Eat, Read, Go: Strawberry Brownies, “Alan Opts Out,” and the Finger Lakes

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. This weekend, I’m traveling to Philadelphia for a friend’s baby shower, which means I’ll have plenty of uninterrupted time for my life’s calling: scrolling. A few of my best finds?

• I refuse to buy into the Flip-Flop Renaissance, but I can’t resist this sandal comeback. Does it remind me of every ’90s mom who shopped at REI? Sure. Is it cooler and surprisingly rich-looking? Absolutely.

• This genius recipe for Blueberry Muffin Tops — obviously the only part that matters. In the words of one commenter: “If this isn’t more evidence that we need more women in leadership I don’t know what is.”

• For the first time in my life, I’ve gone a month without biting my nails (builder gel, I salute you). I’ll celebrate with an Italian manicure: simple, sophisticated, and super flattering for short nails.

• I’m only in Philly for 24 hours, but I packed three days’ worth of clothing, which is pushing the limits of my Longchamp. So these bags that “Can Fit Your Entire Life Inside” landed at exactly the right moment. (The Madewell one is already in my cart.)

• At long last, the world has caught on to my go-to ice cream order, which for years I could only find at Dairy Queen. The only people more thrilled than me? My parents. They taught me well.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Strawberry Brownies Exist — and One Fan Would Give Them “More Than 5 Stars” If She Could

theSkimm

Let’s get this out of the way: No, A Cozy Kitchen’s Strawberry Brownies with White Chocolate Glaze look nothing like the brownies you’ve made before. And that’s the point. Perfect for strawberry season, the recipe comes together in one bowl, with just 10 minutes of prep and simple ingredients: A combination of fresh and freeze-dried berries delivers a double dose of strawberry flavor, while a handful of pantry staples gives it that crackly top and chewy center. Finish with a white-chocolate strawberry glaze, and the result lands somewhere between a strawberry cake and fudgy brownie — which is a wildly delicious place to be.

The Time Commitment: Just over an hour and a half — but the brownies spend almost all of that time baking and cooling.

Key Tips: For the silkiest glaze, creator Adrianna Adarme (author of the forthcoming A Cozy Kitchen Cookbook) says to use a hand mixer and sift the freeze-dried strawberry powder before incorporating it. And if you want a more vibrant pink hue, a little food coloring goes a long way.

Other Takes: In case you needed more reasons to buy and eat way too many strawberries, try…

• Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. Fresh fruit + swirls of strawberry preserves + a buttery crumb topping = all the magic of the original, with a fraction of the fuss.

• Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake. Light, fluffy, and covered in an obscenely good strawberry cream-cheese frosting, it’s no wonder one commenter says their family requests it for every birthday.

• White Chocolate Strawberry Muffins. Not that you need an excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast — but watch the creator squeeze these bakery-worthy muffins, and you’ll be fully convinced.

Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum

theSkimm

Are you one bad day away from leaving your job, burning it all down, and going off-grid? In Courtney Maum’s Alan Opts Out, someone finally does. When advertising exec Alan Anderson bombs the biggest pitch of his career, he does the only rational thing: drops out of the rat race and moves into his daughters’ playhouse in the backyard of their fancy Greenwich, CT, home. One person who isn’t thrilled by this development? Alan’s wife, Vivian, who is this close to joining the town’s elite women’s club. She just needs the pricey swimming pool built, a few more social auditions nailed, and a husband who acts like a normal person. (And don’t get her started on their daughters.) Expect a funny and timely tale about ambition, consumerism, and the cost of keeping up. We asked Maum a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: If you could be the world’s leading expert on one thing, what would it be?

Maum: Why rebrands are a mistake. If I could lecture for the rest of my life on why it was an error for Dunkin’ Donuts to drop the “Donuts” from their logo, I’d happily do so.

Q: What’s your shortcut to relaxation?

