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c CONTENTS
JANUARY/FEBUARY 2020
One night several winters ago, I noticed this extraordinary project in a residential backyard. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TERRI FERRAGUT
VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1
FEATURE 34 SHOWCASE Area homeowners share their remodeled 60s rambler, eclectic in style and pretty in pink.
44 CONVERSATIONS An area glass fabrication company shares insight into a sacred space — our shower.
DEPARTMENTS
48 HUMOR A sense of humor goes a very long way with your New Year’s resolution to lose weight.
10 TRENDS View First Light, Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year, in all its rosy glory. A happy hue you will love. 16 DESIGN Our bathrooms, a private and sacred space, are expanding in size and luxury. 26 GARDEN Excuse me, move over winter! Bring spring to your interior decor in a big, green way!
52 PETS A local veterinarian shares new knowledge on the ancient practice of acupuncture. 58 CUISINE Chef Granville Wood shares his wisdom for a warm and hearty comfort food — gumbo.
ADDITIONS 6
Musings
8
Contributors
64
Wine Wisdom
66
Reflections
62 INGREDIENTS Sharing food, life and love with Lauren Ferragut Carlson’s Scandinavian baking.
So sciencey, it’ll put you to sleep.
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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)
I dedicate this Winter issue to my father-in-law who passed December, 2019. He was one of Inspired Home’s biggest fans. NORTH DAKOTA SUNSET, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KENT LANDERHOLM
T
he New Year brings welcomed opportunities not only to reflect but also to look eagerly forward to the future. We take a step back and regroup after the business of the holidays, and we set our eyes squarely on the horizon. We begin planning, organizing and formulating fresh ideas for future projects, which nudged by spring, catapults all things forward. Thoughts of spring perhaps linger for some of us. But … for this issue, we rejoice in winter! We celebrate and actually enjoy settling in. The warmth of the season does not come from our frigid air, but from a hot cup of spiced tea, a comforting bath or a hearty homemade bowl of soup — and we love it! In our Winter issue, you will meet the Seims, who, with color, collections of art and succulents, transformed their ’60s rambler into an eternal haven of spring. Photographer Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss captures the comfort and beauty of this remodeled home. Remodeling in general is an ever-present activity in our community and one room that is getting a lot of attention is our bathrooms. Homeowners are expanding the size of their bathrooms as well as their comfort. You’ll read about beautiful new ways to add sophistication and well-planned function in our Design section. There’s more! Winter goes hand in hand with comfort food and Chef Granville knows exactly why. The king of comfort, his recipe for gumbo will heat you up even on the coldest of days. Lauren Ferragut Carlson follows to bring a “cooler” bit of Scandinavia to your table with Trollkrem, a Norwegian New Year’s traditional dessert. And, if the winter blues creep in, you will recover quickly after reading Bernie Erickson’s New Year resolutions adventures. Bailey Hovland captures the beauty of succulents, a perfect way to add summer greens to your home year-round. Writer Ashley Ferragut Johnson shares important options to lessen pain for our beloved pets. The inspirational “Reflections” story written by Dayna DeVal inspires us all “to be brave, to embrace risk and take a great leap” into new adventures of life. Perfect words to welcome 2020. Happy New Year! Enjoy reading our Winter issue!
Terri Ferragut
Associate Publisher Editorial Director terri.ferragut@gmail.com terri@inspiredhomemagazine.com
6 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
Editorial Director Terri Ferragut Creative Terri Ferragut Susan Walker Director of Operations Scott Drzewiecki Contributing Photographers Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss Lauren Ferragut Carlson Contributing Writers Lauren Ferragut Carlson Bernie Erickson Terri Ferragut Bailey Hovland Ashley Ferragut Johnson Dayna Del Val Granville Wood Copy Editor Keri Guten Cohen Social Media Director Bailey Hovland
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--
&._ Benjamin Moore® COLOR TRENDS
2020
Join us as we explore a fresh palette that will revitalize your spirits.
COLOR TRFNDS COi.OR rFNDfNCIA� DEL
2020
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Shown above: Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year 2102-70 First Light Pick up your FREE book today. Benjamin Moore's COLOR TRENDS 2020.
IDEAS for your home 16 pages ofr. '- oLORFUL
.
H
Hirshfield's
Paints• Wallcoverings• Blinds & Shades
Fargo 100 36th Street So. (Butler Business Park at Main Ave. and 1-29) Phone: (701) 235-0549 • hirshfields.com
Serving homeowners and professionals at 33 stores in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
©2019 Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore and the triangle "M" symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. 10/19
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.
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. 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. GORDEN COURT Kings Court Creative Photography has been a dream of mine since I was in middle school and bought my own Minolta point and shoot camera. I am hooked on light.
8 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 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. BERNIE ERICKSON Specializing in helping his clients make small changes with maximum impact, Erickson is a residential real estate agent in Fargo-Moorhead.
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.
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t TRENDS
"We've been in the neutral zone for a long time, and we love neutrals, but we feel people are ready to bring color into the home" Andrea Magno, Director of Color Marketing and Development at Benjamin Moore
First Light, a refreshing wash of pink is a neutral that floats between warm and cool color tones. A fresh alternative to white or beige, First Light is a soft, airy pink that flatters any space and plays well with other colors.
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First Light, a first impression
BY TERRI FERRAGUT | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BENJAMIN MOORE
A
ppreciation for color is in the eye of the beholder but in the case of First Light, Benjamin Moore’s 2020 pick for Color of the Year, there is an optimism and energy that cannot be denied by anyone. First Light (2102-70) is a soft, rosy hue described by the company as “blooming with potential” and “the backdrop for a bright new decade.” Fortunately, this happy hue is still neutral enough to work in almost any room in your home, and it plays nicely with a range of colors, particularly the nine sumptuous colors in the Benjamin Color Trends 2020 palette.
