-Adding to the story

Friends, hello!   Welcome to another morning together!

I’m admittedly a little tardy with this last Sunday post of the year because I opted for more family time than computer time this week.  Thank you for the grace.  I wish the same for you, but glad you’re here (maybe with a hot cup of tea – I always want a bevvie for you) and a moment to yourself.

Here is where I sit still and marvel at another fine year we’ve had together here.  If you’re here just for the recipes or just for the Sunday posts – I’m truly so thankful for all the goodwill we’ve build here together. Thank you for welcoming Toby Lowenfels and Kim Baldwin as new voices here. Thank you for making these Taylor Swift Chai Cookies the most popular recipe on the site in years. Thank you for spiraling with me on Instagram, buying and baking from the magazine, and making my cake mixes part of your life celebrations.  I love it all and we’ll continue to grow here, that’s my promise.

The offering this week is below.  Take only what feels good:

•  In case you too have blacked out and completely forgotten what has happened this year: Buzzfeed’s Most Powerful Photos of 2021. 

•  Where do you land with vision boards or resolutions at the top of the year?  I think the pandemic really freed me of new year’s resolutions.  All year, every year I just want to add to the story of myself. Simply see about what else I can do in the world.  So far I’m going to sign up for this gluten-free puff pastry class and find a painting class to take in New Orleans.  (GoodFoodCookingSchool)

•  Found myself lost in this post on Cup of Jo: What’s The Nicest Thing Anyone’s Said To You? This week the nicest thing anyone has said to me was my grandmother calling me by the pet name only she calls me.

•  This month we lost both bell hooks and Joan Didion and I carted out my copies of All About Love and South and West – books that have been essential “purse books” that I carry around constantly at various times in my life.  (NPR and The Guardian)

•  I feel like you’re either a space person or a deep sea person.  I’m a space person so you’ll find me absolutely stopped in my tracks about the sun’s gravity, solar wind, and how but we touched the sun! (Kottke.org)

•  Things I loved on Instagram lately are Karlee making candied oranges and Jon’s new show about baking the recipe on the back on packages.

•  A podcast I was absolutely obsessed with this week: Maintenance Phase on  Rachel Hollis part 1 and part 2. You either know too much about Rachel Hollis or you have no idea what I’m talking about.  I’ve known a couple of people who have worked for her so I… know too much.  She’d be a cult leader if we let her. (Apple Podcast)

•  Related: how many times have you watched Tony Robbins’ I Am Not Your Guru? (Netflix)

•  This Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing made it onto Will’s Birthday Steak Dinner Extravaganza menu for next week.  (How Sweet Eats)

•  I have to say, my little warm-weather heart can’t handle New York until the springtime but Deb’s New York Sour reads like a sip of a New York visit from my couch in New Orleans.  (Smitten Kitchen)

•  My friend Timothy makes some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. It happens to be vegan and is certainly made with so much care.  His Red Beans and Rice are an effort and the best I’ve ever had.  Maybe while we slow down and take our time this coming week we treat ourselves to his pot of beans. (Mississippi Vegan)

•  If we’re looking for a New Year’s recipe, these  Black Eyed Peas with Cornbread Dumplings could have us eating our way towards wealth and prosperity.  To be fair, I feel like the same could be said for Dad’s Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, too.  (Joy the Baker)

Happy New Year, friends! I love that you’re here. More soon.

My best to you.

xo Joy