It’s exhausting to imagine 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 every now and then, I’m simply pulling again with a purpose to give attention to 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 glorious 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 particular person on earth appears to have a robust opinion about Dealer Joe’s. To mark the event, I needed to spherical up my most memorable moments…
1. Most Satisfying Factor In Basic: Giving Different Meals Writers a Platform
This has been the most effective 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 via their recipes. To call just some 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 checklist, too. And each time a dinner-party host asks “Are you able to carry dessert?” I head to the feedback part on this publish for inspiration.
3. Most Visited Recipe, Most Lately: 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 Could, but it’s graced my desk not less than a half dozen instances 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 vastly fashionable strictly by the numbers: Style Take a look at: What’s the Finest Vanilla Ice Cream (that stunned me), Ali Stafford’s Similar-Day Peasant Bread (I bear in mind this one blowing up the web), and 5 Recipes Value Memorizing, together with my go-to tofu prep and all-purpose salad dressing.
5. Most Controversial Second: The right way to be a Good Visitor
I had no thought I’d be poking such a bear with the subject of “trendy lateness.” Lesson discovered: Most of you do not need dinner visitors 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 Dad and mom About Household Dinner
I stand by it to at the present time: When 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 folks don’t essentially must know methods to de-bone a sea trout — most cooks simply need to make a very good dinner each evening and have a pleasing time doing it. Writing about fundamental, actual recipes has all the time been my wheelhouse, so it is sensible that they’ve been probably the most enjoyable posts to write down. I’m considering: The Solely 5 Salad Dressings You Want; 9 Straightforward Household Meals We’ve Beloved to Loss of life (that was hilariously enjoyable); The right way 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 Outdated-College Chocolate Mousse (above), plus my Crisp for All Seasons and Dorie Greenspan’s All the things Cake, each of which could possibly be categorized as a “one recipe suits all.” I additionally assume I must make that mousse this weekend.
8. Most Viral: A Potato Salad Trick
I’ve all the time believed that if I may give readers even the tiniest technique to make their lives higher or happier, then I’ve completed my job. There was by no means a extra clear (or tiny) instance of this than the time I informed folks “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 publish I’ve written on Cup of Jo.
9. Most Impactful Remark: “Eat much less meat,” as a substitute of “Eat no meat”
Extra particularly, in response to my e-book The Weekday Vegetarians, a Cup of Jo reader wrote one thing like “It’s a greater method to persuade extra folks to eat much less meat, than to persuade fewer folks 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 instances I repeated it at a e-book occasion or in an interview. So nicely stated, and so true.
10. Most Emotional: Secrets and techniques for Stress-Free Household Dinners
I bear in mind when Joanna requested me to write down this story — an evergreen subject — and I assumed, I’ve written about household dinner for a dozen years now, how am I going to provide you with one thing new? However I had by no means written concerning the subject as an empty nester trying again, and it stunned me how simply the phrases got here, and the way emotional it was to write down the story and understand I used to be the “Perspective Individual” now. Eras finish. Children develop up. And I’m so fortunate I’ve been capable of write about all of it right here on Cup of Jo.
Did I miss something? Thanks for studying, everybody. You may all the time discover me on my publication, Dinner: A Love Story. And I can say with nice confidence that you’re in wonderful arms 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’t wait.
P.S. An ode to rituals (the primary time my byline ever appeared on Cup of Jo) and methods to get your children to speak at dinner.
(Images: Chocolate mousse, Yossy Arefi; Bread, Alexandra Stafford; Household dinner: Chelsea Cavanaugh)