Real Simpleの January 2021 の目次

MICHELLE AND I attended a total of 10 inaugural balls that evening. Michelle was a chocolate-brown vision in her flowing white gown, and at our first stop I took her in my arms and spun her around and whispered silly things in her ear as we danced to a sublime rendition of “At Last” sung by Beyoncé. At the Commander in Chief’s Ball, we split up to dance with two charming and understandably nervous young members of our armed forces. The other eight balls I’d be hard-pressed to remember. By the time we got back to the White House, it was well past midnight. A party for our family and closest friends was still going strong in the East Room, with the Wynton Marsalis Quintet showing no signs of…

Q: I’m struggling to find a spot in my office for Zoom meetings. How can I make the area attractive for video calls?—Nayomi, homeowner in Portland, Oregon Submit your own design dilemmas to room.rx@realsimple.com.…

WHEN I GOT PREGNANT with my third child, my mother’s first words to me were: “Oh, Elizabeth, where are you going to put that baby?” I told her the same thing I’d told her five years earlier, when my second child was born. “I’m putting him in the closet.” In my defense, it’s a big closet. A walk-in (that’s it, above). For a New York City apartment, it’s palatial. And before I go any further, I want to remind everyone that billions of people around the world would see my 1,200-square-foot apartment as a downright luxury for a family of five. Those people are for the most part not, however, my friends and family living in the South, where I grew up, and where my mother wasn’t the only…

MASTERING THE powerful, positive mindset that’s required to keep upping your habits game is all about staying aware, shifting your focus when you catch yourself wandering down Woe-Is-Me Lane, and consciously thinking thoughts that are aligned with where you want to go and who you want to be. When it comes to building great habits and ditching lousy ones, your commitment to staying focused on who you’re becoming, regardless of who you are right now, is the mightiest power you’ve got. 1 Develop a Mightier Mantra. One of the most powerful tools for habit transformation is also one of the simplest—the almighty mantra. You already use mantras all the time, whether you realize it or not: “I can’t lose this pregnancy weight.” “I hate my ears.” “I always date crazy…

Smoothies Coffee-Tahini Smoothie ACTIVE TIME 5 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 5 MINUTES SERVES 2 1 cup oat milk½ cup strong brewed coffee, chilled2 Tbsp. tahini½ ripe avocado1 ½ cups frozen, very ripe banana slices (from about 1½ bananas)1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder⅛ tsp. ground cinnamonPinch of kosher salt1 tsp. pure maple syrup (optional) COMBINE all ingredients in a blender, starting with oat milk and coffee. Process until smooth, about 1 minute. Pink Dragon Smoothie ACTIVE TIME 5 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 5 MINUTES SERVES 2 1 ½ cups unsweetened soy milk½ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt1 small (2 oz.) refrigerated cooked beet (such as Love Beets or Melissa’s), quartered (about ¼ cup)1 cup frozen raspberries1 3 ½-oz. pkg. frozen dragon fruit puree (pitaya)Pinch of kosher salt2 tsp. agave nectar or honey (optional)…

SERVING AND STORING Dust this satisfying stew with crispy, salty panko just before serving. Seasoned panko can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Freeze untopped stew in containers or zip-top bags for up to 2 months. ACTIVE TIME 40 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 40 MINUTES SERVES 8 ¼ cup olive oil, divided1 12-oz. pkg. andouille chicken sausage, pricked with a fork1 cup panko1 ¼ tsp. kosher salt, divided1 yellow onion, chopped1 carrot, grated4 cloves garlic, crushed1 lb. ground pork½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper2 Tbsp. tomato paste1 14.5-oz. can crushed tomatoes2 sprigs thyme, plus leaves for serving2 15.5-oz. cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed HEAT 2 tablespoons oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add sausage; cook, turning often,…

MEET MARTHA UPTON ASSISTANT EDITOR AT REAL SIMPLE Favorite Seasonal Dish: At holiday gatherings, my grandmother makes one persimmon pudding for the family—and one just for me! Most Recent Purchase: A Rag & Bone bucket hat I’m obsessed with. Favorite Item in Your Home: My roommate’s Persian cat, Walter. Ideal Weekend Plans: Iced coffee and window-shopping. Ideas for Dry January Try our practical tips for abstaining from alcohol for the month. Get the smart tricks at realsimple.com/drinkless. Planning to Hibernate Until Spring? You’ll need a cozy bed. Pile on the pillows and create the right layers for a sleep sanctuary. Learn how at realsimple.com/cozybed. GREAT BOOKS FOR A FRESH START We found a dozen motivating reads to help you launch your best year yet. Page through our picks at…

