It’s exhausting to imagine I’m saying this, however at present 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 from time to time, I’m simply pulling again as a way to give attention to some upcoming private tasks, so I gained’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 instructing 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 Normal: Giving Different Meals Writers a Platform
This has been the perfect 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 interesting and meals writers are all the time thrilled to be a part of it by 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 Hen Soup; Odette Williams’s Pasta with Vodka Sauce; Dan Pelosi’s Pastina for a Dangerous 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 continuously. 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 Hen and Pan-Fried Fish Sandwich, they’d be on this listing, too. And each time a dinner-party host asks “Are you able to carry dessert?” I head to the feedback part on this submit for inspiration.
3. Most Visited Recipe, Most Just 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 choose 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 have been vastly well-liked strictly by the numbers: Style Take a look at: What’s the Greatest Vanilla Ice Cream (that stunned me), Ali Stafford’s Identical-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: How you can be a Good Visitor
I had no concept I’d be poking such a bear with the subject of “modern 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 at the present time: You probably have a child underneath age three, don’t hassle.
7. Most Enjoyable to Write: The Fundamentals
In pursuit of the brand new and the novel, it’s simple to lose sight of the truth that folks don’t essentially have to know methods to de-bone a sea trout — most cooks simply need to make a great dinner each night time and have a nice time doing it. Writing about fundamental, actual recipes has all the time been my wheelhouse, so it is smart that they’ve been essentially the most enjoyable posts to write down. I’m considering: The Solely 5 Salad Dressings You Want; 9 Simple Household Meals We’ve Liked to Demise (that was hilariously enjoyable); How you can 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 The whole lot Cake, each of which may very well be categorized as a “one recipe matches all.” I additionally suppose I have to 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 carried out my job. There was by no means a extra clear (or tiny) instance of this than the time I instructed folks “When making potato salad, toss your potatoes within the dressing whereas the potatoes are nonetheless heat and subsequently optimally absorbent.” It’s the most well-liked submit 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 properly 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 matter — 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 matter 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. Youngsters 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’ll be able to all the time discover me on my publication, Dinner: A Love Story. And I can say with nice confidence that you’re in glorious fingers with my successors: Alex Beggs, Christina Chaey, Kelsey Miller, and lots of different proficient 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.
(Pictures: Chocolate mousse, Yossy Arefi; Bread, Alexandra Stafford; Household dinner: Chelsea Cavanaugh)
