Are you savoring these early days of summer? School's out for my kiddos here in Colorado and they are living their best lives every day with watermelon, popsicles, and bike rides with the neighborhood kids. I love watching them enjoy each day. If only we could all be as carefree and full of joy.
We're a couple weeks away from packing up our car and heading for a month-long stay in California. We're visiting my husband's family in the San Joaquin Valley, but that won't stop us from taking side trips to the beach and the mountains. We've reserved hiking time in Yosemite, a camping trip to Huntington Lake, and a visit to the beach near Carmel where we got married almost 19 years ago. Our kids have not yet seen it, and even though it's just a simple clifftop patio overlooking the ocean, I'm super excited to share it with them.
I'm also completely, utterly, deliciously consumed with writing my new (as yet untitled) rom-com manuscript! Picture this: a TV baking competition, a heroine trying to save her family's bakery, and a hero who literally knocks her off her feet when they meet. I'm six chapters away from typing "The End" on the first draft, and every writing session reminds me of why I fell in love with telling stories in the first place. Here's a sneak peek at that pivotal scene:
One unexpected joy of this book has been researching all the recipes that inspire my characters' baking challenges! My protagonist Lauryn is a far better cook than I am, but I'm still trying to test some of her creations. This gorgeous tart by Sylvie Shirazi from Gourmande in the Kitchen is the inspiration for the little pea and goat cheese tarts Lauryn makes for a very demanding and important catering challenge. Spoiler alert: she wins this one! The recipe isn't included in the book, but you can get it right now, straight from the chef herself.
I can't wait to test this recipe, which contains fresh English peas and microgreens alongside goat cheese (yum!) and a gluten-free almond flour crust. What's not to love?! If you make it, please send me a picture. I would love to know how it turns out! And special thanks to Sylvie at Gourmand in the Kitchen for the inspiration!
Are you heading into summer? If so, what are your plans? If winter is on the horizon for you, what traditions are you most excited for?
I'd love to know what you've got coming up. Whatever season you're heading into, I'm sending you all my best for a wonderful, relaxing, magical time!
xo,
Sarah Wright Reed
