A Friday Buffet
No. 019 Feels like spring for Super Bowl weekend. Sweet!
Hello!
Halfway through my morning walk today I felt uncomfortable. I wasn’t bothered by something going on behind the scenes (Don’t worry! All is well) and I had yet to notice the still-present ache on my left should blade (Figuring this out). No, friends, the uncomfortable-ness was due to the fact that I was wearing a fleece jacket…and I was hot! In February! Madness. Glorious. All at once.
I quickly pulled off my jacket, sweating from the sun (oh hey there), and had to carry it all the way home (yikes). I haven’t had to do that since…October? I can’t even remember. But the fact that the sun was providing enough warmth that my jacket layered over a light sweatshirt was enough to cause actual sweat, in February, well, my mind was blown. And I loved every second of it.
I know it’s not “good” for it to be close to 60 degrees here in New England in the middle of “winter,” but man it has been incredibly refreshing. Despite my long-standing love of winter fashion, layering, and burgeoning coat collection, I have been loving this less-frigid winter. Sure, there have been cold snaps and some snow, but overall the winter has been fairly ideal. It’s not over yet, obviously, but my excitement for spring has never begun so early. I may need to break in the spring footwear weeks ahead of schedule. ;)
One more point on this and then I’ll move on because I don’t think you’re here for my weather report (although I hope you didn’t skip over it); getting older has made me appreciate the seasons even more. And yet I fully understand why some folks book it for the warmer spots from December - April. I wouldn’t mind it, either!
In other, non-weather news, it’s Super Bowl weekend and Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday. Now that’s a combo. You may be excited for one of these, both of these, or neither, but it is quite the time for commercials, delicious food, and showing your favorite people how much you care about them (whether you’re rooting for them on the football field or planning something sweet for Tuesday).
I don’t think we have specific Super Bowl plans aside from having a great dinner on the couch, which is my ideal way to view the game. I love to hear the National Anthem and America the Beautiful; I’m a sucker for grandiose versions of these two before kickoff. I enjoy the commercials, look forward to the Halftime Show, and pay semi-attention to the actual game; however, my feelings for which team should win is somewhat…indifferent.
The Patriots haven’t been in it for a while (no comment) so here’s hoping for a great game that’s not lopsided and everyone plays fairly. Our plan is to have a giant mountain of nachos in front of us while we cheer them on. And probably some dip, too. ;)
Over on the Valentine’s Day front, I’d like to consider us long-term members of the last-minute-celebrators club. We don’t do reservations (I’m sorry) and my preference for “fancy” dinners has somewhat waned in favor of really delicious food in fairly casual settings (like our house). Don’t get me wrong; I love going to cool new restaurants and ones that are hyped up for their amazing this and that. But in reality, I know myself, my favorite foods, and my favorite way to spend time with Seth: just being together!
Something I’ve come to appreciate more and more over our almost-seven years of marriage is that the best part of any activity is that we’re doing it together. We could be wandering down the street without a destination in mind and I’m pretty darn happy. My favorite times together are those that have minimal planning involved. I find that once a reservation is involved, I get overly anxious that I’ve picked the wrong spot. Heh, that doesn’t sound like a great trait, but I am who I am!
We favor a handful of restaurants because we love being regulars, supporting local establishments, and the guarantee of a safe meal (I have celiac, remember), makes the entire experience that much more fun and relaxed. Over the years of Valentine’s Days we’ve had together, my favorite ones are those where we decide what to do hours in advance (not days or weeks).
Even yesterday, when we were discussing what to do, I couldn’t make up my mind so we set it aside. Regardless of what we end up doing on this “holiday,” I know we’ll enjoy it because we’re spending time together, which is the most important activity of all.
I hope you enjoy Valentine’s Day in some manner. Whether it’s spending time with a significant other, reaching out to family and friends, or doing something extra-special all on your own, I hope it’s a day filled with joy - however that looks for you. Delicious food, special candy, beautiful flowers, or something else entirely; I hope it’s a sweet one.
This [thing] on my mind…
In the midst of admiring the warmth and plentiful sunshine this week, I was also acutely aware of something glaring at me in my inbox: a plethora of messages regarding my Substack subscriptions asking me to switch to the paid version. The nerve!
No, but seriously. I happily subscribe to almost twenty(!) newsletters on this little platform, including my own (I like to keep an eye on the format and you know, make sure it looks/sounds OK), but admittedly only pay for one of them, which I decided to do last year. I love reading all of them because they are each so different and enjoyable in their own way.
This writing community is wonderful! However, it is quite obvious that without becoming a paid subscriber, one receives fairly limited content as well as a frequent side-eye in the form of a Subscribe to Paid button. Eeek. I’m moments away from adding a few more auto-payments to my credit card.
The pressure to pay for all of the subscriptions is daunting since the total bill - if I paid for all of them - would tower over other monthly expenses (such as stuff we need like electricity and food). And while I have yet to add a paywall here - enjoy this Buffet while it’s still free, friends - it is something I have had on my mind quite a bit recently.
Here’s the thing: if I asked you to pay to read my writing…would you? Insert a visual of me sprinting away so I don’t have to hear your answer.
Please leave a comment on this topic if you’re so inclined. I appreciate it.
For Inquiring [foodie] Minds…
Kimchi Fried Rice with Runny Eggs - I love this dish! I’d never suspect that rice, kimchi, eggs, and cheddar would go together so beautifully, but here we are. It was a scrumptious meal and yet another shining example of Ali Slagle’s recipe talents. Go get her book, I Dream of Dinner, and thank me later. During dinner.
Green Chile Chicken Tacos - We had not made tacos in a while and this recipe via NYT Cooking was excellent! Chicken is a pretty mild protein for tacos so make sure to add extra seasoning (those green chilies help), plenty of pico de gallo, and extra sour cream dollops. Yum!
Pork and Veggie Stir-Fry - When all else fails, or there is no recipe in mind, make a stir-fry with all of these ingredients: ground pork, red pepper, onion, mushroom, and spinach. Delicious! We served it over Jasmine rice, but it would be equally great with rice noodles, brown rice, or even in a grain-free tortilla. ;)
A Buffet for Today: 2/10/2023
New York Fashion Week is here! Read this for several Vogue editor’s must-haves for the packed week of shows.
Someday I’d love to buy art for our house like the grown up I am. Keeping these tips in mind, but I do love to primarily hang my own photos on the wall. :)
Speaking of home, when the time comes to update our primary bathroom, I want to use Cle Tile all over it. Stunning!
Enjoyed reading this article (“The Fleishman Effect”) about ‘Fleishman is in Trouble,’ which also reminded me that I need to finish watching it. Also, the comments section is…wow.
Erin Andrews’s favorite things - several good options here!
Artichoke Dip Pizza has now entered the chat for our Super Bowl meal plan.
Half Baked Harvest has a whole page dedicated to football food (or any sport, really) and every single recipe looks delicious.
Kimchi Quesadillas are going on our dinner plan for next week. Yum!
Despite this mild winter, my skin continues to be extremely dry. Saving this moisturizer guide and ordering a few for my very parched self.
Valentine’s Day is next Tuesday so whether you’re acknowledging the day or not, you may want to peruse this Boston chocolate guide for a sweet treat.
Just for fun luxury: I’ll take this Prada Midollino Zip Straw Bucket Bag and a trip to the Amalfi Coast, please. ;)
Cheers and joy,
Mollie
