In: Snow | Out: ICE
A snowy day in Brooklyn featuring banana bread, baked pasta, and hockey smut
Hi from a snow day in Brooklyn. It’s been calm and peaceful today, which feels like a marked contrast to Minnesota and other parts of the country. I’ve donated to legal aid funds and mutual aids that are cooking for folks and am trying to stay informed from people in the area (this site has so many options to send donations). Abolishing and stopping the funding of ICE are essential. One helps get the other done, so call your reps. I’m in awe of the people of Minnesota who are fighting back and fighting for each other in the cold and against such evil. We have so much to learn from them and they should not have to do any of this.
Now, let’s dive in.
Something to cook:
I was tired and sniffly earlier this week and Jared made us veggie bowls with tofu that felt so nourishing. Eating a big plate of vegetables does so much
Brandon and Alyssa hosted Traitors and put out a massive girl dinner spread of dips and charcuterie. One really fun thing was jams they got in Portugal that come in little tubes. So adorable and our collective appreciation for Rob continues. I brought brownie mix so we got to eat warm brownie as we watched the round table.
Tilden and I made dinner from Hetty Lui McKinnon’s Linger: Bibimbap Style Gnocchi with Gochujang Vinaigrette. It was really delicious with mushroom, spinach and pan fried gnocchi. Would absolutely make again and it paired well with Heated Rivalry.
Cooking on a snow day is a requirement. I made scallion pancake egg wraps for breakfast and a loaf of banana bread for dessert/snacking. I use this banana bread recipe and always add chocolate chips. We had some mascarpone cheese, which was delicious spread on top. My neighbors made too much pulled pork so we did a trade of some pulled pork for Jared and banana bread for them.
Leah, Erika and Lizzi came over for dinner and we listened to Harry Styles, talked about the state of the world, and had baked pasta that Jared made. He jazzed up Rao’s with lots of onions and garlic and topped the pasta bake with panko, mozzarella, and dollops of lemon herb ricotta. After dinner, we toasted marshmallows on the stove for hot chocolate.
Something to order:
Leah, Erika and I went to Bloomingdales which meant we had to get froyo at Forty Carrots. I have such fond memories of eating it as a kid and it’s still so good (and huge). Highly recommend.
Jared’s friend Jerrell was in town so we had to take him to Cozy Royale. Their kale caesar makes me happy and it’s such a warm setting, especially this time of year.
Juliana and I caught up on happy life updates at Thea, which makes a delicious Mexican hot chocolate. We watched them move a fridge inside which required the help of a passerby and felt very invested in the outcome.
On Saturday, I was out and about despite the cold and so were lots of people. It felt like a last hurrah before a few days of hunkering down. First, we went the New York Historical Society to see the Saris of New York exhibit, the Gay Harlem exhibit, and the Tiffany lamps with Pramod, Jill, and Kira. There was a wedding taking place so we got to peek at that, too. After the museum, we grabbed an early dinner at Covacha, which was really good and packed and a very short walk. Double layers of socks, heat tech, and several sweaters kept us warm enough.
Jared and I did our best to leave room at our first dinner because we had plans for a second one (this is unusual). We headed downtown to meet Oset and Michael at Shukette, which I had never been to. It did not disappoint and is super vegetarian friendly. We shared a bunch of things but the highlights were the shwarma spiced fries, the parsnip dip with frena, a Moroccan bread, the toum, the brocolini with herbed tahini, and the tahini soft serve. They also have a great wine list and the playlist was all hip hop I remember from middle school and high school dances. Delightful.
Something to read:
A necessity for these times: the best cheap eats in the city, from Emma Orlow
Gratitude practices through it all
How Bakers Survive Winter Mornings from Cake Zine. In 2016, I had a bakery job where I had to get to work at 6 am and I still remember the early morning wake ups and dark walks to the train.
From Minneapolis: I’ve Never Seen Unity Like This from Margaret Killjoy
How to fight back against ICE right now from Hot Tip
You can’t look for the helpers when they are dead from Friendshift. Amber and other friends of mine have done the heartbreaking journalistic task of calling family members and asking them about their recently killed loved ones.
I don’t know how to do this from Emily Atkin
I always find something good in Mollie’s grab bag newsletters: Making things marginally less bad + snow day pancakes, hair catharsis, and pasta inspiration
The New York Public Library made the wait time zero on Heated Rivalry books through Valentine’s Day. I spent lots of yesterday reading it while burning this candle. Libraries are amazing.
Related: Get Ready For Publishing to Chase the Heated Rivalry Phenomenon
Remember King Arthur Flour’s 2020 Crispy Cheesy Pan pizza? I made it once and have been thinking about trying again. It was so good.
Also on the book front, I finished Evil Eye by Etaf Rum, so good.
How (and Why) to Avoid Dry-Cleaning from Laura Fenton. I knew dry cleaning was not great but I did not know how dangerous it was!
Broadway’s ‘Liberation’ Is A Salve For Female Rage. Highly relevant show if you can see it before it closes
Thank you for being here!
xo, Abigail
Jam tubes!
Shukette’s mic drop sundae is one of my all-time favorite desserts.