Hello dear friends! Welcome to another fine Sunday.
This week has felt like a week of waiting. A week of refreshing my email. A week of waiting for permissions and collaborations, and checks. It’s ok. I’ve steadied myself for a windfall of tasks next week. Hopefully. Maybe.
This week has also been a flurry of election and impeachment stuffs. I can’t be alone in wanting to just touch all of the media on the shoulder and ask them to sssshhhhhhh….. to pause. It’s all enough and too much and what are we supposed to do with all this nonsense? Fatigued? A bit.
How has your week been? Make any new friends this week? I’m working on it.
Wait…Does it feel like November already? I think maybe yes. Time is a trip.
This week’s offering is below. Please, as always, take just what you need.
• An opinion piece by Marie Yovanovitch I think we can all benefit by reading. These are turbulent times. But we will persist and prevail. “I have seen dictatorships around the world, where blind obedience is the norm and truth-tellers are threatened with punishment or death. We must not allow the United States to become a country where standing up to our government is a dangerous act. It has been shocking to experience the storm of criticism, lies and malicious conspiracies that have preceded and followed my public testimony, but I have no regrets. I did — we did — what our conscience called us to do. We did what the gift of U.S. citizenship requires us to do.” (MSN)
• This is a story about domestic abuse and I feel like it’s important to think about but understand if it feels too difficult for you this morning. Brittany Smith loses her Stand Your Ground hearing. (The New Yorker)
• I feel like cooking in my yoga clothes is risky enough… I need a little support and generous coverage and I’m ok with that. The Joy of Cooking Naked. Honestly the real issue here is the pre-cooked bacon. (The New York Times)
• At least the internet made the Iowa Caucus results (or lack thereof) funny. But for real: The Death of Iowa. (Buzzfeed and Politico)
• Someday I’ll make homemade soup dumplings. I don’t know when that day (or three) will be but… soon. This is the most approachable home recipe I’ve found that does not require me to boil a pig’s foot. (Epicurious)
• Cool Beans by Joe Yonan speaks to my heart. My default is a bean dinner. Find the book here on Amazon and here on IndieBound.
• If you’d like to gift your future self may I humbly suggest the Mosquito Supper Club cookbook? Here on Amazon and here on IndieBound. Mosquito Supper Club is one of the most special restaurants in New Orleans. It’s on my list of the finest things to do in the city for good reason – Melissa makes the best Cajun food in town.
• What I’m listening to: this playlist I’m building on Spotify, this This American Life episode on delight, and every DatelineNBC true crime podcast even if I’ve heard them before. (Spotify, This American Life, Apple Podcast)
• For Valentine’s Day I’m making pasta with 4 couples at The Bakehouse. We make pasta from scratch, drink a perfectly reasonable amount of red wine, play Frank Sinatra songs, and I do my best to make the most fun date night for everyone – it’s one of my favorite classes of the year. (The Bakehouse and The Kitchn)
• I’m not here to tell you what to watch on Netflix but I highly suggest The Pharmacist. It’s a true crime documentary about New Orleans and the pharmaceutical industry. (Netflix)
• I just did this last week! A case for at-home onigiri. I highly recommend! (Taste)
• It’s unconventional but that’s what’s great about it: Moussaka Lasagna Roll Ups (Joy the Baker)
• A festive offering: Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Shortbread. (Joy the Baker)
• I really love this bandana and I’m going to leave this tab open on my computer until I’m feelin’ spendy. (imogene and willie)
Let’s enjoy this day!
My love to you.
xo Joy
Jacquie Gariano
I have been reading your post for quite some time but have never posted, but today as I am catching up on my e-mail ( as you can see from the date of this one) I felt the need to comment. I really enjoy your blog and the recommendations you post. I have tried some of the recipes and enjoy them so much. Love your insight and comments. Todays post by Marie Yonanovich was so spot on for today’s problems and how the person in the White House is acting and trashing our country. We have to be aware and do our best to change this . Impeachment didn’t work and he felt like he had the green light to do anything he wants to do without any concern for our country and us as people of this country. I am so afraid that he will be reelected and have four more years to trash and demean us a a people and as a country. He is a bully of the worst kind. I only hope enough people will vote against him and we can have someone who can try to return our country to what it should be and repair what he has done. Thank you so much for your blog and all you say and do. Love and care to you.
