Eat, Read, Go: Peppermint Bark Brownie Cookies, “Bluebird Day,” and El Paso

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Between Timothée Chalamet’s deeply concerning facial hair and blond bangs (fingers crossed the latter was just for one night) and Jeremy Strong’s mocha-mousse “broutfit” (that hat??), I don’t know what was going on with men this week — or any week, really. Thankfully, women stepped up to the (sartorial) plate, providing necessary inspo for winter looks. See: Sabrina Carpenter channeling ’90s fashion icon Fran Fine (the briefcase did me in), Blake Lively cosplaying as a stick of butter, and Elle Fanning’s compelling case for formal pigtails (yes, you read that right). And while I’m not brave enough for Dua Lipa’s statement-making snakeskin trench, I will give the surprisingly timeless leopard-print coat another go — now that it’s “the ultimate millennial comeback trend.” Could North Face fleeces be next?

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

This Is the Only Holiday Cookie Recipe You’ll Need This Year

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We don’t have to tell you that the holidays are an exceptionally busy time. Between finding gifts for your aunt’s new boyfriend, hitting the seasonal party circuit, and moonlighting as a professional gift wrapper, at what point are you supposed to feel merry and bright? When you bite into one of Tutti Dolci’s Peppermint Bark Brownie Cookies. The ridiculously delicious and blissfully easy recipe is guaranteed to steal the spotlight at any cookie swap or holiday party, thanks to its crispy-yet-chewy edge, wonderfully fudgy center, and perfectly pepperminty top. That is, of course, if you don’t keep them all to yourself.

The Time Commitment: If you think there’s no greater test of patience than (a) chilling cookie dough or (b) allowing cookies to cool completely before frosting, good news — this recipe doesn’t require either step, which explains how it only takes 40 minutes.

Key Tips: Wondering which store-bought peppermint bark is best? Laura Kasavan (aka Tutti Dolci) recommends Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Squares. And while any unsweetened cocoa powder will work, Dutch-processed cocoa powder (Kasavan is partial to this one) will make the cookies taste richer and more chocolaty.

Other Takes: When it comes to holiday cookies, in the words of Cady Heron, “the limit does not exist” — which is why we’ll also be baking these buttery, light-as-air Peppermint Meltaway Cookies. For more of the season’s most-loved flavors, consider these crackly, sugar-coated Gingerbread Latte Cookies — basically, the cookie version of your favorite holiday drink. Or, these Brown Butter Toffee Cookies, which elevate the already flawless chocolate chip cookie by adding pieces of salty, crunchy, homemade toffee. Finally, these Buckeye Cookies combine rich chocolate dough, creamy peanut butter, and a luscious ganache, resulting in “heaven in every bite.”

Bluebird Day by Megan Tady

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A nuanced mother-daughter relationship, a dreamy small town, a quirky cast of characters — Megan Tady’s Bluebird Day may have all the markings of a fun, lighthearted mother-daughter story, but Gilmore Girls it is not. Instead, the equally captivating novel centers around two talented alpine-ski racers: Wylie and her mother, former Olympic champion Claudine, who’ve been estranged for years. But when both women agree to appear at a European fitness competition, they end up spending more time together than they’d expected — after an avalanche leaves them stranded at a hostel in Zermatt, Switzerland. There, the two grapple with the “complicated terrain of lost ambition, past mistakes, and mother-daughter love.” We asked Tady 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?

Tady: Godshot by Chelsea Bieker is a guttural female scream into the void.  

Q: What’s a corner of the internet you recently discovered?

Tady: I’ll happily watch dance battles all day. My childhood dream was to be a backup dancer for a pop star. In fact, it’s still my dream.

Q: What’s one recipe everyone should make? 

Tady: The New York Times’s Atlantic Beach Pie will make you look like a total baking pro, but it’s super easy.

Forget Austin — This Texas City Is Quietly Becoming the State’s Coolest Destination

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Austin may get all the Texas glory — but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on El Paso. Located at the intersection of Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico, the Sun City has long flown under the radar. But after a significant overhaul, the West Texas town is now gaining popularity as a must-visit destination for its rich cultural heritage, hip shops (don’t miss the ones at TI:ME at Montecillo), striking natural scenery, quaint Old West vibes, and, yes, Chico’s Tacos. Plus, there are plenty of extended day-trip opportunities, including endlessly funky Marfa or Big Bend National Park, both of which are within driving distance. Yeehaw.

🛏 The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park has hosted guests since the 1930s, but you wouldn’t guess it walking in. A massive, years-long renovation turned one of the country’s first Hiltons into a chic and contemporary retreat, with spacious rooms (expect sweeping views, Art Deco touches, and a soothing burgundy-cream-champagne color palette) and a dazzling rooftop bar in Elizabeth Taylor’s former penthouse.

⛰ No time for Big Bend? No problem — one of the country’s largest urban parks, Franklin Mountains State Park, is just over 15 miles from the city. There, you can explore more than 100 miles of multiuse trails, including the moderate Aztec Cave Trail (as the name suggests, it takes you to ancient caves) and the North Franklin Peak trail, a strenuous hike leading to El Paso’s highest point, with a 360-degree panorama of the city, New Mexico, and Mexico. Meanwhile, rock climbers should snag one of 70 daily permits for Hueco Tanks State Park, home to distinct rock hollows (aka huecos) and some of the world’s best bouldering.

🎨 El Paso’s arts and culture scene is booming, thanks to a major revitalization. History buffs can explore the city’s architecture and El Segundo Barrio, one of the nation’s most historic Hispanic neighborhoods, on a free, self-guided tour. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the El Paso Museum of Art’s Southwestern and Latin American collections. And music and theater fans can catch a Broadway show or symphony concert at the nearly 100-year-old Plaza Theatre, saved from demolition in the ’80s and beautifully restored in 2006. (Pro tip: Join the theater’s free weekly tour to marvel at the Spanish Colonial Revival design and painted ceilings.)

🍴 OK, the reason you’re really here: the Mexican food. Start at Lucy’s Restaurant, where you can’t go wrong with the Famous Machaca Breakfast. Later, order red enchiladas, chile rellenos, or ground-beef tacos at L&J Cafe, an El Paso institution dating back to 1927. You could also try Taconeta, a modernist Mexican taqueria popular for its heirloom-corn tortillas and creative fillings (see: the tempura mushroom taco, which Texas Monthly declared the sixth best taco in the state.) Taco-ed out? Head west to New Mexico — where the brick-oven pizzas, outstanding pastas, and stunning scenery at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing are well worth the 15-minute drive.

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

Q: I often work from a coffee shop, and there’s always someone having a conversation with their phone on speaker or on FaceTime. Is there a polite way to ask them to use headphones?

“[You] want to assume people aren’t trying to be outright inconsiderate, so [you] always want to lead [by] giving them the benefit of the doubt and being polite … You can say, ‘I hope I'm not interrupting, but would it be possible for you to use headphones? The sound seems to carry in this space’ … So you’re blaming it on the way that the coffee shop is designed, rather than them, and you’re showing that you respect their right to make a call … Another thing you can do is model better behavior. If you have to take a call, be very visible in the way you put [your] headphones in … [You can also] tell the coffee shop staff … Maybe they would speak to the person and then you wouldn’t have to do anything.”

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.