Pretty light

How are you going this week? I am getting back into work after a few disruptive weeks and it's such a relief to be focussed on making things again. I filmed a food video today, which meant spending most of the morning in our sunny living room and kitchen. It was a small shift from my usual work day routine but a welcome one. I am also ordering face masks, just in case (these are three-layer and not too $$), and going for long evening walks with Tony. It's fresh out there but worth all the layers to be outside and breathe the cold air. I've been saving some things to share:

Jade Zoe's winter playlist for Liminal is poppy and fun. I've been listening to the Japanese cover of Say So on repeat.

One of my favourite columns, Single Women and The Spaces, is back with a lovely tour of a Brooklyn apartment with excellent light and the best plants.

Also in Brooklyn, a little wedding at home.

We recently watched Athlete A on Netflix, a doco about the gymnasts who were abused by Dr Larry Nassar and the reporters who uncovered the story. I hesitated to watch it, knowing it would be chilling, but am very glad I did.

I made my own version of this grain bowl for a weekday lunch. The salad dressing with gochujang, kewpie mayo and soy is genius!

I'm taking a break from sour beers and drinking these smokey colas on weekends instead. Turns out, some nights I just want something fizzy. If you're in Canberra, you can find them at The Essential Ingredient and Blackhearts & Sparrows.

ICYMI: "Please scream inside your heart."

And some excellent ABC Life recipes to share, starting with a vegetarian mushroom miso carbonara. I also love the big flavours of this chicken and cauliflower tray bake that's easy enough for weeknights and fancy enough to serve to friends and family.

Hope you're taking good care.

X

Fun stuff!

Just this week I remembered that morning yoga, a walk (no matter how long/short or what time of day), plus limited time on social media is a recipe for a really nice day. Or a more manageable one at the very least. I've also been reading more, journaling again and planning some upcoming gifts (my most favourite thing).

Despite everything that's going on, I've felt extremely lucky of late. Today I received a parcel from my mum with homemade biscuits and a cute blanket (which happens to be a poncho!). Over the weekend, a thoughtfully chosen audio book popped into my inbox as a gift and my brother sent my favourite burgers round for dinner one night. Life can be very good even when it is a little uncertain. That being said, I am thinking of everyone in Melbourne as lockdown starts again and hope some of the things below can make a challenging time a little more bearable.

To share:

Banana bread just got even better. Julia Ostro did a version for ABC Life with spices, chocolate chunks and a crispy tahini and sugar top. It's going to be my go-to banana bread recipe.

Spike Lee's first film She's Gotta Have It is on Netflix! It was my fave discovery of last week and a really fun watch.

There's a new season of Esther Perel's podcast Where Should We Begin?

Dating Around is back and I've already blitzed my way through the new season. If you've never watched it, it's a Netflix dating show where one person goes on 5 blind dates and gets to choose one 'winner' for a second date. It's extra fun and fast because you don't watch the dates in full - they all take place at the same restaurant so the episode cuts between them.

This is me on a Zoom call.

Alison Roman has restarted her newsletter and it's great. I'm also a fan of Nisha's Internet Tote Bag, which comes out on a Monday and is a very nice way to start the week.

Please keep taking care!

X

Hello weekend

Hello and happy weekend! It's been the sunniest week in Canberra, which helps me forget it's winter :) I have mainly baking plans for the days ahead, testing a chocolate and tahini banana bread for work and trying to get back into sourdough again after a few dud loaves. And because restrictions continue to ease in Canberra... I have the house to myself tonight for the first time in ages. I'm going to rent a movie and eat cinnamon doughnut ice cream after a long week. Some things to share:

My sister-in-law recommended Breasts and Eggs, a novel by Mieko Kawakami and I finished it this week. If you're a fan of Haruki Murakami's work I think you'll love it too. It surprised me in so many ways and I'm looking forward to seeking out more of her work.

