What a time to be alive and double vaccinated! It was so fun to start hanging out with friends again IRL, and even share food! Here’s what was going on in the first month of my my post-vaxx life:

  • My friend Jen had a few us over for a swim and patio lunch over the long weekend and she made so much amazing food for us to share: flatbread with mushrooms and fresh mozzerella, feta and watermelon salad, and marinated tomato bruschetta (that was from Krishna). Of course I had decision paralysis on what treat I should bring, but I settled on a classic: Smitten Kitchen’s S’mores Pie. Even though we were rained out by the end of the afternoon, it was so much fun!
  • I’m a year late to this Tik Tok trend, but I made a White Claw slushie to sip on my balcony while I read one Sunday afternoon. I made a mango tequila version which was just a can of Lime White Claw blended up with 2oz of tequila and 1 cup of frozen mango chunks (plus add some ice if your blender can handle it). So fun and so refreshing (even though it’s kind of like a boozy smoothie).
  • I also finally got my hands on some Watermelon La Croix and I love it! It’s so good with a big squeeze of fresh lime (and probably a shot of vodka!)
  • Tasty G/Heather celebrates her birthWEEK every year in July and obviously I got myself on her schedule for some picnic fun! We picked up take-out from Istanbul House, which she introduced me to pre-pandemic, and it was SO good. Of course I brought a little birthday cake for us to share, but the recipe was a bit of a bust so I won’t link here.
  • Once I went back to the office (more on that below!) I ventured out for a couple of patio hangs with friends. Most importantly I was reunited with my favourite Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps at Cactus Club!
  • And now the regular recap of what I was cooking this month, broken down into three categories:
  • Stuff I made from the archives: Nothing!
  • Some of my favourite go-to dishes: I haven’t made these in YEARS and forgot how much I liked these Turkey Meatball Bahn Mi! Obsessed with Smitten Kitchen’s Rigatoni a la Vodka. More of PC’s Miso Yuzu Cod. The best BBQ Meatballs. This Pineapple Chicken & Coconut Rice is becoming a new fave. Brown Sugar & Chili Salmon from Oven to Table.
  • New things that I tried and liked: Nothing new! Probably time to start posting some of those go-to dishes linked above.

Other non-foodie things I was obsessed with this month:

  • I made a triumphant return to the office this month! YAY! Once I was double vaccinated and Ontario moved to Stage 3 of re-opening, I got the all-clear to go back a couple days a week. It has been so good for my overall well being – change of scenery, get out of the condo, walks to and from the office – I’m loving it!
  • My obsession of the month is Love Island Season 3 (the US version). It is just COMPELLING television and I’m addicted every night!!!! I’m obsessed with Alana and her amazing wavy hair, which has led me on a journey I’ll talk about more next month.
  • I read a lot this month because I had some time off at the beginning of July, and The Planet Byn Bookclub also took a break as everyone was enjoying the summer. I read People We Meet On Vacation (okay), The Last Thing He Told Me (boring… if I wanted to watch Julia Roberts on the run I would cue up The Pelican Brief, which is exactly what I did after I finished this!), Instructions for Dancing (very CUTE!) and The Kindest Lie (excellent)

Flashback!