Hello and welcome to our little weekly thing. We’re going to see the The Budos Band in Toronto this weekend, celebrating love at an engagement party on the beach, popping into our favorite café, and I think I’m gonna hit a plant sale with my mom. We successfully smothered and mulched an overgrown area of our yard last year, and it’s looking a bit bare. I’m chipping away at it slowly because this stuff (like all art and creative pursuits!) takes time. I’m on the lookout for a lemony lace elderberry, flowering dogwood (specifically the scarlet fire variety), and some smooth hydrangeas.

I’m also researching pineapple upside down cake for my guy’s bday coming up. Let me know if you have an old standby recipe that you swear by!

Take care out there. Sending all my love ♥️

5 Things I’m Reading:

1. It’s Indian Mango Season, and the Cutthroat Selling Frenzy Is On via The New York Times (gift link)
2. Musician Lyra Pramuk on putting art first via The Creative Independent
3. Is it even possible to convince people to stop eating meat? via Vox
4. Phoebe Robinson Is Obsessed With Crunchy Snacks and ‘Chaos’ Cooking via SAVEUR
5. On my nightstand: The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (it’s a Matt Haig summer over here)

5 Things I’m Enjoying:

1. This episode of Tricycle’s Life As It Is podcast: How Compassion Works
2. How Lawns became an American Obsession (@plants.and.culture is a great follow on Insta)
3. Shameless self promo: I was on my friend Jess’s INSIDE + OUTSIDE podcast!
4. I am resistant (and therefore often extremely late) to recipe trends!! Finally tried the crispy smashed potato salad that’s been passed around the socials for a couple years. It was enjoyable enough (I incorporated a lot of pickles, fresh dill, celery, pickled red onion etc)! Ultimately I don’t think it’s worth the fuss of boiling and then smashing and roasting the potatoes. Also, not to brag (lol) but I’m a gal that eats fast and the potatoes did not stay crisp for the duration of dinner. It just felt kinda goofy to be honest! It’s fun and important to try new things though 💫
5. Thrilled for the return of The Gilded Age (#1 Carrie Coon fan girl) and The Bear

5 Questions:

1. Best meals for hot, hot weather that aren’t salad?
   Cold rolls with whatever veg/tofu you have on hand, gazpacho (classic tomato but also cucumber, melon and other variations are great), I can typically tolerate cooking a little bit of pasta when it’s super hot out–specifically this summer garden pasta, and snack/dip boards galore with a bunch of raw and grilled veggies, nice cheeses etc.
2. You favorite summer fruit?
   Peaches! Nothing else compares to the ones we get around here.
3. What’s your favorite pickle-heavy recipe that’s not your own?
   Pickle-brined fried tofu sandwiches ✨🥒✨
4. Are you a natural early riser? Your quiet AM gym/chill looks lovely but I am a very sleepy girl
   Yes I have always been like that! I’m at my best/most focused in the morning so that’s the time to hit the gym and get to it. I’m generally up at 5ish every day and it just works for me. Sometimes on a weekend when we’ve been out late, I’ll tell myself that I’m going to sleep in and catch up on the zzzzz’s but it’s just not physically/mentally possible haha–my partner gets worried if I’m in bed past 7:30!! The quiet of the early morning is pretty unbeatable for me. If you’re a sleepy girl though, that’s your thing, great! We all have our own clocks and cycles that we’re working with. If a late wake up feels good and works for your schedule, why resist?
5. What do you feed your doggies?
   They get a kibble with fish, veg, fruit, whole grains, vitamins etc! They’re not total veg heads like me :)

5 Seasonal Recipes:

1. Harissa Chickpea Bowl with Potatoes, Lemony Tahini & Greens
2. Tempeh Burgers with Millet & Rice
3. Vegan Red Pepper Pasta with Charred Corn & Basil
4. Grilled Asparagus & French Lentil Niçoise-Inspired Salad
5. Sticky & Crunchy Teriyaki Tofu in the Air Fryer