One Fan Says She Should’ve Doubled This Peach-Pecan Crisp Because She “Can’t Stop Eating It” — And Same
theSkimm
Whoever coined the phrase “easy as pie” must’ve had a sick sense of humor. You know what’s actually easy? This Perfect Peach Crisp from Sally’s Baking — which takes about half the time of traditional pie and tastes twice as good. Essentially the love child of a peach crisp and a pecan pie, the aptly named recipe features sweet, jammy peaches bubbling under a respectable layer of toasted pecan-oat streusel. Throw some vanilla ice cream on top (not optional, we’re sure you understand), and don’t be surprised when it disappears in less time than it took to bake.
The Time Commitment: About an hour.
Key Tips: Yellow and white peaches work equally well, says Sally McKenney (aka Sally’s Baking), but for best results, “you want slightly firm (not hard) peaches with no bruises or soft spots.” That’s why she recommends buying a couple extra, letting them all sit in a paper bag for a day or two, and saving any with soft spots as a snack.
Other Takes: Sure, eating a juicy peach over the kitchen sink is glorious. But you could also try…
Skillet Meatballs With Peaches, Basil and Lime. Sweet peaches and savory meatballs shouldn’t work this well together. And yet, as one commenter put it, “SO TASTY.”
Peach Upside Down Cake. If you correctly believe cake > pie, meet your new favorite recipe — perfectly caramelized on top, light and fluffy beneath, and shockingly simpler than it looks.
Summer Panzanella Salad. Because a salad made almost entirely out of bread is the best salad there is. And no, that’s not up for debate.
Famous Men by Julie Buntin
theSkimm
How far would you go to follow your favorite author — especially if you suspected he might also be your father? In Julie Buntin’s Famous Men, aspiring writer Wilhelmina “Will” Miles flees small-town Michigan for New York City to find out. But don’t assume this is Maury in book form: Will quickly learns Nathaniel Fellow is not her father — and the two enter into something far more complicated. Or, as Will calls it, “an arrangement” in which the 62-year-old offers mentorship, proximity to power, and financial security to the 23-year-old. That is, as long as she does pretty much anything he asks, a cost that Will is forced to reckon with when disturbing information about Nathaniel’s past inevitably surfaces. We asked Buntin a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s the one place everyone needs to visit?
Buntin: I hate saying this because it’s already become impossible to visit in the summer, but the beach in Empire, Michigan — near Sleeping Bear Dunes — is the best place on Earth in July and August.
Q: What’s one thing you’re an armchair expert on?
Buntin: I know a lot about yogurt. It was an intense pregnancy craving for me. The best I’ve ever had is by The White Moustache, which, horribly, isn’t distributed in Michigan, where I live. Perfectly tart with just the right fat content — it’s ideal. And their date version might be my actual favorite food?
Q: What’s a hill you’d die on?
Buntin: I don’t think new moms should feel obligated to write thank-you notes, and I don’t think people should expect them from anyone who just had a baby. If you’re sending food or a gift, and you’re wondering if they got it — they did. New moms need to do less.
PS: Buntin called this short novel “a perfect book in every respect.” See what it is.
Doing It All, Eh? Vancouver Might Just Be Canada’s Coolest City
theSkimm
Some cities give you culture with a capital C. Others give you rocky cliffs, rugged trails, and dramatic coastline. Vancouver asks, “Why not both?” Located on Canada’s west coast, the British Columbian city is the rare kind of place where you wake up in a glittering glass tower (stay at the Douglas), kick off your morning with a hike beneath towering firs and a dip in the water (consider Kitsilano Beach a nonnegotiable), wander around a few stellar museums or eclectic neighborhoods by afternoon, and end the night with Cantonese-style dim sum. Basically, it’s the overachiever of Canadian cities — and we mean that lovingly.
