Happy Saturday. Non-New Yorkers, bear with me, but I’m still not over the Knicks’ unbelievable comeback on Tuesday night. (Seriously, how does a person move like this?) A few other things that have me in a good mood:
The latest Cool Girl handbag color is inspired by the best and most rare (according to my scientific research) fountain soda flavor. I’m 1000% on board.
This new addition to Taco Bell’s menu, which I truly could’ve never predicted. The only thing more surprising? I actually want to try every flavor.
I was initially skeptical of the whimsical shoe trend that’ll transport you back to your Pretty Pretty Princess board game days, but I can’t stop thinking about how I’d style them. Or how fun that game was.
I was fully convinced there was no better role for Quinta Brunson than Abbott Elementary’s Janine — and then this casting announcement dropped. Boy, was I wrong.
This Crispy Italian Grinder Pasta Salad Will Be the First Thing to Disappear at Any Cookout
theSkimm
Now that barbecue season has arrived, it’s time for a bold declaration: Sure, burgers and hot dogs are great — but the sides are the real star. Case in point? Food by Maria’s Italian Grinder Pasta Salad with Crispy Air-Fried Orecchiette. A twist on the viral grinder sandwich, this deceptively easy recipe has everything you love about an Italian sub/hoagie/hero (prosciutto, salami, pepperoncini, provolone, iceberg lettuce), but levels it up with a few extras: store-bought olive salad, sun-dried tomatoes, and The World’s Most Underrated Pasta™, which gets smothered in pesto and air-fried until golden and crispy. Toss it all in the creamy, tangy dressing — and safe to say you’ll be the most popular person at the cookout.
The Time Commitment: About 40 minutes.
Key Tips: No air fryer? No problem. Maria Koutsogiannis (aka Food by Maria) says to broil the cooked pasta for 8 to 10 minutes. Also, for a vegetarian option, sub artichoke hearts and extra olives for prosciutto and salami.
Other Takes: For more “sides” with main dish energy, try…
Cold Noodle Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce. Yes, peanut dressing improves everything. But this 20-minute dish featuring perfectly chewy noodles and tons of crunchy veggies might be its highest calling.
Spinach and Pepperoncini Baked Feta Dip. Light, bright, and delightfully zesty, this might actually be better than everyone’s favorite party dip. We said what we said.
