YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS // ISSUE 07

Much like the rest of the world, I too think I lost my mind somewhere in the month of April. By early June, Max and I knew we needed a change of pace. Chasing sunshine and more space, we put things in storage, packed the car with essentials (all my kitchen things), and drove across twelve states in three days, from Brooklyn to Arizona. When everything in your life is chaotic and uncertain, moving can be fun! Now that we're here, I can't find Martin's potato rolls and I'm reminded that Trump is our president a little too often, but I've never had better salsa and I'm excited to vote. 

Through the bumpy months, cooking has been less about creativity and more about necessity. So for this newsletter I'm sharing two recipes I always come back to. Both don't need to be measured exactly, both can wear many hats. A salad dressing I love (a bit Greek? a bit Italian?) to put on wilting greens, cooked grains, drizzle over tomatoes etc etc. And a spice mix to rub on everything, that gels especially well with shrimp tacos and chicken wings. It's nice to throw meals together without much thought and feel good about the end result. It's nice to have less dirtied dishes. And it's especially nice to have things you can count on these days (even if they are just recipes). 

A VERY VERSATILE SALAD DRESSING
PARTS
— 3 tbsp vinegar (red wine, acv)

— Juice of .5 lemon 

— 1 tbsp mustard (Dijon, spicy brown)

— 1 tbsp dried oregano 

— 1 tsp honey

— 1 clove garlic 

— .5 cup olive oil 
CLUES
Combine all ingredients in a blender/food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Store refrigerated in an airtight container. 

A GOOD SPICE MIX

PARTS 

— About 1 tbsp of: paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme or basil, onion powder 

— About 1 tsp of: cayenne, turmeric, garlic powder, salt, pepper 

CLUES
Eyeball all spices (and maybe a dash of some others you're feeling) into a small bowl and mix until combined. Adjust cayenne amount for more/less heat. Pat meat, fish etc. dry and rub with mixture. Grill, bake, or sear. 

OTHER THINGS

1) It's been almost 150 days. Keep demanding justice for Breonna Taylor. 

2) Wear a fucking mask. 

3) Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote. 

4) Call someone who needs it and tell them how much you love them. 

5) Give rejected fruit (like melon) a second chance and cover in lime juice and cayenne. 

Until I am inspired to send this thing again,