Cooking a nourishing and delicious springtime meal is a lovely way to pamper your girlfriends with a much needed treat. This menu is simple, which provides you with plenty of time to visit while the beets are roasting and the fries are baking. The love is in the details. The salad is hearty and wholesome while the homemade herbed chèvre is a visual delight. Baking fries using a cast iron skillet results in a crunchy yet decadent frite. Sprinkled with rose salt, you are all in for one delectable afternoon. Bon Appétit!

On The Menu:

Roasted Beet + Herbed Chèvre + Pepita Salad

Baked Fries with Rose Salt

A bottle of rosé

Roasted Beet + Herbed Chèvre + Pepita Salad (serves four)

Directions:
First, you will need to roast the beets. Peel and halve four large organic beets. Place on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil. Season with salt + pepper. Roast for about an hour at 400 degrees or until tender. Let cool slightly then slice.

Meanwhile, make the herbed chèvre.

Herbed Chèvre
Ingredients:
10 ounces organic chèvre
A pinch of Rose Salt (see recipe below)

1 teaspoon each, chopped:
Fresh Thyme
Orange Zest
Fresh Rosemary
Dried Lavender
Fresh Sage

Directions:
Make 10 balls of chèvre, about 1″ diameter. Sprinkle chopped thyme, orange zest, lavender, rosemary, sage, and salt on a cutting board. Roll balls in herbs. Set aside.

Finally, toast the pepitas:
Place 1/2 cup organic pepitas in a cast iron skillet. Sprinkle with salt + pepper. Toast in the oven at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes until the edges are slightly golden.

Assemble all ingredients on a pretty plate. Feel free to serve over a handful of mixed greens. Spritz the salad with lemon juice. Serve immediately while the beets are still warm.

Baked Fries with Rose Salt
Ingredients:
2 organic russet potatoes, julienned
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons rose salt (recipe below)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss julienned potatoes in olive oil and place evenly on two cast iron skillets. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes and turn after about 15 minutes. The fries are done when golden brown. Salt immediately.

Rose Salt
Place 1/8 cup sea salt + 1 heaping tablespoon of dried organic rose petals in a spice grinder. Grind for 30 seconds. Voila! Rose salt is delicious in soups, pesto, or sprinkled on homemade rosewater marshmallows.

Images, recipes and styling via Cassie Winslow