The dish of the year goes to....

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

Good Morning Friends,

There are plenty of year in reviews out there; chronicling 2024's most compelling photographs, jaw-dropping feats of athleticism or most sequiney leotard worn by Taylor Swift.

Unequipped to speak to any of that, I'll just shine the spotlight on my number one dish of the year; the ever humble but intensely rewarding lentil soup.

The recipe for Easy Lentil Soup from the New York Times is just that, easy and entirely riffable. I have used their image because my own soup more resembles a Dickensian gruel, something more like a punishment than Melissa Clark's photogenic potage.

I recently read Ina Garten's autobiography Be Ready When the Luck Happens (you can find my entirely unsolicited review below in case you have literally nothing to do with your day). In it she says that any given dish should host no more than three flavors. Any more and the palate may be overwhelmed.

This hits that mark perfectly. The ingredients are unremarkable and often on hand. A cup of lentils, an onion. Some broth. I add celery and a carrot for sweetness and skip the cabbagy accoutrements. An hour on the stove or 12 minutes in a pressure cooker and you're in business. I blend it just a bit with the immersion blender to leave some texture. As a last touch I add a handful of shredded cheese because I am an adult and I do what I want.

And as for leftovers, this soup sure ain't pretty next day but MAN are the flavors even more rewarding.

If you give it a go, please tell us all about. We always love to hear from you.

Happy 2025,

Erin, Joe and the Family Dinner Fam

Ina Garten's Be Ready When the Luck Happens: a Memoir

A book review that no one asked for

by Erin Baumgartner

Man oh man do I love me a culinary memoir. I'm like a literary Hungry, Hungry Hippo for that stuff. Bourdain, Reichl, Julia? Of course. Mère Brazier, Ripert, Bocuse? Oui, chef.

So when I settled down to a glass of white wine and a trough of Cheez-its I was ready to be delighted but later closed the memoir with a whiff of disappointment. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of culinary pornography to make your mouth water - but it all becomes a bit much.

You gotta love Ina. She's a certified bad-ass with a dark childhood who doesn't seem to understand the phrase "no, you can't ". Prior to her foray into cooking she worked as a nuclear energy budget analyst in the Office of Management and Budget in the White House during the Carter administration. Excuse me?

The ride along her many successes is interesting but is also a minefield of enthusiasm and exclamation points that grows slightly tiring. Each challenge yields unheard of successes at a dizzying speed in the guise of luck without paying homage to the role of intense wealth and privilege. That said, the woman is still a force of nature.

All in all I deem it worth the white wine and the Cheez-its, which is my metric for rating most anything. Happy Reading.

I need to skip this week!

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You can take us with you! Get in touch and we'll put together a custom package of goodies to keep you sated while you're enjoying the Cape or Bar Harbor. If you're expecting to be away for several weeks or months we can put your subscription on hold.

I'm allergic and/or hate this item!

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Have a wonderful weekend!
—The Fam Din Team

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{% if person.location.region != 'Maine' and person.location.region != 'ME' and person.location.region != 'New Hampshire' and person.location.region != 'NH' %}

Massachusetts

Delivery dates: Sat., Jan. 04 & Tue., Jan. 07

Note: If you order a "Meat and Fish Only Share" or "Fish and Seafood Only Share" you will receive just the proteins listed, not the fruits and veggies, dairy, grains or teats.

Add-on Bread of the Week - Cheddar Garlic from Great Harvest Bread Co.
Add-on Cheese of the Week - Burrata from Mozzarella House
Add-on Fresh Pasta of the Week - Whole Wheat Fettuccine from Capone Foods
Add-on Fruit Share - Currently Out of Season
Add-on Gluten-Free Grain of the Week - Misc.
Add-on Grain of the Week - Pita Chips from Sophia's Greek Pantry
Add-on Mezze of the Week - Olive Tapenade from Sophia's Greek Pantry
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Honey Pecan Sticky Buns from Iggy's
Add-on Ravioli of the Week - Roasted Red Pepper Ravioli from Capone Foods
Add-on Salad of the Week - Arugula Salad from Forge Baking Co.
Add-on Sausage of the Week - Chorizo from Yankee Farmer's Market
Add-on Treat of the Week - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres
Add-on Vegetarian Soup of the Week - Chipotle Black Bean Soup from Forge Baking Co.

