Hi friends!
Me here. Joy. Joy Wilson. Joy the Baker.
That I greet us as friends each and every Sunday is no accident. That’s sincerely how I feel. If you’re here, if you’ve decided to come here beyond where google has landed you in search of a chocolate chip cookie recipe, I consider us friends. What I’ve seen the last few weeks in the comment section here has me feeling like we’ve forgotten we’re friends in baking, if nothing else.
Here’s the thing – I spend a lot of time in the kitchen making and sharing recipes that I’m proud of and my hope is that those recipes find their way to your kitchen and fortify you with the same pride. My work is to help you find joy and care to share in your very own kitchens. On Friday and Saturday I cull through the internet collecting links to things that struck a chord with me in the hopes that they strike a chord with you too, maybe give voice to a thing you’ve felt alone in or never even considered. It’s not groundbreaking, sometimes it’s just a purse I like.
I don’t want you to forget that I’m a person making my way through this year as best I can, just like you. This blog is free99 for you to enjoy and you have the agency to come here or not. Your declarations of disappointment in me, that since you come here and you’ve bought my books and now realize that we might have a political difference makes me feel like you’ve forgotten my humanity. This is me waving hey – it’s me, just a person with her own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I’m glad you’re here. I want you to be here. It’s ok by me if we agree on everything just as it’s ok by me if don’t agree on much of anything besides cake. I’ve always thought that we have more in common than we have that separates us. Please don’t forget me as a person and not just a website. Please don’t turn this space that I’ve create for us into your political battleground. Please don’t forget that I consider us friends.
The offering this week is below. You know the rules, take only what you need:
• Why We Sigh and I am doing A LOT of sighing this year. (Vice)
• What A Simple Haiku Can Do for a Friendship (The Atlantic)
• What is the best compliment you’ve received lately? What’s the most thoughtful compliment you’ve given? I’m reminded of this old post on Joy the Baker this week: Compliment Club. Ok but like, why is it so hard to accept a compliment? (Joy the Baker and VerilyMag)
• Can I talk you into adding some Billie Holiday to your Sunday because The United States vs Billie Holiday looks incredibly beautiful! I love this version of All The Way. (Vanity Fair and Spotify)
• I’ve been saving this You’re Wrong About podcast deep dive into Princess Diana for a long gardening day and I think today is the day! See also: Princess Diana’s Most Underrated Style Moments (Apple Podcast and Elle)
• Made my dad’s sweet potato pie filling this weekend and needed to make sure it could stay steady in the freezer until the big day: How To Bake and Freeze Pumpkin Pie Before Thanksgiving (The Kitchn)
• If you’re thinking of making fresh rolls for the upcoming holidays, these tips from King Arthur are super helpful: Freeze and Bake Dinner Rolls. (King Arthur Flour)
• This Southern Panzanella Salad is going to be on my Thanksgiving table. It’s a small table this yea so… more bread salad for me. (Joy the Baker)
• We’re about to live that cranberry life: an Oceanspray cranberry harvest, my Cranberry Cream Cheese Rolls, and the sexy cranberry top I’m going to wear at home all winter.
• I’m brainstorming homemade holiday gifts and this a little off season but I want to make a few of these Basket Backpacks. (Delia Creates)
• This Chocolate Fudge Pecan Pie has stopped me in my tracks! It looks like it an underdone brownie pecan pie EXCUSE US! (Love and Olive Oil)
• While we’re talking about pie (and I’ll be talking about pie nonstop until the end of the year) let’s please discuss this Fall-Spice Pudding Pie with GF Nut Crust from queen Erin McDowell. She shared this recipe on Voraciously and if you don’t subscribe to the Washington Posts food section I really do recommend it. (Washington Post)
• My Sunday dinner is going to be these Crunchy Lentil Chicken Tenders thanyouverymuch Food52!
That’s what I have for us today and I’ll have a fresh pie recipe for you next week!
Enjoy this fine Sunday.
My love to you,
xo Joy
Sooz
I. Treasure. You. On Sundays and on every other day, too. Thank you for sharing all that you do, all that you think and feel, and for letting us be part of your wonderful life in New Orleans.
Kate
Love your posts and online presence, recipes, and general vibe! Know we’d also be friends in person. Know how appreciated you are! ??
