Happy Saturday. Even though I have no authority to do so, I’m officially declaring this Tracy Chapman Week: Digital song sales of her version of “Fast Car” are up 38,400%. And people are still talking about her simple Grammys look, which…was custom Prada. So this weekend, I’ll be reading up on how the surprise performance came together and whipping up a batch of the ooiest, gooiest cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had. That might seem like an unconventional Super Bowl snack, but reminder, Taylor Swift baked them for that guy on the Chiefs’s pregame meal. And if it’s good enough for Travis Kelce, it’s good enough for me.
— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC
“Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead” by Jenny Hollander
theSkimm
On Christmas Eve nine years ago, Charlie Colbert witnessed something awful happen at her elite graduate school — and fled. She’s determined to put the event (dubbed “Scarlet Christmas” by the public) behind her, and she does. She scores a fancy job and an impressive fiancé, and it seems like she’s going to be able to move on. But when a former grad school classmate makes a movie about what happened, her shiny new existence is threatened. We asked Hollander a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Hollander: I wanted to write characters you want to come back to, characters you miss when they’re gone. Thrillers move so quickly and consume you so totally, that it’s easy for characters to feel like chess pieces — you do this, you do this. But my favorite thriller writers (like Andrea Bartz, Jessica Knoll, Lisa Jewell, and Jessica Goodman) write characters that had lives and personalities before all of this happened to them. Those are the characters I come back to over and over, and I took a lot of inspiration from that.
Q: Speaking of characters, you share some similarities with Charlie. How much did you draw from your own experiences?
Hollander: We both moved from London to New York at 23; we went to journalism school and went on to work at publishing conglomerates; we met our partners around the same time, got engaged around the same time. But there are some elements of the book that are purely fiction, and C, the magazine Charlie runs, is one of them. She has a dinosaur of a boss, petrified coworkers, a print magazine to run; I’ve only ever had great bosses, I love my coworkers, and I’ve always worked for digital publications. That said, Charlie’s relationship to New York and working in New York — the ups and downs and thills of it — closely imitates my own.
Q: What’s the best book you’ve read recently and why?
Hollander: Kamilah Cole’s debut, “So Let Them Burn,” just came out in January, and it’s an epic in every sense of the word.
A Dumpling Recipe That Anyone — Yes, Anyone — Can Make
theSkimm
We probably don’t need to tell you that dumplings are always a good idea. That’s especially true now that the Lunar New Year is here. Because Chinese dumplings (or, jiaozi) are said to bring you good fortune — and, honestly, who doesn’t want that? One particularly rewarding recipe: These Pork and Chive Dumplings from The Woks of Life, a family-run food blog that’s been called “the bible of Chinese home cooking.” “Learning how to fold dumplings while aimlessly chatting [with friends and family] may be the real reason to make a big batch of these dumplings,” says Kaitlin, the youngest daughter. It also helps that they’re perfectly chewy, perfectly juicy, and perfectly comforting.
The Time Commitment: Two hours, most of which is spent filling and folding the dumplings. Worth noting, because if you halve the recipe, you’ll also cut down on time spent cooking. Though, as Kaitlin points out, “Our go-to tip is to make a big batch, then freeze them, so you can reach for dumplings whenever you want.”
Kaitlin’s Tip: To make these dumplings even better, “drizzle them with your favorite chili oils and chili crisps. Sometimes we use three different kinds: a garlicky one, a funky mushroom umami one, and something with a Sichuan pepper tingle. Also, instead of reaching for soy sauce, try a Chinese-style vinegar, like Chinkiang vinegar, or a lighter-colored, Shanghai-style vinegar, and your world will be changed for the better.”
Try It With: Steamed fish, which is another Lunar New Year staple. “You steam two — one to eat on New Year’s Eve and one to eat the next day, so you bring prosperity into the new year,” says Kaitlin. Or, make another family favorite, poached chicken. “Cooking a whole chicken is the most symbolic and auspicious way, but we also have a great recipe for chicken breast.”
