It’s exhausting to consider I’m saying this, however right this moment marks the final time I’m formally writing this meals column for Cup of Jo. I say “formally” as a result of I plan to nonetheless contribute on occasion, I’m simply pulling again so as to give attention to some upcoming private initiatives, so I received’t be chiming in each Wednesday, the way in which 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 particular person on earth appears to have a powerful opinion about Dealer Joe’s. To mark the event, I wished to spherical up my most memorable moments…
1. Most Satisfying Factor In Common: Giving Different Meals Writers a Platform
This has been the most effective 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 interesting and meals writers are all the time thrilled to be a part of it via their recipes. To call just some 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 Hen Soup; Odette Williams’s Pasta with Vodka Sauce; Dan Pelosi’s Pastina for a Dangerous 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 continuously. 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 Hen and Pan-Fried Fish Sandwich, they’d be on this checklist, too. And each time a dinner-party host asks “Are you able to deliver dessert?” I head to the feedback part on this put up for inspiration.
3. Most Visited Recipe, Most Lately: 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 Might, but it’s graced my desk a minimum of a half dozen occasions since, together with this previous weekend. Tip: I usually 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 vastly widespread strictly by the numbers: Style Take a look at: What’s the Greatest Vanilla Ice Cream (that stunned me), Ali Stafford’s Identical-Day Peasant Bread (I bear in mind this one blowing up the web), and 5 Recipes Price Memorizing, together with my go-to tofu prep and all-purpose salad dressing.
5. Most Controversial Second: The best way to be a Good Visitor
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 company exhibiting up quarter-hour late, even when they textual content forward to let the host know.
6. Second Most Controversial Second: The #1 Factor I’d Inform New Mother and father About Household Dinner
I stand by it to this present day: When you’ve got a child beneath age three, don’t hassle.
7. Most Enjoyable to Write: The Fundamentals
In pursuit of the brand new and the novel, it’s straightforward to lose sight of the truth that folks don’t essentially must know methods to de-bone a sea trout — most cooks simply wish to make a very good dinner each evening and have a pleasing time doing it. Writing about fundamental, actual recipes has all the time been my wheelhouse, so it is smart that they’ve been probably the most enjoyable posts to jot down. I’m considering: The Solely 5 Salad Dressings You Want; 9 Simple Household Meals We’ve Beloved to Dying (that was hilariously enjoyable); The best way to Improve a Common Inexperienced Salad; an ode to Frozen Greens and one to a humble head of cabbage. Within the sweets division, it was my Outdated-College Chocolate Mousse (above), plus my Crisp for All Seasons and Dorie Greenspan’s Every part Cake, each of which may very well be categorized as a “one recipe matches all.” I additionally assume I must make that mousse this weekend.
8. Most Viral: A Potato Salad Trick
I’ve all the time believed that if I may give 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 advised folks “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 most well-liked put up 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 folks to eat much less meat, than to persuade fewer folks to eat zero meat.” I want I might discover the remark and the reader who stated this (is it you?) so I might thank them for each one of many 100 occasions I repeated it at a e book occasion or in an interview. So nicely stated, and so true.
10. Most Emotional: Secrets and techniques for Stress-Free Household Dinners
I bear in mind when Joanna requested me to jot 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 concerning the subject as an empty nester trying again, and it stunned me how simply the phrases got here, and the way emotional it was to jot down the story and understand I used to be the “Perspective Particular person” now. Eras finish. Youngsters 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 all the time discover me on my e-newsletter, Dinner: A Love Story. And I can say with nice confidence that you’re in wonderful palms with my successors: Alex Beggs, Christina Chaey, Kelsey Miller, and plenty of different proficient writers Joanna has lined up for 2025. I, for one, can’t wait.
P.S. An ode to rituals (the primary time my byline ever appeared on Cup of Jo) and methods to get your youngsters to speak at dinner.
(Pictures: Chocolate mousse, Yossy Arefi; Bread, Alexandra Stafford; Household dinner: Chelsea Cavanaugh)
