Pasta, podcasts, & poetry
Some midweek pleasures...in that order
As we get closer to the weekend, I’m sharing some discoveries, and in certain cases rediscoveries, that brought enjoyment and reflection to the week.
Melissa Clark’s Creamy Corn Pasta with Basil Recipe
If one were to hack into my husband’s and my instagram conversations, they’d find extensive back and forth that solely includes reels and photos of miniature dachshunds and mouth-watering pasta recipes. What can I say….we’re riveting people.
When we saw the New York Times post of the Creamy Corn Pasta with Basil recipe, we went straight to the grocery store to gather the ingredients. I love a creamy pasta, but hate how heavy my stomach feels after consuming it. This recipe delivers a similar creaminess derived from the blending of one of summer’s favorite vegetables
.A few notes when we made it:
Whole Foods was unfortunately out of fresh corn due to the holiday, so we used frozen sweet corn and it was still yummy
We used slightly less butter in favor of more olive oil
We added a bit more water to the sauce to slightly thin it out
Always add a pinch of salt to your pasta water
I also wanted to take a moment to say that Melissa Clark is a James Beard and IACP award-winning food journalist and cookbook author who writes for the NYT. Her recipes always deliver unique and perfect flavor combinations. She’s a true talent in the industry. Her @clarkbar instagram handle always makes me smile.
Katrina Lake, Founder and Interim CEO of Stitch Fix, on the Goop Podcast
This has been one of my favorite podcast episodes of the summer. Katrina Lake started Stitch Fix, a fashion and styling subscription service, when she was at Harvard Business School and ultimately became the youngest woman to take a company public (prior to Whitney Wolfe Herd doing it with Bumble 4 years later). When she rang the opening bell, she had her baby on her hip - this has become an iconic Wall Street image. I have always admired her business because she was one of the first entrepreneurs to seriously apply data science to fashion and styling. This was way before “big data”, “algorithms”, and “AI” were everyday buzz words. She is so authentically honest about what it takes to build an effective culture at work.
The business has unfortunately struggled as consumers’ shopping habits have continued to shift post-pandemic and certain strategic initiatives have not yielded the results hoped. Regardless of the business performance, this podcast is absolutely worth a listen. I enjoyed every moment and many of her lessons learned resonated.
Years ago, a friend gave me the book Home Body1, which is filled with deeply powerful and reflective poems that span numerous topics from relationships to self worth. Rupi Kaur is a 30-year-old Canadian poet, artist, and performer who has traveled the globe on her sold-out tour. I highly recommend following her on instagram for everyday inspiration.
Occasionally I will flip through the pages seeking inspiration and this time I found my heart and mind resonating with some of her poems on productivity and the anxiety it can create. Her words are a reminder to slow down and let the magic happen. By the way, the book is great for coffee table, desk, or general home decor, as proof with the top image from my home.
I wish you a slow weekend full of magic.
x jz
Image Sources | 1 - 2 | The hubs @b.g.mckay, styled by me | 3 | Forbes | 4 | Amazon
This section of the post includes an Amazon affiliate link. All opinions remain my own.
I made this pasta dish last night - it was delicious! Thanks for the rec.