December 1st, 2023

Hi friends,

I hope last week you ate your fill with chosen family, acknowledging the importance of land back and non-traditional holiday foods. I for one opted for a spicy persimmon + butternut squash soup, a fennel, apple, + radicchio fall salad, and a mushroom + kale tofu lasagna. Seasonally inspired and easily shared. But I’m currently on day 8 of leftover lasagna and wondering if not owning a microwave is a form of self sabotage.

With the holiday season right around the corner I’m aiming to wind down in the best way I know how–more winter produce recipes and figuring out just what to do with an abundance of 40 donated persimmons, other than festive soups. (Vinegar, jams, and dehydrating all come to mind.) Getting more into ferments and looking towards slow-preservation methods to bring more flavor to a cold, grey Portland season and jazz up those leftovers.

What’s on your post-Thanksgiving plate?

Stay hungry,Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop Cooking

Perimming. // @hawnuhlee

The dish >>

• Broccopork–love this cultivated faux meat project. 

• Stunning chocolate bonsai work. 

• Halloween but relevant > capitalism kills from fav @pattiegonia.

• Lazy cooking has me thinking about the power of meal prep swap.

• Still questionable but promising packaging updates from these meal kit services.

• Color rich kitchen tile inspo.

• I’ve been zhuzhing up this use-it-all fall salad with seasonal greens and beans.

Low impact (and low cost) gift ideas!

An seasonal round-up by Hawnuh Lee.

Tis the season for excess packaging and amazon purchases. Pulling some festive inspiration to share for those of y’all exchanging gifts this year. Emphasizing handmade moments, upcycling, and experiences that will make for meaningful tidings.

• I’d love receiving a bouquet of dried flowers in these DIY vintage glasses. (Use leftover jars you already have on hand!)

• Homemade candles in thrifted crystal dishware. Sub for any cool vessel you can source.

• A jar of tangy kraut! They’ll think of you in every spoonful. Better yet, learn to ferment together and host a kraut swap.

• Really, any kind of homemade food or sweet will bring a smile. A parchment wrapped package of chocolate oat pulp biscotti, DIY fruit leather, or spiced almond butter molasses cookies would be just the thing. 

• Make your wrapping part of the gift! Ditch single use rolls and try learning an easy furoshiki fabric wrap.

• Gift a cooking class to help improve kitchen skills, or take one together.

• Make your own slab ceramic pasta plate (for the adventurous).

• Support local bookstores when you gift your next read.

• Clean someone’s cast iron cookware. Or repair a previously loved appliance. Giving new life to already used items cuts consumerism.

• Bulk DIY vanilla. A little spendy but a magic elixir your baking friends will surely appreciate.

• Download and share a few favorite virtual cookbooks from Internet Archives. Points if you include a recipe from said cookbook.

• Upcycle linens or other fabric into easy reusable produce bags.

To name a few! I’d love to hear what creative gift endeavors you’re getting after this December. Reply back with ideas <3

Obsessing over food puzzles.

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