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A marked departure from the 2019 Color of the Year, Metropolitan, a stylish "greige," quiet and subdued, First Light is a color that works as a flattering neutral. Andrea Magno, director, Color Marketing and Development at Benjamin Moore, adds, “As a color you can live with from morning to night, First Light is gorgeous in any room — bringing softness to a living room, a beautiful glow to a dining room, or a refreshing wash of blush for an office or bedroom.” Advancing the color pink into the realm of neutrals is a calculated move, a shift in the
mindset of bringing color into the home. “It’s a safe color for people who aren’t sure about it, and it’s surprisingly adaptable,” Magno adds. The sophistication of First Light claims an undertone that gives a soft, subtle and more soothing tone to it, rather than a saturated cotton candy pink. The color has undertones of gray-blue that keep it from being cloyingly sweet as pastels sometimes are. The Color Trends 2020 palette plays an integral role in supporting this pale and complex pink. Complementing colors from the 2020 palette, from saturated to bright
INSPIRED HOME | 11
Colors mingle perfectly together as First Light and White Heron bath this living area with a sense of freshness and optimism.
Thunder, a Benjamin Moore Color Trends hue, is a comforting kitchen pairing with the 2020 Color of the Year, First Light.
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A perfect neutral choice for any room, First Light brings art, collections and interior decor to life in a pleasantly substantial way.
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Learn to Draw & Paint with Professional Artist
A soft rosy hue blooming with potential, Benjamin Moore's First Light is a backdrop for a new decade.
and airy, bring an array of colors that are all easy to live with and easy to love — whether they stand alone, coupled in a strong pair or all mingled together. First Light is a soft take on what some would define as ubiquitous millennial pink, reflecting a new “definition of home.” Magno explains, “It represents a mindset from the material to satisfying the core needs in life: community, comfort, security, self-expression, authenticity and, ultimately, optimism.” Magno encourages homeowners not to think of First Light as pink, but rather, as a new kind of neutral that is a perfect backdrop to anything. And, like most of the world, Magno and her team at Benjamin Moore are over boring beiges. “We’ve been in the neutral zone for a long time, and we love neutrals, but we feel people are ready to bring color into the home." Painting happens to be one of the most affordable and exciting ways to update or tailor your environment, and maybe even make you love your home just a little bit more. What do we say to that? First Light, the happy new Benjamin Moore Color of the Year — bring it on home and have a happy new year!
Want to see this color for yourself? Visit Hirshfield’s in Fargo, 100 36th St. South, (Butler Business Park at Main Ave & 1-29) or call 701.235.0549. Visit shop.hirshfields.com to order online and pick up in the store. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Barbara Benda Nagle
2020 Workshop and Art Event Schedule January 6-10 & March 16-20 Beginning Drawing and Watercolor NDSCS, Fargo, ND April 19 Watercolor Demonstration at Dillman’s Festival of Artists, 1-4:30 pm, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN April 20 Seeing Things Differently: the Short Course in Sketching Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN May 2-3 Spring Art Sale, 12-6pm Mourning Dove Studio, 809 20th St.N, Moorhead, MN August 3-7 Beginning Drawing and Watercolor, Moorhead Community Education,Moorhead, MN Register at moorheadcommunityed.ce.eleyo.com/ September 14-18 Beginning Drawing and Watercolor, Dillman’s Resort, Lac du Flambeau, WI, Register at dillmans.com October 2-3 Studio Crawl, 12-6pm Mourning Dove Studio, 809 20th St.N, Moorhead, MN Barbara Benda Nagle, professional artist with 35 years’ teaching experience, excels in simplifying complex art concepts so all may succeed. For more information or to register, contact Barbara directly at www.barbarabendanagle.com or 218-443-1126.
INSPIRED HOME | 13
Benjamin Moore 2020 Color
Color of the Year
Calm and subtle, First Light bathes this room in total serenity and freshness. Natural wood accentuates its beauty.
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d DESIGN
Bathing Beauties
When it comes to bathroom fixtures, the word “vibrant” doesn’t immediately come to mind, but the growing trend of colorful sinks, tubs and toilets are exciting! “Artifacts” in Black Plum by Kohler brings colorful drama to the bathroom. kohler.com
Inspired by the Dutch Master paintings of the 17th century, the Kohler Dutchmaster Artist collection captures the movement and lush beauty of flowers. The ceramic vessel is abloom with peonies, dahlias and hydrangea. kohler.com
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Our bathrooms are bookends for the day.
We essentially begin and end each day there. Often, how we start our morning will set the tone for what will happen the remainder of the day. Our bathrooms are a sacred space to think through that big presentation you are giving at work or to plan that special meal for weekend guests. Our bathrooms offer that momentary time and space of solitude and doubles as a great place to unwind from the stresses of the day with a nice hot shower or warm bath. Much more than just another room, it becomes a safe space. We set out to find exciting bathroom elements that will help you take on the day — coming and going!
