Hello and happy Friday!
Before we get too far into the gritty and before you email to ask, I’m sorry but I don’t have a recipe link to the French toast yet. Consider it a tease of good things to come. Perfection takes practice :)
I love weekends, but today I cannot wait for Monday. My husband and I are getting our vaccines, and I am feeling beyond fortunate to take that first step toward normalcy. Notice I did not say getting back to normalcy. Life won’t ever go back to what it was. Too much fear, death, isolation, and uncertainty has rocked the world.
I thought with age came wisdom. But here I am, 50+ years old, and I’m still looking into the corners of my soul and unearthing thoughts and feelings I tend to ignore. I’m the mom! I’m supposed to have the answers. Yet here I am. I’m still growing. I’m still learning. And 2020 taught me a whole lot more than I ever wanted to know.
In so many ways, this past year has been horrific, de-motivating, sad, and stagnant. Yet, I’m oddly thankful for it, and for getting through it relatively unscathed. Mostly.
I haven’t shared this with many people, but yesterday, after a conversation with an old friend who said he didn’t know anyone personally who had caught the virus and STILL wondered if it was real, it was time to say I know first hand that it IS real.
Early this year my little family of three tested positive for Covid. After nearly a full year of extreme care and isolation, staying masked and sanitized, eliminating hugs with our parents, keeping our distance, online schooling, and keeping to our select small pod, it wormed it’s way in. We still don’t know how it did, but somewhere we let our guard down and it struck. Praise-be and hallelujah, our cases were mild—flu-ish and achey, but we never had fevers or lost taste and smell and I still didn’t miss posting a Friday Faves :). We recovered with no residual symptoms. We were lucky. But positive we were.
I’m ready to move forward with insight, lessons learned, empathy, and gratefulness. That’s why the lessons mentioned in this post ring so true, and this passage is worth ruminating on:
“This version of you never would have existed without the last 12 months’ challenges and changes. So it’s always worth meditating on the lessons, large and small, that we’ve learned throughout this unique and universal moment of chaos.”
One of the biggest lessons I learned? Check in with your friends and family and actually ASK them how they’re doing, and then listen. Not many people in our circle even know we had it because in calls or texts asking for advice, information, or favors, those people never thought to ask, “How are you?”. Disappointing? Sometimes. Surprising? Not really.
The lesson of the day? If you don’t bother to ask, you may never know.
So while I’m ready for Monday, let’s first get into this week’s Friday Faves. Enjoy!
Is indoor dining safe now that I’m vaccinated?
Embrace diversity and stop Asian hate. Follow and support some fave Asian foodie creators:
- One of my go-tos no matter what the cuisine, I Am a Food Blog knows her crispiest, crunchy Korean chicken. Oh yes.
- Kitchen Confidante shares her sunshine and recipes like this ultimate Filipino comfort beef stew.
- Lisa Lin’s Healthy Nibbles (and her cutest mom!) make me want more and more recipes like these Chinese BBQ pork buns.
- Set your Table for Two with one of my favorite Vietnamese-inspired rice noodles dishes.
- Eat the Love and lick your fingers with these amazing cinnamon rolls.
- Tiffy Cooks and always inspires as the Tik Tok queen and with recipes like these 20 minute yakisoba noodles.
- Always delicious with a side of healthy is what Nom Nom Paleo does best –> egg roll fried rice.
- Kari’s seemingly effortlessly styled Instagram account is my photo taking and recipe styling inspiration that shines almost as bright as her activism and passionate voice.
This is one of my favorite cookbooks, but it’s older so it’s hard to find and new copies are crazy $. That’s why I’ve always had success in skipping the “buy now” option and hitting “buy used” instead. You can save so much!
and…
I’m diving into authentic Italian food meets fashion and bought this cookbook. Can’t wait to start cooking from it.
64 pasta sauces. 1 winner. Welcome to Starch Madness.
Last week I shared this breakfast video and after making it twice already (it’s so good), I realized I needed a big turner spatula to succeed. It works like a charm!
The best advice for bread bakers from a bread baker.
Few things are an automatic YES for me but pasta with artichokes always get the green light.
This is my favorite chowder recipe but this one might sway me to the other side.
Put a face on it! How cute are these cookies??!! What a great gift, shower, or wedding idea.
This sandwich will totally elevate your lunch game.
Cheesecake Factory fans, this chicken recipe is for you.
A-one pot pasta that’s absolutely scrumptious. Scrumptious. Need to use that word far more often!
Cookie lovers, this no-churn ice cream recipe is for you.
Upping my matcha game with this iced latte.
Instant pot recipe alert: Taking it to the Philly sand.
St. Pats may be over but these pierogis are going strong.
This 30-minute curry is just what your weeknight needs.
OMG, this truffle pasta has me routing about for more.
This skillet blondie just bowled me right over. GORG!
Why you should eat a banana each night before bed.
The budget way to make your bed feel like a top quality hotel bed.
I have the spring fever bug and can’t stop watching gardening vids like this. Time to prep the beds!
Move over fiddle leaf fig, this tree is taking over.
Crocs for dogs. Why? Just, WHY?
This summer’s essential accessory will be all about the hair clips.
I will always opt for a rainbow themed t-shirt.
This gauzey button down will be another great basic spring/summer addition.
Summer uniform –> I bought these linen-ish wide legs in brown and I love them so much I ordered a pair in black too.
I discovered these camo joggers that are the SOFTEST and as such, I will likely be living in them for quite a while.
I was in high school when this Mormon murder mystery shocked our state of Utah, so it’s super interesting to see it in more depth now.
We all hate it, but there’s no escaping it –> The ultimate tax form cheat sheet.
and…
6-step checklist to keep money stress far away.
Now Britney wants to be interviewed by Oprah? Oh yes yes please.
That’s it for this week. Have a safe and happy weekend everyone.
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Kristin
Thank you for sharing your COVID experience. I wonder how long our memories will be. My mil (not a denier thank goodness) thought she didn’t know anyone who’d had COVID, and I had to remind her that my son’s girlfriend had it. Sheesh. And I’m sure they know plenty of other people as well, but they haven’t shared their stories.
Jan Landmann
Heidi, stay well. Thank you for sharing and for your beautiful and uplifting reminders each week to focus on the important things in life and not sweat the small stuff.
Jan in New Zealand
bridget
Ah, thank you for including my cookies in this incredible list!
Heidi
They’re so dang cute Bridget!!!