Hello and welcome to another weekend. We’ve been following the Los Angeles fires this week and have been thinking of all of our human and animal friends out there. The photos and videos are devastating. At this time, we are supporting World Central Kitchen and Pasadena Humane‘s efforts. All we have is each other 🤍
Not much is happening over in our corner of the world this weekend. Just a chill couple of days at home with the doggies. The cold quiet of January is something that I look forward to and savor every year if I can be honest. I’ll leave you with that and the usual links, questions etc below. Always feel free to drop questions for next week either in the comments or in my email inbox.
Please take care out there!
5 Things I’m Reading:
- Scientists are looking for CO2-gobbling microbes in extreme environments — like your home via Grist
- On the Politics of Attention in 2025 via From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy
- How to fight ageism in the world around you — and in yourself via NPR
- Starting Over, Again via Tricycle
- You’re Going to Die. That’s a Good Thing. via The Atlantic
5 Things I’m Enjoying:
- Watching Somebody Somewhere on HBO
- It has been frigid here the past couple weeks. The dogs and I are getting heavy use out of our heated blanket
- After Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that fact-checking on Meta platforms is coming to an end (+ so many other issues I have with the company 😵💫), I’ve been spending a bit more time on Bluesky and it’s been alright so far! I do have this dream/fantasy of totally extracting myself and my work from Meta platforms in the near future.
- On the other hand, Instagram does provide some gems: @ginormouschicken, an Irish wolfhound that helps puppies in shelters + “Our Hearts are all connected in the universe”
- Adding tree peonies to my garden list for spring
5 Questions:
- I would love to have your go-to spice blend recipe!
I shared this blend in the most recent recipe posted to the blog, but here it is below as well. I love this particular mix because it is deeply savory but also herbaceous with a bit of tang from the sumac.
1 part garlic powder
1 part onion powder
1 part paprika (not hot/smoked)
1/2 part sumac
1/2 part dried basil
+ salt and pepper, to taste - Curious what types/ brands of plant milk foam best for cappuccinos and lattes?
In my experience, the best plant based milks for micro foam (in their pure form) are almond, cashew or soy. Also pretty much any plant based milk that has dipotassium phosphate (an emulsifier/acid-regulator) in the ingredients will foam up nice for a latte or cappuccino. You’ll see this ingredient pop up with a lot of “barista” lines. If I’m enjoying lattes regularly, I do prefer to make my own milk when I can using this recipe. But there’s a lot of great store bought options too! Brands that have foamed up nice for me: New Barn’s almond milk, Elmhurst’s barista line but also their regular (2-ingredient) cashew and almond milks, Edensoy soy milk, Silk soy milk, Malk’s almond milk, and Three Trees’ Almond/Pistachio milk. Most boxed oat milk options perform well for coffee, but I am not a big fan of oat milk! I think I overdid it a few years ago and now it tastes like play doh to me 🥲 - Are you still happy with your steam cleaner? Is it available in Canada?
I am still happy with it. It’s amazing how effective it is at cleaning oven grime with just hot steam (and the wire bristle brush attachment). I’ve also used it to clean soap scum in our shower, our BBQ in the spring, all rails/baseboards in the house, to remove wallpaper, some stuck-on gunk in the air fryer basket, sinks, pretty much everything! I still use a range of natural and heavy duty cleaning products in some cases, but the steam cleaner has been really helpful and versatile for us. The model is by Wagner Spraytech and it is available at Home Hardware stores in Canada. - Do you eat any vegan processed food? If so, which ones are you most likely to eat?
I do! We eat a lot of produce, whole grains, legumes etc, but I also enjoy treats pretty regularly. Everything in balance works best for us. I’ve been overly dogmatic and strict about food/ingredients in the past while simultaneously not feeling my best. In short, I don’t devote as much headspace to this idea of “purity” in what we eat. It’s less stressful and I am healthier than ever. Some of my faves: Annie’s Cinnamon Crunch cereal (and others like it) is a big one, as well as Beyond Meat or Field Roast’s veggie sausages. Also salty snacks like chips, pretzels etc are a constant in our house. - Favorite coffee locally?
