The Great Escape

Squash on squash, aka clash of the seasons. Butternut squash swirled with creme fraiche soup topped with quick-pickled summer squash and shallots, plus crushed pistachios just for fun. https://www.instagram.com/p/B32MK2fhVTK/?igshid=xrzts0rlanfs

Shroomies and Instant Pot navy beans. And garlic-sage oil. And an egg yolk. Recipe slightly adapted from @bonappetitmag. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3viXrNhgDf/?igshid=18empgar26um8

Brought this back from my parents’ this weekend. I believe this “Buy a Piece or Sunnyside” board from the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce is from the mid-1970s. My grandparents’ business, Fox Discount, went for a cool $140. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3pNRn0Bb7E/?igshid=1s1fd6pm9f7j2

I pork chopped! Am I doing this right? I am but a humble Jew, so naturally it took 33 years for me to make one of these. It’s a riff on a @nytcooking recipe (all hail!) with a truly killer pan sauce. Made with Rosh Hashanah apples, obviously. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3VksvXB1eR/?igshid=56h0gq8c360z

Blond(ish) again. Thanks, @alli.wolf @foxandjane! https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Cn1oKhUPa/?igshid=113ttoimoo0b0

Salad of Dreams. If you build it, I will scarf. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ouSZqhM66/?igshid=ztqbfgfyd3sl

Lazy woman Caprese, brought to you by motherhood. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1g7yZvhtiA/?igshid=yn668rxt6hgz

When our friends in Queens offer to hang with us in Brooklyn, we’re like, nah. We’ll come to you. Case in point, the new HK Food Court in Elmhurst, which offers some of the best Asian food around—Tibetan, Thai, Sichuan, Taiwanese... I could keep going. Seen here: Cold, spicy hand-cut noodles from Liang Pi Wang. (at Elmhurst, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Wk8vlBbaC/?igshid=ifsgrofox36x

I made this salad with a baby strapped to my chest. But reality check: It was made possible by a partner who has the luxury of parental leave. I was able to prep all of the ingredients yesterday while Jon bounced a very upset Dalia, who was having a MOMENT. People who do this solo, my hats are off to you, but you shouldn’t have to choose between eating a healthy salad and taking care of your baby. Parenthood is a four-hand operation. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1HDNw7BO2O/?igshid=e3g8do645whl

Today, in the company of family and friends, we named Dalia in the Jewish tradition. Also in the Lion King tradition. (at the way station) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0wSx7pBye8/?igshid=1ttpzv5lkqk31

Dalia was pretty jealous she didn’t get to sample this porchetta sandwich and cucumber gazpacho, but good things come to babies who wait. (at Mekelburg's) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ROwBchlZK/?igshid=19m2znmvsiub0

We interrupt the baby programming for this next-level BLT sandwich by @jonpaley1, which we’re calling a BLAST for bacon, lettuce, avocado, and sprouts. Plus In-N-Out-inspired secret sauce. Truly excellent. https://www.instagram.com/p/B0EZfOqhUvT/?igshid=ci513x7xyygw

A few days ago I mentioned to @jonpaley1 that I was craving the chilled borscht from Lomzynianka, the old-school Polish restaurant in Greenpoint down the street from his old apartment. The only problem? Lomzynianka has been closed for years. And so he went into full culinary sleuth mode, poring over several chilled borscht recipes, pulling a bit from here and a bit from there. The result was pretty spot on. Behold, Jon Paley’s “Memories of Lomzynianka” Chilled Borscht. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzY5YYXBY1U/?igshid=79q232l6dou

Don’t let this image fool you: @jonpaley1 did the lion’s share of today’s cooking and cleaning. Two meals plus post-baby food prep! I managed to make this blueberry galette, though, which is something. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzUSg-Th2AV/?igshid=2w5fy442tsj7

Final countdown to baby girl is on! Is this my last meal as a non-parent? Maybe! Maybe not! Who knows! The wait is killing me, but, you know, at least there are cold spicy noodles. (at Fei Long Shopping Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzQzj7DBp1I/?igshid=kebu7iwz5ca9

Remembering that time we walked amongst the redwoods in Redwood National Park. (at Redwood National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzPFMEBBwPx/?igshid=tnxb7krak2k2

Weekend vibes at @thewilliamvale. This 38-week-pregnant lady desires to be in a pool at all times. Sincere thanks to @jonpaley1 for helping me achieve my dreams, both of the pool and baby variety. (at The William Vale) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzEb6HDh8_v/?igshid=nyefbwaorm4q