Lean in

Can we talk about what I'm reading for a second? I read all types of books, from science fiction to fantasy to YA to mystery to memoirs by all the leading comedy ladies out there. It's part of working in publishing. But one genre I rarely read is business memoirs. Nothing has ever gripped me before. But that's changed. Because all you women (mothers or not) need to run out and get Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.

Okay, wait, men need to read it too (dads or not).

Actually, everyone needs to read it.

Got it?

I'm reading Lean In in bits and pieces on my morning commute and I swear I'm stepping off the subway train with more purpose, more power, and more goals than I ever have before. It has come along at just the right time for me, at a time when I'm feeling the tug between home and work more keenly than ever. I'm only halfway through and I'm sitting up straighter at meetings, participating more, and generally making myself heard. And it's not just for women working in offices, it's for women in all walks of life, for anyone raising a daughter to be a bold, creative individual, for men who want to relate to a woman, for men who are dads and want to make sure their daughters (and sons) get every opportunity they deserve and work for. Like I said, it's for everyone.

Now that you've got your night's reading (or morning commute reading) all queued up, let's move on to some fun stuff out in the food world, shall we?

Food 

I seriously cannot wait for fig season. I eat them raw, straight from the fruit bowl. Nicola of My Homegrown Kitchen puts them into a raw fig honey tart for a guest post on My Darling Lemon Thyme.

Let's make guacamole for Cinco de Mayo! And Adrianna at A Cozy Kitchen has come up with a a mango and cilantro guacamole recipe. For those of you who don't like cilantro...well, I'm sorry, I've got nothing, except WHY don't you like it?

Coconut milk is amazing in everything, and especially in soup. Heidi at 101 Cookbooks regularly makes this ginger coconut milk soup and I am adding it to my repertoire too.

Speaking of Heidis, the lovely Heidi at Foodie Crush has put together yet another winning grilled cheese combo, this time chorizo and peppadew paper! And to that I say "yes, please!"

Are you as excited as I am that it's rhubarb season? Spoon Fork Bacon has a rhubarb raspberry crumble and Megan at A Sweet Spoonful gives us a rhubarb breakfast cake.

Braised fennel with saffron from Deborah Madison's Vegetable Literacy