MAY
Spring
JUNE 2020
It’s in our details
the area’s premier, full service landscape design/build firm, since 1987
naturalenvironmentslandscaping.com 5505 53rd avenue s, fargo, nd | 701.237.6994
Life happens...comfort is constant
Comfort P rov i d
ing
50
for ove r
yrs
Carpet | Vinyl | Ceramic Tile Hardwood Laminate
N
We Put the World at Your Feet www.carpetworldfargo.com
CARPET WORLD
HAPPY HARRY’S
17TH AVE. S.
4601 17th Ave S. Fargo I 235-7525
45TH ST. S.
Full Installation Service | Free In-Home Estimates
Model Shown: Heat & Glo, Plaza Outdoor Linear Gas Fire Pit Burner. Available in 2’ – 10’ lengths | Customize with lava rock, crushed glass or glass wind shields
Enjoy a little get-a-way... in your backyard. 1750 45th Street S., Fargo, ND
701.893.9300
www.homeandhearthfireplaces.com
2553 Kirsten Lane S | Fargo ND ShowplaceDesignCenter.com
Follow Us
MADE IN
LIMITED
EMPLOYEE
AMERICA
LIFETIME
OWNED
SOUTH DAKOTA
WARRANTY
100%
PRODUCTS With A Purpose. ADS With A Purpose. From TriNova Keep your patio set from fading in the summer sun! Protect it with TriNova速 UV Protectant Spray.
Step 1: Clean patio furniture with a multi-surface cleaner. For fabric, you can use a spot remover.
Step 2: Apply TriNova速 UV Protecant Spray to patio furniture.
Step 3:
Wipe with a microfiber towel.
We recommend reapplying every 30-45 days depending on weather.
20
%
OFF
with code INSPIRED20
TriNova速 has everything you need to keep your home & patio looking their best. For our Inspired Home readers, enjoy a 20% off coupon for all TriNova速 products on Amazon. Visit amazon.com/trinova to use code checkout.
c CONTENTS
MAY/JUNE 2020
Tall Grass, Purple Prairie Clover | Photography Courtesy Prairie Restorations
VOLUME 11, ISSUE 3 FEATURE 42 SHOWCASE Summer living is at its best when every room has stunning views of a beautiful lake. Enjoy one family’s special place. DEPARTMENTS 16 OUTDOORS Just because it gets dark at night doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the twilight hours. Lighting is essential for outdoor living. 24 ELEMENTS World cultures lend artisanal beauty to outdoor decor and furniture that is perfect for indoors or out!
8 | MAY/JUNE 2020
34 GARDEN Enter a world of peace and serenity when flowers and backyard gardens play a role in your everyday life. 52 TASTE The “salt of the earth” is exactly that. Learn about the earthly origins and distinct flavors of natural salt. 60 PETS Learn how one family’s two adopted pets have taught them all the true meaning of unconditional love. 64 HUMOR Just in time and not a moment too soon — the spring ritual of cleaning neighborhood garages begins!
ADDITIONS 10
Musings
12
Contributors
75
Wine Wisdom
78
Reflections
68 CUISINE Warm weather brings a longing for all of us to picnic in style and with very good taste. 74 INGREDIENTS For Scandinavians, berry picking is a national family event, enjoyed throughout Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Durability
Security
Beauty
Vinyl | Aluminum | Cedar | Chain Link & More | Residential/Commercial
Need fencing?
Not only beautiful, fencing adds safety, value and peace of mind. From keeping that new puppy in your yard to looking to secure your property, we have just the right fencing solution for you.
Want to know more? Call For A Free Quote! 701.361.2498
Professional Landscape Design
Construction
Maintenance
5622 53rd Avenue South, Fargo, ND 701.361.2498 | precisionlawnandlandscape.net
m MUSINGS Distributed through The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead (selected distribution area) Inspired Home Associate Publisher Terri Ferragut Phone: 701.866.4405 Email: terri@inspiredhomemagazine.com terri.ferragut@gmail.com Find us on
(Inspired Home Magazine)
Photography by Zach Davis Editorial Director Terri Ferragut
W
e often mark the changing seasons from year to year with personal events — weddings, graduations, family relocations, births or deaths, to name just a few. And, while I promised myself this issue would not address the virus, I do feel compelled to speak to the indelible “mark” it has made on our community. The words resolve, commitment, fortitude, unity, determination, gratitude and adaptability are but a few that describe what I have personally experienced. Our community, comprised of a talented and diverse crosssection of humans, all continue to rally. Looking back for lessons learned and forward with renewed hope, we journey on. Spring decidedly is not closed nor will it disappear. In this issue, we praise her for arriving on schedule, allowing us to revel in her much-needed healing and abundant opportunities for renewal. We are excited to share this issue with you. In it, we delight in fresh berry gathering, love our outdoor spaces and discover how to enjoy the perfect picnic. Lake living is back and the “salt of the earth” becomes very real as we learn about the true nature of salt, a precious and flavorful gift from the earth. You’ll see gardens in full bloom and learn to appreciate the unconditional love that a shelter pet provides its family. It’s all here! So, sit back, forget the worries of the day and take a bit of time to relax with the Inspired Home Spring issue. We do this all for you!
Creative Terri Ferragut Susan Walker Director of Operations Scott Drzewiecki Contributing Photographers Travis Beauchene Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss Lauren Ferragut Carlson Zach Davis Bailey Hovland Aidry Johnson Contributing Writers Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss Lauren Ferragut Carlson Dayna Del Val Bernie Erickson Terri Ferragut Bailey Hovland Ashley Ferragut Johnson Granville Wood Copy Editor Keri Guten Cohen Social Media Director Bailey Hovland
Production representative
Enjoy the read.
Terri Ferragut
Associate Publisher Editorial Director terri.ferragut@gmail.com terri@inspiredhomemagazine.com 10 | MAY/JUNE 2020
Franklin Place 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 114 Southfield, MI 48034 (248) 546-7070
this label only applies to the text stock
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
e g n Chat up! i
ps erto unt te o c i ld an l gr ur o e yo eautifu c a l ur b uartz! Rep ho wit or q
3
easy 1 steps
Haley Jalbert Stone Specialist
Come to our showroom and pick out your ACTUAL slab that will be used in your home.
2
Arrange for a laser in home measurement (no need to have your countertops removed).
2414 South University Dr. Fargo, North Dakota
701.893.3430
3
Schedule the installation and we will dispose of your old tops and install your new beautiful granite countertops in ONE DAY!
Joyce Balstad
Fargo Operations Manager
c CONTRIBUTORS
o t e m o c l e W
Every issue we share a fresh and local approach to your home and life. JILL OCKHARDT BLAUFUSS Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss is a photographer for architecture and interior design. Her clients range from designers to builders, both commercial and residential. Her experience in marketing and portrait photography is wide ranging and has been the photographic component for several Addy award winning projects. Jill enjoys time spent with her large, blended family of seven in rural Minnesota, as well as pinochle, public radio, cooking and travel. TRAVIS BEAUCHENE graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from NDSU and a Master of Fine Arts from The George Washington University in DC. Beauchene who has painted for 14 years and taught photography for 8, also does creative marketing for businesses. Upon returning to the F/M area, he and wife Brittany founded STUDIO THREE BEAU. BERNIE ERICKSON Specializing in helping his clients make small changes with maximum impact, Erickson is a residential real estate agent in Fargo-Moorhead.
12 | MAY/JUNE 2020
LAUREN F. CARLSON Carlson, a Fargo native and geologist, is a research assistant at Cornell University at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, where she conducts field work and data collection for the study of shrub willow as bio mass. She enjoys cooking, baking, running, renaissance art and writing. DAYNA DEL VAL Del Val is the President & CEO of The Arts Partnership in Fargo, ND. She is a professional actor and passionate arts activist as well as mom to a fabulous violin playing engineer and wife to a plant cell wall biochemist. She enjoys travel, reading and high teas. ZACH DAVIS Davis loves capturing stories with his camera. He is a photographer and videographer who specializes in weddings and portraits. He has a weakness for wanderlust, feeling the urge to leave the country whenever possible. He currently curates The Open Window Exchange, a collaborative online travel journal.
TERRI FERRAGUT Every issue, we take great pride in presenting this beautiful local home and lifestyle guide we call Inspired Home. From design to great food our goal is to provide you with relevant information you value. Truth of the matter is, without the heart and dedication of this talented and professional team, this publication would not be possible. Issue after issue, their creativity brings Inspired Home to your doorstep or area business. They inspire me. BAILEY HOVLAND As an English writing major at Concordia College, Hovland is passionate about writing and social media. "Blending my obsession for interior design with writing and scrolling through the endless feed of tweets, pins, and Instagram posts is my idea of 'living the dream,'" she says. Hovland enjoys reading, coffee shops, DIY projects and working out. ASHLEY F. JOHNSON Ashley Johnson loves her home city of Fargo. She works as a registered nurse at Sanford Medical Center and shares her happy home with her husband, 2 children and a rescue cat. She loves traveling with her family, cooking, entertaining and good wine. She can’t wait to show her children the world. GRANVILLE WOOD Wood is an international chef who has worked in London, Stockholm, Toronto, Vancouver, Palm Beach and Houston before moving to Fargo with wife Susie, a doctor with Sanford Health. Most recently he operated The Blue Goose Café in the Plains Art Museum. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
TOWN HALL
2020-2021 TOWN HALL LECTURE SERIES Since 1971 What:
When:
Mondays at 10:30am, September 14th, 2020; October 19th, 2020; April 5th, 2021; May 3, 2021
Where:
Fargo Holiday Inn
Tickets:
LECTURE SERIES
2020-2021 Town Hall Lecture Series
ENTIRE SEASON $100 — LIMITED TICKETS available at the door for $30
To purchase tickets: Call Marcia at 701.840.1986 or visit fargotownhall.org
DOREEN WELSH Public Speaker
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
For flight attendant Doreen Welsh, flying was normalcy because it was her job for 38 years. But on January 15, 2009, flying out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina, her life changed in 90 seconds. She was on the crash of Flight 1549, later renamed the Miracle of the Hudson. Hear her poignant and compelling story.
JOE WIEGAND Performer OCTOBER 19, 2020
Joe Wiegand is an impersonator who has portrayed U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in all fifty U.S. states, after a career as a political consultant. Wiegand performed at the White House on October 27, 2008, as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Roosevelt’s birth. Listen, as President Roosevelt comes alive.
