fftf: all I want to do right now is make applesauce

Hi friends,

Oooof... what a week here in the U.S. I've been avoiding writing this email all day. I can't come up with anything good to say, and I don't feel like talking about cooking tips or theories, so I'm just gonna say what's true for me right now: All I want to do is make applesauce. I want to get off my computer, put down my phone, cozy up in my kitchen, do a minimum amount of work and very soon have warm, cinnamony smells wafting through my apartment.

I feel like my brain is so fried I barely even remember how I usually make applesauce, but I think I just chop up the apples (skin on) and throw them in a pot with some cinnamon and salt, add one or two inches of water, and simmer it - stirring occasionally - until everything is soft. Sometimes I will then blend it together with an immersion blender if I'm feeling blendy... or if I'm feeling chunky, I just leave it as is. If I have a lot of time I will do this using the "slow cooker" function on my instant pot. As always, I will taste it and adjust the salt and cinnamon as needed until I get it just right. I like mine without sugar but of course you could always add a sweetener if you prefer. Then I'll eat it with some yogurt and toasted pecans, ideally. Or just plain.

So - my Friday inspiration for you today is to encourage you to go do something comforting - whatever your version of "applesauce" might be.

And now I'm gonna practice what I preach and go make my applesauce!

Sending you all the virtual hugs but hoping you have access to lots of real ones.

Love,
Jess

PS. Like FREE STUFF?! Download my Craveable Salad Guide to print out and hang on your fridge for inspiration!

If you like this email, I would LOVE IT if you forward along to your favorite food-loving friends, or better yet, forward and then cook something together! Wannabe subscribers can sign up here. Thanks for reading!
In case you missed out, here are a few past issues to check out:

October 30: five fun things! ☕️🍫🍠🌴
October 23: 10X more delicious in 10 minutes per week
October 16: my 4 favorite fall recipes 🍁
September 4: my #1 secret to a super fresh, waste-free crisper drawer
August 28: introducing... the "diet" I live by 💥
July 31: 2 mins work ➡️ week's worth of sustenance
July 17: Crunchy spices + refreshment?! YES and I’m OBSESSED
April 17: I’m 100% sure you can do this veggie trick
April 3: my dad’s surprising vitamin advice

Hi, I'm Jess! I help health-conscious, busy people transform their cooking from "chore" to "whippin it up!" through intuitive cooking, which I teach through online classes, free content, coaching and more. This is my newsletter, Food for Thought Fridays, where I share highly actionable tips and inspiration to help you cook more intuitively (which makes cooking feel easier and SO much more fun!). Once a month, I share a recipe that's really worth making, and I only share those with my email subscribers.

I currently work + live on land that is the unceded territory of the Ramaytush Ohlone. And I can't wait to eat at Cafe Ohlone when they reopen someday! Check out this article about them.