Bahri dates!
My friend’s mom brought them out when we were visiting - you buy them on the branch when they’re yellow and crunchy still, and they taste a little like sugar cane, and then as they ripen and wrinkle and turn brown they turn into the creamiest most delicious dates I’ve ever had! More layered flavor and I like them even better than medjool dates.
Carrot Soup with Tahini and Crisped Chickpeas
I think about this soup whenever it gets cold! Made it one year for a Super Bowl party as a vegetarian alternative to chili, and it went faster than anything else. If you like texture and bright flavors, it really hits. (Also in general Smitten Kitchen reliably has recipes I come to think of as Thee Recipe for a given thing)
A fancy little pen to carry around
Life is just more fun when every time you need a pen you can pull out one that makes you happy! This one is small and easily fits in any pocket or bag I have, and the twist cap means it never comes off or leaks in my bag (even on planes). The little ink cartridges last a pretty long time but are refillable, so you can pick whatever color seems the most fun to you, and switch it out whenever you want. A fancy little pen makes even last-minute scribbling a note feel cool and interesting, and when you bring it out in company everyone else gets to go “Ooooh” as well. I’ve had this pen multiple years now and it still makes me grin whenever I get to use it. I need a pen randomly way more often than you would expect in an increasingly digital world, so why not have fun with it? Note: not to be mixed up with a fancy little pen for leaving in one place, like on a desk or something. Different ballgame altogether imo.
Getting both the book and the audiobook at the same time
I have a super long drive to work and sometimes if I’m in the middle of a really good book it’s so annoying that I have to drive and can’t read! BUT I can listen to the audiobook on the drive and then pick the book/ebook back up later when I’m not working or operating a moving vehicle. There are some books I really want only on paper or only via audio, but the text-audio combo really scratches the itch when you’re desperate to find out what happens next. (Also works if u have to do dishes or something else not conducive to reading)
