May Eighty Five

I’m Christopher, a professional recipe developer, and this is your new food account for easy elevated recipes with little effort. Make sure to follow .eighty.five for more!

This salsa is fresh, vibrant, sweet, spicy, and the ultimate summer appetizer.

Made with juicy strawberries, tomatoes, fresh mint, parsley, lime, and pickled jalapeños for the perfect balance of bright flavor and heat. Serve it with chips, spoon it over grilled chicken or fish, or pile it onto tacos for the easiest summer snack or side dish.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of diced tomatoes
1 cup of diced strawberries
1 minced shallot,
1/4 cup of chopped pickled jalapeño (add more or less depending on your preferred spice level)
1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup of chopped fresh mint
1 tbsp of honey
juice and zest of 1 lime

DIRECTIONS

1. Finely dice the red onion and strawberries. For the strawberries.
2. In a medium bowl, combine your strawberries and onions with chopped herbs, and pickled jalapeño. These simple ingredients come alive when mixed together, creating a fresh salsa that is both aromatic and tantalizing.
3. Add fresh lime juice and a bit of honey to enhance the sweet and savory flavors. The lime adds a tangy contrast that balances the sweet strawberries and spicy jalapeño.
4. Serve your salsa at room temperature to let the flavors meld beautifully. It pairs wonderfully with crispy tortilla chips, or as a fun way to top fish tacos or grilled chicken.

(Ad) Homemade strawberry jam is one of my favourite ways to use up a pint of strawberries before they go bad. This recipe is by the Canadian Sugar Institute.

Made with just strawberries, sugar, lemon, vanilla, and a pinch of salt, this easy strawberry jam recipe is beginner-friendly, tastes so bright and fresh, and requires no pectin.

One thing I find fascinating is that sugar does so much more than simply sweeten the jam. It helps draw out the strawberries' natural juices, works with the fruit's natural pectin to create that thick, spreadable texture, and acts as a natural preservative to help extend shelf life.

The result is a glossy, vibrant strawberry jam that tastes like summer in a jar that lasts up to 3 months stored in the fridge!

INGREDIENTS

16 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
¾ cup sugar
Juice of ½ lemon
Zest of ½ lemon
Pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Add the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt to a medium saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to gently boil.
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring frequently, until the jam has thickened and reduced.
4. To test for doneness, use a thermometer and look for a temperature between 225°F–250°F, or coat the back of a spoon and run your finger through it. If it leaves a clean line, the jam is ready.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
6. Transfer the jam to a clean glass jar and allow it to cool completely.
7. Seal and refrigerate until ready to use.

Perfect on toast, swirled into yogurt, spooned over ice cream, or tucked into your favourite baked goods.

This easy salad dressing recipe is tangy, herby, garlicky, and made with simple pantry staples. It's the kind of homemade dressing that instantly makes summer salads, pasta salads, grain bowls, and roasted veggies taste SO much better.

I'm Christopher, a professional recipe developer and this is your new food account for easy elevated recipes with little effort! Make sure to follow .eighty.five for more!

Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1½ tsp honey
1½ tsp dried oregano
¾ tsp dried thyme
2 garlic cloves
1 tbsp chopped onion
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or jar.
2. Blend or use an immersion blender until creamy and emulsified.
3. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
4. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 7 days.

This blueberry bundt cake is made with simple pantry ingredients, and it stays incredibly moist for days. Each bite is packed with juicy blueberries, bright lemon zest, and a fresh hint of mint. It's the perfect cake for summer baking.

I’m Christopher, a professional recipe developer, and this is your new food account for easy elevated recipes with little effort. Make sure to follow .eighty.five for more!

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
1 cup of canola oil, olive oil or neutral oil of your choice
3 large eggs
¼ cup of lemon juice
1 tbsp of vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
½ tsp of baking powder
¾ tsp of salt
2 tsp of baking soda
2 cups of fresh blueberries
2 tbsp chopped mint

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a bundt pan with baking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, rub the lemon zest into the sugar until fragrant.
3. Add canola oil, eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the sugar mixture. Beat until well combined.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
6. Gently fold in the blueberries and chopped mint, being careful not to overmix.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Lilac season is short, which is exactly why I'm making this beautiful lilac spritz on repeat.

Made with homemade lilac simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and sparkling water, it's lightly floral, refreshing, and tastes like early summer in a glass. Add a splash of gin or vodka for an easy cocktail, or keep it alcohol-free for the prettiest mocktail of the season.

INGREDIENTS

Juice of 1 lime
1 oz lilac simple syrup
Soda water to top
Ice cubes
(Optional) 1 oz gin or vodka

DIRECTIONS

Fill your glass with ice.
Add lime juice and lilac syrup.
Top with soda water and stir gently.
Garnish with fresh lilac florets or a lime wedge.

Let me know if you want to lilac syrup recipe below and I'll send you all the details!

Lilac season is short, which is exactly why I'm making this beautiful lilac spritz on repeat.

Made with homemade lilac simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and sparkling water, it's lightly floral, refreshing, and tastes like early summer in a glass. Add a splash of gin or vodka for an easy cocktail, or keep it alcohol-free for the prettiest mocktail of the season.

Comment "recipe" below and I'll send you the detailed recipe + how to make the lilac simple syrup recipe!

INGREDIENTS

Juice of 1 lime
1 oz lilac simple syrup
Soda water to top
Ice cubes
(Optional) 1 oz gin or vodka

DIRECTIONS

Fill your glass with ice.
Add lime juice and lilac syrup.
Top with soda water and stir gently.
Garnish with fresh lilac florets or a lime wedge.

If you lilacs wilt fast, you're prepping them wrong! Here's how I bring them inside and make lilac season last a little longer...

- remove all leaves. If you want greenery in your arrangement, just add extra branches with just leaves into your vase.
- in order to help the stems drink more water, cut an X at the end of the stem and open it up a little.
- change the water often! I'll change the water every other day.

enjoy your blooms 💜