Sydney's Sunday Reads: #22

Happy Sunday, friends!!

Sydney's Sunday Reads is a weekly blog series that highlights some of my favorite stories, articles, think-pieces, and more from around the Internet.

  • Traveling in the kitchen. - Even for a total homebody, I miss traveling. I miss packing a bag and essential snacks for the plane. I miss the butterflies in my stomach every takeoff and landing. I miss de-planing and immediately getting hit with the smells of a new environment. And, most of all, I miss all the vacation eating. But just because we’re all being responsible and staying home until the pandemic is over doesn’t mean we have to give up every aspect of travel: we can still eat like tourists! Take a look at this great list of travel-inspired cookbooks put together by Jen Rose Smith for when dinnertime needs a serious refresh. (Washington Post)

  • Reading exercise. - Did you know that different types of reading exercise different parts of your brain? Or that. the older you get, the more reading can slow down or even halt signs of cognitive decline? It’s all laid out in this article that makes a pretty compelling argument for why we should be making reading a priority - especially now. (Popular Science)

  • Candy + Macaroni + Cheese? - On this episode of “Foods No One Asked For,” Kraft recently announced the special release of their famous boxed macaroni and cheese with one rather interesting addition: candy flavoring that turns everything pink, and it’s just in time for Valentine’s Day! That’s right, if you’ve ever been enjoying your savory macaroni and cheese and thought, “Boy, this sure could use a ton of artificial sweetness and an unnatural color!”, you’re in luck. But before you head out to your local supermarket, read this: the only way to get a box plus the packet that adds the color and candy flavoring, is to enter for a chance to win it via the Kraft website. I have about a million questions about this mac and cheese, but the top one is: does it turn your teeth pink? Now I kind of want to enter to find out… (Delish)

  • Goodbye, meatballs! - Whether you know her from her Bon Appetit days, or her two bestselling cookbooks, Alison Roman is well on her way to becoming a major household name in the food world. All throughout the pandemic, Roman’s been keeping her fans up-to-date on her life via her popular newsletter, simply titled A Newsletter, but now the 35-year-old is branching out and making her long-awaited return to Youtube with her brand new series, Home Movies. Check out episode 1, “The Best Meatball Recipe,” in the video below! (Alison Roman via Youtube)

  • The Family Haim! - One of my favorite bands is HAIM, a pop/alternative sister trio that’s created stellar bops such as “The Wire,” “Summer Girl,” and “Want You Back” I’ve always loved sibling acts because there’s chemistry there that just can’t be replicated, and it’s always fun to see the dynamics in interviews and even in performances. Recently, HAIM got together with their mother via Zoom to make latkes for British Vogue, and the video is adorable! It’s clear that the sisters hold Mama Haim in the highest regard, and each fights subtly for her attention. You even get a brief cameo from Papa Haim, who is responsible for getting the girls into music in the first place! If you’re looking to learn how to make latkes, this probably won’t be a very helpful tutorial, but I think it’s absolutely perfect nonetheless. (British Vogue via Youtube)

What are YOU reading, watching, and listening to today? Let me know in the comments below!

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