🌲 Whether you are a lifelong REI loyalist or just dusted off your high school Nalgene, Vancouver has outdoorsy pursuits for everyone. Some of the most popular activities? Walking or biking the 5.5-mile seawall that wraps around Stanley Park (think: Central Park, but bigger) or exploring VanDusen Botanical Garden, home to 7,500-plus plant species and an impressive Elizabethan hedge maze. But if you’re feeling extra adventurous, hitch a gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain, where, in the summer, you can hike, mountain bike, and zip-line over the treetops. Or, cross the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, which hangs 230 feet above Capilano River and, yes, wobbles.
👟 Apologies to the Vancouver Aquarium, but the city’s best attraction is its vibrant neighborhoods, which are full of character, culture, and carbs. Start in Chinatown — one of the largest in North America — to stroll through the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, dive into local history at Chinatown Storytelling Centre, snack on New Town Bakery & Restaurant’s barbecue pork buns, and go all-in on dim sum at Jade Dynasty. Next, head to Granville Island — a former industrial site turned creative hotspot. Highlights include: the bustling Public Market (grab a Honey Dip at Lee’s Donuts), art galleries galore (check out the Indigenous pieces at Wickaninnish Gallery), unique shops, and an array of theaters (catch a comedy show at The Improv Centre).
🍴 Start the day at Livia, an Italian bakery and restaurant where the pastries are decadent, the sourdough is tangy, and everything feels like it was made by someone’s nonna. For dinner, lean into the city’s diverse food scene: Vij’s Restaurant serves up inventive Indian dishes, like lamb Popsicles and portobello mushroom curry, while Maenam is a standout Thai restaurant that goes heavy on locally caught fish (see: Pacific halibut green curry, grilled salmon salad). Finally, no matter how full you think you are, end the night with a waffle cone from Earnest Ice Cream (get the Whiskey Hazelnut or Matcha Green Tea).
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
My parents and in-laws live nearby and constantly drop by unannounced, especially now that we have kids. I’ve asked them to call or text ahead, but it only helped temporarily. How do I get them to actually listen?
“It’s natural for grandparents to be excited — especially if they were heavily involved in the early months and assumed that would continue. But it’s important to be clear: Unexpected visits can disrupt your kids’ schedule and throw off the family routine. Let them know you’d love to see them regularly, and that calling ahead makes that easier for everyone.
If you’ve already asked and they keep showing up anyway, consistency is the key — remind them of the original request each time. It can also help to have the adult child speak privately with their own parents rather than leaving it to a spouse. There are plenty of ways to handle this, some less polite than others — but showing up unannounced after being asked not to isn’t polite either.”
FEATURED EXPERT:
Diane Gottsman
National etiquette expert and owner of the Protocol School of Texas
Unleash your competitive side with today's games and puzzles. Go wild.
One Fan Says She Should’ve Doubled This Peach-Pecan Crisp Because She “Can’t Stop Eating It” — And Same
theSkimm
Whoever coined the phrase “easy as pie” must’ve had a sick sense of humor. You know what’s actually easy? This Perfect Peach Crisp from Sally’s Baking — which takes about half the time of traditional pie and tastes twice as good. Essentially the love child of a peach crisp and a pecan pie, the aptly named recipe features sweet, jammy peaches bubbling under a respectable layer of toasted pecan-oat streusel. Throw some vanilla ice cream on top (not optional, we’re sure you understand), and don’t be surprised when it disappears in less time than it took to bake.
The Time Commitment: About an hour.
Key Tips: Yellow and white peaches work equally well, says Sally McKenney (aka Sally’s Baking), but for best results, “you want slightly firm (not hard) peaches with no bruises or soft spots.” That’s why she recommends buying a couple extra, letting them all sit in a paper bag for a day or two, and saving any with soft spots as a snack.
Other Takes: Sure, eating a juicy peach over the kitchen sink is glorious. But you could also try…
Skillet Meatballs With Peaches, Basil and Lime. Sweet peaches and savory meatballs shouldn’t work this well together. And yet, as one commenter put it, “SO TASTY.”
Peach Upside Down Cake. If you correctly believe cake > pie, meet your new favorite recipe — perfectly caramelized on top, light and fluffy beneath, and shockingly simpler than it looks.
Summer Panzanella Salad. Because a salad made almost entirely out of bread is the best salad there is. And no, that’s not up for debate.
