The long days, the warm nights. Happy summer solstice.
To celebrate, enjoy these four summery poems that may inspire you to catch a firefly or nap on the beach or daydream a little longer.
When we got to the beach by Hollie McNish
i screamed sprinted to the sea flung off shoes and socks ran towards imagined heaving waves and jumped each tiny trickle that I found there with just the same excitement
you stayed back took your socks off more timidly giggled at your stupid mother eventually took my hand
we jumped together and we jumped together and we jumped together
three hours later collapsing on our backs we made angels in the sand
In summer, when day has fled, the plain covered with flowers Pours out far away an intoxicating scent; Eyes shut, ears half open to noises, We only half sleep in a transparent slumber.
The stars are purer, the shade seems pleasanter; A hazy half-day colours the eternal dome; And the sweet pale dawn awaiting her hour Seems to wander all night at the bottom of the sky.
Marjory Sweet is the author of Farm Lunch. A book that describes an overall approach to cooking and a framework of ingredients that can be adapted and combined in countless ways. We are so delighted to carry Farm Lunch at Idun and learn more about the woman behind this unique and inspiring book.
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where do you reside? What’s your background, is it specifically in farming, writing etc.?) I grew up on the coast of Maine; a landscape that I can still feel in my bones even after 10 years in the desert. During my early 20's, I lived in New York City and worked for artists: at Rivington Arms gallery, with Maryam Nassir Zadeh in her shop & showroom, and for Tony Oursler and Jacqueline Humphries. I never wanted to become an artist or gallery person, but all of those experiences were intensely formative for me at the time and they have shaped the work I'm currently doing in unexpected ways. I moved to New Mexico in 2011 for a drastic change of scenery, pace, and purpose. I didn't plan on farming, but I knew I wanted to be outside as much as possible. A single summer on a 5-acre Organic vegetable farm turned into two summers, which turned into nearly a decade of growing food. At this point, certain aspects of that lifestyle are deeply ingrained in me. No matter what else I do in the future, farming will always be my most significant, most personal effort in this lifetime. Writing has been a thread throughout, I suppose. Right now, my work is a nice balance of farming, cooking, and writing.
Tell us about the inspiration or intentions behind Farm Lunch. The book is based around the concept of "farm lunch", a template anyone can use to prepare a different, locally-sourced meal every day using an accessible set of ingredients. The point is not to replicate my life or my lunch exactly, but to cultivate your own routine around market shopping, cooking and eating. My hope is that the book makes people feel capable and inspired. It's intended for anyone who prepares, consumes or thinks about food.
What recipe have you been going back to again and again these days? Would you be willing to share it with us? Various combinations of goat's milk ricotta, greens, and eggs---the gifts of early spring. Highly recommend Pasta Grannies, or any of the 90's-era Chez Panisse cookbooks for inspiration. Also, salsa verde on everything. I think it's the best way to use up all the green bits that start to emerge from the garden and markets this time of year. Recipe in Farm Lunch!
What helps keep you stable when the chaos of life takes hold?
Hiking with my pup (Finn) at sunrise in the wilderness surrounding Santa Fe. The quality of the light and the air in that first sliver of morning is unreal- profoundly still, yet ultra-charged at the same time. I love being out at that hour. It's when I do all of my deep thinking.
Watching Steph Curry play basketball-- that guy is a whole lesson in how to maintain your edge, composure, and personal style in the midst of chaos.
Talking to my older brother, Sam Sweet. He is a lighthouse for me in this world.
Current book or publication you’re reading? I've recently had the urge to revisit all of the books I read (or was supposed to read) when I was 17, so right now I'm halfway through My Antonia. Willa Cather's writing is so lyrical and unflinching-- it's mesmerizing. I've also been exploring Jane Grigson's work, especially Good Things. Food writing from that era is notably lean and elegant; very inspiring to me. I'm particularly intrigued by her recipe for gooseberry tart and something called "4-day spinach."
Have you let anything go recently- an object, belief, goal, way of thinking or doing that has made you a better or happier person? Oof, well. The older I get the more it becomes clear to me that life is so much about letting go: of expectations, regrets, patterns, ambitions, desires, you name it. I've been thinking a ton about this lately. Something specific I have let go of recently? Being fixated on outcomes-- it's so freeing to simply honor the process instead. On a less revelatory note, I just let go of a rug I've had for years. Turns out it's extremely refreshing to roll up an old rug, toss it out the door, and plant your feet on a freshly revealed surface.