ORIN GROSSMAN Pianist, Lecturer
APRIL 5, 2021
Orin Grossman has been delighting audiences the world over with his unique approach to performing and explaining great American and European music. In demand as an interpreter of the music of George Gershwin, he plays around the world combining performance and discussion.
RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER Lawyer, Activist
MAY 3, 2021
Rachael Joy Denhollander is an American lawyer and former gymnast. She was the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor, of sexual assault. Denhollander is a TIME 100 honoree and a 2018 Glamour Woman of the Year.
Find us on Facebook – Fargo Town Hall
Visit our website: fargotownhall.org
Add Class with Glass
Custom Shower
Mirrors
Custom Shower
Custom Shower
www.redriverglazing.com
Glass Cabinetry
Glass Railings
Back Painted Backsplash
Back Painted Backsplash
Custom Glass & Mirror Design • Fabricate • Install • Commercial • Residential
Licensed and Insured Contractor in ND
Stacy Pellett Sales and Installation Manager, RRG, Inc.
1365 Tacoma Avenue, Unit 6, Bismarck, ND
Showroom 300 43rd Street NW, Fargo, ND
701.751.0694
701.232.4717
o OUTDOORS
Let there be light
BY TERRI FERRAGUT | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY TECH LIGHTING
16 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
T
he long-awaited warmth of spring is finally here and the anticipation of our imagined time enjoying the great outdoors is a reality. Relaxing in our backyards, hosting friends for a dinner alfresco or reading a good book becomes a moment in real time. Appreciation for the outdoors doesn’t have to stop just because the sun sets. The peaceful evening hours can be cut short by either nonexistent or inefficient exterior lighting. Proper lighting is the illuminating key to the
enjoyment of the hours after dusk’s arrival. All outdoor lighting is not created equal and requires more than just a wall light or a string of lights draped across your deck. Creating functional evening light and ambience requires a little planning and incorporating the right fixtures into your yard. We asked Eri Hino, director of product marketing for Tech Lighting, for some insight on outdoor lighting. “Exterior lighting brings
The scale and classic profile of the Bowman pendant make a strong design statement in both residential and commercial outdoor environments. Featuring an aluminum body and subtle diffuser, its powerful LED light source is perfect for outdoor entertaining. Available in charcoal, bronze and black; wet rated.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
façades and outdoor spaces to life. Whether utilizing fixtures for security, landscape or dramatic effect, exterior lights can transform how you see and understand a building or pathway,” Hino says. He adds that it is important to understand how outdoor lights can integrate with your home and its larger site. “By understanding the play between light and dark, your lighting professional can use contrast and shadows to create inspiring and intriguing spaces.”
An impressive design statement, the Roton pendant shown in bronze, claims its simplicity and beautiful cylindrical geometry. The powerful LED light source delivers softly diffused down lighting for controlled and distinctive illumination. Available in charcoal, bronze and black; wet rated.
INSPIRED HOME | 17
The Savino 2 wall sconce is visually captivating with its futuristic and contemporary style. Its smoothly rounded double capsule design is an artistic sconce not only beautiful but also with design flexibility for indoor or outdoor applications. Aluminum construction defies tough weather conditions.
18 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Experiencing HAIR LOSS?
“
These are difficult times we are living through. If you are dealing with hair loss, call to make an appointment. To serve you better, I am making house calls in the comfort of your own home. Violet Deilke
contact Violet Deilke at 218.236.6000
Centre for Hair and Wellness
DOWNTOWN MOORHEAD • centreforhairandwellness.com
The Ash wall sconce is a modern take on the classic industrial-style light fixture. It features a sleek metal shade with a hidden clear lens, creating an intriguing column of light. Suitable for wet environments indoors or outdoors, the Ash wall sconce provides even LED illumination with minimal up light.
With its highly pitched roofline, this modern lighting design of the Peak outdoor wall sconce is reminiscent of a clapboard shingle. The angular LED downlight gently grazes the surface of the back plate. The clean look is perfect for the front door or back porch. Available in silver or bronze; wet listed.
THE BASICS Incorporate three basic types of lighting — ambient, task and accent. Ambient This type provides an area with overall outdoor lighting. A common mistake is using too much bright light. A bulb that uses a lower wattage or has a lower lumens output is generally adequate in the dark. Outdoor wall lights or post lights are good choices. Ambient lighting is also known as general lighting, which radiates a comfortable level of brightness without glare and allows you to see and walk safely. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Tired of cleaning out
egress wells?
Acrylic Frame Steel Frame
From window well covers to displaying fine art... trust our service and product knowledge for your custom plastic projects. Clear acrylic allows maximum light Unique design keeps water out Fits galvanized, cement & timber egress frames Collectibles custom display cases.
701-280-1993 800-380-1993 2310 3rd Avenue N. Fargo, ND 58102
www.customplasticsfargo.com INSPIRED HOME | 19
The Aspen wall sconce creates an elegant column of beautiful diffused light. Entertaining is made perfect on a summer’s night as light emerges from the minimalist design, giving off ample amounts of light. Perfect for a safe walk along a path or for outdoor illumination in general.
The clean, streamlined look of the Wend outdoor wall and step light shines for safety and architectural beauty. Light is aimed downward to light stairs or graze walls with minimal glare. Ideal for wayfinding and added safety after dark, it is ideal for residential or commercial use. Wet listed.
Task Lighting Task lighting is great for illuminating pathways and entrances and is paramount when performing specific tasks. This type of outdoor lighting can be achieved by using pathway lights, deck lighting and outdoor step lights. Fixtures exposed to the elements must be wet-rated fixtures, making certain they are specifically identified as outdoor lighting. Wall lights, post lights or motion sensors all need to be wet rated. Damp rated lights are designed for spaces like covered patios and pergolas — any place not exposed directly to rain and moisture. Accent Lighting Accent lighting adds drama to an outdoor space by creating visual interest. Take time to plan and focus your lighting for particular areas, such as walkways, doorways, architectural details or landscaping.
Evening walks at the lake are peaceful and safe when well-lit pathways are finding your way. Here the bollards, simply elegant in form but powerful in their scope, show you the way to the beach. Seen here is another application of the Syntra bollard and path light. In bronze or charcoal.
20 | MAY/JUNE 2020
Entertaining Use subtle light for entertaining. Your dinner guests won’t want a bright spotlight on them while they’re enjoying their outdoor meal, so choose lighting that gives a soft glow. “Outdoor rooms, especially dining areas, benefit from subtle, indirect lighting that helps create a restful mood,” Hino says. “We’re seeing more use of outdoor lanterns, pendants and ceiling fans equipped with light kits to illuminate seating for dining alfresco. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Your gardens remain inspiring during the evening hours with the Mode Split outdoor light. This pathway light features a tubular profile with a unique “split” design. With this light, featuring two semi-circular arms that can be aimed together or independently, maximum flexibility is assured.
A new, modern, Zen-like design approach, the Syntra outdoor bollard and path light blends seamlessly into contemporary architecture and landscapes. landscapes. Perfection in down lighting.
Use a dimmer with dining lights — turn to full light when cooking or preparing food, then dim it down for eating and relaxing.”
of your garage. In the northern tier, we appreciate every warm, sun-filled day of the season. Make the most of your summer experience by asking a local lighting professional to help illuminate your summer evenings for family and friends.
Security Exterior lighting not only provides ambience, but it also secures your home.
“Make certain all entry points of the home are well lit,” Hino says. “Outside the garage, mount a wall lantern on each side of the garage door.” For added security, she recommends illuminating any side of the house darkened by shadows with spotlights installed on eaves or wall lanterns at side doors and the windows
naturally fresh Hildebrant Farm
“For 37 years, the Hildebrant family farm has proudly served the FM area with fresh, naturally grown fruits, vegetable and flowers.” 4th Street East & Main, West Fargo, ND Trina Hildebrant Kalm, third generation farmer 701.281.1539 | hildebrantfarm.com
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 21
Looking for new furniture? It just got easier. One stop ign total des services!
Sylvia Lunski Interior Designer
Christina Mehl Interior Designer
New!
We’re authorized dealers for Precedent
Delrae Schefter Interior Designer
custom made furniture. If you’re starting new or updating your home, we’re here to help!
New Construction | Remodeling | Lake Homes Wood Flooring | Carpet | Ceramic Tile Furniture | Window Blinds | Fabric Window Coverings
www.DesignDirectionFargo.com
701.365.4040
3211 Fiechtner Drive, Suite 1, Fargo, North Dakota
Sydney Ulrich Interior Designer
Life is better at the lake. Considering building a home on a beautiful lake? Give us a call!
3209 Fiechtner Dr, Fargo, North Dakota
701.235.2525 www.kochmannbros.com KOCHMANN BROTHERS HOMES, INC
Darrick Guthmiller, Paul Kochmann, and Bob Kochmann.
CUSTOM HOMES • LAKE HOMES • REMODELING
e ELEMENTS
. . . y l a t I m o Fr e ov l with
With global design influence, Seasonal Living creates beautiful and bold furniture and dÊcor — perfect for indoors or outdoors. Pictured: Antilles furniture, end tables and Etna coffee tables.
BY TERRI FERRAGUT | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SEASONAL LIVING
Italian inspiration and nature bring the beauty of volcanic stone tabletops to the Etna furniture collection. The city of Como, Italy, provides a stunning background for these colorful indoor/ outdoor pieces.
P
Mt. Etna, an active volcano, provides a breathtaking backdrop for the city of Catania, Italy. Mt. Etna volcanic rock is mined near the city and used to create the unique tabletops.
26 | MAY/JUNE 2020
assionate about redefining living spaces with innovative furniture, Seasonal Living has preserved the lost art of handmade craftsmanship. Resisting a world of design homogeneity, this import and production company sources its products from craftsman from around the world who have honed their skills from generations of artisans. Their products originate from family generationalowned factories that do not operate under a 24/7 mindset. This unique company constantly challenges itself to design and source international collections that push prevailing definitions of design. And in this ‌ they do succeed. Their cutting-edge, indoor/ outdoor, multi-functional furnishings hail from designers and suppliers worldwide, resulting in a one-of-a-kind resource for fresh, nature-inspired functional works of art.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Resisting a world of design homogeneity, this import and production company sources its products from global craftsman who have honed their skills from generations of artists.
