MONTH AHEAD // APRIL 2025
A TASTE OF THE MONTH AHEAD
EDITOR’S NOTE //
After several al fresco days in a row, I think I can safely say spring is officially spring-ing!
I forgot how restorative it is to feel the sun on my face as I sip my morning coffee, spend afternoons in the garden and eat meals that have been cooked on the grill. I feel my soul slowing thawing out and coming back to life. Coming back to life as an 80 year old that is shopping for bird feeders, comparing gardening gloves (you think I’m kidding but I currently have 6 tabs of different gloves open in my browser) and sipping on herbal tea every afternoon, but coming back nonetheless.
In that same vein, we’ve spent the last few weekends largely outside and without any plans (a true rarity for us) and all I have to say is…why aren’t we doing this more often?! Like many of you, I’m sure, our weekends are typically filled with a spillover of to-do’s from the week, work projects that still need work, never ending chores and errands and, of course, the occasional activity or day trip. However, after a bit of recent burnout, a relaxed weekend (or two) without anything on the agenda was just what the doctor ordered. We spent endless hours in the garden, sat in the backyard and played Boggle (our current game obsession), chatted with neighbors and had spontaneous visits with friends, took 2+ hour long walks by the ocean, cooked dishes we don’t usually have time for, had leisurely meals al fresco and sipped on wine in the sunshine. In other words, it was perfect and glorious and again, why aren’t we doing this more often??!
It also got us talking about how we typically spend our weekends in stark contrast to the relaxing one we were currently enjoying and how, when and why it became acceptable that this was the exception, not the norm. Of course, I get it, life happens, and not to mention that when you live in a city there’s always something to do, somewhere to be, someone to see. Like you feel guilty for staying home and enjoying the place (that you probably pay too much for) because then why are you living in a city if you aren’t out living in it??! And don’t even get me started on the need to always be doing something “cool”, always be on, always be creating, always be sharing and how on earth we’ve gotten to a point in time where there are at least 27 ways for someone to contact you anywhere, anytime, all the time. Oof I’m exhausted just writing about this.
While I know it’s not realistic to spend every weekend on a whim, and I obviously don’t have all the answers (yet) on how to regain my weekends for myself, it’s something I’m determined to get in check, especially as the weather continues to only get nicer.
In the meantime, you can find me researching gardening gloves, wildflower seed mix and new bird feeders. If that isn’t peak living, I don’t know what is.
HAPPENINGS //
WORDS TO LIVE BY //
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time”- The Use of Life
WHAT I’M PINNING //
Saving lots of springy green goodness to my APRIL BOARD over on Pinterest
WHAT I’M COOKING //
A few of my favorites that I’m turning to this month for everything from Sunday Supper to weeknight meals to Easter dinner-
CARROT CAKE- ‘Tis the season for carrot cake! Mine is made using the leftover juice pulp from carrot juice because waste not want not, but also because it makes a darn good moist cake!
POPOVER EGGS BENEDICT- A beautiful and delicious twist on the classic eggs benedict that’s perfect for a spring (and Easter) brunch
GREEK SALAD- I’ve been making some variation of this salad to have with 2 (if not 3) meals a day; I pair it with eggs and cottage cheese for breakfast or lunch and enjoy it with some sort of protein (chicken, sausage, steak, shrimp or fish) for lunch or dinner.
RAMP AIOLI WITH STEAMED ARTICHOKES- It’s about that time of year for ramps, aka wild garlic, to start popping up and this is one of my favorite ways to enjoy it.
CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN- Because there’s just something about spring greens , crispy potatoes and a classic roast chicken dinner, you know what I mean?
CREAMY LEMON PASTA- Light, fresh and springy, this pasta is super simple to make, easy enough for a week night, but definitely still special enough for a weekend, dinner guests and date nights.
RICOTTA PANNA COTTA- I can’t get enough of this simple and elegant dessert; this month, I want to make it and top it with fresh passion fruit in place of the raspberry sauce
THE CYPRIOT OLIVE OIL COCKTAIL- A light, bright cocktail that’s vibrant and fresh and perfect for this season
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO //
This spring playlist is so lovely and relaxing and will make you feel like you’re in the middle of a beautiful sunlit garden (even if you’re actually in the middle of a concrete jungle).
WHAT I’M READING //
Call me crazy but I love to read cookbooks the way some people love to read novels. So here are a few of the cookbooks that I’m reading and browsing through this month- Martha’s latest cookbook (that I received as a birthday gift), How to Eat a Peach, Chez Panisse Fruit and A Platter of Figs.
WHAT I’M EYEING + BUYING //
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