it's the year of TAHINI BABY 🤎

and i'm beyond ready for her big debut 👶🏻

hi, friends!!

2025 is HERE, which means it’s officially TAHINI BABY release year…and wow, I’m feeling all the feels. getting her into your hands and those recipes into your bellies will be the absolute greatest relief. I have truly never felt more proud, which I can say with full confidence now that I’ve seen the final book IRL! as you’ll see in my unboxing, I was overwhelmed in the best way by how beautiful it turned out. it just felt so REAL all of a sudden, the last 3 years of my life held in my hands—the wildest feeling.

just a reminder that you can preorder here (and if you’re in Canada, Indigo has selected TAHINI BABY as one of the Most Anticipated Cookbooks of 2025 (ahhh!!) and it’s 25% OFF until January 19th. also, you can get signed copies at McNally Jackson.

also, I’m only sharing this here (for now) but I’m going on my FIRST-EVER BOOK TOUR (dates to come!) and so far, I’m confirmed to do events in NYC (duh!), Washington, Philly, Seattle, Miami, LA, SF, and Toronto (also, duh!). amidst the chaos, I’m making it a mission to carve out time to explore each city, so help me out! please share your fave coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, vintage stores, and markets in the comments, and let’s make this tour feel like one big party 🥂

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so, in honor of the new year, I’m sharing some of my ins and outs!! after reading The Anxious Generation (which I loved as a parent navigating raising kids in 2025), I’ve had a full mindset shift on how I spend my time and what I no longer have space to worry about so this list reflects that :)

ins

• being more spontaneous with phone calls and dinner plans (I’m personally guilty of making plans months in advance!) I’ve always preferred a phone call or Facetime over texting. when was the last time you spontaneously called a friend?

• veg-forward living (are you surprised?) – we eat everything in my house but we have reduced our meat consumption by a lot, honestly by accident. Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean foods fit into vegetarian lifestyles so easily that it happened naturally. and since we’ve shifted towards more veg, we’ve realized how much better it is for the environment and our health. another perk? it’s less expensive.

• cookbook clubs. let’s hang out and cook more together in 2025. it’s creative, social, and less expensive than going out. it’s a YES from me.

• chocolate brown everything! sweaters, beanies, jackets, couches, pillows…it’s in, so lean in.

• being more present. this is for the parents out there. I’m so guilty of having my phone nearby and checking every notification as it comes in but I’m working hard this year to put my phone away when I’m with my kids so they don’t feel like they’re competing for my attention. I love how it feels to just be with the girls and Ido, no screens in sight like the olden days…

• tahini. she’s in, baby! say hello to your new, sexy favorite superfood condiment. it’s a good source of protein; it’s high in calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins B and E, and healthy fats; and it’s an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It’s perfect in a veg-forward life BUT it’s also just the dream condiment and brings so much flavor and richness.

• doing things that scare you. sometimes we need to experience discomfort to grow. some of my biggest achievements came from pushing myself out of my comfort zone. let’s just rip the band-aid off and do it. I’ve found that things are rarely ever as scary as they seem.

• side parts. sorry, gen z, they are back!

• period underwear. because who knows what’s really in those TAMPS?! also, they are much better for the environment. shoutout Knix!

• no-fuss hosting. it doesn’t need to be over the top. because really, why do we host? so we can spend time with the people we love. so let’s not overcomplicate it. I’m guilty of getting in my head about everything being perfect but the truth is you’re the only one putting the pressure on. your friends and fam care less about the tablescape than they do the company and I am sure whatever you put out, even if you try and scale back will be special and thoughtful.

outs

• seeds oils. from what I’ve read, they’re really not good for us. I would sub with avo oil, coconut oil (refined has less of a coconut flavor), and ghee (depending on what you’re using it for).

• dressing “cool” when it’s cold. WHO CARES.

• always being available. I can’t be the only one who’s exhausted. let’s chill out a bit this year. I’m working on creating better boundaries with my work and devices. right now, I’m trying to switch off my phone and place it in another room (away from me) between 7 PM and 9 AM (or during any meals!). I’ll let you guys know how it goes. lol

• plastic in the kitchen. instead, I’m using wood, food-grade silicon, or stainless steel. this includes cooking utensils, cutting boards, and storage bags (I love stasher bags!). I just ordered a stainless steel cutting board so I’ll report back. in the meantime, keep one small plastic board for raw meat.

• people-pleasing!!! enough said.

• obsessing over things we can’t control. it’s just not worth it. as a certified worry wart, this one will be a challenge, but I really want to leave that behavior in 2024.

• strong-smelling perfume (like the ones that are suffocating) you know when someone gets into an elevator with someone and you can’t breathe they are wearing WAY too much perfume…that’s what I mean.

• no-show socks. trust me…you never want to see your husband in those.

I’d love to know your ins and outs of 2025 in the comments 🤎 looking forward to the year ahead and to connecting with so many of you IRL.

xo,
e

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p.s. I’ve been glued to the news this past week, as I’m sure so many of you are, and I’m beyond saddened by the images and stories coming out of LA as a result of the wildfires. if you’ve been impacted, my heart goes out to you and your families, and I wanted to share a few of the organizations that are making a difference on the ground.

after I shared a link to a clothing drive, I had a friend in LA reach out and share that donation centers are kinda overwhelmed right now so the best way we can contribute is through monetary donations. I’ve included a few links below if you have a little bit extra to contribute. love you guys.

• Baby2Baby is providing diapers, food, formula, and critical hygiene items to children and families impacted by the fires.

• California Fire Foundation is giving aid to victims with immediate financial assistance.

• The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is providing critical equipment, technology, and emergency resources to support LAFD crews battling the fires.

seeing people come together to rebuild and support the victims of the LA fires has been truly incredible. my friend, Gaby Dalkin (@whatsgabycooking), has been sharing Amazon lists of essentials for impacted families daily so if you want to help out, go to her Instagram stories. also, in awe of Brooke Baevsky (@chefbae) who has been cooking for first responders and displaced families – you can support her work here.