Pictured is the Sahara Gold color option for the tabletops. Italian artisans hand-pour the ceramic surface and hand-paint the swirls of coordinating colors to create one-of-a-kind patterns. No two are alike.
Nature-inspired works of art.
Ocean Collision — a ceramic color blend applied by Italian artisans over the Mt. Etna volcanic stone. They then go through three 12-hour firings at 1000 degrees Celsius and three 12-hour curing periods.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
The hand-poured ceramic surface and painting of the furniture is done by Italian artisans — no two are alike.
INSPIRED HOME | 27
28 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Comfort of Home
Outdoor living takes on new meaning with the sophisticated all-weather durability that Seasonal Living offers. Shown: Archipelago Orion 3-seat sofa, lounge chairs and San Blas bar chair. The Grand Royal collection features fluid and graceful curves of the One Arm sofa in marinegrade materials. Shown: Archipelago Maldive dining chair and Torres Strait lounge chair.
Having lived in Kenya, Spain, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and the United Kingdom, the Seasonal Living founders were exposed to a myriad of unique indoor and outdoor living experiences. Inspired by this, they noticed that beautiful, decorative accessories and furnishings should be within reach and affordable. By focusing on functional works of art that blur the line between indoor and outdoor furnishings, Seasonal Living has accomplished a unique and unusual product line sought by designers, landscape artists and property developers. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Hunter Douglas products • custom draperies • free installation quick turnaround • best values in town “For over 21 years I have enjoyed helping my clients add beauty and comfort to their homes. Now more than ever we appreciate that comfort and security. Thankful for your business, I look forward to continue serving you and your families.” Karen Anderson, Designer, Owner Rosecreek Design
SHOWROOM 4631 40th Ave S, Fargo Monday - Sunday by appointment only
701.893.5134
karen@thelittleblindshop.com | rosecreekdesign.com INSPIRED HOME | 29
As nighttime falls, the outdoors come alive with Perpetual concrete vases, Ashar ceramic accent tables, Ingot fire table and Bio-fuel Fire Pedestals. Furniture: St. Helena sofa and l ounge chairs.
30 | MAY/JUNE 2020
Witness to their rare and beautiful furniture pieces is the Etna Collection, inspired by Mt. Etna’s volcanic stone, mined near Catania, Italy. This beautiful metropolitan city is located on the east coast of Sicily, off the southern tip of Italy. By far the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy, Mt. Etna is two and a half times the height of the next largest, Mount Vesuvius. Etna, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, is one of the world’s most active volcanoes to this day. Mining the volcanic stone of Mt. Etna is a major economic activity for the city of Catania. For the Etna collection, the volcanic rock is mined and transported to the central region of Italy, known as Umbria. There, the raw grey lava stone slabs are shaped, sanded and readied for painting and a special ceramic firing process. The hand-poured ceramic surface and painting of the furniture is done by Italian artisans — no two are alike. Once they are painted, they go through three firings at more than 1,000 degrees Celsius and three 12 - hour curing periods. The resulting surfaces are as durable as the volcanic stone itself, creating furniture that is impervious to any weather conditions. From Mt. Etna’s molten magma deep inside the Earth to your outdoor living experience, Seasonal Living brings the artistic talents of the world to your backyard furniture. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Spring Art Sale Barbara Benda Nagle, Professional Artist and Workshop Instructor invites you to purchase original art through her website at www.barbarabendanagle.com
Kris Carlson, designingwomen2 “The quality is superb. In terms of design, they offer a fresh look compared to other furniture companies. They have captured an innovative look by creating exterior living spaces that combine aesthetics, durability and comfort. We have viewed Seasonal Living at market over the last couple of years and fell in love with their design offerings. With Seasonal Living, a respected and trustworthy company, we’re assured of quality and their character.”
May 1- 22
Online Spring Art Sale Contactless delivery available
May 23-24
Spring Art Sale, 12 - 6 p.m. Mourning Dove Studio, 809 North 20th Street, Moorhead, MN Safety measures will be in place for physical viewing and purchase of artwork.
Due to recent Covid-19 concerns, 2020 workshop schedule will be updated regularly at www.barbarabendanagle.com
Want to learn more about the Etna Collection or see more Seasonal Living collections? Contact Kris Carlson at kris@designingwomen2. com or call 701.793.3353. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 31
Love
outdoor living.
Above
Emory Sling Aluminum Dining Set Left
Holly Hill Cushion Set
GRAND FORKS | MINOT
TheAmishGallery.com 800-950-8222
A
Kaufman Construction - Winner of the 2018 and 2019 Gold Star Award in Decorative Concrete Presented by ND Ready-Mix and Concrete Products Association
rtistry
in concrete
The Area’s Premiere, Award Winning Concrete Artisans
• Decorative concrete patios, pool decks, sidewalks and driveways. • Concrete resurfacing and decorative overlays. • New and replacement standard concrete. • Elevated concrete decks. • Creative and one-of-a-kind outdoor living spaces.
AUFMAN ONSTRUCTION
INC
Since 1947 and three generations of craftsmanship, honesty, integrity and relaibility guide our work on your project.
Mobile: 701-799-1832 kaufmanconcrete@gmail.com www.kaufmanconstructionND.com Like us on Facebook: Kaufman Construction Casselton
g GARDEN
Butterfly bush or Buddleja is very appropriately named. Each summer, my plant attracts an abundance of butterflies and hummingbirds. We enjoy watching as the hummingbirds take on the butterflies in the fight for the precious nectar.
BY LAUREN FERRAGUT CARLSON| PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACH DAVIS & LAUREN FERRAGUT CARLSON
I
have always admired my Grandma Jo’s garden. It is big, always tidy, green, and full of vegetables and flowers. Now, as an adult, every time I visit the farm, I make sure to visit her garden. Merely walking in and around it lifts my spirits, so it’s not surprising gardening has been scientifically proven to make you feel good. The World Health Organization states that good health means more than just curtailing bad habits. It also means quality of life, good mental and physical health, and positive emotions, all of which can be brought about through gardening. Gardening for practical and aesthetic reasons dates back to early civilizations in Mesopotamia, with evidence from written texts and sculptures. This is a common “floral” thread through all early civilizations — simply recognized as vases of fresh flowers. Serenity and a real sense of peace envelopes everyone who enters this homeowner's backyard on the Sheyenne river.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
You may be a novice gardener but if you want beautiful flowers for vases in your home, easy-to-grow perennials are a great way to accomplish that. Pictured here are black-eyed- Susans and a favorite of mine, Liatris spicata.
INSPIRED HOME | 35
Fresh-cut flowers are an easy way to add color and life to your home. Pictured is a colorful array of perrenials — hosta, minature roses, Veronica and asters. Dense planting equals fewer weeds.
4401 12th Ave. N / valleylandscaping.com / 701-232-7782
36 | MAY/JUNE 2020
SPECIALIZING IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
According to behavioral research conducted at Rutgers University, the presence of flowers promotes positive emotions, heightens feelings of satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is realized. Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones of Rutgers said, “Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy. Now, science shows that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well-being.” POSITIVE MOODS A vase of fresh flowers will certainly boost your mood; but getting your hands in the soil will result in even greater positive effects. A 2007 Colorado University study found a beneficial bacteria in the soil called Mycobacterium vaccae that triggers the release of serotonin, which lifts mood and reduces anxiety. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours of back-bending work. Working in a garden, no matter the size of the plot, for just half of an hour is sufficient.
This single flower in the garden captured by our photographer shows the captivating beauty and intricate power nature possesses.
STRESS RELIEVER Gardening is also a great way to decompress at the end of a long, stressful day. A Dutch study found that gardening lowers cortisol levels — that pesky stress hormone. The
researchers asked two groups of people to perform a stressful task. They then asked one group to garden for half an hour after they completed the prescribed stressful task. The group that did not garden had high cortisol
Daylilies, according to horticulturists (like my husband), are not actually lilies, but they are beautiful and effortless to grow. Often, they are underappreciated because they are so commonplace. They are worth the stroll to the side of the house for a quick bouquet.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 37
levels while the group that performed light gardening had a significant drop in cortisol. HEALTHY BONES With long winters, it is normal to be a little deficient in Vitamin D. A 2014 Italian study published by the National Institutes of Health found that exposure to sunlight helped adults reach adequate levels of vitamin D, which benefits your bones and boosts your immune system.
Countertops
|
Fireplaces
|
Window sills
|
Showers
Granite & Quartz
Solid Choices:
NorthernStone.com
y Online resources at northernstone.com y Countertop service & repair y remnant inventory selection with convenient online viewing
250 25th Street So. Fargo, ND 58103 38 | MAY/JUNE 2020
|
701-297-2255
CONCENTRATION If you are like me and have a hard time focusing at times, there’s hope. Gardening and being around plants strengthen attention span, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers studied the impact of green, natural settings on children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). They found tasks performed in these areas reduced symptoms of ADHD drastically compared to other control settings. SAVES MONEY Considering a garden? It doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it can save you money. Think about what produce you love most and its cost at the grocery store year-round. Fruits like berries tend to be a little pricy at the store, especially in the winter. By growing your own, you can produce enough to freeze, can or dehydrate for later months. Vegetable seed packets are very inexpensive to purchase and provide an abundance of food. If you don’t have a yard or garden space, container gardens are inexpensive, require little space and give you the same benefits. GENERATION TO GENERATION While at college, I really wanted to garden, so my now-husband and I headed to my parent’s backyard and started digging. We had a pretty good start when a pouring rain began. We kept going. It was exhilarating. We managed to get everything planted despite the pooling water. That excitement continued every morning as I checked the daily growth. We now have a garden of our own in Upstate New York where we live. The garden we started in my parent’s backyard many years ago remains. When I return home to North Dakota every summer, I still find joy in morning visits to my garden.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Achieve Beautiful Gardens These Serrano peppers from my garden are easy to grow and pack a decent amount of heat. You can harvest them at various stages of ripeness like most peppers. My husband likes to plant a lot, dry them and whiz them up in a spice grinder for his own chili powder
with tips from Master Gardener, Tony Randall
Landscape Design Installation of Trees, Shrubs and Perennials Rock and Mulch | Sod Tomatoes, herbs and onions are a delicious mainstay of any summer garden. The most difficult part is waiting to harvest; but patience pays off with that first bite of a sun-ripened tomato.