Loved this 30 minute mellow yoga class, which has plenty of time between poses while still being challenging.

A Reckoning at Bon Appetit is a jaw-dropping episode of The Sporkful podcast.

Also excellent, a special episode of The Daily with culture critic Wesley Morris (love him) and Patti LaBelle.

Thursday night is fast becoming soup and baguette night at our place. This week I made this tomato soup (NY Times), and it was nostalgic and delicious!

SBS OnDemand is screening Zach's Ceremony, a doco that follows Sydney teenager Zach Doomadgee as he prepares for his initiation ceremony, a key part of his Indigenous culture. Get in before it expires on June 28!

Check out Hetty McKinnon's spinach dumplings - the pot sticker element is my favourite. It means the dumplings are both crispy and steamed. It's such a fun cooking project and so yummy.

Highly recommend this essay by Carvell Wallace about parenting black teens through protest and pandemic (NY Times). It's beautiful. Via Jenny, whose blog has been keeping me sane in iso!

Slightly obsessed with Chin Chin's cooking videos.

And not so much a recommendation as an idea. I made my workmate a house-warming playlist this week and it was so much fun! It's also a nice way to get around the mail being slow and no less personal.

X

Seedlings, yoga and takeaway dessert

This week was a really good one. I've been able to do yoga more regularly (treating myself to a digital subscription has really helped), finish a book and put birthday cards in the post. It's been nice.

In the kitchen, we've been trying to get through our tinned food stash, which has mainly looked like fried rice made with tinned peas, corn and carrots (which makes an easy dish even faster). The lone tin of prunes in syrup has become porridge topping, along with my new favourite thing - bananas grilled in butter.

This weekend I'm going to plant some seedlings for winter - spring onions, English spinach and baby cos lettuce. I bought them from a sweet front yard stall in Canberra, which I stumbled upon while looking into microgreens (this blog post intrigued me). You slide your cash under the front door and pick up a free packet of broad beans on your way out. Aside from the excuse to go somewhere new, I love that the seedlings are grown locally and suited to Canberra's very cold conditions.

We also treated ourselves to fancy desserts this week, something Tony and I used to do when we lived in Sydney. We'd meet in Newtown after dinner, which was halfway between his share house in Chippendale and mine in Lewisham, and find somewhere to eat cake or ice cream. I got a slice of miso chocolate tart with delicious dark cherries and Tony chose the other dessert special, a Basque burnt cheesecake.

And there were lots of family hangs too! I chatted with my parents over a video call and beat my brothers at Monopoly again - during the pandemic we've played almost every week. The game is always fun but so is the video call/hang out. Especially if I win :)

Here are some things to share for your weekend:

I loved Madeline Albright's interview on Death, Sex and Money. It's especially good for the times in a you-can-get-through-it kind of way.

We're making this kimchi, udon and butter dish on repeat. It's fast and super spicy (via Highly Enthused).

I bought some... nice instant coffee, something I never thought I'd be into! I had some sachets from Reuben Hills and they made such a difference when making mini tiramisu, chocolate cookies and a faster version of this coffee and banana smoothie.

We watched The Half of It last weekend on Netflix and it was such a great romantic comedy that ends in a way I didn't expect. It's very heartwarming viewing.

On ABC Life, a satisfying and super quick udon noodle soup from Hetty McKinnon. I love the egg drop in the soup because it's something I grew up with!

I also had the great pleasure of working with illustrator Grace Lee (she appeared on the blog years ago!) on her comic about moving to Japan and finding her feet overseas. It's a six part series and you can read episodes one and two now. There are some very honest and heartbreaking moments coming up. New episodes come out every Thursday.

And a song I've been listening to on repeat.

Catch you next week!

X

Hello weekend

For the first time in ages, I have plans for the weekend at home :) I made lazy pastries from Midnight Chicken and spent the morning planting some cuttings while listening to this episode of This American Life that recently won a Pulitzer.

