Fried Eggs with Crispy Quinoa and Chili Crisp, an incredible Bacon, Egg, and Cheese, and a refreshing Yuzu Gin & Tonic.

Plus, a vibey new playlist from OKDre.

The Opener

Oh, what a week it has been. Is everyone else getting sick left and right, too? It's inevitable that once your children start school, the family gets sick more often, but this year has been on a whole other level. Whenever I think we are in the clear, another one of us gets taken down by whatever cold or flu is going around. Over the past few weeks, all three kids have had a horrible stomach bug and extremely high fever, which lasts a couple of days, and then a week later, the next person gets it. It's been awful, especially with poor little Bruno, who has zero understanding of what is happening to his body and why he feels so crappy. Sleep has been nonexistent, and I'm just sitting here clinging to the hope that Costa, the last one to get sick, will turn a corner soon so we can get back to normal. We've been relying on lots of honey tea, cold compresses, and chicken soup, but it's been a slow slog to feeling 100% again. All of this on top of packing, getting our house ready to sell, and preparing to move our entire life to a foreign country in less than three months. So, feeling just a wee bit CRAZY right about now. SOS! x

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Yuzu Gin & Tonic

Some ingredients can take a dish or drink to the next level. Yuzu is such an ingredient. A Japanese citrus lemon with a vibrant and fragrant rind and a flavor almost akin to a cross between a lemon and grapefruit, Yuzu is often used by chefs and mixologists, and it's just so so good. There've been few options for premium yuzu juice commonly available and affordable...until now. Yuzuco produces 100% yuzu juice, hand-picked and cold-pressed at the source in Southern Japan. I've admired the branding and quality of this product for the past few months and connected with one of the founders through mutual friend and chef, Akira Akuto, whose been a champion of the product. Yuzuco is the real deal, and the four founders' vision is well-directed toward making this exceptional ingredient available to everyone. Barrett and I have been experimenting with their 100% Yuzu Juice and proprietary Yuzu Super Juice blend all week. We've been using the 100% juice in salad dressings and the Super Juice splashed into glasses of Topo Chico. But the real good time has been enjoying the 100% juice in the most refreshing, satisfying, and perfectly sweet and sour Yuzu Gin & Tonic. When we can stop drinking this, I plan to experiment with a nice balance for a Campari yuzu soda!

We're grateful Yuzuco is offering a 15% discount for our readers so you also can get your hands on this fantastic product and try it out for yourself. A little goes a long way, and it's great to have on hand to add to all kinds of dishes and drinks. They ship nationwide as well. Just use this link or the code BANDTHEBOYS at checkout. And finally, for the drink!

YUZU GIN & TONIC

• 1 oz Gin (Haymans Gin)

• 2 oz Tonic Water (Fever Tree)

• 1 tablespoon Yuzuko 100% Yuzu Juice

• Fresh mint for garnish

Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the gin, tonic water, and yuzu juice. Give a stir and garnish with a sprig of mint.

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Crispy Quinoa

This week, I'm coming in hot like my kids fevers with two recipes you can make your own. The first, a simple Crispy Quinoa, is an easy, crunchy grain to have on hand to add to so many different dishes throughout the week, like salads, roasted veggies, or cheesy frittatas. It stores nicely in the fridge and keeps its crunch even after several days. As an added bonus, quinoa is a superfood packed with protein, fiber, and essential amino acids. It's also gluten-free, making it an excellent option for those with dietary restrictions.