Maintenance Plant Care & Health Consulting Hardscape
FREE ESTIMATES Call Tony There is nothing like stepping out to the garden to pick fresh herbs for your evening meal. I like to plant an abundant amount of herbs. I can always find uses for them. Basil makes great pesto and you can always dry it to use for months to come.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
701.476.0491 West Fargo, ND See our work at gardenprofm.com tony@gardenprofm.com
INSPIRED HOME | 39
o outdoors
Splendor in the shade
Y
our outdoor space is something of an openair living room, dining room and personal venue all rolled into one. It is where you can relax, entertain and make the very most out of your home’s surroundings. Two stunning ways to add beauty and provide shady comfort are pergolas and awnings. Inspired Home spoke with Josh Smook, Deckmasters project designer, for his thoughts on creating backyard comfort. PERGOLAS Pergolas, architectural garden adornments, became popular during the Italian Renaissance. Today, they are a welcome respite from the midday summer sun. The popularity of pergolas and awnings are on the list of the most popular growing trends of exterior amenities in outdoor living. “Both pergolas and awnings offer shade and comfort for a room, as well as phenomenal curb appeal,” Smook explains. Maintaining their beauty is an important consideration in today’s pergolas. “Gone are the days of staining wood pergolas and in are the days of low-maintenance aluminum,” Smook adds. A beautiful 40 | MAY/JUNE 2020
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DECKMASTERS
architectural structure, a pergola can be attached or detached from your home and be configured and designed in a multitude of ways. Landscape plays a role in the layout, with everything from surrounding trees, flora and fauna, to your home, providing the ideal
canvas on which to incorporate the pergola. Erected under the shady branches of a beloved family tree or built as a stand-alone structure complete with a fireplace and built-in seating area, the pergola can be adapted to any design scheme, providing years of use and enjoyment.
This detached pergola incorporates built-in seating and the beauty of a backyard tree. Shown: White aluminum, scalloped end cuts and fluted columns.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Lake living doesn't get any better than this with this attached pergola. Shown: White aluminum, corbel end cuts and fluted columns. Awnings provide the comfort of shade and customized good looks for any architectural design requirements.
In Chocolate aluminum, this detached pergola has all the comforts of home — furniture and fire tables. Shown: Beveled end cuts and fluted columns. Fresh and inviting, awnings offer full-filtered light, frame and fabric options. Smart home conveniences like remote controls and sun/wind sensors add extra ease.
AWNINGS Another trend, or resurgence for outdoor living, are awnings, an added feature that benefits both your indoor and outdoor spaces. Smook says, “You might think, “Well, those are outdated,’ but, actually, they’ve never gone out of style. They offer full-filtered light, many frame and fabric options, and all the modern conveniences of the smart home like remote controls, sun and wind sensors.” Bold-colored fabric and neutral fabric options can complement any home, achieving good looks and durable sun protection and enhancing contemporary architectural design to traditional. With an endless array of design options, homeowners — with the help of an area professional — can tailor any project to their individual lifestyle and home’s architecture, one that family and friends will enjoy for years to come. Awnings not only add exterior beauty and function, they also protect your home's interior from the powerful and often-destructive power of the sun.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 41
A Room with a View
Simple, clean, symmetrical lines face the lakeside of this Cape Cod-inspired home on Otter Tail Lake. The design entices family and friends in from the water, where they can enjoy the extraordinary lake views while dining and visiting in a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
“It’s a personal connection, designing a home,” Stoll says. “Getting to know people, gathering the pieces to the puzzle — it’s about listening to how they live day to day, and the fun work of pulling together a design.” Tony Stoll, AIA principal architect, bhh Partners, Planners/Architects
The vast open floor plan breaks with traditional Cape Cod design but is perfectly compatible with this home’s lake cottage design sensibility. A view of the gorgeous lake from all main living areas was a top priority.
STORY BY JILL OCKHARDT BLAUFUSS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRAVIS BEAUCHENE, STUDIO THREE BEAU
D
esigning a custom home isn’t something everybody gets to do. But if you’re one of the lucky ones, architect Tony Stoll of bhh Partners in Perham, Minnesota, urges you to shoot for the moon. “It should be a happy moment in your life,” Stoll says. Even if you don’t get all the way to the moon due to budget or square footage restraints, Stoll urges clients to enjoy the process. When designing this Otter Tail Lake home, Stoll enjoyed getting to know what was on the homeowners’ wish list. Stoll says his first step in the design process is always working out the flow, function and square footage within the footprint. The schematic footprint is then used to develop exterior concepts. 46 | MAY/JUNE 2020
“They wanted a simple, symmetrical Cape Cod cottage design,” Stoll says. “A more casual, comfortable lake home feel. Nothing too ornate.” Typical Cape Cod features that Stoll included in his design are the eye-catching traditional grid windows and shingle siding. While Cape Cod design originated in the northeastern United States, Stoll says many of the traditional design elements are applicable to the lakes area’s wooded landscape, climate and living style. Steep Cape Cod rooflines ensure snow doesn’t collect during the winter. And while typically the design includes smaller, more compartmentalized rooms within the interior, this Otter Tail Lake home’s open living, cooking and dining space is a
more modern concept the overwhelming majority of Stoll’s clients look for today. Planning for summer use with their adult children and grandchildren, the homeowners wanted an inviting summer retreat focusing on a connection with the lake, including visibility and access. But they also wanted a home that would serve the couple well into retirement, with design considerations for aging in place. Stoll took into account future mobility challenges that come with aging, especially when designing the main level of the home. Stoll says designing a home for aging in place doesn’t have to be a consideration for only older clients. “Aging in place comes INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
The homeowners wanted unobstructed views of the lake from the kitchen, dining and living areas.
Light from the bank of lakeside windows is reflected throughout the room by this all-white Craftsman-style custom cabinetry. Hidden appliances and white countertops give a fresh edge to the more traditional design style.
into conversations with a lot of clients,” he says. When considering resale value, Stoll challenges even younger clients to think about how a home can serve people with a range of physical abilities. “Designing a main level to be accessible for people with physical challenges doesn’t have to be obvious or even apparent in the design,” Stoll says. Wider door sizes and reducing tight corners and tight spaces, he says, are all things that can be considered in any home, making it more practical for people with varying degrees of physical ability. The homeowner’s wanted unobstructed views of the beautiful lake from the kitchen, dining and living areas. Two of the three INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
The ceiling beam pattern was designed to emanate from the front entry, directing your eye to the lake view. The open staircase is an attractive feature that brings balance to the room.
INSPIRED HOME | 47
The connection of seating areas makes getting together comfortable for even large gatherings. The lake view extends out the side door to the inviting three-season porch.
This guest bedroom is perfect for letting the grandkids all bunk up together or for parents to sleep close to their children. With these perfectly crafted built-in bunk beds and space for a crib, this room accommodates all ages comfortably.
48 | MAY/JUNE 2020
This bathroom is anything but basic because of the bold blue-and-white leaf pattern of this attentiongrabbing wallpaper.
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
A Charles Beck print in rich blue complements the upholstery of these cottage-inspired gingham upholstered chair backs. The view from this large dining area means you won’t miss anything happening on the lake even when coming in for meals.
bedrooms have amazing lake views as well. Keeping with interior details similar to a historic Cape Cod, a beamed ceiling artfully brings a traditional cottage feel to the vast ceiling in the living area. “The beams help define the interior space and direct your eye,” Stoll says. His beam design emanates from the front entry, the lines leading your eye through the home to the impressive lake view immediately upon entering the front door. Stoll placed the three-season porch with a lake view off the side of the living room and fitted it with a Phantom screen system. With the screens raised (and hidden in the soffit), the porch offers relaxation by day. With screens down, it’s a bug-free outdoorair retreat for evening gatherings. Stoll also designed covered porches on the lake and the road sides of the home, noting that inclement weather isn’t something people naturally plan for when designing a lake home. “You should INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
be able to enjoy your morning coffee outdoors regardless of which way the wind is blowing,” Stoll says. “It’s important to design for those rainy days, too.” Along with three bedrooms in the main portion of the house, a loft area built over the garage with a separate entrance offers another space for family and other guests to enjoy more privacy when visiting the lake home. “It’s a personal connection, designing a home,” says Stoll. “Getting to know people, gathering the pieces to the puzzle — it’s about listening to how they live day to day, and the fun work of pulling together a design.” Stoll designed a true summer escape, with room for everyone and a focus on time spent in and near the lake. The home’s airy main living area is a masterpiece itself, but it’s Stoll’s layout and impressive window design that enlists the interiors as an artfully crafted picture frame for the captivating lake view beyond.
Tony Stoll, AIA principal architect, bhh Partners, Planners/Architects
Contributors: Architect: Tony Stoll, bhh Partners, Perham, MN | Build: Dave Erwin Construction Inc., Battle Lake, MN | Photography: Travis Beauchene, Studio Three Beau
INSPIRED HOME | 49
$700 SAVE UP TO
on the purchase select Maytag Appliances. April 30th - June 30th, 2020
(218) 233-6104 609 MAIN AVE | MOORHEAD
rigels.com
t TASTE
the story on
salt BY TERRI FERRAGUT
Edible salts vary by their country of
F
or many years, I was under the impression that salt is by “nature” white.
Table salt, sea salt and kosher salt were the extent of my culinary knowledge. The grass is green, salt is white and that was pretty much how I defined salt.
origin, influencing
It was a flavor-enhancing and cooking necessity. Salt is one of the oldest
flavors, colors,
back to 8,000 years ago. Salt is also needed for our health. Sodium, a trace
uses and textures.
and most widely used seasonings, with its usage traced by archaeologists mineral found in salt, is needed by our body to perform certain functions — contracting and relaxing muscles, maintaining proper fluid balance, sending nervous system impulses and preventing low blood pressure. More recently, salt — in all its epicurean glory — has moved to the foreground for many food-savvy eaters. Edible salts vary by their country of origin, influencing flavors, colors, uses and textures. Let’s discover the world of salt!
