Frozen Caprese Salad(!) + A Can't-Be-Missed Wood-Fired 🍕 Picnic
Then learn about how just $5 can help support abortion access after Friday's devastating Supreme Court decision.
Good morning, all,
Even though there were leaks in the news in May to give us a hint that a change to Roe vs. Wade was coming, the official vote on Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Friday still came swooping in like a punch to the gut.
So What’s Good this week—and always? Ensuring that every individual has the right to make their own personal (and private) decisions over their bodies, their futures and the healthcare they opt to receive.
Let’s face it: An abortion is never a decision made lightly. But the decision should be on the table, as it’s utterly impossible to know the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy in the first place. (Not to mention the health, economic and other implications of forcing a woman to give birth. And yes, this is all coming from someone who was raised Catholic and went to mass twice per week for her first 18 years.)
I’m going to keep voting for representatives that stand up for choice, keep donating to causes that support abortion access and keep spreading the word about representatives and resources that can move the needle as we forge ahead and try not to rewind to 1972. My nieces and all future generations deserve more freedoms than I have, and I will do my damndest to see that this is a reality. Abortions save lives.
Beyond using my vote and my voice, I have also joined in the Bakers & Makers Raffle for Abortion Access, efficiently and brilliantly organized by Monika of Sweet Tooth Farm and Holly of Prairie Rose Desserts. Each $5 donation to the Iowa Abortion Access Fund or Midwest Action Coalition gets you one raffle ticket. (So a $25 donation = $5. $130, by the way, is enough to cover one woman’s care here in Iowa.) Each ticket equals a chance to win my a basket of my wellness-boosting faves, a batch of custom sugar cookies, premium-handcrafted ice cream, a haircut from the chicest team in town and more. After just 24 hours, this group of bakers and makers has raised more than $3,000—and there’s still plenty more time to join in. Donate, take a screenshot and DM it to @prairierosedesserts and you’re automatically entered!
This is just the beginning of what will be a long fight. (Tune in to this impactful Fresh Air episode about the potential ripple effects of this decision.) It won’t be easy but it will be worth it.
What to Read…
One of the big growth areas I’ve been working on with my therapist for the past 6 months is the ability to recognize that two incongruent truths can exist simultaneously.
The world can be crushing and heartless and messy, while also being awe-inspiring and warm and wonderful. I can make mistakes and still be a good human. Work can be a passion and empowering, without being all-consuming.
So onto the lighter news that’s been keeping my keyboard active lately…
This week has been rich with seasonal recipes including a Food Network star’s Caprese Granita (I am honestly intrigued by this and vow to give it a shot before the end of tomato season!), no-sweat dinners and light desserts are a sweet way to end a steamy day.
EatingWell: Giada De Laurentiis Says You Should Be Freezing Your Caprese Salad—Yes, Really
EatingWell: Drinking Beer Might Help You Have a Healthier Gut, According to New Research
Better Homes & Gardens: Berry Pie Recipes That Are a Slice Above the Rest
Better Homes & Gardens: 13 Healthy Chicken Casserole Recipes That Taste Too Good to Be True
Better Homes & Gardens: Use These Dried-to-Fresh Herb Ratios in Your Favorite Recipes
Better Homes & Gardens: Summer Casserole Recipes That Prove Hot Dishes Are Not Just for Cold Weather
Better Homes & Gardens: Summer Slow Cooker Meals That'll Keep Your Kitchen Cool
Better Homes & Gardens: 14 Vegetable Casserole Recipes That Make Eating More Produce Easy
Better Homes & Gardens: Our Best Classic Italian Dishes to Bring Home the Flavors of Italy
Better Homes & Gardens: Healthy Dessert Recipes That Taste Richer Than You'd Expect for Under 200 Calories
Where to Dine…
Calling all Midwest-based friends! Searching for a beautiful, seasonal and peaceful way to kick off the holiday weekend? Book a spot for the Plant Life Pizza Picnic this Friday, July 1.*
I loved the picnics so much last year (the inaugural season for this brilliant concept dreamed up and executed by Jacob Schroeder of Crafted Food Services) that I attended three of them. As a result, I can 100 percent confirm that these casual al fresco feasts are well worth the 25-minute drive from downtown!
Hosted at my friend Tara Dudley’s stunning Plant Life Designs test garden in Van Meter, each time you arrive you’re treated to a new moment in the life of the garden. Different plants are blooming, a refreshed rainbow of colors are on display and a crop of new friends are there to share a table with you as you enjoy:
1 generously-sized wood-fired “personal” pizza (choose from one of chef Schroeder’s 3 locally-sourced topping combos)
1 vegetable-forward side dish featuring of-the-moment produce
1 dessert crafted by a talented local baker (this time, Rebekah, the owner of Bay Laurel Baking Co.)
2 herb-infused cocktails/spirit-free drinks from Apres Bar Co.
Including tax and gratuity, it’s just $60—a total steal to support 4 local businesses and have a little independence from the kitchen duties for one night! Score your ticket here, or if you’re out of town, take a peek at the future culinary events this season at Plant Life Designs.
* The event is held rain or shine; there’s a large, sturdy greenhouse that can keep you dry in the event of sprinkles.
