Ft. Love Life & Mango Mezcal Margarita

August 21, 2020 by Sydney Grant

Hey, California, you are on fire!! No, not in a good way — you are literally on fire. ICYMI, California is ablaze thanks to nearly 11,000 lightning bolts that struck the state this week, because that’s just what we need right now. Where is Calamari Man when we need him most?! But there is some good news: Biden and Harris made things official last night! As in, DNC official. Don’t worry, if you missed it, you can take a break from bingeing the shows I recommend below this weekend and catch the entire Democratic National Convention on Amazon Prime!

However you’re planning on spending your weekend, enjoy these quarantivities! And as always, please add your own activities to the list!

Quarant-streams

‘Love Life’

Watch this if quarantine has put a damper on your dating life:

Thank you Sherry for this rec! Aptly named, Love Life centers around Darby Carter (Anna Kendrick), a young twenty-something living in NYC who is on a quest to find “The One.” You and me both, girl. How does one date during a pandemic? I got the same Postmates driver twice last week — does that mean it’s fate?? Darby’s navigation of the ups and downs of the dating world is painfully relatable — from losing her first love to distance when he moves away to pursue a career opportunity, to falling for the guy that’s so obviously wrong for her — and it’s this familiarity that the show thrives on.

If you looked up “What are the elements of a successful rom-com?” in the dictionary, Love Life would probably come up, but instead of shying away from this, it leans into it. From Darby’s own divorced-parent upbringing to the dreamy NYC apartment she can somehow afford on her museum tour guide salary (even the Friends cast are green with envy), this story may be a familiar one, but that doesn’t make it any less binge-able. Will Darby find The One? Or was the person she was looking for really just in front of her this whole time?? Do yourself a favor and cancel all your weekend plans now, you’ve got a hot date with *spoiler alert* yourself.

Stream it now via HBO Max.

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’

Watch this if you’ve literally forgotten how to interact with people:

After being kidnapped and held hostage in an underground bunker for 15 years, Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) and the rest of her fellow “Mole Women” are rescued, finally able to live their lives as free women. While the rest of her bunk(er) mates opt to stay in Indiana, Kimmy decides that she needs a fresh start and moves to NYC. The only problem is, she’s been separated from the real world for so long that she has no idea how to be a functioning adult. So basically, all of us once quarantine is over (what do you mean I can’t wear my pajamas to work and start drinking wine at 11 AM??).

Armed with nothing but a mere $13,000 in cash donated to the “Mole Fund” and lots of hope and naivete, Kimmy quickly ticks a must-have NYC BINGO card item off her list: she finds herself a failed wannabe Broadway star roommate. Although she manages to get her entire backpack of money stolen from her at a club her first few days in the city (another point for the BINGO card!), as you’ll quickly learn, nothing can stop Kimmy from achieving her dreams! Clearly, she’s never lived in 2020. If you’re looking for a show that will instantly cheer you up and might even help reignite some hope in you during these less-than-fabulous times, then look no further. Kimmy didn’t break, so we won’t either!

Stream it now via Netflix.

Quarant-reads

‘The Smallest Lights in the Universe’ by Sara Seager

Read this if you dug your old telescope out of the garage this summer:

Is there life beyond Earth? M.I.T. astrophysicist Sara Seager says, “Um duh.” Of course, she’s an astrophysicist, so she put it a bit differently. In her new memoir, Seager weaves together her personal life, from falling in love, attending graduate school at Harvard and struggling with later becoming a widow, to her tireless search for extraterrestrial life. After finishing this the other day, I can say with confidence that this book is out of the world, man.

Purchase now via Amazon.

Quarant-eats

Spicy Thai Summer Noodle Stir Fry w/ Sesame Peanuts via Half Baked Harvest

Make this to bring your favorite Thai takeout to your own kitchen:

Rice Krispies Treats With Chocolate and Pretzels via NYT Cooking

Make these to bring to the movie theater once they open up:

Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

INGREDIENTS

Nonstick cooking spray
6 tablespoons salted butter (3/4 stick)
1 (10-ounce) bag marshmallows
3 cups Rice Krispies, or other crisp rice cereal
3 cups butter-flavored or regular mini-pretzels, broken into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

PREPARATION

Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking pan with foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang on all sides, then coat with nonstick cooking spray.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir with a sturdy silicone spatula until smooth and melted, about 3 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat, add the cereal and pretzels, and stir until evenly coated. Immediately scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Using the spatula, press the mixture to evenly cover the bottom of the pan. Working quickly (you want the cereal mixture to still be quite warm so the chocolate will melt a bit and adhere to the the surface), sprinkle the chopped chocolate on top. Press the mixture with the chocolate into a flat, even layer in the pan. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
Cool to room temperature in the pan on a rack. Lift out of the pan using the foil and cut into squares. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container.

Mango Mezcal Margarita via Infatuation

Make this bc we love some alliteration: