Get yourself a cup of coffee, chocolate or a glass of wine and let’s get to all of the delicious recipes, interesting articles and books and fun finds that I have for you this week in my Friday Favorites post.
Good morning friends, happy frigid Friday to you! It looks like there is another storm in store for many of us this weekend. We are going to be getting rain and more cold weather.What about you? Will you be getting the snow or the rain? I don’t have any plans except to finish a few projects around the house, to start organizing my tax stuff and to read. I have about 20 magazines on my Kindle that I just borrowed from my library and 3 books to enjoy.
On a side note, does your library have digital magazines? Mine has magazines from all over the world, typically I borrow magazines from France, Sweden, Germany, Australia, the UK, Spain, the US and a few other countries. Some, I cannot read but I enjoy looking at the pictures and if I find a recipe I want to make I translate it. If you have not checked this resource out at your own library I highly recommend it.
Ok, back to “Friday Favorites”, I have a lot of things to share with you so settle in, you might be here awhile.
Food
It’s cold and it’s Friday so that means comfort food. This baked Cambazola with cranberries and pecans is easy and delicious. You can serve it with crackers, chips and apples to make it seem a little healthy.
Queso is my favorite thing to eat at a Mexican restaurant, give me a bowl of melted cheese and some chips(along with a margarita) and I am set. I have have many kinds of queso, but I have never ever had it with cauliflower. I cannot wait to try Cauliflower Queso! By the way, Everything Jessica makes is easy and delicious.
On a cold day, like many of you, I find comfort in a bowl of soup. This week I made chicken soup, and a white bean soup, I think over the weekend I will try Yvonne’ recipe for Italian Tortellini Soup.with Spinach and Sausage, the perfect combination of pasta and soup.
If you are a taco fan you will love Taco Soup from Two Peas & Their Pod.
Does anyone else like to end the week on a sweet note? Me too! I am making The “Ultimate” Banana Bread from Cooks Illustrated today. This recipe is a little time consuming but it is the best banana bread I have ever made.
Home & Interior Design
Gorgeous Row House in D.C., I love the small kitchen.
Do you like doing laundry? Did you know there is a correct way to do it? If not you might enjoy Revamping Your Laundry Routine, this post is filled with excellent tips and tricks, to wash your clothes and help them last longer.
If you are looking for an easy DIY to spruce up your home this winter look no further, here are 8 Simple Winter Projects to try.
Simple hanging heart tree to make with your kids or grandkids for Valentines Day.
A British florist and flower grower on the blooms to know for the year ahead
Travel
How to Enjoy a Joshua Tree Camping Experience Without the Park Crowds
Take a virtual trip to the UK to see Romantic English Cottages.
What to do in Paris in February
25 Stunning Photos of U.S. National Parks
Interesting Articles
Lee Woodruff, A Woman of Strength
The Coca Story Goes Way Beyond the Cola
It is truffle season, Not truffle, but rather truffles!
The Revenge of the Hot Water Bottle
How to Make New Friends Whether You’re an Introvert or Extrovert
How to (Try to) Quit (Almost) Anything
The Pandemic Saved The Food Industry
The truth about oil pulling, apple cider vinegar, and other trendy cleanses
Sinking 1,000 NYC subway cars in the Atlantic to create a reef didn’t go as planned
What Fast Fashion Costs the World is shocking. I have read about this before but this paragraph stopped me on my tracks, “the pivot began in the 1990s, as early fast-fashion pioneers like Gap began swapping out styles not seasonally, but monthly, to lure in repeat customers. Over the next two decades, the trend accelerated, culminating with fast-fashion brands like Zara, Topshop, and H&M, which produce 52 “micro-seasons” per year. The website of the Chinese behemoth Shein, the vanguard of so-called “ultra-fast fashion,” boasts that the company releases 1,000 new styles every day.” (Ryan Lenora Brown)
It’s Paris Fashion week. If you are a fan of fashion than you will enjoy Sleeping in the Archives: The Met’s Forgotten Fashion Brands
Walmart’s new redesign looks a lot like Target—with one major difference.
Do you follow Francis Bourgeois on Instagram or Tik Tok? I am not sure how he popped up in my feed but his smile and enthuasium keep me coming back for more. If you do not know who he is, he is a trainspotter in the UK and he has a following of 2.2 million people who all find his excitement and love for trains fun to watch. This past week Francis Bourgeois was signed by Gucci and North Face for an ad campaign.
I LOVE Dolly Parton! She gives some great advice in this article.
