Three Things

A vegetable-forward spring dinner, care package chili, what I'm reading

Greetings eaters and readers! Hope you all had nice holiday weekends. Before we get to your weekly round-up, please break out your calendars: I’ll be at Fishs Eddy (above) — the legendary, the beloved, the most NYC store ever — on Friday, May 6 from 5:00-7:00, signing books just in time for Mother’s Day. If you already own a book, swing by anyway, because there’s always something fun to discover at Fishs Eddy (I’m eyeballing these dishes), and if you haven’t already met Julie Gaines, who runs the place, boy you are in for a treat. Herewith, a few [more] things I’m excited about this week…

1. Three Magic Words: “Strict Assembly Job”

I didn’t invent the concept of strawberries and feta, but I’d like to say I seized and ran with it as soon as I discovered a dinner-worthy salad (shown) that suitably showcased the addictive combo. I think Phoebe requested it every night in the spring of 2019, so it’s not surprising that the recipe was one of the first I wrote up for The Weekday Vegetarians. I love how much is going on here: The sweet-tart berries and the salty feta, obviously, but also the soft crunch of crushed pistachios with creamy beans, and bright colorful beets to round out the visuals, because let’s be honest here, it helps when dinner is beautiful. The official recipe is on page 70 of TWV, but like most of my dinners, you can probably figure out how to make it just from looking at the pic. The only thing you have to prep is the dressing, the rest is a strict assembly job. [PS I feel like this photo should be hanging in The Met — shout out to photographer Christine Han and stylist Olivia McCool.]

2. This Week in Care Packages

Last Friday I dropped off a little cooler care package with my friend who is dealing with a sick spouse, and the mix felt like a good formula: Beef & Black Bean Chili (something kid-friendly and crowdpleasy) + Lentil Salad with Feta, Dill, and Jammy Tomatoes (something on the lighter end) + Frozen Baked Ziti from the local Italian specialty store (something no-cook on my end). I’m working on a better version of the lentil salad, but here’s the chili recipe for anyone who is interested. Longtime DALS readers know the drill with this one. It’s been turkeyed, three-beaned, chickened, even Beyonded. Beef seems to be the final frontier. (Only on the weekends for us, lol!)

3. The Book Report

What I’m reading: I’m a few years late to this one, but just finished The Return, by Hisham Matar, a lyrical, breathtaking account of a man’s return to post-revolution Libya in search of his father, an opposition leader who was kidnapped and imprisoned by Qaddafi in the 90s; Also the much-heralded In Love, a memoir by Amy Bloom, about the journey to help her husband end his life after being diagnosed with Alzheimers. I think it’s a book everyone should read, however painful; On the other end of the spectrum, believe it or not, Jane Eyre is in the on-deck pile because Phoebe is reading it for the bajillionth time, this time for her college Victorian Novel class*, and it reminded me that I used to be very into reading what my kids are reading and maybe I should start that up again. Also on deck: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, about a chemistry teacher who becomes the unlikely star of a cooking show. (So many people have told me I’d love it, but since I haven’t started yet, here is the review that convinced me to pick it up, so you can do your own due diligence.) I sent The Candy House, Jennifer Egan’s latest, straight to Phoebe in Minnesota on the day it was published because she is the Goon Squad stan in the house — but apparently there is not a lot of time for pleasure reading in college (?) so she might not have feedback for little while. Welp, I’ll keep you posted.

*last week when I asked her how her day was, she replied “the heights are wuthering”

P.S. Deal Alert!

Reminder that the gift box curating company Small Packages has not only built a charming gift box around my book, but for the next 48 hours, through April 21, they are giving newsletter readers 15% off everything with code DALS at checkout. That’s site-wide, not just for this gift box. Note: You can order today and schedule shipping for closer to Mother’s Day.

Attn: Subscribers

In a week or so, I’ll be sending out an invite for the next Zoom session and this time we’ll be cooking not just chatting. I think I have even convinced my partner-in-crime, aka Andy, to join me. Keep an eye out for the notice in your inbox. Reminder that Zoom sessions are for paying subscribers only.

Thank you, as always, for your support and have a great week!

Jenny