Hello warm weather! We're diving head first into summer with these incredible shrimp rolls! The secret is in the details - toasted, buttery bun, and one of our favorite (and very underestimated) herb, tarragon. Fresh, simple, and so so tasty!

INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs medium cooked shrimp, tails removed
2/3 cup mayo 
1 tsp Dijon
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, plus more for serving 
2 Tbsp capers, rinsed
2 Tbsp minced tarragon
2 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped
1 medium shallot, minced 
Salt and pepper
3 Tbsp butter
8 top-sliced hot dog buns, toasted 

INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large bowl mix together mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice, capers, tarragon, chives, shallot. Stir in shrimp and season with salt and pepper, to taste.  
 
Set aside and add butter to large skillet over medium heat. Add buns and toast on each side until golden brown. Just before serving, spoon about ½ cup- 2/3 cup shrimp mixture into each roll. Serve with additional lemon wedge.

There are a few things that make this recipe exceptional, and first are the spiced pecans. We eat these sweet, crunchy, spicy pecans by the handful and love sprinkling them over salads and sides, especially during the holiday! Next is that sweet, sticky honey-baked acorn. The sweetness of the acorn is so spot on with the ricotta and nuts its perfection in every bite. Because the rest of the ingredients are simple it's important to use good quality ingredients. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
​1 large acorn squash 
3 Tbsp good quality olive oil, divided 
2 Tbsp honey, divided 
3/4 cup fresh ricotta 
4-6 mint leaves, roughly chopped
Flaky sea salt 
½ cup Spiced Pecans, see recipe below 
Crusty bread for serving
 
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Carefully slice the squash into half-moons and place in a large bowl, leaving the skin on. Toss the squash with 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp honey. Season with salt and pepper. 
 
Lay the squash pieces on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the squash is golden and tender. 
 
Meanwhile on a serving platter, spread ricotta evenly across. Drizzle with 1-2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp honey, and spiced pecans. Season well with salt. 
 
When squash are finished arrange on top of the ricotta and garnish with mint leaves. Serve with crusty bread and additional honey if desired. 
 
Spiced Pecans 
 
1 Tbsp water
1 egg white
3 cups pecan halves 
1/2 cup white sugar 
1 tsp cinnamon 
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 
1/4 tsp ground cardamom 
¼ tsp cloves
1/2 tsp kosher salt
pinch of cayenne 
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
 
Whisk together water and egg whites in large bowl. Add pecans and toss to moisten. 
 
In a separate bowl combine sugar with the rest of the ingredients. Pour sugar-spice mixture over the nuts and toss to coat completely.
 
Line baking tray with silicone baking mats (or foil if you do not have silicone mats). Spread nuts across tray in a single layer. 
 
Bake 15 minutes, flip nuts halfway through, and bake another 10-15 (be careful not to burn!).

Super buttery, super creamy, and loaded with flavor! These are our FAVORITE mashed potatoes, loved by all. The added Boursin cheese gives the potatoes the perfect amount of punch without overpowering. So divine!

Ingredients:
2 pounds potatoes (half yukon gold/half russet potatoes)
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided 4Tbsp + 2Tbsp
1/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 5.2 oz package Boursin cheese 
kosher salt 
fresh cracked pepper 
fresh chives for garnish 

Instructions:
​Peel potatoes, and cut them into evenly-sized, 1-inch chunks. Transfer to a large pot with cold water. Be sure there is enough water to cover the potatoes completely by inch of water. 

Place pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 15 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle goes in easily with no resistance. 

While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 Tbsp butter, milk, and cream together over the stove or in the microwave (this seems like a fussy step, but it really helps the potatoes absorb the fat for a perfectly creamy texture).

Drain potatoes well and immediately return the potatoes to the hot pot. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes to desired consistency.  Pour hot butter/milk mixture over and add Boursin cheese. Season well with salt (I prefer using kosher salt for mashed potatoes) and cracked pepper, and using a wooden spoon mix in the butter mixture. Be careful not to overbeat as they may become gluey.

Taste the potatoes to see if they need more salt, season as desired. Top with chives and 2 Tbsp butter, and serve warm or store in fridge until ready to reheat!

This is the cheesecakes of all cheesecake - Pumpkin!! Not only is this our favorite cheesecake recipe ever, but it's complete with the most flavorful, perfectly spiced crust and dollop of cinnamon whipped cream. We wait all year to make this, and then make it for three months straight (insert naughty face emoji).  Hello fall/holiday/everything pumpkin season! 

​Ingredients: 
Crust
8 oz gingersnap cookies
1/4 cup roughly chopped pecans
3 Tbsp butter, melted
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
Filling
3 (8oz) packages of cream cheese, softened
1 (15oz) can pumpkin puree, about (1 ½ cups)
¼ cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground ginger
Cinnamon Whipped Cream
1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp cinnamon
 
Instructions:
For the crust: In a food processor, pulse together the cookies and pecans until ground fine. Add butter, sugar and salt, and mix until combined. Transfer into a 9-inch spring form pan pressing down firmly. Chill crust for 30 minutes, and begin to prepare the filling. 
 
For the filling: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place one rack in the middle of the oven, and one rack on the bottom. Fill a 13x9 metal roasting pan with water going 1 1/2 inch up the side. Place the pan on the bottom rack to create steam while baking. 

Beat cream cheese for 1-2 minutes or until soft. Add pumpkin puree and heavy cream; mix well until combined. Add eggs one at a time, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low and add in sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Mix well until smooth and all ingredients are incorporated. 
 
Pour filling into the pan over the prepared crust. Place cheesecake in the middle rack of oven and bake for approximately 60 minutes - 70 minutes, or until the cheesecake is set, but still a slight jiggle in the center. Be careful not to over-bake! The center should spring back to the touch but will still be jello-jiggly. Turn the oven off, open the door very slightly, and let the cheesecake sit for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool before refrigerating. Chill for at least 3-4 hours. 
 
For the whipped cream: Place heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in the bowl. Using an electric mixer, whisk until stiff peaks form. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.