Eat, Read, Go: Cowgirl Dip, “This Is Not About Us,” and San Juan

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. One animal occupied 90% of my thoughts this week. No, not floofy, goofy Graham (robbed at Westminster, BTW). But the National Zoo’s new baby elephant — whose first steps were so cute, it almost made up for the fact I’m still living in the Arctic. As for the other 10%?

• Dakota Johnson and Tyla are bringing back the shoe my 2010 self thought was the epitome of chic, with one major upgrade.

• If your rotation of all-black outfits feels extra blah lately (same), this small-but-mighty accessory is “the perfect exclamation point to finish off your look.”

• The one “dessert” my grandmother always had on hand is suddenly cool — and, turns out, she was right about it all along.

• Your bathroom might need this bedroom staple, especially if what’s under your sink is a nightmare and you’re desperate for more storage.

• Winter’s hottest jacket borrowed summer’s hottest dress silhouette — and wearing it will give you instant Fashion Person cred.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

This Cowgirl Dip Will Be the First Thing To Disappear at Any Super Bowl Party

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Whether you watch the Super Bowl for the commercials, the halftime show, or, oh right, the game, let’s be honest — everyone’s really here for the spread. And while it’s not a competition, we’re calling it: Brocc Your Body’s Cowgirl Dip is the MVP. Not only does the Southwest-inspired dip require just five minutes of prep, but it’s packed with chunky salsa, green chiles, taco seasoning, corn, black beans, and Monterey Jack cheese — so you get something savory, salty, spicy, and, above all, melty. Serve it with tortilla chips, and this easy crowd-pleaser will have everyone coming back for seconds. Or, as one commenter went so far as to say: “Move over, [Buffalo] Chicken Dip.” Game on.

The Time Commitment: About 25 minutes, leaving you with plenty of time to emotionally prepare for Bad Bunny. 

Key Tips: To beef it up (literally), Carissa Stanton (aka Brocc Your Body) recommends browning some ground beef and mixing it in with the corn and beans.

Other Takes: Because there’s no such thing as too many Super Bowl snacks, also try…

• Buffalo Chickpea Dip. A vegetarian version of the game day classic, this recipe delivers all the blue cheese, green onions, and wing sauce you want — but with chickpeas instead of chicken.

• Hot Corn Dip. It’s essentially slightly spicy elote in the form of a bronzed, bubbly, unapologetically cheesy dip. Fritos Scoops not optional.

• Muffuletta Sliders. The only actual work in this recipe? Heating the sliders and making the olive spread — which is so good, we’d bathe in it if we could.

This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

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If you think your family is petty, wait until you meet Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein — the two sisters at the heart of Allegra Goodman’s This Is Not About Us, who stop speaking for a decade. The reason? An apple cake. Told through 17 connected short stories, Goodman follows three generations of Rubinsteins over that time: A divorced couple trying to co-parent their kids. A college student busking on the subway. Plus, bat mitzvahs, ballet recitals, and other big milestones — all with the great apple cake grievance still very much unresolved. Funny and utterly charming, Goodman paints a vivid portrait of a family that’ll sound quite familiar to, well, just about everyone. We asked Goodman a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence? 

Goodman: Buying new hardback books whenever I feel like it. Browsing an indie bookstore is one of the great joys of life. I love finding unexpected nonfiction, like a history of Soviet gas stations, or hot-off-the-press fiction, like Lily King’s new book. Years ago, in Newtonville Books, I saw a sign that said, “Try a novel in translation.” That’s how I discovered Elena Ferrante.

Q: If you could be the world’s leading expert on one thing, what would it be?

Goodman: Chocolate. Then everyone would come to me with samples to taste and judge. I would be strict, but fair.

Q: What’s one thing that makes you 10% happier?

Goodman: My boot warmer. I’m in Boston, and it’s freezing, so I place my boots upside down on a warmer that blows hot air into them. If your toes are warm, it’s a lot easier to venture outside.

Bad Bunny’s Right — Puerto Rico Really Is That Good

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If something — or, rather, someone — has you thinking about a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, you’re in good company. And now might be the best time to go. We’re talking little rain, lots of sunshine, and temps warm enough to make your winter self jealous. But the weather is honestly the least interesting thing about the Caribbean island city. There’s historic Old San Juan, which is basically a postcard come to life, a food scene that’ll have you planning your meals before your flights, beautiful beaches that don’t require a passport, and endless opportunities to enjoy the island’s second most famous export (the piña colada). No wonder when asked to describe his future, Bad Bunny said, “Happy, retired, eating, tripletas, and living in Puerto Rico.” Sounds inmaculado.

👟 Spend an afternoon soaking up the charming cobblestone streets and candy-colored architecture of Old San Juan. Stroll Paseo de la Princesa, a waterfront promenade along ancient city walls, lined with fountains, sculptures, and street vendors. At Castillo San Felipe del Morro, explore centuries-old tunnels, climb stone staircases, and take in ocean views from the fortress’s towering ramparts. And cap it off at Calle del Cristo, where you can browse galleries, grab a coquito, and shop for handmade crafts.

🌊 If you live for the beach, San Juan delivers. All of the city’s golden beaches are public, chair rentals are cheap, and you can post up all day. The best place to do so? Playa Isla Verde, where turquoise waters and palm-lined shores draw locals and visitors alike without ever feeling too crowded. 

🍴 Skip mofongo, and you haven’t really been to Puerto Rico. It’s the island’s “unofficial national dish” — and the best version is at La Casita Blanca, where the menu changes daily but you can expect staples like tostones (fried green plantains), alcapurrias (stuffed fritters), and carne frita (fried pork). 

💃 In Puerto Rico, fun isn’t reserved for the weekends. Late-night gatherings that spill onto the streets are the norm. Want in? Start at La Factoría, home to six bars and live salsa twice a week. Then head to La Placita de Santurce, an unassuming daytime market that completely transforms after dark (think: bachata dancing, live music, free-flowing mojitos). 

🌲 About an hour east of San Juan is El Yunque National Forest — the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System. There, you can hike to Mount Britton Tower for breathtaking jungle vistas, take a dip in natural swimming holes, and listen for coquí frogs.

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

Q: I have a friend with completely opposite political views, and it’s honestly exhausting right now. I don’t want to end the friendship, but I need some breathing room. How do I ask for space without making it permanent?

“We have to protect our emotional health, and when a friend is constantly debating politics, that may mean setting boundaries. You can say, ‘I love you and I love spending time with you, but for my own peace of mind, I really need us to pause on the politics. We all have different viewpoints because we come from different walks of life, and that’s OK — but I have to be able to finish my salad without getting into it.’ That’s how we talk to our friends. And if we can’t talk to each other with kindness and a little backbone, are they really our friends? 

You can [set group boundaries too]: ‘Everyone come over, phones off the table, politics off the table.’ Make it light, but hold the line. Also, if they’re consistently posting or sending you things that drain you, you can temporarily mute or block them. And if they ask about it? Be honest: ‘I love you, but I had to preserve my sanity. I couldn’t watch [your videos] every single day.’”

Skimm’d by: Jamie Feldman and Melissa Goldberg. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.