Stuff I’ve Been Cooking, Reading, Watching, Etc.

July 1, 2020

Hi, just checking in. It’s been a pretty stressful and illumniating few weeks. I keep wondering what incredible event will totally upend our lives in the next month or so. I, like most people, have been thinking a lot about racism in this country and what I can do differently in my own life to not only believe that black lives matter, but to work towards that goal. I will continue to work for and donate to political candiates who are going to work for social justice. As far as this blog and my presence on social media, I want to share more recipes from blogs and cookbooks by people of color. If you have suggestions, please send them my way. Thanks!

What I’ve Been Cooking:

  • Rose Sangria with Nectarines and Strawberries: Sangria always seems like a lot of trouble, but this recipe, from the current issue of Martha Stewart Living, was quite simple. You just need to plan ahead a little so the fruit has time to soak in the vodka. Yum!
  • Nutella Swirl Banana Bread: I finally got around to making banana bread, like everyone else who has been quarantine baking. This version with nutella is super rich, but sooo good! I don’t think my family will ever be happy with plain banana bread again. Lol

What I’ve Been Reading:

  • The Most of Nora Ephron: I’m a huge Nora Ephron fan. I made the boys watch When Harry Met Sally the other night, and I was reminded that it’s just about the perfect movie. The most frustrating thing about rom coms these days is how bad the writing is. Anyway, all of this led me to rereading The Most of Nora Ephron, which includes many of her essays, Heartburn (her autobiographical novel, which was turned into a movie with Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson), and more. I just pick it up and read a few pages when I’m winding down at the end of the day and I feel better.

What I’ve Been Watching:

  • Babylon Berlin: My husband and I have been watching a drama on Netflix, which is the most expensive show ever made in Germany. It’s a little hard to describe, and it’s one of those shows where I often feel like I have no idea what’s going on. There is something about it though that’s so compelling, that I want to keep watching. The story takes place in Germany during the Weimar Republic, which is between World War I and II. This is a period of history I know almost nothing about, so I find it super interesting. The main characters are a police inspector trying to dismantle an extortion ring and a flapper girl, who is prostitute by night and wannabe police inspector by day. We are watching it in German with subtitles (keep thinking I might pick up some German!), but you can also watch it dubbed into English.

And What I’ve Been Listening To:

  • New York Times The Book Review Podcast: This is my Sunday morning podcast to listen to while I’m cooking breakfast or cleaning up the kitchen. It always starts with an interview of an author  and ends with a discussion between the editors about what they’ve been reading. They read such a wide array of books, so I always find out about books and authors I’ve never heard of before.

Let me know what’s been keeping you entertained!

Take care everyone. Stay safe and wear your mask!

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