The plot points of life are coming fast and furious this week. It’s only (and already) July of an election year and…. buckling up would be the least we should do. I’d also recommend stocking dry goods in the pantry and planting potatoes and garlic this fall because… what is the world exactly?
I feel like we’re rippin and runnin through this summer but did we consent to this speed? I have yet to even write my yearly Summer Bucket List which, shame on me really. I’m still very much living a Summer Bucket List life because I’ve learned, by the sheer force and determination of Will and our friend Bob, to WATER SKI. Turn’s out water skiing is mostly about one’s capacity to take on speed, pressure, and massive amounts of water to the face. It’s an insane activity, let’s be clear. It only took me four (or five) days to learn so, highly recommend for everyone in their early forties (with no shoulder injuries) as a means of staying humble and hydrated. I drank half of Arkansas’ Lake Hamilton.
I hope you’ve got your feet in some grass or a body of water this summer. I hope there’s shade and a sandwich. Today’s Sunday offering is below. As always, take only what you need.
• “Civility, the art of human flourishing, is the basic respect and consideration that we are owed, and owe to other members of the human community. It is the habitual self-sacrifice necessary to peaceably co-exist with others across difference. It’s the process of overcoming the self-love endemic to our nature so that the social aspects of who we are can flourish. It enables us to not merely survive as a species, but thrive.” What Emily Post and Daniel of Beccles Can Teach Us About Civility Today. Does it come down to the trust and transparency of dinner manners? We can’t be too far gone, right? (Time)
• I’m ready to cling to this summer’s Paris Olympics because it might be the best display of humanity we have right now. I loved this piece on the unique attitude and career of Simone Biles: The Eras Tour: Simone’s Version. And if we aren’t full body rooting for Sha’Carri Richardson, what are we even doing? (ESPN, Vogue)
• RIP Shannen Doherty. The lessons on girlhood I learned in the 90’s from Brenda Walsh are too many to count. (LA Times)
• The Vanderpump Rules universe is like one of those weeds whose offshoots take root in the ground and spread, just with much more ridiculous interpersonal drama. I’m ashamed to say I know every twist and turn. The Surreal Simulations of a Reality TV Restaurant Empire. (The New Yorker)
• I can confirm Tarantulas Are Crawling Across Texas Looking For Love because there are several that walk through my backyard like they own the joint. With their size alone, they make a solid ownership claim. I recently saved one from drowning in the pool, placed him tenderly on the lawn, then ran screaming inside and locked the door. “Move to the country,” they said. (Texas Monthly)
• Have you heard of the Blue Mind Theory? It involves a marine biologist, water, and manifesting. Follow up question: can we do this from the pool? (Apartment Therapy)
• Couple friends are perhaps the most elusive of friendships to make out in the wild. There’s a lot of balance that needs to happen with four established adult personalities. Here’s some advice: How To Make Friends with Other Couples. Or there’s always this perspective. (Self, YouTube)
• A Summer Tomato Galette makes a strong case for turning on the oven this weekend. (Joy the Baker)
• Should I develop a JtB recipe for White Texas Sheet Cake? All honor and respect to the classic chocolate Texas sheet cake but like… do we want a vanilla version? Real question. Maybe it’s a browned butter, vanilla bean, almond situation. Almonds don’t feel right but I don’t think pecans quite fit. I’ll figure this out. Please advise below. (Taste of Home)
• Highly recommend we make a batch of candied jalapeno slices. On sandwiches? They’re a king maker. (The Pioneer Woman)
• This is definitely the small cake cutting hack I didn’t know we needed because whenever I bring out a cake everyone hesitates and say “Oh, I’ll just take a small slice”. What is it with that? (Instagram)
• Please allow me to gently remind you to save some summer peaches for Karlee’s end of summer Peach Butter. (Joy the Baker)
• I’ve been on a bread baking kick all year because… who can afford a nice loaf of bread at the grocery store in this economy (?), not me so… I’ve been leaning hard on no-knead overnight loaves and these beeswax bags to keep them fresh all week. (King Arthur Baking, Amazon)
• Take a nap today. (Scientific American)
My love to you! Enjoy your Sunday.
xo Joy
22 Responses
Hear me out Joy, can the sheet cake have butterscotch? I don’t know why I feel butterscotch candy and Texas go together but I do.
