Sunday was my final day in Massachusetts. We got breakfast sandwiches at a general store a few towns over, and Matt showed me the upstairs which was used as a set in Little Women. I bought a bag of granola before we left to bring back to my desk to remind me of my great wintry weekend up north. In the afternoon we went on a hike through the woods — made even prettier by all the snow. We got Wendy’s for dinner, and then I got on the train at around 6 p.m. I was back in Philly by 11:30 p.m. Met Dad outside in the rain and was asleep just after midnight.
And I was back at the train station less than ten hours later. Monday was my typical workday, made sweeter by my new granola — it’s the little things. Lately life has felt a lot like the movie Groundhog Day because I spend two hours commuting to and from the city. I jump at every chance to shake up my routines and I like to list out all the little things I have to look forward to — a new podcast episode, listening to good music, talking to my loved ones, meeting up with friends. Jotting these things down is a tool my old therapist introduced me to; it’s silly, but the little things are important and they add up. Another thing that has helped me stay present in my daily routine is writing this newsletter. I’ve got a horrible memory (long COVID?), and when all my days look super similar, it’s hard to remember what I did with who and where throughout the week. (So thank you for helping me remember!) At work, I served a lunch meeting and got to bring home the leftovers — butternut squash risotto with short rib — which Dad had the next day for lunch and reported compliments back to the chef. By the end of the night, I was exhausted but was itching to bake something, and I had the perfect excuse for a cake: my upcoming book club meeting. So, at 9 p.m. I took out the stand mixer and beat eggs and sugar together in pursuit of a lemon and olive oil cake. It’s a riff on a Claire Saffitz recipe that includes a sticky layer of blood oranges. Lemons were the only citrus fruits in the house, so that’s how we got the lemon flavor. The last time I made this recipe was on my final day of college last spring; if you’ve been reading this newsletter since then, you’ll remember my capstone classmates who were always eager to eat something sweet while workshopping essays. My book club is the group that I bake for these days.
I made a PB & J for lunch on Tuesday, which was my favorite thing to pack for lunch as a kid. There was a restaurant in Queen Village with a grilled PB & J made with thick cut sourdough and crunchy peanut butter, which was just exquisite. It’s gone now, and in its place is an okay vegan tapas place. All day long I looked forward to a huge bowl of popcorn at the end of the night, and that’s exactly what I was eating when Maura called me on her way to rehearsal. We spoke the night before so there wasn’t much to catch up on, but I also thought about calling her again for no reason — great minds think alike.
On Wednesday at work there was a big bountiful display of toasts and grain bowls in the office for a tasting, and we got to enjoy the leftovers — avocado and grilled pineapple toasts, steak fajita toasts, and chicken with Romanesco sauce on quinoa. It rained all day, but my spirits were high in anticipation of my book club meeting late that night. The five of us went to high school together (three of us have known each other since elementary school) but weren’t close back then, so seeing our relationships blossom after college like this is super cool to me. Bridget hosted this time around and got pizza and wine; I brought my cake and Emma brought fruit salad. Of course we talked about our book (The House Across the Lake), but our meetings are also an opportunity to catch up since our last meeting. Next up is The Midnight Library, and I’ve got to come up with another dessert.
On Thursday, I worked an event for work for the first time in a month. We set up a plated dinner at a car museum in the city — it was casino themed, so I designed a playing card menu that I’m super proud of. The staff meal was a sandwich platter (I always grab tuna salad) and macaroni salad, but we also got to have the event’s leftovers — dessert was a rich chocolate terrine with cherry gelée, and boy did it hit the spot. We got out earlier than expected, and I fell asleep immediately upon returning to my bed.
Despite getting less sleep than usual, I was up and at ’em on Friday morning because I picked out one of my favorite outfits to wear to work (it’s the little things, folks). I finished Night Fall this week and was bookless on the train ride into work, so instead I caught up on the newsletters I subscribe to. My favorites on Substack are
, , and (if you like this one, you’ll like those). Her Place Supper Club also sends out a newsletter that I look forward to reading each month. Chef/owner Amanda Shulman shares news about her restaurant, cooking techniques, and asks her staff a fun, rapid fire question each month. After work I met up with my cousin’s friend from college to introduce her to some of my friends — the merging of groups is so silly and joyous. At Wilder, Grace and I split a spicy pizza and a salty-sweet butternut squash pasta. Then the six of us went to a bar before us suburb dwellers sprinted to the train. Either Bridget or Emma pointed out how we’re always running late to our train home. We’ve got to work on that, but hopefully Bridget and I will have a place soon where all our suburb friends can stay.I slept in on Saturday, but sat on my phone for a good chunk of time before actually getting out of bed. I hung out with Dad as I made breakfast and told him I was making my “COVID breakfast,” a matcha and bowl of oatmeal topped with frozen berries, granola, and bee pollen. “Isn’t that going to make you sick?” he asked. It definitely brought me back to three (!!!) years ago, so I don’t think I’ll be making it again any time soon. After talking to my sister while getting ready for the day, I renewed my library card (I had to pay a dollar to replace the one I had as a kid) and went to Trader Joe’s. Then I went to the thrift store, where I found five beautiful blue and yellow dinner plates for $2 each. I’ve been keeping my eye out for a cute set of china to have in hopes of hosting more people for dinner when I move. In the afternoon I worked out and went for a run, and then took a nice hot shower and put my pajamas back on. Made a tuna dip inspired by this recipe because we are living in the era of tinned fish, and then the afternoon slowly slipped away to the evening. Dad and I had the same idea for dinner: carbonara. With no pancetta in the house, we crisped up some bacon instead and it turned out just as delicious. And in keeping with my New Years resolution to post more TikToks, I spent the rest of the night editing a few. Watch them here!