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 53
Table Salt This is what you’ll find in most salt shakers. Table salt is mostly mined from underground salt deposits and processed to eliminate trace minerals. Table salts are usually 97 to 99 percent sodium chloride, with some added anti-caking agents. It may include potassium iodide, which is an essential nutrient that can get removed during the purification process (not to be confused with iodine). Many unrefined kinds of salt will say on packaging, “not a source of iodide.” TABLE SALT
Kosher Salt Harvested from seawater or salt mines, kosher salt is a course, refined salt with bigger-flaked crystals. Kosher salt is named for its use in “koshering” or removing blood from meat, according to Jewish dietary guidelines. It has fewer additives and isless pungent than normal table salt. One thing to remember — it is not necessarily sea salt. A great finishing salt, it is often seen on pretzel tops and rims of margarita glasses. Not all kosher brands are certified in meeting kosher requirements, however.
KOSHER SALT
SEA SALT
Sea Salt Sea salt is a broad term that refers to unrefined salt derived directly from a living ocean. It is harvested through channeling ocean water into large clay trays, allowing the sun to evaporate it naturally. It contains natural traces of iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and iodine, which result in a bright, pure and clean flavor. Depending on the water origin, the mineral content of sea salt can vary. Common sources are the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean (particularly in France, on the coast of Brittany). Sea salt is thought to be healthier and more flavorful than traditional table salt and available in any grind.
POPULAR CULINARY SEA SALTS: Maldon Salt Maldon, a salt harvested in Essex, off the coast of Great Britain, has large, delicate flakes made by boiling seawater to remove impurities with continued heating until crystallization. The salt is then “drawn” or separated by an expert salt maker to keep the large, flaky crystals intact. This makes it a great finishing salt. Most sea salts are versatile and can be used as both a dish finisher and dish builder.
MALDON SALT
54 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Fleur de sel/Fiore di cervia - “Flower of Salt” Originally hailing from the Brittany coast in France, this is considered the Cadillac of finishing salts. It is not crushed or ground but rather harvested from the surface of saltwater ponds as the top layer begins to crystallize. It’s lower in sodium than normal salt, with a higher mineral content and possesses a light, briny flavor. The sticky little crystals are used more as a condiment to finish a dish than as a seasoning. The Italian version is made the same way, but with different water, resulting in a less briny and minerallike flavor. Spain and Portugal also have their own versions called flor de sal.
Sel Gris - French Gray Salt Famous in the culinary world, gray salt is an unrefined “moist” sea salt from the same salt pans as fleur de sel. While fleur de sel is harvested from the top layer, sel gris is allowed to fall to the bottom of the salt pan before being harvested. The gray color and higher mineral content come from absorption of the clay lining the salt ponds. It falls somewhere between basic sea salt and fleur de sel in both flavor and use. It can be ground finely with volcanic rock to make what is called sel gris-velvet, which creates a buttery feel as it melts on your tongue. (Great over nuts or popcorn.)
FLEUR DE SEL/FIORE DI CERVIA - “FLOWER OF SALT”
SEL GRIS - FRENCH GRAY SALT
IT’S NOT ONLY FOR COOKING.
IT’S THE HEART OF THE HOME. KITCHEN TUNE-UP HAS 5 WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN.
Roger Koenig Local Owner
701.200.3608 kitchentuneup.com Serving Fargo & West Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead & Detroit Lakes, Minnesota & surrounding areas.
FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATES BEFORE
AFTER REFACING
Each franchise is independently owned and operated.
1 DAY WOOD RESTORATION • REFACING • REDOORING • CABINET PAINTING • NEW CABINETS
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 55
Himalayan Pink Salt Known for its bright pink hue, the Himalayan version of this salt is mined from ancient sea beds in the Punjab region of Pakistan, mainly from the Khewra salt mine. The lesser-known Bolivian version is mined from the Andes Mountains. While the salt’s pink color comes from trace amounts of iron oxide, the salt is predominantly sodium chloride, in the same chemical range as basic table salt.
HIMALAYAN PINK SALT
HAWAIIAN ALAEA RED SALT
Hawaiian Alaea Red Salt This varietal is made from standard Hawaiian sea salt (20 percent trace minerals, low sodium compared to table salt) combined with the red volcanic clay alaea, which is said to have detoxifying properties. It’s used in a lot of native Hawaiian dishes and has historically been used in religious ceremonies. It can add a flash of color as a finishing salt and is also a good choice for those watching their salt intake because of the lower-sodium content. This is delicious with pork or prime rib.
Hawaiian Black Lava Salt- Hiwa Kai This salt is made from seawater that has evaporated in pools situated on hardened lava flows. The salt crystals are naturally infused with activated charcoal from the lava beds. The deep obsidian hue and silky texture is not only beautiful but provides essential minerals and is a powerful detoxifier. The pyramid-shaped crystals bring an earthy flavor with a hint of smoke normally associated with charcoal grilling. A perfect finishing salt! HAWAIIAN BLACK LAVA SALT- HIWA KAI
Smoked Sea Salt A savory variation on sea salt is to smoke it. Relatively new, smoked sea salt adds a unique flavor to a wide range of dishes and is delicious for grilling or oven roasting — perfect for salmon. When considering a smoked sea salt, make sure that it is a naturally smoked salt that has been slow smoked in cold smokers over real wood fires to infuse the salt crystals. Smoked sea salts add an authentic smokehouse flavor to soups, salads, pasta and sandwiches. They are available in all grinds. SMOKED SEA SALT
56 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
CHOCOLATE CARAMEL TARTLETS CHOCOLATE CRUST INGREDIENTS: 1½ cups flour ¼ cup plus 1 Tbls. Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder ¼ tsp. kosher salt 10 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed and softened ½ cup plus 2 Tbls. confectioners’ sugar 2 egg yolks, room temperature ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract METHOD: Prepare the crust: In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder and salt; set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy; mix in yolks and vanilla. Add in dry ingredients. Divide dough into 6 equal portions. Evenly press each portion into the bottoms and sides of 6 3.5-inch tartlet pans with removeable bottoms. Refrigerate tartlet shells for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, prick the tart shells all over with a fork. Bake in preheated oven until cooked through, about 13-15 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool.
Thank you Inspired Home!! “It was a great business decision to advertise with Inspired Home Magazine. We get such a positive response from our customers! I would highly recommend any business to advertise in this beautiful publication!”
CARAMEL FILLING INGREDIENTS: 1½ 3 ¼ 6 6 6 1 1
cups sugar Tbsp. light corn syrup tsp. kosher salt Tbsp. water Tbsp. unsalted butter Tbsp. heavy cream Tbsp. sour cream tsp. pure vanilla extract
METHOD: Prepare the caramel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together sugar, corn syrup, salt and 6 tbsp. water and bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer inserted into the syrup reads 340°F. Remove pan from heat and whisk in butter, cream, sour cream and vanilla (the mixture will bubble up) until smooth. Pour caramel into cooled tartlet shells. Sprinkle with kosher salt and cool slightly; refrigerate until firm, about 3-4 hours. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Chelsey Malstrom Seven Sisters Spirits Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
INSPIRED HOME | 57
Enjoy Life
in two bedroom ... luxury patio homes
by Brekke Custom Homes construction starts spring 2020
starting at
$
295,000
ONLY Ten Lots Available | Spacious 1,357 sq ft | One Level | Two Bedroom Fully Landscaped with Lawn Sprinkler System | Quiet Street
Q&A
Can I select my carpet, appliances and paint colors? Yes, within cost allowances provided. Will FEMA require flood insurance?
Open Floor Plan | Vaulted Ceilings | Custom Cabinets Oversized, Heated Garage with Wide (18 ft.) Overhead Door Fireplace | Oversized Windows for Abundant Natural Light Home Security System | WIFI Controlled Thermostat WIFI Garage Door Opener
No. The property is above base flood elevation established by FEMA. Q. Can I add a full basement, another garage stall or two and a 3rd bedroom? Absolutely.
brekke CUSTOM HOMES
brekke custom homes email: officembch@gmail.com phone: 701.730.4385 website: www.brekkecustomhomes.com
DIRECTIONS
From 52nd Ave. S (East of I-29), go south on 31 St. S. After about 1 mile, turn left on Maple Leaf Loop south. facebook@BrekkeCustomHomes
Enjoy Life
in affordable ... luxury twin homes
by Wildstone Development & Brekke Custom Homes starting at
$
334,900
individually owned twin homes | less upkeep & maintenance one-level plan high quality | moderately priced | beautiful quiet lots
Despite COVD-19, we want to assure our customers we have taken extraordinary steps to protect the health and safety of our employees, subcontractors and home buyers.
ONLY ONE LUXURY TWIN HOME LEFT! Two bedroom unit available including custom cabinets, granite countertops, ďŹ replace, custom closets, lawn sprinkler, landscaping and patio
~ Limiting numbers working on job sites ~ Maintaining social distancing ~ Cleaning and sanitizing homes ~ Allowing prospective homebuyers to view our homes with limited interaction ~ Giving virtual tours while you stay home
A Brekke Custom Homes Project 3333 Maple Leaf Loop South, Fargo From 52nd Ave. S (East of I-29), go South on 31 St. S. After about 1 mile, turn left on Maple Leaf Loop South.
701.730.4385 or 701.587.1291 wildstone.development@gmail.com See Wildstone Development photos/virtual tour at brekkecustomhomes.com or facebook@brekkecustomhomes.
p Pets
Furreverfriends BY ASHLEY JOHNSON FERRAGUT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AIDRY JOHNSON
I
Wellington and Fancy have settled in together peacefully and with much affection for each other. Fancy is happier, both physically and emotionally. They both are definitely important additions to our family.
