How is it April already?! It feels like these weeks are just flying by. One minute I’m in my Monday morning meeting, the next I’m scrambling on Sunday to write something somewhat food-related. Things seemed a lot easier when I first started this newsletter last year. Was I this busy before the pandemic? Or did I just forget what it was like to have obligations and an active social life? I really can’t tell.
I hate to say it, but…I was kind of thriving during the pandemic. As an introvert, I was thrilled to stay home and binge-watch all six seasons of Love Island UK. I missed hanging out with my friends as much as anyone, but I will always find a way to entertain myself. I picked up embroidery as a hobby, I got certified in interior decorating, I road-tripped across at least five states, I walked 2+ miles every morning and I started this newsletter. Boredom has never been in my vocabulary.
Since we are pushing toward pre-pandemic normalcy, I realized it’s the “fear of normal” (or FONO) that has me feeling down lately. Basically, I’m saying all of this to say, don’t be surprised when these newsletters show up in your inbox a little later than usual. I’m still attempting to find a balance between making time for myself and my hobbies and re-entering the real world with real-world responsibilities.
This month I opted for some southern comfort and will be cooking from Amber Wilson’s For the Love of the South. Southern food is top tier, in my opinion. Healthy? Maybe not. Delicious? Most certainly.
April Cookbook: For the Love of the South: Recipes and Stories from My Southern Kitchen by Amber Wilson
Even though I worried about my teeth every time I ate a piece, I must admit that the bacon bourbon brittle (pg. 212) was delicious. This was a pretty simple recipe that would be great for gift-giving. Just make sure you measure out all of your ingredients and keep an eye on the sugar boiling. It can go from 0 to 100 real quick.
Next up this week, hushpuppies with whipped butter (pg. 92)! Hushpuppies are one of those things I crave but never know where to get in a pinch. But now that I’ve made them from scratch, I shall crave no more! The original recipe called for pimentos but I swapped it for chives instead. These were great reheated in my air fryer the next day!
Aside from the cookbook this week, I had to take the opportunity to make my favorite family recipe – iced tea cookies! You can read more about these in one of my holiday newsletters here. They’re so cute I barely want to eat them! (But definitely will.)
Thanks for reading, sweeties! 🍎