The December Edit

What we read, watched, cooked, and loved this year. Plus, a crossword puzzle with a prize from our favorite NYC bakery.

Hi! How’s your week going? I’m hosting our annual cookie swap on Thursday, and I’m looking forward to the warmth of a houseful of women, plus my two boys. Last year, as each guest described her cookie, Toby treated it like a sports game and shouted encouragement, like “That’s the one to beat!” and “Let’s goooooooooo.”

What recipes do you like most? I’m going to bake Dan Pelosi’s peanut butter blossoms. His funny heads-up: “The most strenuous part of this recipe is unwrapping the chocolate kisses,” he writes. “My bear paws make it very difficult, but maybe you’re blessed with dainty, delicate fingers.” Noted!

Hope you’re treating yourself to delicious things, and here are some bits and bobs…

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We asked our team to share what they’ve been enjoying lately (and please share your recs in the comments, we’d love to hear)…

1. Primping: “This season, I’ve been spotting bows everywhere, from candlesticks to wine glasses to wreaths. Wouldn’t it be festive to wear one in your hair to a holiday party? I’m eyeing both red and black.” — Joanna Goddard, founder

2. Reading: “Last weekend, I checked out a library copy of North Woods — the centuries-long story of a house in rural Massachusetts — and couldn’t put it down. It was astonishing and had me willing to believe in ghosts. When I finished it on Sunday night, I sat very still for a few moments, looking up at the ceiling, blinking back tears, because I wasn’t emotionally prepared for it to end. Up next: The Vaster Wilds.” — Kaitlyn Teer, newsletter editor

3. Wearing: “Every year, I live in this coat from October to April. It’s the perfect weight for Seattle winters, and not too bulky, so it’s easy to pack for trips. I wear it all day, from pre-school drop-offs to dinners with my husband. Nothing else compares!” — Maureen Heffernan, partnerships director

4. Eating: “I've always liked sour candies, but Sour Patch Kid Extremes are next level. My addiction started when I moved to Manhattan in September, since my new grocery store has an impressive Sour Patch display — now, whenever I shuffle past, into the basket they go!” — Jenny Rosenstrach, food columnist

5. Making: “As a mom of a toddler, I'm always on the lookout for hearty meals that take 30 minutes or less, and this creamy coconut curry chickpea dish is my new fave. The first time I made it, I actually said, ‘Oh my god,’ between every bite because the flavor combo is so on point. I serve it over jasmine rice.” — Jannelle Sanchez, editor

6. Celebrating: “My toddler is at a fun age where she’s really excited about all things Christmas. I got her a turtle ornament and she lost her mind. She was so excited to put it on our tree and now greets it every single morning by saying, ‘HO HO HO TURTLE!!!’" — Maureen Heffernan, partnerships director

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Last month’s crossword puzzle was so much fun that we wanted to play another round. The first three readers to reply to this email with correct answers will receive a big box from our favorite NYC bakery, home of these dark chocolate beauties!

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We also turned to this fall’s Big Salad guests to hear what they watched, read, and listened to this year…

Podcast: “I’m hooked on Makes Sense with Chanel and Karen. Chanel Miller and Karen Chee chat with guests like basketball player Jeremy Lin and comedian Amber Ruffin about how they experience the world through different senses.” — Ruth Chan

TV show: “I got sucked into the historical soap The Gilded Age, but it wasn’t until I raced through the (unexpectedly thrilling!) PBS documentary that I got some very necessary historical context. It paints an electric portrait of NYC at the end of the 19th century — the Gossip-Girl-esque social strata, the glorious architecture, and the lavish parties. Just wait until you hear about Alva Vanderbilt’s legendary 1,200 person ball!” — Natasha Pickowicz

Novel: “One of the best books I read this year was Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter. This thriller is dark and sexy and RIVETING.” — Samantha Irby

Album: “Earlier this year, my husband introduced me to Andrew Bird’s album Echolocations: River, and I’ve been playing it on repeat ever since. It’s fully instrumental and uses field recordings, which Bird made while performing under a bridge in L.A. The perfect soundtrack for cooking dinner or entertaining guests.” — Youngna Park

Romance novels: “I recently got my first Kindle, which came with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. Oh, baby, it's a whole new world! My favorite Kindle Unlimited series is Chestnut Springs by Elsie Silver, about four brothers who grew up on a ranch and the women they fall for. It's delightfully smutty (🔥🔥🔥). The first one is about a bull rider, and the third is about a professional hockey player — doesn't get any better than this!” — Caroline Chambers

