The tiniest joys
The vegan pasta I've been cooking for years, how to make the most of a day off, and a cute life update.
I have a new housemate! His name is Paddington and he moved in last Thursday. He’s exceptionally cute, and I love him a lot.
He has also been taking up a lot of my time—puppies amirite—so today’s newsletter will be short and sweet, much like Paddington himself.
Paddington’s arrival has been a lovely excuse to stay off my phone (except when taking photos and curating his Instagram, obviously) and remember the thrill of tiny things. So, today I have a list of small joys for you!
An Aluminium-Wrapped Log Of Supermarket Garlic Bread
When I was 19 and had moved to Sydney for my first magazine job I was paying almost half of my $30K salary in rent and was, by literally all accounts, broke.
One of my most memorable at-home dinners during this time was a single log of Coles $2 garlic bread. I still remember the dismay of my housemates, who were all similarly broke but… weren’t 19. But I also remember the simple pleasure of supermarket garlic bread—one I still enjoy to this day, albeit not as a standalone meal.
This anecdote is all to say I was thrilled to read this Good Food article, ranking the best supermarket garlic breads in Australia. If you enjoy a foil-wrapped, butter-smeared garlicky baguette as much as I do, you might enjoy reading it too.
The Chickpea Pasta Recipe I Will Never Get Tired Of
For reasons unknown, I’ve gone a year without making one of my favourite recipes. But taking a week off work felt like the perfect time to stop having the lunch I’ve had every single workday for the last three months (tuna and avocado on corn thins), so Smitten Kitchen’s chickpea pasta is back in my life and recipe rotation.
Over the past three years, I’ve probably mentioned this recipe in at least five stories, including a list of my favourite recipes featuring canned ingredients that I wrote for Man Repeller back in March 2020.
I love the chickpea pasta because it’s simple, delicious, and wholesome—the easy dinner (or day-off lunch) trifecta. Once you fall in love with it, I highly recommend checking out this Just Good Shit post on how to make it even easier to make.
Something To Read If You’re Off Work Today (Or To Save For The Next Time You Take Leave)
It’s a public holiday in my state today, so it feels like a good time to share an old edition of the New York Times’ Smarter Living newsletter that I often come back to, “What to Do With a Day off”.
The main advice in this piece is pretty simple but worth remembering: if you have a day off, make sure you’re actually having a day off!
And An *Incredibly Specific* Book Recommendation For Dog Owners
Sorry to people who don’t a) own a dog or b) want to spend hours of their life reading about them—this recommendation is not for you!
In the weeks leading up to Paddington’s arrival, we ordered three books from The Strategist’s list of best books for new dog owners, including Patricia B. McConnell’s The Other End Of The Leash.
Patricia is an animal behaviourist and genuinely funny writer who made me cry twice (!) while reading this book. Essentially, The Other End Of The Leash is about the behaviours of humans and dogs, and how we relate to each other. It’s a really lovely and insightful read.
That’s it for this week! May your chickpeas be soft; garlic bread be crisp on the outside, bouncy on the inside; and next day off be as relaxing as possible.
Gyan x
I love how your newsletter makes me feel! Such cozy vibes! Thank you <3