We always ask Andi to share what music she has been listening to as she has exceptional taste and her discoveries end with us learning unique and avant-garde musicians to add to our favorites.
This new mix is like a slow awakening to springtime. Quirky, unhurried yet buoyant, with a hint of nostalgia. A perfect playlist to get you in the mood for spring's arrival.
Sarah Nsikak is a Nigerian-American living in Brooklyn, New York. Her love of textiles led her to working in the fashion industry for several years after completing a Masters Degree in Art Therapy. The exorbitant amount of waste generated in the fashion industry inspired a re-routing back to her art practice.
Using recycled material sourced from fashion designers based in New York and textiles sourced through vintage stores Nsikak creates one of a kind patchwork dresses. Her brand, La Réunion, is named after the island off the coast of Madagascar. The dresses are influenced by the vibrant stories of African culture, post colonial African countries, ideas surrounding reclaimed beauty, togetherness, color, joy, and inviting ones self back to what was always there all along. Each of the dresses are wearable art pieces meant to empower, embolden, and inspire all while telling the stories of Africa.
We are so excited to carry La Réunion at Idun. We had the chance to ask Sarah Nsikak a few quick questions to get to know her better...
Current book you’re reading? I've been slowly reading a publication called Anaise, and it's been giving me so much motivation to refine my work and take a step back and maybe to pair down too.
Favorite recipe you go back to over and over? Lately, my partner and I have been making fried tofu, rice and veggie bowls! But a favorite always and forever is fried plantains with jollof rice. My mom makes it every time I'm home and nothing compares.
Product you can’t live without? I'm not very into products, but lately I've been using Saie's foundation that has spf. It feels like I'm not wearing anything on my face and gives a bit of a glow. In actuality, I don't think I could live without Native the natural deodorant!
Where is your favorite place to pass the time, or take a break? The park by my house has been a constant for me, even in the years when I didn't live in this part of Brooklyn. I also really love being in any used book store with a good variety of art books.
Have you let anything go recently- an object, belief, goal, way of thinking or doing that has made you a better or happier person? I've let go of the idea that anything, whether it's a project, friendship, routine, etc, is meant to last forever. Allowing space for healthy endings has been so freeing. It's making me think about my work in entirely new ways as well. I've been thinking about how devastated I was when so many doors were closed to me in the past, and now I have the perspective to have gratitude for the endings.
Tropical Fruit Salad 2 mangoes cut into ¾ inch cubes 1 papaya peeled seeded and cut into ¾ inch cubes 1 pineapple cut into ¾ inch cubes 1 starfruit, sliced 5 passion fruits halved
Lemon Cake 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour 1 packet active dry yeast ¼ tsp salt 7 tablespoons butter at room temperature 3 eggs Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon 3 tbsp & 1 tsp milk
Make Tropical Fruit Salad In a large bowl, combine the mangoes, papaya, pineapple and starfruit. Scoop out the passion fruit pulp and strain. Discarding the seed add to the bowl and mix to combine.
Make Lemon Cake Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 inch round baking pan dust with flour. In a medium bowl sift together the flour, yeast and salt set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, eggs, and lemon juice and zest with a whisk until combined. Add the flour mixture and mix. Add the milk and mix until combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake until a wooden pick or tip of knife comes out dry, about 45 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack.
Make Vanilla Cream Place the milk in a medium saucepan and scrape in the vanilla seeds, adding the vanilla pod, too. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 6 minutes. Remove from heat.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Slowly add one fourth of the hot milk. Transfer the saucepan and heat to 181 degree F. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl and set in a larger bowl of ice and water to cool down quickly. Cover and refrigerate.
To Serve: Place a slice of the lemon cake on each plate. Top with the fruit salad and the vanilla cream, and garnish with 2 cape gooseberries.
NOTE: Save the egg whites to make meringues. You can use any fruit you have on hand for the fruit salad.
Discover more of Massimo Bottura's recipes via Bread Is GoldHERE.
We always ask 
Serves 6