Weekend scenes

The next few weeks are going to be busier than usual so I decided to keep things slow on the weekend. I slept in, listened to my favourite podcasts (and can recommend this mini-series, parts two and three) and made a big batch of meatballs.

I caught up on some reading too and loved this interview with Jazmine Hughes, who is 24 and an editor at The New York Times Magazine. One quote really resonated with me: "I'm trying to be a person that says to people, 'That makes me feel uncomfortable.'" May we all have the courage to speak up when we hear casual racism and sexism.

Do you have anything exciting planned for the last week of summer? I am going to make this the week I go to bed on time :)

Weekend links

This week I embraced bike shorts (so I can cycle in dresses) and was floored by Moonlight. Have you seen it? It's the most thought-provoking film I've seen in some time. I hope you have a fun weekend ahead - I'm going shopping for cookie cutters tomorrow and making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner :) Here are some things to share:

Make your own Monte Carlos!

Are we living in a bubble?

Love this poster.

Lin-Manuel Miranda on creativity (his Galentine's Day playlist has been powering my week).

What is Sharia law?

I can't wait to pair these mini meatloaves with this chocolate pudding when the weather cools down.

Why a black Bachelorette is a big deal.

And the first part of this episode of This American Life is so good.

Easy banana ice cream

It's been a long hot summer but I've found a way to cope - homemade banana ice cream. Right before the last heatwave hit, I picked up some cooking bananas at the markets and stashed them in the freezer. The plan was to make smoothies but many batches of ice cream were made instead :) 

Easy banana ice cream

Serves 2-3

You will need:

2 bananas, frozen and chopped into small pieces

75g greek yoghurt

2tsp honey or more to taste

A dash of vanilla extract

Here's how:

Place all of your ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer the mixture into a plastic container and freeze for 30 minutes. Using a fork, mix the ice cream in the container, taking care to scrape around the edges. Freeze for another 30 minutes or up to three hours, depending on how firm you like your ice cream. Just be sure to stir it every 30 minutes or so.

One hour will give you a frozen yoghurt-like consistency, Tony prefers it at the three hour mark, when it can be scooped like ice cream.

Try topping it with dark chocolate chunks or you could even make your own ice magic while you're waiting for it to set :)

Books I read this summer

I read a bunch of different books over summer from a memoir to a Japanese novella. I even read a psychological thriller by accident! Here's a quick round-up:

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
My friend Kristy sent me a copy of this Japanese novel from 1987 that includes the novella Moonlight Shadow. I got into the story straight away, it's reminiscent of Haruki Murakami novels from the same era. It's a mysterious and lovely story that had me craving a katsu curry.

Insomniac City: New York, Oliver, and Me by Bill Hayes
I love books set in New York City and this one was particularly special. I received it a few days after my grandfather died and it brought me a lot of comfort and joy. It's about moving to a new city and starting again while grieving. But it's a love story too - the writer starts a relationship with Oliver Sacks. It's a book I want to buy for friends and it comes out in April.

The Mothers by Brit Bennett
I enjoyed the quiet drama of this book, the characters and the writing too. It was surprisingly addictive, which meant it was over all too quickly. It reminded me of Modern Lovers, except with a little more action.

The Art of Frugal Hedonism by Annie Raser-Rowland and Adam Grubb
I spotted this book on Anne's Instagram (which is great for book recommendations) and was immediately intrigued by the title. It's a fun and practical read that's helped changed the way I spend (and think about) money. Tony enjoyed it too. The chapters are short, so it's a good one to read on lunch breaks or while travelling.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
This book featured in two of my go-to reading lists but I panicked when I picked it up from the library -  'Unsettling, psychological horror...' was printed on the cover. I finished it quickly (I can't handle suspense) but it's not a genre I'll be returning to anytime soon.

I'm starting Messy tonight. I normally read novels (non-fiction sometimes makes me feel like I'm still at work) but I've heard a few podcast episodes with Tim Harford and could learn to live with a bit of chaos :) If you're curious, he pops up in these episodes of Hidden Brain and Planet Money.

I am always on the hunt for recommendations - especially for novels. Are you reading anything great at the moment? My sister-in-law recommends The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

P.S Here's how to find more time to read.

Weekend links

I hope you had a great week. I managed to do some yoga, check out a storytelling night and visit my favourite Japanese diner. I'm planning to see a movie this weekend to soak up the air-conditioning and we might do an early Valentine's Day brunch (I'm keen to check out this cafe). Have a great weekend :)

A clever drink bottle for hot and cold days.

A cute (veggie) cookbook.

Let's make frozen honey cream.

The best supermarket cheeses, ranked.

Love, interrupted.

Three physical sunscreens.

A cool profile of Australia's first school lawyer.

Loving this upbeat album.

Who puts broccoli on a pizza?

Weaving with tree branches.

And 12 romantic books that won't make you gag :)

The news today

How are you keeping up with the news in these crazy times? I work in a newsroom, which means I absorb a lot of local news but lately I've been try to get a greater sense of what's happening overseas - specifically the US.

Just today I started listening to The Daily, a new podcast from The New York Times. It recaps the biggest stories and issues of the day in a way that's not quite news, analysis or a documentary but somewhere magically inbetween.

A new episode comes out every weekday and they're around 15 to 20 minutes, which makes them easy to listen to on the way to or from work. So far, it sounds like a few of my favourite podcasts combined - it has the brain power of The New Yorker Radio Hour and the down-to-earth style and surprise of Radiolab's More Perfect. Here's an episode I found especially fascinating.

P.S I'm a big fan of Insiders when it comes to keeping up with politics at home.

Checking in

We made it back to Canberra last night, just in time for dinner. After a few emotional days in Sydney, we baked a homemade pizza and watched a funny movie to unwind (it still made me cry!).

It's lovely to be home. I've been leafing through library books (inspired by Emily) and freezing bananas so I can make some no churn ice cream later tonight :) It's been so hot! Tomorrow I'll be heading back to work and tuning into the Four Corners Trump special at night.

What've you been up to? And how are you feeling now that it's February? My friend Amy is writing a letter every day this month!