Happy Saturday. I’m looking forward to an extra hour of sleep tonight — though I don’t think I’ll be “sleepmaxxing” anytime soon. (They lost me at the whole kiwi-as-bedtime-snack thing.) A couple other trends I’m equally unsure about? Wearing what look like tighty-whities as pants (sorry, Bella Hadid, but no) and these puffy, pricey, Pillsbury Doughboy-esque sneakers (I don’t care what the kids say, all I get are ugly slipper vibes). Meanwhile, a few things I am into trying: Hailey Bieber’s “chocolate-cherry manicure,” this Gen Z makeup hack for faking fuller lips (according to Blake Lively, it beats millennials’ favorite method), and these nostalgic dad shoes that I’m pretty sure my dad still has. Maybe it’s time to make them my own.
— Marisa Iallonardo / Staff Writer / White Plains, NY
This Sweet and Tangy Salmon Is the Easy, Weeknight Dinner You’re Looking For
theSkimm
Let’s get this out of the way: While the name of this recipe might have you think otherwise, Justine Doiron’s Boyfriend Salmon isn’t just for boyfriends — spouses, friends, kids, and, yes, you will fall head over heels for this deceptively easy dish. Here’s why: The recipe — included in Doiron’s debut cookbook, Justine Cooks — features an un-mess-up-able cooking technique that produces perfectly flaky fish with shatteringly crisp skin. That’s plated atop a St. Louis-style barbecue sauce (inspired by Doiron’s hometown) — so it’s sweet, savory, and slightly spicy all in one bite.
The Time Commitment: Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this seriously simple dish comes together in 20-ish minutes and involves minimal prep (the only chopping required is half an onion).
Key Tips: To prevent the skin from sticking to the pan, Doiron suggests preheating the pan for 60 to 90 seconds over medium heat before adding the oil. Also, you can tailor the pantry-friendly recipe based on what you have on hand: swap red onion for shallots; replace the mustard seeds with caraway, fennel, or sesame seeds; anduse seared tofu to make it vegetarian.
“Dirty kitchens” will apparently be everywhere next year. But don’t worry — they’re a lot less, well, dirty than they sound.
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
theSkimm
There are remote islands — and then there’s Eris, the unsettling backdrop for Paula Hawkins’s new thriller, The Blue Hour. For years, the nearly inaccessible Scottish tidal island had just one resident: Vanessa Chapman, an acclaimed artist known for her paintings, ceramics, and the mysterious disappearance of her notoriously unfaithful husband. So when a bone found in one of her artworks is suspected to be human, James Becker — an employee of the now-deceased artist’s estate — is sent to Eris to investigate. With an intricate plot, interesting characters, and a masterful slow build, The Blue Hour is being called “Hawkins’s best novel yet” — which is quite the feat for the author of The Girl on the Train. We asked Hawkins a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about?
Hawkins: I don’t want to encourage everyone to visit, because I like it empty, but one of my favorite places is Sutherland, in the northwest of Scotland.
The holiday countdown is on. Let our shopping editors help you cross some loved ones off your to-gift list so you can actually enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.
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Spend a Weekend in This Mexico Vacation Spot — And You’ll See Why It’s the “World’s Best City”
theSkimm
Sure, Mexico’s beautiful beaches and all-inclusive resorts are great — but its central highlands may offer something, dare we say, even better. Specifically, San Miguel de Allende. The “Next-Generation Creative Capital” boasts an enchanting mix of quaint cobblestone streets, stunning Spanish colonial architecture, buzzy bars and restaurants, and a thriving arts scene. Plus, there are plenty of day trip opportunities — from exploring the region’s natural wineries to experiencing the hacienda-based ranch culture. No wonder Travel + Leisure named San Miguel de Allende its favorite city in the world last year.
🛏 While Casa Hoyos’s location makes it ideal for seeing the city (many top attractions are less than a 10-minute walk away), we don’t blame you if you don’t want to leave the 17th-century manor turned boutique hotel. Not only are the 16 rooms and suites cool and contemporary (think: a desert-esque color palette, terracotta-tiled bathrooms, decor made by Mexican artisans), but the cacti-dotted rooftop terrace also has a plunge pool and some of the city’s finest sunset views.
🌇 The best way to experience the city’s rich culture and history is by wandering. Start in its center, home to the iconic neo-Gothic church La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel (you can’t miss the pastel-pink, wedding cake-like towers) and the main plaza, Jardín Allende (aka “people-watching central”). From there, stop by some art galleries, including: Galería Nudo, which showcases contemporary pieces by Mexican artists; Galería Casa Diana, previously home to surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg; and Fábrica La Aurora, a former textile factory that’s now an art and design complex. Along the way, make sure to pop in local boutiques like Mixta for Mexican fashion and home decor and Suki Palomina for a handmade hat.
🍴 Fuel up for a day of sightseeing and shopping with one of Lavanda Café’s signature lavender-infused drinks. When you’re ready for lunch, head to Raíces, which serves inventive twists on traditional favorites, like crispy tacos stuffed with hibiscus flower and tropical pico de gallo. For something just as creative, consider the Mexi-Thai cooking at popular dinner spot Zibu Allende (our picks: softshell crab tacos, ajillo-marinated octopus) and the seasonal, locally driven tasting menus at Áperi. And while a one-hour tequila tasting at Casa Dragones is a must, you should also get a nightcap at Bekeb, a renowned rooftop bar mixing up cocktails inspired by ancestral Mexican ingredients and traditions.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Q: If I bring a dish to a dinner party or potluck, is it rude to take leftovers home? Or should I wait to see if the host offers them?
“[Once you’ve] reached the [host’s home], what you’re [bringing] is a contribution to the meal. So it’s not, ‘I’m bringing this for the two hours I’m here, and therefore I might bring it home with me afterwards.’ It’s really that gracious act of giving, without the need to return or receive at the end … That’s why you [might] even bring something in a dish that you don’t expect to [be returned].
… [Now, when it comes to leftovers], the rule of thumb is [to take] your cue from the host. If they offer, you absolutely may say OK. You don’t have to feel that it’s embarrassing or impolite … They’re genuinely offering it, so you can genuinely accept.”
My boyfriend constantly glances at other women. I’ve asked him to stop, but he says he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. I don’t want to nag him, so is there anything else I can do?
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PS: Want more product recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram.
Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.
Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here.
Skimm’d by: Marisa Iallonardo, Alex Carr, Melissa Goldberg, and Margaret Wheeler Johnson
Photos by Jim Henkens via Clarkson Potter, Mariner Books, ferrantraite via Getty Images, The Good Brigade via Getty Images, courtesy of Lisa Gaché, Brand Partners
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