60 | MAY/JUNE 2020
promised myself after we adopted our cat, Fancy, from Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, the Johnson family would take a break from adopting animals for a while. Fancy was born with something called “cerebellar hypoplasia,” also known as “wobbly cat syndrome.” Her cerebellum (the part of the brain that helps control balance and coordination) was underdeveloped in utero, so she has a very difficult time getting around. She can’t jump up onto anything, often needs to be carried up and down the stairs. She is the sweetest (albeit, most needy) cat on Earth. After a little more than a year had passed, I began to entertain (much to my husband’s chagrin) the thought of getting her a roommate. I hated that she was alone most of the day, and when we came home, all she wanted was to be held, like, all the time. I began researching, and cats with CH not only do great with other cats, but they tend to thrive with them. I learned firsthand that if you plan on bringing another pet onto the scene, there are lots of things to consider, and that tips to make the transition from a single to a multi-cat family would make it much easier for everyone involved. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Dr. Amy Anderson from West Fargo Animal Hospital provided me with some great intel that helped us immensely with the prospect of bringing another pet into the home. One of the most important aspects of adding a second feline into the mix is patience. Most people tend to rush the introduction of a new cat, but don’t let your excitement overtake you! “Cats need to be introduced slowly, in small doses,” Dr. Anderson said. “You can’t just throw them together in a room and expect them to be friends within 10 minutes. It is important to give both animals their separate spaces for a while, so that they have a place to retreat to if they are uncomfortable.” This part of the process was easy, thankfully, as we had two large spaces downstairs. The back portion of our basement gym was Fancy’s zone, complete with multiple cat beds, fresh food and water, and all the toys she needs. Homeward Bound Animal Shelter had a cat they felt would do well with our black beauty. We did a meet-and-greet with the kids and eventually brought him home. Initially, we brought him into our laundry room adjacent to Fancy’s “room.” We provided Wellington (as he was so aptly named) with places to hide, toys to play with and areas to help him feel safe. After a day or two, we traded blankets in the cat’s rooms allowing them to get used to each other’s scent, much as you would do when bringing a newborn home. Eventually, curiosity overcame the cats (and my children) and we let them meet one another. I worried about how our new older cat (a senior by four years) would react to her rather unusual wobbly rhythm and uncoordinated mode of moving around. Our new cat, Wellington, had been feral and had already been re-homed once. We were very nervous how a new, less-than-socialized male cat would react to our female with special needs. When the day finally came and the two met whiskers to whiskers, there was a lot of trepidation in the air. I thought Fancy, as gentle and mild-mannered as she was, would be nothing but delicate and curious. It turns out, she knew the house was hers and didn’t take kindly to her new visitor. For a couple of days, “Welly” withstood the subtle hissing and (gentle) swatting; he continued to do nothing but flop onto the floor and submit to her in front her displays of superiority. About a week after bringing him home, we noticed a big change. Fancy had accepted her INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
One of the most important aspects of adding a second feline into the mix is patience.
Your best friends.. ours too Wellness Exams
Dental Care
Hospice/Euthanasia Services Nutritional Counseling Radiology
Amy Anderson
Surgery
Emergency/Critical Care Microchipping
Pain management Vaccinations
Laser Therapy Acupuncture
West Fargo Animal Hospital
Carrie Summerfield DVM, Practice Owner 816 Meyer Drive • West Fargo, ND 701.282.2898 • www.westfargoanimalhospital.com
DVM, Practice Owner
Kristen Anderson, DVM | Melissa Schlader, DVM | Kendra Maurer DVM
INSPIRED HOME | 61
terrific tile awaits... Specializing In Custom Residential
Our cats are now a comfort to each other. It only took about a week for Fancy and Wellington to cozy up to take long naps.
Waterproof Showers | Heated Floors | Back Splashes | And More! New address! 1715 27th Street South Moorhead, MN
701.361.8976 | Fargo, ND
Continuous Beauty
new roommate. He would slowly walk past her as if to say, “See? I’m not so bad,” and the two began to peacefully co-exist. Fast forward several weeks and the two now sleep together, play together and dote on one another. Dr. Anderson does caution that occasionally, it isn’t meant to be. “Sometimes cats just don’t get along and never will,” she said. “If you force cats like this to co-exist, it could result in undesirable behaviors such as urine marking and defecating outside the litterbox, or even serious injuries to the cats or their humans. I have a few clients who have cats like this and they each have their separate floors of the house. Other clients have chosen to re-home one of the cats.” We are incredibly thankful, that this was not the case in our home. There is a whole lot of snuggling, pouncing and playing at our house and we couldn’t be happier with our two purrrrrrrrfect kitties.
Three Styles and Many Color Options Available Full Service Design & Landscaping Stamped Patterns Available
4401 12th Ave N
I
62 | MAY/JUNE 2020
Fargo, ND
I
218.233.1400
I
curbmasternd.com
Amy Anderson, DVM, Practice Owner
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
where life is simply good
Barnesville $27 Million School Project Under Construction
Del Acres Gilbertson 2nd Addition
Lake Walking Path
Blue Eagle Lake
Kava Family Splash Pad- McGrath Park
Willow Creek Golf Course
Spacious 121’ x 140’ Lots only $12,000* | Specs Homes Available For Immediate Occupancy Safe Community | Low Special Assessments | 2 Year Property Tax Rebate New Lions Park Now Open in the Neighborhood | 30 Minutes From Anywhere! *Pricing good through May 31, 2020
Contact
Karen Lauer
Executive Director 218.354.2145 Barnesville EDA klauer@bvillemn.net
choosebarnesville.com
h HUMOR
spring garage reveals BY BERNIE ERICKSON
O
f all the springtime holidays, my very favorite is community clean-up week. Like all holiday hosts, I begin planning for the event months in advance, making mental notes of what should stay and what should go. Recycling/upcycling has become popular and eco-friendly, and I think it’s good mojo that items that no longer serve a purpose for me can move on and serve a purpose for someone else. With the added bonus that I only have to bring the stuff to the curb. We have seven snow shovels. There are two people living in this house. One of the people has not shoveled a single snowflake in more than 20 years. That would be me. We have a wheelbarrow that in 15 years has never, one single time seen the light of day. There are not one, not two, but three bicycles hanging on hooks directly above my car flat against the garage ceiling. There’s an electric weed whacker with a 100-foot cord hanging on the wall right next to my cordless one that works on a battery pack that also serves my cordless circular saw, which is living on a shelf next to my old circular saw with the taped-up cord from when I was using it to trim branches and managed to completely sever the power cord, along with the branch I was sawing off. I remain grateful my left hand wasn’t one of the things also severed in that debacle. 64 | MAY/JUNE 2020
We’ve lived in the same home for 15 years on one of those U-shaped streets where if you don’t live on the street, you’d never drive on it. We live on the bottom or the top of the “U,” depending on how you look at it, so not too many cars drive by our house, but I drive by everyone else’s every day. There’s a springtime ritual on our street. Picture it. A beautiful day. June Cleaver or Marion Cunningham flinging open the windows, taking a breath of fresh air, smiling with glee and doing a little twirl around the living room floor, arms outstretched like Julie Andrews popping over a hill in The Sound of Music, and then resuming her spring cleaning. Well, the guys on our street do the same thing. Except we fling open our overhead garage doors, take in a breath of fresh air, smile with glee and do a little Julie Andrews outstretched arms twirl in the driveway and begin the process of cleaning out our garages. We live on a street developed in the ’90s with lots of homes that have three-stall garages. And that third stall is perfect for storing toys. For about three or four weeks in the spring, the toys come out of winter hiding and hang out in front of the third garage stall door getting ready for summer. Boats, travel trailers, INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
motorcycles, jet skis and my favorite: the convertibles. We have a Beetle, a Mustang, a classic Corvette Stingray, a Camaro, a BMW and a soft-top Jeep living on our street sitting in their driveways all sparkly and ready for spring. One of those sparkly cars is mine, but it’s also the same car that sits caked with 800 pounds of ice and snow eight months of the year because it’s my only car. And it’s my only car not just for budget reasons, but also because we only have a two-stall garage. We are one of the handful of homes on this street that has only two garage stalls. I tell myself it’s because our home is a colonial and colonials are wide — and our lot isn’t — and a three-stall wouldn’t look right on a colonial anyway. It still doesn’t make me feel any better. What also does not make me feel better is that we live directly across the street from another home that only has two stalls, and their garage is perfect. If our home were in a cartoon, when we backed the cars out of the garage in the morning, piles of stuff would cave in the
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
center, come rolling down the driveway followed by a cloud of dust. A barking dog would be heard in the background, and then a sound like something electrical shorting out, followed by an ominous thunder cloud and a bolt of lightning. Across the street, when Brian Kragness and his wife back their cars out, sunshine is sparkling, birds are chirping, and I swear a butterfly flutters out just before their Stanley Whisper Wonder belt-drive garage door opener with battery back-up gently glides their door closed. And as the door gently touches the immaculate concrete driveway, you can almost hear a chorus of angels sing “Ahhhhhhh!” Across the street back here at our garage, hell, my door almost always hits something on the way down, there’s a crash, I say a bad word, the auto-reverse kicks in and the lights start flashing. Because, you know, I want to attract more attention to our garage. I don’t know how they do it across the street. There’s a small lawn storage shed in the backyard and a jet ski on a trailer by the garage and that’s about it. You know
what they have inside their garage? Trash cans, a refrigerator and a rug by the door to the house. Over here there’s all that and then some just sitting on the steps from the garage to the house. So, this spring I’m going to try be more like Bryan. I’ll take it down to two or three shovels and the cordless power tools that actually work. Maybe go down to one bike parked on the floor rather than hanging from the ceiling so I might actually ride it. Speaking of riding, I wonder where Bryan got that jet ski?
INSPIRED HOME | 65
Design Flexibility | Beautiful Aesthetics | Environmental Friendly | Durability Experienced & Husqvarna ÂŽ Certified | Commercial | Residential
Polished Concrete... at a whole new level. At Fargo Flat, Inc., our mission is to create the most beautiful and unique polished concrete floors. Colors and aggregate options are endless for any design project.
LEARN MORE at fargoflatinc.com or CALL 701.361.8976 New address! 1715 27th Street South, Moorhead, MN
blurring the line between indoor & outdoor sophistication
Tired of the same outdoor furniture options? REFRESH your outdoor living
INTRODUCING SEASONAL LIVING EXCLUSIVELY AT DW2 Indoor/Outdoor Durability & Functionality
Mention this ad & receive
35% off
your purchase! Contact: Kris Carlson @ 701.793.3353 kris@designingwomen2.com 3499 39th street south — new showroom! fargo, north dakota designingwomen2.com
c cuISINE
A warm sunny day in the park BY CHEF GRANVILLE
68 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
“As we know and as overstated "In Every Walk in Nature, One Receives Far More than He Seeks."
I
as it might be, “food tastes better outside,” at least in my book.”
