A sharp wind is howling and I can feel the pressure in my house shift around me as a rhododendron outside thrums the kitchen window.

It’s a cold, clear February day, wind raging, soft sunlight flickering through agitated branches and I’m elbow deep in a messy kitchen (of my own making) chopping dill for a British-inspired pie. You know, the savory ones they make on Great British Bake Off?

Like that. Sometimes with beef, carrots, and potatoes, other times with minced mushrooms, leeks, onions and cheese but alwayswith a rich, buttery flakey crust.

I’ve never made a savory pie like this and I’m absolutely making this recipe up as I go–with a few Google searches along the way–so failure or success, it's all me (finger’s crossed!).

This winter has been a lot like my pie today; a melting pot of everything all thrown into one season. Cosy nesting, restorative cooking, family time spent snuggled in a pile of blankets, days working from home, days at the shop and a dash of fun and a little melancholy thrown in.

Since the holidays, I’ve spent quite a bit of time at home curled up with my laptop on the couch–eyes squinting at the light and dogs curled behind my knees–pouring over my thoughts and last year's numbers. What happened last year at Krysset? What did we do well or not so well? What do I want this year to look like? What changes need to be made? And a lot of time spent envisioning exciting new things yet to come.

I’ve already gotten some new changes rolling, like our new semi-monthly art openings (local painter, Kirsten Fjellman is currently on display at Krysset through March 22nd) and some are in the works like new shelving and an expansion in our greeting card and jewelry sections.

For such a small space, it's a wonder at how muchthere really is to do. So I pace myself. I make this pie and I feel the weight of a stormy night coming in. I let racing thoughts mount the wind and fly away. Those will be for another day.

Today, I want to share with you what’s making my life–and my belly–full this winter. 

In the Oven: To-Die-For Banana Bread

In addition to my made-up British pie, I also made a fantastic banana bread today. I think I’ve made this recipe a dozen times now and it's amazing; banana bread perfection, I dare say!

My tips for making this perfect every time:

First, don’t skip the yogurt or sour cream–your choice. I’m not sure what purpose the yogurt serves in this recipe, but I skipped it once and it was not as good. I say don’t mess with perfection! 

Second, use all four bananas (approximately two cups) that it calls for. The flavor is so on point! If you typically don’t have four brown bananas laying around, freezing the bananas when you do have them is the key to having enough ready for this recipe. 

Third, lightly cover the loaf with aluminum foil midway through the bake. This bread takes 55-60 minutes to bake so the top will burn a little if you’re not careful. Lightly cover it and you'll be good!

Fourth, wait for the loaf to completely cool before cutting it unless you intend to eat the whole thing right away. If you cut it while hot, you'll enjoy one delicious slice but all the nice moisture will steam out of the remaining loaf and you’ll be left with dried out banana bread. Let it cool, then cut to serve. For that warm banana-bread-with-butter-for-breakfast kinda deal, a slice will toast up (or heat in the oven) very nicely. I highly recommend slathering it with our local creamed honey, too. To die for!

Snack time! Try these grab-and-go goodies that for sweet treats at home

Last winter we expanded our gourmet market goods at Krysset and some tried and true favorites that are "regulars for our regulars" have found their way to my snack drawer, too. 

My pick: Sweater Box Shortbread Cookies

These tasty bite size cookies were the catalyst for our newly bulked up food section and when you taste them, you’ll understand why we kept selling out! They are perfectly light, buttery and sweet with unique flavors like chai, lavender and espresso chocolate they just hit home every time.

My husband’s favorite: Mecha Chocolate

My husband, Tom, loves anything with an intense amount of chocolate happening (like a flourless chocolate torte) and NJ based Mecha Chocolate is always at the top of his request list for me to bring home. Try dark chocolate covered Butter Pecan Toffee or dark chocolate bark with pretzels and peanuts.

Yes, Krysset is a Norwegian word meaning intersection, junction, x-marks-the-spot or “we can meet at the krysset (kinda like a crossing) in town”. I chose it because these are all means of connection. 

Anyways, since I don’t live in Norway I definitely get to jonesing once in a while. A few years ago Krysset’s Manager, Michael, introduced me to Youtuber Cecilia Blomdahl. She lives on Svalbard, a Norwegian island close to the North Pole, and has an incredible channel that showcases daily life on the majestic arctic island.

It’s filled withhygge; an overwhelming sense of cozy-calm that just envelopes you with a sense of warmth. Off grid cabin adventures, stunning aerial views of endless snowy mountains, tundras under pastel skies, northern lights, crackling fires, and of course, her fluffy dog named Grim.

Grab a cozy blanket, your favorite tv-snack (mine fav is our POPPED Artisan Popcorn) and cuddle up for a relaxing watch with Cecilia. 

On Rotation: Listen to Constellation by Caoilfhionn Rose

I’ve been enjoying a peaceful, beautifully arranged album by UK musician Caoilfhionn Rose this winter. The track “Fall into Place” is a stunner. Highly recommended with an early morning light and a warm cup of coffee in hand.

Restorative Care: Healing Winter Skin

I jokingly say I have "every skin condition under the sun"–which really isn’t very funny but it's pretty true–and this time of year my skin is suffering a lot. I've tried a lot of balms and lotions over the years and I'm thoroughly hooked on our tallow lotion byPhilly maker Melissa Torre of Vellum Street Soap Co. It's the only product I have found that will reverse my skin conditions without a topical prescription strength steroid. 

A nightly routine of Vellum's tallow on angry,dry skin has helped so much. I’m on the path to normal and if I just don’t get lazy, this soothing lotion will get me there. 

Nesting at Home with New Art

My word of the year is “Organize” and after a very successful 2024 of “Don’t Rush or Be Rushed” I’m eager to see the changes of focusing my efforts. Part of organizing–at

least in my mind–is going through some of the art my husband and I have collected and getting it on the walls. I gathered a few paintings I’d been meaning to hang for some time and got them up gallery-style adjacent to our new kitchen. I enjoy each piece every time I pass by.

I love art. It's so deeply personal. You fall in love with it. It brings you happiness. You swoon over its details. It changes with the light. It takes on new meaning as a constant presence in your home. It travels with you from home to home and defines a time in your life. Months. Years. Decades. 

It's one of the reasons I put so much effort into our curation at Krysset. The things in your home help define you and make it feel personal; because there is no other place in the world that feels like home. 

Cheers, 
Jess

P.S. I made Great British Bake Off proud - my pie was delicious!