I always kind of thought that I was on Team Hot Soup Only (that's a thing, you know), but earlier this week I surprised myself by bringing some beets home with the sole purpose of turning them into a chilled soup. Every now and again I love creating a recipe that's totally different from anything else I've ever cooked--even if it means bothering my brother 50 times to ask him for his opinion on whether cream would be better before or after chilling the soup (experimenting in the kitchen is really more his thing--I tend to stick to what I know).

Rob and I got home from Charlotte late on Sunday night, and I planned my Monday to specifically have nothing to do except unpack, clean, and cook this very recipe; which is something I always love after a few days away. The laundry might still need to be folded but now I have a big batch of bright pink, perfectly sweet and just-tart-enough soup in the fridge to get me through the week.

It's rainy and chilly in the Bay Area this week, but still warm enough that it feels (and smells!) like spring. Basically it's perfect chilled soup weather. Eat it out of a mug if you want, just don't forget the fresh dill. It's even better with a chilled glass of La Crema's Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, a wine that my family has been drinking for years. I still remember spring gatherings at my parents' house on Smith Mountain Lake, with fresh salads and pasta and grilled meat and a bucket of ice overflowing with these very same bottles that I now always have on my wine rack.

It's so funny how your family traditions will find you, whether you're across the country making something new or back home sticking to what you know.

This post is sponsored by La Crema Winery. Visit their blog today for my roasted beet and yogurt soup recipe.

I've been thinking about this salad for a while now and I'm so glad I finally made it--it's mostly cucumbers and tuna but I threw some lettuce and peas in there as well. The whole thing is dressed in a really simple lemon vinaigrette and tossed together with the secret ingredient...chopped mint! There's just something so beautiful about lemon and cucumber and mint together, and I especially love it with tuna. 

Ingredients:

• 1 large cucumber, sliced thinly or spiralized into ribbons
• 1/4 cup of peas
• About 1/2 cup of lettuce, chopped
• 1 5-ounce can of Wild Selections Tuna in Water, drained
• 2-3 tablespoons of fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (or the juice of 1 lemon)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine cucumber, peas, and lettuce together. In a smaller bowl, whisk lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil together. Season with salt and pepper. Pour half of the dressing onto the salad and toss well to combine.
2. Just before serving, add the tuna, mint leaves, and a bit more dressing. Toss gently and serve immediately.

I'm really excited to be partnering with Wild Selections on this post--their tuna is not only Non-GMO Project Verified but also simple, natural,and delicious. Wild Selections gives back to the oceans by donating 13 cents from every can sold—a total of $1 million by 2018—to World Wildlife Fund marine conservation and fishery improvement projects.  Wild Selections is the only brand to “pay it forward” and act on its belief to take care of the oceans for the future, not just fishing sustainably in the present.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I've been meaning to show you guys around our new place for months now, but if you've ever moved across the country (or even just down the street) then you probably know how easily days become weeks when you're getting settled.

Our place in California is a lot smaller than the house we were in last summer, but it's close to the same size as our first apartment in Charlotte, so even though it initially felt like we were downsizing a bit, all of our stuff fits really nicely. We bought a new piece for the entryway (a nice tall white cabinet that holds all of our shoes) and some curtains once we arrived, but other than that we just stuck with the stuff we've been collecting over the past few years. The only things on our living room wishlist were an upgraded coffee table (we've had the same $10 one from IKEA for quite some time now), an area rug, and to somehow fit more seating in (other than the couch we only have my grandmother's/Ender's chair when people come over).

Early this year, Hayneedle was so kind as to send us a few lovely pieces to finish off the ol' wish list: this gorgeous chair with an ottoman, this beautiful and cozy rug, this sweet table set, and this super soft throw which I think ties everything together perfectly!

I've always gravitated toward neutrals when it came to furniture and decor, so the pops of color that kept coming through really surprised me as our living room started taking shape. Color-coding my bookshelf felt really silly at first but now I think it adds a really lovely brightness to the otherwise grey, white, and black space. I really like the combination of neutrals with a super colorful wall of books, especially next to my grandma Eileen's baby blue chair.

My cousin Ashley gave us the R&M wall hanging, which her husband made for us as a wedding gift; and my sister-in-law found that Where the Wild Things Are crown and sent it to me. I really love all the little details in our living room--they're what make it my favorite spot in the house for sure. (And let's not forget that sweet little pup who's always looking for an afternoon snuggle on the couch every day! Oh Ender--what are we going to do with you?)

Hayneedle sent me the items I linked to in exchange for a mention in this blog post. Thank you for supporting the brands that make content like this on Freckled Italian possible.