Happy New Year Chickens
the turn of the century was 25 clucking años ago
Hello and welcome to The Big Night In. We talk recipes, restaurants, and the occasional bit of drivel. If somehow you have slipped into my house and are still not subscribed, don’t worry, we can fix that:
Happy new year chickens, I’m sitting on my parents sofa this evening. The feathers are poking my shoulders as a hobbyist acupuncturist might. Nonetheless, it’s deep-set and incredibly comfortable. I want to usher in a new year of this wee newsletter with an easy summer recipe, your first bit of very serious important news this year, and a conversation about ins & outs (not in that order); I do hope you're sitting comfortably.
If you’re a serial scroller who’s vowing to stop scrolling this year then you may have come across a host of ins & outs. Ins being what’s ‘in’ this year and outs, obviously, being what’s ‘out’. Usually written in the notes app, usually better than new years resolutions, and sometimes a little priggish. I like the resurgence of a teen magazine listicle; swings and roundabouts of trends make me feel alive. Feels kinky.
In the ‘25 model of this trend, instead of ‘lip gloss, diet coke, side parts’ we get to see ‘lip gloss, salty french butter, birdwatching, clubbing as a form of exercise, & death to gerontocracy’. It’s a bit personal, bit sexy, bit helpful, and very very screenshottable.
If you read this newsletter then you know I am partial to a Negroni. So when I came across an ‘out’ from a stranger on Substack that listed ‘Negronis and rage bait’ I saw red. I have never been more angry and impressed at the same time. There are claw-marks in this-here feathery sofa; don’t tell my mother.
I wouldn’t be carrying on about in/out lists if I didn’t have my own one to share. As per above, it’s written in my notes app, it’s better than new years resolutions, and it’s a tad priggish.
As with last years list, I’ll probably look at it once or twice then forget it ever existed. Maybe not, but therein lies the fun.
Before we move out of outs, if you’re interested in what 500 professionals think (for better or worse) will be in and out in their industries this year, check out Feed Me’s extensive but insightful list here.
If you’re new here, we have a quick-fire sofa chat in these longer letters. They can involve anything but often they contain something funny to dissect with your friends on your own sofa and an odd bit of news. So, without further ado:
There is a book where a woman falls in love with a door and TW: this story involves door knob insertion. Before you go thinking my goodreads is full of inanimate object smut, I was lying in bed on a three-way facetime with my besties when they began prattling off the books they’d read recently. Somehow, we are not above door porn, and I’m okay with that. The book is called unhinged, it has nearly 6000 reviews; scroll at your leisure.
For other fanfic and smut babies, this 60-minute podcast about the real-life drama of cat fan-fiction involves hierarchy, high-stakes deception, and a love decagon (a 10-way love triangle).
If you’ve never played the game ‘fishbowl’ before, it’s f*cking fun with anyone of any age. It’s also your best bet at getting every family member involved, engaged, and to the end of an activity. There is a WikiHow on the rules, but remember to include something ridiculous when writing your phrases, because the harder they are, the more fun the game becomes. Last week we took a punt on a boys v girls edition and watching the boys try to guess ‘eyebrow microblading’ was pee-inducing funny.
If you swore off acid and are desperate for a comical, oversaturated, gay fever dream then watch this youtube series. It’s got 8 episodes, came out 8 years ago, was written by Brian Jordan Alvarez (writer and lead of the new show ‘English Teacher’), and it’s weird. One of the leads is suing Alvarez for sexual assault right now, days after he was nominated for an Emmy mind you. It’s enough to send anyone into a tizzy but it all makes for great entertainment.
I was forced into taking a class on typography for advertising, and from now until forever, I will not be able to unsee a widow. A widow is where a word sits by itself on the last line of a column or a paragraph. Designers can’t stand it.
Thank you for tuning into sofa chat, we’ll be back when we’re back.
Now, onto food.
I have spent the holidays writing up recipes from the last year, testing new ones on my unsuspecting family, and generally not relaxing as hard as I should be. I now have a giant dossier of over 40 recipes for summer (and not summer tbh). Many are free, many are not, please don’t be mad. I won’t be mad if you only want to consume my free content. I eat up lots of free content too. However, if you do jump on board for even a month, I promise I’ll cry. Big bawler. If you need a comparison, it’s cheaper than a pair of new jeans. I’ve been frantic and meticulous in my preparation of all (most) of the recipes, so get excited.
Speaking of, here, have a Berry Cobbler recipe. (To my parents who are wondering where the recipe is, it’s a link, you’re welcome). Speaking of my family, they now request this dessert every year it’s that good, except my dad because he doesn’t like hot fruit. Loser.
