Joy Wilson's Blog, page 81

Cinnamon Harissa Caramel Corn

There are a few things I think of as secret weapons in the kitchen.  You know, skills that are pretty simple once we get a few things right and inspire self-confidence in the kitchen.  A rich, chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie is on this list of kitchen secret weapons, as is a simple Roasted Chicken.  Both inspire comfort and confidence.  Also on our list of kitchen secret weapons is homemade caramel for its secret ease and definite versatility.

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Let It Be Sunday, 181!

Hi sweet friends!

I’d count this as a good week as there was sweet quality time with girlfriends AND I was in a bathing suit AND I dodged a sunburn.  In terms of summer happenings, we can count this one as a win.  

In the next few days I have the distinct pleasure of sharing my New Orleans kitchen with our girl Cara Nicoletti to make some truly indulgent summer sausage and a Baked Alaska dessert that we’re going to light all the way on fire.

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No-Bake Tres Leches Icebox Cake

For the next few months – let’s just call the refrigerator the new oven, and the grill the new stovetop.  Really, unless you’re asking me to fry baby pies – I really want nothing to do with the ovenstove until maybe Thanksgiving.  

Listen… it’s going to be ok.  We’ll have pudding, and popsicles (oh my gosh I made pickle juice popsicles YOU GUYS!), and we’ll have the dessert freezer section at Trader Joe’s, and have banana bonbons, and you’re damn right we’ll have cake – ICEBOX CAKE.

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Let It Be Sunday, 180!

Hi sweet friends.

My morning ritual of The Daily Podcast with my phone perched precariously in the one dry spot in my shower has become unsettling in a way that is hard to just have a fine day after.  You know?  Now in the morning I listen to early episodes of My Favorite Murder because somehow it’s much more soothing than the Supreme Court shuffling.  

We’re ok. 

I’m headed to Ojai for a few short days this week where I’ll spend some mellow time with a few lady friends and hopefully a hotel pool.

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Cornbread Topped Three Bean Chili

Can we put that in a bowl?

A bowl gives me license to settle into my favorite corner of the couch, cross my legs up under each other, cozy back, flip on the television, and lightly judge people who have chosen to put themselves on reality television shows.  

It’s the bowl, thank goodness. It’s the gateway to settling back and in.  It’s cozy and not matter how hot it may be outside, I’d still like my moment of daily coziness. 

I do my best to have a pot of something or other in the refrigerator every week.

Continue reading Cornbread Topped Three Bean Chili at Joy the Baker.

Let It Be Sunday, 179!

Hello dear friends!

I’m grateful that you’re here – I know there are all sorts of other ways you might choose to spend your Sunday morning.  Have you felt like a success this week?  Oh… we’re measuring our success in sweat these days, so…. let’s just say we’re all really quite successful this week.  

It’s been one of those weeks where it appears that most everyone went on vacation without us… unless you’re one of the folks on vacation to which I say… hey, you went on vacation without me.

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Root Beer Baked Beans

Here’s a thought that might have just popped into you mind re: baked beans – You know they come in a can right?

YES I DO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

My most embarrassing dinner that I enjoy on the regular and that I also swore I’d never ever tell a soul about is (here I go breaking my rule) a can of baked beans and… nothing more.

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Frozen Pineapple Jalapeno Margaritas

Hey friends I think you went and celebrated the 4th of July without me this weekend. 

I wasn’t there. I was very late to the party… in fact I didn’t make it at all.  

I thought we were all being normal and celebrating on the actual 4th until I returned to my hotel after the longest and hottest Dallas Texas weekend work day to find literally (not literally) everyone at the pool in their bikinis and espadrilles (sos) having what seemed to be either the time of their lives or the time of their lives faked enough for Instagram.

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Let It Be Sunday, 178!

•  Annapolis:  When a Local Tragedy Becomes National News.  (The Atlantic)

•  Are you here?  Why A Pro-Life World Has A Lot of Dead Women In It. 

•  Gossiping… you know, it’s bonding – like when we used to groom one another way way back in the day.  Gossiping is Good. 

•  A casual four cups?

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Toasted S’mores Squares

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of two of our sweetest friends, chocolate hazelnut spread and toasted marshmallows, in holy matrimony.  And by holy matrimony, I of course mean, cookies.  

It’s summer (and wedding season, but that analogy is over) and listen… as much as I’d like to picture myself around a campfire toasting s’mores every night, the reality is that these Real Housewives episodes aren’t going to watch themselves (although… we know ALL of the real housewives ladies totally watch themselves), so I settle into my couch even in the summer months when sure… there are all sorts of festive, s’mores-friendly bonfires likely happening somewhere close by. 

There’s something about toasting one very lazy,  individual marshmallow over a stove that just feels not right although, in a pinch I’ll torch that thing right up.

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