Baguette Gazette: Things I'm loving + April recap
The best drugstore mascara, my latest dinner party menu, new fav breakfast + more 🗞️
Welcome to the latest Baguette Gazette! If you’re new here, this is a monthly catchup where I share personal updates, recommendations, and what’s going on behind the recipes at TNB HQ.
Hello friends, and happy May!
Spring. What a time to be alive, amirite? Bright green trees, blue skies, chirping birds, and a temperature that could not be more comfortable if it tried. I’m trying to soak up as much outdoor time as possible these days, before our infamous summer humidity sets in.
This month was jam-packed with all kinds of activities, including Easter, multiple birthdays, and gatherings with friends. I even hosted a dinner party (i.e. my favorite activity) for my girlfriends.
My typical hosting slot is Saturday brunch, but I wanted to switch it up and do a Friday night dinner. I went with a Middle Eastern theme and made:
Muhammara with za’atar man’oushe (a recipe I developed for Joe Yonan’s latest book!)
Pan-fried eggplant with garlic and parsley (recipe coming soon)
Veggie couscous with raisins
Tomato-cucumber salad
I also wanted to share my new favorite breakfast with you. It’s not earth-shattering by any means, but something about the combo really hits the spot.
I recently received a PR package from Anthem Oats, which included a giant bag of 1-minute oats. I tend to buy the old-fashioned kind myself [because they’re “less processed”] and then rarely eat them because I’m impatient at breakfast. And now I’m realizing, 1-minute oats are freakin’ great!
I cook them in equal parts Oatly oat milk and water with a splash of maple syrup, and top them with strawberry compote, half a banana, and chopped walnuts.
The compote is the star here and I usually make it in advance. Basically: you put some frozen strawberries in a little pot with a splash of water and cook them until they’re defrosted. Then you mash them with a potato masher and simmer until the mixture thickens a bit (about 5 minutes). Finish with a splash of maple. *Chef’s kiss*
This limited series is based on the true story of Belle Gibson, an Australian influencer and founder of the “The Whole Pantry” app, who built a global wellness brand around the fact that she cured her terminal brain cancer through diet. The business quickly fell apart when it turned out she’d actually faked the diagnosis and never had cancer in the first place.
The show is brilliantly acted, and while I’m a sucker for these kinds of jaw-dropping fraud stories, I didn’t love how the show placed western medicine and holistic approaches on completely separate sides of the spectrum, failing to acknowledge that the two can support each other.
A couple of my friends were raving about this mascara and after getting a tube for myself, I can confirm it’s one of the best I’ve ever tried. It’s not clumpy and the wand is great at separating lashes. It also doesn’t smudge throughout the day yet washes off easily.
I was in the market for a new spring jacket and decided to give Quince a go, since the online-only brand seems to be everywhere these days. So far, I feel like it lives up to the hype, since I’ve been wearing the “Chore” jacket non-stop since it arrived. It goes with everything, is super comfy, and is a third of the price of Sézane’s comparable style.
P.S. In case you missed any of last month’s recipes…