John Muir
cannot think of a better time to throw open the windows, get outside and take in the fresh, clean air. We are fortunate to live in a part of the country where we have good clean air and wide-open spaces. And the freshness of spring is a perfect time to enjoy both, whether it in your garden or walking through our urban parks or on a trail in our local state parks. Any of the above are part of my daily ritual, but it is nice to be able to shed a layer or two of clothing. As we know and as overstated as it might be, “food tastes better outside,” at least in my book. With that in mind, it is time for a hike in the woods followed by a delicious lunch over an open fire. Growing up, we were a picnicking and hiking family. Whether it be a car picnic on the roadside or taking a good hike in the woods to a lake or waterfall, Mom would pack up some good bread, cheese and sliced meats, along with fruit and some sparkling beverages. She’d pack it all in a rucksack and off we went. Picnicking evolved into tent camping so, over the years, I have perfected the art of eating in the great outdoors. After finishing high school, I set off on a summer backpacking trip that turned into a year and half making my way across Canada and down the Pacific Coast and back. I spent a good deal of time in Banff National Park where I took a position in one of the restaurants, all the while living on the mountain in one of the many campgrounds. All my meals were cooked over the campfire when I wasn’t at work or exploring the park. These skills came in very handy years later working in a restaurant that had wood-burning grills and rotisseries. My lunches on my hikes were not your usual sandwiches and granola bars. We would pack bread, grilled beef from last night’s dinner, imported cheeses, smoky grilled vegetable salad and dense chocolate walnut bars — all INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Wine Time!
FREE 5 lb. bag of ice with purchase Expires June 30th, 2020
3 minutes south of We Fest on Hwy. 59 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota 218.847.BEER (2337) I 218.846.WINE (9463) www.7sistersspirits.com INSPIRED HOME | 69
washed down with a good red wine. My campsite became a place to drop by for a good meal of wood-roasted chicken, embercooked potatoes and other root vegetables buried in the hot coals. Over the years, my camping spirit has slowed a bit but my passion for picnics hasn’t. As soon as the snow melts and the ground warms under a blanket of soft, warm grass, out comes the picnic basket. Most of the elements in my basket are similar but more sophisticated. In our last Inspired Home issue, writer Lauren Ferragut Carlson shared with readers a fantastic bread recipe, which will be the first item in my basket. An eclectic
array of items to spread on the bread or eat alongside could be a jar of buttery potted shrimp or silky, smooth chicken liver parfait, smoked trout spread and lemony hummus. Grilled pork tenderloin with Gorgonzola cheese and a crisp marinated fennel-andorange salad, and steamed lemon sponge pudding in small mason jars complete the scenario. And all paired with a refreshing sparkling wine. So, pack up the blanket and cushions. Find a nice spot under a shade tree, spread out your blanket and enjoy a nice lunch on a warm early summer day. That shade tree might even be in your own backyard.
Find us on Pinterest for some of Chef Wood’s all- time favorites!
Picnic Tips The right picnic basket is important. This classic
To accompany Chef Granville’s great eats,
basket includes everything you need for a
here are picnic essentials to make your outing
picnic meal – just add your favorite food and
perfect!
wine. Self-storing plates, silverware, corkscrew, cutting board, wine glasses, and an insulated area for stashing food or keeping wine cool. Blanket
Serving Spoons
Frozen Bottles of Water
Folding Knife
Corkscrew/Bottle Opener
Cutting Board
Wet Wipes
Trash Bags
Salt & Pepper Paper Towels A Tray
70 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
“Find a nice spot under a shade tree, spread out your blanket and enjoy a nice lunch on a warm early summer day.” Chef Granville Wood POTTED SHRIMP INGREDIENTS: 4
Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, skim off foam and discard; set butter aside.
1
Tbsp. unsalted butter
½ lb. medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined 2
Tbsp. snipped chives
1
tsp. nutmeg
1
tsp. cayenne pepper
1
Tbsp. lemon zest
2
tsp. lemon juice
2
Tbsp. dry sherry
YOUR energy.
YOUR time. YOUR way.
METHOD: Melt the 1 Tbsp. butter in saucepan, add shrimp and cook gently until slightly firm, add sherry and lemon juice. Cook until sherry is evaporated. Put shrimp in food processor and pulse until coarse. Fold in spices, lemon zest and chives; season with salt to taste. Stir in reserved melted butter. Divide amongst small mason jars with hinged lids. Press down. If not covered by butter, melt some more and spoon over
Download the Cass County Electric app to pay your bill, view and compare energy use, and report outages. Just a tap away from controlling your power.
the top. Refrigerate. Prior to eating, let it sit out for an hour to soften.
CassCountyElectric.com INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 71
CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT
SMOKED TROUT SPREAD
LEMON SPONGE PUDDING
INGREDIENTS:
INGREDIENTS:
INGREDIENTS:
1
lb. chicken livers, drained and sinew removed
1 lb. smoked boneless trout fillets
1½ cups sugar
¼ cup Hellman’s mayonnaise
2
9
oz. bacon fat, melted
⁄3
cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sour cream
6
1½ cups heavy cream
1
6
egg yolks
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter at room temperature
3
Tbsp. brandy
½ tsp. white pepper
3
tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1
tsp. black pepper
METHOD: Preheat oven to 350. In a food processor, add chicken liver, seasonings and bacon fat and puree. Whisk cream, egg yolks and brandy together. Add to chicken livers and puree
tsp. chopped parsley
1 Tbsp. snipped chives METHOD: Flake trout into bowl, looking for stray bones and no skin. Add all the remaining
2
eggs, separated
cups skim milk
⁄3
cup lemon juice
2
tsp. lemon zest
½
tsp. salt
2
METHOD: Preheat oven to 350.
ingredients and fold together. Put into an
Whisk flour and sugar together. In another
airtight container.
bowl, whisk egg yolks and butter until smooth, add milk, lemon juice, zest.
10 seconds. Pass through a fine strainer.
Add milk mixture to flour and whisk until
Lightly grease small mason jars with
smooth. In a clean bowl, whisk egg whites
hinged lids or a terrine and pour in liver
and salt to stiff peaks. Fold gently into
mixture. Place containers in roasting pan,
flour mixture. If using ramekins or hinged
bring hot water ¾ up the sides of jars and
mason jars, spray with non-stick vegetable
bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from
oil. Pour in mixture. Place in roasting pan
oven and put jars in the refrigerator to
and fill halfway up the sides with warm
cool.
water. Bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes or until lightly brown on top. Remove and cool. There will be a lemon curd under the light airy cake.
72 | MAY/JUNE 2020
INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Think of the POSSibilities
Building Quality With Integrity For Over 30 Years Premium Service In
Cabinetry | Remodeling Craftsmanship Innovation Excellence
3211 Fiechtner Drive - Showroom, Fargo, ND 701.478.7238
POSSWOODWORKS.COM
i INGREDIENTS
A very berry season STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREN FERRAGUT CARLSON
T
here are many signs summer is coming. Verdant green buds popping from trees, busy birds and longer days. The transition seems long, especially with April snow, and before we know it, summer passes us by and the season of fall arrives once again. But somewhere in between in the heat, we cool off and slow down with a bowl of ice cream, strawberry shortcake, or my Nordic favorite — berries with cream. To me, summer means berries.
74 | MAY/JUNE 2020
One of my best memories as a child is eating my grandma’s raspberries at their farm. There was a big bushy area of them smack in the middle of their yard. My Grandma Jo would give me, my siblings and my cousins an old Cass-Clay one-gallon ice cream pail — and off we went to the raspberry patch. One for my mouth, one for the pail; it was my preferred method of picking. After we collected as many as we could, we would
run inside to show Grandma Jo our haul. She would then serve us our bounty in beautiful small glass bowls with a bit of cream and a sprinkle of sugar. And, to this day, it is one of my favorite desserts. Over the years, I learned more about my Norwegian heritage. It all became real in 2016, when my entire family took a trip to Norway to meet our relatives. We had an impressive spread of cured meats, cheeses, flatbread, INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
One of my best memories as a child is eating my grandma’s raspberries from their farm. fruits and rømmegrøt at the farmstead where my great-great-great grandfather was born. As our trip went on, I learned more about Norwegian culture and cuisine. In particular, dare I say, Norwegians are obsessive about foraging — especially for wild berries. It is a national pastime enjoyed by all generations every summer. The growing season in Norway is short, similar to North Dakota. Their cool summer days, coupled with long hours of daylight, are perfect for growing berries. Our trip was in July, which is peak berry season for strawberries, blueberries, cloudberries and raspberries. As we walked through an open food market in Bergen, we stopped to enjoy local Norwegian food. One of the fruit vendors explained to us in great detail about how important and commonplace foraging for berries is in
Norway. So much so that certain wild patches of berries, especially the coveted cloudberry, which is illusive and delicious, are kept secret by families. The locations are only shared from family member to family member. There is a Norwegian law called “allemannstretten” (every man’s right), which gives everyone the legal right to roam free on all uncultivated prime berry land in Norway. This really makes foraging a free-for-all activity. If you stumble upon a patch of wild berries, you have every right to pluck some for yourself and carry on about your day. Norway has a fantastic cake called “Verdens Beste Kake” or World’s Best Cake. For such a stoic and humble people, the title of the cake better hold up, I initially thought. After making it, I found that it certainly does. It perfectly utilizes any fresh berries you have
from your summer haul. Vanilla seems too bland a word, but the cake base is an eggy vanilla white-caked top with an ethereal meringue. It is all baked together, which makes this a very simple, but impressive cake. The filling is simple: freshly whipped cream and berries. I’d like to think my 8-year-old self was tapping into my Norwegian foraging genes, but, really, I was just a kid enjoying the splendors that be. Regardless, those memories and the love of freshly picked berries have stuck with me. Now that summer is here, take some time to slow down and enjoy it. Pick some fresh berries, mix them with cream, have them on ice cream or take an afternoon to make one of my favorites — Verdens Beste Kake.
Wine Wisdom
Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc Viognier, Sonoma County Looking for a spring sipper? This white blend from Valley of the Moon is incredible. The pinot blanc gives it a punchy, lively body with great peach and nectarine notes. By blending in the Viognier, this wine takes on a creamy, light honey mouth feel and finish. It is a very elegant wine that matches up with a great seasonal salad or fresh fish.
