It’s officially spring, and the daffodil and tulip bulbs on my property are getting very close to blooming. I spotted many little green buds in the woods earlier this week when I was on my walk, and the next day, I delighted in watching a bluebird couple carrying various nesting materials into a cedar bird box we have set up in our back yard. I am very much looking forward to the promise of longer days, warm sunshine on my skin and spending afternoons outdoors with my kids. Just the anticipation alone boosts my mood.
You can expect some spring-inspired recipes coming up in future newsletters, and I was thinking of writing a weekly meal plan here (comprised of both my original recipes and other recipes from trusted sources around the internet), in addition to the regular Thursday newsletter. I’m hoping to put together a survey in the near future to get your feedback on what content you’d love to see here, so stay tuned for that.
Until then, here are some things I’m loving and/or generally interested in lately:
- “Don’t Believe Everything You Think.” I really loved this article from one of my favorite parenting experts, Dr. Laura Markham. The message is valuable far beyond the context of raising children, so a very worthwhile read for anyone and everyone.
-I just ordered these cute and comfy slides from Rothy’s, one of my favorite brands for their sustainability practices and classic styles.
-I’ve been adding this Euphoria powder from Anima Mundi Apothecary to my tea and smoothies most days and love it. It is a gorgeous dusty rose color and is said to help boost mood, reduce stress and increase creativity.
-I was recently sent a bottle of Algae Cooking Club’s new chef-grade cooking oil to try, and I’m so excited to start cooking with it! As soon as I saw that Chef Daniel Humm (chef/owner of Eleven Madison Park) endorses it, I knew it had to be good. Algae Cooking Club oil is made from, you guessed it, algae, which is far more environmentally friendly than most cooking oils that are produced using unsustainable industrial farming methods. It’s neutral in flavor and has a high smoke point, which is perfect for roasting, pan frying and every day cooking.
-I’m always on the lookout for quick, delicious and nutritious pasta sauces, and I immediately made a mental note to cook this pasta in green sauce (pictured above) from one of my favorite food bloggers, Delish Knowledge. The sauce takes minutes to prepare and is loaded with spinach and basil. I doubled the recipe and my whole family enjoyed it last night for dinner.
-Somebody Feed Phil is one of my favorite shows and the new season does not disappoint! I really loved the Iceland and Kyoto episodes, and now itching to plan a vacation to both places.
-End the Phone Based Childhood Now. A must-read for parents, or anyone who cares about kids.
-Just ordered and received this beautiful new cookbook, JoyFull by Radhi Devlukia-Shetty. Somehow, I was unfamiliar with Radhi until very recently but am now fully a fan! She is so charismatic and vibrant, and her food looks delicious. The new book is packed with yummy plant-based recipes and lots of information on Ayurveda, an ancient school of medicine that I always enjoy learning about.