If you’ve been here for any short amount of time, you’ve likely noticed that Sunday posts are a bit different than most of my mid-week food posts. I use this Sunday space to link to articles I’ve read throughout the week that I’ve found interesting or insightful… sometimes validating feelings that mingle in my guts, other times helping me see a different side of things. Sometimes spicy, pointed, and opinionated in tone. It’s a space for me to be a thinking, feeling, human and share some real-world things that are important to me. I’m not just a recipe machine… but I can be most Monday through Fridays.
I’ve found myself sitting on the couch for the last two hours, picking at the split ends in my hair, wondering how to coffee table got awkwardly far away from the couch because today my feet barely reach. I vacummed this morning. That feels like a long time ago now.
It’s a Saturday night tradition to write these posts, this being the 104th of them. It hasn’t felt good lately and doesn’t feel good tonight. Not everything feels good all the time. Right? Remember?
Here’s was resonated with me this week. Resonated? More like… here’s what’s ringing in my ears. It sounds like an alarm.
• This polarization is a mean-beast: Concern not contempt.
• Beautiful and humbling because we little humans make beautiful things with all our might: How To Make A Chinese Lantern.
• Mary Tyler Moore’s groundbreaking life in pictures. I also really enjoyed this 1995 interview with MTM on Fresh Air.
• The super rich are getting seriously prepared. Doomsday Prep for the Super Rich. I once tried hoarding antibiotics after binge watching Walking Dead for too many hours. Does that count for anything?
• Where Christian Leaders Stand on Trump’s Refugee Policy.
• I support the American Civil Liberties Union and the work they did this weekend. Got your card?
• Maybe seeing people (kinda) talk it out will help: When you love your political opponent. Lemme know if it helps though… asking for a friend.
• Welp… we can all drop the jade eggs now. Gwyneth Paltrow isn’t our gynecologist, apparently.
• For you dinner consideration: Apricot Balsamic Chicken with couscous and arugula. Jam on it.
• I’ve been listening to this beautiful song lately: High Sierra.
• Looking forward to reading: The Best Food Writing 2016
Looking forward to eating: Burnt Green Onion Dip with Curly Kale (I know… it’s like I’ve lost my mind. The whole world has gone nuts, clearly.)
Looking forward to watching: The second season of The Path on Hulu.
Looking forward to listening: They’ve just announced the Jazz Fest 2017 lineup. Jazz Fest is my favorite time of year here in New Orleans and this year is going to sound GREAT.
• The Secret History of The First Cat In Space Tried to convince Tron to step into a harness leash so we can get him into space. So far he hasn’t moved from his sleeping basket.
• This weekend I taught another workshop in the Bakehouse, this time with Suzonne Stirling. We learned how to make the paper camellias above and decorated floral cupcakes (with generous supplies from Paper Mart, Fiskars, PanPastels and Lia Griffith)… we plotted our Mardi Gras costumes and talked about home and family and sugar and paper. I plan on having a more solid and prepared Bakehouse schedule for you this Summer and Fall so you can plan your travel here if you’d like to join us. In the meantime, I’ll be hitting the road this Spring with my new Brunch book Over Easy and there will be pop up events and classes all over the country. More soon! Let’s get together, look each other straight in the face and make beautiful things.
• Tomorrow we’re announcing the winners of the KitchenAid and JtBBakehouse partnership! Check Instagram at 3pm central on Monday January 30th for the winners! In the meantime, if you’d like to submit a photo of your very fine brunch dishes or cocktails, get em up on Instagram with the hashtags #MadeWithKitchenAid and #JtBBakehouse!
xo Joy
Kate
My husband and son have so many and varied food allergies that I can’t really cook any of your recipes, although I still love reading them. I came here for your Sunday posts because they take me outside of my own personal internet bubble. Thank you for being willing to stick your neck out.
Marlene Slavich
Really want the bake house schedule. My daughter and I want a class. Have you thought about something with children? I’ve got two grandsons (6&8) coming this summer, and I’m looking for fun stuff to do with them. Not just drop them on you, but a baking with grandma kind of thing!
D'Arcy
Joy, I’ve been lurking here silently, readin’ and creepin’, for like five whole years! I have never even cooked a single recipe. I love your photography and your food sense, but more recently I’ve been coming back religiously to your Sunday posts as I sit in bed with my morning coffee. There’s something about your voice that’s so relatable, and smart, and compassionate. It’s a real comfort, especially now. Thanks so much for all of it.
