10 Things: Two Sams and a Scream
My recommendations for things to read, watch, listen to, cook, and think about this week.
Here are my ten this final January week! The first three are free; paid subscribers get an extensive recipe that includes a review of a Trader Joe’s product that you definitely need. Also, a lot of ephemera, a product, an amazing video, and some engaging reading. Enjoy!
Sam is a friend of mine, but we’re only friends because I owrote him a compelling fan letter — which is to say, I was a fan of his before we met. I bought this gorgeous comic (half of the proceeds of the pay-what-you-can story go to Survived and Punished), and felt deeply compelled to savor it. It’s a story about a mother and a daughter, and Sam has a unique talent for capturing what it means to be human with few words. He knows how to make scenes that emotionally crush you, in the best way possible. I highly recommend gobbling this up.
Sammy Rae & The Friends: “Closer to You”
Sammy Rae’s voice is from another era. It’s completely disarming; she knows how to use it like a jazz instrument. In the way I sometimes feel when I listen to opera singers or Broadway performers, I feel a blend of moved and jealous and grateful when I listen to this, because she has something you simply cannot learn. This single is fast-paced and interesting, and it takes you on an emotional journey — this all bodes well for an upcoming album. Should we go see this band in March at Metro?
Green soup
I saw this recipe in Good Housekeeping, a place where I almost never find vegan recipes. I was immediately struck by the color of the soup in the picture, and had to see if such a color was truly possible. Mine wasn’t QUITE as green, but the combo of boiled broccoli (with stems!) and coconut milk does make for a striking hue. The flavors in this soup come from ginger, jalapeño, and cilantro; make sure you’re liberal with those. And the tofu recipe is useless: instead, coat your tofu in cornstarch, crushed chili, and salt, and fry it. Otherwise, I recommend it!
You’ll need an immersion blender. If you’re seeking an $100 model, the Wirecutter recommendations are good! (You can also use a regular blender, but I learned from Isa Chandra Moskowitz to blend it in small batches, and always take the lid off between blendings to let the steam out.)
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