As a small space dweller, I don’t often undertake big home reorganization projects. Clutter builds up fast in a studio apartment. I try to clean and discard unnecessary things day-to-day, rather in than in bursts.

Nevertheless, I decided to go through my books this past week, as my limited shelving space was starting to look a crowded.

The type of book that I own most of is, of course, cookbooks.

When I moved two years ago, I gave away about 80% of the cookbooks that I owned at the time.

On the one hand, this felt sad. My collection was impressive, and it had grown alongside me and my life in food writing.

On the other hand, it was really freeing to let those titles go. The books had taken up so much space, and I only routinely cooked from the 20% that I hung onto.

Days before moving, I sat on the stoop of my old brownstone building on a hot June day with piles of cookbooks in front of me. I spent the next few hours offering most of my collection to neighbors and passersby.

I hadn’t been sure how many would be taken, and I was ready to post something on Facebook marketplace if none of them moved.

To my surprise, all of the cookbooks found new homes by the end of that afternoon. It made me happy to imagine them taking up residence in new kitchens, with new folks to appreciate their recipes.

There’s no stoop to sit on now, but there are common areas of my building where we can place stuff that’s up for grabs.

Yesterday, I decided to make a small stack of cookbooks that I could offer to neighbors.

It didn’t take me long to put those titles aside. As I was clearing them out, however, I got distracted by some of my favorite cookbooks, the ones that I have no intention of parting ways with.

I sat on my floor and spent nearly an hour thumbing through the pages of old favorites: The Laurel’s Kitchen Cookbook, The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Vegan with a Vengeance, and others.

As a self-taught home cook, I owe so much to these books. Each one played a big part in my process of learning to feed and nourish myself well.

Sitting on the floor, I had a moment of poignant appreciation for cookbooks. They have limitations, which new types of food media are now compensating for.

But if you’ve been a home cook for a long time, there’s nothing quite like the companionship and comfort offered by a tattered and food-stained cookbook.

I also felt proud to be a cookbook author.

I make a lot of jokes about how impractical cookbook writing is; from a financial standpoint, the cost of creating them and labor that goes into them doesn’t really make sense. If you’re me, anyway.

I thought about the many hot, sticky summers of recipe testing, the piles of dishes and hours of cleanup. I thought about writer’s block and eyes sore from proofreading.

It all felt like time well spent. I don’t get too many moments of professional pride, and this was a sweet one.

I hope you can access a similar sense of accomplishment about something you’ve created in the coming week. I can all but promise you that someone, somewhere, is grateful for that thing you did or made or saw to completion.

Happy Sunday, friends. Here are some recipes and reads.

Recipes

1. Such a great vegan pizza for the summer months!

2. I’ve pickled carrot ribbons, cucumber slices, and cabbage this year—maybe it’s time for pickled watermelon radish?

3. I have a feeling I’ll be eating Amanda’s grilled summer squash with basil vinaigrette from now through September.

4. Bet these Korean BBQ-inspired rice bowls pack a huge flavor punch.

5. The only thing I like more than saying “self-saucing pudding” is to actually eat a self-saucing pudding—and Thomas’ vegan banana version looks great.

Reads

1. If you’ve ever wondered whether you might not be eating enough, here are some common signs and symptoms of under-nutrition.

2. I really enjoyed this portrait of a watermelon stand in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and its place in holding community together.

3. Putting a friendship on “autopilot”—i.e. a standing schedule—may sound like a bummer, but I like how practical it is. Effort and consistency matter!

4. An interesting look at interoception, or our perception of what’s happening in our bodies.

5. Love this rendering of a Pride flag made with NASA imagery.

NYC has had its first heat wave of summer this past weekend, which was a good excuse to make chocolate cherry ice cream. Looking forward to that this evening!

Wishing you a sweet rest of your night.

xo