Famous Men by Julie Buntin
theSkimm
How far would you go to follow your favorite author — especially if you suspected he might also be your father? In Julie Buntin’s Famous Men, aspiring writer Wilhelmina “Will” Miles flees small-town Michigan for New York City to find out. But don’t assume this is Maury in book form: Will quickly learns Nathaniel Fellow is not her father — and the two enter into something far more complicated. Or, as Will calls it, “an arrangement” in which the 62-year-old offers mentorship, proximity to power, and financial security to the 23-year-old. That is, as long as she does pretty much anything he asks, a cost that Will is forced to reckon with when disturbing information about Nathaniel’s past inevitably surfaces. We asked Buntin a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s the one place everyone needs to visit?
Buntin: I hate saying this because it’s already become impossible to visit in the summer, but the beach in Empire, Michigan — near Sleeping Bear Dunes — is the best place on Earth in July and August.
Q: What’s one thing you’re an armchair expert on?
Buntin: I know a lot about yogurt. It was an intense pregnancy craving for me. The best I’ve ever had is by The White Moustache, which, horribly, isn’t distributed in Michigan, where I live. Perfectly tart with just the right fat content — it’s ideal. And their date version might be my actual favorite food?
Q: What’s a hill you’d die on?
Buntin: I don’t think new moms should feel obligated to write thank-you notes, and I don’t think people should expect them from anyone who just had a baby. If you’re sending food or a gift, and you’re wondering if they got it — they did. New moms need to do less.
PS: Buntin called this short novel “a perfect book in every respect.” See what it is.
Doing It All, Eh? Vancouver Might Just Be Canada’s Coolest City
theSkimm
Some cities give you culture with a capital C. Others give you rocky cliffs, rugged trails, and dramatic coastline. Vancouver asks, “Why not both?” Located on Canada’s west coast, the British Columbian city is the rare kind of place where you wake up in a glittering glass tower (stay at the Douglas), kick off your morning with a hike beneath towering firs and a dip in the water (consider Kitsilano Beach a nonnegotiable), wander around a few stellar museums or eclectic neighborhoods by afternoon, and end the night with Cantonese-style dim sum. Basically, it’s the overachiever of Canadian cities — and we mean that lovingly.
🌲 Whether you are a lifelong REI loyalist or just dusted off your high school Nalgene, Vancouver has outdoorsy pursuits for everyone. Some of the most popular activities? Walking or biking the 5.5-mile seawall that wraps around Stanley Park (think: Central Park, but bigger) or exploring VanDusen Botanical Garden, home to 7,500-plus plant species and an impressive Elizabethan hedge maze. But if you’re feeling extra adventurous, hitch a gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain, where, in the summer, you can hike, mountain bike, and zip-line over the treetops. Or, cross the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, which hangs 230 feet above Capilano River and, yes, wobbles.
👟 Apologies to the Vancouver Aquarium, but the city’s best attraction is its vibrant neighborhoods, which are full of character, culture, and carbs. Start in Chinatown — one of the largest in North America — to stroll through the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, dive into local history at Chinatown Storytelling Centre, snack on New Town Bakery & Restaurant’s barbecue pork buns, and go all-in on dim sum at Jade Dynasty. Next, head to Granville Island — a former industrial site turned creative hotspot. Highlights include: the bustling Public Market (grab a Honey Dip at Lee’s Donuts), art galleries galore (check out the Indigenous pieces at Wickaninnish Gallery), unique shops, and an array of theaters (catch a comedy show at The Improv Centre).
🍴 Start the day at Livia, an Italian bakery and restaurant where the pastries are decadent, the sourdough is tangy, and everything feels like it was made by someone’s nonna. For dinner, lean into the city’s diverse food scene: Vij’s Restaurant serves up inventive Indian dishes, like lamb Popsicles and portobello mushroom curry, while Maenam is a standout Thai restaurant that goes heavy on locally caught fish (see: Pacific halibut green curry, grilled salmon salad). Finally, no matter how full you think you are, end the night with a waffle cone from Earnest Ice Cream (get the Whiskey Hazelnut or Matcha Green Tea).
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