Haven’t heard of Fredericksburg before? Just wait. In April, the once-quiet Texas town will feel like the center of the universe, when it’s smack dab in the path of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse. But astronomical event or not, the “crown jewel” of the Texas Hill Country is worth a trip. There might not be minutes of profound darkness, but there will be a made-for-a-movie Main Street, a booming wine scene, idyllic rolling hills, and surprisingly quirky German roots.
🛏 For a healthy dose of Southern hospitality, check in to the Trueheart Hotel. The recently remodeled bed-and-breakfast has 13 rooms, suites, and cottages — each of which has been decorated with cheery color palettes, hand-painted scalloped door frames, and locally sourced antiques. Did we mention the morning deliveries of homemade buttermilk biscuits?
🍷 Fun fact: The Texas Hill Country has more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms. Consider stops at: Signor Vineyards, popular for its weekly live music; Narrow Path Winery, known for small-batch wines made with grapes grown across Texas; and Becker Vineyards, which serves award-winning wines in historic farmhouses surrounded by lavender fields.
🛍 Fredericksburg was settled in 1846 by German immigrants — which quickly becomes apparent when you walk down Main Street. Start at the Marktplatz (aka, the market square), then browse the dozens of local boutiques selling everything from cuckoo clocks to German cookie molds to rich body oils. History buffs should also visit Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, which includes the 36th president’s ranch and boyhood home. If you’re outdoorsy, don’t miss the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, where you can hike to the top of a huge pink granite dome.
🍴 You can’t visit Texas without having some barbecue. One of the best places to do that is Eaker Barbecue, whose husband-and-wife owners draw inspiration from their respective Texas and Korean roots. If you’re craving schnitzel and strudel, head to Otto’s German Bistro for a taste of the town’s history.
Same vibes, different budget. If you like your vacations like you like your wine (translation: a few steps above Josh), then California’s Napa Valley is the place to go. In addition to world-famous vineyards, it’s also got outrageous Michelin-starred meals and spas so relaxing, you’ll never want to leave.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Q: I got a haircut and didn’t like how it turned out. Is there a polite way to tell that to the stylist, or should I just find a new person?
“Open communication is the key. [Most] stylists want to know whether their clients are happy ... and I’d assume that he or she would want to make it right. Either in the moment or a few days later, you can say something like, ‘I’m not super happy with how my hair turned out, and I wanted to see if you had any suggestions for how we could fix it’ ... If you’re still not happy after that, then I’d say it’s time to move on to somebody else. You don’t need to tell your stylist, unless you have a personal relationship with the person ... [in which case], you might want to say something along the lines of, ‘I know you’ve been doing my hair for a while, but I’m thinking of going in a different direction with my look, and I might branch out and try someone new.’ At the end of the day, it’s your hair — not theirs ... and I think the delivery and the words you choose can really go a long way.”
2. Home organizing hacks from professional organizers.
Rule number one of home organizing: Never underestimate the power of a slim, nonslip velvet hanger. And here's an unexpected solution for your handbags or chargers.
3. Inexpensive ways to upgrade your next movie night.
Pick up one of these highly rated popcorn poppers and a variety box of every single snack you could ever want. Your couch is probably ready for a new fleece blanket, too — this one is the softest.
*PS: Want more product recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram.
Up for a challenge? These new puzzle games are easy to get into, but tough to excel at. (Trust us, we’re still trying.) You can play alone, as a team, or competitively against your frenemies 😈. We’ll see you on the leaderboard.
Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here.
Skimm’d by: Rasheeda Campbell, Melissa Goldberg, Alex Carr, Margaret Wheeler Johnson, and Niven McCall-Mazza
Photos by Minotaur Books, The Woks of Life, travelview via iStock, fdastudillo via iStock, JGI/Jamie Grill, Ashley Bryant, Brand Partners
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