Days are finally getting longer...
Which means we have more time to make blondies!
Hi friends,
I’m enjoying a slow work week and planning to take some time off to spend time with family. I hope you’re all eating well and taking it easy.
Now, let’s dive in.
Something to cook:
If you’re going to a party, you need a good dinner beforehand. Julia and I rely on chickpea pasta for a quick and filling dinner. The leftovers are great and we always add spinach (half a box wilts into nothing).
Teal hosted a Hanukkah party (she’s in town with Brooke, Jon, and Beckett) and it was a blast. We all pitched in, bringing supplies for a cheese board and dessert. Dale and I got manchego, brie, cranberry goat cheese, strawberry spread, and crackers (all from Trader Joe’s) and Leah brought Marcona almonds, dried apricots, and olives. This spread paired perfectly with Champagne and was completely devoured. Teal made two kinds of pasta for dinner, plus salad and roasted veggies. One was sausage and broccoli rabe and the other was a puttanesca with olives and capers. She bought fresh pasta at Eataly, which made the whole thing more special.
For dessert, Julia and I made Ina Garten’s blondies with pecans instead of walnuts (a far superior nut). We made them dairy-free with Country Crock plant-based butter and could not tell the difference. We topped them with flakey salt, of course. Beckett also made a gingerbread house that we did not consume, but it was very cute.
Remember when I made a huge pot of soup and froze a portion for “later?” It lasted about a week but my tomato coconut lentil soup defrosted well. Now, I need to make more.
Dale made us breakfast yesterday and really stepped it up with Trader Joe’s hashbrowns (sold in the freezer section). They got nice and crispy and are so good with ketchup or hot sauce. Get these for days you’re “working from home.”
Something to order:
Leah and I took each other to the Girls Gotta Eat show as a Hanukkah present to ourselves, and we obviously had to eat before. We braved the cold for Emmy Squared, which was worth it. The Brussels sprouts salad is great, as is the vodka pie.
Melissa and I got to have lunch at the new Pasta al Forno in the West Village. Everything is baked and the space is very cute. My favorites were the eggplant parm and the crespelle, and it’s byob!
Remember the snow squall? I was home and cozy for the night when Julia asked me to get a drink at Win Son. I got bundled up to hang at the bar and munch on some cucumbers. Win Son and the Bakery are closed for the week and I miss them already (but so respect that they give their staff time off).
Julia and I had a friend date with Hannah at Lighthouse, which she had never been to. It’s a near-perfect restaurant and we ordered well: a $30 bottle of wine (god bless happy hour), oysters, burrata, red curry mussels, and a big salad. Afterward, we walked to St. Mazie for cocktails and live music.
Queens, where I grew up, has excellent diner culture so I take any excuse to visit one. Dale and I were in Westchester and he suggested we get breakfast at the Bronxville Diner. It’s so good and was all decorated for Christmas. I got a spinach and feta omelet, drank too much coffee, and emerged so happy.
Something to read:
My mom made Julia and me a house blend of chocolate chips, inspired by this article. Such a thoughtful gift!
I knew this from baking with my grandma, but it’s still cool to learn why cream cheese makes better rugelach.
In Mexico City, meals can go on for hours. I love a sobremesa.
The many infuriating reasons why men give their restaurants women’s names.
A history of Jews in New York eating Chinese food on Christmas
The final Trader Joe’s reviews of 2019 do not disappoint
Now, I’m excited to share what you all will be eating on Christmas!
Alicia’s feast sounds epic: So mine is a two parter, the main event is actually Christmas Eve, when my family does the Italian Seven Fishes thing. This year me and my (new) spouse were actually asked to make a dish which feels like a giant undertaking, but we're doing shrimp and grits (said spouse is from Florida and the primary cook in our relationship). The courses aren't really set, we do a cod dish for a cousin whose a picky eater, oysters and crab cakes. For the main, we've done Cioppino and in the past few years Lobser Fra Diablo, but the lobster takes so much work so I don't think it's happening this year. Christmas we generally do a spiral ham and my dad makes this blueberry french toast that’s amazing.
Jessica sticks to tradition: Whether it’s takeout by myself or going out with my family, I very much uphold Jewish tradition by eating Chinese food on Christmas. I also enjoy Momofuku Nishi’s take on Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve.
Hilary and her bf make their own tradition: Christmas? Neither my boyfriend or I celebrate this holiday and for the past few years we have been making traditional Iranian food since he is part Iranian and his craving for the flavorful, hard to come by food is real. The bean and herb-filled soup (topped with fried minty onions and sour cream) called ash is one of our go-to dishes along with sweets like sesame caramel cashew bars. This year we will be mixing it up with recipes from his family and the tome of a cookbook Cooking in Iran by Najmieh Batmanglij.
Isa combines so many family traditions: Our Christmas Eve dinner menu has changed over time. Growing up, we’d usually have turkey and pork crown roast (is that how you say it English?) which are both traditional in Mexico. Over the past few years, though, we’ve started simplifying the menu and lately, it’s been French onion soup, beef filet, and mashed potatoes. Christmas Day, we always have a traditional Catalan menu of canelons (stuffed rolled pasta in bechamel). Since my grandma passed away, my aunt has been perfecting her recipe and it warms my heart to be able to taste every single Christmas in one bite.
Julianne is thrilled Hanukkah and Christmas overlap this year: This is year 5 of the tradition of making latkes for Ian's family for their Christmas dinner! It especially makes sense this year since Hanukkah overlaps with the 25th. I attached some photos so you can see how I and my latkes have changed through the years
Now, it’s time for one of my favorite traditions: the best of 2019! Next week, I’ll be sharing my favorite meals of the year and I want to share yours as well. Reply to this email with your favorite meals (either at home or at a restaurant) and I’ll share them next week. To get in the spirit, check out the best of 2017 and 2018.
And if you are on the fence about upgrading your subscription, I’m sharing the worst meals of 2019 later this week and it’s only for paid subscribers. You know what to do!
Happy eating and thanks for reading.
xo, Abigail