Spring is coming in halting steps. This weekend we have gorgeous weather and are getting out to spend some time on the playground with Charlotte. But colder weather is on the way again next week. We’re taking advantage of it while we can, and I bought some hyacinths to help the house smell like spring.
Here’s what I’m cooking and reading this week:
Two books authored by comedians: First, Clinton Kelly’s I Hate Everyone Except You was more spontaneous (and available instantly to stream on Hoopla), and the second, Amy Schumer’s The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo was a book I’ve wanted to read for ages.
I’ve been a fan of Kelly’s for awhile – not because I particularly like his shows (he’s known for co-hosting What Not To Wear and is currently a host on The Chew) but because I think his personality, or at least the part of it he shows his audiences, is both funny and charming. He’s a BC alum, which also helps. His book was light, entertaining, and moderately funny — about what I’d expect from him. I listened to I Hate Everyone Except You as a book on tape, but I don’t remember any parts being laugh-out-loud funny.
I read A
my Schumer‘s book almost immediately afterwards, and I was struck by the difference both in her comedic power, but in her willingness to explore greater depths of issues both in her life and in our culture. Not everything she writes about was funny (some of it was quite serious, like her history with abuse, rape, and the gun violence that happened at her film), but there was a lot that I laughed to. I felt her book was more of a contribution, both in terms of the comedy she’s capable of and in mirroring what’s simmering in our society. An excerpt that resonated with me particularly was her passage on cultural perceptions of women’s bodies:
“I’m having trouble finding humor in the double standard at the moment.”
“There is nothing wrong with celebrating beauty, but beauty comes in many forms… Why create categories for women’s bodies? ‘Plus size’ is a pointless term that implies anything above a certain size is different and wrong… you can’t shame us anymore. Evolve faster, so we can all do better.”
Here’s what I made for dinner this week (in case you need inspiration):
Sunday: Lamb meatballs & spaghetti (took lamb burgers and rolled them into smaller meatball-sized portions, pan-seared them, and simmered in tomato sauce)
Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Pan-seared salmon, roasted potatoes, cabbage slaw
Wednesday: Take-out-style chicken over rice, roasted broccoli
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Shake Shack burgers (to celebrate a warm evening and top off a l-0-n-g week)
Saturday: Black bean bowls … recipe to come
