Classy Toast + Pioneer Woman and Land O’Lakes Ranch Trip

Did you see the Poppy Seed Muffins with Raspberry Butter that I posted earlier this week? I just made more of them yesterday and am eating one as I type. They’re so good! That muffin recipe I posted went along with one of the Kitchen Conversations events that I’m doing with Land O’Lakes this year, so consider this part two to that post.

Last week Land O’Lakes brought a bunch of bloggers and me out to The Pioneer Woman’s Ranch for a couple days of buttery fun, friendship, and food. I was at Ree’s ranch last year (also with Land O’Lakes) and had a blast, so it was beyond wonderful to return. Because:

Reason #1. I knew we’d be tasting all of each other’s recipes that we made for our second Land O’Lakes Kitchen Conversations post. Here was my enormous basket of Poppy Seed Muffins with Raspberry Butter!

Reason #2. I knew there would be some sort of cooking activity/competition planned, and this year it was a Toast Bar! We had tons of ingredients and all the Land O’Lakes Spreadable butters to choose from, and we all made our own fancy toasts (and I won the sweet toast category, YAY!)

I called mine Classy Toast (because I don’t know, it just felt classy), and at the ranch it was honey butter spread toast with raspberry preserve swirled goat cheese, fresh lemon zest, thinly sliced strawberries, and thyme leaves.

(My at-home version, which you see below, used strawberry preserves instead of raspberry, since that’s what I had).

I’ll share the recipe for my toast at the end, and you can also check out Brenda’s awesome Grilled Asparagus and Red Pepper Toast here (which won the savory category).

Reason #3. Gorgeous nature and open space! You guys, living in New York City has done weird things to me. I forgot how QUIET it can be in other places. It’s never quiet in NYC, and I’m used to it. You hear sirens all night, and they don’t wake me up or bother me. Ree’s ranch was just the peaceful place I needed to enjoy with my blogging friends!

My favorite gorgeous nature moment was when we drove to a cliff-ish area and went for a picnic after the toast bar activity:

Land O’Lakes shared the news with us that they’ve launched European Style butter (!!!), so we ate that with some snacks and wine, enjoyed the view, and just talked.

Reason #4. There is always ridiculous amounts of kindness on these trips, from everybody. After the picnic, Ree told us she had a surprise and opened up a trunk full of cowgirl boots that she picked out for all of us! The boots Ree picked for everyone were totally spot on, and I’m in love with my red cowgirl boots (up front with the yellow ribbon). These streets have become my cowgirl boot runway. Or so I’ve decided. They’re so fun. Thank you Ree!!!

Reason #4b. Ridiculous amounts of kindness among everyone at the trip. Seriously, all the bloggers and all the Land O’Lakes ladies are SO nice and an absolute joy to be around. I can’t even tell you how nice it is to be around people who love all the same things I do:

[Bridget, Sommer, Julie, Me, and Ree on the last night of our trip]

And finally, Reason #5. Amazing sunrises at the start of every day! Something about sunrises and sunsets just makes your soul feel amazing. The sunrises at Ree’s ranch were gorgeous, and made me appreciate the time I spent there. Thank you Ree and Land O’Lakes!

Thanks for recapping my trip with me, and here’s the “recipe” for my Classy Toast. I hope you have it for breakfast one of these days!

Classy Toast

Yield: 1 toast

Ingredients:

1 slice toasted white bread
1 tbsp Land O’Lakes honey spreadable butter (or spreadable butter with canola oil)
2 tbsp soft goat cheese
2 tsp strawberry or raspberry preserves
1 tsp fresh lemon zest
1 sprig fresh thyme
2 strawberries, sliced

Directions:

Spread the toasted bread with the spreadable butter. In a small bowl, swirl together the goat cheese and preserves, then spread onto the toast. Sprinkle on the lemon zest, then add the leaves from the sprig of thyme. Add sliced strawberries on top. Eat immediately, and enjoy!

All images and text ©Fifteen Spatulas.

Disclosure: I was not commissioned to write this post by Land O’Lakes, but I am working with them this year. I just wanted to share my trip with you! All opinions are always my own.