Brittany
I read your last link as “I really love this BANANA” and was confused how someone could love a banana and pondered what kind of banana would cost so much. And then I saw the BANDANA you wanted and laughed out loud at my misread. The bandana is lovely, and I hope you get it for yourself, soon.
Diane
I look forward to your Sunday posts so much. Just got my hands on Cool Beans this afternoon. Have you had a chance to try any of the recipes?
April
Soup dumplings are on my bucket list cooking list too. I’ve been way too intimidated to try them yet though. Someday.
Katie
Your round-up is always one of the (only?) bright spots of my Mondays! Jinxing Adrienne in appreciating your thoughtful offerings, on politics and media. Today I clicked open many tabs for your links, but am also dying to know about your excellent ring game and nail art! I spy some Marta Pia but would love other recommendations from you for indie jewelers or accessories <3
joythebaker
Absolutely! I appreciate the kindness and I’ll talk about my rings next week!
Kelly
My heart breaks for Brittany Smith. The fact that a woman has to to do so much more to prove something happened to her than a man (or in this case the prosecutor) has to do to prove he didn’t do anythingis disgusting.
We were just in NOLA for my 40th in October but you didn’t have any classes while I was there. I am definitely going to plan my trip around that next time.
Lorena
I agree. This is so sad. I just watched Miss Americana on Netflix. This is what Taylor Swift was talking about how you are ripped a part in the court room with evidence. This isn’t fair! I hope Brittany gets the help she needs and freedom for protecting herself!
Amy
Thank you for taking the time to compile and write these Sunday gems for us, Joy. I’m unsure as to why people are so offended that you have a political view and want to reference it as you wish, given that they have their views and it’s not offensive on their part to say so? On the flip side, I am an addict of Dateline podcasts and am very sure as to why I assume that eventually I will be shot in my bed, but only for the insurance money. And yet, I can’t stop listening. Thank you for your recent post on what to do in New Orleans. I’m very much looking forward to visiting in November and I really hope there might be an event at the The Bakehouse whilst I’m in town. The excitement level is set to high.
Zita DeGraffenreid
Thank you, Joy, for taking the time to put together Let It Be Sunday every week. I look forward to discovering articles, recipes, and show suggestions I never would have come across on my own. The piece from Marie Yovanovitch needs to be read by everyone. I’m amazed by her optimistic outlook. We visit NOLA almost every year and always discover something new. I love reading about your favorite places. I hope to visit the Bakehouse and meet you in person. Have a good week!
Linda Lewis
The stand your ground case is heartbreaking. What a travesty.
Tania
love your eye rings, where did you buy them
Lu
Dear Joy,
I am with you on the media. I could barely bring myself to look at anything about the trials, lies, and spy games. This past week I was a bad citizen. I changed the channels before I could hear any of it. I wrote down the writing from Marie Yovanovitch. Well said! I know what you mean about Thanksgiving. I was looking for a recipe on YouTube, and all these Thanksgiving and Christmas desserts kept popping up. I’m just recovering from the holidays for goodness sake! Every year we are bombarded with holidays six months before you know it. It’s exhausting! I understand domestic abuse more than I want to. I put my son in law in jail for this reason. On one occasion, he hit my six month pregnant daughter so hard, he flipped her over the living room sofa. She was in California and I was in Texas. I was on the next plane. Being a highly intelligent and educated woman doesn’t keep you from making lousy mistakes. I’m a mom and I took care of business. He came after my granddaughter and lines were drawn. Put him in jail, took my daughter to file a restraining order, then to a divorce lawyer. No more victimization! It’s not always that easy! Sometimes you need to shake the rafters and the ground beneath you to make it stop! The world can be so beautiful, and yet so disheartening. Mosquito Supper Club? I have such a severe allergy to seafood, it’s a constant issue with cross-contamination at restaurants. Epi-pens are expensive. If they serve seafood, I get very worried! I will look at The Pharmacist tonight. Funny story- not really. Had knee surgery. I am extremely allergic to opioids and certain pain medications, yet I ended up with about twelve bottles of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and about five bottles of Tylenol 400, 500, 800, along with Percocet and Ibuprofen 800. Including antidepressants which I never took in all my life. Addiction an epidemic? You bet! This is plain and simple negligence. You have a situation of doctors not paying attention, along with a pharmacy that obviously has not bothered to raise a red flag on their inventory. I never bothered to look at the bags because I thought they had gone crazy with the Tylenol. Never assumed anything was wrong until I went to get a new bottle of my diabetes medication, when I realized I had no Metformin, but I had an inventory of assorted opiates and copious amounts of Tylenol and ibuprofen. It’s no wonder addiction is an epidemic! The Bakehouse sounds like so much fun! Thanks for the writing. I look forward to it every Sunday. I’m going to try and make a Genoise cake. Wish me luck. Last one was dense. Must have been the Tylenol! Blessings.
