Hello and welcome to our weekend thing. There was no new recipe this week and I’m still feeling a tad guilty about it. I had been working on this roasted mushrooms and tofu dish that had a bed of farro/lentils and a garlicky tahini sauce. I was taking photos and getting video of it early in the week to post and it just hit me that the whole process was too fussy and was also taking way too long. The dish is good and tasty, but ultimately I didn’t think it was worth the time investment. Life is too short to spend time and money on something that’s just fine!

I’m trying to be a bit more selective with what I spend time on this year, and I want to apply that same principle to things I put out in the world. Sharing the decision process is part of my ongoing effort to pull back the curtain a bit and let you know what goes into all of this. Real humans creating real things = there will be stumbling blocks and a lot of second guessing!

I have an extremely tried and true (and extremely vegan) take on hamburger helper coming next week, and I think I have a strategy to make the mushroom tofu thing work in a more streamlined way. Just gotta keep it movin’.

We are buckling up for the snowstorm this weekend. For others in the path, please be safe out there! Sending all my love.

5 Things I’m Reading:

1. Social media addiction’s surprising challenger? Anti-doomscrolling influencers via AP News
2. The chemistry of comfort: Inside the rise of nostalgic snacks via Food Dive
3. People are nicer than you think via Vox (non-paywalled)
4. Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows via The Guardian
5. Carrying for a Cause: Meet the Man Lugging Shelter Dogs Around New York via The New York Times (gift link)

5 Things I’m Enjoying:

1. Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf
2. Two of my faves: Brad Stulberg on the Rich Roll Podcast
3. I’ve been blow drying my hair and styling it straight a lot more often lately because I was having some scalp issues (they are mostly resolved now). Trying to get the most out of a blowout has been challenging until I tried K18’s AirWash dry shampoo. I have not been a dry shampoo fan until I tried this (it actually goes on wet). It is WILD how well it works and it smells really nice too. It’s a little pricey but I find that I use so little each time–I’ve barely made a dent in the travel size bottle that I got a month ago.
4. I gasped at this shell reveal.
5. I’ve really gotten into perfume and scent recently. My partner gifted me Mandy Aftel’s The Museum of Scent for Christmas and it is such a cool resource. I loved this conversation with her hosted by the Los Angeles Public Library.

5 Questions:

1. What do you most look forward to during the winter in terms of produce?
   It’s the imported citrus by a mile. Cara Cara oranges, Sumo mandarins, Meyer lemons, legitimately sweet grapefruit etc! I love making a shaved fennel salad with radicchio, citrus segments, chopped pistachios, and a citrus-y shallot dressing. So good! Also lemon loaf is one of my favorite easy bakes. Working on a lower sugar version for the blog.
2. Thoughts on astrology?
   I follow a few astrology social media accounts and subscribe to Aliza Kelly’s Substack. I’m also mindful of my big three (Pisces sun, Taurus moon, Capricorn rising)! It’s one of those things that I find really interesting in terms of how we relate to each other and the synchronicity between what’s happening out there and the energy down here. But I don’t put a TON of stock into it/live my life by the movements of the stars and planets. Like I have bought electronics and signed contracts during Mercury retrogrades and everything was fine!!
3. Tips for peeling shallots?
   I’ve seen folks pop their garlic cloves in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to make them easier to peel. I’m wondering if the same is true for shallots? The peels really are so much stickier/more persistent than onions.
4. How often do you get takeout or go out to eat?
   On average, once a week for dinner and usually a pastry + coffee outing every weekend.
5. Can you share some of the fiction recommendations you received?
   anything by Kristin Hannah
   The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
   The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
   The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
   anything by Philippa Gregory
   The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
   Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
   anything by Elif Shafak
   The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
   The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
   Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
   The Weeds by Katy Simpson Smith
   anything by Ruth Ozeki
   Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser
   Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
   Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

5 Seasonal Recipes:

1. Brothy Beans with Herbs & Lemon
2. Creamy Coconut Couscous with Golden Roasted Cauliflower & Chickpeas
3. Creamy Vegan Pasta with Mushrooms & Miso
4. Sweet Potato Walnut Chili with Corn Dumplings
5. Crushed Beets with Chunky Olive & Mint Dressing