Eat, Read, Gift: Mango & Brown Butter Blondies, "Cher: The Memoir, Part One," and Holiday Gifts

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. I have a strict rule about not decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. But this year, I’m making an exception — and my tree will be making an earlier-than-usual appearance. What else I’m hoping will spark joy this weekend? Studying GQ Germany’s wild images of Jennifer Coolidge (if only I understood German), hitting up the dog park while dressed like an “off-duty royal,” and treating myself to a Hailey Bieber-inspired suede blazer that “screams old money” — which happens to match this season’s “surprisingly rich”-looking sneaker trend. To pull my outfit together, I might even add a little French scarf. Though, let’s be honest, my look will never be as iconic as that Lenny Kravitz one.

— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY

Drop Everything and Make These Mango & Brown Butter Blondies

theSkimm

If you’re a card-carrying member of Team Brownie, avert your eyes. Actually, don’t — because these Mango & Brown Butter Blondies from pastry chef Paola Velez are so delicious and irresistibly chewy, you’ll reconsider your stance entirely. A combination of brown sugar and brown butter gives the recipe — included in Velez’s new cookbook, Bodega Bakes — a richer, more caramelly flavor, while a layer of homemade mango jam yields extra-gooey goodness. The result? A melt-in-your-mouth treat that’s ideal for bringing to Friendsgiving…or straight to your couch.

The Time Commitment: About an hour — but the blondies bake for almost half of that time.

Key Tips: You can use fresh or frozen mango, which Velez says “work[s] equally well.” Also, if the idea of lining anything with parchment paper makes you want to give up on baking altogether, Velez suggests snipping the corners “so the parchment perfectly lines the walls of the baking pan” and leaving “enough overhanging parchment,” so you can easily lift the blondies out.

Other Takes: While you can’t go wrong with the classic, there are endless ways to level up your blondie game. These Chewy Chai Blondies have hints of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg — essentially the dessert equivalent of a chai latte. Or, for something sweet and salty, consider these no-mixer-needed Salted Butterscotch Blondies, or these Reese’s Peanut Butter Blondies, which are loaded with mini Reese’s and drizzled with chocolate and peanut butter. Finally, these Baklava Blondies blend the soft and chewy texture of a blondie with the honey-heavy flavor of baklava for the hybrid dessert you never knew you needed.

Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher

theSkimm

Playing every character in her one-woman performance of West Side Story, publicly declaring Tom Cruise is in her “top five” lovers, wearing one of the world’s most famous naked dresses (to the 1974 Met Gala, no less), headlining the 2024 Victoria Secret Fashion Show — to say that Cher has lived a very full life would be an understatement. It’s so full, in fact, that the singer, actress, and all-around American icon needed two books to tell her story. In Cher: The Memoir, Part One (out Tuesday), the 78-year-old lifts the curtain on the early years of her life and now-legendary career. That includes growing up in a chaotic household, struggling with dyslexia, and meeting and marrying Sonny Bono — all of which Cher details with her signature wit and humor. We asked the Internet’s Most Prolific Tweeter a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s the one thing you can’t leave the house without?

Cher: My new Nars black lipstick.

Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence?

Cher: Swearing.

Q: What’s one material thing you’d save if your house was on fire?

Cher: Can I have two? My mom’s earrings and my Oscar. OK, three — my original photo albums.

Just Keep Shopping

theSkimm

There’s no time like the present to buy some…presents. Lucky for you, we’ve searched the whole internet to find the best ones. Here are a few of our absolute faves:

💧A LifeStraw Home hand-blown glass water filter pitcher that removes microplastics, bacteria, PFAS, and over 30 different contaminants — and looks incredibly chic on a countertop.*

🏃‍♂️ Vuori’s Sunday Performance Joggers are perfect for any guy who refuses to compromise on comfort. The four-way stretch fabric means nothing will hold him back, whether he’s couch surfing or hitting the gym.*

🌱 Timeline Mitopure^® Softgels are clinically proven to boost energy and promote healthy aging. Two a day help improve muscle strength and endurance.*

💰 Hallmark and Venmo holiday cards make it easy to securely gift cash (aka the choice to get exactly what they really want). You can get the cards shipped to you or pick them up in-store.*

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

Q: I love when my friend visits, but she always expects rides to and from the airport. How do I tell her I’m not her taxi?

“[To] directly address this, I like [sharing] a boundary and an offering — what you won’t do, then what you will do … in a way that doesn’t make it personal. Like, ‘Driving friends to the airport isn’t something I typically do, but I really value you, so I’ve been doing it. But I realize it’s taken time away from [XYZ]. I’d love to see you, [so] how about I drop you off at the bus stop?’ Or, ‘Can you take a Lyft this time?’  

… [You can even be honest and say], ‘I’m worried I’m not being a good friend or meeting your expectations, but I don’t want to become resentful’ … [Ultimately], the idea is, how can you fulfill both of your needs in some way?”

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.