We've eaten a bunch of meals from the freezer lately, so it's been super nice to make something decadent for Saturday dinner again. I've been craving bolognese and was planning to make Marcella Hazan's iconic recipe, until I saw Deb Perelman's version which looked easier to use. Hers has one carrot, instead of two tablespoons of carrot.

Tomorrow, I'll make a mini tiramisu because the start of the week is always easier when there's dessert in the fridge. It's also perfect for the six ladyfinger biscuits we have left in the pantry. And I have plans for outside the house too! I'm going to see my friend Sarah for takeaway coffee! And a walk!

Two other things... this week I watched Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates on Netflix and really enjoyed it. And this recipe for chickpeas in a rich tomato sauce is a new favourite comfort food in our house. It's a decadent meal that feels really good for you too.

X

Some nice things

Hello, I hope you're going OK with everything that's going on. I am trying to check the news occasionally rather than all-the-time and feel best when I'm chatting to friends and family (video chats have been extra fun this week!), going for walks, and reading books rather than being on my phone. I hope you can stick close to home this weekend and find some pockets of calm and relaxation. Here are some good things to share:

The 'A bit of relief' episode of The Daily is short but properly soothing, especially the C.S Lewis reading right at the end. Via Leslie.

I read Quartz's 'Staying In' edition of their newsletter weeks ago and enjoyed it but it feels especially relevant now.

Another article from weeks ago - My ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend is Lady Gaga (NY Times). The headline alone is so great but the piece is a thoughtful reflection on the personal moments and info we share and consume on social media.

Fried arancini balls with salad... yes please!

Ugly Delicious is back on Netflix and I adored the first episode, Kids Menu, which was recommended by a work mate. It follows Dave Chang and his wife Grace as they prepare for the arrival of their first child. I really liked the discussion about work and family and how you might balance the two (or simply accept that your life is changing).

We stumbled upon Louis Theroux's latest series on the ABC one night and watched the polyamory episode. It reminded me that I'm yet to watch his Scientology movie so adding it to our list.

Alison Roman's caramelised shallot pasta (NY Times) is really, really good. I've bought supplies so I can make it again soon.

Speaking of Alison Roman, I was meant to be going to a lunch she was hosting in Melbourne as part of the food festival but like many things, it was cancelled. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll be able to return in spring. In the meantime, I've taken her lead and done a free live streamed yoga class from her studio :) SkyTing is doing a free video every day (donations accepted!), with the time difference some of the sessions are 7am AEDT, as the sun is just starting to rise.

Finally, when it comes to reliable coronavirus information, I've been finding Dr Norman Swan's videos for the ABC clear and and to the point. He and ABC health reporter Tegan Taylor also have a daily podcast called the Coronacast in case you'd like the latest on coronavirus but not too much of it (most eps are 10 minutes and under). And this is the only corona-related thing that's made me laugh this week. 

Son

X

Hello weekend

It's hard to believe the last days of summer are here. Lately the weather has been perfect for after work walks, after work ice cream, little picnics, and bike rides with extremely blue skies. But there were also moments this summer, when it was smoky and we were stuck inside, when I couldn't wait for the season to end. Still, I reckon there's time for one last peach pie before summer is truly done. We have a busy weekend coming up! More wedding cake testing and making, a gig tonight, a birthday party tomorrow, a brunch on Sunday. Here are some nice things to share:

Possibly my favourite ABC Life recipe of all time... a teriyaki chicken sushi bowl (it can be made with salmon too). Sort you marinade in the morning and chuck the chicken in the oven when you get home :)

This episode of Death, Sex & Money with Community actor Ken Jeong was my podcast highlight of the week.

How cute is Mari Andrew? "You never know when you might meet the love of your life!"

I am so close to buying the Beatrix Bakes cookbook! The Design Files have published a bunch of recipes including salty chocolate caramel bars, cinnamon walnut bundt, chocolate brulee tart and cocoa meringue roulade. Yum!

