The Only Newsletter I Care About This Week
Not too late to go in on my birthday gift.
Sadly, I don't have a picture of this soup, so here's a photo of me stirring an empty pot instead.
Photo credit: Lovey Noun
Cheddar Corn Chowder
Ina Garten
In spite of the fact that September 24 is habitually one of the hottest days of year here in Southern California, I have always insisted that my birthday not only technically belongs to Autumn, but also, spiritually. I will wear sweaters. I will buy sharpened pencils. I will demand soup.
I may always be sweating over this simmering pot of onions and late summer corn, but it has long served as my desired birthday meal. The start of a new chapter. A throwback to my childhood. Justified over spending on the good sharp white cheddar. Extra bacon please.
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces bacon, chopped
1/4 cup good olive oil
6 cups chopped yellow onions (4 large onions)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
6 cups medium-diced white boiling potatoes, unpeeled (2 pounds)
10 cups corn kernels, fresh (10 ears) or frozen (3 pounds)
2 cups half-and-half
1/2 pound sharp white Cheddar cheese, grated
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large stockpot on medium-high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.
Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cobs and blanch the kernels for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain. (If using frozen corn, you can skip this step.) Add the corn to the soup, then add the half-and-half and Cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon.
30 Lessons by 30
Incomplete and in varying degrees of specificity and cheese.
Bare with me. I’m aging.
Never too early to start using eye cream regularly
Saving money is boring, but financial security actually does buy you happiness and almost more importantly, it buys you options. Save.
Literally have never once regretted going on a walk.
Half the recipe. You really don’t want to eat a whole 9x12” pan of lasagna alone. You think you do. But you really don’t.
Hips, thighs and shoulders are powerful. Actually, all bodies are magical. Don’t waste your time on being anything but grateful for every square inch of yours.
Don’t judge your career success by the paycheck. Consistently working hard and being nice to people is moving you up the ladder whether you see it reflected in your bank account right away or not.
The thing about you that is the weirdest is probably what will be your superpower. Define it. Embrace it. Share it. Make a damn meal out of it.
Ask for more money. Be ready to explain why you believe you deserve it and what you will continue doing to earn it. But ya gotta ask.
If at first you don’t succeed, try again. But then, if you fail again, pause, assess and redefine your goals. And then only try again if it’s worth it and continues to align with your goals. (This rule has exceptions. Your choices affect others.)
Dating is awkward and sucks. Honestly, that’s all I’ve got.
Only buy it if you feel great in it. Like GREAT.
The most wonderful act of self love / habit I’ve ever been able to adopt is having replacement toiletries ready for when you run out. I.e. You finish a tube of toothpaste and there’s another one waiting in the drawer. It only takes one time of buying double to get this habit going.
Life feels instantly more manageable after eating an apple and drinking a glass of water.
Google “Ideal beauty in ANY LOCATION IN THE WORLD in ANY TIME IN HISTORY.” Do this 3 times, changing the location/era each time. Welllll well well would ya look at that. It’s different each time! Opinions on beauty standards / health / bodies are constantly changing and being marketed to us in sneaky ways. They are TRENDS. Your body and it’s shape are between you and you. Also maybe your doctor. But also maybe not.
Get things in writing. Define expectations. Get signatures at the bottom of the page. This doesn’t make you difficult or high maintenance. It sets boundaries, success criteria and provides a road map. You’ll regret when you don’t and you’ll be so glad when you do.
Avoiding chores? Turn off all of the lights and light a candle. Boom. Now sweeping is self care.
Daily decisions and tiny positive habits are like a 401K. You may not notice any changes on a day to day basis, but 40 years from now, you’re literally a millionaire.
Hating / talking about hating social media/the internet/reality tv/pop culture does not make you any smarter. It just makes you less relatable and harder to talk to at a party.
Dinner Parties: Bring a hostess gift OR help with the dishes. Doing both makes you an angel. Doing neither is rude. Send a thank you note/email/text always.
Bone in. Skin on.
Just start. It’s never as bad or as hard or as long as you think it will be.
The whole idea of ‘no one is actually talking about you’ is a lie. Some people are probably talking. But honestly, let them. And just keep doing your thing. They’ll get bored and move on and you’ll still be growing. That said, PEOPLE AREN’T THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AS MUCH AS YOU THINK THEY ARE.
Prioritize in person, physically present time with your people. Showing up and physically being in the flesh is invaluable and irreplaceable.
Moving your body is a gift and after you catch your breath, it should leave you happier than when you started. If you’re like wtf are you talking about, try zumba.
Weddings
Rehearsal dinners > The actual wedding
A cocktail hour that is longer than 1 hr is a failed marriage in the making
There’s a reason why wedding music is wedding music. It’s because it’s a hit at weddings. Stop fighting the YMCA and just bump that shit.
Refill your ice tray every morning in the downtime while the coffee is brewing and you’ll never run out of ice.
Working with friends: either do it for free or charge full price.
Smile at people. Not in like a Man Passes You on the Street and Yells “SMILE. YOU’RE TOO PRETTY BE FROWNIN LIKE THAT!” way because that’s gross. But in a ‘We’re all doing our best and I don’t know you, but it’s a Tuesday and we’re both alive and in the freezer aisle, so here’s a smile because high fiving strangers is weird.’
Seek wisdom over happiness.
Life is relentless. So, slow down, and keep going.
Did I miss anything?
(Of course I did)
Please please please reply to this email with your thoughts/advice/lessons.
Big or small.
I'll take it all!