Happy Saturday. I’m heading to the Bronx today for some hiking, followed by classic red-sauce Italian food on Arthur Avenue. If that’s not Octobering at its finest, I don’t know what is. Here’s what else I plan to get up to…
Copy my new favorite (and deeply unexpected) style icon: the Scooby Gang’s No. 1 diva. If you catch me rocking purple and chartreuse all fall, well, jinkies.
Order the hand cream I discovered at a hotel last weekend. It’s perfectly velvety, smells like an expensive candle, and absorbs immediately. I’m kicking myself for not snagging extra from the housekeeping cart.
Tear through this unsettling, atmospheric novel about a woman raised on an isolated Iowa compound by her brutal, Viking-obsessed father. A murder mystery slash family drama is always going to do it for me.
Go down yet another Depop spiral, thanks to this vintage-inspired bag trend. I’m betting I can find one secondhand, so if anyone’s grandma is cleaning out her closet, let me know ASAP.
— Julia Reinstein / Writer, Culture & Leisure / Brooklyn, NY
Try Not to Be Startled by How Good These Viral Beef Broth Bowls Are
theSkimm
In the words of the prophet George Costanza, “I’m shifting into soup mode.” First order of business? Chelsea’s Messy Apron’s Beef Broth Bowls, which likely have an iron grip on your feeds right now — and for good reason. At the base of this hearty-but-not-heavy dish is a rich coconut curry broth spiked with red curry paste, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and lime that’s honestly drinkable on its own. Add crispy, caramelized ground beef, fluffy basmati rice (ideal for soaking up every last drop), and whatever toppings you can think of (cucumbers, green onions, sesame oil, chili crunch). No wonder one fan described the capital-C comfort food as, “10/10, no notes.”
The Time Commitment: About 45 minutes.
Key Tips: For the best texture and flavor, use full-fat coconut milk. And the secret to gloriously browned ground beef? Chelsea Lords (aka Chelsea’s Messy Apron) says to let it sit largely undisturbed in the skillet, so it has “contact with the hot pan long enough to really caramelize.” Bonus: all those browned bits left behind make the broth even more flavorful.
Other Takes: Another reason the broth bowl trend lives up to the hype? It’s endlessly riffable. Case in point…
Lemongrass Broth Bowls with Yellow Curry Chicken. This brighter, Thai-inspired take is topped with juicy chicken thighs and fried shallots (TJ’s has them). Plus, it’s so easy, the creator says her 7-year-old could probably make it.
Coconut Curry Salmon and Rice. Say a prayer for your favorite takeout spot. In just 25 minutes, you can have this restaurant-worthy dinner on the table, with hardly any chopping involved.
Spicy Short Rib Coconut Curry Brothy Rice Bowls. Short ribs sound intimidating — until you realize your slow cooker (or Dutch oven) does most of the work. You just take credit for the fall-apart tender results.