And a nice playlist to start your mornings (or perk up your afternoons). 

X

Hello weekend

Hello! I hope you've had a good week or at the very least, a couple of bright moments in an otherwise ordinary one. I was in Melbourne for work, which was busy and rainy and fun. There was just enough time for an early morning Lune croissant run and it pays to go in a group - we got to sample almost all of the offerings. If you get to visit, my faves were the plain and chocolate :) Travel always leaves me a little weary, so I'm looking forward to a sunny and quiet weekend. Tony's making pasta tonight, we have orange wine and we're planning a trip to a regional gallery and my favourite farm shop. To share:

I found this focus notepad at a lovely Melbourne stationary store. I'm only two days in but I've noticed that using it makes me stop and think about what I'm adding to my to do list and where it should go in my day. I am yet to fill the 'Don't do' section...

I'm midway through my first book of essays by Samantha Irby and will definitely read/reserve/borrow more of her writing. Each essay is surprising, funny and pretty eye opening.

A five-ingredient dinner with prawns, feta and tomato.

We watched Parasite on Valentine's Day. I'm so glad I saw it but gosh it gets intense and bloody for a good 15 minutes. My fave follow up read has been this story that explains what the 'Ram-don' noodle dish is (it looked so tasty!).

I really liked this New Yorker piece about work and life and how they can bleed into each other (but probably shouldn't).

For your next rainy night - Nutella bread pudding with blackberries.

P.S I'm making a test wedding cake this weekend, starting with the sprinkle layer. I also want to see how white I can get the icing. Wish me luck!

Rain!

Are you reading anything good at the moment? After dipping into a few non-fiction books and not really getting into anything, I started this book on Sunday and am almost done. It is so good - entertaining, a little weird and totally captivating. On Sunday I had grand plans to bake sourdough cinnamon scrolls for brekkie to make the most of the rainy/cosy vibes but we ended up having yum cha with friends instead. The scrolls were finished... at about 8pm that night and made for a cheery Monday breakfast, when it was well and truly bucketing down. Since then, I've been watching Oscar video clips and re-watching this hilarious choral tribute to Laura Dern :)

Another very nice thing - last week I loved The Show of Delights episode of This American Life. I've seen it recommended in so many different places and it lived up the hype for me. If you're not much of a podcast listener, maybe give this four-minute section of the episode a go. I almost cried while listening to it on the bus. It's been ages since I listened to this podcast and I've missed it. This episode made me think about taking a break from the interview-heavy shows and going back to narrative driven ones, which tend to be more surprising and better at getting me out of my own head.

In food news, I'm planning to make my very first wedding cake! My brother Zachary is getting married in March and I offered to make the cake, initially thinking - how hard can it be? Now I'm actually doing it, I'm a tiny bit nervous/doubtful. I can definitely make cakes and put my heart into it but have been doing some research and now understand there's a bit more too it than that, including cake maths. Still, I think I'll be fine!

I'm heading to Melbourne next week for work and am hoping to find some time to sneak off and buy a t-shirt from my favourite donut shop. Speaking of work, here's a lovely roasted nectarine dessert from Julia Ostro, with nut crumble and lemon cream. If you trade the cream for yoghurt, it becomes an extra lovely breakfast. Her new cookbook comes out soon and it looks so good!

Have the very best week.

X

All of the things

Hello! How have you been? Last week was another dramatic one - a big bushfire is burning south of Canberra, which grew very quickly due to a heatwave. While it's been nerve-wracking, I've felt calmer than I have in recent weeks. A combination of routine (yoga, Sunday markets) and novelty (an experimental music gig, my first facial in 5 years) definitely helped. As did a friend who works at the RFS, who called and made a special Whatsapp group for Tony and I to keep us extra informed. How great are friends? 😭 I hope you're doing well as we roll into February. Here are some nice things to share:

If you're a Man Repeller fan, its founder Leandra Medine is a guest on Laura Jackson's new podcast Hoste-ing. Also, how is Leandra only 30???

