Well, it has been a good bit since I showed up. The days have passed with such rapidity that I can scarcely account for them. Making plans, talks with doctors and family, wrapping up work, and trying to fit three full weeks of groceries into our fridge and freezer has occupied much of my mental space. And now, we are here...At the end of our first full week of complete isolation.

No more grocery runs. Lots of baking. Learning how to install a car seat. And working in whatever ways we can until this ever-growing bump is replaced by a sweet baby girl.

Though frequent contractions and limited access to fresh groceries have posed difficulties, I have been doing some recipe-testing recently, in hopes that I can send some fresh inspiration your way very soon!

For now, I would love to challenge you with one of my very favorite baking endeavors that requires far more time than one normally has to invest, making it the perfect challenge for these homebound days. Please welcome these almond croissants into your life.  There is a uniquely thrilling sense of pride that comes from admiring a croissant and knowing that you created every one of those flakey layers by hand. Oh, and with the leftover almond paste, treat yourself to a batch of quadruple almond ice cream. It’s a project and a reward all at once.

In other news, I, like every one of you, tried my hand at whipped coffee. I’m kind of into it. It is certainly not a replacement for your everyday brew, but as a dessert or afternoon pick-me-up, it’s pretty fantastic. I served mine atop a glass filled with one part milk to one part Trader Joe’s Coconut Almond creamer and it was lovely, albeit very sweet. You could certainly adjust the creamer to your liking. Either way, it’s a pretty delicious 10-minute project.

We have wrapped up finishing touches on the nursery and I am planning to share pictures and maybe a virtual tour over on Instagram very soon!

If you are looking to send a little sunshine to someone special and support one of my favorite small businesses, be sure to check out Rifle Paper Company’s gift sets! The dreamiest!!

This book is a great source of encouragement for tired hearts and challenging days.

This is a crazy time for our world and when I think about bringing a baby into all of this uncertainty my heart quickly wells up with ache and fear. There is so much to be said and considered; so many to grieve and praise. But sometimes, we just need to step back and breathe. I hope this corner of the internet can be that space for you. I would never wish for my voice to be an apathetic one, but for now, I just want to send you heart emojis and inspire you to make something new. Let’s just take some time to work these hands and give our hearts a little break.

Happy Friday! (I think it’s Friday.)

Sincerely,

Pedantic Foodie

HUNGRY?