Small things that made my April just a little bit better.

Recipe

If you told me that you hated brussels sprouts I would understand. Maybe even sympathize. Then I would attempt to convert you. I love brussels sprouts simply roasted in the oven tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Although delicious, I’m guessing you wouldn’t even spoon a few onto your plate.

In order to convert you I’d make the Joanna Gaines Brussels Sprouts which has about a 95% conversion rate from hater to lover (based on my own biased research). From the complex flavor of balsamic vinegar to the crunch of pecans to the enticing bacon chunks. Believe me, your long-held belief in the unpleasant taste of brussels sprouts would be quickly replaced with a longing to find excuses to make this dish any time you could.

I’m guessing I had you at bacon.

Books

Non-Fiction: Inspiring and encouraging, How to be an Artist by Jerry Saltz offers insight for not only traditional artists, but any creative (which I believe is all of us). It is a quick and easy read with short essays offering practical tips and prompts to spark your creativity.

My main take-aways include stop making excuses, keep learning, be curious, and have fun no matter where your creative endeavor leads you.

Non-Fiction: Filled with beautiful flowers Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers by Erin Benzakein offers seasonal ideas for gorgeous arrangements. I appreciate that Floret Farms is a local (Mount Vernon, WA) and family-owned farm and seed company. This book is a comprehensive guide to growing, buying, caring for, and arranging flowers.

Just flipping through the pages prompts me to grab my clippers and head outside. Her enthusiasm for flowers is contagious. And the photos demand a second glance.

I’ll admit that I checked this book out from the library but I’m definitely tempted to add it to my bookshelf.

Art Supply

I am drawn to a muted color palette which is why I love the Derivan Liquid Pencil. It comes in tubes similar to watercolor but is created from graphite. Each shade varies slightly, tinted richly with a moody, grey-ish graphite hue.

Liquid pencil was originally designed for drawings to cover large areas with graphite. The benefit of no art school background and mixed media means I inevitably use art supplies more broadly than originally intended.

From the Garden

This month my camellia is showing off with so many blooms the limbs are bent under the weight. I have several camellias growing in shady spots around my yard and unfortunately, I can not tell you their species. What I can say is that I appreciate their evergreen leaves and prolific blooms. My camellia’s are slow-growing, low maintenance, hardy, and seemingly live carefree lives focused on their own luscious beauty.

Discovery

I’m the kind of person who receives gifts of unique olive oil, spices, coffee beans, and vinegar with a giddy delight. So it is no wonder that my most recent discovery of flaky sea salt came as a gift.

Listen, I hesitate to share a version of salt even the tasty sea salt flakes as a discovery. I mean salt has been around since…well, the beginning of time. Not the most riveting of discoveries.

Here’s the thing just sprinkle sea salt flakes on your veggies or meat or cookies after you’re done cooking. It adds a nuance that makes regular salt seem drab by comparison. Crunchy, light, and yes, flaky.

These dark chocolate chip cookies were elevated from good to great just by a scattering of sea salt flakes.

I’m curious, what’s on your list of favorites?