The Weekly Mix: Celebrating Flavor, Home Comforts, and Inspiring Discoveries

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone! This vibrant celebration of Mexican culture is always a wonderful excuse to gather with loved ones and indulge in an array of festive flavors. For those of you who might have missed it, I recently shared my go-to recipe for tropical mango guacamole earlier this week. It’s truly a game-changer – incredibly easy to prepare, bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors, and absolutely perfect for dipping your favorite tortilla chips. The sweet tang of mango perfectly complements the creamy avocado, creating a harmonious blend that stands out from traditional guacamole recipes. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or enjoying a quiet evening at home, this recipe is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser and a delightful addition to any spread.

And speaking of festive drinks, are you elevating your Cinco de Mayo celebration with a batch of my renowned kombucharita punch? Please, say yes! This unique concoction offers a refreshing twist on classic margaritas, incorporating the health benefits and effervescent kick of kombucha. It’s an unexpectedly delicious pairing that adds a layer of sophistication and lightness to your festivities. If you’re looking for even more mango goodness in liquid form, you absolutely must try this incredible minty mango margarita punch. Its vibrant flavors and cooling mint notes make it an ideal beverage for warm weather, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of early summer celebrations.

This past week has been a rather quiet and wonderfully uneventful one, which sometimes is exactly what the soul needs. Connor, unfortunately, has been on-call a considerable amount, a common rhythm in his profession that often dictates our schedule. However, there’s exciting news on the horizon: he has a rare and much-anticipated weekend off next week! We’re already making plans to take full advantage of this precious downtime. Our first order of business will be a visit to the outdoor farmer’s market, marking our inaugural trip for the year. There’s something truly magical about strolling through rows of fresh, seasonal produce, engaging with local vendors, and soaking in the vibrant community atmosphere. It signals the true arrival of spring produce and the promise of summer’s bounty. With the sun now gracefully setting past eight o’clock in the evening, there’s an undeniable feeling in the air – it is officially starting to feel like the blissful, long days of early summer are finally here.

Beyond our weekly rhythms, it’s hard to believe it has already been two weeks since we moved into our new home. The feeling of being settled in is incredibly comforting and truly a wonderful experience. Each day brings a little more organization and a deeper sense of belonging. This past week, I dedicated some much-needed time to hanging artwork in my office, a task that always seems to be the very last item to check off the list when furnishing a new space. The difference it has made is truly remarkable; the room now feels complete, personalized, and far more inspiring. My absolute favorite piece is a beautiful seasonal fruit and vegetable foil-press poster that my sister thoughtfully gifted me a few years back. I have always adored the elegant, tactile quality of foil-press, which serendipitously reminds me of our wedding invitations! Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these posters are also super affordable, making them an accessible way to add a touch of sophisticated charm to any room. You can catch a glimpse of the lovely tan print below, adding a subtle warmth to my workspace.

Switching gears to delightful discoveries, my friend Lindsay recently published the most fun Japanese Kit Kat taste-testing post on her blog, and I’ve been absolutely obsessed ever since! Her detailed review of various unique flavors, from matcha to sake, is incredibly entertaining and informative. Coincidentally, we actually had the pleasure of hanging out with Lindsay and her husband, Taylor, in Japan because they were there at the exact same time as us! It was such a fantastic and memorable experience exploring parts of Tokyo together. Inspired by Lindsay’s post and our shared travel memories, we’ve since hunted down a few of these intriguing Kit Kat flavors ourselves. We’re patiently waiting for the perfect moment to break them out for our own little taste-test adventure – perhaps a special weekend treat or a fun dessert after dinner. The sheer variety and creativity of Japanese Kit Kats never cease to amaze me!

For anyone looking to elevate their culinary visual skills, my incredibly talented friend Sarah from Broma Bakery is hosting a fantastic food photography workshop this summer! Sarah is a true master of her craft, and her workshops are known for being incredibly insightful and hands-on. If you’re eager to amp up your food photography skills, learn about lighting, composition, styling, and post-processing, this is an opportunity you absolutely shouldn’t miss. Be sure to check it out and sign up to transform your food photos into works of art.

