
Good afternoon! Whatโs everyone reading these days? Iโm excited about the new Curtis Sittenfeld novel (published today) called Rodham, which imagines what wouldโve become of Hillary had she never married Bill; Iโm also in the middle of Before the Fall, by the Fargo creator Noah Hawley โ itโs a thriller, and not my usual genre, but itโs actually been really fun to just tear through something before I go to sleep, and after our nightly Wire screening. Yes! We are still plowing our way through The Wire! Currently in Season 4, the public school season, which the whole family agrees is the best, if the most heartbreaking. Here is todayโs kitchen dispatchโฆ

Pantry: Quinoa Salads
In my last book, thereโs a recipe that has an official sounding name (itโs on page 117), but I mostly think of it as โQuinoa Salad with Everything.โ Quinoa has fallen out of the rotation in our house lately because weโve been so enamored by the newer shinier wheat berry and farro, but I forgot how much I like it. Itโs much lighter than a lot of the nuttier grains and yet has enough substance to satisfy everyone. Especially if you load it with Everything, as I did above. This was last week, on yet another night when I had some odds and ends begging to be used, so thatโs what I did. I roasted beets (wrap in foil, unpeeled, 375ยฐF for an hour, the let cool, peel and chop) cabbage shards and carrot pieces (toss in olive oil with salt and pepper, roast after beets come out at 400ยฐF for another 30 minutes), then tossed those vegetables with quinoa, feta, pistachios, baby radishes, cucumbers, and snipped chives. I used a basic vinaigrette, but your simplest go-to will probably do just fine. The breaking news here is the addition of cabbage. Have I mentioned how much I love it roasted, all sweetened and caramelized? OK, fine. Iโll stop. P.S. I also made a bowl of cold sesame noodles because I had promised Abby earlier in the day, then forgot, and even though it was completely redundant and unnecessary, I am a sucker and basically doing anything they ask these days. #ControlTheControllable

Project: Homemade Pink Drinks
Technically Starbucks drive-thrus (and apparently a few non-drive thrus) are open for business, but weโve mostly been avoiding them. (To be honest, itโs more about the long lines than it is about the social distancing.) This means weโve been forced to get creative when it comes to my 16-year-oldโs favorite Starbucks order: The Pink Drink. Made with coconut water, dried strawberries, and a mysterious aรงaรญ flavor packet, they were popularized by James Charles a few years ago. (Though my daughterโs craving for the drink seems to have outlasted her craving for the Youtuber.) Anyway, weโve been experimenting with some homemade versions, collecting random ingredients (Welchโs white grape juice!) as we come across them in our regular shopping. So far this is the recipe that comes the closest. Though, my daughter will tell you itโs still not perfect.
Purpose: Good Things Happen
This post from illustrator Adam J. Kurtz warmed my heart. Now I want to buy everyone I know one of those keychains!
Stay safe.
The goal of theย Project, Pantry, Purpose seriesย to keep us sane, distracted, and connected. Please continue to comment below with suggestions for recipes, projects (for kids and adults), good deeds, donation ideas, stories, movies, games, puzzles. Or just tell me how youโre doing, whatย yourย daily routine is, andย especially how DALS can help you or people in your community. You can also email me directly at jenny@dinneralovestory.com.

I havenโt read it yet, but Iโm pretty sure that -Rodham- is about Hillary breaking up with Bill before they can get married, and then involves her life without Bill Clinton being a main feature, but bumping into him periodically throughout her life. The idea of writing an alternate history for someone who is still alive is fascinating. ๐
yes to what GM said โ Iโm SO curious if H will say what she thinks about it! Chelsea doesnโt existโฆ but DT (blech) does.
I am reading โThe Book of Longingโ, by Sue Monk Kidd. Wow! I didnโt expect to like it as much as I do! Very cool feminist story taking place in biblical times (New Testament, which i donโt know much about).
and recently finished Lori Gottliebโs โMaybe you should talk to someoneโ. Good read and made me feel better about my own mental state (iโm coolโฆ.for now).
I Just got the new David Kamp book Sunny Days yesterday! So excited to read! I still need to read anything by Curtis Sittenfeld.
Oh my gosh, The Wire season 4 is one of the reasons I cannot rewatch that amazing series. That season is so wonderful, so heartbreakingโฆand as a public school teacher so accurate, itโs painful.
Also popped in to say Iโm on my way to the grocery store, and my husband and I are getting really bored with the stuff weโve been making, so I came here for inspiration. You never disappoint. Thank you!