Eat, Read, Go: Crispy Artichokes and Marinated Butter Beans, “Wreck,” and Albuquerque

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Starting next Friday, we’ll be coming to you with a new newsletter — called Weekend Non-Negotiables — designed to help you plan for the weekend ahead. In that spirit, here are a few of my non-negotiables for this weekend:

• Purchase a pair of so-called French-Girl Birkenstocks — which combine the quietly chic look of a suede loafer with the ease and comfort of a slip-on clog. 

• Trade my beloved scarf coat for “fall’s most elegant outerwear.” Not only is it the closest you can come to wearing a blanket outside, but it also makes any outfit look more expensive.

• Repeat my latest (sorry, only) makeup trick: micro wing eyeliner. It’s super subtle, actually achievable, and makes people think I sort of know what I’m doing.

• Try this brilliant Notes app hack. If you, like me, can never remember if 60 degrees is warm enough for a sweatshirt or cold enough for a coat, I’m convinced this will solve our problems.

• Buy the toy that carried me through the ’90s (no, not a Furby). It’s back for the holidays and is perfect for every kid I know, including myself.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Too Tired to Cook? Make This Quick, Easy, and Impossibly Flavorful Pantry Recipe

theSkimm

Can someone explain why, in the year of 2025, we’re still categorizing some dishes as “appetizers” and others as “mains”? Particularly when most recipes can be whatever you want them to be? Just take Dan Pelosi’s Crispy Artichokes & Marinated Butter Beans. The pantry-friendly recipe — included in his latest cookbook, Let's Party — delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort: Canned artichoke hearts are seared in a skillet until they’re brown and crispy, while canned butter beans marinate in an herby oil. Pile it all over a bed of tangy Greek yogurt, serve it alongside crusty bread or fluffy pita, and you’ve got the most crowd-pleasing appetizer in town. Or, be like us, and call it dinner.

The Time Commitment: Thirty minutes, give or take.

Key Tips: This recipe is endlessly adaptable. Don’t love Greek yogurt? Ricotta, labneh, or even store-bought tzatziki work equally well. No butter beans? Use cannellini, navy, great northern, or garbanzo beans instead.

Other Takes: For more ways to exercise your culinary free will, try...

• Crispy Halloumi With Tomatoes and White Beans. It’s loaded with the only cheese that matters, comes together in one pan, and takes 30 minutes — so no wonder a commenter called it “one to keep forever and make weekly.” 

• Greek-ish Salad Dip. Is it a dip? Is it a salad? Does it matter when it’s packed with feta and pickled red onions and served with hunks of toasted bread? 

• Chili-Roasted Sweet Potatoes Over Garlic Labneh. Topped with feta, pomegranate seeds, and a healthy amount of herbs, this peak-fall recipe is impressive enough for company, but simple enough for a weeknight.

PS: Want more where that came from? Dan Pelosi’s going live with Skimm+ for a holiday cookie demo. RSVP here to save your spot.

Wreck by Catherine Newman

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Who among us hasn’t crashed out over a 4 am Google search, convinced we’ve self-diagnosed something serious? That’s exactly where we find Rocky, the perpetually worried matriarch in Catherine Newman’s Wreck. The sequel to Newman’s best-selling novel Sandwich picks up two years after the family vacation in Cape Cod: Rocky’s back in Western Massachusetts, obsessing over a medical condition she may or may not have and fixating on a local accident that barely involves her family — all while navigating a suddenly crowded house, after both her daughter and widowed father moved in. As Rocky confronts another series of midlife dilemmas and all-too-familiar headaches (think: absurd juice-bar menus, being fired from her own “etiquette column”), expect a heartfelt, hilarious, and Nora Ephron-like portrayal of middle age. We asked Newman a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What should be required reading for every human being?

Newman: All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews.

Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?

Newman: I don’t like tilapia (the fish) or Chicago (the musical).

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only eat one thing, what would it be?

Newman: If I were being practical, I’d say brown rice, because I never get sick of it. But my very favorite food is a tie between lobster and scallops.

