May: Five Things for Right Now
Looking forward to local strawberries, a new book from Chef José Andrés, and Green Falafel Smash Burgers
These warmer, beautiful days are cause for celebration alone. As May begins, there is much to look forward to — long breezy walks, flipping through a magazine on the porch swing, birds chirping, and lighter meals inspired by fresh spring produce.
Five (ish) things For Right Now
1) Local strawberries at the Farmers Market
Buying strawberries at the grocer over the last few months has always been a bit of a gamble. Sometimes they are sweet and refreshing, and sometimes they are tasteless, or hard and sour. Not so with the strawberries appearing this month at the farmers market. Strawberries purchased at our local farmers market rarely last more than a few hours at home, if they even make it home! But when they do, they are fantastic sliced over weekend waffles, served on top of Ezekiel bread1 French toast, or mixed into a berry fruit salad.
And as if you needed more reasons to eat them, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, a good source of fiber, potassium, folate and phytochemicals.
2) Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs by José Andrés
There is much to be inspired about when it comes to José Andrés, chef and humanitarian. For me, he came into focus more when he become a chef that wasn’t just about fancy restaurants, but also speaking about food systems and the responsibility of what was on the plate.
And then of course his work creating and building World Central Kitchen, an organization that underscores the importance of the need for food in a crisis. From Andrés: “World Central Kitchen started with a simple idea at home with my wife Patricia: when people are hungry, send in cooks. Not tomorrow, today.”
If you haven’t seen We Feed People, the Ron-Howard directed documentary about World Central Kitchen and Chef José Andrés, you can find it on Disney+. Highly recommend. I am in awe of his ideas and his accomplishments, and look forward to sifting through the wisdom on the pages of his new book Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs.
AND, as if he isn’t doing enough (I haven’t even mentioned his 15+ restaurants in 8 different cities…), he is cohost (with Martha Stewart!) of a new NBC cooking competition show Yes, Chef! from the creators of Top Chef. The first episode just aired, so I’m curious if this “cooks” or not.
3) Amy Poehler’s new podcast
Because we all could use a good laugh right now. Many laughs in fact, and plenty of light-hearted distractions where we can find them. Only a few episodes in, it’s been fun listening to Good Hang with Amy Poehler as she gets her bearings in the podcast format, with her trademark earnestness and her appreciation for the craft of what goes into hard work.
Highly recommend: The episode with Kathryn Hahn (because, I mean, it’s Kathryn Hahn, who is always good in everything, and currently ridiculous as the head of marketing in The Studio). But also because Poehler and Hahn are friends in real life, and it is really touching, and very funny, to listen to them crack each other up. Female friendships and lots of belly laughs is a win win.
4) The May Issue of Bon Appétit
Over the years I’ve subscribed to many of the big name food magazines, and I have a nostalgia for keeping some of them. It’s refreshing to hold a new magazine in your hand and to take the time to sit and read it.
This issue caught my eye at the grocery store and compelled me to buy it — something I haven’t done in a long time. And I’m so glad I did, because the recipe for the Green Falafel Smash Burger is what I’ll be trying this weekend. Just as it is nice to sometimes just turn on the radio and let the songs find you (instead of scrolling to put the perfect song or album on), so it is for spending time with a food magazine. You flip through and connect with recipes you might not ordinarily reach for, finding inspiration in different flavor profiles or techniques.
5) Love Letter to a Garden by Debbie Millman
Because if you love to garden, love plants and all of the things, right now you are knee deep in planning, planting, and watering and thinking about your garden all the time. And I hope you are calm and peaceful, not like me — already overwhelmed and feeling behind on everything! Enter the serenity of Love Letter to a Garden by Debbie Millman.
The absolutely gorgeous painted illustrations pair perfectly with her sense of wonder as she connects to herself, past and present, through her own connections to the natural world. The book also includes recipes contributed by her wife Roxane Gay, that center garden ingredients, like cabbage and carrots in the recipe Purple Cole Slaw. This is a lovely gem of a book that anyone would appreciate for themselves, but also would make a thoughtful gift.
May by the Days
In addition to many other things, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Women’s Health Month. Instead of trying to touch upon the importance of all of these here in this small space, they will be highlighted in newsletters out this month.
Star Wars Day / May the 4th Be With You Anyone else on the edge of your seat watching Andor right now?
Cinco de Mayo May 5th Let’s talk tacos and more on Monday!
Food Allergy Awareness Week is May 11th - May 17th FARE, the Food Allergy & Research organization, is an excellent resource for anything about food allergies. This Food Allergy Myths and Facts sheet is helpful reading for everyone.
Learn About Composting Day May 29th / May is also Compost Awareness Month and there is International Compost Awareness Week (May 4-10) Whatever it takes to get more people composting! Here is a good information resource from the EPA: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
I’ve been composting for years and years, but I still feel like I have so much to learn! And if you are short on time or just don’t have the resources (or inclination!), look to see if there is a composting collection service in your neighborhood.
Thoughtful Food Nutrition is a consultancy that specializes in nutrition counseling and food policy consulting. Appointments and more at www.thoughtfulfoodnutrition.com.
This is a favorite, VERY EASY, springtime weekend breakfast. I like to use the Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Sprouted Whole Grain Bread with your basic French toast recipe. Fresh strawberry slices on top pulls the whole thing together.