• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Camp Joy

Let It Sunday, 371!

-That one time in NYC

May 7, 2022 by Joy the Baker 30 Comments

Since it’s Mother’s Day, let me tell you one of my most treasured memories with my mom.

A few years back, in the spring of 2017 Mom and I flew to New York City so I could be on the actual Today Show promoting my last book Over Easy.   It was my first time on very live, very national television and to say that I was nervous was an understatement.  Mom and I walked from our midtown hotel up to Rockefeller Center and, because I was a monster I said, “Mom this is New York we have to walk and we have to walk fast,” and despite having knee surgery  (or pre-surgery knee pain, I can’t quite remember) she put her NYC walk ON and we made it up and back for rehearsal.

I don’t remember much of the Today Show. They hustle you in makeup and in the studio before the sun has even broken the horizon.  And honestly, I was truly so nervous that the sound of Matt Lauer’s voice as he entered to studio sent me into a legitimate blackout. I don’t remember a thing we filmed in that few minutes segment.  What I do remember is seconds after the segment – all the boom cameras move away, the producers scatter to their next segments, and my mom rushed up to me from the back of the studio her face just… shocked.  I said, “did I do ok!?” because I genuinely did not know if I was even speaking English (the only language I speak fluently so – fingers crossed).  My mom assured me that her shock was because I had done a great job – and she just couldn’t believe it all. I could have cried. I might have cried actually.

We walked back to our hotel where I promptly fell asleep while my mom called our whole family on the west coast to tell them that despite being blacked out I made muffins with Matt Lauer (which… doesn’t age well but happened all the same).

I feel so fortunate to get to make more memories with my mom but that trip to New York stands in my mind as a time I held my mom close as my best friend and cheerleader mom I’ll always need.  And she looks so cute next to the Flatiron Building before we ate a bunch of pasta for dinner.

It’s Sunday which means I have links for you.  Just take what you need this Mother’s Day.  Take it easy.

•  Of Course The Constitution Has Nothing To Say About Abortion. (The New Yorker)

•  Instagram knows I like pottery and it feels like every other post is a new potter I need to follow and support and I suppose as soon as every plate, bowl, and mug in my house is hand thrown I’ll have really made my own dreams come true.  Round Trip Clay Works

•  I always bring back exciting bags of international chips to gift when I come from a trip abroad (haha, remember that!?).  The real difficulty is somehow not eating all the chips before I gift them which takes very keen hiding-chips-from-myself skills because KETCHUP CHIPS YES.  All of this to ask – Why Are American Chips So Boring? (Eater)

•  I dusted off this vintage JtB soup recipe this week and added about 1/4 of heavy cream because I love myself.  Spinach Soup with Garlic Thyme Croutons.  I’ve eaten this soup for three days in a row and now the rest will go live in the freezer until it feels new to my tastebuds again.

•  This week I’m listening to PJ Morton’s newest album Watch the Sun. (Spotify)

•  Our favorite VB (villian blogger) Kim Baldwin has an incredible podcast called Ladyland (but you knew that already, right?). This week Kim announced videos ahead of her upcoming season on the show.  Please enjoy catching up with author Mary Laura Philpot. Spoiler alert, there’s a standing desk made of trash. (Instagram, Ladyland)

•  Jessica’s Green Bean Crunch Salad  is the taste and texture I want from my veggies.  (How Sweet Eats)

•  It’s rhubarb season though, truth be told, rhubarb is pretty elusive here in Louisiana.  Hopefully you’re blessed with these sour pinky stalks.  Here’s some inspiration: my Buttery Crisp Rhubars (they’re very easy pie bars with a cheeky name), Jon’s Rhubarb Gin Fizz, and Deb’s Rhubarb Snacking Cake. (Joy the Baker, Instagram, Smitten Kitchen)

•  An unexpectedly easy way to get funnel cake into your face at record speed – and it’s baked, baby! (Joy the Baker)

•  These are my new favorite jeans. Yes, I’m back to wearing hard pants (if they have plenty of stretch). I tried on a few old pairs of shorts and promptly called the police. I hate shorts. All shorts should go straight to jail. (Rock & Roll Denim)

•  I’m not buying a new bathing suit this year because the YouSwim bathing suit I bought last year is my forever bathing suit.

•  Next week I’ll have some precious book recommendations from our friend Toby Lowenfels which couldn’t come at a better time because I need a book escape.  But, I also LOVE a good re-read.  I’m thinking of re-reading Wally Lamb’s I Know This Much Is True. He’s one of my favorite authors and I don’t remember much about storyline as much as I remember the all consuming feeling it gave me. (Thriftbooks)

Enjoy your Sunday. I really hope you do.

My love to you.

xo Joy

Previous PostNext Post

Categories: Let It Be Sunday!

