Happy Friday, to all who celebrate. I could not help but notice that my sourdough has opinions about time. What was labeled an eight-hour recipe quietly stretched into ten, thanks to humidity, patience, and a loaf that needed just a little more space to become itself. He rose about halfway, stayed a little jiggly, and remained slightly sticky, which honestly felt like a fair reflection of life on the Gulf Coast. Still, the bread turned out wonderfully, and that felt like a small but satisfying win. Last night’s dinner took a turn, as it often does. Chad decided to take the leftover ham and scalloped potatoes to work, which left us hungry and improvising. We briefly considered DoorDash, then looked at the price and decided we were not that hungry. Instead, we drove ourselves to Panda Express and shared a bigger plate like civilized adults. Honey sesame chicken, grilled teriyaki, orange chicken, which we lovingly call chicken candy, and chow mein. Dinner for two came in at fourteen dollars, and the victory tasted almost as good as the food. Chad headed off to work with a loaf tucked under his arm and I will be keeping one at home for the weekend. I will still need to pull together a plan for the days ahead. December always feels better when the freezer starts to empty and Christmas cooking begins with a little breathing room. Tonight will slow back down. Lily and I will be finishing the white cheddar bisque tucked into those sourdough bread bowls and lingering over the last slices of clementine winter bundt cake with chilled cranberry sauce. A cozy ending, a full table, and one of those kitchen days that feels just right when you look back on it. What is happening at your table tonight? Gracefully yours, 🫶🏻 Jeanie Jo LTKHome LTKdayinmylife LTKfoodie