The March Edition
A few things I've been loving
Hi, friends. It’s been a while since I wrote a Monthly Edition (the last one was sent out on October 31 — one day after my due date and seven days before Nora was born. WOW.) but I’m actually really excited to get back into them. I love deviating from my typical recipe newsletter structure to write a bit and share a few things that are brightening up my days.
March is always one of my favorite months. It’s my birthday and the beginning of my favorite season all wrapped in one, and these two things together make it feel like the beginning of something new. I turned 35 on the 25th, an age that feels both monumental (the 5’s and 10’s always do to me) and not a big deal at the same time. Denis and I snuck out after the girls went down for a couple tinis and snacks at Capri Club, and we were chatting about how we feel like we’ve really made strides toward creating the life we want over the past year. I’ll admit birthdays in the past have felt like a bit of a bummer — another year and not much to show for it, etc. — and it was a really good feeling to head into my 35th year feeling proud and hopeful and grounded.
These are a few things I’ve been enjoying over the past 30-ish days, and I hope you do, too.
Vintage cookbooks: I recently happened upon a used bookstore that had all of their cookbooks out on the sidewalk, all marked down to $5. Honestly, a dream. I left with an armload so big my husband half chuckled, half rolled his eyes, but he of course dutifully carried them to the car for me. The Russian Heritage Cookbook was an especially exciting find — I’ve already found a few recipes that my late mother in law used to make and am pumped to try them myself.
I love
’s food writing (her newsletter is fantastic), so I dove into My Kitchen Year. She has such a lovely way of telling stories around food and writing recipes that feels like chatting with a friend. Elegant and poetic, relaxed but knowledgeable. And as having worked at a magazine in my 20s, I just love the little glimpses into what life at Gourmet was like. (Available new and used on Amazon.)Unsurprisingly, Etsy has an outstanding selection of vintage used cookbooks if you don’t have a used book store near you.
Nighttime tea: This Rishi lavender mint tea is my new nighttime ritual. I brew it for just a couple minutes in a nice cup, preferably with a saucer because that makes me feel fancy and like a lady and I love that for me, and sip it while I work or read Fourth Wing or watch the Formula 1 show on Netflix. It tastes spa-like and serene. Also love their jasmine green tea.
Homemade bone broth: If you had told me a year ago (or honestly even a couple months ago) that I’d not only be drinking bone broth daily but making it myself weekly, I would’ve laughed. But once I realized that I don’t dislike bone broth, I just dislike the ones that come in cartons from the grocery stores, my mornings changed.
Now once a week I make a big batch using leftover chicken bones (a very good excuse to roast a chicken or get a rotisserie one for dinner one night) and it is so good that I genuinely crave it. I’m convinced the secret is the amount of herbs I add in — at least two bunches. Rough recipe below.
Fully in love with half & half: But I still drink coffee first thing most days because I’m not a monster (and also because I wake up at 5 am). While I’ve been loyal to my Lavazza beans for quite a while, I never expected to develop (very) strong brand loyalty to a specific half & half. But this Alexandre Farms one is just so, so much better than others. So creamy.
The best olive oil cake: I made this olive oil cake for Denis's birthday and was reminded once again that it is a damn perfect recipe. I use whatever citrus I have on hand — sometimes lemon, sometimes grapefruit, sometimes orange. Always 10/10.
Romanticizing the little moments: Food and cooking have always been my preferred ways of taking care of those around me and, sometimes more importantly, taking care of myself. Now that Nora is almost five months old, I’m out of the trenches a bit and am taking more time to just enjoy the cooking and eating process. For a while there it was just go, go, go — make whatever is easiest and eat it as quickly as possible.
But now I’ve been really leaning in. Pouring myself a nice drink (Ghia Berry with San Pellegrino feels fancy but is NA on the nights I don’t want to imbibe) and listening to Norah Jones while I whip something up. Using the nice plates and cloth napkins and all that, even at breakfast and lunch. Eating outside now that it’s warmer. Don’t get me wrong, there are still many meals hurriedly put together with one hand, a crying baby in the other, that I hardly taste I’m eating them so fast. But when I can make the effort, I do. It really does make a difference. Reminder to take care of you in whatever way feels the best. You really do deserve it.
Kitchen cuteness: Pinterest recently led me to the cooking and dining section of H&M home, where I was reminded once again that they really have some super cute and super affordable items. Their splatterware is really fun — I use the jar as a sugar bowl on our coffee bar (comes with a matching lid and a spoon). This lemon jug is also going straight into my cart, as is the lemon juicer, these tomato salt and pepper shakers, this chic gray and white striped tablecloth, these flower-inspired stoneware cups and saucers (for previously mentioned nightly tea), and this splatterware butter dish. Honestly, there’s just so many good things I might have to do a separate newsletter on it.
A Substack I love: Substack has become my favorite “social media” platform lately. The Notes section feels like a breath of fresh air and leaves me feeling high on inspiration and kindness, rather than super stressed like Instagram sometimes can. Someone recently described it as The Great British Bake Off of social media and I could not agree more. Just love and support and beautiful things!
I recently discovered
’s Substack, As Of Late, and just upgraded to a paid subscription, I love it that much. She shares fantastic home and style recommendations that aren’t just a regurgitation of what everyone else is talking about, and I love her musings on life, style, food, home design. Everything feels airy and bright and welcoming and luxurious.Cleaning house: Public Goods recently sent me some of their multi-purpose surface cleaner spray and the smell!! It is lightly floral and just divine. My husband even commented on how clean it smelled — not at all cloying or chemically, just fresh. (Opt for the plastic bottle though, I found the glass to be too heavy and was worried it would slip out of my hand and shatter, which it did. Whoops.)
Also would have never thought to recommended this, but Viva paper towels are another random thing I am brand loyal to. We had friends over recently and everyone was commenting on how nice our paper towels are, which made me laugh. But they are! So stretchy and very durable, so you can rinse them out and reuse when you’re cleaning.
I’ll leave you with this: A mood board for spring.
In the Adirondacks, spring comes late. But glimmers of the baby leaf green tinge the comes before the buds open can be seen. Every year this 1 week brings hope and an awakening into my soul.
Yes! Viva paper towels are the best. During the pandemic I had to do without so now I buy in ridiculous bulk.