April '23 Newsletter
Hello and Happy April!
Spring is definitely in the air, and I couldn’t be happier. I get woken up every morning by bird song that is so distinct to spring that it fills my mornings with optimism. We’ve got crocuses and daffodils blooming everywhere, with tulips on the way. Trees should be beginning to bloom soon as well, and the sun feels warmer every day.
I’ve got a really exciting road trip coming up. My husband and I are driving Highway 1 from LA to San Francisco, with many stops in between. I’ve only ever been to San Francisco out of all of California, and I’m so excited to see its majestic beauty, from South to North. By the time we’re back home in mid April, spring should be in full swing here in New England, so I’m very pleased by the timing as well.
In this month’s video, I take you along on a regular day of intuitive cooking, where I make breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dishes include Shortcut Steel Cut Oats w/ Apple, Coconut Lime Red Lentils, and Preserved Lemon Couscous w/ Cauliflower & Chickpeas.
Seasonal Pleasures and Other Things
⁕ It’s mango season! This is about the time of year that I start craving fresher, juicier flavors in response to the warming weather, so mangoes come at the perfect time. My favorite king of mango that’s commercially available at U.S. grocery stores is the Ataulfo mango (also sometimes called champagne mango). They’re bright yellow and smaller in size than the red and green ones you sometimes see at the store. But the best mangoes I’ve ever had were in Florida, growing wild on the trees in my parents’ neighborhood (their season is later in FL, in the late summer).
⁕ Do you follow Claire Thomson on IG? I identify with her cooking style so much. It’s not plant-based, but mostly vegetarian, and I love her vegetable-heavy, home cooking approach.
⁕ A movie recommendation: ‘Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears’ (part 1, part 2). I grew up on this Soviet movie, and recently rewatched it with complete delight. It’s a story of three women in Moscow, and how their lives unfold throughout the years. I’m not sure if the excellence and humor of this piece will completely translate to English, but I hope that some of it will. It got an Oscar, too :)
Wishing you a wonderful April,