My new favourite potato chips.

We started watching Shrill over the weekend and it's the best show I've seen in some time. It's based on Lindy West's memoir of the same name. And you can watch both seasons for free on SBS OnDemand :)

Greta Gerwig, Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet and Laura Dern break down a scene from Little Women.

From ABC Life, a veggie soba noodle salad that's cooling and delicious. I love it as a healthy and quick dinner, it'd make a great work lunch too.

I really enjoyed The Daily's take on Harry and Meghan.

And I'm thinking about making this chocolate and coffee sorbet from Donna Hay sometime soon.

Have a lovely week.

 X

Blue skies and burgers

We had a full weekend of clear, clean air last week, the first in a month or so. It was more than a relief to see the sky again - it was exciting! We rejoiced at the sight of clouds, the sound and feel of the wind that you completely miss when your shut up indoors. Even hearing birds and passing cars was a novelty. And then we tried to pack all of the things we wanted to do over our Christmas break into two days. We went for walks, ate burgers outside at the brewery, made plans to ride to the movies. We finally watched Little Women, which I adored and might rewatch at the cinema. We fell asleep with the windows wide open (a little nervously at first).

The smoke hasn't returned but it has been a very eventful week of damaging hail storms and fires burning in Canberra. We've been lucky and safe but are feeling exhausted from all of the activity and updates. We have a couple of plans for the long weekend - a family lunch, a picnic brekkie with visiting friends and a birthday lunch for my sister and brother-in-law. It's also Chinese New Year's Eve on Friday night, so I'll be stocking up on red packets and filling them with money for our nieces and nephews. It's a favourite tradition from my childhood that is so exciting to share.

For your long weekend:

Podcast eps to enjoy

The Motherhood Sessions is back.

Behind the scenes with Little Women food stylist Christine Tobin.

I've been listening to so many Greta Gerwig interviews lately and while this one is from 2016, it has so plenty of gems from the writer, actor and director, like the idea of taking an unsteady step in the right direction.

Things to make and eat

How to make Nutella whipped cream. YUM.

Going to try sourdough hot cross buns this year - maybe even this weekend.

Hetty McKinnon's ultimate veggie burger is based on the Shake Shack 'Shroom burger and may be better than a cheeseburger. A roasted portobello mushroom is stuffed with cheese, then crumbed and fried. I also love the loaded mayo and smashed potatoes with seaweed salt in this recipe.

I made Smitten Kitchen's Everyday Chocolate Cake for a work gathering and it was as good as the picture suggests and made our apartment smell amazing.

From Heidi's book, the recipe for Joan's chocolate clair bars, which remind me of a caramel slice only they're much nuttier and better for you. I love them as a pre-yoga snack.

This roast chicken and mango salad looks delish.

And for anyone wanting to eat less meat this year, here's my wrap of ABC Life's best vegetarian dinners. I make the tomato linguini, the baked risotto and potato frittata often.

And a couple of long reads

I've written a little about my efforts to work out whether having kids are for me or not, and have edited a couple of stories about the topic in recent weeks. And so when I stumbled across a reference to Rebecca Solnit's essay The Mother of All Questions (what a great title) in Jia Tolentino's book Trick Mirror, I was super keen to read it. Leaving it here in case you'd like to read it too.

If you're a fan of The Daily, this piece about its rise and its host Michael Barbaro is fascinating.

Hello weekend

How are you spending the last weekend before Christmas? We have our fourth annual Christmas dinner with Canberra friends, which is one of my favourite end of year rituals. I'm in charge of snacks and there's going to be a chocolate cloud cake :) Other than that, we'll probably decide on our Christmas Day menu, wrap a few last gifts and finally watch Marriage Story.

