Joy the Baker

This is the second issue of Joy the Baker, and I’m thrilled you’re considering purchasing a copy. Last year we were baking ourselves through the beginning of a pandemic. I bet you experimented with sourdough and banana bread too. While you may not be an expert (even I’m not a sourdough master), I bet you tucked a bit of baking confidence under your belt. Maybe last year you made a turkey pot pie for your pod instead of an elaborate all-family Thanksgiving meal. This year let’s expand those small comforts, intentionally.

Hi, Friends! HAPPY SUMMER!

SUMMER ROAD TRIP • Let’s hit the road with quality snacks, postcard stamps, and an open heart for all the country has to offer.

Our MOTORCYCLE ROAD TRIP • Summer is my favorite time to study the ol’ life bucket list (see The Summer Bucket List p. 26) and get to work making my dreams come true.

The Road Trip PHOTO DIARY • Here’s a little pictorial record of our trip. Lots of cacti and mountains. Lots of road. A bit of hazy wildfire smoke. One motorcycle breakdown. Two hungry squirrels and one high school football game. I hope it inspires your summer adventures. Hit the road—with a helmet and candy, of course.

The Art of WRITING A POSTCARD

My Favorite SUMMER PICNIC GEAR • I love an early summer picnic lunch when the days are warming into high gear and the sun sets late into the day. A picnic can be as simple as a sweatshirt on the ground and a brown paper bag with a sandwich inside, but here are nine of my favorite picnic luxuries that make dining in the grass or on the beach that much more wonderful!

SUMMER ROAD TRIP

SUMMER ROAD TRIP DESTINATION? • Some of my favorite foodie friends dish on where they travel for the best bites on the road.

CAMP JOY • Pack your bags! You’ll need a cast-iron skillet, a bag of marshmallows, and all your favorite whites to tie-dye!

The SUMMER BUCKET LIST

How to Make an ICE-DYED PICNIC BLANKET

FOURTH OF JULY • My best burgers, fried pies, and barbecue sauce made out of root beer will guide you through deep summer. Let’s go!

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS • Here’s how to get all the juice out of your lemons.

Summer’s Best BURGERS & FRIES • I’m forever on a quest to find the perfect cheeseburger. I want a thin patty that’s slightly crispy around the edges, American cheese, fresh lettuce, thinly sliced tomatoes, and squishable potato buns. These burgers are the closest I’ve come to perfection at home. Get in here with me!

It’s TOMATO SEASON! • Here’s what to do if you’ve eaten BLTs for days and you are still staring at a giant pile of tomatoes.

HOW TO MAKE FRIED BLUEBERRY HAND PIES

How to Make SHAVING CREAM-DYED BANDANA NAPKINS

ICE CREAM FOR ALL • This is your guide to the best frosty desserts made without an ice-cream maker. Consider it summer magic!

Joy the Baker