#158 Fruits for December
It’s time for your breath to smell like bergamot
Welcome to beautiful December! It’s peak citrus season. The air gets colder and the fruits are brighter. Some say December is the best month for fruit.
This is the month where your kitchen should continuously smell like beautiful zest of all kinds. Keep a bowl of citrus on the counter. Let your pears ripen to perfection. Break open pomegranates with friends. Make juice with your mechanical press (makes such a great Christmas gift). December is abundance.
Meyer Lemon
Fragrant and floral. Squeeze into a glass of sparkling water and sip with a great book in your hand. Have it handy on the dinner table to squeeze over anything you so please.
Navel Orange
Classic winter orange. Bright. Juicy. You have no excuse to not have fresh orange juice every morning. Roll them on your countertop. Slice into halves and make the most refreshing morning juice.
Bergamot
The fragrance citrus. Smells like sunshine. Zest over yogurt, roast chicken, pastries, anything that needs beautiful bergamot.
Comice Pear
The softest, most buttery pear you can eat in December. Something’s happening with pears. They’re not getting the attention and respect they deserve. It’s time we change that. Comice pears pair incredibly well with honey and just a little bit of blue cheese.
Granny Smith Apple
It’s not December if you’re not enjoying a beautiful apple, cold, straight from the fridge. The palate cleanser of winter. Shred into slaws or eat cold straight from the fridge.
Cosmic Crisp Apple
Mr ol’ reliable Cosmic Crisp. Never lets you down. Holds its texture even when sliced into salads or lightly baked.
Chestnut
Yes, chestnuts are a fruit. Roast and enjoy them while they’re hot. Nothing else needs to be said.
Yuzu
Aromatic. Floral. Take your teas, salad dressings, and marinades up a notch. Very subtle note, but it matters.
Golden Kiwi
The sweetest kiwi ever. The best kiwi ever. Eat raw (skin on always).
Green Kiwi
The lesser liked cousin, but still incredibly nourishing. In my opinion green kiwis are better enjoyed in fruit salads instead of being consumed raw.
Satsuma Mandarin
Easy to peel. Minimal seeds. Chance of you eating six on accident is very high.
Blood Orange
The most beautiful orange. It’s what happens when berries and oranges make love. Made for winter mornings.
Kumquat
A really small guy. Best eaten whole. Definitely brightens your mood.
Grapefruit
Juicy. Refreshing. Slice, salt lightly and drizzle some extra virgin olive oil. Incredible.
Pomelo
The gentle giant of citrus. Slightly sweet. Better enjoyed in salads. Mix with fresh herbs like mint and even some coconut aminos.
Quince
You cannot eat it raw. Roast or poach until soft and your entire kitchen will smell incredible.
Persimmon
Fuyu is crisp and refreshing like a fruit-salad apple. Hachiya must be fully soft before you can enjoy it. One of the best December fruits to eat after dinner when you just need a little more.
Pomegranate
The fruit of fertility. Crown jewel. Scatter on yogurt, pair it with lamb or make some of the best juice you’ll ever have.
Cranberries
Add to your sourdough loaves. Make cranberry sauces. Serve compote alongside your basque cheesecake. Acidity cuts through holiday richness perfectly.
Bosc Pear
It’s the month of the perfect pear. Bosc pears are excellent for poaching, baking, or slicing raw. Goes incredibly well with cinnamon.
How blessed are we to live in a world of beautiful fruit? What’s your favorite December fruit?
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In collaboration with Noah Ryan
❋ GARLIC AND HERB SOURDOUGH BREAD
There’s a certain magic when sourdough bakes in my kitchen. The scent alone a bit tangy, a little nutty is enough to pause your day. But the first time I folded garlic powder and dried thyme into the dough? That was the moment my kitchen smelled like something out of a dream.
It was a quiet Sunday in West Lafayette. I had soup simmering on the stove and a small idea: what if I added herbs and garlic to my usual loaf? I reached for the thyme, a nod to my mom’s chicken soup, and black pepper for a subtle kick. Garlic powder felt like a no-brainer it brings that mellow, warm savoriness that just belongs in bread. When the loaf hit the oven, the smell was unbelievable like fresh air during a thunderstorm, but edible.
❋ THE HOLISTIC GIRLS GIFT GUIDES FOR STOCKING STUFFERS, GIFTS UNDER $30 & DIY HOMEMADE IDEAS
Hellloooo beautiful friends I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! The holiday season is now in full swingggg!
Now is the perfect time to get thoughtful & intentional gifts for your loved ones. Last week I sent out three gift guides & this week we have three more!! 1. Stocking Stuffers 2. Gifts Under $30 & 3. 10 DIY Homemade Gift Ideas!!! These are all things that I personally love, use, have gifted with happy outcomes, or are at the top of my wishlist. Gifts that are beautiful, thoughtful, useful, and of course, top quality.
So let’s get intooo it….
❋ ROASTED CARROTS WITH WHIPPED RICOTTA AND HOT HONEY
Some dishes hit that perfect note between elegance and comfort. Roasted Carrots with Whipped Ricotta and Hot Honey is one of them. This recipe transforms humble carrots into a restaurant-worthy side dish—or even a main if you pair it right—by combining sweet roasted vegetables with creamy ricotta and a spicy drizzle of hot honey. It’s colorful, textural, and packed with flavor in every bite.
The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity. Roasting carrots intensifies their natural sweetness and gives them a slight char, which plays beautifully with the creamy, cool whipped ricotta underneath. Then comes the magic: a warm drizzle of honey spiked with chili flakes, adding just enough heat to make each bite pop.
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Winter fruits are honestly my favorites!!!
Is there any way to purchase past copies of your printed magazine? Are they completely unavailable? I recently bought your latest table top magazine and 12 graphics, but wondered about past issues you sold. Love your content. Thanks!