Friday Favorites from Brown Eyed Baker, Closet Cooking, Simply Delicious, and More

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Good morning friends. How are you? I hope that you are doing well and of course staying safe. It’s funny because even though I am sheltering in place and not going anywhere I get very excited on Friday in anticipation of the weekend. I am not sure my life could slow down any more but I guess I let myself relax and play more on the weekends.

I found lots of things this week to share. I hope that you find something that you enjoy.

Food 

Braised Beef from Closet Cooking can be made into tacos, rice bowls and more.

For those of you that are  enjoying making bread during your time at home this Cheese Bread from Brown Eyed Baker might be something new to try. 

Crispy Fish Tacos From Simply Delicious 

I made this Easy Vanilla Cakefrom Wife Mama Foodie for my neighbor and they loved it. 

Sour Cream Shortcake Biscuits are perfect for Sunday supper. If you don’t want to use strawberries mixed berries or even stone fruit would be great too.

Image Bon Appetit

54 Chicken Recipes from Bon Appetit

Articles

Corona, Corona, Corona from Decor8

Hundreds and Hundreds of Recipes to Try in the NY Times

17 Ways to Fight Climate Change At Home

The Death of the Department Store

How to Persuade People to Change Their Behavior

Is anyone surprised by this? Banks Gave Richest Clients Concierge Service to Get Pandemic Funding

You Will I Survive This, If You Surround Yourself With Comfort

11 French Films to Watch on Netflix

If you are baking up a storm like I am here are the Best Ways to Freeze Your  Baked Goods

Watch

If you love 80’s and 90’s tv shows here is a list of 30 Shows to Stream Now.

11 French Films to Watch on Netflix

Books

Bear and Fred

The true story of a Jewish boy in hiding during World War II, as told by his teddy bear.

I felt Fred’s small hand grab me.

He patted me and whispered,

“Bear, I won’t leave you here all by yourself.

You are my best friend.”

Based on true events and beautifully illustrated, this is the story of a friendship that will last forever—told by Fred’s best friend, his beloved teddy bear.

During World War II, Fred must leave his home and live in hiding, apart from the rest of his family, but he always keeps Bear by his side. Bear knows it’s his job to take care of Fred and make sure he doesn’t feel alone.

After the war, Fred and his family are reunited and leave Holland for the United States. And still Bear is with him. When Fred grows up, he and Bear part for the first time when Bear is sent to Yad Vashem—the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel, where this book was first published—to show the power of hope, friendship, and love.

Feels Like Falling by fellow blogger and writer Kristy Woodson Harvey.

It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy.

Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her extremist husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger, Diana Harrington, fired from her job at the local pharmacy.

Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a worn-out Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.

With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn. But when her first love returns, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.

In her warmest, wisest novel yet, Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers a discerning portrait of modern womanhood through two vastly different lenses. Feels Like Falling is a beach bag essential for Harvey fans—and for a new generation of readers.

What’s Gabby Cooking

Finally! A cookbook for people who have had enough with rules and restrictions and are ready for delicious food that makes them feel good.

In her follow-up to her breakout success What’s Gaby Cooking, Gaby Dalkin reveals the secret to a happy life: balance. Eat What You Want reflects how Gaby eats in real life, and for her, balancing moderation and indulgence is everything. No deprivation, no “bad foods” list. The only rule? Enjoy your food. Whether you are looking for lighter dishes filled with tons of fresh fruits and veggies (like a Cauliflower Shawarma Bowl or lemony Tahini Broccolini), or soul-soothing dishes like (Ham and Cheese Croissant Bread or Strawberry Crispy Cobblers), Gaby has you covered.

All told, Eat What You Want is an invitation/permission slip/pep rally for you to let go of all the noise around what you choose to eat. Choose joy! Choose fun! Choose no apologies or excuses. But most of all, choose whatever makes you happy.

Leave Only Footprints

When Conor Knighton set off to explore America’s “best idea,” he worried the whole thing could end up being his worst idea. A broken engagement and a broken heart had left him longing for a change of scenery, but the plan he’d cooked up in response had gone a bit overboard in that department: Over the course of a single year, Knighton would visit every national park in the country, from Acadia to Zion.

In Leave Only Footprints, Knighton shares informative and entertaining dispatches from what turned out to be the road trip of a lifetime. Whether he’s waking up early for a naked scrub in a historic bathhouse in Arkansas or staying up late to stargaze along our loneliest highway in Nevada, Knighton weaves together the type of stories you’re not likely to find in any guidebook. Through his unique lens, America the Beautiful becomes America the Captivating, the Hilarious, and the Inspiring. Along the way, he identifies the threads that tie these wildly different places together—and that tie us to nature—and reveals how his trip ended up changing his views on everything from God and love to politics and technology.

Filled with fascinating tidbits about our parks’ past and reflections on their fragile future, this book is both a celebration of and a passionate case for the natural wonders that all Americans share.

Finds 

I like this dress and think it would be great for summer. 

I ordered these gingham shoes this week from J Crew. 

That’s it for this week friends. I hope that you find something that you like. Please share your finds from this week. Keep your chin up, stay inside and stay safe.