Present Joys: Cookbook challenge, cows, food to taste and the power of play
Present Joys: Cookbook challenge, cows, food to taste and the power of play
Week of October 22, 2024
The Cookbook Challenge
My husband Lee approached me the other day concerned about how many cookbooks we have and how little we use them. We decided to do something about it by creating a game: we numbered each cookbook and then put the same set of numbers in a mystery jar. Each month we’ll each pick a number, check which book it corresponds to, and challenge ourselves to make at least one recipe each. I’m excited by this challenge and looking forward to finally making use of the troves of recipes we have sitting on our shelves.
Halloween Bunnies
It’s the first time since I was a kid that I live in the ‘burbs again. I love it for many reasons but definitely one of the top reasons is everyone’s holiday traditions on display. These neighborhood bunnies change their look monthly and Halloween has been my favorite. These little bunny ghost cut outs feel so extra while also being so innocent and cute. What’s not to like.
Mis Tías y Abue
I feel so fortunate to be able to travel to my hometown of San Diego as often as I do. Growing up in a Mexican-American household, family time has always been a central part of life, so getting to see everyone again has meant so much to me. I visited a few weeks ago to celebrate my mother’s birthday. As part of her special day, my sister organized a brunch with my aunts and our abuelita. As we all sat around the table eating tostadas and laughing about something or other, it hit me that the best gift we can give each other is our time. If we have each other, what else do we really need?
A Big Box of Jam
I feel so fortunate that so many of the projects we work on at Present turn into relationships we keep long after the work is complete. It was such a joy and surprise to receive the ENTIRE collection of Saba’s summer harvest (not pictured: the other 11 jars sitting underneath the 5 shown). The flavor combinations are thoughtful and well-balanced; each preserve capturing a perfect snapshot of the fruit it’s made of and the season it was preserved in. Opening a jar is a joy in itself, but it’s even more joyful to be able to share them with others too.
Cows Coming Home
I recently visited a small town in Romania called Viscri as part of a larger roadtrip through Transylvania with our friends Ike and Alexa. Every evening, prior to sundown, and after being out to pasture in the rolling hills all day, the cows literally go home. They walk in a herd into town together and, one by one, peel off into their respective barns. How these cows know which home is theirs, I don’t quite know, but witnessing it was impressive. My favorite set of cows were two who approached their front door and, seeing it closed, mooed for their owner to open up. It was good to be reminded of the intelligence and beauty of animal life that I seem to take for granted. I have a feeling these cows are going to stay with me for a long while, hopefully forever.
To Taste Food
One of Van’s aunts has been undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy in her fight against breast cancer. During a recent catch-up, she shared some hardships of her new reality: she’s had to refrain from her work as a nail technician, menial tasks deplete her energy, and her favorite foods no longer taste good. While the entirety of her experience sounds grueling, the latter really tugged at me. A few weeks after this conversation, we gathered again with Van’s family to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday. Van’s dad is a cream puff fiend so I knew exactly what to bake for the occasion. After the candles were blown out and dessert was dispersed, Van’s aunt walked up to me with a half-eaten hojicha cream puff in tow. She gleefully exclaimed that she could taste the cream puff and granted me the ultimate Asian auntie compliment that it was “not too sweet.” 💗 Peak joy 💗
Sunset Rubdown Show
I recently got to see my friend
’s band, Sunset Rubdown, during the LA leg of their current tour. They put on such a fun show (Van said it was his favorite this year), but I’ll most cherish the time spent in the green room before the band’s performance. We caught up over shrimp dumplings and seafood pancake, swapping stories and baby photos (read: Camilla’s achingly adorable 2-year old and my 4-legged Bruce). Van and I were both feeling a bit grumpy and low prior to the show, but what a beautiful spell Camilla casts in her wake. Her warmth inspires you to be kinder, her varied talents make you want to embrace idiosyncrasies, and her sincerity encourages you to seek connection. Bummed we don’t live in the same city, but overjoyed at the chance to connect in our respective hometowns. Her beautiful new book, Nature’s Candy: Timeless and Inventive Recipes for Creating and Baking with Candied Fruit, is also out today!Party Prep
I love hosting, full stop. There are countless moments in doing so which fill my cup, one of which being the time before any guests arrive. Deciding how to plate up the appetizers and entrees, placing fresh flowers in a vase, ironing a since-stowed-away tablecloth–all these preparatory tasks offer me a giddy delight. I want all of our guests to feel warm, welcome, and well-fed so taking the time to set the scene is always worth it.
Baking with Saba’s Jam
I too received that epic box of Saba Jam which Michelle mentioned above. It was such a delight to unwrap each jar to uncover each increasingly inventive flavor. If I really want to show off with my baking, I love using Saba’s jams. I have a favorite recipe for jam streusel cookies (coined Jamberries amongst my friends and family after this childhood fave book) and recently baked a batch using Saba’s Boysenberry Beet jam. I’ll be baking this and more for the Waka Waka / Iko Iko Fall Market this Saturday, 10/26 from 10AM-2PM (event details here). There’s a full roster of talented artists and designers who will also be selling their wares–come shop, eat, and hang!
Play
Over the weekend, my friend Ruthie and I got together to try our hand at gluten-free baking via a Zoom baking class led by Aran Goyoaga. In between proof times, we shared conversation–much of which encompassed the topic of care. Care that looks like: thoughtfully considered dinner parties, understanding our own patterns of thinking, and a sense of playfulness. I’ve been in quite a funk lately and have come to recognize how much power the latter yields. Feeling inspired to foster more moments of play to bolster my own joy and sense of self.
Currently Reading
East of Eden is one of my favorite novels of ALL TIME so I was so excited to have discovered Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters, a compendium of of journal entries Steinbeck wrote to his publisher as he was simultaneously developing East of Eden. The journal, as the format implies, provides an insight into Steinbeck’s stream of consciousness as he reflected on his work. Beyond that, and perhaps even more interesting, are his anecdotes about family life and his hopes and dreams for the novel. Steinbeck doubted his abilities just like anyone else, but went for it anyway. —Michelle
Present Walks
Join us this Sunday, 10/27 at 8AM for a Present (Birding!) Walk through Ernest E. Debs Park. We’ll be hiking a loop with Brett Karley of Bird Club as he guides us through the local sights and sounds of birds in our area. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as the path is unpaved with portions with incline. We’ll be meeting at this lot. Hope to see you there!