It’s the first weekend of summer! I hope that you’re enjoying the warmth and longer days. For the first time in a while, we have zero plans or obligations for the weekend. Lots of cooking, a tiny bit of gardening, patio yoga, cold plunges, and doggie walks are in my future, and I can’t wait! This 20 minute routine from Move With Nicole’s YouTube channel has been my favourite lately–especially outside underneath the swaying trees 🙂

My personal project for this summer is to work on my sleep. I’ve shared this so many times, but sleeping is a skill set that I’ve lost over the last couple years. I just can’t do it consistently or for a decent amount of time. Whenever I share this on Instagram, I’m flooded with messages from folks dealing with the same thing. It can be quite frustrating! I started a little sleep journal (just a small blank notebook) to keep track of what daily practices and things I get up to to see if there are any connections. I’m also going to experiment with a bunch of things. I’ll report back if I hit on a magic formula hehe.

Happy weekend! Be well ♥️

5 Things I’m Reading:

1. Millennial and Gen Z economic malaise is creating a ‘treat culture’ as they turn to tiny purchases for a dose of daily escapism
2. What Is A Third Place?
3. Beatrix Potter, the unlikely hero of the anti-hustle culture movement
4. The future of conservation in Canada depends on Indigenous protected areas. So what are they?
5. As inflation soars, how is AriZona iced tea still 99 cents?

5 Things I’m Enjoying:

1. English Cottages on Instagram
2. Swans ring a bell for a snack
3. Doing a deep dive on Nancy Meyers interiors
4. This episode of the Work Appropriate podcast: What Happened To My Ambition?
5. Bachan’s Yuzu Japanese BBQ Sauce is my latest sauce fixation. Love it on grilled or air-fried tofu, eggplant, other veggies etc!

5 Questions:

1. Favourite cold soups?
   I love doing cucumber, lime, cooked green peas, a smidge of garlic, a bit of honeydew melon, basil, mint, parsley, salt, pepper, and some vegan coconut milk yogurt or sour cream. I treat it like a smoothie in that I don’t really follow a recipe! Just keep blending to taste and top with more fresh herbs, chili crisp, and toasted pumpkin seeds. And of course I love classic gazpacho–the perfect summer lunch!
2. What is your favourite vegan, gluten-free cookie?
   I love the chocolate chip cookies in One Part Plant cookbook and still make them all the time. Nobody ever guesses that they’re vegan or gluten-free.
3. Easy breakfast ideas?
   I am not a big breakfast eater myself! I find my ability to focus and get things done is best in the morning, so I try to maximize that time. Breakfast has to be quick and satisfying. For this reason, I mostly stick to overnight oatmeal with chia seeds and fresh fruit, smoothies, or hot steel cut oats that I’ve prepped ahead of time and just need to warm up. If I have leftover rice on hand, I love to sauté that up with black beans, spices, green onions, and chopped bell pepper and just pile it into a bowl with salsa/hot sauce and avocado. For a mega quick, make-ahead and on-the-go breakfast, I recommend my breakfast cookies :)
4. Is your blog and Instagram your full time job?
   Yes! Running ad spaces on the site, royalties from my cookbook, and the occasional paid partnership on Instagram is how I support myself. The blog is my main gig though and this is possible because of the work I’ve done on SEO (thanks to Foodie Digital) and the consistency in posting new recipes over the past 10+ years. All of this is to say: If there’s a food blogger’s recipe that you love (not just mine!), I recommend leaving a comment and star rating if you can–it helps a lot and is always deeply appreciated 🥰
5. What are some of your favourite cookbooks right now?
   Loving SALAD PIZZA WINE, Seed to Table, and Vegetable Revelations. I want to check out Cook It Wild and Ever-Green Vietnamese too.