For making coffee at home (with an older Breville Barista Express machine) we are loyal to Black Sheep, which is local to us. Their cafés are also great! For more café coffee situations, we also enjoy RPM Bakehouse, 416 Coffee, Pique Nique, Wandering Spirits, De La Terre, and for a coffee + plants kinda hang The Watering Can is lovely.
5 Seasonal Recipes:
- Extra Veggie Vegan Gochujang Noodles
- Vegan Ranch Slaw with Baked Crunchy Buffalo Tofu
- Quick Smoky Red Lentil Stew
- Lazy Chopped Vegan Enchiladas Skillet
- 30 Minute Broccoli Basil Pasta
Somebody Somewhere is truly three seasons of absolutely perfect television! Definitely so nice for cozy season.
We’re on the third season now, and I’m going to be very sad when we’re done!
-L
Next weeks edition would be perfect. Thank you
I wonder if you have any advice on an everyday cooking utensil? Silicone spatulas seem popular – you seem to favour wood – I imagine this is a materials based preference? If wood is the way fwds – specifics to look for? What about cleaning/hygiene? Thank you!
Hi M! I will answer this question in next week’s edition of Saturday Sun if that’s okay! Let me knoww :)
-L
That would be great!
Happy winter weekend! I look forward to this post – thank you :) Also I can’t get enough snuggly cozy dog photos!!
Thank you also for the links to quickly help out people and animals impacted by the wild fires in LA.
For the spice blend, is there anything we can use instead of sumac? I’m not ordering anything online this month and I’m in a rural area without access to many non-basic spices.
Thank you!
Hi Carey! Thank you for this sweet comment. Sumac has a bright, lemony, tangy flavor. There really isn’t anything like it in terms of spices. I recommend leaving it out entirely and then finishing whatever you’re cooking with a teeny bit of lemon juice or vinegar of choice.
-L
Hi Laura,
I have been following your blog for only a few weeks now after randomly stumbling across it, in the search of wholesome, plant based vegan meals and have been loving every single one of your recipes and posts. I cut out social media from my life 8+ years ago and it has completely changed my life in all positive ways I didn’t realise was possible. It just goes to show you don’t need social media in life to get your content out there when it is all this good!
Sending love and gratitude,
Deanna x
Hi Deanna,
I’m so happy to hear that you found the blog through a search query! I’ve been working on more search visibility for years, so actually hearing from someone who found the site that way is so cool! I am working on a plan to take time off of social media for the summer this year, just to see how it goes. I truly can’t wait!
xo L
For many reasons, I am off all social media and hope to never succumb again. I don’t miss it all. My intention is to put my focus on slow, thoughtful media … I’m glad you do a newsletter.
I am the same way lately. I don’t even enjoy my interests (cooking, gardening etc) through a social media lens anymore. It just makes these hobbies feel like a commodity or a “fast fashion” version of themselves almost? I’m slowly building a plan to extract myself from these platforms though. Hearing from folks who have done so successfully is always a push in the right direction, so thank you!
-L
Your dog sleeping is adorable.
She gets a lot of practice with it! Haha
-L
Let us know if you find any good milks for coffee drinks that don’t have any oils added. I put Trader Joe’s soy milk in my coffee but it separates frequently.
Edensoy soy milk is great for this! As long as your coffee isn’t too acidic it stirs in nicely.
-L
Hi! What brand of Sumac spice do you use. I see Farm Boy has one but not sure which you find the best. I would like to try it
I’ve been buying my sumac (and za’atar) from an Etsy seller called Jerusalem Products. The za’atar is incredibly fragrant and the sumac is super tangy and a beautiful deep red colour. The shipping takes a little while, but it’s worth it. I have tried the Farm Boy sumac and it was good!
-L
I’d love to know your take on parchment paper…..I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a recipe where you have used it. Do you have pros/cons? Thanks
Hi Kim,
I’ll answer this question in next week’s edition if you don’t mind! Let me know.
-L
Hi Laura
Great that you have made the jump to Bluesky. I have also recently done so (for similar reasons) and now have another person to follow :)
John
See you over on Bluesky! :D
-L