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Let It Be Sunday, 400!

-Gentle January

January 15, 2023 by Joy the Baker 27 Comments

Hi friends! Goodmorninghellohowareyou? Welcome to the Middle of January.

A few years ago, at the suggestion of friend (and incredible JtB food photographer) Karlee Flores, I took on the life-affirming concept of Gentle January.  Rather than smashing my soul into crushing goals and expectations at the tail end of the holiday season, Karlee suggests we take January all the way easy – be GENTLE with ourselves.  It is, afterall, the middle of winter or, what editor Abby referred to as “if a month was a hangover” and what other creatures on this earth are trying to Tony Robbins their lives right now?  Can we have a minute? Can we have a month?  The answer is yes.

This Gentle January I’ve caught up on The Real Housewives of Potomac.  It’s messy. It’s a balm.  I’ve ordered coat hangers for my new closet in Houston but haven’t yet hung a thing.  I’ve taken early morning walks and discovered that there is a whole class of people willing to walk in the dark before the sun comes up.  I bought myself flowers at Trader Joe’s. I’ve spent some time to just think about how I want to feel this year and what little steps I can take towards that feeling.

If you smashed yourself into this month and you want to pull back a bit – let this be your call.  Chill.  It’ll all unfold with time.  It’s Sunday afterall.

Speaking of Sunday.  Can you believe this is the 400th (!!!) Let It Be Sunday post?  The first Let It Be Sunday post dates back to 2014 with a selfie in my friend Whitney’s house in Los Angeles during the going away party she threw for me before I moved to New Orleans.  What a time it’s all been. We have all been digging around in this life together for a lot of years, haven’t we?  I’m thankful for you.  Today’s Sunday post is a soft pillow.  As always, take only what you need.

•  This week’s long read is a feline led deep dive into interspecies friendship and it had me reaching for Tron who remains unimpressed by my existence and honestly, I respect that. Ugly Cats and the Loneliness of Man (LARB)

•  This week I had the distinct honor of chatting with my friend Deb before her book signing of Smitten Kitchen Keepers here in Houston.  Our chat was in front of a room of 100 people which is oddly par for the course for us? We had our last great chat at my book signing a few years back.  We’ve been on the internet together for so long that we realize, catching up and gushing about food in front of everyone is just what we do.  If you don’t have Keepers, you’re missing out on an epic collection of Deb’s best recipes.  It’s a must for any cookbook collection.  (Blue Willow Bookshop)

•  I am not a cryer. Are you a cryer?  Sometimes I wish I had more tears to offer but that would require me to spend more time with my feelings and…. nah.  BUT – a sad song while I’m in the car by myself has me reaching for the tissue in the glovebox.  Crying: my radical plan to get rid of my worst tendency in 2023. (Slate)

•  This is the first Mardi Gras season I’ve been away from New Orleans in years which means I’m carrying on with a January mostly free of glitter and plastic beads.  I’m actually getting my taxes sorted and… ok, I’m remembering how the rest of the country does the start of a new year.  What I will not forsake is the season of King Cake.  It’s the best way for those of us missing New Orleans to honor this festive time, even if we’re celebrating by reconciling business bank accounts. The most accessible Mardi Gras bake is this Easy One Dish King Cake though my favorite is a show stopping Pull-Apart Mardi Gras King Cake that bubbles up over a cast iron skillet. (Joy the Baker)

•  Let this month’s cozy manifest as a pot of  Homemade Hamburger Helper. It makes a big pot and I promise you’ll miss it when it’s gone. (Joy the Baker)

•  It’s not that I neeeeeded another fleece.  It’s that I neeeeeeded this Everlane fleece for it’s statement collar and long backside. Also pockets. This fleece paired with bike shorts and tennis shoes is my brand of Houston winter attire and I’m deeply sorry for those of you buried in snow. (Everlane)

•  Branding soup as a blender soup for two perks my ears and feels like something I’m willing to accomplish on a Wednesday at 6pm, maybe.  (Instagram)

•  I hope you have twelve people you’d like to make birthday cakes for this year because these are my 12 Best Birthday Cake Recipes. I refuse to pick a favorite and insist you make them all.  (Joy the Baker)

•  A new outrage: You Don’t Know How Bad the Pizza Box Is.  Ok but like… how much worse is it than the Boboli “pizza crust” that had a chokehold on Wilson family Friday nights through the 90’s?  I would argue this makes a case for my secret love of frozen pizza. (The Atlantic)

•  Ranking Every Celebrity Bathroom in Architectural Digest. I don’t want to be this way but I couldn’t not scross through alll 133 of these and I’m sorry in advance if your brain functions in the same way. (Buzzfeed)

Enjoy your Sunday friends. Be gentle.

My love to you.

xo Joy

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  1. Halley

    January 23, 2023 at 1:14 am

    btw: I cry way too easily. Thank god for waterproof mascara

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My prayer is that we are fortified, flexible, and My prayer is that we are fortified, flexible, and well fed this year.
Homemade Hamburger Helper with Sneaky Veggies. ⁣ Homemade Hamburger Helper with Sneaky Veggies. ⁣
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The thing is, you think you’re making enough for leftovers but somehow it’s all gone in one sitting. It’s that good. Recipe linked in the bio. Xo
I made these Almost Almond Croissant with a sheet I made these Almost Almond Croissant with a sheet of puff pastry and half a log of almond paste. Consider this a max volume weekend treat. ⁣
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You’ll need:⁣
- A thawed sheet of puff pastry, fridge cold⁣
- 3.5 ounces or half a log of almond paste cut into 12 even-ish pieces⁣
- An egg beaten for egg wash, with a splash of heavy cream and a glug of vanilla bean paste for extra luxury⁣
- Sliced almonds⁣
- Powdered sugar ⁣
⁣
Lightly roll a sheet of puff pastry and slice into six rectangles. ⁣
Brush each rectangle with egg wash. Arrange each with two slices almond paste. Pull two corners of the puff pastry up and over the paste, pressing lightly to seal. Brush lightly with egg wash. ⁣
⁣
Transfer to a small, parchment lined baking pan and allow to rest in the freezer while the oven preheats to 425 degrees f. ⁣
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Bake from chilled for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and again lightly brush with egg wash. Top with almond slices and bake for 6-8 minutes more. Keep an eye as to not burn the almonds. ⁣
⁣
Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar and enjoying warm.
No hesitation. Marshmallows in every cookie. ⁣
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These Almond Flour Banana Bread cookies are stacked with walnuts and chocolate and one of the best way I know how to celebrate a speckled banana. Find the recipe linked in the profile! xo #bananabread #glutenfreerecipes #joythebaker #cookies #bakingrecipes
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2 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⁣
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Everything bagel seasoning⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣
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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. ⁣
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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. ⁣
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Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣
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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. ⁣
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Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
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