The Oko bath fixture features a contemporary yet whimsical look, adding character and charm to any space. Metal “caps” with acrylic lenses allow a wash of up and down light. Available in satin nickel and aged brass. techlighting. com
The beauty of this Kohler Dutchmaster Blush Floral vessel is brought to beautiful life by artist-photographer Ashley Woodson Bailey. The subtle lift of the edges and wading pool design brings the Dutch masters inspired floral imagery to life. kohler.com
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INSPIRED HOME | 17
Summon the rain. Real Rainâ&#x201E;˘ by Kohler is a showering system that mimics rainfall down to the shape, velocity and angle of drops. Stand beneath and be mesmerized by the rhythm of the gentle rain or experience an invigorating summer downpour. kohler.com
Sleek and ultra modern, the Dobson wall sconce by Techlighting with a minimalist metal backplate and cylindrical glass shade is perfect for bed and bath areas. Modern black matte finish and LED dimmable lamp make it a perfect choice. techlighting.com
Even Fido deserves a place to clean up and enjoy peaceful downtime. Crossville Tile brings beauty and up-keep ease for our furry friends in this natural landscape-inspired tile. Naturallooking striations are inspired by quartzite and shifting sands. crossvilleinc.com
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There’s a passion for pedestals this season. Spacesaving and minimalistic, they bring a chic sophistication to any modern bathroom. Eco-friendly and composed of MTI SculptureStone™ -- mostly organic materials -- it’s durable and easy to clean. mtibaths.com
The industrial-style faucets by Watermark will instantly lift the stature of any room you put them in. The “Elan” collection, using parts reminiscent of commercial ball valves and plumbing unions offers a unique visual. Available in 30 finishes. watermark-designs.com
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INSPIRED HOME | 19
Reminiscent of crown molding, Memoirs freestanding tub by Kohler offers classic architectural style to your bathroom. The 17â&#x20AC;&#x201C;inch soaking depth, sloped lumbar support, slotted overflow and center toe-tap drain create comfort and ease. kohler.com
Bain Ultra brings classic elegance to Avant Garde design in this new therapeutic bath. The contemporary version of the traditional claw foot, the sleek metal feet and armrests are available in satin brass, matte black and black chrome. bainultra.com
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The Ann Sacks Made Modern collection incorporates crisp geometry and simple, fluid details. The Ann Sacks signature stoneware body, paired with glazes that break beautifully at the edges, create a subtle play of shadow and light. annsacks.com
The Veil, a one-piece, wall-hung toilet by Kohler offers added comfort with its elongated bowl. Sleek, seamless and easy to clean, it’s water saving and offers touchless flush. Available in White, Biscuit, Almond, Dune and Black™. kohler.com
Countertops
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Fireplaces
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Window sills
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Showers
Granite & Quartz
Thibaut, the nation’s oldest wallpaper company, has a Fine Furniture division developed for designers. Quality hardwood-framed furniture is built to customize pieces using the hundreds of the fabric options available. Shown: Fair & Square Ottoman in “Sadie.” thibautdesign.com
The Infinity Faucet by Isenberg elevates the art of the bathroom. The faucet frames the mirror, creating a beautiful waterfall effect that produces a sculptural vibe. Chic and sophisticated, it comes in glossy white, gray, black, brown, green, crimson and navy blue. isenbergfaucets.com
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The Hollywood series bathtub by Devon & Devon recalls the signature Californian ambiance of the 1950s-sensually curved and unforgettable. devon-devon.com
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Hardware comes alive in this gun metal black collection. Kallista, a division of Kohler products created this ensemble that seems ready to "take flight." kallista. com
701.361.8976 | Fargo, ND
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Kohler claims space saving victory in this bathroom with the "Modern Life" hanging toilet and vanity. Ideal for powder rooms, the challenge of making small spaces spacious is achieved.kohler.com
The "Mallory," a deep bathing well by MTI Baths is a slipper tub with a gently reclined back rest. Made for maximum comfort, you'll enjoy spa-like comfort. mtibaths.com
The Cozumel by Native Trails is an integrated sink, wonderfully functional and simple to maintain. Artisan crafted, it is a beautiful display of forged high-quality recycled copper, hand hammered for beauty and strength. Brushed nickel or antique copper. nativetrailshome.com
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INSPIRED HOME | 23
Perfection in Glass and Mirror
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g GARDEN
Winter Green
BY BAILEY HOVLAND | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JILL OKHARDT BLAUFUSS
Succulents, just like humans, need a little extra care during the wintertime.
A
labaster. Chiffon. Egg shell. Cotton. Snow. Call it what you want it, but there is only one color to the Midwest landscape in the winter: white. White can be beautiful, like the layer of fresh snow coating the entire neighborhood after an evening snowfall, sparkling under the quiet morning light. But this absence of color can also be bleak, an extreme shift from the fiery reds of fall and the lush greens of summer and spring. Yet there is on effective way to combat the seemingly never-ending white of winter — by bringing the outdoors in. The perfect plant for the job: succulents. Over the last few years, their popularity has exploded. Millennials love them for their hardiness and versatility, putting them at the top of the indoor plant market. Anyone who hasn’t yet been swept up in the succulent trend certainly knows a few houseplants that fall into this broad category: aloe vera, snake plants, cacti. They’re all included in the succulent family. Succulents are an easy way to breathe life into your home during the colder months — literally, with their oxygen-producing abilities. NASA research has demonstrated that houseplants can remove up to 87 percent of air toxins within 24 hours. And even further studies have shown that indoor plants can improve concentration and productivity, reduce stress levels and boost your mood — making them the best decor item you can add to your home. Better air quality, higher productivity and less stress? Sign me up. Succulents, just like humans, need a little extra care during the wintertime. Because succulents are native to dry habitats, they thrive in areas with most light possible. Put them on your windowsill as a distraction from The colorful cactus fan claims center stage mingled with other extraordinary succulent shapes and textures.
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INSPIRED HOME | 27
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Regardless of your interior design style or the size of your space, succulents will fit right in and breathe some much-needed life into your house.
Who knew it was possible to have plants that look so sleek and clean? Modern pots elevate these succulents as sophisticated decor items. Perched at the top of a display case for an optimal amount of sun, this succulent reaches for the sky, utilizing ceiling space that often goes unused in home decor.
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the falling snow outside. Arrange them near windows that face east or west to capture the most light at sunrise or sunset. A minimum of three hours of sunlight allows the plants to photosynthesize properly and grow, leading to happier and healthier succulents. These plants also require less water in the winter, as they usually go dormant when the weather grows cold. Put down the watering can and opt for a squirt bottle. Overwatering can cause root rot, especially with specific kinds of succulents (hello, cacti members of the family). The soil needs to dry out a bit
between watering, imitating the dry habitat to which they are native. If the soil feels moist, wait a day or two before spritzing. This little hack alone can save you the unnecessary stress of trying to determine whether your plants are getting enough H20. Plant parenthood can be tricky, especially when the cold Midwest weather alters the plantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; typical care routine. Even so, succulents are built for survival. Try incorporating a few of these incredible plants into your home this winter. Design a fairy garden for your kitchen table with hens and chicks plants. Repurpose mismatching
INSPIRED HOME | 29
A earthy and organic look represented by the cement, lush green and wood claims a Scandinavian decor vibe.
