10 Things: Ravens, Ravenousness, Raves

All my recommendations for what to read, subscribe to, read again, also read, play, and bake this week

1. SUBSCRIBE:

   The Old Shoebox
   by Erin Mc.

   

   I read a lot of Substack newsletters, and a lot of them are good; but this is the rare one that I never skip. It’s relatively new, and Erin is a personal friend of mine, and still I think this newsletter has real legs. The topics are exactly the kinds of topics I care about most. I think this week’s newsletter is about bread and butter? Like… literally. And then there’s one about calming things, and one about hibernating… you get it. It’s up our alley. We want it.

2. READ (COMIC): “Hey Chubbs” by Christopher Blackwell and Solomon Brager

   

   Via the webcomic, published in Jewish Currents.

   Sent to me by a wonderful person named Corinne who took one of my bird painting classes, this is a gorgeous true comic about a raven who visits an inmate in an unnamed prison. The artist translates a story told to him over the phone by Solomon Brager, who has recently transferred from a prison with no window. The window makes a whole world of difference, and the message of this comic is powerful and exactly what you might need right now. Thanks, Christopher and Solomon. Thanks, Chubbs the raven.

3. MAKE: Shortbread cookies, but with add-ins

   

   Groundhog Day shortbread cookies, now with CHOPPED ROSEMARY so BABIES WILL LIKE IT MORE!

   Shortbread is very easy to make, and it is especially easy to veganize, because it doesn’t have eggs. Just find a good butter dupe that you like, and you’re in business. The version I like to make is 2.5 cups flour + .75 cups powdered sugar +1.25 cups vegan butter, + 1/2 teaspoons vanilla (recipe linked above). THAT IS ALL THERE IS IN THE RECIPE. NO OTHER THINGS. But recently I started doing little mix-ins to my shortbread, to see what legs it might take on, and I’ve been so surprised with how a little something adds a lot! I’ve tried the first four and can vouch that they’re all very good (the chopped rosemary and flower salt was a great savory shortbread) — the rest are on my list to try soon.

   • Finely chopped rosemary and flower salt

   • Vanilla bean (scraped from the pod or vanilla paste)

   • Citrus zest (lemon, orange, or lime)

   • Sesame seeds

   • Chocolate chips or chunks (dark, milk, or white)

   • Toffee bits

   • Coconut flakes

   • Toasted pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios (chopped)

   • Crushed pretzels (for a salty-sweet crunch)

   • Dried cranberries, cherries, or apricots (chopped)

   • Lavender buds (just a pinch!)

   • Rosewater or orange blossom water (a tiny amount goes a long way)

   • Freeze-dried raspberries or strawberries (crushed for color and tang)

   • Flaky sea salt (sprinkled on top before baking)

   • Black pepper & honey

   • Earl Grey or chai spices (tea leaves crushed into the dough)