Debut Stunner In this powerful novel about a Deep South plantation, enslaved Isaiah and Samuel share a private, abiding love that’s a refuge from the daily brutality they endure—and that has consequences for everyone around them. The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. is an original, heartbreaking testament to love, and to the supremacy of good over evil. Beguiling Suspense Read The only relic from Andy’s troubled childhood is her friend Peter. The two occasionally meet for drinks in London, where they carefully avoid discussing one particular summer: On an abandoned manor decades earlier, they played a game that ended in tragedy. But then Peter disappears, and Andy is forced to untangle what she’s tried so hard to forget. Before the Ruins by Victoria Gosling is a lush and layered thriller…

BEST CAULIFLOWER CRUST Earthbound Farm Organic Mini Cauliflower Crusts We were majorly impressed by the flavor and texture of these personal pizza rounds. Tender right out of the oven and slightly reminiscent of Latin American arepas, they’re made from just six ingredients, starting with organic cauliflower. They’re great for an easy dinner or next-level snack—just top with marinara sauce and mozzarella or chicken salad. TO BUY: $5 for 4 crusts; at grocery stores. BEST MEAL STARTER Cascadian Farm Organic Mirepoix Blend Many stew, soup, and sauce recipes start with painstakingly chopping onions, celery, and carrots. Or just ripping open this bag. TO BUY: $4 for 10 oz.; at grocery stores. BEST STIR-FRY MIX Birds Eye Broccoli Stir-Fry We especially loved the crunchy water chestnuts and celery in this robust, colorful…

Why You Need One IT’S FOR KEEPS Often passed down through generations, cast-iron cookware is sturdy, virtually indestructible, and frequently less expensive than many brands of stainless-steel pans. You can find 12-inch skillets for under $30. IT’S HOT STUFF The biggest perk of these pans is that they can get blazing hot, says Charlotte Druckman, author of Stir, Sizzle, Bake: Recipes for Your Cast-Iron Skillet. “That makes them excellent at searing, whether you’re cooking steak or want crispy-edged cornbread.” Remember, though, that the pan doesn’t always heat evenly, so move it around the burner while you cook. And the handle can be scorching—some pans come with a slip-on silicone handle, but if yours didn’t, use a potholder. IT’S NONSTICK(ISH) “I call cast iron ‘nature’s nonstick,’ ” says Seamus Mullen, a…

C.S. ASKS… I belong to a small, tight-knit book club. Recently, a member brought her work friend and wanted her to join. We were forced to vote in front of her on whether to accept her, and we felt like we had to say yes. She has attended a few meetings and has a very different personality from the rest of us—she’s quite selfish and out of touch. The original member who brought her in has no idea we don’t like her. What should we do? Can we pause for a moment over the voting in front of the new member? Was it Lord of the Flies night? The person who invited her mishandled this, and the group should agree not to make decisions this way again. Meanwhile, someone you…

“I wanted my home to be a picture of calm”Christine PlattLITERACY ADVOCATE, AUTHOR OF THE FORTHCOMING THE AFROMINIMALIST’S GUIDE TO LIVING WITH LESS, AND MOM OF ONE WHEN CHRISTINE LEFT HER job as a lawyer to pursue writing full-time in 2015, she started working from home. “For the first time, I was there not to just eat and sleep,” she says. Being at home prompted an awakening: “I always knew I had too much stuff, but I had everything relatively organized,” she says. She realized, though, that even if everything fit in her closets, it could still be an overwhelming amount to maintain. “I couldn’t ignore it anymore.” GOAL: “When I started, I just wanted to be a minimalist,” Christine says, laughing. “My goal was ‘How can I make my…

