Hello my friends!
I hope you are well in this weekend with a good pair of thick socks and extra cream in your coffee. The chill is here, wouldn’t you say?
This past week I was lucky enough to tour the White House kitchen and talk about gingerbread with the White House Executive Pastry Chef Susan Morrison. It was surreal and really such an incredible opportunity. We decorated gingerbread cookies together… I promptly broke several cookies as she was demonstrating… so, oops. I was nervous. I break things when I’m nervous. The White House is mighty. Just thinking about all of the men and women we’ve asked to live in that house and lead us… it’s a humbling building to be in. The walls vibrate.
Here are some thoughts from the week:
• A beautiful perspective from writer Zadie Smith: On Optimism and Despair. On time travel and incremental progress.
• This is weighty but interesting: The American Dream, Quantified At Last
• Love and strength and two beautifully brave humans: John Glenn + Annie Glenn
• The Tina Fey Interview, by David Letterman GOOD.
• Are you a Christmas tree purist or do you have the fake sort that lives in the attic most of the year? Real Christmas Trees or Fake, which is better for the planet? This just makes me realize I really want to visit a Christmas tree farm.
• The images from our year on earth together: The Top 25 News Photos of 2016
• Weekend Read: The Man In The Woods
• How To Roast The Best Potato Of Your Life. Big promises. I’ll bite.
• Let’s get back in the bundt game, right? Honey Grapefruit Bundt Cake
• Festive cake thoughts: Orange Gingerbread Cake with cream cheese frosting
• All I want for Christmas is a pink pantsuit. Starting with the blazer. Related: The Boss
• Sweater weather, amiright?
I hope your Sunday is supreme. Take good care.
xo Joy
Jena Rose
Please, buy real Christmas trees! My parents owned a small family farm my whole life but had to sell it a two years ago, like many other small farms, due to artificial trees. They smell better and (for people like me who are crazy about the environment) are so much healthier! Thousands and thousands of trees are planted every year to make up for those cut down and they can be reused for wildlife.
joythebaker
I hear you I hear you and I take your words to heart!
John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjqPt0ALt14
Lisa
I cannot read this blog anymore….it used to be about wonderful recipes and a girl that loved pies…now there is an agenda on almost every post that has nothing to do with cooking. It used to be an escape for me to relax and read…I wish you the best of luck with your blog, life, views and career!
joythebaker
Byeeeeeee.
Geraldine
SHUT UUUUUUUP!!!!!!! The White House! In the kitchen!! I think my brain just exploded! Wonderful, you!
Emily @ Life on Food
I heart Zadie Smith.
STH
I like real trees, but I’m not crazy about the mess they create or how expensive they are. Our fake one is looking a bit sad, but I was lucky enough to nab a new-to-me one last night from Freecycle. THAT I can afford!
Rachel
I bought my first tree this year! I went with a real tree – it’s hard to imagine a plastic tree being better for the environment than a live tree. Plus, real trees smell so good and bring such a nature vibe into the house! It feels like such a special and ancient winter tradition.
We always had real trees as a kid and tossed them in the woods after Christmas, at which point they became a habitat for all sorts of wildlife!
Liz
We just put up our real tree – can’t beat the wonderful smell walking into the house and I love the twinkling lights. Great Tina Fey/David Letterman interview! Thanks for linking it. I love them both. And that gingerbread – yum!
charmainenyw
I totally needed that potato link. Haha!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
https://charmainenyw.com
Cait LaRussa
OK, I made those potatoes tonight. All I had was one big Russet and even so… best roast potatoes of my life. For real. Thanks for the tip!
Breck
I have my big fancy company holiday party in NYC this week, and, instead of buying a new dress, I bought myself a pink pantsuit from Asos. I cannot wait to rock the shiiiiiiit out of it, and it makes me happy that you want one, too :)
joythebaker
Ok you’re my favorite person!
Mei Eisenbach
Love your Sunday posts!