• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Shop

A Little Fresh Air

November 13, 2013 by Joy the Baker 104 Comments

M83A0083

There’s a weird thing that happens when what you love to do becomes what you must do.  The blessing of full-time content creation stays a blessing (totally stays a blessing), but it’s also work (aka werk). I feel the need, every once in a while, to slow to a simmer.

I’ve been in the kitchen most of the year.  There is zero complaint in that sentence.  I’ve mostly been working on my next cookbook (October 2014!), making tripods out of stacks of cookbooks (totally professional), and washing a lot of dishes.

This Fall I gave myself some fresh air in a place I’d never been.  I spent a few glorious days in North Carolina, and I’m not sure exactly how I made it on the plane back to California because I’m sure my heart is still in Asheville.

M83A0093

Original photography shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III digital SLR. The filmmaker’s camera.

The sky is big.  The trees are generous.  The people are easy to laugh and kind.  The mountains are blue, and green, and orange, and deep.  Such a great place!

Let me show you!

M83A0009

I started my little journey in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Have you been there?  It’s incredible!  The beach is literally covered is shells.  In California, you’d be hard pressed to find just one of these shells.  On the Outer Banks this is just the ground!

M83A0011

The closer you walk to the water, the smaller and smoother the shells get.

M83A0014

Smooth little seashell stones!  You can dig and dig and still find these smooth shell pieces.

This is where I just sat on the ground and stared at these waves.

M83A0033

I feel like east coast waves have a different rhythm than west coast waves.  They’re deeper and darker.

I want to walk into these waves forever.  It’s like a siren song.

M83A0028

Beach stairway (to heaven).

M83A0036

This is where we stayed in the Outer Banks.

Uh huh. Four floors and multiple decks.  I mean…

I was here to teach a few pie baking and food styling workshops.  If going to a beach house is work, then I’ll work forever and always.

M83A0074

I drove from the Outer Banks to Asheville, North Carolina.

I only killed two squirrels on the drive.  I feel really bad about it.

I made my way to visit Ashley, Glenn, and Huxley.  Do you know Ashley from Small Measure?  She and her family live in a beautifully cozy home just outside of Asheville.  They walked me around the garden and chicken coop surrounded by trees and falling leaves.  Even though we’re new friends, we cozied up in the living room and chatted about what is good and big in life.  Glenn made us the sort of meal that I never even knew I was missing: ham and apples, kimchi, eggs, and fresh cider.

Theirs is the kind of home that feels like a warm, welcome hug (with really good snacks).

M83A0081

I stopped the car to take some walks.

M83A0085

I watched my friend Tyler throw a boomerang.

I learned that it’s either harder than it looks, or I throw like a girl (both).

M83A0092

Up in the mountains I found a… I want to call this dude a Forest Police Officer, but I know that can’t be right.

I’m sorry. I live in a city.

M83A0100

I really needed to see some green.

M83A0150

And eat some green.  I made this Mushroom and Brussels Sprout Hash for breakfast.

It seems I never miss an opportunity to take pictures of my food.

M83A0175

I cooked in a lot, but I also ate at some really wonderful places in Asheville.

Tulepo Honey Cafe, Curate, and French Broad Chocolate were my favorite!

M83A0184

There always comes the day the pack up and ship out.  It’s hard to say goodbye to a place with so much fresh air, inspiration, falling leaves, and good light. Asheville, I’ll be back.

Pumpkin Pecan Scones with Brown Butter Glaze

I eventually made my way home, found my way back into the kitchen, and make these (self-proclaimed) incredible Pumpkin Pecan Scones.  If you want to make Stella Got Her Groove Back jokes… now would be a fantastic time for that.

Tomorrow we’re talking about DIY gift giving.  We’re in the holiday game!  I hope we can all find some time for deep breathing in it.  I love you, byebye!

Previous PostNext Post

Categories: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « Savory Cheddar and Cranberry Soda Bread
Next Post: DIY Vanilla Salt and Vanilla Extract »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Megan@eatmybeets

    December 6, 2013 at 7:54 am

    Wow. It’s interesting to look at places that I’m used to through other people’s eyes! As a kid, my family and I went to the Outer Banks every Spring Break, so I’m highly familiar with this beach. Looks like you had a lovely time :-)

    Reply
  2. Anissa

    November 19, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    The picture with the “forest police officer”…are you visiting Mt. Mitchell? I think that is a picture of my cousin Bryan. He is a conservation officer there. That’s crazy if it is him//small world. I haven’t seen him in years and find it funny I would get to see him while reading my favorite blog.

