I’m limping in with a Best of the Week because of COURSE I love writing them and I am missing chatting good things with you! It’s hard being sick, isn’t it? So many things I want to do. So many things that have to wait. Sigh. But not this. So let’s go!
Best of the week
1/ I love the idea of this Cook The Books Club. Maybe you want to join in? I am going to!
2/ I just read Heather Webber’s book Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (loved it!) and her stuffed shells are on my ‘to make’ list. (Made with BIG SAUCE, of course!)
3/ These recipes from Asma Khan look brilliant. I have one of her books, but I need to snaffle the new one, I think!
4/ The best children’s afternoon teas in London. Very, very cute. Why don’t we do this in Australia? Perhaps we do?
5/ I’m making Pamela Adlon’s chilli tonight. I love Better Things so much. So sad that it’s wrapping up. It’s one of the ONLY shows that shows womanhood in a way that I can relate to. I love the real-life mess and clutter. Also … have you ever made Borscht?
6/ Could this focaccia look any more delicious? I think not. So bubbly, non?
7/ The Official Gilmore Girls Cookbook is due out later this month! I am BUSTING to grab a copy of it! Preorder here.
8/ Sophie Hansen’s new book is out … and she made it with her mum! What a dream project! Food and craft all bundled up together in a family way. So nice! Grab a signed copy here.
9/ How to make Grandma Pizza. Gosh yes ..!
10/ Penguin’s foodie site is really good, isn’t it? Who knew? I didn’t, but I do now.
hungry hungry pippo recipes
There’s been lots of recipes between Best of the Weeks. See them all here. I’ve been trying valiantly to keep up and so far, so good!
what I ate yesterday
I’m really trying to eat to fight this pesky illness, so I’m trying for optimal nourishment in most meals.
Breakfast: Dishoom eggs with rye caraway toast (the Rye & Dough one which I got at Toscano’s.) So delicious with lots of turmeric and coriander - and very good for you/us/me! (Below)
Lunch: A banana-berry-mango-pineapple smoothie with oat milk and yoghurt.
Dinner: Pasta with Big Sauce and pecorino.
Snacks: 2 pieces of Cherry & Coconut slice. The leftover smoothie (I made a lot!)
tool of the week
Okay. Because I am very committed to Tool of the Week, I just bought this knife sharpener. I will report back! What’s your knife-sharpening vibe, dear reader?
TikTok cooks
MyriadRecipes makes a mean Korean-ish sandwich. (Watch)
MarysKouzina made Lemon and Blueberry Soufra. Love this idea so much! (Watch)
Nonna Pia’s Lasagna. The way she drapes the pasta is excellent. I learned a lot. (Watch)
“There’s often a moment in most recipes where I have a little pause to take it all in. It could be that split second just before you pour ganache over your chocolate cake, or smoothing the batter in the pan right before it goes in the oven. It could be that fleeting moment where you feel the full weight of your knife as it sinks into your cake for the first slice, or the few seconds you take to admire the sheer volume and silkiness of your meringue. It’s those brief but meaningful steps of a recipe that are unwritten but can feel the most rewarding.” - Benjamina Ebuehi - A Good Day To Bake
chatty highlights
“I've just finished listening to Melissa Harrison's podcast The Stubborn Light of Things, was it you who recommended it? Anyway all that to say I've found myself craving, yearning for the calmness and kindness of simple podcasts and books, things that are just nice and kind and gentle. I didn't realise just how jangly and fizzy my nerves were until I enveloped myself in her podcast with its gentle, lovely sounds, nature and calming voice and gentle topic. I didn't even know how much I needed gentle before.” - Kate on THIS RECIPE post.
three good things
1/ So much birdlife playing outside today. I was reading in the late afternoon sun getting my Vitamin D and they were putting on quite the show.
2/ Made a really good salad for lunch today. Greens, corn, feta, avo, tomato and a few other treasures. So delish.
3/ Listening to audiobooks when I can’t sleep. Which is often! I just started Are We Having Fun Yet? and it’s super funny. My library had it so I am listening for free on the Libby app (thanks for that tip, Reannon!) And I just finished the audio version of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek which was excellent too. Also from the library via Libby.
Thanks for reading, and so sorry it’s been a while between Best Ofs. This illness has really been kicking me in the $#%@.
Love to you!
x pip
PS: Thank you to Jane K who sent me the loveliest and most generous gift recently. So blinking kind of you.
BabyCat x
Top image: Better Things
So lovely to see you in my inbox. I made stuffed shells last week for the first time (with big sauce and added Gorgonzola and spinach) and they were a massive hit. Will go on the regular rotation. Also I found the shell stuffing quite therapeutic.
Without doubt, you deliver the very best newsletter Pip. Always full of interesting things that make me sit there & wonder “where’d she find this?!”
I have the GG book preordered as a birthday present to myself along with the other unofficial GG cookbook, Eat Like a Gilmore. HBD to me!
Also, let me know about that knife sharpener please. I had my knives professionally sharpered last year but wound love a DIY option.
Hope you’re feeling ok today xx