You are very cute and important
so let's eat lots and lots of cheese
Hey friends,
Let’s dive straight in this week:
#relationshipgoals
This week I want to tell you about the YouTube channel EvanAndKatelyn. I found their channel of nerdy, maker-y, home project videos when looking for some tips on 3D printing and using resin with silicone molds. I kept watching because they have unnecessarily cute ad spots in their videos, do projects which look professional but approachable (ya know, if I too had a big house/workshop and handy spouse), and there is plenty of cat content.
They also seem like the cutest, most perfect couple. Like so cute and perfect it hurts. Like how do you live together, sleep together, work together all day every day operating a small home decor business, running a YouTube of maker videos, running another channel of gaming videos, running yet another channel for your podcast, and you still seem upbeat, supportive, and handle the mild frustrations of DIY project setbacks with love and strength and grace?? Love must be real after all.
In addition to being wholesome-ly adorable, they are also very informative! On some episodes of their podcast, they talk about some of the logistics and BTS of running their myriad business endeavors which is super helpful to someone like me who is trying to start myriad business endeavors.
Also, they have a sticker on their fridge which says “You are very cute and important”. I die.
Give me cheese recs, please
Here is a conversation I’ve had before:
Me: (eating a cheese snack which is the best snack) I want to become a cheese snob.
Friend: (without looking up from her magazine) Ok, so do it.
Me: Once I went to this farmer’s market in Chicago and this super cute market chick was feeding me cheese and using descriptors like “funky cellar” and “clinical”. I wanna be able to describe cheese like that.
Friend: (knowing I will continue to fill up time speaking to myself, continues to flip through the magazine)
Me: But like that would require a lot of training, like with wine, right? I wonder if there’s a certification. If I could be a cheese sommelier.
Friend: (flip)
Me: Ehhh, I don’t know if I have the time for another hobby like that right now.
Friend: You could just be, like a cheese fan.
Me: (sigh) I suppose that’ll have to do for now.
Anyhoo, point is, I’m trying to be a bit more thoughtful about the cheeses I buy at the store. Taking note of which types, milks, countries of origin, firmnesses etc that I like. Current goal is being your-friend-who-is-really-good-at-ordering-the-cheese-board.
Here are a couple I’ve been enjoying which are available at mid-upper tier supermarkets nationwide. I think in the cheese world, these are pretty mainstream, but freaking baby steps, ok? Haven’t worked on my hipster farmer’s market chick lingo yet so I stole from the websites.
Red Hawk from Cowgirl Creamery is a “bold, sumptuous triple cream” whose “pungent aromas complement rich, smooth flavor”. Pro tip: if you ever find yourself stranded at SFO terminal 2 - first of all, it’s a pretty nice terminal so don’t stress - but also there’s a bougie market right after security where you can buy Cowgirl Creamery cheeses.
Midnight Moon from Cypress Grove is an aged goat cheese that’s “nutty and brown buttery up front with a long caramel finish”. What stands out to me is the texture and salty goodness from the protein crystals. The folks from Cypress Grove say this might be a good way to trick your friends who say they hate goat cheese into eating copious amounts of goat cheese.
Pro tip: another Cypress Grove cheese called Lamb Chopper is usually sitting right next to this one on the shelf and you’ll be very tempted to get that one cause it has a cute drawing of a lamb riding a chopper motorcycle. That’s wrong. Don’t do that. Buy Midnight Moon one instead.
If YOU have any cheese recommendations for me, please let me know! Always happy to add to my cheese bucket list.
And one bit of Cookie Smut news
Very excited that I have listed my first cookie cutter set for sale on my Etsy shop! It’s a set of 3 different dumpling shapes just in time for Chinese New Year’s.
Even if you’re not in the market for some cookie cutters, if you have an Etsy account I would super appreciate any ❤️ you may shoot my way. Any favoriting really really helps my fledgling shop start to get a better ranking in Etsy search.
Anyhoo…
that’s all for this week. I just want to leave you with the parting thought that “creamery” is a very good word.
As always, if you enjoyed this, please consider sharing with a friend!
xx Shawna