Stasha
I look forward to these Sunday posts all week and you never disappoint. Sometimes spicy, sometimes pointed, but always appreciated!
anonymous
Good on those people for trying to talk to their parents, I guess. I just can’t, and mine didn’t even vote for Trump, just some other sleazy R.
Janine Helligar
I want to take this opportunity to thank President Obama and Lady Michelle for their sterling service and their magnificent efforts on behalf of ALL Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity or nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic group, or political sympathies.
Barack Obama is a man to respect, to admire, and to emulate. And his Lady Michelle is a class act all the way! They may not be perfect, but they are still flawless.
Joy, thank you for being courageous enough to take on stand for what YOU believe is good, right, and true. If we among the sane are to save the future, we need more and more people to do just that: Stand up against this insanity! We must resist ignorance, stupidity, and evil. We just must!
sharon
Add me to the list of people who start their Sunday with your posts! Love them. Please keep them coming.
Chiara
I appreciate that you present a few links in line with the current tragic political situation. I feel a lot of bloggers live in their happy bubble and that makes me so nauseated.
Jess Mann
It’s scary to be in this country right now.
I also feel like a lot of that fear is being used to keep us compliant, inactive, and submissive.
The more of us building bunkers and canning seventy years worth of beans, the fewer of us marching in protest or paying attention to what’s going on, or even taking care of our neighbors whose needs might be much more than our own.
The whole divided we fall, united we stand thing, it’s very important right now.
Anyhoo, keep posting these things. They remind us we’re all still out there, feeling our feels, and doing our best to be good to each other.
Andrea
I look forward to your Sunday posts every weekend. Sometimes sassy, sometimes sad, always uplifting and informative!
Don’t go changin’!
Kathleen Royston
Just want to chime in and say how much Let it Be Sunday means to me– I’m a pastor, and my Sunday morning routine involves reading Let it Be Sunday and drinking a wickedly strong cup of English Breakfast. Your fire and humor are deeply grounding and remind me that above all, we are called to be human beings. And I love that. Such a blessing. Thanks for doing your thing, even when (especially when) it does not feel like sunshine and unicorns and rainbows. Because you are telling the truth.
Amy
I always enjoy these posts every Sunday and feel that even though I feel a sense of unease with recent events that the importance of learning more and expanding our knowledge is so important. To read articles from different spheres and viewpoints to my own is how I can reflect and move forward with the next week. I also really enjoyed reading the article on the first cat in space though to make me smile.
Thiana
I love your recipes but I love the commentary on your “Let it be Sunday” posts more. Never apologize for being a feeling, thinking human being with integrity and depth. I believe it is time for all of us, especially those with any sort of following, to step forward and speak. I’m waiting for all the Christians in this country for whom Trump believes he is speaking, to step forward – the brand of Christianity being currently expressed does not resemble the Christianity from my childhood…I am in despair because I feel that the darkest human impulses were the real winners in this election and I’m terrified that they will not be contained. Anyway I vote for you to keep expressing your thoughts on the current situation with honesty and by the way thank you.
Kayleigh
Oh Joy, never change. People like you–people who stand up for what they believe in–are lights in darkness. I like coming hear and reading this Sunday mornings. Makes me feel oddly come about the world even when things aren’t going so well. Like a little blast of zen. If I’m being quite honest, sometimes reading your words makes me feel like I’ve got things together okay. I usually don’t comment because I don’t have anything to add, but I want to add my voice to those of the people who support you and are glad you do what you do. Anyway, thanks for another great Sunday post. :)
Nancy K
Add me to the list as well. Joy, I find your posts so insightful, thought provoking as well as reassuring and calming.
Thank you.
Jacquie
Thank you for remaining “spicy, pointed, and opinionated in tone”. It’s never been more important to stand up against injustice and oppression but I’m aware that for food bloggers it’s putting yourself out there, so I respect that you aren’t shying away from it in these posts.
Amanda
I come every Sunday for these posts. Your intro often seems to align with how I’m feeling…and when it doesn’t its usually a good reminder of how others might be feeling. And your links always include something to challenge me. Thank you for helping the internet become a more manageable place