Easy Dinner 1 Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta ACTIVE TIME 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 ✓ Quick Cooking ✓ Family Friendly 8 oz. wide egg noodles3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided¼ cup olive oil, divided24 oz. sliced cremini mushrooms1 ¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided1 ½ cups unsalted chicken broth¾ cup half-and-half2 tsp. sherry vinegar2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (from 1 rotisserie chicken)3 Tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon, divided COOK egg noodles in a large pot according to package directions. Drain and return to pot; toss with 1 tablespoon butter. Partially cover with lid to keep warm. MEANWHILE, heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high. Add mushrooms in an even layer; cook, undisturbed, until starting to crisp and brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Toss and…

#RSLOVE “I LEARNED I THRIVE ON INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE, EVEN SMALL ONES—A NICE WALK, A COFFEE DATE, HANGING WITH THE PETS. I DON’T NEED MUCH, AND I ENJOY THE SLOWER PACE. BUT I CHERISH THOSE IN MY LIFE I CAN LEAN ON.” @ANDREACOANPHOTO I always threw things away when they were broken. When I felt broken, I learned I can be repaired.LINDSAY HALIK, CHICAGO I’m actually just lazy. Couldn’t find time in six months at home to vacuum? @JGDIAMANTOPOULOS I’m more resilient than I thought. When the stay-at-home orders were enacted, I did just that. However, instead of feeling isolated, I realized that all the projects I said I would do “someday” were now doable. Someday was here. KRIS GERRETSEN, ROSEBURG, OREGON I don’t need acrylic nails and hair color to feel…

Quick Ideas 1 JAMMY PASTRIES Roll 2 refrigerated piecrusts into 10-by-12-in. rectangles on a lightly floured surface. Place 1 crust on a parchment-lined baking sheet; spread with 4 oz. softened cream cheese, leaving a ½-in. border. Spread ¾ cup jam over cream cheese. Top with remaining crust and seal edges. Prick holes all over top. Bake at 375°F for 22 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. Combine 4 oz. softened cream cheese, 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, and ¼ cup whole milk; drizzle over pastry. Cut into 8 rectangles. 2 CHEESY BAKED PASTA Cook 12 oz. orecchiette until al dente; add 3 cups broccoli during final 2 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Cook 1 lb. crumbled Italian sausage in a large, oven-safe skillet for 10 minutes. Stir sausage, 2 cups…

CONSIDER CBD Preliminary science suggests that CBD, the cannabis-derived compound, may help some pets with epilepsy and osteoarthritis-related pain. If you’re interested in it and your vet approves— and it’s available where you live—look for a certificate of analysis for the chew or oil. That’s a third-party laboratory verification of the product’s contents; make sure it has less than 0.3 percent THC. SKIP Coconut Oil The stuff you cook with contains medium-chain triglycerides, which may slow cognitive decline. So aging pets with neurological conditions might benefit. But the other purported effects of coconut oil—better immunity, weight loss, less inflammation—are mostly not backed by science. Talk to your vet for guidance on any supplements. TRY Telemedicine Talking over the phone, by text, or via video chat cannot replace regular in-office…

FOR MOST OF US, 2020 was a year of caution, retreat—and sacrifice. We’ve had to do a lot of caretaking to keep our loved ones and communities safe. Now, as we step gingerly into the new year, we need to tend to ourselves too. Self-care is not selfish—quite the contrary. You help those you love by being in the best condition possible. Self-care doesn’t need to be an earthquake in your life. Think of it more as a gentle breeze. Every act of self-kindness counts. Remind yourself to eat a leafy lunch and not pound back the caffeine. Clean out the junk drawer. Take a five-minute walk before work. Set up a bird feeder outside your window to bring nature to you. Here are some more ideas to help…

ACTIVE TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL TIME 30 MINUTES SERVES 4 1 14-oz. pkg. extra-firm tofu, drained¼ cup melted unrefined coconut oil, divided8 oz. sliced shiitake mushrooms (about 4 cups), divided¼ tsp. kosher salt3 ½ Tbsp. fresh lime juice (from 2 limes), plus wedges for serving2 Tbsp. fish sauce or tamari2 ½ tsp. packed light brown sugar½ tsp. crushed red pepper1 shallot, very thinly sliced3 scallions, white and light green parts finely chopped (¼ cup)½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves (from 1 bunch), divided½ cup chopped roasted, salted cashews½ cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, torn if large1 small head red cabbage, quartered and leaves separatedCooked sushi rice, for serving PRESS tofu between paper towels to absorb liquid. Crumble into a bowl, leaving some large pieces. HEAT 1 tablespoon oil…