Welcome back to another edition. We have a super busy weekend with a birthday party, wedding, father’s day, and more. Gonna be in and out today! Our usual reads, and recommendations below. Take care :)

5 Things I’m Reading:

1. The Year Is 2063 and You Were Never Interesting via @lizleatrice on Substack
2. Artist, technologist, and researcher Matthew Prebeg discusses having fun on the internet, meeting people where they’re at, and wielding hope as a creative force via The Creative Independent
3. Butter Wakefield’s Colourful West London Home via Country Life
4. Metta Where It Matters via Tricycle Magazine (click here for non-paywalled option)
5. On my nightstand: Memory Piece by Lisa Ko

5 Things I’m Enjoying:

1. Still processing the ROSALÍA concert from last weekend. Probably the best live performance I’ve ever seen! Watching conductor Yudania Gómez Heredia was a big highlight.
2. Watching: Hacks
3. Health Hut sent me their new shampoo and conditioner as a gift and it’s really upgraded my wash day. The smell alone is intoxicating–slightly oceanic with the tiniest hint of rosemary. Two weeks in, my curl “clumps” are forming a lot better and hair is noticeably shinier too. I really love that it’s made in Toronto.
4. Excuse me, ROSE gatorade?!
5. This tempeh tip from Donna on my latest recipe: “I have found that freezing tempeh for at least a few days does the same trick as the steaming. And it doesn’t take long to thaw so you can use it whenever you have the urge.” I put a block in the freezer so that I can test this out soon!

5 Questions:

1. I’m curious, what is “loaded rice”? And what kind of rice cooker do you have? I feel like you’ve shared before but I can’t recall.
   My rice cooker is the Zojirushi Micom with steel cut oatmeal and gaba rice options. For loaded rice, I’ll quickly sauté some veg like shallot, carrot, bell pepper first. I add that into the rice pot with the rinsed rice, stock (or Better Than Bouillon paste with water), spices, and dried fruit (currants or diced dates/dried apricots). When it’s done cooking, I fluff and add chopped herbs (mint, green onions, basil, parlsley etc) and toasted sliced almonds.
2. Do you have a YouTube Pilates channel you like? There are limited pilates options in my area, but I miss my more regular practice.
   Move With Nicole is my favorite. Lots of great workouts with variety and she gives instruction sparingly while also managing to always provide the perfect cue. I also enjoy her calm and chill demeanor! Chatty, high energy, and chipper is not the vibe for me with a workout video haha.
3. What’s one thing in your kitchen/home that brings you joy every single time you see it?
   My dad’s old record player! We use it a lot on quiet weekends, which are some of my most cherished times.
4. What’s something you’ve let yourself be bad at lately?
   Right now it’s gardening. I have so many spots to fill still and I’m having a rough go with some of my veggie plants. Tomatoes and peppers are doing great, but lots of other things are struggling like zucchini, eggplant, lettuces, root veg, and half of my cucumbers for some reason. The previous owners planted trumpet vine along the fence in this area and it has a been a giant pain my butt. It just keeps popping up in our new veggie beds and I truly do not know what to do about it. It feels overwhelming! Removing the big, main vines on the fence is a huge job that will involve a new fence and my neighbor’s cooperation. Even then, this vine is so aggressive and persistent. I’m trying to just accept the whole situation as it is right now, and let it be imperfect and incomplete. Gardening is about patience, learning and building things over time.
5. What’s a recipe you’ve been meaning to test for ages but keep putting off?
   I was testing one recipe in particular, but progress was at a standstill so I’m putting it off for now. It’s 100% whole wheat flour pancakes. Just got so sick of lackluster pancakes! The better versions required resting time for the batter or were made in a small skillet and finished in the oven like a small cake–both steps felt overly fussy/precise to me. I think I need to go back to the drawing board or ditch it entirely at this point. Either way, I’m avoiding it!

Pinned Recipes This Week:

1. Spicy & Crispy Peanut Tofu with Green Beans
2. Saucy Butter Bean Skillet with Cherry Tomatoes & Gremolata
3. Fresh Summer Salad with Arugula, Corn & Spicy Cashew Dressing
4. Zucchini Baked Oatmeal Cups with Chocolate
5. Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie