fridays with oscar | tuna potato salad
happy friday, ladies! the gang is all here today, oscar, ollie, and yours truly. and the screen porch is open for the season. yes, i dusted the furniture, mopped the floor, and decided to rearrange the floor plan. spring fever has hit big time, and with it, spring cleaning. nothing better than chilling on the screen porch, watching the birds flit to and fro, and dining al fresco. speaking of dinner, several readers requested a meatless entree, so i’m dishing up a delicious tuna potato salad today.
don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour this weekend. it’s time to spring forward! if you are like me, you are more than ready for daily doses of sunshine, blue skies, and warmer temps. and we get one extra hour in which to savor all three. the best part is i can push oscar’s nightly walk back to 7 pm. it was always a scramble to head out the door at 5 pm to get our laps in before the sun set in the west. now we can take a leisurely stroll and maybe just maybe skip the coat altogether. at least on some days. but i know i can safely store my gloves, hats, and other winter gear until December. hooray!
tuna potato salad
this week i have an easy peasy recipe on hand – tuna potato salad that’s perfect for a spring dinner along with a refreshing cocktail by the name of Italian Greyhound. since the temps are absolutely glorious, i slipped into a lightweight sweater in a gorgeous shade of lavender from Banana Republic. green chinos from J.Crew are a comfy choice, and if you hadn’t heard, green pants act as a neutral. there’s at least one pair of green joggers and one pair of green chinos hanging in my closet as they go with everything. absolutely love how the green chinos look with lavender. it’s a color scheme taken directly from nature!
sectional | cushion fabric | dining table | dining chairs
Italian Greyhound
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 ounces gin
- 4 ounces freshly squeezed pink or red grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce Aperol or Campari liqueur
- 1 fresh rosemary sprig, for garnish
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Combine the rosemary and sugar and spread on a small plate.
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Rub the edge of a glass on a wedge of fresh citrus ( i used a grapefruit wedge) then press the glass onto the plate, turning to coat.
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Fill the a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin, juice, and Aperol. Shake for 30 seconds then pour into the glass. Garnish wtih a rosemary sprig.
chinos | sweater | similar shoes
melamine plates | melamine platter | flatware | bee water glasses
Tuna Potato Salad
- 10 ounces tuna
- ¼ cup dill, fresh
- ½ pound fingerling potatoes
- ½ pound green beans
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 4 radishes
- ½ red onion
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
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Cook the potatoes: Place the potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, salt the water and lower heat to maintain a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are just fork tender (10-12 minutes). Remove potatoes with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool. Once cooled to room temperature, slice into halves or quarters.
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Blanch the green beans: Return the water to a boil and add the green beans. Cook until tender crisp (2-3 minutes). Remove the green beans with a slotted spoon and immediately place into an ice bath or colander under cold running water to stop the cooking process. Once cold, drain and set aside.
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Make the dressing: Whisk together all the dressing ingredients (Buttermilk, yogurt, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice) in a small bowl or shake together in a jar.
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Toss everything together: Place the potatoes, green beans, tuna, radishes and onion in a large bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss gently to combine. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
I added three hard-boiled eggs to the recipe for flavor.
chinos | sweater | similar shoes
oscar, ollie and i wish you a lovely weekend!
Always enjoy your posts, especially your smiling face, the way you arrange things so artfully, and your adorable critters.
Great post. The outfit is perfect for you and your weather. LOVE your porch. I had a porch in my old home and I really miss it. Is Ollie a maine coon cat? Pats to Oscar. Huggie wugs to you.
We are separated at birth. Moved to Omaha in 2002 and love it here. Also a huge fan of David Sedaris. Thought it was a triple with the mention of Italian Greyhound but its the name of a cocktail not a puppy!
Congratulations on your 6th anniversary. I look forward to reading your blog every morning over my first cup of coffee. Thank you for helping me start my day with a smile!
Beth,
Although we are a couple months away from porch weather on NW PA, I REALLY like your porch! Is that new furniture? I am looking, and yours is exactly what I need. May I ask where you got it, and is there a model name?
Thanks
Cindy
the furniture was purchased several years ago when we moved to Athens.
here’s a link to the dining chairs:
https://shopstyle.it/l/bsB0g
here’s a link to the sectional. i recovered the cushions in fabric from Ballards
https://shopstyle.it/l/bsB1s
link to fabric:
https://shopstyle.it/l/bsB1C
Where is the recipe from? It looks delicious. And I love the combo of lavender and green, I wouldn’t have thought of it.
glad you liked it! the recipe is an updated version of my Nana’s.