Movie: “You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah. A little bit To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, a little bit Catherine Called Birdy — I loved it. I wish I had this as a sleepover growing up, not that Amanda Bynes wasn’t putting in the work. I didn’t realize until after that the lead is Adam Sandler’s actual daughter. She’s so good! Nepo babies up at the half, I fear.” — Hunter Harris, from Hung Up

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We always want to know more about the Big Salad community. So, here’s an essential question for you…

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Here are the links that Big Salad readers clicked on most in November:

1. The lip color Caroline Chambers says “feels like what my lips should look like” and editor Jannelle Sanchez’s find: a perfect brick red.

2. A hilarious two-minute This American Life story about an awkward date.

3. Sheer tights, which everyone in NYC and Paris seems to be wearing these days.

4. Pandora Sykes’s beloved terracotta pomegranate that emits scent for 12 months.

5. Who’s hungry for this make-ahead breakfast? Perfect for cozy weekends.

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From Selected Poems via Poetry Is Not a Luxury.

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Q: I’m hosting a holiday gathering for 20 women I love. I’ll be mixing friend groups — think: neighbors, co-workers, moms from my kid’s school, etc. But I recently went to another party with guests who didn’t know each other, and it was awkward! How do I avoid that? Should I have name tags? Ice breakers? Conversation starter cards?” — Katie

A: Great question, Katie! You want everyone to feel warm and included. A few tricks I’ve learned over the years: a) Try to make sure each person knows at least one other guest. So, if you’re including an office buddy, invite a couple others. If one of your neighbors is coming, encourage them to bring a partner or friend. That way, people will spot a friendly face and relax into the evening. b) Assign a couple chatty friends to keep an eye out for people standing alone so they can strike up conversations with them (my friend Gemma does this at my parties, and vice versa). c) And, if you feel up for it, create a simple activity to bring people together — like a cookie swap or White Elephant gift exchange. (Big Salad readers, anything else you’d add?) Hope this helps, Katie, and have a fun night. — Joanna

Q: I’m wondering if this lovely community can help a loyal reader from Montreal. I'm in desperate need of a winter coat that looks equally good with dresses and jeans. I'm only 5'1'' so this magical coat has to be petite-friendly, too. Please share! — Emilie

A: Yes! I have this wool coat in black, and it looks elegant when buttoned at the neck. They make petite sizes and also have a long version, which is $$$, but J.Crew has sales all the time. I asked my friend Alison, too, since she always seems to be wearing a pretty belted number, and she recommended this down coat. “I love my COS coats,” she said. “They hold up really well and look cool without trying too hard.” Anyone else have a good rec? Please leave in the comments, if so! — Joanna

(Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.)

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1. Gift Guide #1: Kids: 11 gifts, including a book series everyone loves.

2. Gift Guide #2: Mothers (or Mother Figures): 12 gifts, like chunky cookies and a travel essential you swear by.

3. Gift Guide #3: Sisters: 12 gifts, and I want the gooey cheese for myself!

4. Gift Guide #4: Husbands: 13 gifts, like a spaghetti shirt and "banger" fragrance.

5. Gift Guide #5: Wives: 12 gifts, such as a sexy cardigan and funny game.

6. Gift Guide #6: Brothers: 11 gifts, like a velvet shirt for dates.

7. Gift Guide #7: BFFs: 10 gifts, including two books you raced through.

8. Gift Guide #8: Dads (or Father Figures): 10 gifts, like hand-ripped noodles and the game you liked playing as kids.

9. Gift Guide #9: Teens, Teachers and In-Laws: Great gifts (truly!) for stumpers.

Plus, read our Big Salad gift guide, if you’d like. xoxo

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And…last but not least…wouldn’t Big Salad subscriptions make a great gift for your group chat? $6/month or $60/year for a newsletter with fun finds, recipes, memes, gossip, and lots of good stuff to text each other about.

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Thank you so much for reading. We love having you here. Coming up next: a podcast with friends about sex and dating (including Gemma); the favorite things of our beloved Stella Blackmon and LaTonya Yvette; and the gorgeous home (a green kitchen! bookcases with a ladder!) of

Anne Helen Petersen

. Please subscribe below, if you’d like. xoxo