May Favorites

and a fun wrap for your Memorial Day leftovers!

Happy Monday and Memorial Day, friends. While many of us are spending the day with friends and family, I am also taking a moment to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day and honor the brave individuals who gave their lives in service to our country. It’s a day of gratitude and remembrance—and, yes, a beautiful time to gather around the table and enjoy the start of summer.

I’ll see many of you Tuesday at noon PST on Zoom for my live “office hours.” This is a perk of being a subscriber for my online cooking classes. And stay tuned—June’s class is coming soon and it’s a perfect one to kick off the summer season!

Here’s what hit my radar this month:

A little self-care moment…The news really got me down this week, and I realized I needed a little TLC. So during my regular hair color appointment, I decided to treat myself to a 45-minute Botanical Head Spa service—and wow. It started with a scalp consultation using a high-resolution camera (yes, on my scalp)… and let’s just say the buildup was eye-opening. The “after” footage was miraculous. My scalp felt light, clean, and refreshed—like I’d had a facial, but for my head.

Beyond how relaxing it was, this treatment is said to boost circulation and support hair growth, too. If you’re in need of a little reset or want to treat yourself, I highly recommend seeking this out in your area. I go to Blow Me Away Salon in West Hollywood. 

Avocado tool talk I get a surprising number of questions about the avocado tool my husband swears by. I personally use a knife and a spoon (old school!), but he loves this gadget. It slices, pits, and scoops all in one. He’s converted a few friends, too.

Dates and blood sugar—surprising info! Did you know that dates do not raise Hemoglobin A1C levels when eaten in moderation? I didn’t! Despite being naturally sweet, they have a low-to-moderate glycemic index and are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and potassium. In fact, studies show they don’t significantly impact fasting glucose or A1C levels—even in people with diabetes. Here’s one study if you want to geek out a little. And here’s one of my oldest recipes, Date-Sweetened Banana Bread, which uses dates instead of added refined sugar.

Graham crackers are shrinking?? I was making a tart with my usual graham cracker crust recipe and had to use more crackers than normal—so I did a little digging. It turns out I’m not imagining things! Multiple people have noticed that Honey Maid graham crackers are shrinking. One comparison even showed a reduction of nearly half an inch in width between two boxes purchased just a month apart. Another noted the crackers were more brittle and about two-thirds the size they used to be. Classic case of shrinkflation—same price, slightly less product. In any of my recipes, go by the measurement of 2 cups of crumbs versus the estimate of how many crackers should equal 2 cups of crumbs.

Kraft paper instead of a board for charcuterie and cheese At a wine tasting recently, my friend lined her table with kraft paper and arranged some of the cheeses, fruits, nuts, and crackers right on top. Honestly, she could have put everything on the Kraft paper! It looked rustic and elegant—and cleanup was a breeze. I shared this trick in my Entertaining with Ease course, and it’s one of my favorite hacks. You can even roll kraft paper across a counter to create a large-scale grazing board.

New LA restaurant rec: Anajak Thai If you're local or visiting LA, Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks might be the best Thai food I’ve ever had. Incredible flavors, thoughtful plating, and great service.

Peach-Persimmon ARMRA Colostrum is back! This seasonal favorite is so good—I honestly think it’s the best flavor they’ve made. ARMRA is also having their biggest sale of the year right now: 20% off sitewide (excluding the XL jars) for both new and returning customers. Sale ends end of day today! Stock up if you’re a regular like I am.

The secret to juicy burgers If you’ve ever been disappointed by dry chicken or turkey burgers, try mixing in a generous spoonful of a prepared dip—like spinach-artichoke. It keeps the meat moist, adds flavor, and takes zero extra effort.

A nail salon tip This is something I’ve shared before, but it’s worth repeating: I bring my own lotion to the nail salon. I’m very sensitive to synthetic fragrance and the chemicals in most beauty products, so this small step helps me avoid irritation and still enjoy a little self-care.

Summer hostess gift idea Wölffer Estate’s Summer in a Bottle Rosé caught my eye at the market. The bottle is beautiful, the price point is reasonable, and according to my Instagram poll, it's universally loved. Chill it and bring it to your next summer gathering.

Dog breath dilemma—solved! I adore my dog, but her breath was… rough. Our dog sitter recommended PetLabCo ProBright Advanced, and it’s actually helping. I mix a little into her Bramble food once a day and I’ve noticed a big difference. By the way, Bramble still offers 50% off your first box with code pamela50 (not an affiliate link—just sharing!).

The white tee I didn’t know I needed My friend Wah gave me this Everlane white t-shirt, and I love it. It’s slightly boxy but not too long (I’m not even 5’4”) or cropped. It doesn’t have that stretchy feel like my GAP tees, but that’s what I like about it—it's structured and still breathable.

Plastic and the freezer: not a great combo We’ve long heard about the dangers of heating food in plastic, but I just learned that freezing plastic—like Ziploc bags—can also cause chemicals to leach into food. In fact, Ziploc is currently facing a lawsuit about misleading customers about the safety of microwaving and freezing their bags. Another good reminder to shift toward glass or silicone when storing food long-term.

Even More Musings is an extension of my weekly newsletter, Monday Musings. My newsletter is a sponsor-free zone and is fully supported by readers like you. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to get Even More Musings! Each week, I share my tips and tricks along with a new recipe. For only $5/month or $50/year (less than $1 a newsletter), you'll also gain access to the entire archive, featuring favorites like My New Hyper-fixation High-Protein Fluffy Breakfast Bowl  and the Hillstone Copycat Emerald Kale Salad.  This week I am sharing a delicious idea for leftovers of any kind, rice paper wraps!