THE WEEK
Randy Rainbow gets us in all the feels for Cuomo, but he really got us choked up singing Tom Waits’ “Martha” as a wedding song on Better Things. How to get out of responding to a text during COVID. Being good at being alone. Yep, we will watch every episode of John Krasinski’s Some Good News show. Dresses that feel like nightgowns. And by popular demand, Caftans. Easy-bake breakfast. Free photography class from Nikon. Bonus episode of Tiger King? OK, we’ll bite. Tips to really wash those fruits and veggies. If Tina Fey wrote a coronavirus episode. Philly musician Mia Johnson’s Sunday brunch is a low-key Sunday highlight. Here’s a list of all the upcoming virtual concerts to watch. Finally, we’re celebrating holidays on Zoom: “There’s a ton of permission this year not to say every word.”
OBSESSED: Eating In
Momofuko marinated soy eggs
Planning for meals during the COVID-19 pandemic has required some multi-layered decision-making: what will I eat, when will I eat, where will I source it? Is it ethical to shop from Whole Foods while workers are on strike? Is it ethical to order delivery? Nay, is it important to order locally? Do I need to wear gloves? Am I actually washing fruit with soap? Is it time to dip into those frozen Omaha steaks from Aunt June and the probably expired can of black beans? Is this that moment? Or is there another moment to come? We’ve become some sort of modern cavemen in our own apartments — except all the hunting/ gathering is a few 100 square feet.
It’s enough to make food an abysmal chore. So finding simple-to-make delicious food — often with limited ingredients — is what we crave. We want to feel the warmth and devil-may-care comfort that only a Tater Tot casserole can bring.
Leave it to TueNighters to share some of the scrumptious — and unusual — comfort foods and recipes that are getting them through these trying times:
“For some reason I can’t get enough of toasted bread with mayo, Leary’s seasoned salt, and a big fat slice of tomato.” — Adrianna Dufay
“We are all about Alton Brown’s Pantry Raid, Cookie Edition: We’ve made 3 batches and ordered more peanut butter!” — Christen Laney Erskine
“One half toasted seedy whole wheat/grain bread. Half an avocado sliced on top/mashed in. Big scoop of artichoke-spinach dip smeared over. Two to three slices of good prosciutto to round it all out. I've eaten one of these nearly every day since the stay-in-place order. I'm trying to avoid too many processed carbs and this is the perfect balance of healthy carbs, fat, and protein.” — Le Bo
“Trader Joe's frozen vegetable fried rice. I add two scrambled eggs, ginger and garlic paste, a drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil. I swear we're making this every other day! Sometimes we add bacon or chicken, too.” — Melissa Halpin
“I just had tuna casserole for the first time in decades and everyone had thirds! Total comfort food. Added garlic, sautéed broccoli and topped with panko.” — Tiffany Bell
“Cheese grits with braised greens and a fried egg, any time of day.” (pictured above) — LA Stars
“I recommend Momofuku soy-marinated eggs. Very easy to make and a good snack to have in the house” — Dawn Siff
“This crispy artichoke salad is on heavy rotation in my house. It’s like French fries in salad form.” — Jill Provost
“Lakes of Coffee” — Kate Steinberg
“Goldfish, Oreo cookies. All the things I buy for my kids and swear I won't actually eat but do anyway.” — Angela Howze Pitts
“Cuban black beans, on the stove (not Instapot), with my abuela’s recipe. The first step is to put 1 lb. of dry black beans in 10 cups of water to soak overnight. You will also need an onion, garlic, a red pepper (I just substituted jarred Goya “Fancy Pimentos”) and spices, cumin at least, but I also use coriander, oregano, and thyme.” — Anna Sylvia
“Grape Nuts cereal in skim milk, all microwaved til it gets warm, and then yogurt on top. A healthy sundae.” — Caren Lissner
“Samin Nosrat’s Buttermilk chicken. It is easy, makes the house smell amazing, and we all love it.” — Sara Gray
“Gin. Reese’s peanut butter cups. Self-righteous indignation.” — Irene Laviña
One-Pot Asian Chicken and Rice: “I've made this several times and just want to crawl into the pot and eat my way out” — Kate Hanley
Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies: “Made this for my husband’s birthday. Not sure how I came across it because I don't watch the Hallmark Channel, but let's just say it was a little TOO good!”
“A pasta I make with good Italian tuna, shallots, garlic, capers, and olive oil.” (Her recipe is in this thread) — Kim France
“I had a thing with very basic potato chips today.” — Daisy Fried
A Few Honorable Mentions:
See many, many more ideas and recipes on this TueNighters thread.
TUENIGHT 10: Tara Shaver
Tara hikes a glacier in South Iceland in winter — 3 years after a surprising total hip replacement (Photo provided by Tara)
Age: 41
Quick bio: Tara is a volunteer engagement advisor with AARP by day and moonlights as a video storyteller. She is currently promoting her COVID-19 Chronicles, which documented her household’s journey with this coronavirus, including a crowd-sourced Q&A.
“My boyfriend and I were two of the first people in Tennessee to be diagnosed with COVID-19. We had symptoms of the virus for 12-14 days and have been released from observation by public health since March 21. Since we have fully recovered, we are now participating in a COVID-19 vaccine study conducted by Vanderbilt University, and taking steps to donate plasma specifically for COVID-19 therapies.”
Beyond the Bio: “I’m a self-proclaimed city bumpkin. Born and raised in a small community outside of a small town in rural north Alabama, I love the conveniences and variety of city life, while embracing the best parts of ‘my raising.’ World traveler. Shoe junkie. List maker. Life changer. Curly Girl.”
What makes you a grown-ass lady? “Being confident in who I am, what I think, what I believe, and what skills and talents I bring to the table.”
1. On the nightstand: A stack of books I’ll probably never read and a bottle of migraine meds.
2. Can't stop/won't stop: Listening to Matchbox 20/Rob Thomas
3. Jam of the minute: Adam Hood’s song “Tuesday Night”
4. Thing I miss: Travel — even work travel!
5. ’80s crush: George Michael
6. Current crush: Corsair Triple Smoke Whiskey
7. Latest fave find: Good Medicine Beauty Lab — small, woman-owned and amazing products!
8. Last thing you lost: My cell phone. It’s an almost daily occurrence made worse by being home all damn day!
9. Best thing that happened recently: Successfully replanted a fig tree in my backyard, and it seems to be happy!
10. Looking forward to: My next vacation and dancing with my friends again IRL.
STORY: That Time Simon Le Bon Came Into My Office
By Michelle Arnold
“Like many 13-year-old girls in 1984, I often dreamed that Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon would one day randomly show up at my door. Unlike most of those girls, however, that actually ended up happening to me. And the story is nuts…”
EVENT: Grown-Ass Lady Bedtime Stories
This week’s readers — sign up here. Or go to the TueNight Facebook page at 8pm.
Wednesday, 4/8, 8pm: Amy Barr reads “Ode to the Yellow Couch and Other Thoughts on Napping”
Thursday, 4/9, 8pm: Susan Ito reads “How I Came to Love Shipping (and the Hot UPS Guy)”
Monday, 4/13, 8pm: Sara Gilliam reads “Bad Street Food Nearly Killed Me Until Celine Dion Saved My Life”