Surrounded by little crystal pebbles, these small succulents make the most of their tiny teacup home.
teacups into tiny pots for a set of echeveria plants. Liven up your ceiling by hanging a pot overflowing with string of pearls. Regardless of your interior design style or the size of your space, succulents will fit right in and breathe some much-needed life into your house. And who knows? By the time the snow finally vanishes, you might have a newly discovered green thumb after taking care of your succulents for a few months. Just in time for you to start adopting a few more succulents for some outdoor dĂŠcor.
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30 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
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Pretty in Pink
Carol Seim's eclectic style of design is reflected here. The "nuts and bolts" cow skull purchased at Holland's in Moorhead added to the Southwestern charm Seim desired. At the start of her design journey she had envisioned cowhide and a pink rug atop maple floors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; perfection.
BY TERRI FERRAGUT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JILL OCKHARDT BLAUFUSS
Seim found this antique secretary, painted white, 40 years ago, then refinished it. The abstract art above hangs in memory of artist Bill Percy, a dear friend who died of AIDS 28 years ago.
Here, pictures on her wedding day with her father and a herd of horses in the Badlands above the brown leather chair claim their spot. Badlands picture by ND photographer Pat Gerlach.
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Seim loves surrounding herself with things she loves. Collections of items she has treasured through the years are an integral part of her design theme.
W
hen Carol Lageson Seim began college in 1967, her boyfriend “Bucky” was an English major and her best friend Denise Homme was a design major. Seim’s own study interests gravitated toward both English and design but eventually an English degree was chosen. After graduating, she accepted a position teaching English in the Fargo Public School system where she remained for the next 38 years. Her innate appreciation for design, however, never waned. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Seim’s best friend Denise went on to receive her Ph.D. in design and opened her own design firm, Denise Homme + Interiors in Palm Springs, Calif. For Seim, teaching ESL (English as a Second Language), American literature, creative writing and U.S. history became an enduring passion in her life. And although passionate, she never lost her natural interest for interior design. As time would soon tell, she would put these instincts to good use.
Over the years, Carol and her husband Dave Seim have lived in three different houses, which they remodeled and designed themselves. “In the ’70s and ’80s,” Seim says, “we achieved a real boho/hippie style using antiques and Chinese rugs. In the ’90s, we started modernizing our design look with Pottery Barn and antique-type decor.” The couple eventually purchased their present home in Fargo, a 1960s rambler, which was in dire need of an update. During INSPIRED HOME | 37
Mad, Seim's rescue cat, relaxes in a space that displays pops of pastels in decor. Seim, an artist in her own right, painted the vibrant picture above the gray chair.
The color softness of the homeowner's living room is framed by the verdant greens of the garden seen through the wall of windows.
38 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
the same timeframe they were moving into their rambler, Seim’s daughter, Caitlin, married David Serrano, a principal at RSP, an architectural firm in Minneapolis. Caitlin and David and friend Denise all appreciated contemporary design, which influenced the design direction the Seims would take in the rambler remodel. “The minute I walked into our rambler I saw design possibilities. Soon we began the task of tearing out walls, beams, carpet, bathrooms, windows, wallpaper, and the entire kitchen,” Seim explains. “As we were deconstructing, I began visualizing a more contemporary space and imagining how I could incorporate art pieces I had gathered over the years,” A collector for years, she had acquired extraordinary eclectic collections that were mainly chosen by color. “I am drawn to color,” Seim says. After discovering and purchasing a bleached cow skull, she then continued to look for other Western design influences for a fresh new look for her home. “In my mind, I envisioned cowhides on a pale maple
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Contemporary lighting hovers above the beauty of a forty-year-old oak dining table. All the fresh flowers in the Seim home come from their garden.
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INSPIRED HOME | 39
Another look showing ice cream-like colors which include Seim's favorite color, blush pink. Her lush garden frames the entire room.
floor, a brown leather couch, and I hoped to incorporate a Western-styled chrome and leather desk I already owned,” Seim says. A soft “greige” background, she imagined, would show off the verdant greens of her succulent collection as well as her favorite colors — blush pink and other pastels. Seim, an avid gardener, has a large floral garden that can be seen through the expansive southern exposure of the living room windows. Bursting with pink flowers every summer, her new color palette would create a beautiful transition from the garden views to the soft pinks of her interiors. 40 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
In June 2019, they finished the very last room in the house -- the master bath. During a telephone conversation about marble bathroom floor options, friend and interior designer Denise Homme explained to Seim that Solatube, a company she frequently used in her design projects in California was looking for a new bathroom project to use in their marketing. Solatube, an eco-friendly lighting company specializing in natural light, was offering product and installation as an incentive to the homeowners. The Seims happily agreed to the lighting proposition. Amazed at the natural light that now permeates the once-dark bathroom,
they welcomed the change. To continue the appreciation for pink into the newly remodeled bathroom, Seim added touches of soft blush décor. Without question, art and design are important to Seim. Although particularly drawn to photography, she appreciates any unusual art that speaks to her through color and subject. Her love of reading, design and gardening are an integral part of the new spaces. When remodeling the ’60s rambler, the Seims wanted the finished project to be comfortable, connected and reflective of the things they love. Goal accomplished. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Without the Solatube installed, seen on the ceiling, this bathroom room would be dark as night. Water color by Ellen Diederich.
Antlers bring natural beauty to the sofa table, reflecting her charming eclectic design style. She retrieved them from her husband's hunting camp in western North Dakota.
