— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC
Who Needs Takeout When You Can Make These Saucy Sesame Beef Noodles?
theSkimm
Let’s face it: There comes a time when the thought of yet another leftover turkey sandwich makes you want to cancel all future Thanksgivings. And for us, that time is now. Thankfully, there’s a brilliant solution: These Saucy Sesame Beef Noodles from Caroline Chambers’s latest cookbook, aptly titled What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking. The supremely comforting dish combines spaghetti with melty onions, juicy beef, crunchy carrots, fresh ginger, and a good amount of garlic — all of which is bathed in an Asian-inspired, flavor-blasted, fixation-worthy sauce. Turkey, we thank you for your service.
The Time Commitment: About 30 minutes, leaving you with plenty of time for doing…literally anything else.
Key Tips: This meal tastes even better the longer it sits in the fridge (think: maximum sauce absorption), “so don’t be afraid to make it if you’re only cooking for one or two people,” says Chambers. And, for one fewer bowl to clean, just dump all the sauce ingredients into the middle of the skillet and stir until blended.
Other Takes: Looking for more dinners you can whip up in a flash? This Coconut-Miso Salmon Curry is ideal when you’re craving something light and bright, like, say, after eating pie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That’s also true of this Creamy Garlic-Paprika Shrimp Skillet, which, by law, needs to be served with crusty bread for sopping up all the sauce. Meanwhile, just about everything in this Meatballs With Burst Tomatoes and Parmesan Toast recipe is conveniently cooked on the same sheet pan, making cleanup minimal. And, last but not least, this One-Pot White Wine Pasta With Mushrooms and Leeks is so good, you’ll want to eat it straight from the pot.
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Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens
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If you grew up idolizing Kate Hudson’s Andie Anderson (and her iconic yellow dress, obviously), Sophie Cousens’s Is She Really Going Out With Him? is for you. The How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days-esque rom-com follows Anna Appleby, a recently divorced British magazine writer whose job is suddenly in jeopardy — thanks to her younger office rival, Will. With no choice but to shake things up, Anna pitches a new angle for her column: She’ll let her kids choose who she dates, then she’ll write about everything that ensues, from the endearingly awkward to the downright annoying. That is, until Anna finds herself falling for someone unexpected in what’s been described as “a journey of self-discovery” and “a supremely satisfying love story.” We asked Cousens a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about?
Cousens:Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. It’s original and utterly charming. It’s one of those books where you feel so invested in the character that you’re sorry to say goodbye to them at the end — and almost can’t believe they don’t exist somewhere in real life.
Q: What’s an unpopular opinion you stand by?
Cousens: I don’t think Ron and Hermione should have ended up together.
Q: What’s your shortcut to relaxation?
Cousens: Double screening. I love scrolling on my phone, while watching whatever TV series I’m into and nibbling on snacks. I wish I was one of those people who said “meditating” or “mindful knitting,” but no, I’m a double screener and I’ve made my peace with that.
The Gift Card That Unlocks a World of Entertainment
theSkimm
The days keep coming and they don’t stop coming. So if you still have family and friends on your to-gift list, now’s a great time to cross them off. Luckily, anyone and everyone can appreciate the (nearly) endless ways they can use Apple Gift Card to stay entertained all 2025 long. We broke down some of our faves below. No judgment if they inspire you to add Apple Gift Card to your own wishlist as well.
📺 Shopping for TV or movie buffs? If you gift Apple Gift Card, they can get Apple TV+, which just so happens to be full of premium titles they won’t want to miss.
🕹️ Gamers gonna game. With Apple Gift Card, your giftee can subscribe to popular streaming apps and make purchases in their favorite games on the App Store. What could be better? If you ask them, nothing.
🎵 Have a cousin, coworker, or close friend whose life = tunes? They probably already know and love the discovery feature on Apple Music, but they’ll really love that your Apple Gift Card helped them pay for the next few months of their subscription.
📖 Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about literary giftees. With a library of millions of bestsellers, new releases, and classics, Apple Books is the perfect place for them to use Apple Gift Card. New audiobooks and ebooks are added every single week, and there’s no subscription necessary.
Psst…you can give Apple Gift Card via email or get a physical card to send or hand-deliver to your giftee. What are you waiting for? Buy some now.*
This Is the Most Enchanting Coastal Town in California
theSkimm
Earlier this year, we recommended everyone — particularly those who dream of living inside a Nancy Meyers movie — visit Carmel-by-the-Sea. And while the California town is perfect all year, it’s especially charming during the holiday season, which is why we’re revisiting the destination now. Expect an old-school, one-square-mile village decked out with twinkling lights, evergreen wreaths, and festive decorations, plus enviable beach houses, top-notch shops and restaurants, and a growing wine scene. Of course, we can’t promise you’ll unexpectedly fall in love (à la Something’s Gotta Give), but you can look forward to plenty of impeccably roasted chicken and white wine. Just be sure to pack the white linen set you impulse purchased.
🛏 Wainscoted walls painted pistachio, upholstered floral furniture, woven rugs, gas-log fireplaces — the 34 rooms at Le Petit Pali at Ocean Avenue tick all the coastal-grandmother boxes. Not to mention, guests can also expect Diptyque bath products, minibars with gourmet snacks, and homemade cookies delivered nightly.
🌅 Outside of town, you’ll find sandy beaches, dramatic coastlines, and scenic drives — like this jaw-dropping, 17-mile stretch that weaves through Pebble Beach. (Stop at Spanish Bay and Lone Cypress for the best views.) Another great option for outdoorsy types? Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, where you can hike the popular Cypress Grove Trail.
🍴 Carmel probably isn’t what comes to mind when you think of California wine — but Carmel Valley’s numerous tasting rooms are gaining popularity. For dinner, head over to La Bicyclette, a neighborhood bistro with French-Italian fare like risotto with wild mushrooms, steak d’Alsace, and wood-fired pizzas. Or, grab a table at the Restaurant at Mission Ranch (owned by actor and former mayor Clint Eastwood), where you can listen to live music and watch sheep graze.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Q: My sister-in-law is very generous when it comes to holiday gifts for my kids, but it makes me feel uncomfortable because I can’t afford to reciprocate for her kids. How should I approach this?
“Family members usually have an idea of everyone’s financial situation — and they also know which family members put less emphasis on gifts, especially during the holidays. Unless your sister-in-law is making rude remarks about the gifts you give or requires excessive adulation for her gifts … accept it as her [way of expressing] how much she loves your children.
… [If you still feel uncomfortable, you could] speak with your sister-in-law. Though, she may or may not choose to limit her budget. [You could also tell her] how much you appreciate her generosity — [and then] express your gratitude in other ways, like offering to babysit her children if you live nearby, taking her to breakfast (which tends to be less expensive than lunch or dinner), [or] purchasing a gift certificate to a coffee shop. Also, a family gift, instead of individual gifts, may be more cost-effective.”
When in doubt, gift a candle. We'll be giving this Mean Girls-inspired candle to...pretty much everyone on our holiday lists. Plus, it's 20% off.
You can never own too many sweaters (we don't make the rules), so we're adding this chic wrap sweater and half-zip pullover to our closets right now.
PS: Want more product recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram.
Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.
Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here.
Skimm’d by: Taylor Trudon, Alex Carr, Melissa Goldberg, and Margaret Wheeler Johnson
Photos by Eva Kolenko, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Christian Adams via Getty Images, S. Greg Panosian via iStock, ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images, courtesy of Rosalinda Randall, Brand Partners
