Julia Skinner, PhD
@bookishjulia
Author, fermenter, food historian, writing coach, Library Science PhD, culinary educator, forager, maker of everyday magic. Wrote Our Fermented Lives. Agent: Ekus Group linktr.ee/juliaskinner
Heat wave salad (it is too warm to turn on the stove): Fresh peaches and lil’ mozzarella balls, dressing made of chopped kimchi and sesame oil, garnished with sesame seeds + scallions.
Successful first book tour stop! Thank you DC for showing up (in the rain and wind!) to support Essential Food Preserving! (I got zero pics during the event, if you did, I’d love to see them!)
It’s my book baby’s birthday, so I got flowers and a cake (Happy pub day Essential Food Preserving! Here’s to a long and deliciously beautiful life)
Life changed for the better when I put a Szechuan peppercorn grinder next to my salt and pepper grinders
Cork friends: Join Chlöe Dempsey and I May 6th, 6-7:30 pm for a special ferment and forage workshop at My Goodness restaurant! Come make sauerkraut, and learn how to identify edible plants in your environment. Everyone who attends brings home a jar of their very own sauerkraut! Sign up below:
Yes I had a ~36 hour travel day but that didn’t stop me from hauling groceries up the hill to make some needed half sour pickles (also hi Cork friends, I’m baaaack!)
Heading out of town = leaving myself gifts for when I’m back. Fresh sheets, herbal bath salts, a bottle of wine, and a lil’ love note reminding me I left a favorite meal in the freezer. I can woo myself just fine
Recipe testing for the next-next book (Little Book of Lemons from Storey, 2027) is complete with these two gems: Classic lemon curd And a tart-yet-sweet lavender and wildflower honey lemon curd
Let’s have a glass of wine and pose with our elderberry and lemon verbena sauerkraut, which it turns out tastes great with black beans + cheesy rice
New favorite breakfast is cottage cheese with chili crisp + cucumber (featuring Schmoo the cat in the background)
I’ve been really leaning into the food + lettering theme this week (this one also for sale)
Made some lil’ arts today (okra is sold, tomato still available!)
Flash back to the illuminated manuscript page of my favorite pickled okra recipe.* Fun fact: this was the second time I made and sent in an illuminated manuscript as part of a job or school application (it worked both times) *Recipe is in the new book, and yes I’m taking art commissions again!
Don’t mind me, just looking at the dedication page of my next book, Essential Food Preserving, and admiring the color on these pickled eggs (Yes the recipe is in the book, it’s out May 19, link below!)
I have purchased the pickle purse and am now going to be an unstoppable force at every gala I attend.
Everyone drop everything and behold how good my author collaboration with @bibliodditiesfragrance looks!!! I’ve never seen or smelled a perfume I love more.
*me, looking around sheepishly at current events* “Hey so I have a book coming out in May and it can teach you how to preserve food and feed your community. Maybe you’d like it?” bookshop.org/a/103396/978...
Meyer lemon water kimchi: I can’t get Meyer lemons for love or money in Ireland, so I absolutely gorge on them every time I see them in the States. Water kimchi with the usual suspects (daikon, cabbage, carrot) plus green garlic, Meyer lemon zest, red chili flake, and dried crushed seaweed.
Book deal announcement! My next book, The Little Book of Lemons, comes out in 2027 from Storey! It’s full of history, recipes, folklore, home care, and a few lil’ lemon spells to bring the magic of lemons into your home. I can’t wait to share it with you!
Hey friend, wake up, my new book comes out in two months and is so excited to meet you bookshop.org/a/103396/978...
One of my great joys is buying used books and having convos with past and future fellow readers of that copy via marginalia (at least 3 people have read this one before me)
Highly recommend getting your PW deal announcement printed on a mug, in part so you can drink tea from that same mug, 2 years later, while you thumb through the ARC of that same book.
MY NEW BOOK BABY IS HERE (*the ARC: preorders ship in May!) If you would like a copy (this link also gets me a couple $ and supports indy bookstores, thanks @bookshop.org!) bookshop.org/a/103396/978...