CONTRIBUTORS: Microlams: Dakota Construction Cabinetry: Don Demming Windows, Sheet Rocking, Plumbing: Dave Seim Maple Flooring: Brandon Johnson Taping: Bob Palm Painting: Carol Seim
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INSPIRED HOME | 41
Lis t e n | I ns p i r e | De s i gn
Sylvia Lunski Interior Designer
Christina Mehl Interior Designer
Delrae Schefter Interior Designer
Sydney Ulrich Interior Designer
New Construction | Remodeling | Lake Homes | Wood Flooring | Carpeting | Ceramic Tile | Window Blinds | Fabric Window Coverings
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3211 Fiechtner Drive, Suite 1, Fargo, North Dakota
The warmth of a
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c CONVERSATIONS
Conversations with Stacy Pellett 44 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
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I
BY TERRI FERRAGUT
nspired Home asked Stacy Pellett, designer and installer for Red River Glazing, for his ideas on the ever-increasing popularity of custom showers. Here are some of his thoughts.
IH: In our area, what do you see as the most important shower design features? SP: Most of our customers want the shower enclosure to be as frameless as possible, and a question I get a lot is how to keep all that glass area clean. It is very important to provide our customers with a special coating on each side of the glass that greatly eases the cleaning of the shower walls. This is a standard feature on all shower door glass we install.
IH: What are your personal preferences in custom design shower features?
Back painted glass creates a beautiful and sturdy surface for any vanity. Color Shown: Bora Bora Shore Back painting is becoming a beautiful option in the bathroom. Painting the back side of the glass with any one of the Sherwin-Williams color palette creates a beautiful design addition. Pictured: Blue Sky
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Stacy Pellett, sales and installation manager for Red River Glazing, Inc.
INSPIRED HOME | 45
A beautiful example of a knee wall shower.
of steam showers, with glass from ceiling to floor. Also, there are a lot of color options for hardware that are really surprising. Wine cellars are very popular in full glass — a beautiful way to view the wine bottles.
IH: If you were to design you own shower, what would it be like?
SP: I like the design of a half glass that sits This commercial back painted marker board is a perfect application for a meeting room.
SP: I personally like the clear glass option in most showers we create because the interesting tile work that is being done in today’s showers. I also like that we can add just about anything to the glass for a great shower experience. Just a few examples — towel bars, robe hooks, grab bars and glass corner shelves — are great additions to a shower. Privacy glass is another option to 46 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
choose from that helps obscure the glass with beautiful glass patterns.
IH: Currently, what are the biggest changes you have seen in the past few years in the custom shower industry?
SP: The size of the shower enclosures has greatly increased in size. We are doing a lot
on a knee wall with a single door that opens in or out. A black matte hardware finish is really what I prefer; I really like that look. Back painting is another favorite. Back painting is clear glass that is painted on the back side to be viewed from the front side. We can have any Sherwin-Williams paint color painted onto the back of the glass for a beautiful and unique decorative look. A modern alternative to tiles or laminates, back painting is widely used for colored glass walls, countertops, shower walls, marker boards, backsplashes and many other applications. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
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2020…not-fit-a-bit? BY BERNIE ERICKSON
I
am pleased to share that last year I lost 10 pounds that had slowly crept on over time, and it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. Using my very determined New Year’s resolution, I easily dropped two holiday pounds in January. But they came back in February. Three went away in March but came back in April and also brought a friend with them. With yard work in May, those three pesky pounds went away again, and then June graduation and wedding season and all the parties involved brought those three pounds back. Lots of summer activities helped drop a pound in June and another in July. I coasted through August, September and most of October. And then came Halloween. And then Thanksgiving, and you know what’s next. Christmas parties. And with all that fun came 3 additional pounds. So, although technically I did in fact lose 10 pounds last year, I also gained 11. Clearly something had to change.
48 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
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For years I’ve made noise that buying anyone a self-improvement product as a gift is a recipe for the coldest Christmas in recorded history. This year I made an exception. Every time there was someone wearing one of those “I’m-not-fit-a-bit watches” I asked tons of questions and then responded with a mix of joy and wonder when the wearer explained to me all the marvelous things it could do, always within earshot of you-know-who. My less-than discrete hint-dropping campaign was a shining success. Christmas morning there under the tree was a state-ofthe-art “I’m-not-fit-a-bit” watch! I’ve tried hot yoga and a personal trainer. Turns out I really don’t like to sweat in front of people I don’t know all that well. Frankly, I don’t like to sweat. Ever. That’s why I thought a personal wellness assistant would be perfect for me. I’m generally always in motion, with my short attention span and case of destinesia . . . which is living in a two story home with a basement, forgetting what you went to get on another floor by the time you got there, and then taking the flight of stairs back to where you came from, only to see something that reminded you of what it was you went to get and then starting the process over again. I could wander six flights of stairs before I finally returned with what I went to get 10 minutes earlier. This wellness personal assistant was just what I needed to take me to the level of developing some life-long positive behaviors. Not being much of a techie, I was glad the manufacturer kept their target market top of mind when they designed the setup instructions. Lots of small words, big pictures all one a one-page quick start guide. First thing: choose names for each other. I chose to name my “I’m-not-fit-a-bit” personal wellness assistant after my scary personal trainer, Guntyr. (Pronounced “Goon-tear”) and then gave him a charming British accent. I liked the idea of cheery, inspiring words of encouragement springing forth at just the right time. Kind of a male Mary Poppins. My name would be “Captain Marvelous.” I could hardly wait to hear a breathy “Why, that’s just delightful Captain Marvelous!” when I achieved some specific milestone. The next thing was to review a list of activities and check off those that I could realistically accomplish on a regular basis. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
I’ve tried hot yoga and a personal trainer. Turns out I really don’t like to sweat in front of people I don’t know all that well. Frankly, I don’t like to sweat. Ever.
