It’s exhausting to consider I’m saying this, however as we speak marks the final time I’m formally writing this meals column for Cup of Jo. I say “formally” as a result of I plan to nonetheless contribute once in a while, I’m simply pulling again in an effort to deal with some upcoming private initiatives, so I received’t be chiming in each Wednesday, the way in which I’ve been for nearly seven straight years. SEVEN YEARS! How fortunate I’m to have been a constant a part of this excellent group for that lengthy — I’m so grateful to all of you for studying, for educating me a lot, for reminding me that each single individual on earth appears to have a powerful opinion about Dealer Joe’s. To mark the event, I wished to spherical up my most memorable moments…
1. Most Satisfying Factor In Common: Giving Different Meals Writers a Platform
This has been the very best a part of the job by far — discovering and introducing you to meals writers and cookbook authors. The Cup of Jo group is highly effective and fascinating and meals writers are all the time thrilled to be a part of it by their recipes. To call only a few memorable cameos: Yasmin Fahr’s Sausage Meatballs with Halloumi and Tomatoes (above; Bee Wilson’s Magic One-Pan Pasta; Sohla El-Waylly’s Chickpea and Chard Stew, Hetty McKinnon’s Cabbage Carbonara, Leah Koenig’s Rooster Soup; Odette Williams’s Pasta with Vodka Sauce; Dan Pelosi’s Pastina for a Unhealthy Day. The quantity of expertise on the market won’t ever not amaze me.
2. Most Visited Recipes, Personally Talking
I don’t simply write this column, I use it. Like always. There are some recipes I return to greater than others, although: Brooks Reitz’s Lazy Man’s Ratatouille, Priya Krishna’s crowd-pleasing Matar Paneer, Andrea Nguyen’s Tofu Bánh Mì. If I hadn’t already memorized my Smashed Pea Toasts with Ricotta (above), Roast Rooster and Pan-Fried Fish Sandwich, they’d be on this record, too. And each time a dinner-party host asks “Are you able to convey dessert?” I head to the feedback part on this submit for inspiration.
3. Most Visited Recipe, Most Not too long ago: Sara Forte’s Blackened Salmon with Tropical Pico
Have you ever made this but? I imply, it’s a excellent recipe. I solely simply wrote about it in Might, but it’s graced my desk a minimum of a half dozen occasions since, together with this previous weekend. Tip: I usually decide up pre-made mango salsa to fast-track the pico.
4. Most Visited Recipes, by the Numbers
However neglect what my favorites are, listed below are three posts that had been massively fashionable strictly by the numbers: Style Check: What’s the Finest Vanilla Ice Cream (that shocked me), Ali Stafford’s Similar-Day Peasant Bread (I bear in mind this one blowing up the web), and 5 Recipes Price Memorizing, together with my go-to tofu prep and all-purpose salad dressing.
5. Most Controversial Second: Find out how to be a Good Visitor
I had no concept I’d be poking such a bear with the subject of “trendy lateness.” Lesson discovered: Most of you do not need dinner friends displaying up quarter-hour late, even when they textual content forward to let the host know.
6. Second Most Controversial Second: The #1 Factor I’d Inform New Mother and father About Household Dinner
I stand by it to this present day: If in case you have a child beneath age three, don’t hassle.
7. Most Enjoyable to Write: The Fundamentals
In pursuit of the brand new and the novel, it’s straightforward to lose sight of the truth that individuals don’t essentially must know methods to de-bone a sea trout — most cooks simply wish to make an excellent dinner each night time and have a nice time doing it. Writing about primary, actual recipes has all the time been my wheelhouse, so it is sensible that they’ve been essentially the most enjoyable posts to put in writing. I’m pondering: The Solely 5 Salad Dressings You Want; 9 Simple Household Meals We’ve Beloved to Dying (that was hilariously enjoyable); Find out how to Improve a Common Inexperienced Salad; an ode to Frozen Greens and one to a humble head of cabbage. Within the sweets division, it was my Previous-Faculty Chocolate Mousse (above), plus my Crisp for All Seasons and Dorie Greenspan’s Every little thing Cake, each of which may very well be categorized as a “one recipe matches all.” I additionally suppose I must make that mousse this weekend.
8. Most Viral: A Potato Salad Trick
I’ve all the time believed that if I can provide readers even the tiniest option to make their lives higher or happier, then I’ve performed my job. There was by no means a extra clear (or tiny) instance of this than the time I informed individuals “When making potato salad, toss your potatoes within the dressing whereas the potatoes are nonetheless heat and due to this fact optimally absorbent.” It’s the preferred submit I’ve written on Cup of Jo.
9. Most Impactful Remark: “Eat much less meat,” as an alternative of “Eat no meat”
Extra particularly, in response to my ebook The Weekday Vegetarians, a Cup of Jo reader wrote one thing like “It’s a greater method to persuade extra individuals to eat much less meat, than to persuade fewer individuals to eat zero meat.” I want I may discover the remark and the reader who stated this (is it you?) so I may thank them for each one of many 100 occasions I repeated it at a ebook occasion or in an interview. So effectively stated, and so true.
10. Most Emotional: Secrets and techniques for Stress-Free Household Dinners
I bear in mind when Joanna requested me to put in writing this story — an evergreen subject — and I assumed, I’ve written about household dinner for a dozen years now, how am I going to give you one thing new? However I had by no means written concerning the subject as an empty nester wanting again, and it shocked me how simply the phrases got here, and the way emotional it was to put in writing the story and understand I used to be the “Perspective Particular person” now. Eras finish. Children develop up. And I’m so fortunate I’ve been in a position to write about all of it right here on Cup of Jo.
Did I miss something? Thanks for studying, everybody. You possibly can all the time discover me on my e-newsletter, Dinner: A Love Story. And I can say with nice confidence that you’re in wonderful fingers with my successors: Alex Beggs, Christina Chaey, Kelsey Miller, and plenty of different gifted writers Joanna has lined up for 2025. I, for one, can not wait.
P.S. An ode to rituals (the primary time my byline ever appeared on Cup of Jo) and methods to get your youngsters to speak at dinner.
(Images: Chocolate mousse, Yossy Arefi; Bread, Alexandra Stafford; Household dinner: Chelsea Cavanaugh)
