Here’s what’s making us happy this week.

If we had a catchphrase at Lit Hub this week, it could be the bard’s whole bit on music and the food of love. Your favorite masthead has been eating, cooking, baking, nesting, and jamming. Jonny Diamond reports from the backyard apple tree where he and his toddler have had some fruitful picking sessions.

Diamond’s wife Sarah has been turning the hand-harvested apples into cakes, sauces, and crumbles—with special props given to this crowd-pleasing cake recipe. While our editor wishes to emphasize that neither he nor Sarah have ever employed the #TradWife hashtag, he did also complete a new home improvement project this week. The Diamond kitchen now contains a built-in storage bench, so the expanding gang can “have roomier family dinners.” As with the apples, the joy is in abundance.

James Folta has also been busy in the kitchen. Our staffer’s been enjoying back pocket recipes lately—with the first one inspired by Richard Olney, the Iowan painter, food writer, and Parisian ex-pat. Perhaps best known “as a student and champion of French country food and techniques,” Olney was the seed from which a lot of great American chefs sprouted.

James being just one of them. You can make it look pretty too, if you’re trying to win a vegetarian’s heart.” The second surefire hit is Jacques Pépin’s Chicken in Mustard Sauce. And the recipe apparently scales nicely, if one is cooking for extended family.

A final tip, from the chef? Cook them patiently.” Oliver Scialdone has been carving laughs into the day. Specifically, our community editor has been asking the question, “Will MomTok survive this?” in response to small inconveniences.

It really is the little things. Drew Broussard is on a music high. Our podcasts editor is specifically loving the new Julia Jacklin record.