Hello dear friends.
I can’t even tell you how many corn chips with hummus I’ve eaten in preparation for writing this post. Nearly an entire bag while watching a few episodes from season 3 of The Office. It’s a cleanse of sorts.
I found myself thinking back to the first Let It Be Sunday post I’ve ever written. What was that like? Turns out it was like this. But more distinctly I remember when I felt like I had to talk about more than just baked goods and bourbon. It was here, late August five years ago when James Foley was murdered. I felt like… gosh I can’t pretend like the world isn’t happening. (Joy the Baker)
Now? Good grief – how do we even approach this time? I guess as resiliently open-hearted as we can be. But wow each day is a day of news we truly have to brace for.
So… you know what happened this week. The first presidential debates was a fiasco. I just looked up the definition of fiasco, noun; a thing that is a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way. Checks out, maybe even feels like too mild a word. The President and many of the people around him tested positive for COVID-19 which is a disaster and wow doesn’t it feed fully into the constantly streaming news cycle? We’re all just, in it. I feel like I’m at the top of a rollercoaster reaching for my seatmates hand but the stakes are very high. (Vox)
And yet, I made cream puffs with a class full of bakers over Zoom this weekend because joy is a form of caring for ourselves, and caring for ourselves helps us take care of one another, and that’s how we get through this.
The offering this week is below. As always, and I really mean this, take only what you need.
• This is like a bell ringing clear. Women and moms are the doomsday preppers that matter and it’s not really about the guns it’s about being ready for anything the way women are everydamnday. I Am Not a Housewife. I’m a Prepper. (The New York Times)
• The aunt we all deserve: Ina Garten Barefoot in Quarantine. (The Cut)
• This week my friend Cara and I watched American Murder from afar at the same time (we absolutely pressed play at the same time) and texted in dismay the entire time. Even if you’re into true crime, this is a dark one. If you’re not into true crime just keep it moving. I say that with your best interests in mind. (Netflix)
• This week I threw on a sweater and made Rachel Ray’s Beef and Bean Chili. Good idea. Look out for an adaptation coming to the blog later next week! (Rachel Ray Magazine)
• There’s something weirdly satisfying about looking at a $14 million house and being like EH, I don’t love it. It’s called pettiness and yes, I’ve got some. (The Los Angeles Times)
• There are still a handful of tickets left for this fall’s Sweet Potato Pie baking class with me! We’ll add a few more virtual classes this year and a few more virtual classes just past the new year before we decide when to have in-person classes again. I certainly don’t mean to shove these classes in your face. I just want you to know about them if you want to know about them. (Eventbrite)
• A fall floral garland from A Beautiful Mess!
• When one of your favorite bookstores in the world (love you, Book Larder) sells a sweatshirt. (Bonfire)
• I splurged and ordered Bread SRSLY and it’s the most delicious gluten-free bread I’ve ever tried! (Bread SRSLY)
• Took my first bath of the chilly season with epsom salt and bentonite clay and it had me thinking about my grandpa’s favorite mustard bath. (Bulk Apothecary and Joy the Baker)
That’s all for today friends! Guard your heart and take good care.
My love to you today.
xo Joy
Stef
Did you ever post your adaptation of the chili recipe? Did I miss it? I very randomly keep thinking back to this all the time after not having made a good chili in years … I blame 2020 and our desire for comfort food. I mean, I know I can just click through and make the original recipe, but somehow I just know your adaptation will add just what we all need out of a good chili recipe this year. Also, no worries, in the meantime I’ve found plenty of other tasty recipes to try here, but still, that promise of a good chili recipe … :) Thanks, and stay well!
samantha campanini
Great reads!!
Kacie Reimer
Joy, that prepper article was so soothing for my heart! I loved it. More community, more resiliency, less fear, less scarcity. Thank you for sharing, as always!
Joanne
Pheeeeewewww. I thought – when you started this LIBS post and were questioning how you got here – that you were going to tell us this would be your last one. I have been reading you for ages, and rarely comment, but I do take what I need and appreciate everything you write.
Since the shutdown, I find myself rarely checking my “usual” blogs, but I always come back to yours. Sometimes for the cooking and recipes (thank you for the lemon-cherry ice box cake – I made it into a lemon blueberry icebox cake) – but mostly for your straight-forward talk, caring conversations and these LIBS summaries of the week.
You are helping me maintain my perspective, and you are very much appreciated.
Dottie
Thanks for another wonderful Sunday roundup Joy. (And yes, it is Monday. But Sunday was sooo busy!)
I am always grateful for the kindness in your voice. In the chaos that is our world right now, your kind tone is so very appreciated. You are the best blend of humor, empathy, a pinch of reality and an overflowing cup of Joy.
kiki
That house looks like a medical office. LOL
joythebaker
Totally, hahaha.
Poppy
Thanks for sharing that you watched American Murder. I remembered hearing about that, so I decided to watch it. It was the proverbial train wreck feelings. It was so horrifying I wanted to stop watching…but couldn’t. It hurt my soul to think someone could be that evil. It was really well made and so heartbreaking.
seattleheather
I have to tell you, I’ve been sending my parents mustard bath for a year or so now after gifting it for Christmas and they think it’s a miracle and call it Heather’s Magic Mustard Bath (they do a lot of manual labor and swear it’s the only thing that helps them wake up without aches). I laughed and told them i got the recipe from you and it’s ON the internet, LOL. I now buy dry mustard in bulk at Business Costco! Thanks for helping me be a hit with my parents! :)
Jess
I’m not entirely sure what the Sunday scaries have morphed into these days…I don’t have to put on real pants and drive to the office on Mondays anymore, but the weeks can still be hard to face. Thanks for what you do here, it’s a bright spot in my weekends every week. <3
joythebaker
You’re totally right, Jess. The Sunday Scaries have morphed into a different thing. There’s more scaries and they’re just dispersed throughout the week? I mean… we’re all just going to figure this out.
Hazel @ Places + Peonies
I was thinking about when the LIBS post was coming out today, I just felt like I needed to read it. The world is a crazy place right now and 2020 is full of “well, that ALSO happened…” while I watch from inside my home cause Texans don’t understand the concept of social distancing or how to wear a mask. So bring on the DoorDash and Whole Foods Prime delivery!
joythebaker
I know and love a lot of Texans and some of them are just goin’ for it out there. Same with Louisiana. :) Stay safe, my friend.
Chris W,
Thank for referencing the Ina article. I have most of her cookbooks and await anxiously for the new one this week. I ordered an autographed copy – she’s my absolute favorite cookbook author. I love that she always includes text with each recipe. I’m a new reader of your blog and I like it so much – thank you.
joythebaker
She’s such a gift to us! Thanks for being here Chris!
Emmy
These posts are always a sacred spot in my weekends. Thank you for hitting publish!
joythebaker
We’re in this together. :)
Carol
You might like ‘The Office Ladies podcast’ if you’re watching ‘The Office.’ It’s full of friendship, respect, and cheer.
joythebaker
There are a few Office podcasts I’ve listened to! Yes, thanks Carol!
Ankita
I absolutely love how you put it… “Joy is a form of caring for ourselves, and caring for ourselves helps us take care of one another, and that’s how we get through this.“ Thank you for the reminder.
joythebaker
Thanks for being here!