At the moment it's incredibly smoky in Canberra, which has been the case since for a week or more. It's been scary seeing the bushfire smoke roll in of a night - sometimes completely obscuring buildings and mountains we can normally see from our balcony. It's made me quite anxious as it's not something I've experienced before and because I have asthma. I'm grateful that our house has aircon. I am also incredibly thankful for those fighting the fires on the front line, at RFS headquarters and reporting on the fires too. I woke up this morning and made a small donation to the RFS. It doesn't totally feel like a time to celebrate, but it's also a time where cheerful distractions are very welcome. To that end:

Pretty alternatives to wrapping paper. Side note: wrapping is my favourite part.

Two holiday-themed podcasts I'm excited about - Dispatch to a Friend's Christmas episode (and start of season 3 yay!) and Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles.

A fun discovery - iconic Sydney bakery Flour & Stone puts cakes in the post! They're romantically called Gateux de Voyage and different flavours are available each day of the week.

How to spend Christmas alone (plans are key). Via Erin.

Important - don't kneecap your sentences.

Quick chocolate pudding (yum) from Emiko Davies.

Do you follow the Yia Yia next door account on Instagram? The back story is incredible.

Loved this tour of the Canberra apartment 'gumtree built'.

And some food ideas for the summer break, including this big grain salad inspired by one I ate on our drive back from the coast last year. Think pomegranate seeds, big chunks of goat cheese, and loads of fresh herbs. I also wrote this wrap of summer recipes to share featuring some of my fave ABC Life recipes.

Take care this weekend.

X

Hello weekend

Hello! Getting in a day early because I'm working a short week and heading to Sydney soon for a cookbook and cake day with Gillian Bell from Dispatch to a Friend and former publisher Julie Gibbs. And unlike last week, I have plenty of things to share :)

Being home alone has meant listening to a lot more music than usual - I'm also trying to limit myself to one podcast episode a day, to free up some brain space. I loved my brother's November mix, which I listened to on a chill Sunday as I headed to the markets and read magazines on the couch.

From the same podcast, this 15 minute classical-ish song is the calmest thing to listen to while sitting in traffic, running errands, baking a cake.

These are the prettiest cookies I have ever seen (mint choc! tie dye!). They're from Bon Appetit of course :)

Jia Tolentino's interview on In Good Company helped me make sense of a few things I've been wondering (pondering?) lately - like who I am on social media and why I often feel self-conscious there. Also interesting, her observations on the commercialisation of feminism (including 'girl boss' culture). I'm looking forward to reading her book.

I've also been listening to a lot of Alison Roman podcasts this week. One favourite was her Salt & Spine interview. Also on my to-listen list, her chat with Claire Ptak on Violet Sessions.

After finishing Queer Eye, Japan, I've been watching Love on the Spectrum, a dating show that follows several young Australians on the autism spectrum as they try and find love. If you're testing it out, episode two has been my favourite so far.

Finally - there are so many good ABC Life summer recipes to share! Here is Emiko Davies's charred zucchini salad with feta, herbs and lemon. It's light and excellent. Plus, how to make homemade fruit sodas - an excellent festive option for non-drinkers.

X

P.S How is it December??

Hello weekend

Post-Melbourne, I have been skipping a bunch of yoga classes, cooking plenty of Heidi recipes (pasta, frittata and smoothies) and watching a lot of TV (we're obsessed with Morning Wars on Apple atm). I didn't realise it at the time but last week was packed!

Tony's just left for another residency - this time in Sydney - so I'll be having a solo weekend and week ahead. I'm planning to rewatch Call Me By Your Name, go to the farmers markets and bake a cake (this lemon loaf by Alison Roman that's on the NY Times).