I made the tuna potato salad and it is seriously the best I’ve ever eaten. My husband agrees.
Thank you…it’s great to know that green chinos are a neutral because I have a pair! Definitely going to make that tuna potato salad, it’s just the type of recipe I love…simple, nutritious and tasty.
you are ahead of the game with a pair of green chinos ready to go! i think you will like the salad. i sent home leftovers with one of my kiddos and he and his girlfriend raved about it.
Porches and yard look charming. Love the greyed-green shade of your pants – I have a few and they are a great neutral, especially pleasing with your lavender and also soft blue, pink grey. The critters are adorable, like their mom. Will be making your tasty recipe subbing chick peas for the tuna to make it vegetarian. Thanks for a cheerful, Spring welcoming post. We hit 74 yesterday and our snow is almost gone! Didn’t even wear a jacket to Costco! Yay! Enjoy your weekend!
cheers to no jacket and sunshine!
For a second there, I thought you had a new dog. I love the lavender and green. That is a new combo for me.
Your porch looks comfortable and cheerful. I could read there. I use green peas in my salad similar to yours. And capers.
oohh that sounds delicious!
Beth you are too cute! I so enjoy your blogs…thank you!!!
awww, thanks for your sweet words.
Loving the sound of your tuna potato salad…yum! And the drink….double yum!
Thanks for sharing and happy Springtime!
love this time of year! everything is lighter and brighter. even our food.
I love lavender and green. Almost all of my herb plants have lavender flowers so definitely in nature. I used that color scheme for my package wrapping\storage room which we call the Narnia room because we have to go through a closet to get there. It’s a very restful color scheme. Can’t wait to make the potato salad. Thank you!
love the sound of a Narnia room! my nana had something similar and it always seemed like an adventure
when i ventured in.
Hi Beth!
yea Spring! It has been sunny and warm in Upstate New York too!
I wondered if you ever made this salad with something other than tuna? I have a tunafish hater in my house but the salad sounds yummy!! I think I might try it with shredded chicken. I’ll let you know
!
chicken is a nice alternative! good idea.
Chicken or shrimp works if they like that
Hi, I’m coming right over for one of those cocktails opps that would be a long drive since I’m in Arizona for the winter. I love your screened in porch. It looks so comfy and inviting. I printed your tuna potato salad recipe and am going to try it.
Enjoy that wonderful space……KZ
i’ll save a seat at the table!
Love the lavendar & green chinos combo! And the Italian greyhound…can’t wait to make both recipes, Thanks Beth!
i think you will love both recipes. enjoy!
love everything, from the furniture in your patio, your outfit and the cat, think the name is Ollie!!!
LOVE IT
Do not who I like better Oscar the dog or the cat
both oscar and ollie are quite the characters!
Beth,
Throughout this pandemic, you have helped bring some normality to our lives. Your blogs have provided hope that things will go on.
Brava, for pushing forward–and for pushing us forward.
Hello Beth,
This salad reminds me very much of Spanish potato salad we had in Madrid, our last pre covid long trip. I do think it has Russian roots. It was so good, I made it at home many times. A few differences, mayo and peas, etc
But it is fantastic and it is served everywhere in Spain with cold cuts and bread etc typical tapas Dreaming of Madrid soon!!
Love seeing your pets on your posts Beth, they are beautiful!
I will try out the tuna potato salad, it looks delicious.
I saw this jumper on you on your last you tube video and thought how lovely the colour looks on you x
I am also a screened porch fanatic. My mother was the same way!!! She had a beautiful porch, and I luckily inherited a portion of her antique white wicker furniture. So beautiful!! I never get to enjoy my porch until we are finished with the yellow pine pollen. It covers
everything!!!
Enjoy reading the blog each day.
I just started to watch your you tube series this weekend here in Lincoln, Ne. So excited to update my wardrobe with your recommendations. I will also enjoy trying your recipes.
Where can I pourchase those gorgeous earring! Lavendar rhinestone with turqouise stones? Love your blog so much 🙂
Kim
sadly, these earrings are custom made so no source to purchase.
Love it all!
thanks for the support! the tuna potato salad is delicious.
Beth,
I love the striped fabric for the grey porch furniture. Now you’re all set for all the patriotic holidays coming up!
XO
Julie