28 Comments

Every night, I prepare the next morning’s breakfast by putting raw walnuts, dried blueberries and dried cherries into a used plastic yogurt container and pouring coconut milk into it and closing the lid and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, I toss in a couple large scoops of plain yogurt and mix it all together and slurp and chew it down. Sometimes I add dried coconut flakes to the pre-mix. Other times, raw pecans. I use SO organic coconut milk and either Stonyfield Farms or Chobani yogurt.

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Hi Sloan!

Your morning breakfast sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing.

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What a lovely idea. Anything that revives and maintains the gentle art of letter-writing has to be a good thing.

A Swedish author friend and I exchange handwritten letters simply because we wanted to communicate the old way. Our writing-style leaves a lot to be desired but that's the problem with being on the keyboard too much and no pen in our hands.

Re recipes: An Australian cook - Amy Minichiello - recently published a lovely book built around recipes from many folk that she had received in the mail. https://www.amazon.com.au/Recipes-Mail-Family-Cookbook-Journal/dp/1922418765

Recipes have stories, don't they?

Happy New Year!

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I just looked up her book and it says currently unavailable. Maybe that will change in the new year. Thanks again. I love the cover design.

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She must have done a short print run. What a shame. I'll make some enquiries.

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Oh thank you Prue! It looks like such a wonderful recipe story. :) I hope she offers it to readers again.

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Hi Prue,

Thank you so much for this message and sharing Amy Minichiello work! I can't wait to check it out. Yes, recipes do have stories— so amazing. Thank you again for being here and Happy New Year to you and yours!

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A delicious post, and what a wonderful idea to connect people together as penpals!

Although I don't feel able to join in right now as I'm already at full stretch writing letters to family and friends I think this is a terrific idea and I'd love to hear how far letters and recipes will be spreading! 😊

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No worries at all Rebecca, I appreciate the message and will keep you posted.

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What a brilliant idea! I would love sharing recipes and receiving them in letters. It’s how my mother did it. I still have some of them in an old notebook. Most of them now arrive digitally. This is a cool one from Amie! And a sweet poem that’s a tribute to Amie’s big heart. Nice work!

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Hi Ruth, Thank you for dropping in. :) Recipes in the mail have been a delight. I'm gathering folks and then matching pen pals up based on a few common interests. Did you want me to add you?

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It sounds like a great idea, Julie! Yes, please add me! I'm not much of a poet, but I do write about food, travel, and other things here on Substack. I've also been lucky enough to meet and write about Amie, who like the French meaning of her name, is a lovely friend (and a fine writer and cook!).

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Hi Ruth, I'm so glad you want to join in and being a poet is not necessary. :) I'm gathering a list now and will wait a few more days for people to respond. I was planning to introduce each person with someone who has at least one thing in common. Thanks again and look forward to checking out your newsletter. It's great to connect with you.

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Thanks, Julie! I'll wait to hear from you!

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Hey, Pen and Pantry Pal! What a sweet poem and shout-out. Exchanging old-school letters and recipes with you has been one of the highlights of my year. And a good reminder that there’s more beyond the digital world.

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I echo the same. It's been so fun to receive your letters and yummy recipes. Thank you Amie.

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Pen, paper and ink

A real chance to meditate

And create friendship….

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Brilliant Haiku. :) Receiving letters in the mail is such a joy. Thank you Clark.

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This looks yummy! Will have to try it.

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Go for it Faith...let me know what you think. It was even delicious the next day (leftovers are the best)

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With breakfast still in the offing, seeing the much yum recipe has teased my stomach. The ordering of healthy food followed by pen pal possibilities prompts a rousing “Yay walnuts” from this reader’s mouth!

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Good morning Gary,

yay! Maybe you can add this to your Christmas feast. :) Enjoy your walk with Izzie today....I wonder what you will see? hear?

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Good morning to you as well. Iz and I saw one Great White Egret but no other water lovers. As for that recipe. I might have to take it on a trial run or two prior to Christmas. Thanks for floating that out on the oceans of electrons that fly deftly on the Internet.

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How fabulous...a Great White Egret. Thank you Gary. I was in the trial run process as well. :)

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Looks yummy!

Did you cook in cast iron?

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No cast iron...cooked in a casserole dish. But that's a good idea.

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I was wondering about the acidity of orange juice with cast iron. I’ve heard we shouldn’t cook tomatoes in cast iron for that reason. 🤔

Thanks for sharing the recipe! I’m always looking for ways to bring more veggies/fruit into my rotation.

😁

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I didn't know. Hmm...I'm glad I cooked it in the casserole as Amie recommended then. :)

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