Eat, Read, Drive: Winter Squash Pasta, “Best Offer Wins,” and Knoxville

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Thanksgiving is my Super Bowl. I already know what I’m wearing, thanks to these surprisingly helpful outfit ideas, and what I’m making: these thick and chewy Cinnamon Roll Cookies (indisputably better than pie) and shockingly easy Apple Blondie Cheesecake Bars (I’ve thought about them for days). In the spirit of the objectively best holiday, here are a few other things I’m thankful for:

• Trader Joe’s dropped an itty-bitty version of its viral canvas tote bag. I don’t know what I’ll do with it — or what I’ll fit in it — but I know I need all three colors.

• The Chicest Coat in History™ now comes in the form of a cozy, effortlessly stylish sweater, which I’ll be wearing every day until spring.

• After years of battling for kitchen counter space, I’m happy to report the brilliantly simple “5/7 Rule” changes everything. (I’ll use it in my bathroom next.)

• Victoria Beckham brought Posh Spice back for a spot-on Instagram duet with her son (don’t miss the drama Sporty Spice started in the comments).

• If wearing a fur coat also makes you feel like Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant, you’ll appreciate these Cool Girl styling tips.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Not to Be Dramatic, But You’ll Make This Cozy Squash Pasta for the Rest of Your Life

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Remember “The Pasta”? Alison Roman’s viral recipe that had us willing to risk it all for a box of bucatini? Her new cookbook, Something From Nothing, has a worthy successor: Winter Squash Pasta with Chile & Toasted Garlic. It’s just as easy to make (think: no food processor or blender required), and is topped with a crispy garlic-chile oil that you’ll want to put on everything. Plus, it’s endlessly adaptable: Use kabocha, acorn, or butternut squash and any small, tubular pasta (we’re partial to rigatoni). Either way, you’ll end up with a weeknight dinner that’s way more something than nothing.

The Time Commitment: Approximately 35 minutes.

Key Tips: Don’t panic if it seems like you’re adding a lot of pasta water. According to Roman, the squash needs quite a bit of it to transform into a silky sauce. Feeling fancy? Finish the dish with a dollop of burrata or ricotta, or a handful of toasted nuts.

Other Takes: For more of Roman’s greatest hits, try…

• Vinegar Chicken with Crushed Olive Dressing — aka the simple-yet-impressive sheet-pan dinner that’ll trick your friends (even yourself) into thinking you’re an amateur chef.

• Salted Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies. Yes, these are the sophisticated stunners that once flooded your Instagram feed. And yes, the hype is completely justified.

• Goodbye Meatballs. Despite being named after a breakup, these cheesy, saucy meatballs will win over your heart. 

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

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We probably don’t have to tell you that trying to buy a house in These Times is maddening, even for the most grounded person. And in Marisa Kashino’s Best Offer Wins, Margo is decidedly not that person. After 18 months and 11 lost bidding wars, she and her husband, Ian, are desperate for the perfect home — the one thing standing between them and their perfect life. So when Margo hears about a dream house before it even hits the market, she decides she’ll do anything to get what she wants, starting with a little stalking of the current owners and quickly devolving from there. Equal parts funny, dark, and deeply relatable, it’s no wonder the debut novel is already being adapted into a Hulu series, reportedly starring Greta Lee. We asked Kashino a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one thing everyone needs to watch?

Kashino: 10 Things I Hate About You. Because (a) Heath Ledger, and (b) Seattle summers are unmatched.

Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence?

Kashino: A very, very cold gin martini with a twist.

Q: What’s an unpopular opinion you have?

Kashino: Jeremy Strong kills it on every red carpet. 

Forget Nashville — Knoxville’s the Real Star of Tennessee  

Sure, Nashville’s got the spotlight (and the bachelorette parties). But roughly three hours east, Knoxville, Tennessee is quietly doing its own thing — and doing it really well. From its vibrant, walkable downtown to the nearby Great Smoky Mountains, the “Scruffy City” is full of adventure — the kind made even better, thanks to the help of Ford’s BlueCruise^† hands-free highway driving feature. It empowers you to drive with confidence and ease, so you can enjoy the moments that really matter. Let’s go. 

👟 Mornings hit different in downtown’s historic Market Square, where the coffee’s strong, the biscuits are flaky, and the street music’s free. Wander through Strong Alley — basically Knoxville’s open-air art museum — and browse the quirky shops on Union Avenue. Then mosey over to the Old City — a once-industrial neighborhood turned creative playground. Pop into Pretentious Glass Co. to watch artists hand blow glassware and browse their one-of-a-kind designs.

🎨 Cue the culture. Knoxville might keep it low-key, but its art and music scene (it’s helped launch the careers of legends like Dolly Parton) bring major heat. Catch a show at the glam Tennessee Theatre (a 1920s stunner), check out the Knoxville Museum of Art, or plan your visit during First Friday — when downtown turns into one big gallery crawl with food and live music. Come dinnertime, nab a reservation at Osteria Stella, a cozy Italian spot that nails the house-made pasta game. 

⛰️One of Knoxville’s biggest perks? It’s about an hour’s drive from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hit the highway — letting Ford’s BlueCruise^† hands-free highway driving assist with steering, braking, and centering on premapped highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones. Head toward Gatlinburg and grab lunch at Tennessee Jed’s (pro tip: get the pulled pork), then drive along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail — a relaxed drive filled with waterfalls, historic cabins, and stunning fall foliage. From there, make your way to Kuwohi, the park’s highest point, for sweeping panoramic views. 

Knoxville’s calling — and with Ford’s BlueCruise^† hands-free highway driving, getting there feels just as good as being there. Let's go.*

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

Q: A few of the people attending my Thanksgiving have certain dietary restrictions. Am I expected to make dishes that cater solely to their needs, or is there a polite way to ask them to bring things they can eat?

“As a host, it’s important to make sure you never allow your guests to feel like they’re a problem. That doesn’t mean you have to shift your whole menu, but you can make some accommodations. If it’s something out of the ordinary or hard to get, this is when you can tell the guest they’re more than welcome to bring something. The word ‘welcome’ is key — it puts people at ease. [If your guest does bring something], plate it like the rest of the dinner, so it doesn’t feel like an afterthought or that they’re a bother. If you find out your guest has a restriction at the last minute, [try your best] to accommodate them, perhaps by ordering something for delivery. [These touches] are going to help them have a great time and a great meal.”

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.