Books
The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections
Liesl Weiss long ago learned to be content working behind the scenes in the distinguished rare books department of a large university, managing details and working behind the scenes to make the head of the department look good. But when her boss has a stroke and she’s left to run things, she discovers that the library’s most prized manuscript is missing.
Liesl tries to sound the alarm and inform the police about the missing priceless book, but is told repeatedly to keep quiet, to keep the doors open and the donors happy. But then a librarian unexpectedly stops showing up to work. Liesl must investigate both disappearances, unspooling her colleagues’ pasts like the threads of a rare book binding as it becomes clear that someone in the department must be responsible for the theft. What Liesl discovers about the dusty manuscripts she has worked among for so long―and about the people who care for and revere them―shakes the very foundation on which she has built her life.
I think The Paris Apartment sounds interesting. I have it on my list at the library but you can pre-order it.
Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.
The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.
The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge
Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.
Winter Ambiance
PODCAST
Speaking of Paris, Listen to Literary Life to hear about how a Paris Bookseller Changed the Course of Literature. On The Literary Life, Mitchell Kaplan talks with Kerri Maher about interpreting Sylvia Beach’s life in her latest novel, The Paris Bookseller.
More Book Suggestions at My Book Shop
If you want to see more of the books I have featured on the blog I have saved them all on My Book Shop Pinterest Board.
Finds
A fun pair of
is not in my budget but it is so pretty. Then again is there anything that Oscar de la Renta creates that isn’t?
I know that a lot of people are thinking of spring fashion but we still have 40 something days left until Spring and in my neck of the woods it is cold! The perfect weather forand the good news is that they are on a major sale! I ownand I love them.
Did anyone shop the Tuckernuk sample sale? I did find some great things but I could not find my size in the things I liked. If you found something great please share it, I love to see what other people are buying.
That is all I have for this week, I hope that you found something to make, something to read and something to enjoy!
Have a great day friends, I hope that you have a fabulous weekend.
Don’t forget you can also find Pinecones and Acorns on most social media sites, Facebook Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Or you can subscribe to the blog and get the posts in your mailbox.
Pin Me
NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, I am an Amazon Influencer and Associate and may earn a small commission if your clink a link contained in this post.
So many fun finds! I love that winter’s edge candle – I’m all about candles when it’s cold out. Also – I need to try that cauliflower queso!
Stacey, I think the cauliflower quest sound delicious! Hope you have great weekend.
Thank you for all of the great links to enjoy!
Thank you Paula. I hope you are warm and cosy and enjoying the snow.
I would go for that soup.
It does look good! Have a great weekend William.
Always a great group of things to read about on Fridays.
Thank you Rosemary.
So glad you’re an enthusiastic library patron! Friends are always surprised when I tell them about all of the FREE things libraries offer– not only magazines, books and e-books, but museum admissions, notary services, concerts and art exhibits, ESL classes, etc. Can you tell I work in a library?
The library is an amazing place, lots of treasures to discover. Would love to know more about your job! Did you study library science?
Loved the DC row house! When I was a teenager I thought I’d grow up and live in one just like Murphy Brown’s 🙂
Amy that house is amazing. I worked in DC and wanted to live in one myself. Loved Murphy Brown.
Great finds. I burn candles nonstop during the cooler months. I love them.
Elizabeth such a fun post. I love going down the rabbit hole with all the cool links you share. Francois Bourgeois is such fun guy to follow. I just adore him. So cool he’s going to be a model. He’s adorable. I thought Juliet’s laundry story was the most useful thing ever! So well done. Loved the story about Fast Fashion too. It’s so true. I used to work in retail when I was in college and we got new clothes 4xs a year at the store. That was it. It’s insane how we operate now. Thanks for all the cute Valentine ideas too. Have a great week.
Kim, I thought of you when I read the fast fashion article because recently you mentioned that you were being very intentional with your purchases this year. I have read a lot about about fast fashion and a friend that writes the blog Taste of France also talked about it on her blog several times because she lived and worked in Afica with the Peace Corps, Fast Fashion has taken away the livelihoods of many people. in Africa and is causing terrible pollution.
Juliets’ post was fabulous, you could feel her enthuasium in every word. As for Francois, he is so fabulous!
Have a great weekend.
Such great-sounding links, Elizabeth! After I finish this note to you, I am going back and looking at all the links. That Cambozola dip looks like it is to die for!! I’m glad to hear it is easy to make. I follow Lee Woodruff on Insta. She seems like a great lady! Just like you! Have a wonderful week!