Cyndi
I took your recommendation to watch The Pharmacist. It’s so good! I’m on episode 2 and will spend the rest of the day watching the rest of the series. Thanks!
joythebaker
I’m finishing it tonight too!
Cyndi
I watched all four episodes yesterday. It was fantastic. I had chills the entire time. Very well done. Do you think we can convince Dan Schneider to take on Washington?
joythebaker
He’d really get some stuff done!
Mary Ann
Hail the almighty bean! Have to get this cookbook.Thanks!
Kate
This just rings as so…clitoral to me. I love it!
joythebaker
Hahahhah.
Marlene Slavich
Good Sunday Morning! This is not related to your weekly update, but I wanted to let you know that my grandson (he is 10) and I made your king cake recipe. The one with 5 egg yolks. It was amazing and tasted like the traditional cakes that I remember (I am 70) and love. Thanks for that recipe; it’s a keeper. Marlene
joythebaker
Marlene this is wonderful news and absolutely fills my heart!
KGaylin
Serious Eats also posts a soup dumpling recipe which calls for pork belly instead of pig’s feet. If you live near an H-Mart (Korean Supermarket) they regularly stock all the ingredients needed as well as pork soup bones that would generate the needed gelatin factor not to mention a killer brodo.
Louise
As a lover of all things New Orleans I have loved reading your blog entries. However, I read most blogs to take a break from politics. I can watch main stream media, CNN, Fox, etc to get political views. I don’t need nor want to read it here. Sorry, but as we hear so often these days, I’m offended.
joythebaker
You are welcome here to take only what you feel you need.
Michelle
Then don’t read it if it pertains to politics. I happen to enjoy her view!
Sharon
Yes, fatigue for sure but the media is just doing their jobs – it’s the president that’s the problem. Please don’t take his bait – he’s the reason why were all sick & tired.
Just my two cents!
Making that peanut butter cake for sure.
Love ya!
Therese Cook
It’s really unfortunate I can’t enjoy reading a new recipe without reading someone’s politics. I’m a Republican- but also enjoy baking. I don’t enjoy mixing the two!
joythebaker
You are welcome here and you have the option to take only what you feel you need from this space.
Susan
I agree with Therese! Very disheartened to open this and yet again more politics. I thought this was about food/baking. Where do politics fit into this? No where.
The same reason I didn’t watch the Oscars. Not an appropriate platform for political opinions. If you want to discuss politics go do it on a blog that caters to it.
joythebaker
Welcome to my blog Susan, the one I’ve been running and writing and cooking for 12 good years now.
Kate
Good to know I’m not the only one using browser tabs as shopping (wish) lists! Your Sunday posts are the best part of my pre-getting-out-of-bed Sunday morning. Thanks for that.
Anna
THIS IS MY SUNDAY MORNING ROUTINE AS WELL. Wow. Cheers to Joy. & us. ;)
joythebaker
High-five to us, I’m glad you’re here!
Adrienne in Atlanta
I am on a news hiatus (even from calm NPR), so didn’t know this opinion piece from Yovanovitch had been written. Thank you for sharing it. I needed to read some common sense this morning. I appreciate your thoughtful offerings very much!
joythebaker
I felt like it was really thoughtful and I’m glad you found it here Adrienne!
Charlotte
As luck would have it, I had two cheap onigiri moulds arrive earlier this week, bought to beat the post-Japan holiday blues, so the timing of the Eater article is impeccable. It’s rainy and windy here in London today, so I’m going to spend my afternoon, making little rice triangles.
joythebaker
You are absolutely on the right track!