I can’t believe I’m saying this, but today is officially my last day writing a food column for Cup of Jo. I say “officially” because I plan to continue contributing. I will not be participating as I am just taking a step back to focus on an upcoming personal project. every Wednesday, as I have for almost seven years in a row. 7 years! I am so fortunate to have been a consistent part of this great community for so long. Thank you all so much for reading, teaching me so much, and reminding me that every person on earth seems to have a strong mind. This is my opinion about Trader Joe’s. To celebrate, we wanted to compile some of our most memorable moments…
1. Most satisfying overall: Providing a platform for other food writers.
Finding and introducing food writers and cookbook authors has been the best part of the job so far. The Cup of Jo community is strong and engaging, and our food writers are always happy to engage with it through their recipes. To name a few memorable cameos: Sausage Meatballs with Halloumi and Tomato by Yasmin Fahr (above; Magic One-Pan Pasta by Bee Wilson; Chickpea and Chard Stew by Sohla El-Waylly; Cabbage Carbonara by Hetty McKinnon; Leah Koenig ‘s Chicken Soup, Odette Williams’ Pasta) Vodka Sauce; Dan Pelosi’s Pastina for a Bad The amount of talent out there will never cease to amaze me.
2. My personal favorite recipe
I’m not just writing this column. use that. Like constantly. But there are some recipes I turn to more often than others. These include Brooks Reitz’s Lazy Man’s Ratatouille, Priya Krishna’s crowd-pleasing Matar Paneer, and Andrea Nguyen’s Tofu Bánh Mì. If you haven’t already memorized the smashed pea toast with ricotta cheese (above), roast chicken, and pan-fried fish sandwiches, these should be on this list too. And every time a dinner party host asks, “Can I bring dessert?” Head to the comments section of this post for inspiration.
3. Most recently visited recipe: Blackened Salmon with Tropical Pico by Sara Forte
Have you made this already? I mean, it’s watertight recipe. I just wrote about it in May, but it’s graced my table at least six times since, including last weekend. Tip: I often opt for pre-made mango salsa to get the pico going quickly.
4. Most visited recipes by number
but forget what my Here are some of our favorite posts: By the numbers alone, these are the three posts that were hugely popular. Taste Test: What’s the Best Vanilla Ice Cream (which surprised me), Ali Stafford’s Farmer of the Day Bread (I remember this post blowing up the Internet), and some of my favorite tofu preparations and all-purpose salad dressings to remember 5 recipes worth your while.
5. Most controversial moment: How to be a good customer
I had no idea that I would be poking such a bear with the topic of ‘fashion perception’. Lesson: Most of you are. ~ no Dinner guests want to show up 15 minutes late, even if they text the host in advance.
6. Second most controversial moment: The first thing you want to tell new parents about family dinners.
I still support this to this day. If you have a child under 3 years old, don’t worry.
7. The most fun thing to write: The basics
In the pursuit of something new and novel, it can be easy to overlook the fact that people don’t necessarily need to know how to debone a sea trout. Most chefs just want to make a good dinner every night and have a good time. It’s time to do it. Write about the basics, really Recipes have always been my wheelhouse, so it makes sense that this was the most fun post to write. Here are my thoughts: The only 5 salad dressings you need; 9 Easy Family Meals We Love to Death (and they were so much fun); How to Upgrade a Plain Green Salad; It’s an ode to frozen vegetables and an ode to the humble head of cabbage. In the pastry department, I had my Old School Chocolate Mousse (above), Crisp for All Seasons, and Dorie Greenspan’s Everything Cake, both of which I would classify as “one recipe fits all.” I was able to. I think I’ll have to make that mousse this weekend too.
8. Most Popular Potato Salad Tricks
I have always believed that if I can provide even the smallest way to make my readers’ lives better and happier, I have done my job. There has never been a clearer or smaller example than when I tell people, “When making potato salad, add the potatoes to the dressing while they are still warm for optimal absorption.” This is the most popular article I’ve written on Cup of Jo.
9. Most influential comment: “Eat less meat” instead of “I don’t eat meat.”
More specifically, in response to my book Weekday VegetarianCup of Jo reader wrote: “Persuasion is a better approach. more someone to eat less “It’s more about persuading more people to eat meat than it is about persuading fewer people not to eat meat.” I wish I could find that comment and the reader who said it (is that you?) and say thank you 100 times over and over again at a book event or interview. That’s a really good thing to say and it’s true.
10. Most Inspiring: Secrets to Stress-Free Family Dinners
I remember when Joanna asked me to write this story, which has always been a hot topic. I’ve been writing about family dinners for over a decade. How can we come up with something new? But as I look back and realize that I had never written about that topic, I am amazed at how easily the words come and how moving it is to write a story and realize that I am now a “person with perspective.” The era is over. Children grow up. And I’m so lucky to be able to write about all of that here at Cup of Jo.
Did I miss anything? Thanks for reading, everyone. You can always find me through my newsletter. Evening: Love Story. And I can say with great confidence that you are in great hands with my successors: Alex Beggs, Christina Chaey, Kelsey Miller, and the many other talented writers Joanna has in store for 2025.
PS: Kudos to the ritual (the first time my name appeared in Cup of Jo) and how to get the kids talking at dinner.
(Photos: Chocolate Mousse, Yossy Arefi; Bread, Alexandra Stafford; Family Dinner: Chelsea Cavanaugh)
