Let It Be Sunday, 297!

Hello friends! Good Sunday to you! 

You live in the world with me. You know what it is. We’ve waited all week to find out who the next president and vice president of the United States will be and it looks like change is on the horizon! Nothing in politics feels clean or perfect to me but I think there’s a lot to be said for intention towards unity and just… decency. I believe that we can, again, and with gusto this time, move towards a more perfect union. Even beyond politics, that’s the point of our time here, isn’t it? To be better with and for each other.

It was hard to focus this week. I think I managed, but I’d be hard pressed to tell you anything I actually did.  Actually that’s not correct. I just spent an unhealthy amount of time scrolling through people’s nasty comments back and forth on Instagram. Y’all it’s wild out there. I came away thinking we have a long way to go in understanding one anther if Instagram battles is how we’re communicating.   

Here we are. The offering this week is below. Take only what you need.  Next week I’ll have chicken pot pie for you so… we’re on the up and up if you don’t see anything you need in this particular post. 

•  It took two constitutional amendments and the Voting Rights Act for Black women to get the vote and here they are changing the tide in this country.  I found this to be an important read: What Black History Should Already Have Taught Us About The Fragility of American Democracy. (The New Yorker) 

•  This feels like truly 1000 years ago but this is an incredibly gracious and unifying moment lead by a good man (still though, you can hear the beginning of a ferocious dissent). The late John McCain’s concession speech in 2008. I also watched Barack Obama eulogize John McCain and gosh, we’ll get back to this kind of politic I hope?(YouTube) 

•  A very brief moment to remember U.S Representative John Lewis. (Instagram) 

•  How Do You Advertise a Town Ravaged by Hurricanes? We’re still thinking about our neighbors in Lake Charles and offering our relief donations here. (The New York Times and Imagine Water Works)

•  It is gumbo season and if you don’t already have the Mosquito Supper Club cookbook I highly recommend it. She has an entire chapter dedicated to gumbo and we’re all the better for it. (Book Larder)

•   This week I’m making Lemon Meringue Pie with a shortbread cookie crust from Erin McDowell’s Book on Pie.  It was my grandfather’s favorite pie and we always used to make one as a special treat for him.  Without him here we haven’t been eating nearly enough of this gem. I’ll fix that. (Parnassus Books) 

•  The 2020 Saveur 1oo. I do love a list.  (Saveur) 

•  I’m not going to skimp on creating my Christmas tree decorations. Last year was paper oranges and this year I’ve got my eye on this paper candle ornament tutorial. Cute and classic, don’t you think? (House That Lars Built)  

•  On my list of things to make and stock in my freezer last week was this Lentil and Sausage Soup from Food 52. It got pushed to next week’s to-do list but I’ll get there. 

•  I ordered a little sample of this Pluck Seasoning and I LOVE IT. It’s an everything seasoning made from bovine organs (which, as I type this, sounds wild) but it’s salty, oniony, umami, and full of nutrients. (EatPluck)

•  Book club for two includes me and my lightly long distance boo. We’re reading Island of the Lost together.  (Amazon) 

•  From the JtB archives I just a reminder that last year’s Winter Gin and Tonic is fresh and cozy AND Peanut Butter Banana Bon Bons make for excellent freezer snacks. . (Joy the Baker) 

•  Thank you THANK YOU to all of you who bought Joy the Baker Magazine and shared it with me on Facebook and Instagram! It really filly my heart to see you with it and to know you’ll be baking from it this holiday! 

I’m glad you’re here, friend! 

Have a wonderful day! 

My love to you.

xo Joy