One of our favorite ways to recharge our batteries — especially in the little lull between Christmas and New Year’s Eve — is to declare a Reading Day.
We pick out a new book (or an old favorite) and cook food in advance, so there are no chores to be done on the big day. When the right time comes, we spend every waking moment of that day lolling about somewhere comfy with the book — in squishy clothes, maybe (probably) sporting bedhead.
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One of the most enjoyable aspects of Reading Day is that there are no chores! But that means you need to do grocery shopping and cooking in advance.
The best recipes for Reading Day are comfort foods that reheat well and taste crazy-delicious. You might start the day with savory Egg-and-Spinach Muffins, Joe’s Special Frittata, or Banana Pancakes with Quick Sausage. For lunch, we like a tuna salad (Curry Tuna in Pepper Boats, Sushi Bar Tuna, Waldorf Tuna Salad) or chicken salad (Tarragon Chicken Salad, Curry Chicken-Salad Salad, Vietnamese Chicken Salad) with raw veggies and a piece of fruit on the side.
When the day is winding down, a nice stew, curry, or chili is extra-cozy, like this Gingerbread Pork Stew or creamy, nutty West African Chicken Stew. You might get a little spicy with Cincinnati Chili or our favorite: Chocolate Chili. These one-pot meals — Mulligatawny Chicken Stew, Greek Beef Stew, and Rogan Josh curry — all feature a velvety texture and aromatic spices, or you can go 100-percent traditional with this Classic Beef Stew or the Polish national dish Bigos.
Every recipe listed here is easy to make in advance, stores well in the fridge, and reheats like a dream. That means on Reading Day, you can eat delicious food without spending too much time away from your story.
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