Closed Loop Cooking
Posts
⌛What’s the why of your time?

⌛What’s the why of your time?

And favorite spring foodie palettes.

Hawnuh Lee
April 17, 2025

Hi friends,

In search of IRL inspiration lately. I’m in the midst of client content creation hyperfocus and taking snippets of time to pop my head up and find connection. Recipe testing, filming, researching–the process can be an isolated endeavor. I’m appreciating moments of magic around Portland in delicate spring desserts topped with lovely powdered pink sakura cherry blossoms, vibrant iced matchas on the patio of my favorite cafes, sampling garlic scape vegan cheeses at the farmers market, and asking foodie friends how they’re preparing purple sprouting broccoli. Small pleasures I choose to make space for in the midst of work and, well, the state of things.

Looking for what’s going right feels like a luxury when there’s infinite things on the to-do list and the overwhelm of this uncertain timeline. Let me encourage you not to find magic moments out of blissful ignorance, but out of resounding hope for tomorrow. Let’s not forget the whole point of experiencing this astral plane is a lifetime made of small joys. Whether that be planting your first herb garden this season or being present in meals with loved ones, remember the why of your time.

How are you preparing purple sprouting broccoli?

Stay hungry,
Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop Cooking

Vegan matzo ball soup - always kosher for Passover!

What’s cooking?

Please enjoy the CLC spin on matzo ball soup! Tomatoey with shiitake mushrooms and all the right soup sensations. It may not be your grandmother’s recipe but I’m sure she would approve. Points if you make your own matzo meal with homemade matzo.

Reduce waste this week

With all this aforementioned soup prep have you considered saving your scrap produce pieces to make your own package free veggie stock at home? You can save onion peels, garlic pieces, carrot tops, celery ends, lemon rinds, and more in the freezer until you’re ready to simmer and serve! A great way to make the most of your leftovers and reduce extra packaging waste.

Grocery gains

Thinking about growing food at home? You don’t need a lot of space to get started. From windowsill herbs and regrowing green onions to taking on a love of soil health and worm bins there’s something for everyone who eats. Give this beginner’s guide to gardening a quick read to jump in and start cultivating your own fruits and veg.

The dish

Encouraging to read Pulp Pantry’s Shark Tank journey for zero waste foods.
Share the Climate Literacy framework with everyone you know.
I needed this advice on how to stay hopeful from Michelle Obama.
Have you heard about the ATL free food forest?
Love to see people touching grass across the globe.
Be present in the kitchen. Passed down.
Loved seeing Cherry Bombe Jubilee snippets.
CLC is on Threads! And BlueSky!
Portland based Kitchen Table mag is at 60% of its crowd funding goal.

Take action

The Environmental Defense Fund is asking us to share NOAA stories to protect their vital community services! If you’ve benefited from or experienced the impact of NOAA weather reporting, spread the word.

Consider donating to support transport costs at START animal rescue, a PNW based organization helping pull cats and dogs out of high kill shelters and giving second chances.

Matzo delights

Sharing out a few inspirational pages from a timely Passover cookbook. May you find some ideas or more likely, astonishment at the magic of unleavened bread.