Joy Wilson's Blog, page 72

What I’m Eating Right Now: Seed Cycling Balls

Hello my dears!  

A few weeks ago I shared some of the meals that I’m making for myself in the kitchen these days.  Meals that include more whole foods… though honestly I think the term ‘whole foods’ is kinda buzzy and I’ve always eaten whole foods along with the occasional NOT whole food(?).  Human, you know?   

See: Six Weeknight Meals I’m Eating Right Now.

Overall I’m paying more attention to the foods I eat as they pertain to my hormones.  I’m researching foods that can help my body balance its hormones and I’m paying attention to how those foods make me feel month by month.  That means I have a food journal, eat less white flour, bake with less white sugar, eat way more kale and as much avocado as I’d like.  Listen… I also drink coffee and have an occasional glass or two of wine and I treat myself when I want to.  It’s not a cold turkey, perfect ‘clean diet’.  It’s not a diet at all.  

I’m not here saying I have all of the answers, I’m here sharing my exploration.  Maybe it’s something you’re interested in too… or maybe you just want Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls… and that I respect. 

The past month I’ve been enjoying Seed Cycling. 

Essentially seed cycling is eating one pairs of seeds for the first 14 days of your menstrual cycle and switching to another pair of seeds for the last 14 days of your menstrual cycle.  More about seed cycling here.  

Flax Seeds  + Pumpkin Seeds for the first 14 days (the first day of your period through ovulation) (also called the follicular phase).  The idea is that these two seeds help naturally increase estrogen levels during this part of your cycle while also providing fiber which helps the body process estrogen out, balancing any high levels.

Continue reading What I’m Eating Right Now: Seed Cycling Balls at Joy the Baker.

Red Beans and Rice Burgers

My life is a series of leftovers.  Every day I put the skillet on the stovetop and hustle something cold out of the fridge to fry in the skillet with an egg or a handful of greens.  8 times out of 10 that leftover is a bean of some sort…. listen,  it’s all romance here in my kitchen, and I’m romancing the dang bean. 

Today’s recipe is truly an encouragement to work Red Beans and Rice into your monthly meal routine.  I’ve been tryna tell you about these beans and there’s no stopping me now.

Continue reading Red Beans and Rice Burgers at Joy the Baker.

Let It Be Sunday, 220!

Hello dear friends, 

We’re well into the best day of the week and I hope you’re feeling sunny.

I had a quick flu this week.  Is that a thing?  It sure knocked me down on the couch for one full day, but my goodness I clawed my way up and out by the end of the week.  Sometimes these claws still get me up and I am grateful.  

I didn’t quite get everything  ticked off the to-do list last week, but here we are, life goes on.  Hopefully I’m blessed with next week to try again.  

Last week my sweet mama was in town for a visit.  We hustled my new sewing machine out of its box, went to the fabric store, and mom taught be the basics of sewing.  It’s like learning a new language and mom had to sew the straight lines on the wrap skirt we made together.

Continue reading Let It Be Sunday, 220! at Joy the Baker.

Our Spring Reading List, 2019

Hello my friends!

I’m back atcha with another reading list!  I always have a book in my big purse these days in an effort to spend less time on my phone when I find myself with a few minutes.  It totally works.  If you’ve got a good read, it trumps Instagram by a mile. 

This spring reading list holds a few books I’ve read, a handful I’m looking forward to hauling around and reading, a few that you resoundingly suggested, and some old classics for good measure.  We’re in between beach-read and bathtub-read season so some of these books are thrillers (I love a scary book at the beach!), and some are lady memoirs (perfect inspiration for a nighttime bath).  

I hope you find a page turner on the list below.  After each title there is a link to buy the book on amazon or one of my favorite independent bookstores across the country.  

•  I’m really loving these thoughtful and honest essays in I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott (Amazon or Parnassus) 

•  There is always time to have our very bones shifted by Toni Morrison.  The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison (Amazon or Garden District Bookstore) 

•  The long and epic classic that I’m on my fourth read with:  East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Continue reading Our Spring Reading List, 2019 at Joy the Baker.