Chelsey Malstrom, Seven Sisters Spirits, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Famiglia Meschini Malbec Reserva, Argentina Personally, I think Malbec is a grape that gives you the best bang for your buck. Juicy acidity greets you first, which then mingles with gorgeous cranberry, cherry and cassis fruit. The light tobacco notes make this a perfect companion to grilled steak or pork. Fun wine fact: The winemaker Eugenio Meschini met his wife Teresa at the University of St. Thomas in 1990. I love a good Minnesota wine connection!
Cheers! Chelsey Malstrom INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 75
Baking the cake and meringue topping at the same time makes this cake a time saver. No need to make frosting or icing-just garnish with fruit!
You can be creative with the filling. I suggest adding almond, lemon, or my favorite, a few pods of fresh ground cardamom to the sweetened fresh whipped cream.
I think baked goods should look homemade. That is what I love most about this cake. It lends itself to imperfection and it's adaptable. Use any fresh berries you love.
Worlds' Best Cake METHOD: Preheat the oven to 350°F, with a rack in the middle position. Line an 8 - by 12 - inch baking pan with parchment paper. I recommend not using glass pans, use metal. Beat the butter and ²∕ ³ cup of the sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the flour and baking powder and mix well on low speed. Mix in the egg yolks and milk. Scrape the batter into the baking pan. INGREDIENTS: 10 ½ Tbsps. (1 stick plus 2 ½ tablespoons) butter, softened 1 ²∕³ cups granulated sugar, separated 1 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1
tsp. baking powder
5
large eggs, separated
1∕3 ¼
cup whole milk
1
cup heavy cream
½
vanilla bean
cup sliced almonds
76 | MAY/JUNE 2020
In a large clean bowl, beat the egg whites and the remaining 1 cup sugar to soft peaks. Spread on top of the cake layer. Sprinkle with the almond slices. Bake for 30 -35 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown and puffed. Cool on a wire rack in the pan. Transfer to a cutting board. When the cake is cool, put the cream in a medium bowl and scrape in the vanilla seeds. Discard the vanilla pod. Beat to soft peaks with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. Cut the cake in half crosswise with a serrated knife. Place one half of the cake on a serving tray and cover with the cream. Place the other half, meringue side up, on top. Let the cake sit for 1 hour in the fridge before serving. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
S
Scandinavian Summers are Magical
candinavian summers are magical. With their long, bright days and midnight sun, you have the amazing opportunity to experience Nordic nature at its best. In summer, the landscapes are bathed by nearly 24 hours of sunlight a day, reaching forest floors that produce dew-soaked berries in a myriad of colors and varieties. They ripen early summer until late autumn, which plays an important role in Nordic cuisine.
To many Scandinavians, the taste of summer is found in the wild berry season. Traditionally, one of their greatest joys is hiking through Nordic forests and bush lands during berry-picking season. Generations of families enjoy gathering berries as a solitary or family pastime. Families then pass down their methods for preserving these precious gifts and how to incorporate them into their winter meals. Flavorful and antioxidant-rich, here are a few Nordic berry favorites.
CLOUDBERRIES These coveted berries are found in mountainous marshlands of Arctic Norway, Sweden and Finland for a few weeks every late summer. The fruit of the cloudberry plant, often referred to as “Mountain Gold” is a golden-amber color that resembles raspberries and blackberries. Prized for its scarcity just as much as the flavor it brings to Norwegian desserts, the cloudberry — known as “multe” in Norwegian — is notoriously hard to find. Juicy, sweet and sour all at once, they are a culinary delight and have come to define Norwegian cuisine and culture. A traditional Norwegian Christmas dessert is cloudberry whipped cream piped into “krumkaker,” a crisp, cone-shaped waffle. LINGONBERRIES Found under forest canopies in the Nordic Artic tundra, these sweet-and-sour red berries are a staple in Scandinavian cuisine. Lingonberries grow from late July to September and prefer to grow in shady locales, such as forest edges. Lingonberries are too tart to be eaten without sugar, which makes them ideal berries for desserts, jams and sauces. Traditionally, they were collected in the summertime, crushed with sugar and preserved at room temperature for an accompaniment to winter red meats. Still today, lingonberry jam is served as a perfect side to rich red-meat dishes such as meatballs, venison roasts and meatloaf. STRAWBERRIES Not much fruit grows naturally in Norway because of the long winters, but berries, however, thrive. Wild strawberries or "Jordbær" in Norwegian are an alltime favorite. Woodland strawberries are found early June through July in Nordic regions. Smaller in comparison to your average garden variety, they are packed with more flavor and deeper red in color. So coveted in Norway that exact locations of hidden, favorite strawberry patches are well-kept family secrets passed from generation to generation. They are served crushed as a sugar-free alternative to traditional jam. Topped on anything from buttered toast to pancakes and waffles, they are best loved as a favorite summer dessert — simply fresh wild strawberries topped with a dash of cream. BLUEBERRIES Unlike the oversized store-bought, pale-fleshed blueberries we purchase at the supermarket, Scandinavian blueberries are small and deep purple all the way through the fruit. From the northern to the southern regions, they are found in Sweden, Norway and Finland. Easy to find, their low-growing bushes cover entire forest floors from mid-July to August. Eager pickers get in early to fill their buckets with fresh berries and then freeze them for later use in the year. Wild Nordic blueberries are tart but more flavorful and are enjoyed simply fresh, topped with cream and a sprinkle of sugar. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 77
r REFLECTIONS
Sweet lemon aid BY DAYNA DEL VAL
A
s you read this, we’re either still in or have just come out of an unprecedented global pandemic. Think about that for a minute. What other event in our planet’s entire history has literally brought the entire world together and absolutely isolated everyone simultaneously? Not every country fought in either of the World Wars and, while there have been other isolating pandemics, we didn’t have the benefit of technology to connect to people anywhere on the planet like we do today. So, what has happened because of this pandemic? There’s been a run on, of all things, yeast. People are endeavoring to bake more at home — something not done by the masses in decades. Families are eating dinner together with much more regularity. People are playing board games, doing puzzles, taking up knitting, planning vegetable gardens. A woman in North Dakota started a hashtag #AWorldofHearts and people across the globe are decorating their
78 | MAY/JUNE 2020
front windows, hospital hallway windows, business windows and more with incredible heart designs meant to remind us all that we are not alone, despite how isolated we all are. In short, we’re coming together, despite being asked to stay apart, in beautiful and remarkable ways. And more importantly, in ways that we would likely not have ever considered doing without the demand of a worldwide shutdown. Is there fear and uncertainty around this time? Absolutely. There’s no question that the divide between the haves and the have-nots is likely to grow in alarming ways. Independent restaurants, shops and breweries as well as the nonprofit sector are taking an enormous hit. Hospitals are overwhelmed. And all around the world, people are mourning the loss of loved ones who contracted Covid-19 and lost their battle with it. But you know what I did, that I never would’ve done without this overarching
dictum to stay inside? My husband and I Facetimed our son in Los Angeles while baking the same scones recipe, one of our favorites from his childhood, and making and eating brunch together one Sunday. We were face to face for nearly two hours, and we loved every minute of it. I watched my son open up a jar of peach jam I made last summer and brought with me when I visited last. We laughed about a funny detail in the recipe that we used to giggle over when he was little and were making them together in one kitchen. He set his table, and we set ours, and we enjoyed Sunday brunch, like we always did when he lived at home. And for those two hours, I forgot about the uncertainty and the distance, and I loved having brunch with my two favorite men. Yes, this is a scary, uncertain time, but talk about the world choosing to make some fabulous lemon aid from some pretty epic lemons. Look to the good — it’s always there. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Y
Waou kno ter w wh pro at’s of aweso Ca me? rpe t!
Kallod Carpet
2420 S University Drive • Fargo, ND
701.235.7507
laminate | carpet | hardwood | area rugs | tile Visit kallodcarpet.com for decorating ideas! Brunswick Billiards and Game Products
SOMETHING AWESOME HAPPENS ON SHAW FLOORS
Carpet | Tile & Stone | Hardwood Floor | Laminate | Resilient showfloors.com
How does your garden grow?
Loving plants for 58 years!
Enjoy vigorous landscape & garden beauty with expertise from Thompson Greenery!
COMPLETE GARDEN CENTER!
Thompson Greenery
hanging baskets trees
shrubs
annuals
perennials
garden art
gifts
Minutes from Fargo-Moorhead Quick stop on the way to the lakes! Follow us on Facebook
Darrel & Ruth Thomas
Highway 34, Barnesville, MN • 218.493.4535 • thompsongreenery.com INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
INSPIRED HOME | 79
Celebrating 32 years of keeping you beautifully organized!
by Trusted Builders for 32 years
Home Organization For ANY Budget On Time Installations Guaranteed Bedrooms | Pantry | Storage
Call us today to get started!
SHOWROOM OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
1821 26th Street South, Moorhead, Minnesota 218.233.4817 FREE ESTIMATES jlshelving.com
Now accepting reservations • Medication Monitoring and Charting* • Home Cooked, Dietitian-Approved Meals • Assistance with Activities of Daily Living * • Daily Housekeeping Services • Home Inspired Surroundings • Locally Owned and Operated
(218) 512-3033
Call today!
1001 Caddy Ave. Moorhead, MN, 56560
BeeHiveHomes.com/Location/Moorhead/ Come tour our brand new building and see why we’re
* Per state regulations
Visit our showroom!
DECKS | PERGOLAS | DESIGN | BUILD
NEW Decking Supply Warehouse for All Your Decking Needs! Plan early! Schedule a consultation today!
701.492.8080 1606 4th Avenue NW, Suite A • West Fargo, North Dakota www.premiumdecks.com
Transform Your Outdoor Living Space. NEW Deckorators, VOYAGE decking
E Perfect for our frigid
winters — NO thermal contraction
E Greater surface traction — ideal near water
Voyage Decking, “Khaya”
NEW Memphis Pellet Grills E E
Cook steaks to banana bread
E E E E E
Controlled heat up to 700 ˚ F
Grilling, wood-fire searing, low-n-slow smoking & convection baking Wi-Fi controlled Hardwood pellets smoke and cook All stainless steel construction Made in Minnesota
Contact us for a Consultation: 701.492.8080 1606 4th Avenue NW, Suite A • West Fargo, North Dakota www.premiumdecks.com