Stuck in Dinner Decision Purgatory? Try This Burst Cherry Tomato Basil Chicken Rigatoni
theSkimm
If the post-Labor Day return to reality has you ready to make PB&Js an entire food group, Ambitious Kitchen’s Burst Cherry Tomato Basil Chicken Rigatoni says, “not so fast.” In this low-lift, high-reward dinner, cherry tomatoes, garlic, onion, and a handful of pantry staples cook down into a creamy, spicy, crave-worthy sauce that’s combined with seasoned chicken, heaps of Parm, al dente rigatoni, and fresh basil. Plus, it’s easily tailored to your taste: Add chopped spinach. Stir in basil pesto. Swap in gluten-free pasta. Either way, you’ll have something so good one fan’s husband said: “I'm being serious when I say this is one of the best things I've eaten in a while."
The Time Commitment: About 40 minutes.
Key Tips: While the recipe calls for butterflied chicken, you can cube it or use thin-sliced chicken breasts instead, says Monique Volz (aka Ambitious Kitchen). She also suggests switching up the protein with crumbled Italian sausage, meatballs, canned tuna, chickpeas, or butter beans.
Other Takes: For more “I can’t even” dinners, try…
Egg Roll in a Bowl. Essentially a deconstructed version of the Chinese-American classic that’s faster than takeout and free of delivery fees.
Tangy Chicken, Tomato and Couscous Salad. Packed with savory chicken, fluffy couscous, dried prunes, and warming cumin, this half-hour weeknight savior might be the next best thing to a trip to Morocco.
Ginger-Basil Beef and Zucchini Skillet. Whether or not you personally identified with Ginger Spice (guilty), you’ll love this half-hour solution to tonight’s dinner — and tomorrow’s lunch — problem. Because we’d never go wasting your precious time.
Switzy by Emma Cline
theSkimm
Did The Girls and The Guest make you an Emma Cline devotee? You're in luck: She's back with Switzy — and it's already nominated for one of the most prestigious literary awards. The novel follows David, a wealthy, 70-something business exec in the throes of dementia, as he travels to Zurich — accompanied by his assistant, Cody — to end his life on his own terms. But before he can wrap things up in Switzerland, there are a couple stops along the way: London, for a dinner with his emotionally distant daughter and a visit with his grandson; and France, to see an estranged boarding-school friend. As past and present blur, what emerges is an unexpectedly funny, deeply moving portrait of a mind come undone. No wonder one Goodreads reviewer said, “You’ll be hearing from my therapist, Emma Cline.”
PS: Eight more books our editors read and immediately texted each other about? Find out here.
Forget What You’ve Heard — Fall Is the Best Time to Visit This Jersey Shore Gem
theSkimm
We know what you’re thinking: a beach town? After Labor Day? But, rest assured, this is no mistake. Because, as many New Jerseyans will tell you, family-friendly Cape May is even better in the fall. Sure, the weather is a bit cooler, but crowds flee, prices drop, and everything gets quieter — perfect for admiring the candy-colored Victorian homes, strolling the Cape May Promenade, hanging out at a local winery, and getting cozy at a charming boutique hotel (we’re partial to The Virginia). Not to mention, the water is technically still warm enough for the occasional dip — if that’s your thing.
🌅 Cape May’s pristine beaches are wonderful, but the area’s natural beauty extends beyond the shoreline. Rent a bike at Shields’, then cruise to Cape May Point State Park — home to scenic trails and the historic Cape May Lighthouse (the ocean and bay panorama is worth the 199-step climb) — and Sunset Beach, known for, shocker, its namesake views and “Cape May diamonds” (essentially, nature’s cubic zirconia). Or, for a different kind of ride, swing by Revolution Rail to rail-bike through marshes and meadows filled with monarch butterflies and migrating songbirds. Oh, and speaking of birds, Cape May has ranked among the world’s top bird-watching spots, so join a guided walking tour at Cape May Bird Observatory.
🛍 Whether you book a trolley tour or do your own thing, spend a day exploring the ridiculously quaint town. Start at Emlen Physick Estate to wander around the 147-year-old mansion’s meticulously restored rooms (warning: they may or may not be haunted), then make your way to Perry Street, Jackson Street, and/or Ocean Street — all of which have a high concentration of daydream-worthy Victorian homes. From there, head to Washington Street Mall, a three-block shopping district that includes standouts, like: Givens for chic clothes and accessories; Madison’s Bakery for outrageous sticky buns; and The Cheese Shop for, well, you know what.
🍴 Seafood is practically synonymous with any coastal city — and that’s certainly the case in Cape May. The Lobster House is a local institution serving up, yes, lobster, but also oysters and clams in five dining rooms and on a 130-foot-long sailing vessel moored dockside. Looking for something more upscale? Snag a seat at one of Beach Plum Farm’s family-style harvest dinners, featuring veggies, herbs, and meats from the 62-acre property. Finally, for the sweetest end to the evening, pick up a Peace Pie ice cream sandwich, stuffed with a layer of pie filling. We’ll give you a moment to process.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
My brother and his family live across the country, and because my husband and I are child-free, they always expect us to come to them. How do we tell them we’d like it to go both ways?
“Just tell them. Try saying, ‘We love visiting you and appreciate you always hosting us — but we’d love the opportunity to host you too. How about coming our way next time?’ Then stop and listen.
Of course, traveling with children takes more planning, expense, and effort. If they don’t currently have the time or budget to travel, give them room to say so. If you’re willing, think about what might make the visit easier: offering up a spare guest room, taking care of tickets for an event or activity, or helping with a hotel if they’d prefer their own space.
