HELLO! I’M ALIVE! AND WELL! It’s been so long since my last newsletter, and I’m quite happy to be writing again.
A lot has happened since we last spoke. For starters, I moved out of my apartment and back home. Although my routine has been different, I’m very happy to be here. I spend a lot of time with my dad and sister since we’re home all day together, so I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot about them. When Mom comes home from work, we eat and watch Jeopardy!, my favorite pastime, and then have dessert. Life hasn’t felt this slow since I was in high school. It’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed — at least that’s what my therapist tells me.
Despite the chiller lifestyle, many events take place during the week. I go on walks and even runs! I apply to jobs that sound exciting (if you or a friend needs someone with an English degree to join your company, let me know) for hours on end each day. I hang out with friends and with my sister. I make breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and I do my silly little part-time gigs to make
I also got to spend a weekend with all of my cousins this month, and despite the circumstance, seeing them was a lot of fun. My Pop-Pop passed away this month, and he was a big influence on my interest in food. The man could eat, and that’s exactly what we did to celebrate him. If you’re family or a friend of my dad’s, thank you for your continual support — from me and the rest of my fam!
And now that all of the life updates are out of the way, I give you the fun food things.
Being my family’s private chef
👩🍳 Since coming home, I’ve named myself the chef of the house — I like to throw us little dinner parties, if you will. My sister has pointed out that I’ve only made about three meals, but that’s more than she ever has.
The first meal I made was a crowdpleaser (if I do say so myself): spaghetti with sausage, summer squash, and mustard greens. Next was a rendition of this Eric Kim salmon recipe that I’ve definitely raved about before on the Internet — too sweet for everyone else though. (Maura did help out by preparing the cucumbers, so I take back what I said.) When my dad, sister, and I watched The Godfather: Part II one night I made bratwurst and peppers. But my favorite so far was this zucchini pasta I whipped up for Mom and I this past week. (Uh, that’s four, Maura.)
Farmer’s market
🚜 My mom is a religious farmer-market-goer, and I’ve joined her two times since coming home. Sometimes she makes comments about the impact of inflation at the market, but then I step in as the ex-Manhattanite I am and point out that things are very affordable here compared to the 212 — but I do miss it. 🥲
If you ever find yourself at the Lansdale Farmers Market, do yourself a favor and pick up pastries from Flour Shop. We’ve grabbed scones, danishes, croissants, strudels, you name it and call it Saturday morning breakfast.
Sandwich Summer
🥪 I’ve dubbed this summer many things: No Pressure Summer, Athlete Summer, Girly Summer, Hannah Montana Summer (aka Life’s What You Make It Summer). But the one that concerns this audience is Sandwich Summer.
One afternoon I made a great vegetarian one with mozzarella, red onion, cucumbers, mustard greens, and hummus. When Maura and I went to see her favorite band, Lake Street Dive, at The Mann, we packed prosciutto, mozzarella, and olive tapenade on sourdough to eat beforehand. Cheers to sandwiches.
I hope you can forgive me for not writing this past month. Thank you to everyone who has told my parents that you enjoy this newsletter. The fact that so many people care about what I have to say is quite funny. I even got to meet a bunch of you in person recently while I was in Connecticut, and while I was extremely flattered to be referred to as “the writer,” it was so embarrassing and so rewarding at the same time. Which I guess is good. LOL.
I’m not sure what direction this newsletter will go in from here on out, but I’m excited to see what happens. I’d love to incorporate longer pieces — maybe profiles or essays about post-grad life? There are quite a few interesting people reading this here piece, so if you have any ideas, pretty please don’t hesitate to tell me.
That’s all for now. Tell your friends about this. I promise I’ll keep writing if you keep coming back. Okay, byeeeee! 👋
For what it’s worth, all four meals have been 🤤 !!! Xo
some great mantras, might need to adopt those for myself! can’t wait to read more Party of One this summer🥳