EDITOR’S NOTE
Happy Saturday. After some incredible weather here in DC, it’s supposed to rain this weekend. And while I’d never admit this to my winter self, I’m secretly relieved. It’s the perfect excuse to stay inside and…
Snag something from this status sweatshirt brand’s highly anticipated Target collab before it sells out — and based on the hype, it’ll be fast. I’m eyeing the shacket, but I’ll take anything.
Ditch my beloved barrel jeans for this ’90s denim style, which is suddenly everywhere and feels like a petite girl’s dream (read: no alterations necessary). Fashion People, my wallet thanks you.
Dig into The Best Flavor™ of this cult-favorite Trader Joe’s treat. After an exceptionally long wait, it’s finally returned — and to quote one fan, “I cannot get one of these without eating the whole thing in one sitting!”
Learn how to pull off summer’s most unexpected color trend, which happens to be 70% of my closet. It might not scream easy breezy, but take a look at the first pic and tell me it’s not impossibly chic.
Raid my childhood bedroom for the summer camp-coded jewelry that’s having a moment. It’s cooler than I remember and dangerously close to bringing back those J.Crew statement necklaces. Honestly, I’m not mad about it.
— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC
This Is the Easy Weeknight Dinner All Others Should Aspire To
theSkimm
Not sure what to cook for dinner? Or if you even want to cook dinner? We get it — which is why Smitten Kitchen’s Miso Chicken and Rice is on permanent rotation. Born out of necessity when creator Deb Perelman’s kitchen wasn’t kitchen-ing, the blissfully simple recipe skips all the fussy stuff: no stovetop browning, no stack of dirty pots and pans, no juggling 10 things at once. And there’s only 10 minutes of prep, if that. Just toss sliced shiitake mushrooms and chicken thighs in a savory, umami-rich marinade, then add everything to a baking dish with rice, chicken broth, and ginger. From there, your oven does all the work — leaving you with 35-ish minutes to do literally anything else. Or nothing at all. Your call.
The Time Commitment: Approximately 45 minutes.
Key Tips: As Perelman discovered during kitchen-gate, you can make this dish in a rice cooker — worth keeping in mind for warmer months, when turning on the oven feels like a personal attack. It’s also endlessly riffable: Swap mushrooms with whatever veggies you have, sub tofu for chicken, and use dry sherry instead of Shaoxing wine.
Other Takes: For more dinners you can prep in 10 minutes or less, try...
Marry Me Chickpeas and Orzo. Inspired by the massively viral dish, this riff is just as creamy, just as dreamy, and so good that one commenter’s family wrote a song about it.
Skillet Gnocchi With Miso Butter and Asparagus. If you’ve never pan-fried your store-bought gnocchi, this supremely springy recipe will be a revelation. Don’t believe us? Just look at the 6,000 five-star reviews.
Sticky Beef Pita Nachos with Herby Tahini Sauce. Consider this the Mediterranean answer to the already-perfect bar food — and proof that pita chips have been the superior toppings vessel all along.
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
theSkimm
What happens when a tradwife influencer wakes up trapped in actual 1855 — forced to survive the life she’s been performing for millions of followers? That’s the premise of Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. The debut novel centers on Natalie, who’s built an empire around the ridiculously picturesque life on Yesteryear Ranch, where she purports to spend all day baking her famous sourdough, tending to a flock of chickens she calls “the ladies,” supporting her cowboy husband, and raising their ever-expanding brood of kids. What her followers don’t know? There are nannies doing the heavy lifting, industrial-grade appliances behind the rustic facade, and producers orchestrating it all. Then one morning, Natalie finds herself transported to the mid-19th century, complete with the expectation that she’ll haul firewood and handwash clothes until her fingers bleed. Is it a twisted reality show? Time travel? Divine punishment? TBD, but Natalie unravels faster than a handsewn smock — which is about as quickly as it took Anne Hathaway to sign on to play Natalie in the film adaptation of this part satire, part propulsive thriller.
Welcome to Sancerre, the Loire Valley Wine Town That Tourists Keep Missing
theSkimm
Remember when Belle complained about her boring provincial French town? She definitely wasn’t talking about Sancerre. Situated on the eastern edge of the Loire Valley (think: Burgundy’s chill younger sibling), the medieval hilltop town could easily be mistaken for a live-action fairytale, with steep cobblestone streets, centuries-old buildings, and rolling vineyards as far as the eye can see (stay at the aptly named Panoramic Hotel). It’s unbearably stunning, sure — but the real reason to go? The food scene punches above its weight, the wine is exceptional (just ask Taylor Swift), and the crowds are basically non-existent. In other words, if Sancerre is just “that pricier Sauvignon Blanc” on the wine list, prepare to have your mind blown.
🍷 As the name suggests, Sancerre wine is everywhere. Start at Maison des Sancerre for a primer on the town’s most famous export, then book tastings at Domaine Reverdy Ducroux (don’t miss the skin-contact Vin Orange) and Domaine Henri Bourgeois, where you can tour the scenic estate. Fair warning: Ordering Sancerre back home will never be the same.
🧀 Obviously, all that wine needs cheese. Enter: Crottin de Chavignol, the area’s claim to dairy fame. Pick up a round (or five) of the tangy goat cheese at Fromagerie Dubois-Boulay or La Bête Noire Sancerroise, where you can also meet the goats behind it.
🏰 The Loire Valley is home to more than 300 storybook-worthy châteaux. While the Tour Des Fiefs is all that remains of the 14th-century Château de Sancerre (climb to the top for unparalleled views), Château de la Bussière is well worth the hour drive. There, you can explore the castle’s rooms, take a rowboat out on the pond, and wander the award-winning gardens — particularly stunning in late May and June, when the roses are in bloom.
🍽️ You came for the wine, but you’ll happily stay for the food — especially at La Pomme D’or, a Michelin-starred spot serving up exceptional seafood. Pro tip: Go at lunch for a €50 menu, and don’t leave without picking up a mille-feuille at its sister pastry shop.
🗺️ The Loire Valley is full of day trip-worthy towns and villages. Head to Bourges to admire its magnificent Gothic cathedral, gardens, and half-timbered houses. Or go even further west to Valençay for a jaw-dropping Renaissance castle and the town’s famous pyramid-shaped goat cheese.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Every year, my partner’s family takes the same week-long beach vacation. I’ve gone before, but I’m not a beach person — and it’s a significant chunk of PTO. Is there a graceful way to bow out?
“First, congrats on tuning into your needs. Second, relationships benefit from give-and-take, and you’ve already shown flexibility by attending in previous years, so it’s fair to opt out occasionally — especially when it costs you a week of PTO. When you’re ready to share your decision, start with your partner to let them know how you feel. Then you can gracefully share with their family by saying something like: ‘I truly appreciate the invitation, and as much as I enjoy spending time with you all, I’m going to use my PTO this year for some much-needed rest.’ This way, you honor your needs, while showing the family you appreciate their offer.”
Skimm’d by: Jamie Feldman and Melissa Goldberg. Fact-checked by Barbara Kean.
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