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Easily the first on my daily activities would be morning rise time, 7:00 a.m. sharp. Breakfast would be my usual scrambled eggs with two strips of bacon and an espresso chaser. Then into the office to wrap up paperwork from the previous day and go after today’s activities, a quick lunch at home and then out in the field for the afternoon. Dinner with my sweetie followed around six, and then any evening appointments that may have come up. And then basically repeat some version of that every day. I could easily accomplish those one thousand steps a day in that scenario. By nine p.m. Friday night, I think I had everything entered in. My daily calendar, most common foods, most regular activities and my BMI goal. It seems body mass index is a thing now. I liked the idea that the measure is a two-digit number that no one really understands, rather than a three digit ‘pounds’ number that everyone understands. I called it a night and went to bed. Imagine the shock and horror when at precisely 7 a.m. on a cold, dark Saturday morning a booming yet cheery British male voice announced “Good Morning, Captain
Marvelous! It’s time to start the first day of the rest of your life!” I think the rest of my life got shortened by a day or two after being startled awake like that. There was most certainly going to be no dozing in bed for an hour or so Saturday morning after that. Being that time of year, there were still holiday leftovers in the fridge when
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combined with three cups of espresso and the Saturday morning paper made the perfect start of the weekend. Around 9:30am Guntyr started playing a bouncy tune and at 10 announced in that perky British voice “Captain Marvelous! Tell me about your breakfast and morning calisthenics!” I hadn’t heard the word “calisthenics” in at least 30 years. Moral dilemma: do I truthfully reveal what I actually did for my Saturday morning routine, or just enter that data that I’d put in my profile and see what he had to say. I took the high road and entered what I actually ate and did Saturday morning. “Thank you, Captain Marvelous! Now, on with the rest of your day!” Turns out a cold dark weekend in the middle of winter probably wasn’t the best time to start this program. At 7 a.m. Monday morning I was ready for Guntyr’s wake-up call and made a mental note to reprogram that “rest of your life” remark. Very early on, I realized it was selfdefeating to withhold or exaggerate information from my “I’m-not-fit-a-bit” wellness assistant. And that after a while, my BMI hasn’t really changed all that much, but I certainly have a higher level of awareness of my physical activity and food intake. And my posture is better. And maybe I have a better mental outlook. Let’s face it, self-awareness and self-confidence are the two most healthy and attractive features in anyone. Here’s to a marvelous 2020 and remembering your opinion is the only one that really matters when it comes to your own personal wellness and fitness. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
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p PETS
The healing art of acupuncture M
odern medicine is an amazing thing. We have advanced so far in medicinal technology that we can diagnose and treat illnesses before patients even become symptomatic. We can use robotic arms to perform surgery. Machines can administer chest compressions to a critical patient while the emergency response team treats them. Our ultrasound technology has become so advanced we are able to view unborn babies in 3D. While no one will argue that modern-day medicine is
52 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
BY ASHLEY FERRAGUT JOHNSON
critical to health and wellbeing in the 21st century, exploring alternative methods to treat what ails you is also important. For centuries, people have turned to the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture to treat anything from stress to pain, or simply to promote everyday health. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese practice that utilizes very small, thin needles inserted into the skin in very specific places on the body. By doing this, acupuncturists say they center and properly channel the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy. This energy follows pathways in
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While no one will argue that modern day medicine is critical to the health and wellbeing in the 21st century, exploring alternative methods to treat what ails you are also important. your body and, by inserting the needles into these specific areas, your body’s balance of health and energy can be restored. Many Westernized medical professionals have a slightly different take on why this type of therapy is beneficial. Many believe the insertion point of the needles stimulates the nerves near the surface of the skin, which directly communicates with the muscles and connective tissue, relieving inflammation and increasing the body’s natural ability to fight pain. In either case, the data and medical research studies do overwhelmingly support the belief that acupuncture can indeed help many medical ailments. Humans have benefited from this technique for years; now it is becoming more common to use acupuncture on pets as well. Animals that suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, chronic pain, degenerative disc disease or even stress seem to respond in a positive manner, just as their two-legged counterparts do. We spoke with Carrie Summerfield, DVM, practice owner and certified Veterinary Medicine Acupuncturist at West Fargo Animal Hospital. “Acupuncture can be used to treat pain, neurologic diseases like intervertebral disc disease, traumatic nerve damage and cognitive dysfunction,” she says. “It can help support the immune system and support organ function and be used to treat inflammation in general as well.”
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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 | 53
ďŹ nd and st n i Stop new be ! your d today frien
Summerfield agrees that acupuncture is a nice add-on treatment to traditional medicine. It is an additional way to treat pain without adding another pill. The treatments, which may last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, can be calming and stimulate the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response to heal. In the United States today, more than 150,000 veterinary acupuncture practitioners have undergone extensive training and certification to safely utilize this ancient Chinese technique on our family pets. The best thing to do if you have a pet you feel would benefit from this type of treatment is to contact your veterinarian. Typically, a full physical exam and labs will be done to determine if acupuncture is the right option for your pet.
Dr. Amy Anderson
54 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
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k n a Th you! We are grateful for everyone that helped make the 2019 Holiday Homes of Hope VIP evening, tour and boutique a major success. Saying thank you simply does not seem like enough, but here goes. To all the sponsors, designers, homeowners and the army of volunteers who offered their time and talents to make this event successful. Thank you. Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that robs a basic need from those it affects— the ability to breathe. Your willingness to serve others will help these area children and young adults to breathe easier and live a healthier life. Thank you.
Sponsors Diamond Special Gift Oxbow Country Club Charity Gala ($24,136) Platinum ($2500) Inspired Home Eide Bailly Gold ($1000) Wealth Forward R.D. Offut Ag Country CoBank Sanford Health BankNorth
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Copper ($100) Pro Rehab Physical and Occupational Therapy Fargo Public Schools Federal Credit Union HHOH Photographer Gordon Court, King’s Court Creative Photography
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Winter BY CHEF GRANVILLE WOOD
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?”
“
A
s winter’s inky blackness cloaks us in its early darkness, houses shine like gems against its backdrop, luring us to their sparkling warmth. It is time best spent around a crackling fire or in the kitchen with friends and family, where enticing aromas fill the room. We embrace winter’s crisp, cold air and stiff breezes, as it is a given. It is my daily wake-up call and I snap to attention as I walk my dog. It invigorates me and gives me time for deep thought and clarity. You cannot hide from it, so best to take all it has to give. Outside of bone-chilling morning walks, it 58 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
- John Steinbeck
is the deep flavors and warmth of winter food that is appealing. This is “stick-to-yourribs” food — steaming bowls of oatmeal with heaps of brown sugar and dried fruits. This food fuels your furnace and burns slowly to keep you nourished and sated until dinner. This should really be called the season of the “slow cooker.” This marvelous invention doesn’t replace a good cast iron pot with a tight-fitting lid, pots that withstand being in the oven all day slowly cooking the evening meal, but slow cookers are handy. I tend to be old school and go with the oven method, but to each their own.
