happiness is a lemon cake
13 favorite recipes from 2025
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Bonjour-Bonjour!
A pleasant pause, a delightful treat, and a Happy Holidays to you all, I bring you an eat.eat.eat. version of the newsletter.
Yes, we’re circling back toward the light (finally and thank god) but also, days are still short. We should be hibernating with people we like, eating great food, and allowing our bodies to rest. It’s winter. It’s the holidays. Here are some recipes for now, and some to bookmark for warm weather ahead.
Below I’ve listed the recipes along with the link which will take you to a past newsletter where you will have to scroll down to the eat section… Nothing would make me happier than knowing you’ve carried your laptop into the kitchen to cook up one of the dishes. Bon Appétit!
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Please, share your favorite recipes of the year! Let’s build a TBC (to be cooked) list for us all.
eat:
Breakfast:
Carpe Diem Smoothie checks all the boxes: delicious, protein, caffeine, and calcium. link
Olive Oil Granola With Dried Apricots and Pistachios. As a kid I loved granola. It was my comfort food in front of afterschool television—a little sweet, plenty of crunch. But let me tell you, that granola was never this good! link
Lunch/Salad/Veggie Sides:
When the summer months are again upon us, you could do far worse than this deliciousness: Cantaloupe, Cucumber, and Radicchio Salad. link
Farmer’s Market Greek Salad. link
This: Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Feta And Dates. link
The very best Caponata. link
We have zoom r.w.e. book group! Next we will be discussing THE LONELINESS OF SONIA AND SUNNY, by KIRAN DESAI. Because it is the holidays, and because the novel is long, we broke it up into two meetings. We will meet on 18 January to discuss the entire book, so you aren’t too late. Please join in.
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eat:
Tofu Veggie Bowls with Tahini/Miso Sauce. These are perfect for a movie night. And the tahini sauce is perfect to have on hand at all times. link
This Citrus Salmon is a keeper. I’ve actually got an entire dinner menu at this link, cashew chili crisp rice and a veggie side! And, here’s a pdf, stat.
A perfect salad for a summer evening in the back yard: Green Beans, Blistered Tomatoes, and Strip Steak. link
These are one of Joel’s best go-to’s for an afternoon with friends: Chicken Smash Burgers. link
I have openings in my editorial schedule for early 2026. If you have a project that would benefit from fresh eyes (and who doesn’t?), if you need developmental support, line edits, thoughts about the arc of your novel/memoir/essays, I’d love to talk with you. Shoot me a note and let’s figure out if I can help!
eat:
Dessert!
The very best almond cookies. link
After a trip to Mexico City, I was craving Flan de Queso. I tried many a recipe until I settled upon this deliciousness. link
As a bonus, because I want you to be happy and because of course Julia Child is correct.
Here’s a Semolina Lemon Cake you should probably make right now. It’s perfect to serve on Christmas morning (or any morning really) with coffee.
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