For most of my life, I have been drawn to rusty, faded, chipped and tarnished vintage collections. I've been drawn to the stories of these imperfect objects, to the lives they have lived. New, uniform objects that roll off assembly lines have always paled in comparison to the character of vintage collections.
I have been drinking a variation of this smoothie since high school! It tastes like sipping a milkshake without the sugar and with the health benefits of fruit, raw cacao, flax and even some sneaky greens.
I made this homemade soda for myself to explore some of my favorite flavors, to shake up my go-to habits and simply to avoid dehydration because dang, did it get hot this week! I also made it to toast with YOU digitally.
Saying santé reminds me to take a first sip mindfully, to appreciate the farmers, vintners, or whiskey-makers and all the folks who enabled me to take that sip, to enjoy my meal and restore my spirit. So to you, my friend, santé! I hope you like this Sgt. Pepper's Old Fashioned as much as I do.
Stay tuned, and I'll be sharing recipes to use this honey simple syrup in both a cocktail and a super simple mocktail, so there's something for everyone. You could even use it for a fancy iced latte if you're more of an uppers kind of gal (hi!).
"Will you be home Tuesday?" Nina asked me. "I only leave to take walks," I answered affirmatively. "Ok good. I'm sending you something. It's perishable. Be on the lookout!" This was an intriguing directive. What could it be?
What about this world do you love and cherish? If mac and cheese makes your list, and I hope it does, give this recipe a try. It's all the comfort of mac and cheese with some extra garnishes to feel a little fancier, a little extra special.
Someday, when we can hold hands and hug, and pass plates to each other, I will indulge my craving to eat my way through Italy. In the meantime, I'll make simple pastas with big flavors and try to appreciate the lessons of Italian cooking. I'll continue to be grateful for the lessons of this time, for resourcefulness, and for the difference a little lemon zest can make.