Sick of cooking the same meals everyday? Want to create healthy homemade food without struggling? Looking to connect with antique and heritage recipes? You can! I help home chefs like you create easy meals by recommending recipes and new (or new-to-you!) cookbooks.
Savor the Season: Simple Delights
Published about 15 hours ago • 2 min read
🧵 The Handmade Weekend
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Hi friend, Chicagoland has bloomed—finally! Everywhere I go, it feels like the trees have thrown a party overnight. White blossoms, pink puffs, petals drifting like confetti in the wind. It’s hard not to smile when the whole neighborhood looks like a painting.
There’s something about these in-between days—still cool in the mornings, but with sunlight that lingers—that invites both movement and rest. A walk, a small project, something nourishing from the kitchen… and then maybe a quiet evening under a blanket, watching the blooms sway outside the window.
Let this weekend be a gentle one. Full of small joys, soft landings, and maybe a few flowers brought indoors.
I'm not 100% sure that these aren't Bradford Pears at my local forest preserve, but don't tell me if they are. I'm enjoying the flowers too much.
🍲 What’s On My Table
Crisp, lightly sweet, and floral with a touch of vanilla—it’s the perfect pantry staple to make this weekend. Spoon it over yogurt with fresh strawberries or eat it by the handful during an afternoon cup of tea. My recipe is here: https://goodleyliving.com/almond-vanilla-granola/
If you're craving more light and lovely things, pair it with a pot of chamomile tea or tuck it into a jar for a thoughtful spring gift.
🧺 Try This: The Slower Hour
To Read:Stolen Focus – instantly made me delete a few apps off my phone (highly recommend if your brain’s been feeling buzzy). To Watch:Étoile – the new Amy Sherman-Palladino show is full of spring-in-Paris-and-New-York energy. Ballet, banter, and beautiful light. To Try: A floral tea in a fancy teacup. Even better if you sip it by an open window. To Do: Spend 10 barefoot minutes outside—on grass, the porch, wherever. Let your body reconnect with the ground after a very long winter.
📚 Cookbook Spotlight
Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden This is the cookbook I always reach for when the seasons are shifting. It breaks the year into six micro-seasons—like “early spring” and “late summer”—so you can eat with the world, not just the calendar. The spring sections are full of bright herbs, lemony dressings, and simple, earthy meals that feel just right for this soft in-between time. Check out my full review here: https://goodleyliving.com/six-seasons-cookbook/
✨ Try: Shaved Asparagus Salad or the Lemony Chickpea Soup.
Okay, so technically the poll was very chill last week (quiet kitchen energy, we get it), but here’s what I imagine the vibe was for what kind of bakers you are :)
🍳 38% Winging it and hoping for the best 📦 32% Takeout, leftovers, and cozy naps 🥕 20% Prep-and-freeze heroes 🍞 10% Organized weekend bakers with magical energy
💛 Until Next Time
Here’s to warm ovens, clean sheets, and five peaceful minutes for yourself. Thanks for being here—your time and trust mean the world.
Sick of cooking the same meals everyday? Want to create healthy homemade food without struggling? Looking to connect with antique and heritage recipes? You can! I help home chefs like you create easy meals by recommending recipes and new (or new-to-you!) cookbooks.
