December's Six
Image Credits: upper-right tile courtesy of Netflix; lower-left tile courtesy of Cozys; lower-right tile courtesy of Middle Brother.
The aim of this series is to corral some favorite things and share them in a short and sweet post. Whether it’s a favorite song, book, recipe, tip, or product, hopefully you will find some inspiration in this list.
1. If you’ve ever been to Tender Greens and ordered the tomato soup, then you can imagine why a person might want to recreate it at home. It is delicious, and somewhat surprisingly so because unlike the usual recipes, Tender Green’s recipe doesn’t depend on cream to up the tasty factor. My knock-off version is inspired by, but not quite the same, as Tender Green’s offering. It is also the perfect way to use tomatoes when they’re out of season. Give the following recipe a try for a tomato soup that’s intense on tomato flavor, hearty but not heavy, and easy to boot. This recipe is imprecise because it can easily be eye-balled and adjusted based on the desired number of servings. Plan on using several tomatoes per person. You will need: olive oil, salt, halved tomatoes (an inexpensive variety, like Roma, works just fine), fresh basil, and sourdough bread. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees—the low and slow cooking method will make your tomatoes taste amazing. Drizzle the tomato halves in olive oil and generously salt. Bake the tomatoes on a sheet pan for about an hour. In the meantime, prepare the croutons by dicing the sourdough bread into large cubes and toasting them in a frying pan with a bit of oil. When the tomatoes are ready, transfer them—along with every last bit of the juice—to a stock pot and mash gently. Don’t go overboard with the mashing as you want the soup to be chunky. Serve topped with the sourdough croutons and torn fresh basil. PS: I prefer to keep the skin on the tomatoes, not only for the sake of ease, but also because I think it’s in keeping with the “rustic” quality of this soup. Also, while I usually don’t shy away from garlic, there is something so delicious about almost-unadulterated tomato flavor. That said, if you want to add garlic, add it the sheet pan so that it cooks alongside the tomatoes.
2. In addition to using olive oil for the aforementioned soup, use it as a makeup remover. Oil cleansing is all the rage, and for good reason. It is so much gentler than face wipes and harsh cleansers, and so much more effective. There are great oil cleansers on the market, but they are pricey and can easily set you back $30. Luckily, olive oil does the trick and especially works wonders for removing stubborn eye makeup.
3. Perusing my Netflix recommendations, I came across Adam Sandler’s 100% Fresh special. Full disclosure, I think a lot of people love to hate him and I am not one of those people. I will always have a soft spot for the Wedding Singer and I’m not embarrassed to admit that Happy Gilmore never fails to make me laugh. This special is funny, and more than once, caught me off-guard when it was touching. A tribute to Chris Farley and a sweet refresh of “Growing Old With You” (dedicated to his wife) made for a multi-dimensional and surprisingly fresh comedy special. Aptly-named, 100% Fresh is worth the watch.
4. On the subject of watching TV, I have a blanket recommendation to make your couch that much more inviting. Cozys makes jersey-knit blankets that are super soft, but conveniently not bulky. The blankets come in several sizes, although I prefer the family-friendly XL size. At 58”x97” for $58, the prices are quite reasonable, especially since the blankets are handmade. I love this cactus print and this stripe print, although there are many more great options. Check out their beautiful baby swaddles and gowns too!
5. Two “gardeners” have a weakness for Russian literature and have made their way through many of the classics over the years. Turgenev is a favorite, and while Fathers and Sons is his masterpiece, a more accessible novel to begin with is his Spring Torrents. It is a love story, apparently inspired by autobiographical events and charmingly told as a kind of flashback. Find it here.
6. The tabloids inform me that Mandy Moore is married. I don’t watch This Is Us and I can’t say I miss her music (for a trip down memory lane, watch this), so you may be wondering why I am sharing this. Well, her marriage news has reminded me that it’s worth sharing a few songs by both her current and former husbands, both of whom are extraordinary musical talents. Listen to this, this, this, and this. By the way, Dawes is on tour this winter. See their schedule here.
Alison