Maum: My Shakti acupressure mat. When inner calm [feels out of reach], 20 minutes on those gruesome spikes forces me to find it.

Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?

Maum: Greek yogurt tastes like cardboard.

PS: To learn what hobby Maum says works like an edible, read our extended author interview here.

The Best Weekend Getaway in New York Is Hiding in Plain Sight

theSkimm

When it comes to upstate New York getaways, the Catskills are probably the first that come to mind. But allow us to (politely) redirect your compass west — to the Finger Lakes. Specifically, Ithaca, the ideal home base for exploring the criminally underrated region. Once you’ve arrived (stay at the historic Argos Inn), prepare for incredible hikes along rocky gorges and cascading waterfalls, lazy afternoons on the lake, rich history (see: the birthplace of the women’s suffrage movement in nearby Seneca Falls), farm-to-table feasts, day trips to charming villages and towns (don’t skip Skaneateles), and some of the world’s most interesting rieslings. We’ll raise a glass to that.

🥾 We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t tell you to get outside. Sure, the 11 Finger Lakes are an obvious draw (think: boating, kayaking, paddleboarding), but the region also boasts hundreds of miles of trails, plus an impressive number of waterfalls — many right in or around Ithaca. Some of the most popular? The Taughannock Falls Gorge Trail (for dramatic views of a waterfall taller than Niagara Falls); Watkins Glen State Park, where the gorge path winds around 19 waterfalls and looks like something out of a fantasy novel; and Robert Treman State Park (bring a bathing suit so you can swim under the Lower Falls). But if you’re more into peaceful strolls than uphill climbs (we get it), the Cornell Botanic Gardens offer a stunningly serene escape.

🍷 With more than 100 wineries, the Finger Lakes are essentially New York’s version of Napa — except they’re much more affordable and relaxed. Whether you follow one of the established wine trails (we’re partial to Seneca Lake, the largest and arguably most idyllic) or map out your own sip-and-stroll, expect lots of riesling, chardonnay, and cab franc — the region’s main characters. Be sure to stop by: Ravines Wine Cellars (a pioneer of the area’s bone-dry, super minerally riesling); Forge Cellars (the A+ atmosphere and charcuterie can’t be beat); and Red Newt Cellars (the semidry riesling is an excellent summer sipper).

🍴 Visiting on a weekend? For the best start to your day, fuel up at Gimme! Coffee’s Cayuga Street location, then head to the Ithaca Farmers Market to pick up fresh produce, exquisite baked goods, and locally made honey and jams. When you’re ready for dinner, swing by Le Café Cent-Dix for superb moules-frites, beef tartare, and other French-bistro classics. Or, make a reservation at F.L.X. Table in Geneva, where the seasonal tasting menu — served at a single 14- to 16-seat farmhouse table — is well worth the drive. Finally, cap it all off with a scoop from Purity Ice Cream, a local staple since 1936.

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

I’m in a friend trio, but I’ve started spending more time with one because our husbands are friends too. Now, I dread when the third asks what we’ve been up to — I don’t want to hurt her feelings or lie, but no one likes her husband. What should I do?

“It’s perfectly OK to have different friends in different groups. The issue is the trio dynamic: What started as six has quietly become four, [and that shift can feel like a betrayal even when it isn’t]. 

What often makes it tricky is the personality of the person being left out. If she makes you feel uncomfortable, gets angry, or gives you the silent treatment, you can address it directly: ‘I value our friendship, but I have other friends I enjoy too. Sometimes I’m going to make plans with other people — it doesn’t mean I value our relationship any less.’ Less is more here. There’s no lengthy explanation required.

If she responds aggressively, it might be a sign of a larger issue in the friendship. Healthy friendships leave room for both people to have other friends — sometimes together, sometimes not. You shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells to keep a friend happy. Or worry that she may be stalking your social media to see what you’re doing and who you’re with.”

Skimm’d by: Julia Reinstein and Melissa Goldberg. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.