EDITOR’S NOTE
Happy Saturday. This is by no means groundbreaking, but long weekends really do hit different. And while I wish I could say I used my extra 24 hours to better myself, I spent it…scrolling. A few of my best finds?
Trader Joe’s just dropped the latest version of its most cult-favorite item, which I’ve been anxiously anticipating for the past 49 days (not that I’m counting). It’s just the thing for my trip to Newport next weekend.
If you, like me, go from sweaty to shivering the second you step inside any building, this versatile, expensive-looking layering piece will become your summer wardrobe MVP. I know because I’ve already gone from owning zero to three.
Is your washing machine’s interior something you’d rather not think about? (Same.) These are the other weekly cleaning tasks most people forget. Don’t worry, I’m 0 for 10.
Summer’s prettiest “It” girl shoes look nearly identical to an item you definitely had in your elementary school dress-up bin. My inner child is screaming.
Sure, it's interesting that Taylor Swift was at an NYC music studio on Monday. But I'm more fixated on her mastery of the "Sandwich Method" styling trick — which I’ll be copying from now until forever.
— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC
This One-Pan Spanakopita-Inspired Skillet Tastes Like a First-Class Ticket to Santorini
theSkimm
Ouzo. Sun. Sea. If none of that’s your reality right now, The Defined Dish’s One-Pan Spanakopita-Inspired Skillet is the next best thing. A riff on the classic Greek pie, the low-effort, high-reward recipe is packed with spiced chicken thighs, fluffy rice, hearty spinach, diced onions, fresh herbs, briny feta, and creamy ricotta (yes, two kinds of cheese). The result, as one fan put it, is something “super simple for a weeknight meal but impressive enough for entertaining.” Oh, and since it all cooks in exactly one pan, cleanup is minimal — meaning, you’ll still have time to watch Mamma Mia! for the 17th time. Hey, we know our priorities.
The Time Commitment: About 45 minutes.
Key Tip: Rice sticking to the bottom of the skillet? Alex Snodgrass (aka The Defined Dish) recommends adding some extra broth and giving it a stir.
Other Takes: For more ways to put that pack of chicken thighs to work, try…
Sheet-Pan Chicken With Shallots and Grapes. This sweet and savory dinner is on the table in 35 minutes — and, in the words of one commenter, “looks like a tapestry from the Renaissance.” Not wrong.
One-Pan Lemon Coconut Chicken and Rice. When life hands you extra lemons, this sunny, satisfying, and surprisingly simple dish is the answer. Rules are rules.
Sheet Pan Chicken Tikka. You probably already have all the spices you need for this bold, Indian-inspired recipe. And it’s so easy, you might have a moment of silence for your favorite takeout spot.
Long Island Girls by Gabrielle Korn
theSkimm
Former indie sleaze girls, this one’s for you. Gabrielle Korn's Long Island Girls opens in 2005: Susan is driving a car full of friends to see a band called ?? (pronounced “What-What,” naturally), when she’s asked to pick up Eliza, a teen she barely knows, but can’t quite look away from. Their connection is immediate and electric — but thanks to small-town rumors, it’s also short-lived. Years later, Susan has traded Long Island for Brooklyn and the indie music career she always dreamed of. Then Eliza reappears. Old feelings resurface — as do old complications. Expect a sharply observed queer coming-of-age story about first love, friendship, and finding yourself, with plenty of 2000s nostalgia to boot. We asked Korn a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only eat one thing, what would it be?
Korn: Cheese pizza, specifically from Lillian's in Forest Hills, Queens. Actually, I would eat this for every meal forever — even if I wasn't stranded on a desert island.
Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?
Korn: The correct amount of sleep is 10 hours.
Q: What’s one thing that’s made you 10% happier?
Korn: Growing herbs in my garden. It is so satisfying to just run out to the yard and snip some cilantro. It makes me feel like I've really accomplished something.
PS: To find out what Korn never leaves home without, read our extended author interview.
TOGETHER WITH ALLY BANK
In this episode, comedian and impressionist Mary Elizabeth Kelly tackles your most head-scratching tipping dilemmas such as:
Is a $5 tip enough for food delivery?
How much should you tip your rideshare driver?
What’s an appropriate tip for dogsitting?
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
We throw an annual Fourth of July party, and some of the guests we’ve invited in the past have since fallen out of our lives. We don’t want to invite them this year, but they’ve already asked if we’re having the party. Do we have to?
“Ultimately, it’s your party and you have the right to curate your guest list as you see fit — just because someone attended in the past doesn’t mean they’re automatically invited to future ones. That said, it’s worth considering the particulars of the situation. If it’s two people who are part of a larger friend group you see regularly, it might be worth extending the invitation to keep the peace. But if you've truly drifted apart, that’s a fair reason to move on. Either way, don’t try to hide the fact that you’re having a party — clear and honest communication will always serve you better, even when it feels uncomfortable. You could say something like, ‘We’re celebrating the Fourth at home this year, but we've decided to keep it smaller this time, as much as we wish we could invite everyone.’"
Skimm’d by: Julia Reinstein and Melissa Goldberg. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.
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