A few years ago, I wrote about a Mexicanstyled Pork Stew with Butternut Squash. A low and slow cooked dish perfect for a cold winter night. It’s one of those dishes I am always tweaking and, in my latest version of the recipe, I cut the butternut squash into larger pieces as it breaks down over the long cooking time. I also add a squeeze of lime to each plate and a good sprinkling of chopped cilantro. You can see this new recipe on our Facebook page. Now I’d like to share one of my other alltime favorite cold weather dishes that, ironically, comes from the hot and humid city of New Orleans — gumbo. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Gumbo — the word itself just makes you smile. This soulful dish comes in many versions. The Creole French added tomatoes to it, but if you tell that to a Cajun, he will tell you “that ain’t gumbo, that’s stew.” Chicken, sausage, squirrel, gator and whatever else ended up in gumbos, it just mattered where you lived on the bayou and your income. To clarify, Cajuns lived up the bayou, trapping gators and turtles, shooting squirrels, living off the land. Creoles were a mix of Acadian French from Canada, and African and Caribbean from the slave trade. Two key ingredients in gumbo are okra and file, both products brought to the region via the Caribbean. File is powdered sassafras that, along with the okra, acts both as seasoning and thickeners. But the real taste changer behind gumbo is the roux. Paul Prudhomme, renowned chef and the one responsible for opening the floodgates on Cajun cuisine to the world, lovingly referred to “roux” as “Cajun Napalm.” The art of making roux is patience. It is the blending of flour and oil or butter and with love and patience, slowly cooking while stirring it until you achieve the desired color and nutty flavor without burning it. All along in this process is the heat that resembles that of napalm and deserves respect. To put the brakes on the roux when it reaches the desired color requires the “holy trinity,” a mixture of chopped onions, celery and green bell peppers, along with okra, that gets tossed into that roux and stirred quickly into the mix creating a chemical reaction of seizing the roux while cooking the trinity in a flash. Hot chicken stock is added with a stir or two and now it is time to settle back with a glass of wine while the roux cooks out. This is when we add all the additional seasonings, including the file, which is a fine powder you mix with water as you whisk it into the pot. As we are making chicken, sausage and shrimp, we add the primary ingredients as follows. While all that is cooking, in a separate in pan sauté boneless chicken thighs until almost cooked through. Cut into mediumsized pieces and add to the gumbo. Add the raw peeled shrimp and the sliced cooked andouille sausage. While the shrimp cooks, make a pot of plain steamed/boiled white rice and get ready for a soul-warming bowl of goodness. Put on some Neville Brothers or Harry Connick Jr. tunes and winter is just something going on outside. “Winter is the time for comfort — it is the time for home.” INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
Gumbo — the word itself just makes you smile.
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SHRIMP, SAUSAGE & CHICKEN GUMBO INGREDIENTS:
The beginning stage.— starting the roux, adding the flour.
2
lbs.16-20 shrimp, peeled and de-veined
2
lbs. bone-in chicken thighs, baked deboned and cut into chunks
1
lb. cooked Andouille sausage, sliced
1
cup of each, diced: green pepper, celery, onion (the “Holy Trinity”)
½
cup sliced okra
2
qrts. chicken stock
1
cup chopped green onion
2½
cups vegetable oil
1½
cups all-purpose flour
1
tsp. filé powder mixed with water to a thin paste
2
tsp. of each: fresh black pepper, cayenne pepper, granulated garlic, paprika
kosher salt to taste
METHOD: Heat oil in heavy saucepan. When hot, stir in all the flour until smooth; if too dry, add a little more oil. Lower heat to medium and stir roux occasionally; it will start to change color. Keep cooking and stirring occasionally so it doesn’t burn but continues to take on color. Cook until a dark brown. Throw in the “Holy Trinity” and okra and stir well; this will stop the roux from cooking and quickly cook the vegetables. Slowly stir in the chicken stock until smooth. While this simmers in another pot, cook 2 cups of plain white rice.
The blond stage-you're half the way there!
Stirring the roux, add in the filé mixture and all the seasonings, add salt to taste. Add the chicken and sausage. When rice is cooked, add shrimp to the roux and simmer until firm. Ladle roux into soup bowls so each has some chicken, sausage and shrimp; place a tablespoon of the cooked rice in the center and sprinkle with the chopped green onions. Enjoy!
You made it! Keep desired color by "putting the brakes on." Add the "holy trinity" — chopped celery, onions and green bell peppers.