New Mexico’s Coolest — and Most Underrated — City Is Hiding in Plain Sight

theSkimm

We’ll admit: We’ve been doing Albuquerque dirty. For years, it’s felt like an afterthought to artsy Santa Fe or outdoorsy Taos — despite being New Mexico’s biggest city. But while we were overlooking it, Walter White’s hometown has quietly been building a case for itself, with diverse neighborhoods, colorful Southwestern art galleries, an epic food scene (you haven’t lived until you’ve had a green chile burger), and cultural offerings that rival its flashier neighbors. Add in the absurd amount of stunning desert scenery (stay at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm for the dreamiest morning coffee views) — and, yeah, you can consider this our formal apology.

🎆 Historic Route 66 runs straight through Albuquerque, lined with some of the country’s best-preserved neon signs — but that’s just the beginning for art lovers. The city’s also dotted with dozens of vibrant murals and funky galleries, including one in an old tortilla factory. 

🖼️  Dive into Albuquerque’s Latino and Native American roots at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (which includes a performing arts center, library, and art museum) and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (owned by the state’s 19 pueblos), where you can learn more about their traditions, buy art and jewelry made by Natives, and taste traditional dishes at the on-site restaurant. 

🌤️ Sure, you may be in the self-proclaimed hot-air ballooning capital of the world — but that isn’t the only way to take in the picturesque landscape. Enter: the Sandia Peak Tramway. A 15-minute ride takes you to the 10,378-foot mountain crest, where you can enjoy sweeping Rio Grande Valley views and hikes through verdant ponderosa forests. 

😋 Carne adovada (pork braised in red chile sauce) is to Albuquerque as deep dish is to Chicago. Meaning, you can’t leave without trying it. Specifically, at Mary & Tito’s Cafe, a 62-year-old institution known for hearty portions, authentic flavors, and fork-tender meat.

🍺  Albuquerque has a surprisingly legit craft beer scene, complete with its own beer trail. Whether you follow it or do your own thing, stop at Marble Brewery (don’t miss the award-winning spicy pilsner) and Bow & Arrow, the first Native women-owned brewery in the US, where beers get the Southwest treatment with ingredients like blue corn and prickly pear. 

When you’re in a new city, best not to rely on an iffy Uber situation or impossible-to-read bus schedule and risk getting stranded. Do yourself a favor and rent a car, instead. With Booking.com, you can easily compare prices and find the right vehicle for your adventure, with options from all the major rental companies. Who’s up for a Eurotrip? 

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

Q: I have a friend who talks…a lot, and lately, it’s gotten worse. In most of our conversations, I can barely get a word in edgewise. I genuinely don’t think she notices, but it’s exhausting. How can I politely alert her to this?

“People who talk a lot often don’t notice they’re doing it — it can even be part of ADHD or neurodivergence. So it’s best to be very explicit about what you want, and share how it’ll benefit you, your friend, and your friendship, too. [Something like]: ‘I want to share more with you to feel closer to you, but I need you to ask me more questions because I’m not as forthcoming with sharing.’ [It’s important to] be really clear about how you want the conversation style to change. Is it more pauses? Is it less talking overall? You can say, ‘I’m kind of introverted and not used to talking as much, and I’m worried I’m coming off as rude. What can we do in those moments? How do we navigate this together?’ Someone else might love [how much your friend] talks — so it’s not about saying the behavior is wrong. It’s more that in your dynamic it can create disconnect, and you want to be more connected.”

It’s just about that time again — when nostalgia hits and we start reminiscing about the milestones and memories from the past year. But as you look back, remember: it’s just as important to look ahead. Whatever your goals are for 2026  — buying a house, refreshing your budget, getting a dog, or anything in between — New York Life’s family of companies can help make them happen. They bring insurance, investment, and retirement planning guidance to help you make confident, informed decisions — with expert support through every one of life’s milestones. With 180+ years of experience and 12,000 advisors and agents, think of them as your go-to guide for making your planning approachable, flexible, and empowering. Start your financial conversation today.*

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.