Omnivore Shares

HALF SHARE

Protein - Chicken from Feather Brook Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres

WHOLE SHARE

Protein - Chicken from Feather Brook Farm; Sole from Red's Best
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Swiss Cheese from Pineland Farms Dairy
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres; Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge Baking Co.

DOUBLE SHARE

Protein - Chicken from Feather Brook Farm; Sole from Red's Best; Bacon from Cold Spring Ranch
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm; Microburst Microgreens from Generation Farm; Sunchokes from Lanwater Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Swiss Cheese from Pineland Farms Dairy; Misc.
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods; Semolina Bread from Forge Baking Co.
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres; Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge Baking Co.

Pescatarian Shares

HALF SHARE

Protein - Sole from Red's Best
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres

WHOLE SHARE

Protein - Sole from Red's Best; Haddock from Red's Best
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Swiss Cheese from Pineland Farms Dairy
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres; Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge Baking Co.

DOUBLE SHARE

Protein - Sole from Red's Best; Haddock from Red's Best; Calamari from Red's Best
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm; Microburst Microgreens from Generation Farm; Sunchokes from Lanwater Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Swiss Cheese from Pineland Farms Dairy; Misc.
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods; Semolina Bread from Forge Baking Co.
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres; Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge Baking Co.

Vegetarian Shares

HALF SHARE

Protein - Black Bean and Corn Salad from Forge Baking Co.
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres

WHOLE SHARE

Protein - Black Bean and Corn Salad from Forge Baking Co.; Kebab from Boston Vegan from Boston Vegan
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Swiss Cheese from Pineland Farms Dairy
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres; Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge Baking Co.

DOUBLE SHARE

Protein - Black Bean and Corn Salad from Forge Baking Co.; Kebab from Boston Vegan from Boston Vegan; Empanadas from Capone Foods
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm; Microburst Microgreens from Generation Farm; Sunchokes from Lanwater Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Swiss Cheese from Pineland Farms Dairy; Misc.
Grain - Black and White Sesame Biscuits from Lark Fine Foods; Semolina Bread from Forge Baking Co.
Special Treat - Seed and Oat Bars from 88 Acres; Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge Baking Co.

Paleo Shares

HALF SHARE

Protein - Chicken from Feather Brook Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm

WHOLE SHARE

Protein - Chicken from Feather Brook Farm; Sole from Red's Best
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm; Microburst Microgreens from Generation Farm; Sunchokes from Lanwater Farm
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm

DOUBLE SHARE

Protein - Chicken from Feather Brook Farm; Sole from Red's Best; Bacon from Cold Spring Ranch; TBD from TBD
Fruits and Veggies - Lettuce from Little Leaf and Springworks Farm; Fingerling Sweet Potatoes from Lanwater Farm; Kale from Red Fire Farm; Yellow Onions from Brookford Farm; Cocktail Tomatoes from Backyard Farms; Angel Hair Spaghetti Squash from Red Fire Farm; Microburst Microgreens from Generation Farm; Sunchokes from Lanwater Farm; TBD from TBD; TBD from TBD
Dairy - Eggs from Feather Brook Farm

{% endif %}

{% if person.location.region != 'Maine' and person.location.region != 'ME' and person.location.region != 'New Hampshire' and person.location.region != 'NH' %}

Recipes

We had a mishap with a delivery that we were expecting to receive today: it ain't coming! That's left us scrambling for a substitution for the Saturday folks. What we were able to source this late in the game also happened to be in shares last week: Little Leaf lettuce. Let us know if that's a bummer and we'll take care of it. On to the (salad heavy) recipes!

Not Just Another Chicken Caesar Salad - I love that this calls for skinless thighs instead of the usual skinless breasts. More flavor please!

Cobb Salad - My fav salad (because it's the least healthy) and we've got most of the accoutrements in shares.

Easy Pan Fried Sole Fish With Lemon-Butter Sauce - This is my easy treatment that works for just about any fish fillet.

Spaghetti Squash Parmesan - It's healthy because it's squash right?

Tips and Tricks for storing your food and getting the most from your shares can be found here.

{% endif %}

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Posted on January 03, 2025

Joe Grotto

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