickens. Season to taste.

7. Add to chicken and vegetable mixture and simmer.

8. Place in casserole dish and heat in oven for 15 minutes.

Serve over warm, fresh slices of pain au levain from French Meadow Bakery & Cafe.

Note: A big thanks to the Williams-Sonoma Bride & Groom Cookbook for its inspiration in helping me to update this vintage classic. And also to Amy Casey for sharing her food photography.

P.S. This is my 200th post! Holy crap!!