In celebration of our love for all things regenerative agriculture and cooking, SIMPLi teamed up with Bonterra Organic Estates and Ashley Johnson of @hiaj to bring you a delicious recipe that celebrates our collective love for delicious, culinary creations with elevated ingredients that give back to Mother Earth!

Ashley Johnson is a multidisciplinary fine artist, food stylist, writer, content creator, and communications professional living and creating in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Through organic, community-driven storytelling, Ashley has built a connected online community grounded in what she calls “authentic creative living,” where she shares unveiled, slow-living vignettes, social commentary, and her foray into many of the creative worlds she’s built around food and being a life-long maker.

What does this recipe mean to you?

When cooking for groups or a guest, I always try to choose something sharable to start. Those sorts of meals encourage connection. And for a first date, a messy sharable is perfect. First dates are already nerve-wracking because you're trying to make the best impression while not appearing ridiculous. I also chose mussels because they're not only quick to make, they're not your typical dinner staple, so usually whomever I'm cooking for is trying them for the first time, which is so fun for a first date! Mussels require you to get your hands all saucy; they require little slurping; they require you to appear a little ridiculous, and I like that! It's no secret that I absolutely love beans and that I'm always looking for ways to get more protein. Lupini beans are incredibly protein-rich and have this beautifully nutty flavor that compliments this easy yet complex broth of garlic pickle, white wine, herbs, and lemon. The Lupinis make the perfect textural compliment!

What do you love most about cooking?

So many interesting and delightfully unexpected things happen as I get older. One of those things is growing food and being deeply connected to the cycle of the growing seasons. Each spring and summer, I am more grateful to live in the South, where so much produce diversity exists. So, my favorite thing about cooking lately is honoring what the season has to offer, getting creative about my trips to the farmer's market, and sharing what I do with what I find in my content. I'm not so much into creating trendy videos as I am into showing folks that eating seasonally and beautifully can be accessible to those who try.

Why is working with regenerative organic ingredients, like SIMPLi & Bonterra, important to you?

Growing food at home is intrinsically regenerative. I save my rainwater for indoor and outdoor plants. I follow a veggie or herb through its life cycle and find every stage beneficial and varied in taste, which is so exciting! I use the seedlings for micros and enjoy the peak season for richness. The bolting or seeding produces delicious buds and flowers that add texture, concentrated flavor, or so much beauty to dishes. Even the leaves of some plants can be sauteed up or composted. Cycling certain plants to enrich the soil for the next rotation makes for more abundant harvests. These are some of the key aspects of regenerative growing practices, and I always jump to work with brands who trust in nature's ability to yield and flourish with respect and consideration.

Learn more about Ashley’s work by checking out her website and following along on social!