Closed Loop Cooking Weekly Newsletter 2.12.21

February 12th, 2021Hi friends,This Lunar New Year we’re taking note from Heart of Dinner, an NYC non-profit delivering meals and much love to Asian elders in the city. In a wave of recent anti-Asian attacks their dedication to community is a strong reminder there is so much more work to be done. Support and celebrate their efforts by volunteering or donating.Happy impending Hearts Day y’all. Whether you give one or not we can all partake in a sumptuous plant-based charcuterie board and an evening of self care, holiday related or just because. I’ll still be sending out elementary worthy Valentine’s to each of your houses but I’m keeping the candy for myself. As a committed low waste advocate my fiendish desire for Sour Patch Kids and Sweet Tart Hearts this time of year isn’t something I’m proud of. But we do our best. And by best I mean it must be kept out of my line of vision at all costs. Maybe I should just stick with heart shaped faux “meat” balls in 2021...How to enjoy yet another holiday during this pandemic? It’s a fervent reminder of a slow return to “normal”. It takes energy to break out of this current routine and make a memorable occasion happen. So this St. V Day, I’d like to encourage us all to make a slow meal. With a loved one, a member of your pod, or solo with your fav show in the background. Let’s whip up something outside of the weekly rotation, maybe a new-to-you dish or a classic favorite. I want y’all to get your hands in the mix this weekend and take your time with it.Bring the ambiance with a couple candles, a warm bev to sip on, and good tunes. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, I just want you to take your time making it. Be present with your food and enjoy a bite of a purposefully slow meal. In the usual chaos of the week things have been fading into each other without any real reason to catch myself and mark the time. So friends, let’s wind down and consciously give space to this season, winter produce, and meals to remember.Let me know what you’re making and I’ll tell you what candy heart message you are.Stay hungry,Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop CookingP.S. And if you’re looking for more hot tips and things to enjoy this weekend, I’m posting a daily stop motion over on TikTok. Send me some love y’all!

The fertilizer landscape by Hawnuh Lee

To-do’s and how-to'sFilling the void with countless house plants is a special kind of love language. But just how to let these children thrive? Kaitlyn digs into the best homemade fertilizers to feed your home garden.A gentle, evergreen how-to reminder on low waste self love this season, that’s totally pandemic proof. Let’s all remember to indulge in a little self keeping this weekend.

This week’s required readingLooking for that ugly produce hookup? You’re not the only one. Unwanted produce is catching on as well, edible. Here’s a couple of places to help you get cooking.An epic multimedia dive from emergence magazine into an heirloom crop. Corn Tastes Better on the Honor System is a beautiful expose on our relationships with the things we plant. Maize is a central lifeforce, biochemists confirm that we are indeed people made of corn. I highly recommend this piece of storytelling to better connect you to food. (There’s also an option to listen to the reading.)Musings on wintering, our inevitable cold weather blues, and the tangible happiness in a jar of preserved summer fruit. This sweet, fluid essay When the Cherries Run Out reminds us to plan for moments of delectable joy.

Here’s what’s for dinnerI may never use a plate again. From our own @micks_magic we bring you the perfect Valentine’s celebration. A plant based charcuterie board you can mix and match with all of your favorite snack inspiration. Everything from faux “meets” like DIY seitan to savory baked mushrooms to tasty dips + spreads like carrot top + kale dip and vegan pepperjack cheese. I’m straight up swooning and strongly considering not sharing. Go ahead, make a little bit of everything!

We’re cooking withBuying myself these timely blush linen napkins for the incredible color and how they’ll pair with a rotating charcuterie board set up. Not that I need an excuse to pull out all the stops for snacking, but these definitely do the trick. Paired with this exquisite serving / cutting board you will be set for all future bites to come, indefinitely.As I’ve been making upwards of 2-3 sourdough loaves a week now, this reusable fresh bread kit is very intriguing. Think soft, chewy slices instead of that crusty rock I left out on the counter for way too long. Sounds like a dream.

AttendExcited for Plantains and Pivots with chef Zoe Adjonyoh of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen for a virtual event 2/18. Diving into topics like ancestral cooking traditions by way of West Africa, pandemic pivots, and how to make fufu, this pay-what-you-can event is not one to miss. 

RitualMethods of preserving feel incredibly ritualistic at the moment. Finding moments for quick pickling an onion on the edge, massaging a head of cabbage for spicy ginger kraut, or dehydrating some bruised fruit. Process oriented, methodical, and honoring our produce. Healing in a small way.

Can't stop staringIDK if you saw the Oatly Super Bowl commercial but it was a journey. One that inspired this chaotic TikTok bop. Anyway, I cannot stop singing it and my roommate is threatening to kick me out. Send help. - KaitlynOur fav dumpling connoisseur, Christine Wong, is collaborating with Chef Hong Thaimee on a very limited edition run of Chinese-Thai dumplings! TODAY only, if you are in NYC I implore you to snatch up some of these rainbow colored delights. Options for pickup and delivery, and if you order frozen, they come with a reusable bamboo steamer basket! 10% of profits go to Send Chinatown Love, a relief effort for small businesses in Chinatown NYC.

Make changeFreezing temperatures and snow this weekend in Portland, OR will put a lot of the unhoused population at risk. Let’s help our neighbors with mutual aid efforts by donating funds to @maaportland on Venmo or Cash App. $30 will buy a pair of boots and clothing donations are also accepted! Stay warm y’all.

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