April's Letter
In a spring-induced fancy, I’ve decided to publish my monthly letters here for all to read. Enjoy!
On the dining table sits a large round brass and silver dish full of blooming hyacinth and muscari bulbs. On the kitchen counter is a quart jar with soaked fenugreek seeds inside, tiny tails sprouting from their bellies. In a Weck jar sitting in a warm place on a high shelf is the flour, water, and wild yeast of my first ever sourdough starter.
Things are coming to life.
Even when everything outside is still mostly buried in snow, even when more flurries are coming (perhaps this is the last snowstorm?), even when you're yet wearing layers and pulling on snow boots, things are coming to life.
From the earth underfoot is a growing hum, a vibrant energy, a rolling-over and stretching, stretching, stretching. Creation blinking awake in flutters and flips, scampers and scurries. The wind shifts and sunlight reaches. Snow collapses, water drips, puddles widen.
Things are coming to life.
Moments Lately
Near the open(!) window(!)
Finding Old Faithful
With mustards and dusty pinks
The heady scent of spring
Wardrobe surprises (and earrings from our wedding day)
Reading Lately
Smitten Kitchen Keepers - One of my favorite things is to read a book while I’m eating lunch. This is the one I’ve been flipping through lately. Oh my. I’ve been following Deb Perelman’s Smitten Kitchen blog for years (she’s such a good writer), and have loved every recipe I’ve made (see below), but I’d never looked at her cookbooks (she’s published three!) until last week. My, what I’ve been missing out on!
Eating Lately
Roast Chicken with Schmaltzy Cabbage - This recipe is exceptionally simple and indescribably good. The cabbage is otherworldly and the chicken is moist and tender, with a crackly skin. Please, please promise me you’ll make it soon!
Two notes: 1) The cast iron skillet is key. Go ahead and let this be your good reason to buy a 12.” 2) If your chicken is over the recommended 3 lbs., spatchcock it, then lay it breast side up on the cabbage.
Favorites Lately
This, this, and this - preparing for gardening season!
Out for repair - in perfect end-of-season timing, my trusty down jacket is off to get a new zipper!
All swoon-y for this - I went with the less baggy fit
Fields and Crushed Mint - for spring
Always on my nightstand - happy to find it locally