Have a lovely weekend! Back with more recommendations soon :)

Hello weekend + getting ready for Melbourne

For the first time ever, Tony and I have managed to break the internet at home. We're blaming our free Amazon trial for using up all of our data... from all of our Fleabag, Modern Love, Seinfeld and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel viewing. So, you might notice that this week's list of recommendations is a little shorter than usual 😂 While the TV has been off, we've been cooking together and doing the odd SMH target puzzle too (!). We're off to Melbourne tomorrow and I'm super excited about doing regular things in a new city like a market shop or a morning coffee. We're planning to visit this funny pizza parlour for our first dinner in town. To share:

I've been enjoying a couple of excellent longer reads - even if they take me a few sittings to get through. This story, where a former Obama speech-writer spending a year with an injured veteran who was written into many Presidential speeches moved me. It's nuanced and sensitive.

Also, I found this essay about a New York company's 'pivot to burnout' equally hilarious and relatable.

I know very little about Thanksgiving but am suddenly very interested in it and its funny food traditions after watching Alison Roman's (almost) real-time video of putting a feast together in a tiny kitchen.

And a couple of recipes to share! Julia Ostro has made a super summery chopped steak salad for ABC Life (avocado, mint, charred corn!). If you don't eat meat, she's also written a recipe for my No Big Deal Dinner Party newsletter, a Panzanella that's easily made vegan, vegetarian or GF.

P.S I'll be offline for much of next week - trying to catch cool films after work and night markets too. Write to you again from Canberra X

Hello weekend

Hello! I made a cheesecake last weekend, this ricotta one to be exact, and still feel the need to bake something this weekend. Maybe because the weather's dipped again or maybe because it's the thing that can clear my head at the end of a week. I'm taking Tony on a surprise date tonight, we'll be stopping at a new cheese, cold cuts and wine bar (yay!) and seeing a movie about an artist at the British Film Festival. Also on the cards, a day trip to Braidwood and a favourite bakery/pasta shop with friends. For your weekend... sweets! Thoughtful thoughts! And brand new podcasts:

'I race to relax' is a little too relatable for me. Food writer and podcaster Lindsay Cameron Wilson on structuring her days.

Annabelle Hickson (of Dispatch to a Friend) writes a beautiful newsletter.

After Making Oprah and Making Obama comes the latest season... Making Beyonce. So excited for this podcast!

Also trying out Esther Perel's new podcast, How's Work?

Annabel Crabb's gingernut and caramel ice cream sandwiches via Benjamin Law.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Vogue interview (and cover).

And something I'm proud of... No Big Deal Dinner Party is a four-part newsletter series I've been producing that launched this week. It's all about feeding your friends and family without freaking out. The first edition is all about snacks and drinks and you can sign up here if you'd like to receive the three remaining editions.

X

Hello weekend

I've got that slightly delirious feeling that comes with finishing the work week - a combination of feeling happy/relieved but also being totally spent. I'm taking things extra easy this weekend as a result and because last weekend was an accidental whirlwind of five cooking projects, tackled over two days. Tony and I are going to make a lasagne (his favourite!) and I am hoping the rainy Sunday that's forecast comes through. For your weekend (and thank you for being here!):

I'll be in Melbourne in a few weeks and am super excited to work my way through Eater's Ultimate Guide to Melbourne in preparation. Their guide to Australian snacks from a US perspective is very fun.

I am... 11 years too late but thoroughly enjoying Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize winning novel Olive Kitteridge. The best thing about arriving late is that there's already a TV show and a sequel :)

An easy tomato sauce for summer pasta - Julia Ostro's cherry tomato, basil and garlic sauce. Inspired by this pic, we ate ours with bucatini.

Making plans according to your star sign. Can confirm, the Leo one is 100% correct.

Eva Chen was hilarious on The Cut podcast (plus she's a fellow germaphobe).

I've been really into thoughtful foodies of late. Especially Yasmin Khan (author of Zaitoun) on Julia Turshen's podcast and Aran Goyoaga's beautiful video series A Cook's Remedy. I'm waiting for her cookbook to arrive... hopefully it's any day now.