Last weekend, we embarked on a culinary adventure that proved to be utterly delightful: we made yeasted waffles, and holy moly, they were beyond delicious! The yeast creates an incredibly light, airy texture with a subtle depth of flavor that traditional waffles simply can’t replicate. They were crispy on the outside and wonderfully fluffy on the inside – pure breakfast perfection. A practical bonus? They freeze beautifully, making them ideal for quick, homemade breakfasts during busy weekdays. For those considering trying this recipe, I made a couple of minor tweaks: I reduced the butter by two tablespoons and opted for SAF instant yeast, and I can confirm it made absolutely no difference to the phenomenal outcome. The waffles turned out perfectly. If you’re on the hunt for an impressive yet surprisingly easy Mother’s Day brunch recipe, seriously, make these. They’re a thoughtful and delicious way to show appreciation.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for another heartwarming and memorable brunch option, consider making these exquisite figgy buckwheat scones. I prepared these for my mama years ago, and the memory of how incredibly good they were still lingers vividly. The earthy notes of buckwheat flour pair beautifully with the sweet, chewy figs, creating a scone that is both rustic and sophisticated. They offer a delightful texture and a unique flavor profile that sets them apart from typical scones, making them a truly special treat for any occasion, especially for celebrating moms.

In a world that constantly pushes us to be productive, I found myself completely captivated by this insightful article on the value of wasting time. It’s a refreshing perspective that challenges the modern obsession with efficiency and highlights the psychological benefits of allowing ourselves moments of unstructured, seemingly unproductive leisure. The article posits that these ‘wasted’ moments are often crucial for creativity, problem-solving, and mental well-being, allowing our minds to wander and connect disparate ideas. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves is simply to exist without a specific agenda. Hear, hear!

Our home organization journey took a stylish turn last weekend when we picked up a few gorgeous weave baskets from World Market. These baskets have quickly become indispensable for tackling two major areas of household clutter: a) Marley’s ever-expanding collection of toys and b) the general “hallway crap” that inevitably accumulates. I am absolutely in love with them! Not only were they super affordable – a crucial factor as I staunchly refuse to spend more than $25 on a single basket (nope, just not doing it!) – but they also add a wonderful textural element to our space. The woven design brings a natural warmth and an appealing visual interest, making organization feel less like a chore and more like an enhancement to our home decor. They blend seamlessly into various interior styles, proving that functional items can also be beautiful.

While browsing at World Market, a delightful wave of nostalgia washed over us when we stumbled upon Australian Tim Tams. Of course, we had to buy them, purely for the sake of reliving cherished memories! These iconic chocolate biscuits brought back vivid recollections of making these homemade ones a few years ago. There’s something truly special about the Tim Tam Slam – biting off two opposite corners and using the biscuit as a straw for a hot drink, then quickly popping the softened treat into your mouth. The store-bought version rekindled that sweet, chocolatey joy, reminding us just how good those homemade versions were too!

Shifting from sweet treats to serious culinary careers, I pondered a fascinating question posed in a recent article: Is it truly possible to gracefully leave the restaurant business after 40 years? The piece profiled a renowned chef, prompting reflection on the immense dedication and relentless grind that defines a career in the culinary world. I can scarcely imagine how difficult and, for some, perhaps even long overdue, such a transition would be after dedicating four decades to such a demanding and passionate industry. The restaurant business is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle, a calling, and extracting oneself from that intricate world must surely be one of the most challenging career decisions one could make.

On a lighter and equally delicious note, I stumbled upon this fantastic recipe for guilt-free fried rice! What immediately caught my eye was the generous incorporation of extra vegetables, which not only boosts the nutritional value but also adds a wonderful array of textures and colors to the dish. It’s the perfect solution for a healthy and satisfying weeknight meal, allowing you to enjoy the comforting flavors of fried rice without any reservations. I love how versatile fried rice can be; you can easily customize it with whatever vegetables you have on hand, making it a sustainable and practical meal option.

I also absolutely adore the beautiful simplicity of this amazing chickpea recipe. It highlights how a few quality ingredients, prepared with care, can yield something truly extraordinary and nourishing. This post has actually inspired me quite a bit. I sort of want to channel this approach and share more straightforward, yet incredibly flavorful recipes like this on the blog. Dishes that are easy to make, versatile, and celebrate the natural goodness of simple ingredients. So, tell me what you want to see more of! Pretty please. Your feedback helps shape the content I create, ensuring it’s always relevant and helpful to you, my wonderful readers.

Oh, and if you’re planning a trip to the magnificent Windy City anytime soon, I recently shared all of my absolute favorite Chicago restaurant recommendations the other day! Curating that guide was such a joy, blending my passion for food with my love for exploring new culinary landscapes. From upscale dining experiences to hidden local gems, the guide covers a diverse range of cuisines and atmospheres, designed to help you navigate Chicago’s vibrant food scene like a local. It was incredibly fun to write, revisiting all those delicious memories and compiling them into a comprehensive resource for fellow food enthusiasts. I hope it proves useful for your gastronomic adventures in Chicago!