Skipping to the Good Stuff
When you're just here for the yoga
“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook — try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun.”
Julia Child
I am a home cook of moderate means and average skill. I developed an interest in cooking 18 years ago because I wanted to impress my new boyfriend (now husband) and I’ve been fumbling my way through ever since.
I’ve relied heavily on the internet for tips, tools and inspiration throughout this process. Most of my family’s favorite meals came from recipe sites and food blogs.
I do have a few cookbooks and a large collection of old food magazines I like to flip through on rainy days. It's rare that I actually attempt a recipe from any of them, and even rarer that one earns a spot in 'the binder'— my holy grail of tried-and-true recipes, mostly filled with pages printed straight from the internet.
Efficiency is key. Especially when it’s go time— 5pm on a Tuesday evening with a poorly stocked fridge and a hungry family to feed. In these moments, I know I can flip open my laptop, type in a few key words and have hundreds of recipes at my disposal.
Sometimes, I know exactly what I'm after— a creamy tomato soup to pair with grilled cheese, some variation on chili, or a flavorful stir fry. Other times, I need help deciding how to use a specific ingredient. The internet has saved my family from bland moose roasts and plain salmon filets more times than I can count.
As the primary cook in my home, it can feel daunting to plan and prepare daily meals. It's like living in Groundhog Day—the same routine, repeating endlessly, with no end in sight.
I am in favor of anything that lightens the load.
That is why I, along with millions of other novice chefs, cherish the “Jump to Recipe” button found on most modern food blogs. It lets me skip the chit chat and get straight to the good stuff. I haven’t read about an endearing kitchen mishap or blue ribbon pie/jam/jelly origin story in over a decade.
I never think twice about skipping the introduction and getting straight to what I came for: the recipes.
Or, I didn’t until I listened to Cooking in the Age of Infinite Recipes, an episode from The Culture Study podcast. The whole episode is lovely and I encourage you to give it a listen, but there was one, pivotal moment that stopped me in my tracks. It came in the form of a listener question…
“What's going on with food blogs? It seems like there has been a big backlash lately. I've seen so many variations on the complaint ‘I don't want to read your life story. I just want a recipe for chili.’
But I remember in the heyday of food blogs, the early aughts or so, the appeal of food blogs was not just the recipes, but the opportunity to peek into the lives of the writers…I'm sure part of this is market saturation. It seems like everyone started a narrative-driven food blog around this time, myself included, so now the internet is full of way more cooks and life stories than we have the capacity to care about.”
- Listener question; Culture Study Podcast
At first, I laughed to myself as I listened—I've seen the TikToks, memes, and snide comments about those long-winded preambles on every food blog.
Then, I was hit by a wave of self-awareness.
Isn’t Root&Rise a narrative-driven newsletter? Every issue I write starts with a lengthy introduction. This is, in fact, part of a lengthy introduction!
Do my readers roll their eyes when they open their weekly email to find yet another *yawn* personal essay? Do they scroll right past all the words I worked so hard to craft?!
Fortunately, I listened long enough for my existential crisis to be cut short when the hosts started discussing Julia Child, a classically trained chef and TV personality who’s groundbreaking cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” is still in print today— more than 60 years after it’s first publication.
Julia’s charm drew people in and served as a gateway to her mission in life: making classic French cooking techniques accessible to home cooks. Her cookbooks offered expert advice and exceptional recipes, but people bought them because they loved her.
Her personality was the initial draw, but it was her passion and culinary expertise that kept people coming back. You turned to her for dishes like beef bourguignon and coq au vin because you trusted her—and her quirkiness made the experience all the more enjoyable
I’ve often joked about wanting to be the next Erma Bombeck, aiming to capture her relatability, humor, and wit. Now, I find myself looking at Julia Child in the same light— her approach to her life’s work feels equally aspirational.
Julia Child was welcomed into the lives of housewives, amateur chefs and families across the country, for decades. Her show “The French Chef” introduced the American public to fine French cuisine and taught them how to make it in the comfort of their own homes.
She took something that most believed was reserved for a select few—exclusive to fine dining or professional chefs—and made it feel accessible to everyone. Julia broke down barriers, showing that anyone, with a little guidance and practice, could create deliciously elevated meals in their humble home kitchens.
Julia always delivered. It didn’t matter how her audience chose to consume her offerings— in the form of a kooky cooking demonstration on public television or in one of her many cookbooks. The outcome was the same: they learned how to cook something wonderful.
So, my hope is that whether you read every word I write or skip straight to the yoga, you find exactly what you need here. And I truly hope you’ll keep inviting me into your inbox each week. We might burn a chicken or two along the way, but we'll have a lot of fun doing it
I’ve picked out a couple of really nice classes to share with you this week. They will appeal to everyone that just read the entire preceding essay and they will equally serve everyone who skipped right to the “good part”. Enjoy!!
Somatic Yoga | Gentle and Mindful Morning Somatic Exercises | 20 minutes | Faith Hunter
23 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly
I love Faith Hunter. Her teaching style is unique and her delivery is so soothing. My only complaint is that she doesn’t have more classes to choose from!
Load this gentle class up when you are ready to carve out some time to move intuitively and really get into your body. This sequence feels so good! I really loved it and my mood was seriously elevated afterward. I think you guys are really going to like this one.
15 Minute Full Body Morning Stretch | An Easy Daily Yoga Flow For Momentum In Your Life ⇒ YOGA SECRET | Boho Beautiful
15 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly
I’ve been loving this class lately. I load it up morning after morning and It delivers every time. It’s the perfect sequence for mornings when I’m not up for a big, sweaty challenge but I still want to move my body fairly energetically.
If you’re looking for a class to start your day off on the right foot, this is it!
As I was writing this issue, I was inspired to go back and take a closer look at some of my favorite food blogs. While I was exploring I found a few new recipes to try, most notably: Pumpkin Donut Holes from Damn Delicious.
They’re really just mini muffins dipped in butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar. I made them this week and the recipe went straight into my binder.
I even took the time to read the introduction, which was quite brief and engaging. No jump to recipe button required!
I hope you all have an excellent week. Find something good to cook! Bonus points If the recipe comes with an upbeat story about all the things you never wanted to know about the cook.
See you next Sunday!