And two new ABC Life recipes to share this week! Hetty McKinnon's zucchini, couscous and preserved lemon salad (snapped above) is Christmas-worthy. Plus, Julia Ostro's sardines with midweek roast potatoes. I was nervous about cooking sardines but loved them - they're so fatty and satisfying, and the potatoes in this recipe are salt-and-vinegar chip like. Enjoy!

X

Hello weekend

This week, even more than most, has been about cooking all of the things. Salted tahini choc chip cookies, a big Thai green curry from scratch, late night nut bars that remind me of caramel slice. After a few weeks of feeling all over the shop, it's super nice to be full of energy again :) I currently have zero plans for the weekend (aside from making Diana Henry's chicken with feta, dill, lemon and potatoes and maybe an apple crumble, for comfort) and will see what unfolds:

For anyone (everyone?) who's read Three Women, Lisa Taddeo's episode of How To Fail is pretty satisfying.

Given how excellent her brownie recipe is, I'm now seriously considering trying out Meera Sodha's peanut butter and jam blondies.

I'm a sometimes fan of The Cut on Tuesdays podcast (mainly the eps where editor Stella Bugbee hosts), and especially enjoyed this interview with Nora McInerny, host of Terrible, Thanks for Asking. 

My friend made this pomegranate cake with mascarpone and yoghurt icing and it was beautiful and delicious.

In amongst all of the baked goods this week, we've become big fans of the banana oat smoothie in Heidi's beautiful book. Here's a similar recipe from her blog.

And a piece that perfectly explains my love for Bon Appetit's Claire Saffitz.

Have the nicest weekend!

X

Hello weekend

How did you go with daylight savings this week? I had no idea an hour could make such a difference. Cheering me up at the end of the day has been this super dense dark chocolate and miso brownie. It happens to be vegan, is great with ice cream and tastes restaurant-quality. I'm all about cafe pop-ups at the moment and this weekend we're heading to a fish and chip night at a fave brunch spot. I'd also like to try this monthly burger night :) Have a lovely weekend, here are some nice things to share:

An old school chocolate mousse. I also love this one from fancy supermarkets!

Everything Madeleine Dore learned from completing The Artist's Way.

I want to own this cookbook for the cover alone.

A mini-seasonal refresh for the home sounds lovely and doable.

Crispy mushrooms with white beans and kale looks so good.

Did you listen to the Start Up podcast when it first came out? I'm excited to listen to the final chapter, about how the company was acquired by Spotify.

Lovely (small) things to try to make your days more creative, productive and satisfying.

And a creamy vegetarian lasagne with zucchini, leeks and peas from Heidi Sze. I'm currently reading her first book and it is lovely, even if you're not a mum. It's full of healthy recipes, kind words on practicing self compassion and gentle reminders to move your body as much as you can.

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Hello weekend

This week had so many small highlights - a new cookbook, my best ever homemade pizza (our house smelt like a pizzeria afterwards!), a long after work walk, plus plenty of time with friends over coffee, breakfast and orange wine. I feel like it bodes well for the long weekend :) Tonight we're heading to a fave cafe that has just started doing nights. And while I loved spending a few sunny days in Sydney, it's always nice to be home. To share this week:

Crushing on this light and bright West Hollywood apartment.

Diane Keaton is on Instagram! And writes all of her captions in caps.

I listened to the pasta special of Highly Enthused and made the spaghetti al limone. As promised, it was the best supper for one.

I bought my very first Diana Henry cookbook this week, to inspire simpler weeknight dinners.

Kate Berry's daily routine (and a peak inside her super sweet home).

And a strawberry shortcake recipe just in time for the long weekend. It's from Julia Ostro and it is buttery, creamy and sweet - basically the perfect kind of afternoon tea.

P.S I bought a painting! A few weekends ago, I found a Sally M. Nangala Munda work that moved me and it was delivered at the end of last week. I stumbled across her depictions of  town camp life on a trip to Sydney in June. I am stoked to own my very own piece.