Previous Post: « Oven-Baked Pea, Pancetta and Lemon Risotto
Next Post: The Best Nonfiction Books for Summer 2022 »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. JenS

    May 15, 2022 at 10:39 pm

    The Spring weather may be coming late to the Pacific NorthWest yet we’ve got rhubarb! I made a cake similar to Deb’s in SK with a yummy crumble topping last week. Also due to make a new batch of cordial. The rhubarb fizz cocktail in your link sounds divine.
    I don’t know where I’d be without shorts. Granted, for many years I worked for the YMCA, in camps, schools and in childcare so they were a necessity. If I could find more comfortable and affordable pants and skirts with functional pockets that would make the cozy adult me so happy.

    Reply
  2. Lynn

    May 14, 2022 at 10:42 am

    Thanks for the rhubarb reminder! I need to find some at the farmer’s market and try that snacking cake. Also time to make the annual rhubarb infused vodka! So good in so many cocktails.

    Reply
  3. Terry Sauer

    May 11, 2022 at 7:16 pm

    I remembered your appearance on the Today Show, It was great. I taped it because I had to go to work early that day. Apparently I still have it on my dvr! I will have to rewatch it

    Reply
  4. kara

    May 10, 2022 at 6:08 am

    There is a little Japanese store by us that is amazing. They sell these seaweed potato chips (Calbee’s Seaweed & Salt) that are so light and crunchy with the perfect amount of seaweed flavoring. I can devour a whole bag in one sitting.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Let It Be Sunday!

Let It Be Sunday, 437!

If you’re a Joan Didion fan, this subhead may give you a clue as to what’s coming. If not, this is my not so subtle way of telling you goodbye. For now. You may still see me round these parts here and there, but I’m stepping back from the regular rotation.  Joy and I have…

Read More

Let It Be Sunday, 436!

Friends, hi! You know I love a list. Generally, I reserve my self-indulgent, fun lists to the summer months but I just… I need a little extra this year.   The Summer Bucket List has been going strong since 2015 (can you believe) and the amount of joy I get from crossing off these lists over…

Read More

Let It Be Sunday, 435!

Hello! It’s September, which means that I am fully ready for my first viewing of You’ve Got Mail and have spent some time eyeing my sweaters, but I am still sweating every afternoon and using my air conditioner. In California, true fall weather is probably at least a month out, but in my heart, I…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

2023 CAMP JOY SUMMER ZINE – get it here!

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

MY FAVORITE CAMPING GEAR

SHOP MY FAVORITE GEAR HERE! 

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

CHECK IT OUT ON INSTAGRAM

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

close up of strawberry shortcake recipe with soft whipped cream

Dad’s Biscuits Make The Best Shortcake

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker, author of books, lover of butter
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
📝Inquiries megan@underscoretalent.com

joythebaker
We’re About to Be Friends featuring @grossypelos We’re About to Be Friends featuring @grossypelosi and his gigantic meatballs! ♥️🤝🤯
Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made wit Chai-Spiced Sugar Cookies #taylorsversion made with an old sugar cookie recipe I made back in 2009 (like whaaat?) and a boatload of warm autumn spiced @taylorswift added to the dough.⁣
⁣
This cookie recipe explodes on my site every September and for good reason. We’re fall girlies and we love a little nutmeg glaze. ⁣
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile! Xo
I don’t know what it is about this year, but I j I don’t know what it is about this year, but I just need more light-hearted fun, more hugs, more breakfast made by mom, and more coffee walks in the sand. Let’s do autumn now, nice and steady.
🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeas 🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeast bagel magic for your Sunday morning. ⁣
⁣⁣
Two Easy No-Yeast Bagels⁣⁣
1/2 cup self-rising flour⁣⁣
4 tablespoons greek yogurt (plus a teaspoon or two more if needed)⁣
1 large egg, beaten for egg wash⁣⁣
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated gouda or gruyere⁣⁣
Everything bagel seasoning⁣⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In a small bowl, use a firm spatula to work together the flour and yogurt. Add a few teaspoons of yogurt if it feels dry and knead into a cohesive ball for 5 minutes or so. Sprinkle with a bit more flour if it gets overly sticky. Cover with a damp paper towel and gather your toppings. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Sprinkle the bottom of the prepared pan with grated cheese in two spots.  Pour boiling water over the baking soda and float each bagel in the water for 20 or so seconds.  Use a slotted spot or spatula to transfer the bagels on top of the cheese.  Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with more cheese and everything bagel seasoning. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
The secret to really great muffins is eating them The secret to really great muffins is eating them warm, with a big smear of butter and a sprinkle flakey sea salt. ❇️ This goes for any muffin but is especially delicious on these a Vegan Carrot Zucchini Harvest Muffins because they have so many veggies they’re basically a salad. ❇️ Full recipe linked in the bio! Xo
This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is pa This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is packed with oats, @guittardchocolate baking wafers, and candy coated chocolate pieces from @traderjoes. ✌️ It’s the perfect weekend bake, babes! Full recipe linked in the profile!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up