It’s arduous to imagine I’m saying this, however immediately marks the final time I’m formally writing this food column for Cup of Jo. I say “formally” as a result of I plan to nonetheless contribute once in a while, I’m simply pulling again so as to give attention to some upcoming private initiatives, so I gained’t be chiming in each Wednesday, the best way I’ve been for nearly seven straight years. SEVEN YEARS! How fortunate I’m to have been a constant a part of this glorious group for that lengthy — I’m so grateful to all of you for studying, for instructing me a lot, for reminding me that each single individual on earth appears to have a powerful opinion about Trader Joe’s. To mark the event, I needed to spherical up my most memorable moments…
1. Most Satisfying Factor In Normal: Giving Different Meals Writers a Platform
This has been one of the best a part of the job by far — discovering and introducing you to meals writers and cookbook authors. The Cup of Jo group is highly effective and fascinating and meals writers are at all times thrilled to be a part of it by way of their recipes. To call only a few memorable cameos: Yasmin Fahr’s Sausage Meatballs with Halloumi and Tomatoes (above; Bee Wilson’s Magic One-Pan Pasta; Sohla El-Waylly’s Chickpea and Chard Stew, Hetty McKinnon’s Cabbage Carbonara, Leah Koenig’s Chicken Soup; Odette Williams’s Pasta with Vodka Sauce; Dan Pelosi’s Pastina for a Bad Day. The quantity of expertise on the market won’t ever not amaze me.
2. Most Visited Recipes, Personally Talking
I don’t simply write this column, I use it. Like continually. There are some recipes I return to greater than others, although: Brooks Reitz’s Lazy Man’s Ratatouille, Priya Krishna’s crowd-pleasing Matar Paneer, Andrea Nguyen’s Tofu Bánh Mì. If I hadn’t already memorized my Smashed Pea Toasts with Ricotta (above), Roast Chicken and Pan-Fried Fish Sandwich, they’d be on this checklist, too. And each time a dinner-party host asks “Are you able to convey dessert?” I head to the feedback part on this post for inspiration.
3. Most Visited Recipe, Most Not too long ago: Sara Forte’s Blackened Salmon with Tropical Pico
Have you ever made this but? I imply, it’s a good recipe. I solely simply wrote about it in Could, but it’s graced my desk no less than a half dozen instances since, together with this previous weekend. Tip: I typically decide up pre-made mango salsa to fast-track the pico.
4. Most Visited Recipes, by the Numbers
However neglect what my favorites are, listed here are three posts that had been massively widespread strictly by the numbers: Taste Test: What’s the Best Vanilla Ice Cream (that shocked me), Ali Stafford’s Same-Day Peasant Bread (I bear in mind this one blowing up the web), and Five Recipes Worth Memorizing, together with my go-to tofu prep and all-purpose salad dressing.
5. Most Controversial Second: How to be a Good Guest
I had no concept I’d be poking such a bear with the subject of “modern lateness.” Lesson discovered: Most of you do not need dinner visitors exhibiting up quarter-hour late, even when they textual content forward to let the host know.
6. Second Most Controversial Second: The #1 Thing I’d Tell New Parents About Family Dinner
I stand by it to today: When you’ve got a child underneath age three, don’t trouble.
7. Most Enjoyable to Write: The Fundamentals
In pursuit of the brand new and the novel, it’s simple to lose sight of the truth that individuals don’t essentially must know methods to de-bone a sea trout — most cooks simply wish to make a great dinner each night time and have a nice time doing it. Writing about primary, actual recipes has at all times been my wheelhouse, so it is smart that they’ve been essentially the most enjoyable posts to write down. I’m pondering: The Only 5 Salad Dressings You Need; 9 Easy Family Meals We’ve Loved to Death (that was hilariously enjoyable); How to Upgrade a Regular Green Salad; an ode to Frozen Vegetables and one to a humble head of cabbage. Within the sweets division, it was my Old-School Chocolate Mousse (above), plus my Crisp for All Seasons and Dorie Greenspan’s Everything Cake, each of which could possibly be categorized as a “one recipe suits all.” I additionally suppose I must make that mousse this weekend.
8. Most Viral: A Potato Salad Trick
I’ve at all times believed that if I can provide readers even the tiniest method to make their lives higher or happier, then I’ve completed my job. There was by no means a extra clear (or tiny) instance of this than the time I instructed individuals “When making potato salad, toss your potatoes within the dressing whereas the potatoes are nonetheless heat and due to this fact optimally absorbent.” It’s the preferred submit I’ve written on Cup of Jo.
9. Most Impactful Remark: “Eat much less meat,” as an alternative of “Eat no meat”
Extra particularly, in response to my e-book The Weekday Vegetarians, a Cup of Jo reader wrote one thing like “It’s a greater method to persuade extra individuals to eat much less meat, than to persuade fewer individuals to eat zero meat.” I want I might discover the remark and the reader who mentioned this (is it you?) so I might thank them for each one of many 100 instances I repeated it at a e-book occasion or in an interview. So nicely mentioned, and so true.
10. Most Emotional: Secrets for Stress-Free Family Dinners
I bear in mind when Joanna requested me to write down this story — an evergreen subject — and I believed, I’ve written about household dinner for a dozen years now, how am I going to give you one thing new? However I had by no means written in regards to the subject as an empty nester wanting again, and it shocked me how simply the phrases got here, and the way emotional it was to write down the story and notice I used to be the “Perspective Particular person” now. Eras finish. Children develop up. And I’m so fortunate I’ve been in a position to write about all of it right here on Cup of Jo.
Did I miss something? Thanks for studying, everybody. You may at all times discover me on my publication, Dinner: A Love Story. And I can say with nice confidence that you’re in wonderful fingers with my successors: Alex Beggs, Christina Chaey, Kelsey Miller, and lots of different proficient writers Joanna has lined up for 2025. I, for one, can not wait.
P.S. An ode to rituals (the primary time my byline ever appeared on Cup of Jo) and how to get your kids to talk at dinner.
(Photographs: Chocolate mousse, Yossy Arefi; Bread, Alexandra Stafford; Household dinner: Chelsea Cavanaugh)
