anyone else feeling a little anxious?!

...asking for a friend

I have to be totally honest and tell you that yes, it’s a slightly weird experience to be out there peddling my new cookbook against the backdrop of one of the most (the most?) consequential elections of our lifetimes, which is against the backdrop of so much global heartache.

I’m grateful to be busy. And I’m so glad that being busy right now means getting to talk to so many of you — whether it’s here via this newsletter or on the road meeting you in person on my book tour stops, or in my online classes. I’m so glad we’re talking about home cooking, this thing that anchors my life and so many of yours, too. I’m so glad we’re talking about how to make it less daunting and an easier part of our day-to-day lives which are, in fact, our lives. I’m glad that in talking about cooking at home, we’re actually talking about how to take care of ourselves and each other. I’m especially grateful that we’re talking about how we feel in our bodies and how we treat ourselves. Thank you for showing up, whether it’s online or in person. I feel really fortunate to be in this type of ongoing conversation with you all. It’s a buoy. It allows me to feel really connected to a community I care a lot about.

I’ve been wearing my Harris/Walz hat everywhere I’ve traveled around the country this week and it’s been really sweet to get a lot of positive comments from people I walk by. It’s nice to feel connected not only to all of you who read my work, but also to strangers.

Oh and if you’re undecided, thinking of sitting this one out for any reason including protest, or considering a third party candidate, please watch this video from Bernie. And of course Michelle Obama on women’s health.

I voted on my way home from the airport on Tuesday (they say the antidote to anxiety is action). The line at my local early voting location was forty minutes long in the middle of the day on a weekday. It felt wonderful to fill in the boxes for candidates who I believe are the best equipped to lead whether on a national or local level (it was particularly fun to vote for my friend Erin for Town Supervisor!). If you’re in New York State like I am, don’t forget to turn your ballot over and vote YES for Proposition 1 to protect trans kids, abortion access + more.

As I waited in line to vote on Tuesday at the community center, I passed this bookshelf which I took as a good omen:

This past Monday before my wonderful chat with Joe Yonan in D.C. hosted by Bold Fork Books, I walked by the White House as they were erecting protective walls around the property and setting up the stage for Kamala’s speech she gave on Tuesday at The Ellipse. I watched them unfurl the ‘FREEDOM’ banner. I felt in awe of the labor required to make this kind-of event as safe as possible. I thought of the on-the-ground work that goes into making so much happen that we often take for granted, whether it’s democracy or simply dinner.

None of us know what next week will bring. It terrifies me that it’s so uncertain. I am trying to be cautiously optimistic. How are you all doing? Any helpful advice or good omens you’d like to share?

SEE YOU SOON?

I still have a couple of book tour stops!

• TOMORROW: If you’re in or near Brooklyn, come see me in Conversation with Helen Rosner at Books Are Magic Friday Nov. 1st at 7pm!

• NOV. 17 + 18: In or near Cleveland, Ohio? I’ll be there next month!

  • Sun. Nov 17th at Noon / CLEVELAND: In Conversation with Aubrey Johansen at Van Aken Event Center with SLFMKR

  • Mon. Nov. 18th at 6:30p / HUDSON, OHIO: In Conversation and Book Signing at Hudson Library & Historical Society with Learned Owl Book Shop

And for all of you who pre-ordered WHAT GOES WITH WHAT and signed up for the free class this Sunday, I cannot wait to see you!!!

• If you didn’t pre-order but want to pay for a ticket to attend, you can sign up here!

• Did you pre-order and forget to fill out the form? No biggie — just email me a copy of your receipt by midnight Saturday (11/2) and I’ll get you signed up! Either reply to this newsletter or head here.

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After this weekend’s class, I have three more classes coming up this year:

Sunday, November 10: A Perfect Fall Dinner

• Cranberry + Prosecco Spritzers

• Penne Vodka with Sausage + Spinach

• Roasted Squash with Hazelnuts + Pecorino

• Olive Oil + Clementine Cake

Sunday, December 22: Hanukah Brunch

• Full Sour Bloody Marys

• Latkes with Smoked Salmon + Creme Fraiche

• Chocolate Chip Challah Bread Pudding

Sunday, December 29: No Judgment

• Raspberry + Chocolate Cobbler

• Ways we’ve learned to be kinder to ourselves

Okay friends. Take good care. Talk to you soon. xooxox Julia