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:
- The Year Is 2063 and You Were Never Interesting via @lizleatrice on Substack
- 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
- Butter Wakefield’s Colourful West London Home via Country Life
- Metta Where It Matters via Tricycle Magazine (click here for non-paywalled option)
- On my nightstand: Memory Piece by Lisa Ko
5 Things I’m Enjoying:
- 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.
- Watching: Hacks
- 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.
- Excuse me, ROSE gatorade?!
- 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:
- 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. - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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:
- Spicy & Crispy Peanut Tofu with Green Beans
- Saucy Butter Bean Skillet with Cherry Tomatoes & Gremolata
- Fresh Summer Salad with Arugula, Corn & Spicy Cashew Dressing
- Zucchini Baked Oatmeal Cups with Chocolate
- Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie
I would love a full loaded rice recipe! Sounds perfect but amounts / specific spices would give me more confidence! Memory Piece by Lisa Ko is phenomenal… it stuck with me for a long time.
Hi Laura. Your note on fussy pancakes has sparked an idea – I’d LOVE to see a solid First Mess protein pancake recipe on the site. I know your gym game has been strong for a while and mine is too. I find it so difficult to find and make a sturdy, satiating vegan protein pancake recipe. If you have any tips or the bandwidth for a new recipe that would be amazing!
What kind of plant is this at the top of the page for Saturday 6/20/2026? It is beautiful and I need I need onethanks
Pam, I’m so sorry but I have no idea! I snapped a picture of it on a walk. It was growing wild beside a trail. Wish I could be more helpful!
-L
Happy Solstice and great links as always. I have been meaning to look into Pilates videos for like several months and the YT channel you linked looks really promising. I read the article ‘It’s 2063 and you were never interesting’ a couple weeks ago and sat in silence for a long time after that. I’ve made a lot of progress in decreasing my screen time and use of mindless use of instagram but this prompted even more of that. I deleted Facebook for good and weaning myself off instagram – daily average down to less than 10 minutes after it had been over an hour a few months ago. When I ride the subway to work I only listen to music or read (an actual book) and in general am reading more (and staring into space more) and just noticing / appreciating life around me more. Anyway long story, just to say I really appreciate this corner of the internet promoting also being away from the internet : )
For the pancakes have you thought about scrapping the whole wheat and pivoting to buckwheat? I’ve had better luck with vegan versions of those for some reason.
Thanks for answering my question about loaded rice! It sounds delicious.
Also, bummer about the trumpet vine. I saw it around for years and loved it until I learned what it was and how invasive it can be. Gardening is definitely a long game. You (I) learn things each year that you can’t try again until a year later. And the big changes can take so much time.
Butter Wakefield!!! Thank you for the introduction, which comes at just the right time. I have a delightful garden that I am ready to turn over to someone who is excited to make it her own. We are downsizing and Butter is a kindred spirit! I have this article bookmarked for reference.
Ooh can’t wait to try that tempeh tip!
For the whole wheat pancakes, have you tried whole wheat pastry flour? Not sure if it’s readily available in Canada (I’m in the US and find it easily at Whole Foods) but I have had lots of success with it in both pancakes and waffles!
Hi Dani,
Whole wheat pastry flour is not really a thing here in Canada unfortunately. I used to pick it up in the US on our cross border trips, but we haven’t been in a really long time. I’m gonna keep at this recipe though!
-L