I’ve been thinking a lot about habits. Since I’ve had more than a just few days back home in New Orleans I’ve settled quite nicely back into the routine. Routine. It’s been both comforting and illuminating. Like… there’s definitely parts of my morning routine that aren’t serving me (clicking onto Instagram within 30 seconds of opening my eyes) and I’m trying to be more conscious of how I spend my precious morning time. This week I got up extra early to ride my bike to the Quarter to go to the old coffee shop I loved when I lived there. It’s little things that are actually big, you know?
I have dear friends visiting town this weekend which means buttermilk biscuits for late breakfast and po-boys for all.
I hope this week finds you feeling steady and well. The offering this week is below. As always, take only what you need:
• This is my favorite read of the week: It’s So Much More Than Cooking – the mental labor of cooking and all its associated tasks. I remember being in a relationship and I came to have a real problem with the phrase I asked my boyfriend every late afternoon: “What do you want for dinner?” because the answer, whatever it was outside of “Don’t worry, I’ll figure out dinner” was about to be a load for me to carry. (This Week)
• This is a big and weighty read “Everything That You’re Feeling Is Ok” (GQ)
• This Is The Moment Rachel Maddow Has Been Waiting For – and what a time to be alive it is. (The New York Times)
• Keep it moving: Older Americans Are Increasingly Unwilling – Or Unable – To Retire. (NPR)
• Remember before Instagram though? The Rise of the Getting-Real Post on Instagram. (The New Yorker)
• My friend Whitney is on the finale of One Part Plant Podcast and has a really honest conversation about Miscarriage + Healing After Loss + Creating Family. (Jessica Murnane.com)
• This podcast episode from NPR’s Life Kit podcast has been really helpful to me: How To Get The Best From Your Doctor. (Apple Podcasts)
• I Don’t Know Who Needs To Hear This But Don’t Get Your Nutrition Info From Influencers. (Self)
• Ok I’m just catching up here, but did you know people are making taco meat from walnuts!? Y’all, I’m into it! Minimalist Baker’s 10-minute Raw Vegan Taco “Meat”.
• A few Autumns ago, while I still lived in the French Quarter, I made this bread: Honey Oat Whole Wheat Bread. These days I’m experimenting more with gluten free yeasted bread baking and as soon as I land on something I’m proud of, I’ll share it with you! Gluten-free baking has been an exciting learning process, a winding road, and a little bit of a mourning for me so just bear with me, ok? (Joy the Baker)
• Hello, I’m instantly craving this Yellow Curry with Root Vegetables, Cashews and Basil. (Food 52).
I’m so glad you’re here.
Have the most wonderful day!
xo Joy
Jacquie Gariano
I just read “It’s so much more than cooking” and did get a kick out of it. I’m an older woman who was taught to cook from the time I was 10 or so. Over the years I have cooked for family and friends and enjoyed it a lot. I do love to cook and do daily meals and big holiday meals. I’m going to add them all up some day and see my grand total. Don’t get me wrong I love to cook, but there are days when I wish someone else would take on the chore. And do all the pre stuff’ shopping. planning, etc. But, like Zoe Fenson, when the offer comes it is very much like her story. “What should I cook?’, where is thus or that?, etc. So I say to myself, again, It’s easier if I do it myself. And I do. But what I do, every so often, is say dinner is at our favorite restraunt………LOL
Amanda
Thanks for posting the article about nutrition influencers. I’m a registered dietitian with a masters in nutrition. There’s so much misinformation out there, and a lot of it is provided by people who are making it up as they go along. It’s an uphill battle.
T
Someone from my small town in Vermont was killed in the Las Vegas mass murder. Thank you for sharing that article — while it was terribly depressing to read, it shed some light for me on what happened there after the fact, and this is something so often left undiscussed by media. I am so grateful for our first responders and am glad they are seeking ways to heal themselves during times like that.
Stacy S
Wow! Just wow. I never thought an online article could feel to much like my life. “Cooking” isn’t something I particularly enjoy, but it is something that I end up doing for my family ever night of the week and it’s exhausting.
Thank you Joy for such a wonderful read this week!
Tobi
The “it’s so much more than cooking” article is 100% my life. I am sharing this article far and wide. Thank you so much for the share as this was perfectly articulated and resonated deeply!
Kate
Oh my goodness, It’s So Much More Than Cooking just got me. This is how I feel so often, and knowing others feel this way is so comforting! It was so much easier when I was cooking for just me – I didn’t resent myself when I had to make my own grocery list.
Samantha
I’m one day late cause yesterday I was out all day eating one of the most delicious italian food ever (if you’re curios: https://www.torteldols.it/grangala.html) all day, but I enjoyed this post like if it was sunday morning!
Sara
Hang in there, Joy! Gluten free baking is not the abyss it can appear to be!
Maya
It’s so much more than cooking… story of my life! Whenever I ask my husband to prepare lunch or dinner when I’m not available, his first reply is “can you please put the ingredients on the counter before you leave?” NOOOO!!! :D I finally feel not alone
Bri W
As Cheryl Strayed called it in an ep of Dear Sugars, being ‘The List’ is almost more work than ‘just cooking’. It was something I tried to explain to a guy I work with, the privilege of having a wife that makes sure he has clean clothes and a packed lunch for him to allow him to work late. Or the food in the fridge and supplies in the laundry to allow that magic to happen. I don’t have that back up, if I don’t do/plan/shop, it’s not getting done. How easy life would be to not have to worry about those things.
Judy
Nailed it, It’s So Much More than Cooking. My kids are grown, but when they were at home, add in 3 active kids with outside activities(I limited it to 2 each for my own sanity), and trying to figure out food/preferences/what do I have etc but also what food will hold over til the last one gets home…..I look back at pictures of me from then, and I look sooo tired. We ate well though, since I gardened too. It came at a price though.
Your blog sorta makes my Sunday. Thanks.
TL
Judy, that is my current life. So tired all the time. i tell myself it’ll get better one day. It must! Some days I’m tempted to “cheat” and buy the pre-chopped/packaged items but the guilt of packaging waste and the world we’re leaving for these kids sets in. Cant win!