Friends, hello!ย ย 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.ย Thank you for the grace.ย 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.ย 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.ย I love it all and we’ll continue to grow here, that’s my promise.
The offering this week is below.ย Take only what feels good:
โขย In case you too have blacked out and completely forgotten what has happened this year: Buzzfeed’s Most Powerful Photos of 2021.ย
โขย Where do you land with vision boards or resolutions at the top of the year?ย I think the pandemic really freed me of new year’s resolutions.ย 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.ย 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.ย (GoodFoodCookingSchool)
โขย 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.
โขย 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.ย (NPR and The Guardian)
โขย I feel like you’re either a space person or a deep sea person.ย 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)
โขย 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.
โขย A podcast I was absolutely obsessed with this week: Maintenance Phase onย 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.ย I’ve known a couple of people who have worked for her so I… know too much.ย She’d be a cult leader if we let her. (Apple Podcast)
โขย Related: how many times have you watched Tony Robbins’ I Am Not Your Guru? (Netflix)
โขย This Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing made it onto Will’s Birthday Steak Dinner Extravaganza menu for next week.ย (How Sweet Eats)
โขย 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.ย (Smitten Kitchen)
โขย 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.ย His Red Beans and Rice are an effort and the best I’ve ever had.ย Maybe while we slow down and take our time this coming week we treat ourselves to his pot of beans. (Mississippi Vegan)
โขย If we’re looking for a New Year’s recipe, theseย Black Eyed Peas with Cornbread Dumplings could have us eating our way towards wealth and prosperity.ย To be fair, I feel like the same could be said for Dad’s Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, too.ย (Joy the Baker)
Happy New Year, friends! I love that you’re here. More soon.
My best to you.
xo Joy
18 Responses
What a lovely picture of you and your parents! I thoroughly enjoy reading your Sunday recaps. Even though I’m not the greatest of bakers, your blog is one of the only ones that I’ve kept on my reading list over the years.
Buzzfeed post moved me so much!
Happy new year Joy. I’ve enjoyed another year of your posts and your guests’ posts.
I’m with you on resolutions. I have some inspirations for the upcoming year, which seems like a positive approach to a new year.
I am looking forward to all you share in 2022.
I loved being a part of your Live Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls zoom on Christmas Eve! It was so fun and really put in the Christmas spirit! They turned out so well too and had way too many :). Thanks again!
The buzz feed article was a total
Gut punch. This year was a lot
Ok but what if we’re terrified of deep space and deep sea? Option 3: Can I be a solid ground on earth person? Happy holidays and new years Joy, thank you for one of my favorite places on the internet :)
Iโm a huge fan of Maintenance Phase and those Rachel Hollis episodes were wild. Whew!
“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.”
Thank you for putting this into words. New years resolutions never really worked for me and I agree, the pandemic changed my mindset on them.
All the best to you and your loved ones! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
What a beautiful family! You all make me smile!
I was obsessed with those episodes of Maintenance Phase! Their snark is brilliant and I love when they giggle! Itโs a gift. I knew Rachel Hollis was insufferable but I had no idea what her backstory was. Wildly interesting. .
Do find a painting class my friend, it is so fun. It is all about seeing. Cheers to a happy 2022!
My daughter got into college this week in New Orleans and we all are over the moon for her! She is a baker and it’s been my secret little dream for her to get into this dream school of hers and to take occasional JTB classes (maybe pairing up with her mom when I come into town for a visit!). And all of this is looking like it could be a possibility! What a week! :)
Itโs great to hear your voice on Sundays whatever the time. Enjoy your family and friends. Be safe healthy
Joy! I just watched all the spirals on Instagram and laughed and laughed. You are so delightful. Happiest holidays.
Happy New Years, Joy! You are simply the best and have been brining a smile to me for the past 13 years!
Maintenance Phase is so good! I wasn’t real familiar with Rachel Hollis going into those episodes, but wow. Every episode of that podcast is worth a listen.
Happy New Year Joy! What a true pleasure it is to check in with you and your beautifully curated list of what is dazzling you each week. Love the pic of you and your parents and pray many blessings for you all in the year to come.
Merry Christmas Joy!
Iโm so glad youโve found your way to Maintenance Phase. I think itโs truly one of my favorite podcasts ever and it just blows my mind on a regular basis. Michael also did another podcast for years called โYouโre Wrong Aboutโ and it is a fascinating look at major media events and/or people. Highly recommend!