Salmon and Fennel Spring Dinner Salad

There have been a lot of savory meals coming out of my kitchen lately. Beans, like… an alarming amount of beans since I discovered how easy they are to make in an Instapot.  I’ve also been making what I lovingly refer to as Fridge Salads.  Salads that are strong enough to sit in the fridge for a few days or however long it takes me to snack on them until they’re gone. 

This salad stands the test of the fridge.  It really stands apart from the Drake on Cake and Strawberry Crumble Pie I also have in there.  

This recipe is inspired by and lightly adapted from my friend Maggie Battista’s book A New Way to Food.  After cooking from this book for a handful of weeks it feels clear to me that Maggie knows how we cook and how we eat – with a balance of care and ease.  It’s now a staple in my kitchen.  

Maggie, in addition to being a cookbook resident in my kitchen, is also one of my dearest Boston friends soooo…

((!!  I’ll be in Boston hanging with Maggie and The Fresh Collective on Monday May 6th!  We’re getting together to discuss Storytelling on Instagram and if we’d love to see you there!  Click here for more details.  !!))

Here’s what you’ll need: 

•  Napa cabbage – a little guy because a little goes a long way.  Warning: buying a Napa cabbage may lead to an obsession with quick pickling and sauerkraut making.  Dive in. 

•  Wild salmon – this is a generous salad so plan to share of have leftovers.  The salmon holds up really well with the cabbage.

Continue reading Salmon and Fennel Spring Dinner Salad at Joy the Baker.

Let It Be Sunday, 219!

Hello friends! 

This week I’ve had the incredible fortune to have an adult lady sleepover with one of my baking heroes Erin Jeanne McDowell.  Erin stayed with me at The Bakehouse and we really dove directly into talking about ghosts and astrology, refilled each other’s wine glasses, sharing plates of Chinese food, crying over Beyonce together, and of course standing around the kitchen counter rolling a big pile of chocolate-studded dough into ropes for Easter Bread while brainstorming baking adventures.

Continue reading Let It Be Sunday, 219! at Joy the Baker.

Muffuletta Deviled Eggs

There’s not a lot I feel the need to fight about, but I’ll fight someone for the last deviled egg.  And really – I’ll fight someone for the first deviled egg if I have to.  By ‘fight’ I most definitely mean ‘dance battle’ because I’ve been working on my spinning floor moves for the last two days and I’m ready to do battle, especially where deviled eggs are involved. 

Do we have to fight about deviled eggs?  

I mean… no.  But have you seen these things!?

Continue reading Muffuletta Deviled Eggs at Joy the Baker.

My Favorite Baking Adventures Last Spring

Friends, hello!

It’s feeling a little buzzy around my house this week as I get ready for houseguests.  The incomparable Erin McDowell is coming to stay a few days – dreams, really.  We’re going to make pies (and see about Drake-ing them), teach a class of Easter breads, dye Easter eggs, and generally throw flour around the kitchen for two good days.  My mom is coming to visit just after Erin and I fully plan to cook her ever meal and convince her to teach me how to sew.

Continue reading My Favorite Baking Adventures Last Spring at Joy the Baker.

Let It Be Sunday, 218!

Hello friends!

It’s been the most lovely week in New Orleans, mostly because the jasmine is in full bloom filling the air with the most delicious smell, the strawberries are showing off, and musical festival season has started.  We’re feeling very fortunate.  This time of year, New Orleans really shines her magic.  

I’ve committed to taking care of myself this spring and for me that looks like yoga and meditation and really trying to get enough sleep even if that means not going out most nights.  Can I just tell you how much it’s changed my energy levels?  I know time is a true luxury, but my goodness I deeply recommend carving out as much time for yourself as you can.  The steadiness it lends to most days is almost calculable.  

The offering this Sunday is below.

Continue reading Let It Be Sunday, 218! at Joy the Baker.

Chili Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I’ve made hundreds HUNDREDS of recipes on my site over the last 11 (can you believe!?) years.  They’re all my loves, most of them, really.  Everything from the humble oatmeals to the fussy petit fours. It’s all for the cause – and the cause is getting us all in the kitchen. 

Some recipes stick in my taste-brain stronger than others.  These Chili Fries are one of them.

Continue reading Chili Baked Sweet Potato Fries at Joy the Baker.