    Reply
  3. Julia

    November 18, 2013 at 10:26 am

    North Carolina, particularly Asheville, is one of my favorite places in the entire world, my happy place. The mountains, the air, the people, the food, the beer…the perfect place for some fresh air. I’m glad you were there.

    Reply
  4. icingsugar2

    November 17, 2013 at 11:34 am

    Amazing Pictures Joy! Now I want vacation as well… thanks :P

    Reply
  5. TJ

    November 16, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    I hope you had those cheese grits cakes at Tupleo Honey…I first visited Asheville a few weeks ago and loved it! I went on a girls’ trip, and now my guys at home roll their eyes every time I mention That Thing I Ate or That Thing I Saw on my trip. Their reply lately has been along the lines of, “Oh, you went to Asheville? We had no idea. Did you enjoy your trip?” with much cackling and eye-rolling. Such a good vibe in that town.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. A Link for You to Ponder on This Sunday Morning says:
    November 17, 2013 at 6:25 am

    […] Somehow this woman helped me go on vacation for just a few minutes. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

Here’s What I’m Eating: Ramen

Friends hi and welcome to a new series on Joy the Baker called Here’s What I’m Eating. A series in which we cut the recipe and all the formalities and talk about what’s really going down in the kitchen.  As a certified Food Person, I think we should talk what we really fill our bowls…

Read More

What’s In Your Purse This Spring?

Every spring I get a little bug in my ear to landscape the front yard, deep clean the fridge, and empty the junk drawer.  What shapes up is a spring cleaning list long enough to take me well into the fall months.  Life is a lot of little chores over and over again, right? I…

Read More

Here’s My Spring Uniform

Anyone else having a casual Crisis of Fashion? There’s something about the change in season, my increasing age, and the banishment of skinny jeans that has me simply confused/baffled/bummed about what to wear.  It’s not so much about sliding my 40something year old self into the latest trends which… 90’s fashion is trending, friends and…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

CHECK IT OUT ON INSTAGRAM

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker, author of books, lover of butter
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
📝Inquiries megan@underscoretalent.com
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
Your mission this weekend, should you choose to ac Your mission this weekend, should you choose to accept it: turn little slices of 🍌🍌 into cinnamon sugar topped pancakes. 💖 Full recipe linked in the bio mmmkay enjoy!
The To-Do List can wait until after cookies, amiri The To-Do List can wait until after cookies, amiright? 
⁣
Two Giant Peanut Butter Cookies⁣
(or four smaller cookies) ⁣
⁣
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted⁣
1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed⁣
1 large egg yolk⁣
A splash of vanilla extract⁣
1/4 cup peanut butter⁣
1/2 cup all-purpose flour or a gluten-free flour blend⁣
1/4 teaspoon baking soda⁣
1/4 teaspoon salt⁣
Coarse sugar and/or sea salt for sprinkling, optional⁣
⁣
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. ⁣
⁣
I’m a medium bowl, whisk together warm melted butter and brown sugar. Whisk in the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Add the peanut butter and mix to combine. ⁣
⁣
Add the dry ingredients and use a spatula to fold all the ingredients together. Divide in two big portions (or four smaller portions) onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar and salt if you’d like. ⁣
⁣
Bake two giant cookies for 12-14 minutes, or four cookies for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving with cold milk.
You know those particularly messy sandwiches that, You know those particularly messy sandwiches that, when you pick up, you know you can’t put down until they’re good and gone? These Milk and Cereal Bars are the ice cream version of that sensation. So crunchy creamy sweet, with a hint of salt and spice. ⁣
⁣
Three Mostly Store-Bought Homemade Ice Cream Treat recipes are linked in the profile. It’s giving Semi-Homemade without the tablescapes or vodka. Iykyk.
I spent the weekend with Will and my family in Sou I spent the weekend with Will and my family in Southern California and there were sailboats, and vintage cars, and paddle boarding, and so many family laughs, and cookouts, and holding hands with my handsome boyfriend in a backwards baseball cap (WHY IS THAT SO SEXY?) but - the way we ordered a second TOWER OF ONION RINGS for the table at lunch was like…. BEYOND. 🥲🥰🥹😅🥳
Raise you hand if you secretly love a boxed cake m Raise you hand if you secretly love a boxed cake mix? Me: 🙋🏻‍♀️
⁣
My favorite version is this Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake baby topped with cream cheese frosting and extra fresh 🍓🍓. Perfect for the holiday weekend amiright? ⁣
⁣
Full recipe linked in the bio!
I woke up a year older and wiser today and the onl I woke up a year older and wiser today and the only advice I have for you is this: stay busy makin’ your own dreams come true. ⁣
⁣
xo
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up