The Sunday Edit | No. 4: Language of Love
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The Language of Love: Notes & Tea
From the nostalgic charm of Victorian papercrafts to the buttery warmth of “mailable” cookies, we're exploring how the heart of the home speaks its own dialect of love this week.
Thought for the Day
“You can't win together if you don't work together.”
- Nick Sabin
If you missed our debut issue on the “Art of the Reset,” you can catch up on No. 3 here.
In This Issue:
The Sunday Journal: Languages of Love
As I sat down to draft this edition, the rain had just begun to drum against the windows-the kind of morning that practically begs for a warm cup of Double Bergamot Earl Grey. There's something about a bright citrus aroma that clears the fog and makes the act of writing a letter (or a blog post) feel like a small indulgence.
There is a particular quiet that settles over early February days. The rush of January's newness has softened, and we find ourselves in that misty, cozy middle of winter-not quite spring, but no longer rushing toward it.
With Valentine's Day on the horizon, I've been thinking about the many dialects of love we speak in our homes, our communities, and our relationships. Each one different. Each one vital. Each one an expression of the heart.
In my neighborhood, I don't share a common spoken language with many. A written note may or may not be understood. So instead, I share culinary love from my kitchen-recipes that sometimes hint at their culture, sometimes sweet, sometimes savory. Every dish is received with the brightest smiles, and that is a language we all understand.
The pots, vessels, and serving dishes are always returned filled with a delicious expression of their own kitchens. I feel blessed beyond measure. Sometimes the smiles exchanged say more than words ever could.
While the "language of love" may look different from person to person, I've found it's rarely about grand gestures. More often, it's a language of care: a hot bowl of soup on a rainy Tuesday, a handwritten note tucked into a lunchbox, a batch of cookies baked for a neighbor, or the intentional act of slow-baking something beautiful.
Today's edit is a love letter to those small, meaningful moments.
Happy February, dear friends.
The Table: Culinary Love Letters
If you're looking for a way to literally “write” your affection, our Love Letter Butter Cookies are the centerpiece of the week. Crisp, buttery, and delicately shaped, they're the perfect canvas for a personal message-sweet, thoughtful, and entirely your own.
- Pro Tip: To make these truly feel like stationery, use a fine-tip food coloring pen (see my favorite in Lifestyle Finds below) to "write" names or little love notes directly onto the royal icing after it has fully set.
Love from the 31Daily Archives:
- Showstopper: Heart-Shaped Chocolate Bundt Cake - because chocolate is a universal language.
- Fun Factor: Valentine's Day Crack - ideal for bagging up and sharing with neighbors, friends, or co-workers.
- Gathering: Valentine's Day Dessert Board - perfect for a cozy Galentine's night in, or a gathering of friends or family, and best enjoyed slowly and shared generously.
Recipes for the Week
- A Love Language Brunch: Spinach and Bacon Quiche. There is something so restorative about a homemade quiche. It says, “relax, stay a while.”
- The Ultimate Comfort: Marry Me Chicken Soup. All the flavors of the viral classic, but in a soul-warming soup format that's perfect for a chilly February evening.
- Heart of Winter Starter: Stuffed Mushrooms may be “old school,” but the savory notes and easy preparation make it perfect for treating those you love.
Weekly Dinner Meal Plan
Every week, we publish a healthy weekly dinner meal plan to take the “What’s for Dinner” dilemma off your plate. Here are this week’s dinner ideas.
February Mediterranean Diet Dinners
(Feb 9-13)
The Lifestyle Edit: Embracing February
1. Writer's Tool:
To elevate your baking, I recommend a set of Fine-Tip Food Coloring Pens. They allow you to treat a cookie like a piece of stationery. (Great for kids to join in on, too!)
2. Paper Craft
Before the digital age, love was sent via “scrap.” I'm still enamored with these Papercraft Victorian Valentine's Day Cards. They add such a nostalgic, tactile touch to a gift.
3. Cozy Kitchen
This week, I'm leaning into heart-shaped ramekins for mini chocolate lava cakes and linen tea towels in soft blushes and creams that lean toward spring and brightens up the kitchen.
Get the Look: The Love Letter Cookies
- The Sip: Double Bergamot Earl Grey. This is a personal favorite for its extra punch of citrus that perfectly clears a “rainy day” fog. Enjoyed in my favorite teacup or a February perfect London Fog tea latte.
- The Tool: A Glass Dip Pen & Calligraphy Set. My set that I’m using in the image is an antique, this Amazon version is affordable and close. A glass nib or a traditional fountain pen makes writing those “culinary love letters” feel like a true craft.
- The Flowers: A simple white Primrose. It's a hardy PNW winter classic that brings a bit of the garden indoors while we wait for spring.
Looking Ahead
Thank you for joining me for this edition of The Sunday Edit. There is something restorative about leaning into the moments of life, whether that be a holiday, an observance, or a shared dish between neighbors.
Join me for The Sunday Edit No. 5, where we will explore the beauty of Sundays!
Stephanie
If you enjoyed today’s Sunday Edit, you’ll love my narrative essays and recipes over on Substack, where we invite you to join us At the Table.