If there is anyone who can create a prize winning version of a vanilla sheet cake it would be you! What if you married your New Orleans back ground with Texas, and developed a “wedding cake flavored” white Texas sheet cake? Wedding cakes from the New Orleans area were the best; they have been tweaked so much over the years, and many have lost that “almond wedding cake” flavor. Toasted pecans would be a nice addition if you feel the need to add some nuts. I am looking forward to where your creative talents take you!! Thank you so much! You are a true Joy!
Throwback to mall cookies… White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut for the cake??
I think pecans would work in a White Texas Sheet Cake if you go the brown butter route. Plus pecans are Texan and almonds are not!
After we experienced a recent loss is the family, a kind friend said she was bringing over Texas sheet cake. We were surprised (and secretly a little disappointed) to see it wasn’t chocolate when it arrived. That feeling quickly disappeared with the first bite. It was excellent, and it definitely had almond extract.
Yes, yes to a white sheet cake and I’d love additional instructions for a half sheet cake! Also, that video for cutting mini cake slices is brilliant! Thanks for sharing it!
What about some miso in that sheet cake? I had a miso blondie 2 years ago and I’m still thinking about it!
First of all, I always get a few much needed laughs from your Sunday posts. Thank you for being both realistic about our situation, but with a nice dose of humor to get us through it. For the vanilla sheet cake, How about a good sprinkling of salted peanuts on your browned butter vanilla cake and browned butter icing? I love salty sweet and it just might work.
My sheet cake mood right now would be some sort of marshmallow cream and pistachio situation. I also love your coconut cake recipe, which is my go-to for when I want a summery white cake. I’m glad you enjoyed Lake Hamilton! I lived in Arkansas for a while and it is a hidden gem. Not as many tarantulas as Texas but they do make an appearance!
Happy Sunday!! Thank you for the consistent great read and ideas! Yes please, a white texas cake, with pecans :) and less almond drench. You’re the best!
Hi!! Thank you for a fun read. I went down a rabbit hole on the whole bread thing. Do you keep a bowl of dough in the fridge and bake a loaf every few days? Also, do you use a Dutch oven? Regarding the sheet cake, I love the chocolate version so much it seems like a waste to vanillify it. Why not just invent a terrific summer vanilla cake with a poured frosting. I like it better in a regular pan, than a sheet pan. I’ve never understood that. Or, be like the French and do a really simple cake with no frosting, just a few simple ingredients with some almonds on top with sugar. YUM. BTW, I am going to try that sandwich on your bread post. OMG!!!
Absolutely yes to the White Texas Sheet Cake!
Yes please develop a White Texas Sheet Cake. I’d really like to try it but most of the recipes I’ve seen are almond heavy. Central Market makes one but I’ve never wanted to spend the money to try it b/c I don’t see how it can be as good as the chocolate.
Even the Olympics are depressing me even though they should be a bright star in this doom and gloom. France has said they are banning their athletes from wearing the hijab which totally discredit and dehumanizes them.
Yes please a JtB white Texas sheet cake would be fabulous. Perfect September vanilla cake while we are holding on to light summer desserts (and breakfast cakes) before all the warm spices of fall.
I’m here for any kind of cake you make Joy!
Yes please develop a vanilla Texas sheet cake. I love the chocolate one but there’s something to be said about a good vanilla cake. I had a really good Madagascar Vanilla cake from the grocery store, and I’ve craved vanilla over chocolate ever since. Also, my mom doesn’t eat chocolate cake, so I need a vanilla one for family gatherings! But please provide alternatives to any nuts because of allergies.
YES PLEASE on the vanilla Texas sheet cake!!!! Yes on the almond (extract not the nuts) !!
I love the OG but I love love white cake!!!!
So the Washington Post has a recipe for Almond Ricotta bars that are almost a white sheet cake! They are delish!! (I am biased since I tested it for them but have made it many times since).
Joy, I so enjoy your Sunday post. Thanks for the reminder to make Kalee’s peach butter. I’m using my last jar from summer ’23. I made that no-knead recipe earlier in the week. Thank you for the tip on the bread storage bags. The bee’s wax should keep fresher than my linen bags. I use many of your recipes, especially the single-serve and small-batch sizes.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Regarding Texas sheet cake — my favorite part of it is the poured glaze/frosting. So for a vanilla Texas sheet cake, maybe an Uno Leche Cake situation? (Or would that be Una Leche?)
I always look forward to your Let It Be Sunday posts! Absolutely YES for the Texas white sheet cake!