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In the last week I’ve baked an apricot pie, a dozen blueberry muffins, a blueberry loaf cake, and a brown butter pound cake. As you may have gathered, I never baked before this pandemic. A tsunami of baking is happening in my kitchen.
I like dessert, but I try to go easy on it. It’s way more skippable for me than you’d think. I don’t think I’ve had ice cream in two years.
So now I’m asking myself why I’m baking. Is it to prove I can? Is it to begin the trip on the downhill ramp of life, and become more proficient as a homemaker when my career options dry up? Is it to provide treats for my honey? Is it a futile way to lure my exhibits™ home to be nurtured at last by mommy’s kitchen?
As this blog is often a surrogate therapist, I’m going to say all of the above.
I had thought to try learning a new language during this plagued year, but the language I’m learning is of baking soda, baking powder, and cake flour vs. all-purpose flour. It’s foreign alright, but I’m beginning, bit by bit to feel more comfortable with it. One cake, that I’ve made three times has had three different outcomes. My progress is not a straight line, by any means. And like the early days of learning a language, I’m not finding it very much fun. But I will continue to plow forward to reach that point of satisfaction and ease among the pans and springforms. And like my friend Shelley, who is a fluent and wonderful baker, I will bake for others and have to resist the temptations I make.
Lisa Birnbach and her guests Jamie Lee Curtis and Boco Haft.
My guests today are givers, something I aspire to be.
You know Jamie Lee Curtis – famous from birth – her baby picture was in Life Magazine as well as Photoplay. Her parents were movie stars Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. You may have seen her in Knives Out, or the Halloween Movies, or A Fish Called Wanda, Trading Places, True Lies, and Freaky Friday, among others. She’s written a dozen children’s books, is a talented photographer, a great friend, an amazing parallel parker, and a godmother to the multitudes.
She has, as of this first week in August, opened a philanthropic shop, “My Hand in Yours,” which I’m eager to learn about.
My other guest is writer Boco Haft, who happens to be one of my exhibits. She was manager of the JV Basketball team in 9th grade, editor in chief of her high school yearbook, the head writer of the Sketchies, the sketch comedy troupe founded by actor Michael Zegen, and the head of the Skidmore College Comfest in 2015. She moved to Los Angeles to become a comedy writer. She is also one of Jamie’s godchildren.
They are here to discuss “Letters from Camp”, the new Audible original play, drama, comedy, series that they’ve co-created.
1. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/ Center for Public Safety COVID-19 newsletter.
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
centerhealthsecurity@mail301.jh.edu
This fact-filled with no frills newsletter is now published twice a week. It is simply numbers and trends of this awful disease. This document has no politics. Just data. But it does tell you not only where the pandemic is surging, it is now telling us where it’s returning. Anyone can subscribe to this newsletter for free.
2. A fresh plum. Before biting into one, I think I know how it will taste, and yet I’m always wrong. Some are sweet at first bite and then taste tart at the end. Earlier today I ate one very slowly and mindfully. Plums are much more complex than we give them credit for.
3. Marigolds. I never appreciated the marigold until I traveled to Thailand, where they are the hardworking and beautiful flower they use in garlands, and elaborate arrangements. My grandmother had some in her garden, and I didn’t like the earthy way they smelled. Now I like them and their sassy orange color.
4. Receiving packages. Most of the time, it turns out to be something quite ordinary that I ordered online: vitamins, a wooden spoon from Williams-Sonoma, or some vinyl gloves. But I don’t care; a package is a package! Sometimes the package contains a real treat that I didn’t expect, and that’s even better!
Dr. Anthony Fauci
5. Dr. Fauci. I worry about him: is he getting enough sleep? Is he stressed out by Dr. Brix? I think we’re overtaxing him. He’s 79 years old. He’s a great doctor and sometimes seems like the only grownup in the room.
Jamie Lee Curtis’s 5 Great Things About Camp:
1. Lanyards
2. Trunks
3. Bug juice
4. Camp songs-The cat came back
5. The camaraderie
Boco Haft’s 5 Great Things About Camp:
1. Campfire Songs
2. Friendship Bracelets
3. No parents
4. Color War
5. Camp Routine
Letters From Camp
An Audible Original
Starring and Co-Created by Jamie-Lee Curtis
Co-Created and Written by Boco Haft
CLICK HERE to listen.
Jamie Lee Curtis Instagram @curtisleejamie
The 5 Things That Make Life Better podcast is recorded and produced at The Field in NYC https://thefieldtv.com
My team is Shpresa Oruci, Michael Porte, Sam Haft and Boco Haft.