60 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
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Trollkrem
INGREDIENTS
a Scandinavian delight
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREN FERRAGUT CARLSON
T
rollkrem or troll cream in English, conjures up images of grotesque creatures, large and grumpy, lurking under bridges in the deep forests of Scandinavian folklore. But, this dessert is far from being unsightly, peculiar or frightening. There isn’t a whole lot of information that explains why this impossibly light dessert is called trollkrem. What I do know is that it is typically served on New Year’s Eve in Norway, and it is probably the easiest thing I’ve ever made. Trollkrem is basically just two ingredients: egg whites and lingonberry jam. It is as easy as you might think to make. Simply whip up the egg whites and lingonberry jam in a stand mixer. It is difficult to describe how deliciously light and airy this dessert is. Some compare it to the lightness of cotton candy but without that awful cloying sweetness. Lighter than
62 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
the creamiest mousse, the fresh, clean and honest flavors are a culinary pride of the Scandinavians. There are a few variations out there involving different spices and different berries. I prefer the tart, bright-tasting lingonberry, and the recipe I like most added a touch of cardamom, a bit of cinnamon for warmth and a sprinkle of sugar for a barely-there sweetness. It is perfection. This dessert reminds me of the “the holidays,” but you could easily swap out lingonberry jam for any strawberry or blueberry jam and enjoy this dessert on a hot summer night. You can enjoy trollkrem in its purest form or you can get creative with whatever flavors you like! Now, you may be wondering about eating raw egg whites. However, eggs in the United States are pasteurized and a lot safer than
you think. The United States Department of Agriculture conducted a study, which indicated there is about a .003 percent chance of getting salmonella. That is pretty darn good. To reduce your risk even more, you can purchase eggs locally, keep eggs refrigerated below 40 degrees, and thoroughly wash hands and utensils before handling raw eggs. Pasteurized egg whites in packaged in cartons are also available at your local grocery store. Don’t be hesitant to use egg whites; consider hollandaise sauce, Caesar salad dressing and mayo. My all-time favorite Italian dessert, tiramisu, incorporates raw eggs. I hope you enjoy the power of this flavorful crimson berry and discover for yourselves what Scandinavia has known for centuries. Color, fresh flavor, nutrition and tradition all come together to provide your family with a perfect treat for the New Year. Enjoy!
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Lighter than the creamiest mousse, the fresh clean and honest flavors are a culinary pride of the Scandinavians.
Lingonberries thrive in moist, acidic soils from Massachusetts to Alaska. Native to the northern temperate, boreal and arctic regions of Europe and North America, they survive winters from New England to Northern Minnesota.
Trollkrem INGREDIENTS: ½ cup lingonberry jam 2 egg whites ⁄8 tsp. freshly ground cardamom
1
⁄8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1
¼ tsp. vanilla sugar or vanilla extract Fresh or frozen lingonberries, for garnish
METHOD: Add jam and egg whites to a large bowl. Beat vigorously until about quadrupled in size — about 4 minutes. Add the cardamom, cinnamon and vanilla sugar or extract.
Packed with vitamin C, vitamin A, Vitamin B, calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, the seeds of this super fruit are high in omega 3 fatty acids.
Wine Wisdom
Enjoy two of my favorite cold-weather warm-up reds! Chop Shop Cabernet Sauvignon This heavy hitter is a juice explosion of dark jammy blackberries, raspberries and currants. Following the fruit is a nice smoky, peppery finish with lots of good earthy notes. This California Cabernet is perfect for a cozy night on the couch, or is great with a good cut of meat.
Chelsey Malstrom, Seven Sisters Spirits, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Torres Celeste Crianza 100% Tempranillo, this wine sings of beautiful blueberry and plum, with hints of espresso and dried figs. The gorgeous celestial label pays homage to the winemaking process. The grapes are picked during the middle of the night, which is a practice that is common to ensure a cold crush. I think this wine goes great with roasted meats and dinner parties!
Cheers! Chelsey Malstrom 64 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
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Looking for lingonberries? I buy Darbo lingonberries, at my local market here in Geneva, NY. Grown in Northern Scandinavia, they are whole berries in sauce which is perfect for trollkrem. You can purchase several brands online, but the really good news? They are available locally in Fargo at Stabo Scandinavian Imports, downtown. (my favorite store to shop when I come home)
Lingonberries Native to the northern temperate boreal and arctic regions of Northern Europe, this evergreen shrub produces healthful, cranberry-like fruits. This “mountain cranberry” plays a prominent role in traditional Nordic cuisine. In late fall, the “month of berries,” foragers scour the mountainous woods searching for these little crimson gems. From trollkrem to a tasty condiment served with reindeer or meatballs, lingonberries are a Scandinavian national natural treasure.
Nutritional Benefits: • High in antioxidants • Promotes healthy gut bacteria • May aid in weight control • Promotes healthy blood sugar levels • May support heart health • May protect eye health • May reduce cancer risk
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INSPIRED HOME | 65
r REFLECTIONS
Take a
H
appy New Year. It’s 2020. It’s a leap year. That’s a lot going on for one year. Think about it: We are 20 years into the new millennium. One fifth of the way through this century. Weren’t we all just worrying that our technology was going to abruptly stop when the clock turned to midnight on Jan. 1, 2000? That was 20 years ago. In the blink of an eye, the phrase, uttered in Barbara Walters’ distinct voice, “This is 2020,” has a new, more serious meaning. We are moving quickly through time — perhaps too quickly for some of our comfort. But it’s also a leap year, which means we have one extra day to embrace, to fill, to endure — depending on how you look at it. I have always thought that whoever first came up with the idea of leap year had a cruel sense of humor, particularly to those of us living in the north. Why, oh why, would anyone add an extra day 66 | JANUARy/FEBRUARY 2020
running leap BY DAYNA DEL VAL
to winter? Why not extend the summer one more long, languid day? And shouldn’t it be called linger year or extend year or additional year? To leap is to skip over, to jump past. We aren’t doing that at all when we add one more short, dark, almost always frigid day to the calendar. But I was at a conference recently that admonished those of us who live through winter to stop complaining about it and instead embrace it. The people at my table likely heard my eye roll, but it did get me thinking. What if we all used the opportunity of having this extra day, this leap year, to think about the word leap a little more literally? I have a magnet on my refrigerator that says, “Leap, and the net will appear.” I used to do a lot of leaping in my life — as a single mom and a freelance writer and actor. I often wasn’t absolutely sure where my next
paycheck was coming from or how I was going to pay a new bill. But I always had faith in my own ability to procure work and that a greater power was on the lookout for me. And those two things never let me down. But then I got a job with a regular paycheck and I got comfortable; I forgot the stress but also the joy of taking a big running leap into the unknown and trusting that I would be just fine in the crossing and in the landing. What if we all used this year, this leap year, as a time to assess what we might want to pursue but are scared to, where we might want to go but haven’t yet and how we might want to grow but don’t believe we can? We have one more day this year to be brave, to embrace risk and to get a running start and take a great big leap. After all, this is 2020, and there’s no time like the present. INSPIREDHOMEMAGAZINE.COM
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