last issue of 2024

hi friends, lovers, & people probably related to me —

130 — i did not do a gift guide this year which honestly probably good bc there seemed to be an excess of them. normally i do a year in review of some of my favorite things i’ve consumed but with the loss of my notes app (where i was recording it all) & the somewhat accidental inconsistency of the newsletter as of late this is just going to be another non-standard issue.¹

things i’ve made recently

chicken enchiladas verdes - always cozy, always a hit

this very fun salad recipe of mine loosely inspired by the shaved brussel salad @ blue door - which is even better now that I have a mandoline

the pastrami! we made excellent sandwiches with this, also why am I gripping that knife so tightly

gingery molasses cookies with a swoosh of dulce de leche in the middle — only cookie I’m making from now on

a vinegary, mustardy, herby, warm potato salad to go with the pastrami ofc.

particularly good things i consumed recently

winter activities take 1. a couple of not horrible outdoor runs & attending 1 ridiculously challenging work out class w/ audrey, kate & janel — done wonders for my winter sads honestly, need to prioritize sweating profusely asap. remedy + tds — a nice, albeit slightly boozy little tuesday if you’re so inclined, go to remedy for hh & get the latkes @ tds after + maybe a couple other things just to be safe. kyoten next door — a 100% worth it splurge for Ryan’s birthday this year, everything was absolutely delicious & interesting & downright cool. all together now w/ janel — for one of our saturday shop & lunches, is charcuterie + their crispy potatoes + a salad the perfect lunch, yes or yes? a weekend of holiday parties — my work one which we irish goodbye(d) for websters (mussels, french fries, wine & tartare ofc), ryan’s which had mini lobster rolls?! followed up w/ scott & audrey’s cocktails & karaoke (i had no voice, it was still v. fun). a long walk through humboldt park — where the lagoon wasn’t not frozen & all the geese were standing on top of it chatting. lardon — for an early hh dinner of charcuterie, salads, & mussels. a nightcap @ bar parisette of a couple of glasses of champagne, their fabulous soft serve & some amaro. pastrami saturday — it turned out really good! we made tasty sandwiches & had some potato salad & ryan, kaitlyn, ryan & i stayed up way tooo late chatting about them. diversey, festive collective & lonesome — for a lil bop around with audrey & kate to keep the sunday scaries @ bay. craft night! i am not v. good @ crafts but it was cozy & festive & a lovely tuesday night! irish dance girls reunite — so lovely catching up w/ suzanna & erin over lots of chips & salsa, missed you allison & maureen. winter skies — something about a sunset when it’s cold, it feels so striking. surprising my grandparents in charlotte — 100% worth it

books, tv shows & movies. unfortunately as of late i’ve forgotten how to read regular books, instead i’ve been reading matty matheson’s cookbooks like novels. the sticky — margo martindale is a national treasure. juror #2 — not quite what i expected, an excellent slow burn type thriller. muppets christmas carol — slightly silly, cozy & nostalgic vibes. conclave — oh wow, this was fun, so gossipy & catholic. a double feature of while you were sleeping & the holiday, too much chinese food (chengdu bistro 4ever) & personal bottle of red wine not optional

currently consuming

hope you all have lovely holidays & maybe your own red sauce america?, maybe make these meatballs too? anyway cheers! see you in january! xoxo!

as always,
mk

1. non-standard issue is the name of a cocktail @ ryan & i’s fake bar restaurant called contractual obligations