Yaara
Joy, I’m so sorry you’ve been put in this position. You’ve thoughtfully, graciously, lovingly created a space here that’s so welcoming and open – I think so many of us consider you a friend, too (even if we don’t comment, guilty). This week is as good a time as any, then, to thank you for this space; for making it about more than baking, for making it about LIFE – there are so many places to find a recipe for cookies, I come here for those too, but mostly for your beautiful honest human voice. I appreciate your honesty so much, and your acknowledgment of the complicated life that we’re living and baking through. Thank you, friend. My love to you
Molly
I was going to leave my own comment. But, truly, my thoughts are already here, so I’ll just simply say, “I wholly concur with Yaara.”
Jess
Same same, ladies. <3 Much love to you, Joy.
Amy
I feel the same. Thank you for what you create for us and share with us. Thank you for being who you are.
Barbara
Layup. Me, too.
Paula
Jumping on this bandwagon. I’ve been here for … a decade? with you and this is one of only two blogs that I haven’t tossed to the wayside over the years.
Laynie
My thoughts exactly Yaara! Love you Joy.
Miranda
Ditto, Yaara. I have read so many insightful, eye opening articles from you over the years, Joy, and laughed at the silly pieces, and been reminded not to take myself too seriously, even if we are kickass baker’s because of the knowledge you freely share every day! I hardly ever stop to comment, but you bet I tell everyone where I got my recipe when they comment on it, and if I post what I’ve made, you’re tagged every time! Ignore the haters; it is unfortunate they aren’t willing to have an honest moment of introspection and see if they might learn something when they see someone they say they admire sharing different views, rather than jumping to criticize.. Keep sharing what you want to share. We want to read it.
adam
Thank you. I think you’re absolutely brilliant. My wife has decided to put the sugar down, so I bake less, but still follow your work which has brought me so much joy. (I smile especially a lot on Sundays). I enjoy being with folk who love what they do, and you have a keen affection for your work. Thanks for letting us all tag along and calling us friends. It’s an honor.
Angie
I really look forward to your Sunday posts! Thank you!!
carol t.
It’s becoming more disgusting to know of the beastliness revealed by the anonymity of social media….that what wouldn’t dared be said to your face is all too easily typed out and posted mostly for the perverse pleasure of the sender. I am sorry for your having to endure this and that your generosity is slapped back by the selfish.
Thank you for all the hard work you put into your weekly offerings.
Nik
Yes! What Carol said! Some people just suck (yeah, I said it, I am not as eloquent as Carol, clearly ?)
Let that be their problem. You let it be Sunday! Thank you for the time and careful consideration you spend to put this out every week.
Angela Gurney
Well said.
Darla
Hi Friend! Yes, I consider us friends. I truly get up every Sunday looking forward to reading Let It Be Sunday. It’s a beautiful escape from these crazy times. I often forward to family and friends nuggets that you share with us. Thank you for your offerings each week, whether they are articles that you find, a darling dress (yes, I have a website tab always open), or a recipe you’ve tested time and time again. I thank you ??
Susan
You stay just the way you are. You’re a breath of fresh air and positivity!
Cassy
I love you. I don’t care who you vote for. And I don’t care who you sleep with. I love you for who you are. And I love you for your funny Instagram stories
Charles
I hope that we can all be together as friends in these trying times. Let’s not forget that we are all in this too. I so enjoy your writings, it’s one of the best thing about Sunset…
Joy Dyson
Well I’m sorry you’ve even had to say that :-(
I love your Sunday blogs and very much look forward to them. And I love your cake :-)
Thank you XOXOXO
LB
Agreed, it’s so sad that you of all people even had to say this. Makes me sad for this world. :(
You’re a wonderful person doing wonderful things. Stay you!
Di
Thank you, Joy for your wonderful blog. I look forward to reading each new post. Keep on doing what you do, it is wonderful! Stay safe and well, and keep on cooking and blogging x
Rebecca
You have much graciousness. Thanks for the offerings this week and thanks for being you.
Carole Ichikawa
Joy, your grace and kindness and talent are so admirable. I’ve read your blog since 2009 but I’ve never commented until today. Your post today was the definition of STEEL!
You have created a beautiful site and I appreciate the connection to New Orleans. I lived there in1985 and I understand how it gets into your soul even if you’re not from there.
Thank you !
Annie
Joy, I loved the introduction to this week’s post. The points you make about people forgetting one another’s humanity struck a chord, and I’m sorry that you’ve been the target of some individual’s anger. Here’s hoping that sometime in the future we can all give each other grace, see one another as sisters, wives, brothers and family and less like “the other”. After all, every one loves cake, right?
Demethra Pinkston
Well said!
Lisa
Yes, very well said, Joy. Thank you for staying the course!