The 1 Thing Your High-Protein Diet Might Be Missing + My 10-Minute Trick to Upgrade Any Salad
Score a shortlist of where to stay, play and eat in Indianapolis and Louisville, then stick around for 27 new stories—including the debut of the drink of summer!
Hi all,
Happy Monday, or in my world, happy patio season eve! Tomorrow, I’m looking forward to welcoming my talented friend Tara, owner of Plant Life Designs, to give my planters and front step a much-needed glow up for spring. Then my al fresco living space will be all set for sunset snack-a-paloozas galore!
My outdoor space always feels like such a haven this time of year. It’s where I can work amidst the lantanas and lavender by day and savor the skyline as the sun sets my night. Since I’m traveling so much this year, I’m aiming to prioritize patio time with friends and family between trips to make the most of the scenery, the lovely weather and the grounding qualities of the great outdoors!
As a preview of the pretty flowers, herbs and edible plants coming to my containers soon, I took my Mom to Plant Life Designs during Mother’s Day weekend for the first Pizza Picnic of 2025. Locals, if you’ve yet to stop by her Van Meter, Iowa haven for one of these monthly events, I highly recommend! Come for Jacob’s ultra-local and seasonal pizzas, stay for the positive energy, plant inspiration and welcoming community vibes.
While Mom was in town, we also enjoyed brunch at Bubba and a live performance of the musical & Juliet at the Civic Center, then I was off on my second of three trips for May.
First up was Indianapolis, to learn more about what’s new since my last trip to the metro area back in 2019. Turns out, a lot! I really respect and admire how this fellow Midwest city harnesses the history and beauty of older buildings, and transforms them into something new and fresh—to welcome a whole new generation of locals and visitors alike to up-and-coming parts of town.
One of the ultimate examples is the Michelin Key-awarded Bottleworks Hotel, which used to be a Coca-Cola bottling factory. Five years in, the hotel is at the center of a district that includes a food hall, movie theater, bike shop, bowling alley and more. Speaking of fusing old and new, no trip to Indy is ever complete without a visit to Newfields, if you ask me. At this diverse, accessible museum you can see Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE sculpture up close, alongside works by the likes of Georgia O’Keefe, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Picasso and more. As of this week, you can also be among the first to step inside the immersive LUME exhibit, featuring art and music by Indigenous Australians. Fuel up for it all with brunch at Borage and small plates at Gather 22.
Louisville was also lovely! The purpose of that lightning-quick trip was to learn more about the brand-new Hotel Bourré Bonne so I can share an inside look over on Hotels Above Par. I’ll have that complete review coming your way soon! While in town, I learned so much about Louisville and Kentucky as a whole by touring the Louisville Slugger Museum (that bat below is 120 feet tall and weighs 68,000 pounds!), Frazier History Museum and Churchill Downs. I look forward to hopefully returning for a horse race there someday. I hear the Twilight Thursday series (complete with food trucks and live music) is a blast.
Next up: I’m heading back to Kentucky, Bardstown this time, to report on another new boutique hotel. If you’d like to follow along live, I’ll be sharing updates Saturday through Tuesday over on Instagram. And if you missed any of my recent trips, I have overviews sorted and saved in my Highlights, which you can find right below the link in my bio.
What to Read…
Back at my desk, I’ve been reporting and writing about my travels (the art deco and rodeo stories below are inspired by my time in Miami and Houston, respectively)—and so much more. Among the 27 new stories here, you’ll find the debut of the launch of the drink of summer: the Spa Spritz! Thanks to our 52(!) mixology contributors this year, we had so many strong contenders that we decided to share a round-up of also-amazing runners-up. The Jungle Spritz is ideal to feel like you’re on a tropical vacation any day of the year.
I’m also proud to share what might just be my most robust feature yet, which you can find live on EatingWell. Essentially the “cover story” of our latest digital magazine issue, this piece is a deep dive into why we might be missing the plot—while not doing any favors to our bank accounts, lifespans and the environment—if we’re overlooking plants as part of a high-protein diet. The visual team really knocked it out of the park on this one, and I’m so grateful to my editors for allowing me to cover this timely, complex and important topic.
EatingWell: In the Race to Get More Protein, Research Shows Eating More Plants Is the Way to Win
Better Homes and Gardens: The Spa Spritz Is the 2025 Drink of the Summer
Better Homes and Gardens: We Just Revealed Our Drink of the Summer—Here Are 7 Runners-Up Worth Trying, Too
Better Homes and Gardens: What's in the Viral Retinol Carrot Salad, and Why Is TikTok So Obsessed?
