If you’ve been with us for a while now, by now you’re familiar with our backstory. We started this blog during the pandemic, after cooking together each night to fill time and entertain ourselves. Before we knew it – just to spice up the everyday monotony of quarantine – we were organizing lavish tablescapes and exciting menus for no one but ourselves. And the rest of the fam, of course. Needless to say, this tradition began on Friday nights. Although school was most certainly not happening during this time, and the days were largely obligation-less, Friday nights were special. They always held this relaxed vibe that no other night of the week could replicate. So, before we knew it, Friday nights became the day of the week where we tried new things. And not just any new things. Hard things. Crazy things. Things people don’t normally attempt because it could take literal blood, sweat, and tears to achieve the final product.
BUT – we loved it!
Without Friday nights, we may have never tried our hand at homemade gluten-free pastas, jarring fresh tomatoes, or creating “rib cages” for a spooky birthday entree out of actual ribs. In a lot of ways, Friday nights have come to encapsulate everything we love about cooking: good food, challenging goals, and so much fun along the way. We joke that these nights always consist of some type of pizza or pasta, and a whole lot of wine. And that joke is very much a reality.
Why you need “Friday Nights” in your life…
It goes without saying, but we couldn’t imagine not having our Friday night traditions – even from a distance. So, now we get to you! Why should you consider adopting this Moments-approved-experience? We’ll give you some reasons (and some recipes).
1. YOU HAVE TIME TO EXPERIMENT
There are many reasons Friday nights are amazing…but one of the biggest qualifiers behind why you should start implementing them into your weekly routine is the time. On Friday’s, nearly everyone has an open schedule. You clock off of work, pick the last kid up from practice, finish your long-awaited-project. And then, you’re home free! You have time to make that extra-long recipe, or experiment with something you’ve been dying to try for ages. The best part? You can try and fail, mess up and fix your mistakes, and make the same dough recipe three times over if need be. You have the freedom to do it, so why not?
2. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. NO ONE IS EXPECTING ANYTHING FROM YOU. HAVE FUN!
We LOVE using Friday night as a “calendar block” in the week – if that makes sense. It’s well-known throughout every home we inhabit (whether on vacation, in separate cities, or together in Cleveland) that we are not to be bothered on Fridays. It’s a blessing for sure, but if it sounds unreasonable, you just haven’t put your foot down enough yet 😉
Take Friday’s for yourself, because you can! Then, once you say “this is my night to cook and enjoy the process”…it’ll be so! Suddenly, everyone in your life will know to wait patiently for their meal, and that that’s just what Friday nights call for. And mostly, this is just a night to BREATHE. So take a deep breath and relax. Everything will happen, nothing will burn down without you for a couple of hours. Trust us!
3. REDISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR HAVING FUN IN THE KITCHEN
Coupled with the freedom to experiment, and the extra time you’re allotted in your evening, Friday nights are a time to tell yourself why you love cooking. Or to discover that love in the first place! Once the pressure is off, you’ll have the opportunity to be more mindful, and really bury yourself into your work. This, truly, is one of our absolute favorite parts. Savor the flavors, the process, and the moment.
And to really nail down your future Friday-night-stan-status…the recipes we suggest you make. Like I said before – anything pizza or pasta is a safe bet. Our faves? Check out this Buffalo Chicken Sheet Pan Pizza or our latest creation, the Peach Pizza w/ Burrata & Balsamic (perfect for the summer). Pasta-wise – might we offer up our take on Gigi Hadid’s Pasta Alla Vodka, or our latest, Summer Garden Pasta.
Let us know in the comments if you give any of these a try. And happy Friday night (incoming)!