And if traveling to them still makes the most sense occasionally, that's OK too. You might say: ‘We understand traveling is harder with kids, and we're happy to visit sometimes — we just don't want it to be automatically assumed that we're always the ones who make the trip.’ Fair doesn't always mean “equal.” Good relationships leave room for circumstances while making sure everyone's needs, efforts, and hospitality are valued.”
FEATURED EXPERT:
Juliet Mitchell
Life etiquette expert and president/CEO of Life Etiquette Institute
Unleash your competitive side with today's games and puzzles. Go wild.
Stuck in Dinner Decision Purgatory? Try This Burst Cherry Tomato Basil Chicken Rigatoni
theSkimm
If the post-Labor Day return to reality has you ready to make PB&Js an entire food group, Ambitious Kitchen’s Burst Cherry Tomato Basil Chicken Rigatoni says, “not so fast.” In this low-lift, high-reward dinner, cherry tomatoes, garlic, onion, and a handful of pantry staples cook down into a creamy, spicy, crave-worthy sauce that’s combined with seasoned chicken, heaps of Parm, al dente rigatoni, and fresh basil. Plus, it’s easily tailored to your taste: Add chopped spinach. Stir in basil pesto. Swap in gluten-free pasta. Either way, you’ll have something so good one fan’s husband said: “I'm being serious when I say this is one of the best things I've eaten in a while."
The Time Commitment: About 40 minutes.
Key Tips: While the recipe calls for butterflied chicken, you can cube it or use thin-sliced chicken breasts instead, says Monique Volz (aka Ambitious Kitchen). She also suggests switching up the protein with crumbled Italian sausage, meatballs, canned tuna, chickpeas, or butter beans.
Other Takes: For more “I can’t even” dinners, try…
Egg Roll in a Bowl. Essentially a deconstructed version of the Chinese-American classic that’s faster than takeout and free of delivery fees.
Tangy Chicken, Tomato and Couscous Salad. Packed with savory chicken, fluffy couscous, dried prunes, and warming cumin, this half-hour weeknight savior might be the next best thing to a trip to Morocco.
Ginger-Basil Beef and Zucchini Skillet. Whether or not you personally identified with Ginger Spice (guilty), you’ll love this half-hour solution to tonight’s dinner — and tomorrow’s lunch — problem. Because we’d never go wasting your precious time.
Switzy by Emma Cline
theSkimm
Did The Girls and The Guest make you an Emma Cline devotee? You're in luck: She's back with Switzy — and it's already nominated for one of the most prestigious literary awards. The novel follows David, a wealthy, 70-something business exec in the throes of dementia, as he travels to Zurich — accompanied by his assistant, Cody — to end his life on his own terms. But before he can wrap things up in Switzerland, there are a couple stops along the way: London, for a dinner with his emotionally distant daughter and a visit with his grandson; and France, to see an estranged boarding-school friend. As past and present blur, what emerges is an unexpectedly funny, deeply moving portrait of a mind come undone. No wonder one Goodreads reviewer said, “You’ll be hearing from my therapist, Emma Cline.”
PS: Eight more books our editors read and immediately texted each other about? Find out here.
Forget What You’ve Heard — Fall Is the Best Time to Visit This Jersey Shore Gem
theSkimm
We know what you’re thinking: a beach town? After Labor Day? But, rest assured, this is no mistake. Because, as many New Jerseyans will tell you, family-friendly Cape May is even better in the fall. Sure, the weather is a bit cooler, but crowds flee, prices drop, and everything gets quieter — perfect for admiring the candy-colored Victorian homes, strolling the Cape May Promenade, hanging out at a local winery, and getting cozy at a charming boutique hotel (we’re partial to The Virginia). Not to mention, the water is technically still warm enough for the occasional dip — if that’s your thing.
🌅 Cape May’s pristine beaches are wonderful, but the area’s natural beauty extends beyond the shoreline. Rent a bike at Shields’, then cruise to Cape May Point State Park — home to scenic trails and the historic Cape May Lighthouse (the ocean and bay panorama is worth the 199-step climb) — and Sunset Beach, known for, shocker, its namesake views and “Cape May diamonds” (essentially, nature’s cubic zirconia). Or, for a different kind of ride, swing by Revolution Rail to rail-bike through marshes and meadows filled with monarch butterflies and migrating songbirds. Oh, and speaking of birds, Cape May has ranked among the world’s top bird-watching spots, so join a guided walking tour at Cape May Bird Observatory.
🛍 Whether you book a trolley tour or do your own thing, spend a day exploring the ridiculously quaint town. Start at Emlen Physick Estate to wander around the 147-year-old mansion’s meticulously restored rooms (warning: they may or may not be haunted), then make your way to Perry Street, Jackson Street, and/or Ocean Street — all of which have a high concentration of daydream-worthy Victorian homes. From there, head to Washington Street Mall, a three-block shopping district that includes standouts, like: Givens for chic clothes and accessories; Madison’s Bakery for outrageous sticky buns; and The Cheese Shop for, well, you know what.
🍴 Seafood is practically synonymous with any coastal city — and that’s certainly the case in Cape May. The Lobster House is a local institution serving up, yes, lobster, but also oysters and clams in five dining rooms and on a 130-foot-long sailing vessel moored dockside. Looking for something more upscale? Snag a seat at one of Beach Plum Farm’s family-style harvest dinners, featuring veggies, herbs, and meats from the 62-acre property. Finally, for the sweetest end to the evening, pick up a Peace Pie ice cream sandwich, stuffed with a layer of pie filling. We’ll give you a moment to process.
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