Better Homes and Gardens: I Asked 8 Grill Masters for the Secret to the Best Juicy Grilled Chicken
Better Homes and Gardens: Enough With All of This Marry Me Stuff—I Love This Divorce Chicken Recipe Even More
Better Homes and Gardens: Ina Garten Shared Her Favorite Breakfast, It Takes Just 3 Ingredients and 5 Minutes
Better Homes and Gardens: I Tried Ina Garten's "Favorite Side Dish Ever," and Her Cooking Trick Is Genius
Better Homes and Gardens: I'm Going to Have Ina Garten's 2-Ingredient Side Dish on Repeat All Spring
Better Homes and Gardens: This Art Deco Color Palette Gives Your Home a Pop of Miami Beach Style
Better Homes and Gardens: Lemonading Is the Joy-Boosting Trend We All Need—Here Are 7 Ways to Try It in Your Home
Better Homes and Gardens: I Made Matthew McConaughey's Hot Pants Margarita, and Now I'm Ready for Summer
Better Homes and Gardens: Ina Garten's Go-To Recipe for Summer Parties Is Mine Now, Too
VERANDA: The 7 Best Beaches in Mexico, According to Travel Advisors
Southern Living: This $8 Trader Joe's Find Is My New Favorite Dinner Shortcut
Southern Living: 7 Things No One Ever Tells You About Attending Your First Rodeo
Southern Living: These Key West Rentals Are Known For Their Spectacular Waterfront Views And Free Concierge Service
Allrecipes: Why Protein Is Taking Over the Supermarket This Year—and the Wildest Places It’s Showing Up
Allrecipes: 16 Essential Southern Recipes, According to a Home Cook
Allrecipes: I Tried the Viral 4-Ingredient Dunkaroos Dip—and Yes, I’ll be Making It Again
Allrecipes: I Asked 6 Chefs for the Best Store-Bought Barbecue Sauce, and This Budget-Friendly Bottle Came Out on Top
Allrecipes: The Secret to Perfect Scrambled Eggs Has Nothing to Do with Ingredients
Allrecipes: I Asked 3 Chefs for the Best Puff Pastry and Their Pick Was Unanimous
Allrecipes: We Asked 3 Chefs for the Secret to Crispy Hash Browns, and They All Said the Same Thing
CNN: Why a Sheet Pan is the Secret to Make Every Meal Easier Than Ever
What to Eat…
Bourbon-Brown Sugar Nuts
While I continue to focus on protein intake as part of my quest to gain muscle and mass, all of my reporting on the multifaceted benefits of good gut health over the years have ingrained in me the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. I seek out as many occasions as possible to eat plants, both at home and while traveling.
As much as I adore their flavor as-is, salads can feel a bit ho-hum day after day if they just include veggies alone, though. One of my tricks to perk things up? Accessorize with goodies like these Bourbon-Brown Sugar Nuts. I almost always have a batch in my pantry to toss into salads, regardless of the season. (I’ve also been known to add them to charcuterie boards or package them in jars with bows for host gifts.) Sweet, spicy and salty all at once, this recipe is courtesy of Hali Bey Ramdene, who originally shared the formula on BHG.com.
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2/3 cup brown sugar and
1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon bourbon. Using a heat-safe spatula or wooden spoon, mix well, then allow this mixture to come to a boil.Once the sugar is dissolved, turn down the heat to medium and stir in 2 cups nuts (such as walnuts, pecans and/or almonds). Stir this mixture often, and cook until the syrup starts to thicken. This usually takes around 4 or 5 minutes.
Turn down the heat to medium-low, then add the spices: 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. It’s normal for the mixture to foam up a bit at this point. Stir frequently, until the nuts are coated in a thick spiced syrup; about 7 minutes more.
Use the spatula or spoon to spread out the nuts in a single layer on top of a sheet of foil. Let this cool completely, then package and store for up to 1 week.
Once you have your candied nuts created, they’re all set to dress up salads throughout the year. Here are combos I’ve tossed them into, with fantastic results:
Spring: Butter lettuce + blanched sugar snap peas + sliced mini cucumbers + 3-ingredient Greek yogurt dressing
Summer: Watermelon + fresh mint + fresh basil + crumbled goat cheese + lime juice and zest
Fall: Mixed greens + sliced apples + shaved Parmesan + 3-ingredient Greek yogurt dressing
Winter: Roasted Brussels sprouts + roasted butternut squash + crumbled blue cheese
One Good Thing to Go…
For a little desk dance party, I highly recommend streaming “Shadow Of a Man,” a new Lady Gaga track that delivers major Michael Jackson vibes. ✨
P.S. Tara is the BEST!
You are such a prolific writer! I have one gardening question: Since you travel so much do you have self-watering containers or drip irrigation or a friend who waters your flowers?