Food(ish) things
On good vibes in the kitchen, carrot cake and a ghee-inspired lip mask.
Good kitchen vibes
I recently added Julia Turshen’s Small Victories to my cookbook collection and one of the things she talks about is what she keeps in her kitchen for good vibes. Not necessities, but nice-to-haves. She writes about her music (“Turn it on, turn it up”), old dishes (“life is short—use your nice dishes every day”) and silverware (“It makes everything, even a bowl of cereal or stirring a half-and-half into coffee, feel a little special”).
I love the idea of having things in the kitchen that simply make you feel good. It inspired me to create my own list, so here are a few non-essential things that bring me joy.
A good podcast: If I’m cooking, ideally there’s a podcast playing in the background while I chop, sear, stir or whatever it is that I’m doing in the kitchen. Cherry Bombe, Splendid Table and Second Life podcast are just a few of my favourites.
Mismatched tea cups: I’ve been collecting individual tea cups from antique markets for a few years now. I love that they’re all mismatched, befriending each other for the first time in my cupboard. Plus, they add a bit of whimsy to tea time.
Cookbooks: I keep a handful of cookbooks on an open shelf in the kitchen and the rest in a cupboard (if I had the space, I would display them all if I could). The open shelf line-up consists of cookbooks like Jikoni, Mandalay and Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love that remind of how my favourite kind of recipes are a medley of global flavours.
Melamine plates: Cute melamine plates are my weakness. I recently bought some from the Joe Fresh x Jillian Harris homeware collection that launched earlier this month and I’m obsessed with the blue vintage floral print.
What are your favourite kitchen things that give good vibes?
My new favourite lip mask
Ghee Lip Mask, $30 CAD, ghlee.com
When I was a beauty editor, I tested all the lip masks (okay, at least all the usual suspects that you’ll find on the best-of lists). Having tried all the good stuff, I can safely say that this is probably the best lip mask I’ve ever used and you should try it, too. Inspired by ghee, which is a form of clarified butter used predominantly in South Asian cooking, Ghlee incorporates a skincare-grade version of the ingredient into its lip care collection, which includes lip balms, scrub and mask. Co-founder Arati Sharma recommended that I try the Ghee Lip Mask and I totally get why. It’s buttery smooth, fully living up to its namesake, and intensely hydrating. You need the teeniest amount and it instantly conditions your lips (it’s worth noting that I tested this when I had a bad case of chapped lips). Highly recommend!
An ode to carrot cake
Yes, the spicy edamame and kale dip is delicious. Yes, the fattoush chips are great, too. But have you ever tried Farm Boy’s classic carrot loaf cake? This underrated cake is homey and wholesome. It’s not too sweet or dense, has a lovely texture and just the right amount of cream cheese frosting spread over top in a nice, even layer. You can have it for breakfast as I often do or save it for dessert. The humblest of loaf cakes, underpromising in appearance and overdelivering in taste.
Have a great weekend!
From my bookmarks:
The new season of The Parisian Agency is now streaming on Netflix. 🏠
Molly Baz’s Crate & Barrel collection is bright, cheerful and summery. 🍽️
Top two tips from Finland’s new ‘Masterclass of Happiness.’ ❣️
Diaspora Co. founder Sana Javeri Kadri’s colourful home. 🔆