Here to soothe all your holiday anxieties
on drinking during the holidays, how to accept gifts you hate, and telling your friends they maybe shouldn’t host
Hello and welcome to Solicited Advice: Holiday Edition! For the next few weeks, I’ll be answering all of your most pressing holiday-related questions, dilemmas and queries.
First, a heartfelt and genuine thank you to everyone who cooked the turkey, made the stuffing, baked the pie, asked a question, waited for an answer, watched a TWO-PART episode of Home Movies (Part 1 and Part 2) and used these recipes, this advice and this lil community to get through yet another holiday. I am so pleased and proud at what a huge part of my life this meal has become, and it’s a true understatement to say I couldn’t do it without you. You making the things means I get to keep making the things, so truly: Thank you. For being there year after year, I am so, so grateful for you all.
Okay, now that we’ve moved past our first holiday hurdle of 2024, please join me and comedian Jake Cornell to navigate the chaos of holiday parties, hosting challenges, gift dilemmas, and general December stressors. Jake and I bonded over many things: being children of divorce, our pathological need to BYOB (bring your own bulbs) to Airbnbs, and our love for two very specific non-alcoholic beveraginos to keep the night going while avoiding hangovers (or, if you’re simply not drinking).
As mentioned in the episode, Jake is single and looking for a partner, so feel free to slide into those DMs so I can claim yet another matchmaking victory. But please, if you do, make sure your account is NOT private so he can see as much as you see. And, if you’re in New York on February 4th, go see Jake’s show at Joe’s Pub - I’ll be there in spirit, but not trying to go into labor at Joe’s Pub.
On this week's episode of Solicited Advice:
AITA? How do I gracefully tell a friend in their much too small with not enough seats apartment (...in Murray Hill) they should let other people host once in a while?
HOSTING AND DRINKING = BAD? I love drinking while hosting, but I struggle with finding my limit. How do I avoid hangovers while also enjoying myself *in the moment*?
WHAT TO DRINK WHEN YOU’RE NOT DRINKING: Favorite non-alcoholic drinks this holiday season (or any season)?
GIFT-RELATED ANXIETY: What’s the best way to handle gifts I don’t like? And as someone whose love language is giving thoughtful gifts, how do I cope when others don’t do the same?
HOLIDAY COOKING / CLEANING ANXIETY: How can I keep things clean while I cook? How tidy does my space need to be when guests are over? And is it better to clean up at night or leave it for the morning?
Listen wherever you get your podcasts (or right here):
Or, if you prefer to watch us chat:
Have a question? Call me!
We have two more episodes left for this season and we’d love to hear from you. For any burning questions relating to cooking, entertaining, hosting, ham, families, call 856-502-4816. If you’re voice shy, feel free to write in here.
No question too big or small, too personal or specific - I love it all!
Thank you and see you next week!
My husband has always done wet brine but I told him about your recipe so he did his research and used it this year, we are never going back! So much flavor with the dry-brine! Love you!
Casamara Club - a Detroit based company - makes delicious NA amaro sodas that aren’t too sweet! The Alta is my fave - it has a nice hit of anise for any anise/fennel freaks out there 💃🏻
Every NA liquor I’ve tried is disgusting - going to check out the phony negroni!